2. The danger that there is unto men unskilled and unexercised in the word of truth, when, without the advice, assistance, or direc- tion of others who are able to guide them and instruct their inquiry after the mind of God, they hastily embrace opinions which it may be some one text or other of Scripture doth seemingly give coun- tenance unto. By this means do men run themselves into the fore- mentioned danger every day, especially where any seducing spirit
VER. 8, 9.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 189
applies himself unto them with swelling words of vanity, boasting of some misunderstood word or other. Thus have we seen multi- tudes led, by some general expression, in two or three particular places of Scripture, into an opinion about a general redemption of all mankind and every individual thereof; when, if they had been wise, and able to have searched those other scriptures innumerable setting forth the eternal love of God to his elect, his purpose to save them by Jesus Christ, the nature and end of his oblation and ran- som, and compared them with others, they would have understood the vanity of their hasty conceptions.
3. From these things it appears what diligence, patience, wait~ ing, wisdom, are required of all men in searching of the Scriptures, who intend to come unto the acknowledgment of the truth thereby. And unto this end, and because of the greatness of our concernment therein, doth the Scripture itself abound with precepts, rules, direc- tions, to enable us unto a right and profitable discharging of our duty. They are too many here to be inserted. I shall only add, that the diligence of heathens will rise up in judgment and condemn the sloth of many that are called Christians in this matter: for whereas they had no certain rule, way, or means to come to the knowledge of the truth, yet they ceased not with indefatigable dili- gence and industry to inquire after it, and to trace the obscure foot- steps of what was left in their own natures or implanted on the works of creation; but many, the most of those unto whom God hath granted the inestimable benefit and privilege of his word, as a sure and infallible guide to lead them into the knowledge of all use- ful and saving truth, do openly neglect it, not accounting it worthy their searching, study, and diligent examination. How wofully will this rise up in judgment against them at the last day is not difficult to conceive. And how much greater will be their misery who, un- der various pretences, for their own corrupt ends, do deter, yea, and drive others from the study of it!
II. It is the duty of all believers to rejoice in the glory, honour, and dominion of Jesus Christ.
The church in the psalm takes by faith a prospect, at a great dis- tance, of his coming and glory, and breaks out thereon in a way of exultation and triumph into these words, “'Thy throne, O God, is for ever.” And if this were a matter of such joy unto them, who had only an obscure vision and representation of the glory which many ages after was to follow, 1 Pet. i. 11, 12, what ought the full accomplishment and manifestation of it to be unto them that believe now in the daysof the gospel! This made them of old “ rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory;” even because they saw and heard the things which kings, wise men, and prophets, desired to see, and saw them not, “God having provided some better things for us,
190 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. I.
that they without us should not be made perfect,” Heb. xi. 40. For,—
1. Herein God is glorified. The kingdom of Christ is the glory of God; thereby is his name and praise exalted in the world: and therefore upon the erection and setting of it up are all his people so earnestly invited to rejoice and triumph therein, Ps. xev. 1-3, xevi. 1-4, xevii. 1, 2, etc. This, I say, is a cause of eternal joy unto all his saints, that God is pleased to glorify himself and all the in- finite excellencies of his nature in the kingdom and rule of Jesus Christ. ;
2. Herein doth the honour and glory of Christ as mediator con- sist; which is a matter of great rejoicing unto all that love him in sincerity. He tells his disciples, John xiv. 28, that if they loved him, they would rejoice because he said he went unto the Father. They considered only their own present condition and distress, be- ing filled with sorrow because he had told them of his departure from them. ‘But,’ saith he, ‘where is your love to me? ought you not to have that in your hearts as well as care of yourselves? For your condition I shall take care, and provide for your security; and if you love me, you cannot but rejoice because 1 go.tomy Father to receive my kingdom.’ That he who loved us, that gave himself for us, that underwent every thing that is reproachful or miserable for our sakes, is now exalted, glorified, enthroned in an everlasting, im- movable kingdom, above all his enemies, secure from all opposition, is a matter of inexpressible joy, if we have any love unto him,