SEEMON XXI.
By faith Enoch teas translated that he should 7iot see death ; and loas not found, because God had translated Mm : for before his trans- lation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. — Heb. xi. 5.
The apostle makes it his chief scope in this chapter to convince the Hebrews of the nature, and worth, and efficacy of saving faith. To that purpose he layeth down the acts of sanctifying faith, ver. 1, and through- out the chapter he treats of the effects, fruits, and consequences of faith. Here we meet with a consequent or fruit of faith in the instance and example of Enoch, who, among the rest of those glorious lights where- with this chapter is adorned, shineth forth like a star of the first magnitude. Let me inquire why the apostle mentioned Enoch next to Abel, Seth and other holy patriarchs of the blessed line and race being passed by ? I answer, Though the Spirit of God is not bound to give an account of his method, and therefore is not to be vexed with the bold and daring inquiries of human reason, yet because all things in the scripture are ordered with good advice, a few humble inquiries are lawful and profitable.
1. Enoch was the next solemn type of Christ ; Abel was a type of Christ's death, and Enoch next proposed as a type of his ascension. "jl3n from "Tjn dedicavif, the dedicated, or the dedicator. (Christ), ' hath consecrated for us a new and living way through tbe veil, that is to say,
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34 SERMOXS UPON HEBRETVS XL [Ser. XXI.
bis flesh,' Heb. x. 20; tbereforebe is called upx'r/o'i ?'^'}?, ' the prince of life,' Acts iii. 15, and he said, John xiv. 3, ' 1 go to prepare a place for jou.' Tertiillian calleth Enoch, Ccmdidatum ceternifatis ; and others liave called him Obsidem et testem vifce ceternce, the pledge and witness of eternal life ; so was Christ dedicated to this purpose, that be might be the captain of life and salvation to the church, and he is gone to heaven as a pledge of our eternal glory.
2. Because between these two instances there is a fit proportion : Abel was an instance of the efficacy of faith, and Enoch of the conse- quent and reward of faith ; Abel, he suffered for righteousness, and the instance of Enoch shows what is the fruits of suffering faith — that faith which doth engage us in suffering doth interest us in the reward. In Abel's death the holy patriarchs saw what they might expect in the world; and in Enoch's translation they saw what they should receive from God. The Lord would give them this perfect document both of the present operation of faith and the future reward of faith.
3. Because he was an eminent saint, the next that is taken notice of in the liistory of Moses. The apostle mentions not all the saints in the blessed line, but only the choicest. Now Enoch is many ways eminent and notable ; for his 1)irtli we find, Jude 14, ' He was the seventh from Adam ; ' usually that is the number of perfection. Some that would turn all things into an allegory descant thus : That as there were six from the creation that died, and the seventh was translated alive from earth into heaven ; so for six thousand years death shall reign, but in the seventh millenary it shall cease, and eternal life shall succeed. But this is but a fond conjecture ; they are more pious that observe that the seventh man was dedicated to God, and God takes him for his special servant, as he takes the seventh day for his special day ; but, chiefl}'', he is notable for his life and conversation : Gen. v. 24, ' Enoch walked with God ; ' that is, wholly dedicated himself to the service of the Lord — a phrase given to those that by express profession were set apart for the Lord, either as pro]ihets, priests, or kings, for special service by office and ministration. 13ut usually it is applied to persons employed in the exercises of piety and holiness : walking with God in the old testament, and well pleasing to God in the new, are synonymous terms. Another thing is notable in his life, that he lived as many years just as there are days in the year — three hundred and sixty-five years. Gen. v. 21, 22. Enoch was translated next after Adam's death, as will easily appear by chronology; as soon as Adam died Enoch was translated. God in Adam would give the world a pledge of the fruit of sin, which was death ; in Enoch, a pledge of the fruit of holiness, which is immortality and eternal life.
In the words there is a proposition, and the confirmation of it.
1. The proposition or assertion of the apostle is, that hj faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death. The proposition implies two things — the blessing, and the means of obtaining it : the blessing — ' He was translated ; ' the means — ' By faith.'
2. The confirmation, which respecteth both the blessing and the means. He proves that Enoch was translated, out of that phrase of Moses ; for saith he, He was not found, because God had transhied him. And then he proves that it was by faith in the latter part of the text