Matthew Poole and continuators on Hebrews 12:22

22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the City of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels.

The Spirit now adds the Privilege of Christians in the better state, to which they have access by the Gospel-Dispensation from this 22d, to the 25th Verse; ye have left those Hinderances and Disadvantages instanced in before, but are come to these Helps for your furtherance in Holiness; ye have an Access to all those most excellent, thou invisible things, by Faith, and by it attain them, and are incorporated into them, as they follow.

This is not literally to be understood for the Mount, on which the City of David was built, for that was as visible, and touchable as Mount Sinai, to which it is opposed; but that Mount which is higher than the highest, as high as Heaven it self, v. 25. ch. 9.24. Io[illegible: 1 letter]. 3.13. Where is the most orderly Government of God for Holiness, Mich. 4.7. whence all good Gifts, and Gospel-Blessings are conveyed to the Church, of which these Believers were Members, Isa. 8.18. and 28.16. and 59.20. Rev. 14.1.

Of which the living God is the Builder and Maker, and wherein he dwelleth, where nothing but Life is, and whence Christ's Voice giveth Life to dead Souls, inabling them to live a Life of Holiness to God, as Psalm 46.4, 5. and 48.1, 8. and 87.3. Isa. 60.14. Io[illegible: 1 letter]. 5.25. to distinguish this from any earthly City or Corporation, it is said to be the Heavenly Ierusalem, its Original, Nature and End being all heavenly; a fruitful place, whence Believers are made Partakers of the most spiritual Influences for Holiness; where there is nothing carnal, terrible, deadly, barren, but all causal and productive of Holiness issueth thence, Isa. 62. and 65.17, 18, 19. and 66.10. Iohn 17.24. Gal. 4.26. Rev. 3.12. and 21.2, 10.

In which City are many excellent Inhabitants with which Believers are incorporated, and to whom they have Relation, as Myriads of Angels, who are ministring Spirits under the Gospel, as under the Law, full of Holiness, Power, Agility and Indowments fit for their Work, and End; who, tho for number, are thousands and millions of them, Psalm 68.17. and 103.20. and 104.4. Acts 7.53. Gal. 3.19. Rev. 5.11. yet are all fulfilling their Lord's Pleasure in every place, as ordered by him. Their Ministration of the Law was terrible in flaming Fire, but of the Gospel, most sweet and gracious, Luke 2.13, 14. At Sinai they ministred externally, and sensibly, affecting Senses; but from Sion they minister spiritually, to Hearts, Matth. 4.11. Luke 22.43. Psalm 91.11. resisting evil Spirits ministring wickedly. Their Ministry little effectual under the Law, but under the Gospel, saving, Acts 7.53. Heb. 1.14. Rev. 19.10. Their former Ministration temporary and ceasing, but this everlasting, till they bring all their Trust into Abraham's Bosom, Luke 16.22. They are promoting Holiness by God's sending things to us by them, and by their observing the goings and doings of Christians, whether holy, or not, 1 Cor. 11.10. and giving an Account of the Success of their Ministry towards them, as to this end, Matth. 18.10. And the neglect of this means to help our pursuing Holiness, will God require, Heb. 2.2.