» Obs. IL. It is the people of God alone who have a right unto all
330° AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. Iv.
the privileges of the gospel, and who in a due manner can perform all the duties of it.
The rest of the gospel and all that is comprised in it, is for them, © and for them only. All others who lay hand on them, or use them, . are “agri alieni invasores,’—wrongful invaders of the rights and en- closures of others; and “ male fidei possessores,” or do but unjustly possess what they have injuriously seized on. And the reason hereof is, because all gospel privileges are but adjuncts of and annexed unto the covenant of grace, and the administration of it. Without an interest in that covenant, none can attain the least right unto them ; and this they alone have who are the people of God, for by that interest they become so. There is, therefore, great rapine and spoil: committed upon the gospel and its ordinances in the world. Every one thinks he is born with a right to the chiefest of them, and can- not be excluded from them without the highest injustice. But ask some whether they are the people of God or no, and they will be ready to deride both name and thing. Custom, and an opinion - received by tradition, hath put an esteem and valuation upon the enjoyment of the ordinances ofthe gospel. These, therefore, or their pretended right unto them, men will by no means forego, nor suffer themselves to be divested of them; but for the true, real, spiritual foundation and use of them, they are generally despised. But all may know that this is the method of the gospel,—first become the people of God, by entering into covenant with him in Jesus Christ, and all other spiritual mercies will be added unto you. .
Obs. III. The people of God, as such, have work to do, and labour incumbent on them. Rest and labour are correlates; the one sup- poseth the other.
Affirming, therefore, that there is a rest for them, it ewe in like manner that they have work to do. What this is cannot here be declared in particular: none that knows in any measure what is their condition in themselves, what their station in the world, what enemies they have to conflict withal, what duties are continually incumbent on them, but knows there is work and’ labour required of them. Thus. our Saviour expresseth his ap-- probation of his churches by, “ I know thy works, and thy labour,” Rey, ii. 2. The people of God dwell not as Laish, in security; nor are Sybarites, spending their time in sloth, luxury, and riot: but they are an industrious, working people; and I wish that those who profess themselves to be so were less industrious in earthly things, and more in heavenly; although I must say that those who are in- dustrious heavenwards will not be altogether negligent or slothful in their stations in this world. But Christ calls men to work, and that our portion in this world is intermixed withal.
Obs, IV. God hath graciously given his people an entrance into
VER. 10.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. Be
rest during their state of work and labour, to sweeten it unto them, and to enable them for it. _ The state of sin under the law is a state of all labour, and no rest;
for “there is no peace,” or rest, “to the wicked,” saith God, Isa. lvii. 21, The future state of glory is all of rest,—all rest. The pre- sent state of believing and obedience is a mixed state,—partly of labour, partly of rest: of labour in ourselves, in the world, against sin, under affliction and persecution; of rest in Christ, in his love, in his worship, and grace. And these things have a great mutual respect unto one another. Our labour makes our rest sweet; and our rest makes our labour easy. So is God pleased to fill us, and exercise us; all to prepare us duly for eternal rest with himself.
Obs. V. Believers may and do find assured rest in a due attend-
ance unto and performance of the duties of the gospel. This is that ‘which the apostle asserts. and proves.
Obs. VI. There is a weekly sacred day of rest appointed for be- lievers under the gospel, as will appear from the next verse.
VERSE 10.
*O yup ciccdbay cig rhy nardravow adrod, nal abris xarémavosy amd tiv epyav wbrod, dowep awd raiv idiwy 6 Oeés.
There is no difficulty in these words, nor difference in the transla- tion of them.
Ver. 10.—For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his works, as God from his own.
So are the words to be read. Speaking of the works of God, he calls them his ji, “his own,”’—érd rv idiay, “from his own;” and of the other compared with him, he says only r& tpya airod, “his works:” somewhat otherwise than they are rendered in our version.
Expositors generally apply these words unto believers, and their entering into the rest of God; whether satisfactorily to themselves or others, either as to their design, coherence, scope, or significa- tion of particular expressions, I know not. Nor is it my way to oppose or confute the expositions of others, unless they are of such as wrest the Scripture to the confirmation of errors and heresies, or pervert the testimonies which in any texts or places are given unto important and fundamental truths of the gospel; such as we have met with many in our passage. But where things spoken or de- livered are true with respect unto the analogy of faith, though they may not be rightly or regularly deduced from this or that text in particular, yet they may have their use unto edification, through their conformity unto what is taught in other places;—in such cases