The Feelings of the Ancient Saints
Expository Sermons
Hebrews 11:13-14
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them…


I. THEIR FEELINGS GODWARD. They believed in Him, and that with a strong faith, whereby they gave glory to His name. Their faith and patience were severely tried; but they knew that it was "a good thing both, to hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord."

II. THEIR FEELINGS EARTHWARD. "And confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."

1. Their affections were not set on earthly things.

2. Their happiness was not derived from earthly objects.

3. They were not conformed to earthly habits.

III. THEIR FEELINGS HEAVENWARD. "For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country," &c. Their knowledge of a future state is here clearly involved. But to know that there is a state of blessedness beyond the grave is one thing, and for that knowledge practically to influence the whole of our present course and conduct is another thing. These worthies declared in the most unmistakable manner that their great concern was to reach it. It is said of Cicero and Demosthenes, that when the one was banished from Rome and the other from Athens, they wept whenever they thought of their own country. Alas! that the spirit of patriotism should be so much stronger in them than the spirit of the gospel is in us.

(Expository Sermons.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

WEB: These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.




The Faith of the Patriarchs
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