Vers. 10-12.-These verses affirm the gwry of Ghrist in his creative power, and in the t//Tlchangeableness of his nature. The quotation from Ps. cii. is cited with fearless confidence as belonging to him "who was God," and was "with God" and without whom "was not anything made that was made." This truth, address~d to Christian Jews by a Jewish writer, is the most conclusive proof that it was the work of the Holy Spirit to raise their minds, so jealous for the honour of Jehovah, to an understandin" and cordial acknowledgment of the snblime mystery or the irlorions Three-One. Ou~ Lord is immutable and always like himself, and therefore stands in rightful contrast to angels ; and to men, who are exposed to changes in action and feeling, and now are weak and then strong, now so1Towful for sin and then rejoice in forgiveness and recovered peace. He is ever the same, and amid the vicissitndes in which the founda- tions of the earth will be overthrown, and the fabric of heaven will become like some threadbare and worn-out garment, he will be unchangeable. This truth is repeated at the close of the Epistle, in words well;Jmown to Christian hearts, which declare that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." This thonght was full of the richest consolation to those who looked with anxious eyes at the disap- pearance of the Mosaic Law; and is an abiding justification of the faith and hope or believers, who have begun a career of spiritual life which mast be marked by changes now, changes in death and the resurrection, and through the experiences of ct,;rnity; for his word remains in all its validity and power, "Because I live, ye shall live also."-B. Vera. 13, 14.-The contrast between our Lord and the angels reappears in the impressive quotation from Ps. ex., which is so entirely Messianic that it is alluded to no less than ten times in the range of the New 'l'estament. It affirms the superiority and supremacy of our Lord in so conclusive a manner that no ingenuity of perverse interpretation can successfully apply it to any monarch, priest, or warrior whatsoever. All enemies who steadfastly resist his clnim must be overthrown by his righteous and sovereign might. Some have been brought down and arc now under his feet. Rebellious Jerusalem was overthrown. Western idolatries have left their witness to bis power iu broken columns and deserted temples. Hereafter systems of evil, false philosophies, corrupt institutions, impenitent and irreconcilable men, and probably some nations, must yield to his judicial sentence and final punishment. Some things be will dash in pieces. like a potter's vessel. He sits at the right hand of the Father; but the angels are ministering spirits, and go forth at his bidding to assist and protect those who shall in time enjoy the fulnese of salvation.-B.
Ver. 1.-God speaking to men. I. THE GENERAL TRUTH THAT Gon SPEAKS TO MEN. The possibility is asRumed of such a communication from God to men. Nothing less can be meant than this-that even as one man can clearly make known the thoughts and wishes that are in him to another, so God can communicate his thoughts and wishes to a being with a nature liko man. It is quite nllowable to say thnt a voice of God speaks forth from the things he has made, just as a voice speaks fort.h from our works and actions; but beyond nil voices we thus infer there is surely n direct utterance of God. What on inspiring thought, that at any moment a voice may come to the heart of man out of the infinite depths, not heard indeed by the outward ear, but still making evident that it is not eomethin~ imagined from within, or something that rises from a purely human and earthly level I Thus we may clossify the words that are spoken to o. man: 1. There is soliloquy. When a man listens to his own heart, to its suggestions, its apologies, its speculations, its putting of pros and cons. There are things said and listened to which dare not come out in audible speech. 2. The speech of men to ench other, foll of limitations and imperfections, only too often trifling, frivolous, barbed with sneering, contempt, envy, jealousy. 3. The speech of God to men, of which the first chief thing to be noticed is that it does come from above; not from the c.onfusion within, or the confusion without and around. II. Gon SPEAKING TO CERTAIN MEN BY PROPHETS. This Epistle weut forth originally within the limits of a nation. The writer is writing to Hebrews; he at once bids them look to the past, the distant past, and yet the past out of which their present had come. They had to consider their fathers, and thus the succession in which they themselvea 4-0 THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. [oR. I, 1-14,