Hebrews 13

Use 1. See here the excellency of the divine nature in its immutability: this is the glory of the Godhead. Mutableness denotes weakness; it is not so in God, he is the same yesterday and today, and for ever (Hebrews 13:8). Men are fickle and mutable, like Reuben, unstable as wat…

From where is it that so much fraudulency in dealing, so much falseness in friendship, such crosses in relations; from where is it children prove undutiful, they that should be as the staff of the parents' age, are a sword to pierce their hearts: from where is it servants are un…

(Psalm 119:30) I have chosen the way of truth, I have stuck to your testimonies. Secondly, Get a real work of grace in your heart (Hebrews 13:9). It is a good thing that the heart [reconstructed: be] established with grace.

God has threatened to wound the hairy scalp of every one that goes on still in his trespasses (Psalm 68:21). He has threatened to judge adulterers (Hebrews 13:3), to be avenged upon the malicious (Psalm 10:14). You behold mischief and spite, to requite it with your own hand: to…

They who have God to be their Father, follow peace as well as holiness. God the Father is called the God of Peace (Hebrews 13:20). God the Son, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

(1 Corinthians 7:2) Let every man have his own wife, and every woman have her own husband. Marriage is honorable, and the bed undefiled (Hebrews 13:4). God did institute marriage in Paradise; he brought the woman to the man (Genesis 2:22).

(2.) The house-thief, who purloins and filches out of his master's cash, or steals his wares and drugs. The Apostle says, Some have entertained angels into their houses unawares (Hebrews 13:2). But many masters have entertained thieves into their houses unawares.

3. Take heed of the sin of uncleanness. (Hebrews 13:4). Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Such as burn in uncleanness, are in great danger to burn one day in hell.

Covetous persons forget this prayer, Give us daily bread — that which may satisfy nature — but they are insatiable in their desire. O let us take heed of this dry dropsy (Hebrews 13:5): Be content with such things as you have. Natura parvo dimittitur (Seneca).

Quest. 17. Which are the principal institutions of the Gospel to be observed in the worship of God? Answ. (1.) The calling, gathering and setling of Churches with their Officers, as the seat and subject of all other solemn instituted worship. (2.) Prayer with thanksgiving. (3.)…

Quest. 23. Who are the ordinary officers or ministers of Christ in the Church to be always continued therein? Answ. Those whom the Scripture calls, pastors and teachers, bishops, elders, and guides (Acts 14:23; Acts 20:17, 18; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11; Philippians 1:1…

For as Elders are ordained in, and to the Churches respectively that they are to take care of (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5), and their office power consists in a relation to the Church that they are set over, so they are commanded to attend to the service of the Churches wherein, and…

(1) 1 Timothy 3:10, 11, 13; chap. 4.12; 2 Timothy 2:3; Colossians 1:24; Philippians 2:17; chap. 3.17. (2) Hebrews 13:17; Acts 20:28. (3) 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 4:2; Romans 12:6, 7, 8.

And therefore (2) Whatever they do as Elders in the Church according to rule, they do it not in the name or authority of the Church by which their power is derived to them, nor as members only of the Church by their own consent or covenant, but in the name and authority of Jesus…

(1) 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 13; 1 Timothy 5:17. (2) Hebrews 13:17; 1 Corinthians 16:16. (3) Ephesians 6:18, 19; Colossians 4:3; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; Colossians 4:17.

Quest. 42. To whom is the power and administration of this Discipline committed by Jesus Christ? Answ. As to the authority to be exerted in it in the things wherein the whole Church is concerned, to the Elders; as to trial, judgment and consent in, and to its exercise to the who…

First, that in all the members of the Church there ought to be love without dissimulation. They are to be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love (Romans 12:9-10), which as they are taught of God, so they are greatly exhorted thereunto (Hebrews 13:1). This love is…

Acts 20:28. Hebrews 13:17. Explication.

Q. Was the covenant of grace revealed and dispensed in the times before Christ's Incarnation, or only since his coming in the flesh? A. There has been the same covenant of grace for substance, in all times and ages of the Church, since the fall of man till this day (Genesis 3:15…

And thus they did, because (as the Apostle says) they had here no enduring city, but they sought for one to come. Hebrews 13:14. And they thought, they ever heard that voice sounding in their ears, (Micah 2:10) Arise and depart, for this is not your rest.

Look on them that so walk, as you have us for an example. Hebrews 13:8. Whose faith follow, considering what has been the end of their conversation.

1. The first is prayer, which the Spirit of Christ forms in the heart of a believer, whereby he lays open all his spiritual and temporal wants to God his Father, in the name and mediation of Jesus Christ, through whom he has received a promise to be heard, and to have his reques…

Yes, and to all them that love him and keep his commandments, the Father and the Son has promised to own their poor hearts to be his temple and palace, where he will abide and dwell (John 14:23). Lastly, all such as are congregated in Gospel faith and order, have a promise from…

Rex pacificus and Rex pacis do both denote him that is the maker and author of peace. So God on that account is called the God of Peace (Romans 15:13; Chapter 16:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Hebrews 13:20). Therefore as we ought to acquiesce in the authority o…

2. What they observe of the sacrifices of old, that not the bodies of them, but only the kidneys and fat were burned, and the blood only carried into the Holy Place, is neither true, nor any thing to their purpose. For (1) the whole bodies of the Expiatory Sacrifices were burnt…

For in their so doing they do not hinder but promote the approach of the Church into the presence of God, which is the principal end of their office. And as this is their peculiar honor for which they must be accountable (Hebrews 13:17), so the Church of Believers itself, ought…

