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).

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.

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…

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…

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…

Now was Christ by the blood of the eternal covenant, brought back from the death, and made a Shepherd of souls, to the end he might have power to destroy all the flock? Ezekiel says, to feed them; the Apostle, to make the saints perfect in every good work, working in them (actua…

Then second, when he had killed it, he was to enter with the blood of it into the holy of holies and sprinkle the mercy seat with it (verse 14, 17) and to go in with incense and cause a cloud to arise over the mercy seat. This you have also in Hebrews 13:11, where it is said tha…

But these relations of Christ to us, were made in order to the world to come (as the Epistle to the Hebrews calls it:) and therefore are in their full vigor and strength, and receive their complement therein. Therefore it is, that Christ is said to be the same today, yesterday,…

[Remember me when you come into your Kingdom] said the good thief to Christ; And (Revelation 1) I am he (says Christ) that was dead, and am alive: He remembers his death still, and the sufferings of it; and as he remembers it, to put his Father in mind thereof, so he remembers i…

Your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. And by his faithful promise (Hebrews 13:5): He has said I will never leave you, nor forsake you. And he will give us every good thing while we fear him (Psalm 34:9-10).

The way of the wicked is an increasing darkness, ignorance, sin, outer darkness. 2. Be contented to be like Christ in reproaches, disgraces, and neglect in the world, that you may be like him in glory, bear the reproach of Christ (Hebrews 13:13). Let us go forth therefore to him…

"Seek you first the kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof, and all these things shall be added to you." It may be you have less than those that indulge themselves in all manner of shifts and wiles, but you shall have enough, not to be left wholly destitute (Hebrews 13:5)…

Evidences of this are his resurrection from the dead (Acts 5:30-31): The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew and hanged on a tree; him has God exalted with his right hand, to be a prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. Hebrews 13:…

And next verse, Wives submit yourselves to your own husbands as to the Lord." So alms are a sacrifice, (Hebrews 13:16) "But to do good, and to communicate forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." 3. Worship and serve God so, as it may look like worship and serv…

Hear him, and (Matthew 23:8): One is your Doctor, namely Christ. And he is called the great shepherd of the sheep (Hebrews 13:20). His office is in three things.

And it is not sufficient now and then to make a discourse upon a text. Thirdly, ministers of the word must be watchmen (Ezekiel 3:14), and (Hebrews 13:17): their office is not only to gain and call men to God, but also to preserve and keep them in Christ, which are already calle…

Answer. Conscience here is not in respect of the laws of the magistrate, but in respect of the law of God, that binds us in conscience to obey the law of the magistrate. Objection 2. Hebrews 13:17. Obey them that have the oversight of you, and be subject. Answer. We must be subj…

First, by suffering bodily affliction, we are made conformable to Christ, and fulfill the rest of the afflictions of Christ in our flesh (Colossians 1:24). Secondly, they teach us to have a sympathy and fellow feeling of the miseries of our brethren, to remember those that are i…

Another sentence also must be kept in mind, which testifies that God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Let us also note that the Prophet affirms, that whatever is given to the poor, is consecrated to God: which the Holy Spirit also in another place teaches; With such s…

In the mean while let us not be overly hasty to think God has forgotten to be just, for he concluded that which he meant to do, and that long before we had ability to think of it: neither can we possibly be so swift in wishing the speedy cutting off of the wicked, but the Lord h…

If I distribute all my goods to the poor, says Saint Paul, and have not love; I am nothing: (1 Corinthians 13:3). Thus then to pour out the soul, signifies nothing else but to pity our brethren's miseries, and to be as much affected with their wants, as if we ourselves were affl…

I speak of the ministers whom Christ has appointed to feed his flock, not of those whom the Pope commissions, as executioners rather than priests, to murder Christ. Let us therefore rest in the decision of the Spirit, which pronounces that “marriage is honorable in all,” (Hebrew…

For it would be of no advantage to us, that Christ was given by the Father as "the author of eternal salvations" (Hebrews 5:9,) unless he had been given indiscriminately to all. Besides, that saying of the Apostle would not be true, that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and…

God does not extort a tax, to be paid "grudgingly or of necessity" by those who, but for that necessity, would have chosen not to pay it: "for the Lord loves a" willing and "cheerful giver," (2 Corinthians 9:7.) I make this observation, because it is of great consequence for men…

The only cure for covetousness is to embrace the promises of God, by which he assures us that he will take care of us. In the same manner, the Apostle, wishing to withdraw believers from covetousness, confirms that doctrine: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake y…

For although true Christians are not always alike; yea, there is very great Difference, at different Times, and the best have Reason to be greatly ashamed of their Unsteadiness; yet there is in no wise that Instability and Inconstancy in the Hearts of those who are true Virgins,…

Who sees not the faithfulness of God in the Promises, that has but an heart to trust God in them! The Word of Promise assures us, that whatever wants or straits the saints all into, their God will never leave them, nor forsake them, Hebrews 13:5 that he will be with them in trou…

Though the wisdom of Providence has ordered you a lower, and poorer condition than others, yet (1.) Consider how many there be that are lower than you in the world: you have but little of the world; yet others have less. Read the description of those persons, Job 30. 4, &c. (2.)…

After which, if Paul took him along with him to Jerusalem, this is no derogation to his Episcopacy. And if Timothy were yet, after this, prisoner with St. Paul at Rome (as you argue from Hebrews 13:23), this is no derogation from his Episcopacy at Ephesus. But to cut the sinews…

The third part of our office consists in ruling; which though our Bishops (you say) assumed to themselves, you will discover to have been committed to, and exercised by Presbyterial hands. For evidence whereof you cite (Hebrews 13:17): Obey them that have the rule over you, for…

And Beza upon the place: it appears from here that the Church was governed by pastors in common, and that the degree of a Bishop was not thought of, and therefore ([in non-Latin alphabet]) to rule, is the same with ([in non-Latin alphabet]) to lead, because the shepherds are acc…