38 and he that cometh will come, and will not tarry. * Now the just shall live by faith; but if he draw back, my soul 39 hath no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back to perdition, but of them who believe to the saving of the soul. CHAP. XI. 1. Now faith is the subsistence of things 2 hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. And by it 3 the elders obtained a good testimony. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were made of * Hab. ii. 3, &e. V. 38. Now the just-The justified person, shall live-In God's favour, a spiritual and holy life, by faith-As long as he retains that gift of God. But if he draw back-If he make shipwreck of his faith, my soul hath no pleasure in him-That is, I abhor him, I cast him off. V. 39. We are not of them who draw back to perdition-Like him mentioned ver. 38, but of them that believe-To the end, so as to attain eternal life. CHAP. XI. Ver. 1. The definition of faith given in this verse, and exemplified in the various instances following, undoubtedly includes justifying faith; but not directly as justifying. For faith justifies only as it refers to, and depends on Christ. But here is no mention of him, as the object of faith and in several of the instances that follow, no notice is taken of him or his salvation, but only of temporal blessings obtained by faith. And yet they may all be considered as evidences of the power of justifying faith in Christ, and of its extensive exercise, in a course of steady obedience, amidst difficulties and dangers of every kind. Now faith is the subsistence of things. hoped for, the evidence or conviction of things not seen-Things hoped for are not so extensive as things not seen. The former are only things future, and joyful to us; the latter are either future, past, or present, and those either good or evil, whether to us or others. The subsistence of things hoped for -Giving a kind of present subsistence to the good things which God has promised: the divine, supernatural evidence exhibited to, the conviction hereby produced in a believer, of things not seen-Whether past, future, or spiritual; particularly of God and the things of God. V. 2. By it the elders-Our forefathers. This chapter is a kind of summary of the Old Testament, in which the apostle comprises the designs, labours, sojournings, expectations, temptations, martyrdoms, of the ancients. The former of them had a long exercise of their patience: the latter suffered shorter, but sharper trials: obtained a good testimony-A most comprehensive word, God gave a testimony, not only of them, but to them: and they received his testimony, as if it had been the things themselves of which he testified, (ver. 4, 5, 39.) Hence they also gave testimony to others, and others testified of them. V. 3. By faith we understand that the worlds-Heaven and earth, and all things in them, visible and invisible, were made-Formed, fashioned, and finished, by the word-The sole command, of God-Without any instrument, or preceding matter. And as creation is the foundation and specimen of the whole divine economy, so faith in the Creator is the foundation and specimen of all faith: so that things which are seen-As the sun, earth, stars, were made of things which do not appear-Out of the dark, unapparent chaos, Gen. i. 2. And this very chaos was created by the divine power; for before it was thus created, it had no existence in nature. 4 things which do not appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained a testimony that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and by it, being dead, he yet speaketh. 5 By faith Enoch was translated so as not to see death, and was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he had a testimony that he pleased 6 God. But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his houshold, by which he condemned the world, and 8 became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. * By faith Abraham, being called to go out into the place which he was to receive for an inheritance, obeyed and went 9 out, though he knew not whither he went. + By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the joint heirs of 10 the same promise. For he looked for the city which hath 11 foundations, whose builder and former is God. By faith Gen. xii. 1-4. † Gen. xvii. 8. V. 4. By faith-In the future Redeemer, Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice-The firstlings of his flock, implying both a confession of what his own sins deserved, and a desire of sharing in the great atonement: than CainWhose offering testified no such faith, but a bare acknowledgment of God the Creator; by which faith he obtained both righteousness and a testimony of it: God testifying-Visibly, that his gifts were accepted: probably, by sending fire from heaven to consume his sacrifice, a token that justice seized on the sacrifice, instead of the sinner who offered it. And by it-By this faith, being dead, he yet speaketh-That a sinner is accepted only through faith in the great Sacrifice. V. 5. Enoch was not any longer found among men, though perhaps they sought for him, as they did for Elijah, 2 Kings ii. 17. He had this testimony -From God in his own conscience. V. 6. But without faith-Even some divine faith in God, it is impossible to please him: For he that cometh to God-In prayer, or any other act of worship, must believe that he is. V. 7. Noah being warned of things not seen as yet-Of the future deluge; moved with fear, prepared an ark, by which open testimony he condemned the world-Who neither believed nor feared. V. 9. