clear
recollection that outside the holy home there lies only "a wilderness of
woe." To leave it, to turn back from it, to be a renegade from covenant
joys, is no mere exchange of the best for the less good. It means
multiplied and capital rebellion. No legal shadow-sacrifices will
shelter now the soul that forsakes the eternal High Priest and casts His
Self-Sacrifice aside. To do that is to set out towards a hopeless
retribution, towards the fire of judgment, the vengeance of the living
God (verses 26-31).

With tender urgency he pleads for fresh memories and fresh resolves
(verses 32-35). He recalls to them days, not long ago, when they had
borne shame and loss, "a conflict of sufferings," fellowship with
outcast and imprisoned saints, spoiling of their own possessions--all
made more than bearable by the joy of their wonderful "enlightenment"
(ver. 32). Let them do so still, in full view of the coming crown. Let
them grasp afresh the glorious privilege of "boldness" (ver. 35),
reaffirming to themselves with strong assurance that they are
"sanctified," "perfected," at home with God in Christ. Let them rise up
and go on in that noble "patience" (ver. 36) which "suffers and is
strong." It is only "a very little while" before the High Priest will
reappear. And the "faith" which takes Him at His word will, as the
prophet witnesses (Hab. ii. 4), bridge that little while with a "life"
which cannot die. To "shrink back," as the same seer in the same breath
warns us, is to lose the smile of God in a final ruin. But that, for us,
cannot be; we, in His mercy, relying upon the faithful Promiser, attain
"the saving of the soul."

Now, as then, the tenth chapter of the Hebrews points with a golden rod
to the one path of life, and peace, and perseverance to the end.
"Rejoice in the Lord; _for you it is safe_" (Phil. iii. 1). The
"boldness" of a humble assurance of a present and a great salvation
traces the way for us, as it traced the way of old, through holiness to
Heaven.

CHAPTER VIII

FAITH AND ITS POWER

HEB. xi. (I.)

The eleventh chapter of the Hebrews is a pre-eminent Scripture. With the
fullest recognition of the Divine greatness of the whole Bible, never
forgetting that "every scripture hath in it the Spirit of God" (2 Tim.
iii. 16), we are yet aware as we read that some volumes in the inspired
Library are more pregnant than others, some structures in the sacred
city of the Bible more impressive than other