Though none of our sincere essays at well-doing are such good works as to justify us, before that three times holy God, who is of purer eyes than to behold evil, and whose pure eyes yet behold in our good works, a world of evil: yet our sincere essays are pleasing to our God, wh…

Ans. If this that is here said were sufficiently and clearly proved, it would be very acceptable to many elders in this country, as clearing them from a great part of the burden which they suppose themselves to be under. And when the Holy Ghost says, that they must take heed to…

Luke 6. 36. Be you merciful, [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩], as your Father also is merciful. Argument 3. 3. Argument. Alms are a sacrifice, Hebrews 13. 16. To do good, and to communicate, forget not, for with such sacrifices God is wellpleased.[⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩] When you…

They are the beams of the Sun of Righteousness, the pleasant streams that run in the paradise of Scripture: Behold a blessed promise (Romans 8:28). All things shall work for good; but to whom? to them that love God: All mercies shall work for their good; they shall be footstools…

We are to deal between God and the soul, factors for Heaven; there is many a good inference may be collected from this notion, I shall refer all to two heads, the ministers' duty and the peoples'. 1. It hinteth duty to ministers, it teacheth us diligence in our Lord's work, for…

The Supper of the Lord is a sacrifice and may truly be so called as it has been in former ages, and that in three respects. First, because it is a memorial of the real sacrifice of Christ upon the cross, and contains withal a thanksgiving to God for the same — which thanksgiving…

1 Timothy 4:1: It is a doctrine of devils to forbid to marry. Hebrews 13:4: Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled. Again, this vow is not in the power of him that vows, for continency is the gift of God, who gives it not to all but to whom he will and when he wi…

But will God do so? No, no: 'I will never leave you nor forsake you' (Hebrews 13:5). Indeed, if adversity and poverty could bar you from access to God, it were a sad condition; but you may go to God as freely as ever.

I am persuaded also I have been carried on in my work by your prayers — it is sweet when it is so (see Ephesians 6:18-19). And I hope by your prayers to receive yet a further benefit, even that which is mentioned in Hebrews 13:18-19 and Philemon 22. And truly it is but equal tha…

So (1 Timothy 5:17), Let the Elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honor. (Hebrews 13:7), Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken to you the Word of God. Verse 17, Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for y…

Reas. 1. Because the Scripture calls it a table, but not an altar, and we ought to speak as God and Christ has taught us of his ordinances, (1 Corinthians 10:21) "You cannot be partakers of the Lord's Table, and of the Table of Devils," (Luke 22:21) "the hand of him that betraye…

If he shall say, you have nothing to do to pass sentence or censure upon me, I am none of your Church, but of another Church; suppose in Holland, in France, &c. and I am only here now for merchandise sake, or upon some other occasion: what shall they say to stop his mouth, if th…

4. It makes the last part of the speech, in the word and doctrine, to be superfluous: for they hold that all the difference here is in the measure or manner of labor, and no difference in re subjecta. 5. All who have any charge in the ministry are called [in non-Latin alphabet]…

Now there are good reasons why this popular government or exercise by jurisdiction by all can not be admitted into a Congregation. First, in every Christian Congregation, there are some Rulers, some ruled, some Governors, some governed, some that command, some that obey, as is m…

And that's very observable, the difference between this altar that was here enjoined to be made by Moses, and so was afterwards made, and the altar that we read of should be in the times of the Gospel. First, Christ he is our altar in the Gospel, so it is in Hebrews 13:10, We ha…

Now follows the other, which is the entertainment of strangers: whose property is, the love of entertaining of guests. (1 Timothy 3:2. Therefore a Bishop must be unreproachable, the husband of one wife, watching, sober, modest, given to hospitality, &c. Hebrews 13:2. Be not unmi…

Of the first sort, are, ordinary, which are several actions of our body, Christianly, according to the custom of the Church, commanded in the word of God, and orderly and reverently ordered in his service. Special, the fruit of the lips, in prayer, and thanksgiving (Hebrews 13:1…

1. Sometimes they are taken improperly for duties; as alms, prayers, praises, etc. (Psalm 51). The sacrifice of a broken heart you will not despise. So also (Hebrews 13:15-16). 2. They are taken more properly for such sacrifices as were offered under the law; as of bullocks, lam…

And we may add, that he so makes use of Christ; as that he dare not go to God without Him; as the word is (Hebrews 7:25): "those that come to God by Him"; he comes to God by Christ, in prayer, in praises, and in every other duty of worship. The Apostle, to this purpose, says (He…

1. An humiliation, and inferiority, in respect of God, as it is said (Philippians 2), he humbled himself, and became of no reputation; in which respect, he himself says, that the Father is greater than he; and that he is sent, that he came not to do his own will, but the will of…

Therefore, (1 John 2:2) it's said, If any man sin: O, strange word, We have an advocate, what, an advocate for any man? Indeed, for any man that will make use of him: for as we showed before, though it's true that his intercession is bounded to his elect, yet it's as true, that…

Second, if our condition be, or seem to be more comforting, and cheerful, there would be an improving of Christ's intercession, lest our cheerfulness grow carnal, which it cannot otherwise be; but when he is acknowledged to be the author of our comfort, and cheerfulness; when he…

3. The respect that a faithful minister has to the duty in his hand, has influence on this; for such a one loves to perform his duty neatly, and to go neatly and lively about it, and the unbelief and unfruitfulness of the people clogs him in his duty, and makes him drive heavily…

Fifth, indeed, the law was no less a letter of condemnation to them than to us (Romans 8:3; Romans 10:3; Deuteronomy 27:26; Galatians 3:10, 13; 2 Corinthians 3:7-8, 13-15). Sixth, they drank of the same spiritual rock with us, and the rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:1-4; Hebre…