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise-The promise was made before, Gen. xii. 7, dwelling in tents-As a sojourner, with Isaac and JacobWho, by the same manner of living, shewed the same faith. Jacob was born fifteen years before the death of Abraham: the joint heirs of the same promise -Having all the same interest therein. Isaac did not receive this inheritance from Abraham, nor Jacob from Isaac, but all of them from God. V. 10. He looked for a city which hath foundations-Whereas a tent hath none: whose builder and former is God-Of which God is the sole contrivers former, and finisher. *Sarah also herself received power to conceive seed, even when she was past age, because she accounted him faith12 ful who had promised. Therefore there sprang even from one, and him as it were dead, a posterity as the stars in heaven for multitude, and as the sand which is on the sea13 shore innumerable. All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers 14 and sojourners on the earth. For they who speak thus, 15 shew plainly, that they seek their own country. And truly if they had been mindful of that from which they came out, they might have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; 17 For he hath prepared a city for them. By faith + Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac; yea, he that had received the promises, offered up his only-begotten 18 son, Of whom it had been said, † In Isaac shall thy seed 19 be called: Accounting that God was able even to raise him from the dead; from whence also he did receive him 20 in a figure. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, * Gen. xxi. 2. + Gen. xxii. 1, &c. Gen. xxi. 12. V. 11. Sarah also herself—Though at first she laughed at the promise, Gen. xviii. 12. V. 12. As it were dead-Till his strength was supernaturally restored, which continued for many years after. V. 13. All these-Mentioned ver. 7-11,' died in faith-In death faith acts most vigorously: not having received the promises-The promised blessings. Embraced-As one does a dear friend when he meets him. V. 14. They who speak thus, shew plainly, that they seek their own countryThat they keep in view and long for their native home. V. 15. If they had been mindful of―Their native country, Ur of the Chaldeans, they might have easily returned. V. 16. But they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly-This is a full convincing proof, that the patriarchs had a revelation and a promise of eternal glory in heaven. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; seeing he hath prepared for them a city-Worthy of God to give. V. 17. By faith Abraham-When God made that glorious trial of him, offered up Isaac-The will being accepted, as if he had actually done it: yea, he that had received the promises-Particularly that grand promise, In Isaac shall thy seed be called, offered up this very son, the only one he had by Sarah. V. 18. In Isaac shall thy seed be called-From him shall the blessed seed spring. V. 19. Accounting that God was able even to raise him from the dead-Though there had not been any instance of this in the world. From whence also-To speak in a figurative way, he did receive him-Afterwards, snatched from the jaws of death. V. 20. Blessed-Gen. xxvii. 27, 39. Prophetically foretold the particular blessings they should partake of: Jacob and Esau-Preferring the elder before the younger. * 21 concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when dying, * blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped, 22 bowing down on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when dying, made mention of the children of Israel, 23 and gave charge concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child, and they were 24 not afraid of the king's commandment. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of 25 Pharaoh's daughter, Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of 26 sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he looked off 27 unto the recompence of reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as 28 seeing him that is invisible. By faith § he celebrated the passover, and the pouring out of the blood, that he who 29 destroyed the first-born, might not touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, which 30 the Egyptians trying to do, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho, having been encompassed seven days, 31 fell down. By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with them that believed not, having received the spies with 32 peace. And what shall I say more? For the time would fail me, to discourse of Gideon, and Barak, and Sampson, * Gen. xlviii. 