* provided. or, foreseen. better.
7:19,22 8:6 9:23 12:24
* they without.
9:8-15 10:11-14 Ro 3:25,26
* made.
5:9 12:23 Re 6:11
The apostle in the early part of the chapter having given us a
general account of the grace of faith, proceeds to set before
us some illustrious examples of it in Old Testament times.
The leading instance and example of faith recorded, is that of
righteous Abel: one of the first saints and the first martyr
for religion--one who lived by faith and died for it, and
therefore a fit pattern for the Hebrews to imitate. It is
observable that the Holy Spirit has not thought fit to say any
thing here of the faith of our first parents; and yet the
church of God has generally, by a pious charity, taken it for
granted that God gave them repentance and faith in the
promised seed; that he instructed them in the mystery of
sacrificing, that they instructed their children in it, and
that they found mercy with God, after they had ruined
themselves and all their posterity. But God has left the
matter still under some doubt, as a warning to all who have
great talents given to them, and a great trust reposed in
them, that they do not prove unfaithful, since God would not
enrol our first parents among the number of believers in this
blessed calendar.--Henry.
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