The Holiest of All by Andrew Murray eBook & audio book

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CIV.
FAITH-AND ITS PILGRIM SPIRIT.
XI.—13. These aU died in faith, not having received the promises, but
having seen them and greeted i them from afar, and having confessed that
they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14. For they that say such things make it manifest that they are seeking
after a country of their own.
15. And if indeed they had been mindful of that country from which
they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16. But now they desire a better country, that is a heavenly: wherefore
God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God: for He hath prepared
for them a city.
Most instructive is the description given us here of the way in
which faith prepared the saints of old for the fulfilment of God's
promises. First comes Having seen them afar off: faith was
to them the revelation of unseen things. Then follows And
having" embraced them, they gladly greeted, welcomed, accepted,
and appropriated them, and lived as those to whom they
belonged. Then follows the receiving. Of the Old Testament
saints it is here said, not having received the promises. Some
of the promises they did indeed receive, as we have seen in
the birth of Isaac. But the promises, in their full meaning, they
did not receive ; this is our privilege. Seeing, embracing,
receiving are the three great steps in the life of faith.
On this follows a description of the life in which their faith
was made manifest. Having confessed that they were strangers
1 Embraced.