V. 11.— And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end. Yet they required to be admonished not to be weary in well doing, and the Apostle speaks to them as it were individually, every one of you.This was much calculated to impress their minds and to teach them the importance of the exhortation. Attention to this precept was intimately connected with their possessing the full assurance of hope unto the end. Faith and hope may be distinguished, but are inseparable. If we believe the Gospel, in proportion to our faith will be our hope of the enjoyment of eternal life. The Gospel exhibits a sure foundation of hope to the most unworthy. It is a proclamation of pardon through faith in the Lord Jesus. By it we are begotten to a lively hope of the enjoyment of the eternal inheritance. The moment we perceive the truth concerning the perfection of the atonement connected with the freeness of the Gospel invitation, we must be filled with joy and peace. Thus it was with the eunuch, Acts 8 :, and with the jailor, Acts 16 : The Lord manifested himself to them in a way he doth not to the world, and they felt themselves safe in the everlasting arms. But it is essential to the continuance of this comfort that we be fruitful branches of the true vine. The truth works effectually in all that believe, and if our faith is genuine such will be the case with us. Hence it is evident that although the full assurance of hope is not based on our bringing forth the fruits of righteousness, these are essential to its continuance. It is a part of the testimony of God that Christ saves his people from their sins, and consequently that sin shall not have dominion over those who are under grace. If we experience the sanctifying influence of the truth it is a proof that it is the true grace of God in which we stand; and while, as we have observed, the full assurance of hope may be enjoyed totally independent of the consideration of our conduct, in order to its continuance it is absolutely necessary that our conduct should correspond with the precepts of Christ. Faith worketh by love, it purifieth the heart and overcometh the world; and, if our faith is genuine, such will be its effect on us. Hence the Apostle, while commending the Hebrews for their liberality to their brethren, exhorts them to show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end. Some would render it in the full assurance of hope, &c.; and, perhaps, the preposition will bear this signification, but the rendering in our version is borne out by parallel passages, 2 Peter i. 10, 11; here the brethren are exhorted to give diligence to make their calling and election sure, by abounding in courage, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love, that they might not be unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, at the same time representing those who lack these things as blind and short-sighted, and as having forgotten that they were purged from their old sins. This does not seem to refer to unbelievers, but to those who had backslidden. We say of a person who is very shortsighted, that he is blind,— not absolutely, but comparatively. Another Apostle, after exhorting the believers not to love in word and in tongue, but in deed and in truth, adds: “And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him,” 1 John 3:19. This exactly corresponds with the passage under consideration, that we should use diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end. Our hearts are deceitful above all things, and we are prone to take comfort from considering ourselves as believers; this is very common, and many substitute faith for the great object of faith. We see people utterly destitute of the knowledge of Christ shocked with the sentiments of infidels; they believe that the Scriptures are true, as king Agrippa believed the prophets; but as he did not believe what the prophets testified, neither do they believe the Gospel of Christ, but a figment of their own brain. I may ask a man the road to a particular place, with the full assurance that he knows it well; but, if I mistake his directions, this will not lead me to the place. So we may believe that the Gospel is true, while we substitute a fable for the truth as it is in Jesus; and what will such faith profit us? Now we are guarded against error, not only by the great plainness of speech used by the Lord and His Apostles, but by being informed what effects the faith of the Gospel must necessarily produce, and the more these effects are produced in us the greater evidence we have that it is the true grace of God wherein we stand. Nothing is more insisted on in Scripture than brotherly love. It is Christ’ s new commandment, and the possession or the want of it is represented as the decisive test of our belonging to him, or being of the world that lieth in the wicked one. Matthew 25:34; Matthew 25:40. While the Word of God pours contempt on our own righteousness, declaring that by the deeds of the law no flesh living shall be justified, it enforces the duty of obedience, declaring that without holiness no man shall see the Lord; and so inseparably connected are faith and obedience, that all shall receive of the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or bad, The grace of God teaches the believer that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, he should live soberly, righteously, and godly; and, while we are justified by grace through faith, we are taught the inseparable connexion of faith and works, by the declaration that Abraham, the father of believers, James 2 :, was in one sense justified by works. Hence we are commanded to examine ourselves, to prove ourselves, comparing our conduct with the fruit of the Spirit, as described in the Scripture. While the Apostle gloried only in the cross, having no confidence in the flesh, he tells us our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience that, in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world. Hence he urged the Hebrews to continue diligently in their work and labour of love, that they might continue to enjoy the full assurance of hope unto the end. Two things are essential to the full assurance of hope; a clear view of the fulness and freeness of the salvation of Christ, and walking humbly with God, yielding obedience to His holy will. The former cannot be enjoyed without the latter. If we grieve the Holy Spirit by a careless walk, we must lose in proportion our perception of the glory of the truth. The Spirit will no longer bear witness with our spirit that we are born of God; and, instead of knowing the things that are freely given to us of God, we shall be brought under the spirit of bondage.