Hebrews 12

Hebrews 12:1

ARe compassed about] terms taken from those publike sports of Races, and the like, that were performed in your Circles or Amphitheaters. The beleevers which are already glorified, are the witnesses: as well because their example ought to instruct men in the duties of the Race, and assure them of the end of it: as likewise because they are as it were spectators from Heaven of the Churches Combates, looking after her victories, rejoycing at her constancy which God reveales unto them, by the relation of his Angels, or otherwise,Revel. 12. 10, 11. the burthen or weight are all manner of worldly cares, affections, or desires. Or, vice, and corruption. The Race is the continuall progresse to Heavenly glory, which is also the marke and end of the Race; the length of the Race, is all our life time, See Philippians 3:13-14. Which doth so easily beset us] the Italian, Hinder us; the similitude seems to be taken from such long and large garments a were wont to be laid off in such Races, to be so much the freer. Now sinne is often times called a garment, or robe, Ephes. 4. 22.

Col. 2. 11. & 3. 9, 10. Other copies have it, sinne which cannot be restrained, like a garment that cannot be girded close enough but that it will hinder one from running. and therefore is better to be laid quite away. Or, sinne which is so easie, and therefore a man may so easily slip into, and is opposite to that hard and laboursome spiritual race.

Hebrews 12:2

Unto Jesus] to take from him a most perfect and lively example of constancy, and so secure us through faith in him, who is the head of this warfare of faith. And who doth likewise by his power beare up our faith, and brings her strivings to a happy period For the joy] namely, to obtaine in his human nature the Heavenly glory and happinesse; to which according to Gods order and his vocation, he could no otherwaies attaine, but onely by his Crosse and sufferings, Luke 24:26. Phil. 2. 8. 9. 1 Peter 1:11.

Hebrews 12:3

Him that] namely, what the height of his person is, and what the greatnesse of his sufferings hath been, comparing them to the meannesse of your condition, and the smallnesse of your sufferings.

Hebrews 12:4

Unto blood] namely, unto death and bodily punishments, for the first persecutions of the Church did generally extend no further, then to the taking away of their goods, or in outrages and disgraces, Heb.0. 33. 34. Peradventure he hath a relation to the freeing of those. Fencers which were not condemned to die in that action: after that they had plaied so long upō the stage, as that they were come to the losse of blood Against sinne] namely, against sinners, and unbeleevers, and against the whole Kingdome of sinne, which is the divels Kingdome. O against your own corruption, which the Lord would reform by his crosse, and it continually spurns against it.

Hebrews 12:7

If ye] so the fault be not in you for want of faith and patience; the afflictions on Gods side, are but onely visitations for correction, very well b〈…〉ing a father, and saving to you.

Hebrews 12:8

All are] namely, all Gods children, at all times, See Psal 73 14. 1 Peter 5:9.

Hebrews 12:9

Of Spirits] namely, who of himselfe, and immediately hath created mans soule, and given it to him. Or the spirituall father, who hath regenerated our soules to his owne image in Christ And live] that by our afflictions we may obtaine the fruit and reward of everlasting life.

Hebrews 12:10

For a few] namely, for the daies of our infancie, for which these corrections, are onely fit. He seemes to point at the shortnesse of the time of our afflictions; during our minority in this world: opposite to the full and ripe ago of eternity, See 1 Corinthians 13:11. & 2 Corinthians 4:17.

Hebrews 12:11

The peaceable] namely, a just reformation and instruction, joyned with a spirituall repose of the soule, opposite to all manner of trouble of the flesh in afflictions.

Hebrews 12:12

Last up] take heart and strength, knees to runne, and hands to fight, vers. 1. & 4. See Iob 4 3.

Hebrews 12:13

Make straight] make the way of the Gospel plaine and easie for you, by your voluntary obedience, and using of it, overcomming all difficulties that you shall meet upon the way: So he will have the believers strength to overcome the roughnesse of the way, and not the nature of the way to be altered, by reason of the Travellers weaknesse That which is] lest those who have neglected to strengthen themselves in Christian vertues be not through Gods just punishment, put out of the way into apostacie.

Hebrews 12:15

Fail of.] See Heb. 4. 1. & 6. 4. & 10. 6 Any root] lest any grievous scandall of heresie or apostacie, growing and spreading it selfe abroad like a venomous plant Trouble you]like poyson that troubleth the bodies health.

Hebrews 12:16

Prophane person] or impure and polluted person. And under this name are comprehended all those, who for the pleasures of the flesh, do renounce the heavenly blessing, as Esaudid.

