And so on the other side, God swears to his People, That (•s I may so say) he may leave himself no possibility of recanting or recalling his word, 1if he had a mind to it. The Apostles expression hints such a kind of supposition; God, when he could swear by no greater, swore by himself: Why? That by two immutable things; sc. His Word, and his Oath, in which it was impossible for God to lye. Impossible for him to lye; A very strange expression; As if God would lock up himself under an Oath from all possibility of lying or recalling the word out of his mouth, he would not trust himself (as if the Apostle should say) with making a bare promise, but claps an oath upon it also, that so if be would, yet he could not go back. This seems to be implied in this expression, out the truth is, though we need such bolts and locks to keep us from starting, God doth not; he hath as much and more mind to keep his word, then we have that he should: But for our sakes, for our sakes altogether, is this written, because of the unbelief of our bearts, to secure our unbelieving objecting spirits, against all fear and jealousy, of so much, as a possibility of going b••k from his word, or failing of his promise, and so indeed it is after expressed. Vers. 18. That by two immutable things, by which it was impossible for God to lye, we might have a strong Consolation, &c. To strengthen our weak hands, and feeble knees, and drooping spirits in the expectations and belief of the undoubted accomplishment of all his promises.
And so on the other side, God swears to his People, That (•s I may so say) he may leave himself no possibility of recanting or recalling his word, 1if he had a minde to it. The Ap•stles expression hints such a kinde of supposition; God, when he could swear by no greater, swore by himself: Why? That by two immutable things; sc. His Word, and his Oath, in which it was impossible for God to lye. Impossible for him to lye; A very strange expression; As if God would lock up himself under an Oath from all possibility of lying or recalling the word out of his mouth, he would not trust himselfe (as if the Apostle should say) with making a bare promise, but claps an oath upon it also, that so if be would, yet he could not go back. This seems to be implyed in this expression, out the truth is, though we need such bolts and locks to keep us from starting, God doth not; he hath as much and more mind to keep his word, then we have that he should: But for our sakes, for our sakes altogether, is this written, because of the unbelief of our bearts, to secure our unbeleeving objecting spirits, against all fear and jealousie, of so much, as a p•ssibility of going b••k from his word, or failing of his promise, and so indeed it is after expressed. Vers. 18. That by two immutable things, by which it was impossible for God to lye, we might have a strong Consolation, &c. To strengthen our weak hands, and feeble knees, and drooping spirits in the expectations and belief of the undoubted accomplishment of all his promises.
- 1Heb. 6.13. Vers. 16.
