Matthew Poole and continuators on Hebrews 11:1

1 NOW faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

The Holy Spirit proceeds in this Chapter to strengthen the Counsel he had given these Hebrews to continue stedfast in the [illegible: 1 letter]aith of Christ, to the end that they may receive their reward, the Salvation of their Souls, chap. 10.39. and 1 Pet. 1.9. and so beginneth with a description of that Faith, and proves it to be effectual to this end, by instances out of all Ages of the World before them, wherein the Old-Testament Believers had found it to be so: The description of it is laid down v. 1. The proof of it in both parts, v. 2, 3. And the illustration of its power by Examples from v. 4. to 40. The particle [non-Latin text not transcribed] shews this is inferred as a discovery of that Faith, which is saving or purchasing the Soul; which that none of these Hebrews may be mistaken in, he describeth from its effect, and not from its Form and Essence. Faith is here a Divine fruit of the Spirit, given and wrought by it in his Elect, and is justifying and purchasing the Soul to Glory, Iohn 12.38. Rom. 5.1. 2 Cor. 12.9. Ephes. 1.19, 20. and 2.8.

[non-Latin text not transcribed] in 2 Cor. 9.4. notes confidence of boasting, Heb. 1.3. Personal subsistence; and chap. 3.14. confidence of Faith. Here it is a real, present, confident assent of the Soul of a Believer to the Promise of God (which is the basis or foundation of it) by which the spiritual good things to come, and which fall not under sense, yet with a most vehement and intense desire urged for, are made to have a mental intellectual existence and subsistence in the Soul which exerciseth it. Rom. 8.18, 26. John 3.36.

[non-Latin text not transcribed], is a demonstrative discovery of that which falleth not under sense, such as is scientifical, and puts matters out of question to a Man; and therefore is stiled by Logicians a Demonstration: here it notes Faith to be that Spiritual space which by God's Revelation demonstrates or makes evident all things not seen by sense, or natural reason without it, as matters of Spiritual Truth, Good and Evil in their several kinds, both past, present, and to come, Iohn 17.6, 8. Ephes. 1.17, 18.

Marginal references: Or, Ground, or confidence.; Rom. 8.24, 25.