» Chap. X. 36. ^ Prov. xxii. 13. xxvi. 13. ^ Psal. cxvi. 7.
<» 1 Thess. i. 3. 2 Thess. i. 11. Deut. x. 16. xxx. 6. Ezek. xviii. 31. xxxvi. 26, Act* xi. 18.
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As a duty it is by the apostle here considered, and there- fore pressed on them, who by nature were capable, and by grace enabled for the performance thereof. Pathetical ex- hortations then unto perseverance in the possession of the gospel, bottomed on prevalent scriptural arguments, and holy reasonings, are the sum of this epistle.
The arguments the apostle handleth unto the end pro- posed are of two sorts.
First, Principal.
Secondly, Deductive, or emergencies from the first.
First, His principal arguments are drawn from two chief fountains.
1. The author: and
2. The nature and end of the gospel. 1. The author of the gospel is either,
(1.) Principal and immediate, which is God the Father, * Who having at sundry times and in divers manners for- merly spoken by the prophets, herein speaketh by his Son ;' chap. i. 1.
(2.) Concurrent and immediate, Jesus Christ, this * great salvation being begun to be spoken to us by the Lord ;' chap. ii. 3. This latter he chiefly considereth, as in and by whom the gospel is differenced from all other dispensations of the mind of God. Concerning him to the end intended he proposeth,
[1.] His person.
[2.] His employment.
[1.] For his person, that thence he may argue to the thing aimed at, he holdeth out,
1st. The infinite glory of his Deity : being the ' brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person;* chap. i. 3.
2dly. The infinite condescension of his love, in assuming humanity, for because ' the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself took part of the same ;' chap. ii. 14.
And from the consideration of both these, he presseth the main exhortation which he hath in hand, as you may see, chap. ii. 1, 2. iii. 12, 13, &c.
[2.] The employment of Christ he describetb in his offices, which he handleth.
342 THE SHAKING AND TRANSLATING
1st. Positively, and very briefly, chap. i. ii. iii. 2dly. Comparatively, insisting chiefly on his priesthood, exalting it in sundry weighty particulars above that of Aaron, which yet was the glory of the Jewish worship, and this at large, chap. vi. vii. viii. ix. x. And this being va- riously advanced and asserted, he layeth as the main foundation, upon which he placeth the weight and stress of the main end pursued, as in the whole epistle is every where obvious.
2. The second head of principal arguments he taketh from the gospel itself, which considering as a covenant he holdeth out two ways :
(1.) Absolutely, in its efficacy in respect of
[1.] Justification. In it ' God is merciful to unrighteous- ness and sins, and iniquities he remembers no more ;' chap, viii. 12, ' Bringing in perfect remission, that there shall need no more offering for sin;' chap. x. 17.
[2.] Sanctiiication. ' He puts his laws in our hearts, and writes them in our minds;' chap. x. 16. in it, 'Purging our consciences by the blood of Christ ;' chap. ix. 14.
[3.] Perseverance. ' I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people;' chap. viii. 10.
All three are also held out in sundry other places.
(2.) Respectively to the covenant of works, and in this regard assigns unto it principal qualifications, with many peculiar eminencies them attending, too many now to be named. Now these are,
[1.] That it is new. He saith a ' new covenant, and hath made the first old ;' chap. viii. 13.
[2.] Better. It is a 'better covenant, and built upon better promises ;' chap. viii. 6. vii. 22.
[3.] Surer, the priest thereof being ordained, * not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life;' chap. vii. 16.
[4.] Unalterable. So in all the places before named, and sundry others.
All which are made eminent in its peculiar mediator Jesus Christ, which is the sum of chap. vii.
And still in the holding out of these things, that they might not forget the end for which they were now drawn forth, and so exactly handled, he interweaves many pa-
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thetical entreaties, and pressing arguments by way of ap- plication, for the confirming and establishing his countrymen in the faith of this glorious gospel, as you may see almost in every chapter.
Secondly, His arguments less principal, deduced from the former, being very many, may be referred to these three heads :
1. The benefits by them enjoyed under the gospel.
2. The example of others, who by faith and patience ob- tained the promises ; chap. xi.
3. From the dangerous and pernicious consequence of backsliding, of which only I shall speak. Now this he set- teth out three ways.
(1.) From the nature of that sin. It is a * crucifying to themselves the Son of God afresh, and putting him to open shame ;' chap. vi. 6. a ' treading under foot the Son of God, counting the blood of the covenant an unholy thing, and doing despite to the spirit of grace ;' chap. x. 29.