Hebrews 12:17

The blessing] when he would have had the holy Seed and Covenant of Gods grace preserved and propagated in him, and his posterity He was rejected] his request was denied,Isaac telling him that he was excluded from it by Gods decree, Malachi 1:2. He found] he could not get Isaac to alter his resolution. Or his repentance could not take place, and was of none effect Sought it] namely, the blessing.

Hebrews 12:18

For ye] he confirmes the exhortation of vers. 15, 16. by the grace of God communicated in all abundance and vertue, by the Gospell, which cannot be rejected nor contemned without grievous sinne. And likewise incites and binds men to fulfill the Evangelicall precepts and exhortations, and also gives the means and power to do it, Romans 6:14. And to extoll this grace, he compares the covenant of the Law, full of rigor, threatnings, and terrour (as it was figured by the manner in which it was given) with the spirituall and gracious covenant of the Gospell That might be touched] namely, Sinai, an earthly mount which God had forbad to be touched, Exodus 19:12. opposite to the spirituall hill of Sion, v. 22. Galatians 4:24.

Hebrews 12:19

They that heard] see the meaning of this upon, Gal. 3. 19. 20.

Hebrews 12:20

They could not] they were quite cast down at that: God willing to make a covenant with them should keepe them farre off from him with such terrible threatnings, untill such time, as having offered Sacrifices, and being sprinkled with the blood of the Covenant, they were admitted to come to God, Exodus 24:6; Exodus 24:8-10. To shew, that not the Law, of it selfe gives accesse to God, but the propitiation in Christs blood onely, v. 24.

Hebrews 12:21

Moses] though he was a Mediator of this Covenant, and a figure of Christ, Galatians 3:19. yet he testified, that the confidence of his soule towards God, was not grounded upon the Law, but upon the blood of Christ shadowed by the blood of those beasts I exceedingly feare] this is not set downe in Moses his History, and we must suppose that the Apostle hath known it, and spoken it by revelation.

Hebrews 12:22

Ye are come] by the Gospell ye have been called, and by faith you have been received into the communion of the Christian Church figured by Jerusalem, and by Mount Sion, SeeGalat. 4. 26. Of Angels] which are part of this body of the Church.

Hebrews 12:23

To the generall] namely, to the universall Church, represented by that generall assembly of the people when the Law was given And Church of] namely, to the true, and spirituall communion with the ancient fathers, whose names are written in the booke of life, See Exodus 32:32. Philippians 4:3. The Judge] not onely, the Law-giver, as when he gave the Law, but as absolute and soveraigne Judge to pardon and absolve whomsoever he pleaseth To the Spirits] namely, to the company of beleevers soules who have been justified, and afterwards perfectly sanctified and glorified in Heaven.

Hebrews 12:24

To the blood] namely, to the participation of Christs blood, spilt for the purging of sins, and wih which all beleevers have been besprinkled; that is to say, which is actually applied unto them by the gift of faith, to ratifie the new Covenant; as the ancient one was ratified by the sprinkling of the blood of Sacrifices, Exodus 24:8. That speaketh] which as one should say, presents it selfe before God, not to desire vengeance of the murtherous Jewes, as Abels blood did of Cain, Gen. 4 10. but to obtaine favour and pardon for them, see Hebrews 10:20. 1 John 5:8.

Hebrews 12:25

Him that] namely, Christ, who is exalted into Heaven, from whence he gloriously speakes to men by his Spirit and Word If they] namely, the Israelites who were pointed at, vers. 19. Him that] namely, the same Sonne of God, in his owne person, who by his power produced all those terrible effects, when he gave his Law by Moses, Acts 7:38. According to others,Moses, see Hebrews 10:28. On earth] namely, in the aire (neere the earth, where he appeared, Exodus 19:18; Exodus 19:20.) which is also called Heaven, Exodus 20:22. Which by that as the Apostle speaketh here, ought to be distinguished from the Heaven of glory.

Hebrews 12:26

Shooke the] by an earthquake when he gave the law, Exod: 19. 18.

Hebrews 12:27

This word] the meaning is, In that passage of Haggai is not meant a shaking of the creatures, such a one as was at the time as the Law was given, but an universall and finall change and annihilation of the state and form of all the creatures, at Christs last appearing in judgement, which shall be the accomplishment of his Kingdome, described by Haggai. As of things]namely, which as they have been created by God, of a corruptible matter and nature, so shall they also by him be brought to nothing Those things] namely, Christs Kingdome, and the state of a blessed life, which are immutable and everlasting things.

Hebrews 12:28

Wherefore] seeing that all earthly things must have an end, let us with all our hearts forsake the world, and by faith lay hold on Christs everlasting Kingdome: and keep our selves in the fruition of Gods grace, and of the gift of his Spirit, to yeeld him the true spirituall service, which is onely pleasing to him, Hebrews 13:16. See 2 Peter 3:11.