religion : how little victory have they over the world and their own corruptions, in comparison of what is attained by more diligent Christians ! How little do they know of heavenly consolations ! For the most part they are full of doubts and fears ; and instead of enjoying that peace which passeth all understanding, they are harassed with the accusations of a guilty conscience. Their lamps being but seldom trimmed, they ajEFord but a dim light to the world around them, and experience but little of the light of God's countenance in their souls. Moreover, at the close of their day, they frequently set as the sun behind a cloud; and instead of having " an abundant entrance into the kingdom of their Lord," they leave the world, uncertain whither they are going, and what shall be the issue of the future judgment. If we inquire into the cause of all this, we shall find it was sloth : they too often slumbered and slept, when they should have been watching unto prayer with all perseverance. If such then be the effects of sloth, where it gains only an occasional ascendency, what must be the consequence of an habitual subjection to its dominion ? Alas! its willing captives can expect nothing, but to perish under the wrath of an offended God*.]
Having given us this salutary caution, the Apostle tells us,
II. What line we should pursue —
He proposes to our imitation the patriarchs and saints of old —
These are described as " inheriting the promises" —
[They had not indeed received the promised Messiah^, having died long before he came into the world ; but they had partaken in all the fruits and benefits, which he was in due time to purchase with his blood. When on earth, they, like minors, had enjoyed as much of the inheritance as had been judged proper for them ; but now they were of full age, and had attained the full possession of all the promises : having been adopted into the family of God, and been begotten by his word and Spirit, they were heirs of God, and had God himself, together with all the glory of heaven, as their un- alienable portion.]
The way by which they attained to this inheritance was "by faith and patience" —
[They had no claim whatever to it upon the ground of their own merit: they all looked to that " Lamb of God that
=' Matt. \\v. 26. b Ileb. xi. 39.