Obs. VIII. Faith in any church satisfies the souls of men with what is the good and deliverance of that state, although a man do know or is persuaded that personally he shall not see it himself, nor enjoy it. The faith of this kind is for the church, and not for men’s individual persons.
Obs. IX. Under despondencies as to particular appearances or com- ings of Christ, it is the duty of believers to fix and exercise their faith on his illustrious appearance at the last day.
Obs. X. Every particular coming of Christ in a way suited unto the present deliverance of the church, is an infallible pledge of his coming at the last unto judgment.
VER. 37-39. ] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 587
Obs. XI. Eyery promised coming of Christ is certain, and shall not be delayed beyond its appointed season, when no difficulties shall be able to stand before it.
Ver. 38, 39.—“ Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
The apostle proceedeth in the allegation of the testimony taken out of the prophet, and the application of it unto his present purpose. And he observeth not herein the order of the words, but keeps unto the sense and meaning of them. And two things he designeth in these two verses: First, To declare the event of the proposal made unto them of the coming of Christ, whereby he confirmeth his exhor- tation unto faith and patience in their suffering condition, verse 38. Secondly, An application of the different events mentioned by the prophet unto these Hebrews, verse 39.
In the first there are two different events expressed of the pro- posal and exhortation before given and made, with the means of them; the one is, that “the just shall live by his faith;’ and the other (which is built on the supposition, “if any man draw back”) is, then “my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”
1. In the first there are to be considered, (1.) The note of connec- _ thon, in the adversative particle 62; (2.) There is the qualzfication of
the person spoken of, he is “the just;” (3.) The means of his being so, or of his obtaining the event mentioned, which is “by faith;” (4.) What is the event itself, “ he shall live.”
Three times doth the apostle in his epistles make use of this pro- phetical testimony, Rom. i. 17, Gal. iii, 11, and in this place.
(1.) The note of/inference in the exceptive particle 6 we render “now; as afterwards we render xai, “but.” ‘The first, 7 proper sense might as well have been retained; “ but” in the first place, and “and” afterwards. But the difference is of no importance; 6¢ is here taken for } in the prophet, which is oft- times exceptive, PS}. And in the prophet the expression is plain, ~ because it followeth the description of the contrary frame unto what is here asserted, “he whose heart is lifted up:” but 62, in the trans- position of the words used by the apostle (for he first repeats the
last clause of the words, and then the former afterwards, which was more accommodate unto his purpose), doth not seem to have the force of an exceptive; nor hath it ‘so indeed, in respect unto what was affirmed in the foregoing verse; but it hath so unto the diffi- culties supposed in the case under consideration, which are the suffer- ings and temptations which professors of the gospel should incommon meet withal, and in the appearance of a delay as unto their deliver-
588 AN EXPOSITION OF THE: [CHAP. X.
ance out of them. “ But,” saith the apostle, ‘ however, notwithstand- ing these things, “ the just shall live by faith.” ’
(2.) The person spoken of is 6 d/xasos, “a just person,” a man really made just, or justified by faith, every one that is really and truly so. I doubt not but this is included in the word, and the state of justification is intended in it; to which purpose the words are elsewhere cited by the apostle. But yet that which is here principally intended, is that qualification of a righteous man which is opposed to pride and haste of spirit through unbelief, -whereon men draw back from God in the profession of the gospel. The “just man,” he who is humble, meek, sincere, subdued unto the will of God, waiting for his pleasure, as all justified persons are in their several degrees, “ he shall live;” for he is free from that principle of pride and unbelief which ruins the-souls of men in times of trial.
Obs. XII. There are especial qualifications of grace required unte steadfastness in profession in times of persecution and long-continued trials.
(3.) “Shall live by faith;” sowe. °Ex wiorews may be joined with d/wasog, and so express the instrumental cause, way, and means, whereby a man comes to be d/xouos, “just,”—that is, dixcuwéesc, “ justified; ” which is by faith. For it is by faith both that a man is justified, and also those gracious qualifications are wrought in him which enable him to persevere in his profession. It purifieth the heart of that leaven of pride which destroyeth all who are infected with it. Or it may denote the way and means whereby a just man doth abide and persevere in his profession unto life. And this sense I embrace, because it is the entrance of the apostle into — his demonstration of the mighty things which. faith will do, and which have been done and suffered through faith by believers, which he declares_here in general, namely, whatever difficulties and oppo- sitions a just man meets withal in the way to things eternal, faith will carry him through them with safety and success. -