Ohs. 2. In conferring this blessing there is a difference here again ; Ephraim, the younger, is preferred before Manasseh, the elder, the regality is entailed upon him. Learn thence, there is a difterence not only between the blessings of the wicked and the godly, but between the blessings of the godly and the godly. In the former verse you have Jacob and Esau represented with their different blessings ; Esau hath his common portion, and Jacob his covenant blessing ; there is a godly and a wicked man. But here Ephraim and Manasseh, two branches of the covenant, and they have different blessings ; Ephraim is preferred, that he might have the pre-eminence, and that Joseph's portion may be entailed upon him. And still God keeps the same course, the Lord doth not deal alike with his children, neither in temporals nor spirituals. There is eKXeKrcov eKXe/cTorepoi, the elect of the elect.
400 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. LV.
the flower of God's people, that have more choice privileges than others. In the little hody of Christ's own disciples there were some were treated more familiarly than others. Peter, James, and John, were taken to see the transfiguration of Christ, Mat. xvii. 1, and afterward to see the passion of Christ, Mat. xxvi. 37. There are some to whom God will manifest himself more familiarly, give them larger supplies of comfort, and a more plentiful allowance in the course of his provi- dence. As in the sphere of reprobation there is a great deal of difference between God's dispensations — all are not passed by alike, some have more means, better tempers, advantages of education, though the Lord hath not given them special grace ; so also in the sphere of election there is a great deal of difference — some have more advantages to glorify God than others, more comfortable and sweeter incomes of the Spirit of God, higher opportunities of service, greater supplies of grace, more abilities of parts, and the like. There is a difference in grace, all have not a like measure, there are stars of the first magnitude ; the same fountain filleth several cisterns, but all have not a like measure. There is a difference in comfort, — some are kept mournful, and others walk more comfortably ; some travel the upper, and some the lower way to heaven. There is a difference in gifts : 1 Cor. xii. 8, ' To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit,' &c. There is a difference in estate and outward supply ; levelling is not God's way, ' The poor you have always with you,' Mat. xxvi. 11. God will be glorified in every relation, — by some as servants, by others as masters of families, for in all things God will be free, and we must submit. The talents were not equally dis- tributed,— one had five, another three, another one. Therefore let us not murmur, we liave all more than we can well improve. If these things happened according to chance or to man's designation, we might murmur ; but there is a wise providence in it. God is the disposer of honours, and dignities, and estates : 1 Sam. ii. 7, ' The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich ; he bringeth low and lifteth up.' And so he dispose! h of comforts ; we must tarry till the master of the feast bids us sit higher. Do not limit him, and begrudge the Lord the freedom of his counsels. Thou art there where God hath set thee, and if thou canst not improve this relation to the glory of God, thou wilt never improve an higher. The tree that cannot thrive in the valleys, will never thrive on the bleak mountains and tops of barren hills. We are not to choose what part we will act in the world ; God is the great master of the scenes. Say then, I have that which the Lord sees fit for me ; this should be the temper of a christian, to say, I have a cov- enant portion, though I do not come up to the height of ^vhat othere enjoy. God will never maintain all his servants at the same rate, but some shall have more, some less, according to his own wise distribu- tion.
Ohs. 3. The prophetical blessing is again ascribed to faith.
The light of faith and the light of prophecy differ in some things, yet tliey agree in many. They differ in the extraordinariness of the revelation ; the light of prophecy depends upon an extraordinary revelation, but faith hath the ordinary word of God. Peculiar instinct and vision makes way for the light of prophecy, but we have the com-
VeR. 21.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. 401
men ground of the word of God. They had oracles, we ' a sure word of prophec}'/ 2 Peter i. 19. In prophecy there is an immediate il- kimiuation ; there is not discourse and argument so much as there is in faith. In prophecy the particuUir event is more expressly foretold, the Lord binds his hands as it were by pi'ophecy ; but we must refer ourselves to the general tenor of the covenant, that ' all things shall work together for good,' Kom. viii. 28. And they agree in this in hav- ing the same general ground, divine revelation ; we have the word of God to show, as well as they ; and as to the particular event, an actual trust is not disappointed, and sometimes in those that enjoy communion with God there may be particular instincts for special mercies. Thus much for the tirst action, wherein he showed the strength of his faith m the weakness of his body — ' Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph.'