Hebrews 4:11 Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. We must not think to go to heaven without study, bare wishing will not serve the turn. It is not enough to say with Balaam, "Oh, that my soul might die the death of the righteous, and my last end be like his" (Numbers 23:10). It is not sufficient to all, oh, that I were in heaven, but we must study to go to heaven. Now in all studying these things must concur. 1. There must be the party that studieth, and that is every Christian — high and low, rich and poor, of what estate or condition soever. The king and the subject, the ministers and their people, the master and the servant, the father and the child, the husband and the wife, the merchant and the clothier, the gentleman and the yeoman, the divines, lawyers, physicians, husbandmen, &c., all must study to enter into this rest. 2. There must be a closet, or a place to study in, that is, the chamber of our own hearts. 3. There must be a book to study on. Every, student must have his books. There can be no workman without his tools, nor a scholar without a library. Now the Lord will not trouble us with many books. As Christ said, one thing is necessary. So one book is necessary, the book of books the Holy Scriptures. Let us study that thoroughly, and learn the way to heaven. 4. There must be a light to study by. No man can study in the dark; either he faust have daylight or candlelight. The light whereby we study is the light of God's Spirit, who must enlighten our eyes that we may see the wonders of God's laws and direct us to this heavenly rest. 5. There must be diligence m study. Every student must be diligent. Learning is not gotten without pains. We must not study by fits, a start and away, but we must lie at it, if by any means we may come to this rest. 6. There must be a time to study in. Now this time is the term of our life. 7. And it is worth our study. (W. Jones, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. |
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