Ver. 23.—“ Let us hold fast the profession of [owr] faith without wavering; (for he [7s] faithful that promised.)”
This is the second exhortation which the apostle educeth by way of inference from the principles of truth which he had before de- clared and confirmed. And it is the substance or end of the whole parenetical or hortatory part of the epistle; that for the obtaining whereof the whole doctrinal part of it was written, which gives life and efficacy unto it. Wherefore he spends the whole remainder of the epistle in the pressing and confirming of this exhortation; on a compliance wherewith the eternal condition of our souls doth de-
pend. And this he doth, partly by declaring the means whereby
we may be helped in the discharge of this duty; partly by denounc-
VER, 19-23.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 515
ing the eternal ruin and sure destruction that will follow the ne- glect of it; partly by encouragements from our own former expe- riences, and the strength of our faith; and partly by evidencing unto us in a multitude of examples, how we may overcome the diffi- culty that would occur unto us in this way, with other various cogent reasonings; as we shall see, if God pleaseth, in our progress.
In these words there is a duty prescribed, and an encouragement added unto it.
First, As unto the duty itself, we must inquire, 1. What is meant by “the profession of our faith.” 2. What is meant by “ holding it fast.” 3. What it is to “ hold it fast without wavering.”
1. Some copies read rjy buoroyiay rig édwidos, the “ profession of our hope;” which the Vulgar follows, “ the profession of the hope that is in us:” unto the exhortation used by the apostle, chap. iii. 6. And it will come unto the same with our reading of it; for on our faith our hope is built, and is an eminent fruit thereof. Wherefore holding fast our hope, includes in it the holding fast of our faith, as the cause is in the effect, and the building in the foundation. But I prefer the other reading, as that which is more suited unto the design of the apostle, and his following discourse; and which his fol- lowing confirmations of this exhortation do directly require, and which is the proper subject of our éuodroyia, or “ profession.” See chap. ii. 1.
“Faith” is here taken in both the principal acceptations of it, namely, that faith whereby we believe, and the faith or doctrine which we do believe. Of both which we make the same profes- sion; of one as the inward principle, of the other as the outward rule. Of the meaning of the word itself, suoroyia, or joint profession, I have treated largely, chap. ii. 1.
This solemn profession of our faith is twofold: (1.) Initial. (2.) By the way of continuation, in all the acts and duties required there- unto,
(1.) The first is a solemn giving up of ourselves unto Christ, in a professed subjection unto the gospel, and the ordinances of divine worship therein contained, This of old was done by all men, at their first accession unto God, in the assemblies of the church. |The apostle calls it “the beginning of our confidence,” or subsistence in Christ and the church, chap. iii. 14. And it was ordinarily, in the pri- mitive times, accompanied with excellent graces and privileges, For,—
[1.] God usually gave them hereon great joy and exultation, with peace in their own minds: 1 Pet. ii. 9, “ Hath translated us out of darkness into his marvellous light.” The glorious, marvellous light -whereinto they were newly translated out of darkness, the evidence
Thy moro. and so it may have a respect wee rhs 2As ThO0S.
“Oporoyia.
’
516 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. X.
which they had of the truth and reality of the things that they be- lieved and professed, the value they had for the grace of God in their high and heavenly calling, the greatness and excellency of the things made known unto them, and believed by them, were the means whereby they were “ filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” And respect is had unto this frame of heart in this exhortation. For it is apt on many accounts to decay and be lost; but when it is so we lose much of the glory of our profession.
[2.] They had hereon some such communication of the Spirit in gifts or graces, as was a seal unto them of the promised inherit- ance, Eph. i.13. And although what was extraordinary herein is ceased, and not to be looked after, yet if Christians, in their initial dedication of themselves unto Christ and the gospel, did attend unto their duty in a due manner, or were affected with their privileges as they ought, they would have experience of this grace, and advan- tage in ways suitable unto their own state and condition.
(2.) The continuation of their profession first solemnly made, in avowing the faith on all just occasions, in attendance on all duties of worship required in the gospel, in professing their’faith in the promises of God by Christ, and thereon cheerfully undergoing aftlic- tions, troubles, and persecutions, on the account thereof, is this “profession of our faith” that is exhorted unto.