Matthew Poole and continuators on Hebrews 12:1

1 WHerefore , seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the Sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

The Spirit in this Chapter proceeds in his exhortation or counsel, unto Duties worthy of the former Doctrine of Christ, and suitable to the foregoing Examples, enumerated chap. 11. He introduceth it with an illative particle, [non-Latin text not transcribed], seeing all those Worthies finished their course through Faith, and received not the Promise since made good to us, Therefore is there something to be inferred.

We, I Paul, and you Hebrews, having enjoyed the better things provided by God for us, we are so much the more obliged; as also having such a multitude of Witnesses of so vast worth and Dignity, as all the Old-Testament-Believers were, distilling, like a Cloud, abundant influences, from their example, in doing and suffering for God, through Faith, on our Souls, to make us persevering in the Faith to the end, as they did; and so compassing us about, as we cannot want either direction or encouragement to it, whenever we look into their Histories for it.

Like the Grecian and Roman Racers, who laid aside their cumbersom Garments, so as they might more easily and lightly run their Race; in allusion to which, it is the conce[illegible: 2 letters]n of every Christian to lay aside, or put away all its Worldly cumbrances, which would clog it in its Race, its corrupt self, the World, &c. Matth. 16.24. Luke 21.34. 1 Tim. 6.9, 10, 11. and 2▪ Tim. 2.4.

The evil weight▪ inward is the Old-Man, the corrupt Nature, which remaineth in every Christian, stiled by Paul, the Body of Death, Rom. 7.24. but especially each Christian's own personal iniquity, which sticks, and cleaves nearer to him than his Garments, and which made David so careful about it, in Psal. 18.23. that which is so compassing and clasping him about; that he is so far from r[illegible: 1 letter]nning, he cannot move for it, 1 Cor. 9.27. Col. 3.5. This they are to mortify in them.

That how distant soever the Goal is, which finisheth the Race of a Christian's Life, yet the way passing to it, though it be troublesom and long, and being set to us by God himself, must be patiently, stre[illegible: 2 letters]ously and constantly run, that they may obtain it, Psal. 119.32, 33. Luke 13.24. 1 Cor. 9.24, to 27. Gal. 5.7. Phil. 3.13, 14. 2 Tim. 4.7. The Cloud of Witnesses have so run it before them for their direction and encouragement.

Marginal references: 1 Pet. 2.1, 2.; Rom. 12.12. Chap. 10.36.