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I. THE ATTAINMENT INDICATED. "The full assurance of hope."

II. THE COURSE PRESCRIBED. Being diligent in every religious exercise, as prayer, reading the Scriptures, the worship of God, &c.

III. THE MODELS RECOMMENDED. "Those who through faith," &c. A long roll of such worthies is given in chapter eleven. Their earthly course was distinguished by —

1. Believing obedience. "Faith."

2. Patient endurance. They patiently waited for good, and meekly suffered evil for God's sake. This is(1) A profitable virtue. "It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord."(2) A necessary virtue. "Ye have need of patience."(3) A rare virtue. There are few patient waiters for promised good, or passive endurers of present evil.

IV. THE MOTIVE ADDUCED. Those whom we are urged to imitate now inherit the promises, and this is mentioned as a motive to stimulate us to the same diligence. They now inherit the promises which they embraced here, and which sustained them in all their trials.

1. Eternal immunity from

(1)  Physical,

(2)  Mental,

(3)  Moral evil.

2. Eternal possessions.

(1)  Moral dignities.

(2)  Social festivities.

(3)  Perennial enjoyments.

(J. Elstob.)

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KJV: And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

WEB: We desire that each one of you may show the same diligence to the fullness of hope even to the end,