lmpeni~ent, and disobedient. 3. Final a,posta_sy. (Ver. 12.) A~ acts produce habits, so habits form character. A human heart mdurated by unbelief, and confirmed in moral insensibility, will lapse either into atheism, or immorality, or settled worldlinc~s; and, unless Divine grace interpose, will for ever" fall away from the livino- God.'' This danger easily besets us all-much more easily than many professing Christians suspect. "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standcth take heed lest he fall." II. A STRIKING HISTORIOAL WARNING, (Vers. 7-11.) This the apostle introduces in words borrowed from Ps. xcv., which describe the career of the Israelites of Moses' day, in the wilderness. They had, as a people, been: 1. Highly privi1eged. (Ver. 9.) As the result of the ten plagues of Egypt, and by means of their magnificent march through the Red Sea, they bad been emancipated from slavery. They "saw God's works forty years," in the falling manna, in the water from the rock that followed them, in their raiment which did not wear out, and in the cloudy pillar which accom- panied them on their journeys. Yet they were: 2. Habitually faithless. (Vers. 8, 9, 16.) They despised these abiding miracles, and demanded other signs as a condition of believing. They doubted and grumbled; they longed to return again to Ef!ypt; they refused at God's command to go up to take possession of Canaan; and at last they fell into the idolatries of the heathen around. Zin, Hephidim, Taberah, Kadesh-barnea, and Shittim are names which remind us how the ransomed Jews did "al way err in their heart." They were obstinate and unanimous in their apostasy (vers. 16, 17). So they were: 3. Hopelessly doomed. (Vers. 11, 17-19.) The words of the psalm," I aware in my wrath," reflect the intensity and depth of the Divine displeasure; and the language borrowed from the history, "whose carcases fell in the wilderness" (Numb. xiv. 29, 32), suggests the deep misery of the retribution which fell upon that entire generation. But a rnin still more fearful shall bo the portion of all who refuse or despise the gospel spoken by our Lord Jesus, the" Apostle" greater than Moses. III. AN EARNEST PRAOTIOAL COUNSEL. "'l'ake heed, brethren" (ver. 12). This exhortation is, in fact, the key-note of the whole Epistle; it is the chord which rules the strain. While the grace of God does not allow any real Christian to backslide irretriev- ably, he preserves his people from apostasy by tho use of means suited to their rational and moral nature. So, here, the Holy Spirit exhorts every individual believer (ver. 1~) to "take heed." If we would not" fall away from the living God," we must: 1. "Hear his voice." (Vars. 7, 15.) That voice speaks to us now in the sweet and glorious gospel, and tells us of far grander" works" than those which wero wrought for ancient Israel. "God bath spoken unto us in his Son" (eh. i. 2). To obey his voice will at once soften and strengthen our hearts. It will make us large-hearted as well ns tender- hearted. 2. "Exhore one another.n (Ver. 13.) Christians are associated in Church fellowship that they may promote one another's welfare. 'l'he Church is II spiritual mutual benefit society. Friendly counsel and admonition are a valuable safeguard against apostasy. Two considerations which should stimulate to this duty are mentioned: (1) the shortness of life; (2) the insidiousness of sin. 3. Continue "jfrm unto the end." (Ver. 14.) It is dangerous for a believer to rest satisfied with the consciousness of his original conversion; he ought to be constantly turning from sin to Christ. It is unwise for him to lay stress on past frames and feelings; he must cherish through life an always-fresh and living "confidence" in the Saviour-a faith which more and more certifies itself by the ripening "fruit of the Spirit." He must remain ever on his gunr,l against unbelief. Only by persevering steadfastness will any one who has accepted the "heavenly calling" finally enter into the heavenly" rest."
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-The sublimest contemplation. "Wherefore, holy brethren, partnkers of a heavenly calling," etc. l, THE OBABAOTERIZATION OF CHBISTIANB. 1. They ar11 fraternal in nlation. "Brethren." These Hebrew Christians were brethren in a twofold sense to tho writer of the Epistle-first, as being his kindred according to the flesh; and next, ns being of the same religious faith. Every Christian ill a member of a glorious brotborhood. We are brothers inasmuch as we have all one Father and one cider Brother; we aro 94 THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. [OH, m. 1-H.l