16. + Gen. 1. 24. Exod. xiv. 15. § Exod. xii. 12-18. V. 21. Jacob when dying-That is, when near death: bowing down on the top of his staff-As he sat on the side of his bed. V. 22. Concerning his bones-To be carried into the land of promise. V. 26. The reproach of Christ-That which he bore, for believing in the Messiah to come, and acting accordingly: for he looked off-From all those perishing treasures, and beyond all those temporal hardships, unto the recompence of reward-Not to an inheritance in Canaan: he had no warrant from God to look for this, nor did he ever attain it; but what his believing ancestors looked for, a future state of happiness in heaven. V. 27. By faith he left Egypt-Taking all the Israelites with him: not then fearing the wrath of the king-As he did many years before, Exod. ii. 14. V. 28. The pouring out of the blood-Of the paschal lamb, which was sprinkled on the door-posts, lest the destroying angel should touch the Israelites. V. 29. They-Moses, Aaron, and the Israelites, passed the Red Sea-It washed the borders of Edom, which signifies Red. Thus far the examples are cited from Genesis and Exodus: those that follow are from the former and the latter prophets. V. 30. By the faith-Of Joshua. V. 31. Rahab Though formerly one not of the fairest character. V. 32. After Samuel, the prophets are properly mentioned. David also was a prophet, but he was a king too: the prophets-Elijah, Elisha, &c. including likewise the believers who lived with them. * and Jepthah, and David, and Samuel, and the prophets? 33 Who by faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. 34 § Quenched the violence of fire, || escaped the edge of the sword, ** out of weakness was made strong, ++ became valiant in fight, put to flight armies of the aliens; 35 §§ Women received their dead raised to life again: others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might 36 obtain a better resurrection. And others had trial of mockings and scourging, yea, moreover, of bonds and 37 imprisonment. They were stoned, were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheep-skins, in goat-skins, destitute, afflicted, 38 tormented: (Of whom the world was not worthy ;) they wandered in desarts, and mountains, and dens, and caves 39 of the earth. And all these having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they might not be perfected without us. † 1 Sam. viii. 9, xii. 3, &c. ↑ Dan. vi. 22. Judg. xv. 19, &c. xvi. 23, &c. ** Judg. iv. 14, &c. §§ 2 Kings iv. 35. 1 Kings xvii. 22. V. 33, 34. David, in particular, subdued kingdoms: Samuel, (not excluding the rest,) wrought righteousness. The prophets, in general, obtained promises, both for themselves, and to deliver to others. Prophets also, stopped the mouths of lions, as Daniel, and quenched the violence of fire, as Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego. To these examples, whence the nature of faith clearly appears, those more ancient ones are subjoined, (by a transposition, and in an inverted order,) which receive light from these. Jephthah escaped the edge of the sword: Sampson out of weakness was made strong: Barak became valiant in fight: Gideon put to fight armies of the aliens. Faith animates to the most heroic enterprises, both civil and military. Faith overcomes all impediments, effects the greatest things, attains to the very best, and inverts, by its miraculous power, the very course of nature. V. 35. Women-Naturally weak, received their dead children raised to life; others were tortured-From those who acted great things, the apostle rises higher, to those who shewed the power of faith by suffering, not accepting deliverance-On sinful terms that they might obtain a better resurrectionA higher reward, seeing the greater their sufferings, the greater would be their glory. V. 36. And others-The apostle seems here to pass on to recent examples. V. 37. They were sawn asunder-As, according to the tradition of the Jews, Isaiah was by Manasseh; were tempted-(Torments and death are mentioned alternately,) every way; by threatenings, reproaches, tortures, the variety of which cannot be expressed: and again, by promises and allurements. V. 38. Of whom the world was not worthy-It did not deserve so great a blessing: they wandered-Being driven out from men. V. 39. And all these-Though they obtained a good testimony, ver. 2, yet did not receive the great promise, the heavenly inheritance. V. 40. God having provided some better things for us-Namely, everlasting. glory, that they might not be perfected without us-That is, that we might all be perfected together in heaven. |