There was found in them labour of love so great was their love, that it caused them not only to do such works as were good in their own nature; but also to labour in them, or do them with all their might. Agreeably to this, Mr. Henry saith, "GoD had wrought a principle of holy love and charity in them, which had discovered itself in suitable works which would not be forgotten of GOD.*

:

STEADAST.

Verse 18. They had fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before them which hope THEY HAD as an anchor of the soul, both SURE and On this passage the learned Suicerus says, "Metaphoricè vocatur spes Christiana, anchora animæ, quæ in ipso cælorum adyta penetrans, animam nostrum tutam ac firmam præstat adversus omnes tentationum procellas" that is, The CHRISTIAN HOPE is metaphorically stiled, The anchor of the soul, which penetrating into the recesses of heaven, preserves

* Hen. on the place.

the soul safe and steadfast against all the storms of tempation.* So St. Chrysostom, Ωσπερ η αγκυρα εξαρτηθεισα το πλοίς ουκ αφίησιν αυτό περιφερεσθαι, και μύριοι παρασαλευτωσιν ανεμοι, αλλ' εξαρτηθεί σα εδραίον ποιει· ούλω και η ελπις ; as the anchor cast into the sea, does not suffer the ship to be carried away by the waves: though the winds be contrary, but being thrown out renders her steadfast, so it is with hope.t Again he saith, Ορας της πίσεως το κατορθωμα, ολι ως αγκυρα τις ασφαλης, στις εκβάλλει τον σαλον όπερ εν και αυτος ο Παυλος τους Εβραίοις επιτελ λει, έτωσι λεγων περί της πιςεως" Ην ως αγκυραν εχομεν της ψυχης ασφαλη και βεβαιαν, και εισερχομενην εἰς το εσώτερον το καλαπετασματος. Ένα γαρ ακέσας αγκυραν, μη νομίσης καλο και θελκεθαι, δεικνυσιν, οτι καινη τις αυλη της αγκυρας η φυσις, ε καλω πιέζεσα, αλλ' ανω κουφίζεσαι την διάνοιαν, και προς τον ερανον μεθισώσα, και εις το εσώτερον το κα]απελασματος χειραγωγόσα· καταπετασμα γαρ εν αυθα τον ερανον εκάλεσε. That is, you see the excellency of faith, it will free

*Suicerus page 63. a.

you from

every fluc

Chrysost. Hom. Il,

tuation; which Paul writes to the Hebrews, speaking thus of it; which we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast, and enters in within the veil. For, lest you should think, when you hear of an anchor, that it will pull you downward, he shews you that it is an anchor of a new kind, which does not depress the mind, but raises it up to Heaven, and leads you as by the hand to those things which are within the veil; for in this place he calls Heaven, the veil.* Hence Mr. Henry, speaking of this hope, saith, "1. It is sure in its own nature, for it is the special work of GOD in the soul, it is a good hope through grace; it is not a flattering hope made out of a spider's web, but it is a true work of God, it is a strong and substantial thing. 2. It is steadfast as to its object: it is an anchor that has taken good hold, it enters into that which is within the

*Chrysost. Hom. Ik

veil, it is an anchor that is cast upon the rock, the Rock of ages; it does not think to fasten in the sands, but enters within the veil, and fixes there upon Christ; he is the object, he is the anchor-hold of the believer's hope."*

Chap. x. 23. They had the same kind of faith with the apostle, and had made the same profession of it. Verse 26. They had received the knowledge of the truth. Verse 29. They were sanctified by the blood of the covenant. Verse 32. They had been illuminated, and had endured a great fight of affliction: or as Mr. Henry saith, "They had suffered, in former days after they were illuminated; that is, as soon as GOD had breathed life into their souls, and caused divine light to spring up in their minds, and taken them into favour and covenant."†

Verse 34. They had taken joyfully the spoiling of their goods, KNOW

*Hen, on the place.

Ibid.

ING IN THEMSELVES THAT THEY HAD IN HEAVEN A BETTER AND AN ENDURING SUBSTANCE.

Verse 35. THEY HAD A CONFI

DENCE WHICH HAD A GREAT RECOM

PENSE OF REWARD: which according to Mr. Henry, "carries a present reward in it, in holy peace, and joy, and much of God's presence and power resting upon them; and it shall have a great recompense of reward hereafter."*

Verse 39. At the very time the apostle wrote to them, They believed

TO THE SAVING OF THEIR SOULS.

Chap. xii. 22-24. They were come to Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the innumerable company of angels; to the general assembly of the church of the first-born which are written in heaven, to GoD the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant,

*Hen. on the place.