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--- Be content with fuch Things as ye have:

HESE Converted Jews being tinder great Perfecution by their unbelieving Countrymen, (as we read in feveral Places of this Epiftle) there were many of them, as may be gathered alfo from fundry Paffages in it, that began to think of retiring back again to their Old Religion, rather than endure fo many Hardihips in their new Profeffion, for Chrift Jefus his Sake. To prevent which fatal Miscarriage, this Divine Writer ufes many Arguments; encouraging and ftrengthning their Minds, from the Confidera

tion of the Certainty of the Christian Doctrine, the Dignity of its Author, the glorious Example he had set before them, the Power he had in the Heavens, which made him an High-Priest of a better Rank than any of the House of Aaron could be; and the Hope of Eternal Life, wherewith he was able to reward all his conftant Disciples; yea, from the Confideration alfo of their own Sufferings, as foon as they entred into the State of Chriftianity; according as you read, Chap. x. 32. Call to remembrance the former Days, in which after ye were enlightned, ye endured a great Fight of Affliction: Which no wife Men would have done, unless they intended to proceed as they began; and not lose the Reward of fuffering fo much, for want of Patience to fuffer a little more. By these and fuch like Arguments, I fay, he persuades them not to revolt from Chrift, as fome did to their utter undoing; but to hold faft the Profeffion of their Faith without wavering, Chap. x. 23. there being the greatest Hazard which they ran, if they finned wilfully after they had received the Knowledge of the Truth, Ver. 26. no less than to lose all Hope of Pardon, which was declared to Men only in Christ Jefus; whom they basely forfook and renounced, when they apoftatiz'd from his Religion.

Now that which made fome fly back, was Fear of Sufferings, Love of Pleafure, and Covetoufnefs, or Love of the World. Against these Three therefore, he fortifies those who still continued the Profeffion of Christianity, in the

Beginning of this Chapter; and bids them be fo far from fearing any thing, as to love the Brethren, to entertain Strangers, and to remember them that were in Bonds, and fuffered Adverfity, Ver. 1, 2, 3. that is, to fuffer with others, when they did not yet fuffer on their own Accounts. A Thing which the falfe-hearted Chriftians would never do; whofe Charity waxed Cold, and who were afraid to own the Disciples of our Lord in Time of Distress,left they should be accounted fuch themselves, and fo be brought into Trouble, and fuffer as they did. And as he warns them against this bafe Fear, and vile Cowardise; fo he seems, in the next place, to give them a Caution against all impure Pleasures, for the Love of which (as you may gather from Chap. xii. 16.) fome turned their backs on their Saviour, and parted with their Hope in him. Ver. 4. Marriage is bonourable in all, and the Bed undefiled; but Whoremongers amd Adulterers God will judge.

After which, he proceeds here in my Text, to advise them not to be fo careful for the Things of this World, as fome were; nor to be afraid of Want, though the Days were very bad, and they perhaps might be fpoiled of all their Goods, and bereaved of all their Friends: For he gives them Affurance, that God will provide; and that Affurance he would have them esteem fufficient for them. Let your Converfation be without Covetoufnefs, and be content with fuch Things as bave: For he bath faid, I will never leave thee, nor forfake thee, &c.

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That which I intend then to treat of from thefe Words, is, That prefent Things, though our Condition be afflicted, fhould fuffice us: Or, that we should be well fatisfied in our present Condition, whatsoever it be. So the Words are exprely in the Greek, ἀρκέμ νοι τοῖς παρᾶσι, heing contented with Things prefent; or letting Things prefent and at hand fuffice you. Reft fatisfied with what you have now, and be not too follicitous for the future.

This Leffon St. Paul teaches his Son Timothy, 1 Epift. Chap. vi. 8. Having Food and Raiment, let us be therewith content. But he did not teach it him before he had learnt it himself; for he tells the Philippians, he had arrived to a great Perfection in this Virtue. Phil. iv. 11, 12. I have learnt in whatfoever ftate I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abafed, and I know how to abound: Every where (or at all Times) and in every thing I am inftructed, both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to fuffer need. This was a true Ifraelite indeed, in whom there was no Guile. He was not like that wicked Generation in the Wildernefs (by whofe fearful Example these Christian Hebrews are deterred from looking back, as they did toward Egypt, Chap. iii. & iv.) who when they were hungry knew not how to bear it, but murmured and spake against God, Saying, Can he furnish a Table in the Wilderness? He gave us Water, can be give Bread alfo ? Can be provide Flesh for his People? And when they were full, could no better bear that; but waxed fat,

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