§. 27. Of choosing the best Rest.
—Although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
IN this later part of the verse, and in the five verses following the Apostle doth by degrees lead these Hebrews to a consideration of an higher and better rest then ever was enjoyed in this world. There were two famous Rests much insisted* 1.1 on in the Old Testament, as speciall pledges of Gods favour: The Sabbath and the Land of Canaan. The former styled a Sabbath of rest to the Lord, Exod. 35. 2. And frequently styled the Sabbath of the Lord, Exod. 20. 10. The later styled the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which the Lord gave them, Deut. 12. 9. Josh. 1. 15.
Of these the Hebrews might say, we have alwaies enjoyed the Lords Sibbath: and our predecessors have long inhabited Canaan. Why then do you speak so much about entring into Gods rest?
To root out this conceit the Apostle is the more large and distinct in removing these two, and proving that neither of them could be meant by David, nor is inter∣ded by himself.
The Rest intended by him is a matter of so great consequence, as he would 〈◊〉〈◊〉 have them mistake the mark thereabouts.
He begins with the Sabbath, which is the first Rest mentioned in Scripture.
The word of connexion, or rather distinction, is a kinde of compound: The first particle is the usuall copulative a 1.2 AND: the b 1.3 other joyned to it makes it a discretive conjunction, and is here fitly translated c 1.4 although. Hereby he sheweth that allbeit there is mention made of a rest in the beginning of the world, yet there is another rest to be entred into.
The rest of the Sabbath was a resemblance of the heavenly rest. The rest of Ca∣naan was a type thereof. That therefore they might not be drawn by a resemblance and type from the thing it self and the truth, (as the dog having flesh in his mouth and seeing the shadow of it in a clear running water, snapt at the shadow and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the true flesh) he endeavoureth to draw them from resting upon those two 〈◊〉〈◊〉. It is a dangerous thing to be drawn from truths by shadows. This is to per•…•… the helps which God doth afford unto us.