Again, This is the only way for that end which is suited unto the wisdom of God. The wisdom of God is an infinite abyss, which, as it lies in his own eternal breast, we cannot at all look mto, We can only adore it as it breaks forth and discovers itself in the works that outwardly are of him, or the effects of it. Thus David, in the con- sideration of the works of God, falls into an admiration of the wis- dom whereby they were made, Ps. civ. 24, cxxxvi. 5. The wisdom of God opens and manifests itself in its effects; and thence, accord- ing unto our measure, do we learn what doth become it and is suit- able unto it. But when the Holy Ghost cometh to speak of this work of our redemption by Christ, he doth not only call us to con- sider singly the wisdom of God, but his various and “ manifold wis- dom,” Eph. iii. 10; and affirms that “all the treasures of wisdom” are hid in it, Col. ii. 3; plainly intimating that it is a work so suited unto, so answering the infinite wisdom of God in all things through- out, that it could no otherwise have been disposed and effected; and this as well upon the account of the wisdom of God itself absolutely considered, as also as it is that property whereby God designs and effects the glorifying of all other excellencies of his nature, whence
VER. 3.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 115
it is called various, or “manifold:” so that we may well conclude that no other way of deliverance of sinners was suited unto the wisdom of God.
Secondly, This way alone answered the holiness and righteousness of God. He is “an holy God,” who will not suffer the guilty to go free, “ of purer eyes than to behold iniquity ;” and his judgment is, that “they who commit sin are worthy of death.” Sin is contrary to his nature, and his justice requireth that it go not unpunished. Besides, he is the great and supreme governor of all; and whereas sin breaketh and dissolveth the dependence of the creature upon him, should he not avenge that defection his whole rule and govern- ment would be disannulled. But now, if this vengeance and pun- ishment should fall on the sinners themselves, they must perish under it eternally; not one of them could escape or ever be freed or purged from their sins. A commutation, then, there must be, that the punishment due to sin, which the holiness and righteousness of God exacted, may be inflicted, and mercy and grace showed unto the sinner. That none was able, fit, or worthy to undergo this pen- alty, so as to make a compensation for all the sins of all the elect; that none was able to bear it, and break through it, so as that the end of the undertaking might be happy, blessed, and glorious on all hands, but only the Son of God, we shall further manifest in our progress, and it hath been elsewhere declared.
And this,—1]. Should teach us to live in a holy admiration of this mighty and wonderful product of the wisdom, righteousness, and goodness which had found out and appointed this way of delivering sinners, and have gloriously accomplished it in the self-sacrifice of the Son of God. The Holy Ghost everywhere proposeth this unto us as a mystery, a great and hidden mystery, which none of the great, or wise, or disputers of the world, ever did or could come to the least acquaintance withal. And three things he asserts concern- ing it:—(1.) That it is revealed in the gospel, and is thence alone to be learned and attained ; whence we are invited again and again to search and inquire diligently into it, unto this very end, that we may become wise in the knowledge and acknowledgment of this deep and hidden mystery. (2.) That we cannot in our own strength, and by our own most diligent endeavours, come to a holy acquaintance with it, notwithstanding that revelation that is made of it in the letter of the word, unless moreover we receive from God the Spirit of wisdom, knowledge, and revelation, opening our eyes, making our minds spiritual, and enabling us to discover these depths of the Holy Ghost in a spiritual manner. . (3.) That we cannot by these helps attain in this life unto a perfection in the knowledge of this deep and unfathomable mystery, but must still labour to grow in grace and in the knowledge of it, our thriving in all grace and
116 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. I.
obedience depending thereon. All these things the Scripture abounds in the repetition of. And, besides, it everywhere sets forth the blessedness and happiness of them who by grace obtain a spiri- tual insight into this mystery; and themselves also find by experi- ence the satisfying’ excellency of it, with the apostle, Phil. iii. 8. All which considerations are powerful motives unto this duty of inquir- ing into and admiring this wonderful mystery ; wherein we have the angels themselves for our associates and companions.
2. Consider we may, also, the unspeakable love of Christ in this work of his delivering us from sin. This the Scripture also abun- dantly goeth before us in, setting forth, extolling, commending this love of Christ, and calling us to a holy consideration of it. Parti- cularly, it shows it accompanied with all things that may make love expressive and to be admired; for, (1.) It proposeth the necessity and exigency of the condition wherein the Lord Christ gave us this relief. That was when we were “sinners,” when we were “lost,” when we were “children of wrath,’ “under the curse,” —when no eye did pity us, when no hand could relieve us. And if John mourned greatly when he thought that there was none found worthy, in heaven or earth, to open the book of visions, and to unloose the seals thereof, how justly might the whole creation mourn and lament if there had been none found to yield relief, when all were obnoxious to this fatal ruin! And this is an exceeding commendation of the love of Christ, that he set his hand to that work which none could touch, and put his shoulders under that burden which none else could bear, when all lay in a desperate condition. (2.) The greatness of this delivery. It is from “ wrath,’ and “curse,” and “vengeance” eternal. Not from a trouble or danger of a few days’ continuance, not from a mo- mentary suffering; but from everlasting wrath, under the curse of God, and power of Satan in the execution of it, which necessarily attend sin and sinners. And, (3.) The way whereby he did tt; not by his word, whereby he made the world; not by his power, whereby he sustains and rules the things that he hath made; not by paying a price of corruptible things; not by revealing a way unto us only whereby we ourselves might escape that condition wherein ' we were, as some foolishly imagine: but by the “ sacrifice of himself,” “making his soul an offering for sin,” and “ offering up himself unto God through the eternal Spirit,’—by “laying down his life for us;” and greater love can no man manifest than by so doing. And, (4.) The infinite condescension that he used, to put himself into that con- dition wherein by himself he might purge our sins; for to this pur- pose, when he was “in the form of God, he emptied himself of his glory, made himself of no account, was made flesh, took on him the form of a servant, that he might be obedient unto death, the death of the cross.” And, (5.) The end of his undertaking for us, which