2. Of these trials, afflictions, persecutions, they had woaajy ddanonv. That labour and contention of spirit which they had in their profession, with sin and sufferings, is expressed by nS these words; which set forth the greatest, most earnest, vehement actings and endeavours of spirit that our nature can arise
VOL. XXIII 36
‘Voremsivars.
Tabyudroy.
Thoraany ad- wy.
562 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. X.
unto. It is expressed by ZéAjos in this place, and by déyav, 2 Tim. iv. 7, AywviGowou, dvrayoviZoue. See 2 Tim. i. 5; 1 Cor. ix. 25. The allusion is taken from their striving, wrestling, fighting, who contended publicly for a prize, victory, and reward, with the glory and honour attending it. The customs of the nations as then ob- served are frequently alluded unto in the New Testament. Now there was never any way of life wherein men voluntarily or of their own accord engaged themselves into such hardships, difficulties, and dangers, as that, when they contended in their games and strivings for mastery. Their preparation for it was a ‘‘universal temperance,” as the apostle declares, 1 Cor. ix. 25, and an abstinence from all sensual pleasures; wherein they offered no small violence unto their natural inclinations and lusts. In the conflicts themselves, in wrest- ling and fighting, with the like dangerous exercises in skill and strength, they endured all pains, sometimes death itself. And if they failed, or gave over through weariness, they lost the whole re- ward that lay before them. And with words which signify all this contest, doth the Holy Ghost express the fight or contention which believers have with sufferings. There is a reward proposed unto all such persons in the promises of the gospel, infinitely above all the crowns, honours, and rewards proposed unto them in the Olympic games. No man is compelled to enter into the way orgcourse of obtaining it, but they must make it an act of their own wills and choice; but unto the obtaining of it they must undergo a great strife, contention, and dangerous conflict. In order hereunto three things are required: (1.) That they prepare themselves for it, 1 Cor. ix. 25. Self-denial and readiness for the cross, contempt of the world and the enjoyments of it, are this preparation; without this we shall never be able to go through with this conflict. (2.) A vigorous act- ing of all graces in the conflict itself, in opposition unto and destruc- tion of our spiritual and worldly adversaries, Eph. vi. 10-18; Heb. xu. 8. He could never prevail nor overcome in the public contests of old who did not strive mightily, putting forth his strength and skill both to preserve himself and oppose his enemy. Nor is it pos- sible that we should go successfully through with our conflict, unless we stir up all graces, as faith, hope, trust, unto their most vigorous exercise. (3.) That we endure the hardship and the evils of the conflict with patience and perseverance; which is that the apostle here specially intends.
3. This is that which he commends in the Hebrews, with respect unto their first trials and sufferings, imcuetvure, *“ ye en- dured,” and bare patiently, so as not to faint or despond, or to turn away from your profession.’ They came off conquerors, having failed in no point of their conflict. This is that which they were called unto, that which God by his grace enabled them to, and
“Yarsueivars.
VER. 32-34.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 563
through which they had that success which the apostle would have them to “call to remembrance,” that they might be strengthened and encouraged unto what yet remained of the same kind. This hath been the lot and portion of sincere professors of the gospel in most ages. And we are not to think it a strange thing if it come to be ours in a higher degree than what as yet we have had expe- rience of. How many ways God is glorified in the sufferings of his people, what advantages they receive thereby, the prevailing testi- mony that is given thereby unto the truth and honour of the gospel, are commonly spoken to, and therefore shall not be insisted on.
Ver. 33.— Partly whilst ye were made a gazing-stock, both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.”
Secondly, Having mentioned their sufferings and their deport- ment under them in general, he distributes them into two heads in this verse. The first is what immediately concerned their own per- sons; and the second, their concernment in the sufferings of others, and their participations of them. This distribution is expressed by rovro “ev and otro o¢, “on this hand, and on that.” The whole of their sufferings was made up of various parts, many things concurred thereunto; they did not consist in any one trouble or affliction, but a confluence of many of various sorts did meet in them. And this, indeed, is for the most part the greatest difficulty in sufferings : many of them come at once upon us, so that we shall have no rest from their assaults. For it is the design of Satan and the world on these occasions to destroy both soul and body; and unto that end he will assault us inwardly by temptations and fears, outwardly in our names and reputations, and all that we are or have. But he that knows how to account all such things “but loss and dung, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus,’ is prepared for them all.