That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Ver. 18. We might have strong] Such as swalloweth up all worldly griefs, as Moses' serpent did the sorcerers' serpents, or as the fire doth the fuel. The sacraments are God's visible oaths unto us; he taketh, as it were, the body and blood of his Son into his hand, and solemnly sweareth to bestow upon us all the purchase of Christ's passion. Should not therefore the joy of the Lord be our strength? Nehemiah 8:10. The comforts of philosophy are λεσχαι και φλυαοαι (as Plato hath it, as Socrates found it when he was to die), that is, toys and trifles. Nescio quomodo imbecillior est medicina quam morbus, saith Cicero, the disease is too hard for the medicine. But the consolations of God are strong in themselves, and should not be small with us, Job 15:11 .
To lay hold upon the hope, &c.] Gr. κοατησαι, to lay hold by main force, and so to hold as not to lose our hold, when the devil would pull it from us. It is our faith that he fights against, our hope that he would shred us off. Look to it.