468 SUMMARY OF DOCTRINAL AND [CHAP. III. 3.
him that hath called them. 7. The spiritual mysteries of the gospel, especially those which concern the person and offices of Christ, re- quire deep, diligent, and attentive consideration. 8. The business of God with sinners could be no way transacted but by the nego- tiation and embassy of the Son. 9. Especial privileges will not advantage men, without especial grace. 10. The Lord Christ is all in all in and unto his church, the king, priest, and apostle or prophet of it, all in one. 11. A diligent, attentive consideration of the person, offices, and work of Jesus Christ, is the most effectual means to free the souls of men from all entanglements of errors and dark- ness, and to keep them constant in the profession of the truth. 12. The union of believers lies in their joint profession of faith in the person and offices of Christ, upon a participation.in the same heavenly calling. 18. The ordering of all things in the church depends on the sovereign appointment of the Father. 14 The faithfulness of the Lord Christ in the discharge of the trust committed unto him is the great ground of faith and assurance unto believers, in the worship of the gospel. 15. All things concerning the worship of) God in the whole church or house, now under the gospel, are no less completely and perfectly ordered and ordained by the Lord Jesus Christ than they were by Moses under the law.
Ver. 3-6.—1. Every one who is employed in the service of God in his house, and is faithful in the discharge of his work and trust therein, is worthy of honour. So was Moses. 2. That the Lord Christ is worthy of all glory and honour upon the account of his thus building his church, the house of God. 3. The honour and glory of all that ever were, or all that ever shall be, employed in the work and service of the house of God; jointly and severally con- sidered, is inferior, subordinate, and subservient to the glory and honour of Jesus Christ, the chief builder of the house. 4. The building of the church is so great and glorious a work, as that it could not be effected by any but by him who is God. 5. The greatest and most honourable of the sons of men, that are employed in the work of God in his house, are but servants and part of the house itself. 6. The great end of all Mosaic institutions, was to present, or prefigure, and give testimony unto the grace of the gos- pel by Jesus Christ. 7. It is an eminent privilege to be of the house of Christ, or a part of that house: “Whose house are we.” 8. The greatness of this privilege requires an answerableness of duty. 9. In times of trial and persecution, freedom, boldness, and constancy in profession, are a good evidence unto ourselves that. we are living stones in the house of God, and are duties acceptable unto him. 10. Interest in the gospel gives sufficient cause of confidence and rejoicing in every condition. 11. So many and great are the
CHAP. III. 11.] PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS, 469
interveniences and temptations that lie in the way of profession, so great is the number of them that decay in it or apostatize from it, that as unto the glory of God, and the principal discovery of its truth and sincerity, it is to be taken from its permanency unto the end. Ver. 7-11.—1. No divine truth ought in its delivery to be passed by, without manifesting its use, and endeavouring its improvement unto holiness and Obedierice, 2. In times of temptations and trials, arguments and exhortations unto watchfulness against sin, and constancy in obedience, are to be multiplied in number, and pressed with wisdom, earnestness, and diligence. 3. Exhortations unto duty ought to be built on a stable foundation, and to be resolved into an authority which may influence the consciences of them to whom they do belong. 4. What was given by inspiration from the Holy Ghost, and is recorded in the Scripture for the use of the church, is spoken for the use of the church in everyage. 5. The formal reason of all our obedience consists in its relation to the voice or authority of God. 6. Every thing in the commands of God, relating unto the manner of their giving out and communicating unto us, is to be retained in our minds, and considered as present unto us. 7. Con- sideration and choice are a stable and permanent foundation of obedience. 8. Such is the nature, efficacy, and power of the voice or word of God, that men cannot withstand or resist it without a sinful hardening of themselves against it. 9. Many previous sins make way for the great sin of finally rejecting the voice or word of God. 10. Old Testament examples are New Testament instructions. 11. Especial seasons of grace and obedience are in an especial man- ner to be observed and improved. 12. That the examples of our forefathers are of use unto us, and objects of our deepest considera- tion. 13. It is a dangerous condition, for children to boast of the privileges of their fathers, and to imitate their sins. 14, A multitude joining in any sin gives it thereby a great aggravation. 15. The sinful actings of men against those who deal with them in the name of God, and about the works or will of God, are principally against God himself. 16. Unbelief manifesting anit: in a time of trial is a most provoking sin. 17. There is ‘commonly a day, a time, wherein unbelief riseth to its height in provocation. 18. To distrust God, to disbelieve his promises, whilst a way of duty lies béfore us, after we have had experience of his goodness, power, and wisdom, - in his dealing with us, is a tempting of God, anda great, provoking sin. 19. No place, no retiredness, no solitary wilderness, will secure men from sin or suffering, provocation or punishment. 20. Great works of providence are a great means of instruction; and neglect of them, as to their instructive end, isa great aggravation of the sin of those who live when and where they are performed. (1.) To profit _