"• 1 Cor. X. 1 — 6, 11. Jude, ver. 5.
THE REST THAT REMAINS FOR GOd's PEOPLE,
Heb. iv. 9. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of
God.
THE servants of God possess many distinguished privileges. Their state in this world is far happier than that of the ungodly ; but there is an infinitely richer portion reserved for them hereafter. To this David had respect in that awful denunciation % whence it appears, that though prefigured by other rests, it remains yet to be enjoyed ^
a Ps. xcv. 11.
*• The Apostle's argument seems to be this : God instituted a day of rest in commemoration of his having ceased from his works of cre- ation. And many centuries afterwards he promised a rest to his people in the land of Canaan. But that rest vv^as only typical of a more glorious sabbath, of which David spake a long time after the other had been enjoyed. From hence the Apostle concludes that there
I. Who are the people of God ?
This title cannot belong to all indiscriminately —
[The greater part of the world are idolatrous heathens. The generality of those who are called Christians are ignorant of God. Impiety and profaneness abound in every place : this indisputably proves the Apostle's assertion*^. The sinful works of men plainly shew whose people they are"^; nor do all who " profess godliness" really belong to God^. There are many who deceive both themselves and others^.]
Those who alone have a right to it are described by God himself^.
They " worship God in the Spirit" —
[It is the characteristic of God's enemies that they neglect prayer'* : nor will formal services prove us to be God's people'. No worship is acceptable to him but that which is spiritual^. His faithful servants are importunate at the throne of graced]
They "rejoice in Christ Jesus" —
[They do not merely acknowledge him to be the Messiah : they make daily application to him as the only ground of their hopes. Their hearts are lifted up with devout affection to- wards him. They delight in him as their all-sufficient Re- deemer™.]
They " have no confidence in the flesh" —
[They are deeply convinced that " in them dwelleth no good thing." They see the folly of trusting to their own strength or wisdom". They acquiesce fully in Solomon's direction" — . They look for every thing in Christ alone p.]
To these belong many glorious privileges.
II. What is the rest which remaineth for them ? They have already in some respect entered into
rest "i —
[They are freed from the terrors of a guilty conscience''.
must yet be a rest, or 2a/3/3a7-t<r/ioe (for he changes the word which he had before used, in order more strongly to intimate the analogy betvi^een the different rests there spoken of) remaining for the people of God.
c Rom. ix. 6.
d 1 John iii. 8.
John
viii. 44.
e Rom. ii. 28, 29.
Tit. i. 16.
»■ Rev
. iii. 1. Jam. i. 26,
g Phil. iii. 3.
•' Ps. liii. 4.
' Matt. XV. 8, 9,
k John iv. 23, 24.
• Eph. vi. 18.
"1 1 Pet. i. 8.
" l^rov. iii. 5.
" Prov. xxviii.
2(i.
1* 1 Cor. i. 30.
1 Uvh. iv. 3.
f Heb. X. 22.
2283.1 THE REST THAT REMAINS FOR GOd's PEOPLE. 203
They feel a delight in ordinances and Sabbaths. Their minds are fully satisfied with the Gospel salvation. They experience the tfuth of our Lord's promise^ — .]
But the rest which awaits them is far superior to that they now possess —
They will enjoy a freedom from all labours and sorrows —
[They are constrained to labour as long as they are in the world. Their whole life resembles a race or warfare. They can obtain nothing without strenuous exertions * : and of ne- cessity they are encompassed with many sorrows^. But in heaven they will cease from their labours^ : nor will their happiness have any intermission or alloy y.]