The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 137

sal:ntion have a Diviner hope, and are taught to look for a Divine and eternal rest, which shall embrace more blessedness than we can at present imagine. It stands in happy contn:ist _to the toil of daily life and the sight of imperfection in ourselves and others. It signifies rest from the stern duties of the mortification and crucifixion of the flesh._ It is freedom from the changeableness of our present life, in which there is nothmg s~ble in our emotions, our relationships, and the society of which we form a part. It IS a blessed contrast to the mixed condition of the present state in which there_ are evil men and frequent doubts. Believers often look towards this divinely promised rest to encourage patience amidst the pressure of sickness and the force and frequency of temptation. It is, therefore, no wonder that Richard Baxter, who was burdened with frequent sickness, and tried by the controversies and troubles of his day, should find relief in writing his' Saint's Rest,' which was at once the fruit of his painful experience and his spiritual desire for the rest of heaven. II. THE CAUTION GIVEN TO CHRISTIANS LEST THEY RESEMBLE ANCIENT ISRAEL IN T_H~m FAILURE TO GAIN _THEI:t REST. The prospect of Canaan y;as a_gospel, or good t1dmgs, to the Hebrews, smce It assured them of a happy change m their condition. It brougb t before them the hope of freedom and the possession of a land which had a fertile soil and a genial climate. It promised them the blessing of the Divine protection, ordinances of worship, and life closed in pea.ce and. hope of the future, This was good tidings to them. Good tidings of great joy arn made known to us. They were announced by our Lord, who came to seek and save that which was lost, and to offer the blessings of salvation from sin now, and the perfection of our nature in the life and immortality which he has brought to light. He offers us pardon, justification, and the indwelling of the Spirit, who becomes the earnest of the purchased possession. Many of the people who started from Egypt never reached Canaan ; and Moses saw that many year after year died and were buried in the wilderness, and exclaimed, " We are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled." They failed in faith, and doubted the promises of the God of their fathers. Had they believed their faith wou1d have been turned into sight, and their hope into happy fruition. 'Ihe Word did not profit them, for they came short of the rest and blessedness of Canaan. 'l'he warning which was given to Jewish believers, and is conveyed through them to others of succeeding ages, reminds us of the vast and fatal effects of unbelief. 'l'he truth which they heard was not felt and held as o. Divine utterance. It teaches us that the gospel should be so admitted to influence and govern us, that it should be a part of our nature, as food received and digested becomes a part of our living structure. It is faith which gives it a presence and power in the vital forces of our souls. It unites the truth to our spiritual nature with a close and blessed association; and verifies the word of St. James, who describes it as" the engrafted "\Vord, which is able to save our souls." 'l'he importance of faith is to be seen in our Lord's constant requirement ;of its presence for the attainment of salvation. 'l'ho apostles follow in his hallowed footsteps, and urge believers to cherish this Divine grace Jest their career should end in disappointment and failure. To come short of Canaan was a calamity, because there was a loss of good, and life was closed under the gloomy sense of trans~ession; but to lose the glorious inheritance of eternal life is more affect- ing as the awf;l future outweighs the small and fading interests of the life that now is. The possibility of such a loss is sufficient to awaken fear.-B. Vers. 3-10.-The course of Ol,ristian effort '8 justified by the certainty of a future rest. In these verses we have the gradual development of the idea of rest. which be<>ins with the sabbath rest, in which God saw that all that he had mad, was very good, and he blessed the work of his hands. To keep this fact before the minds of Israel he ordained the celebration of the weekly sabbath, in which, "~ the Lord of time be required his people to remit their daily labours, and acknowledge him as the Creat~r of heaven and earth. The next advance in the illustration of the idea of rest was the prospect of Canaan aft_er tho ~andering for forty years in the wilde~ness. Many throu<>h unbelief fell short of its attamment. The next stage of progress m the unfolding of' this thought is that in which the psalmist a<idresscs the men of his day, who were tau<>ht to look forward to another and hight!r rest. 'rhis would he.ve been unnecesary il" the entrance into Canaan under the J.,iidership of Joshue. bad exhausted OB. IT. 1-16.] THE EPISTLE TU 'fHE HEBREWS. 129