[3.] It is our wisdom to content ourselves with the laws of Christ in things that belong unto his kingdom. They alone, as we have seen, have those properties which make our obedience useful or pro- fitable; whatever we do else, in reference unto the same end with them, is needless and fruitless drudging.
V. The righteous administrations of the Lord Christ in his go- vernment proceed all from his own habitual righteousness and love thereunto. See this declared by the prophet, Isa. xi. 1-9.
VI. God is a God in especial covenant with the Lord Christ, as he is the mediator: “God, thy God.” Of this covenant I have treated largely elsewhere, and therefore shall not here insist upon it.
VII. The collation of the Spirit on the Lord Christ, and his glo- rious exaltation, are the peculiar works of God the Father: “ God, thy God, hath anointed thee.”
It was God the Father who designed and appointed him unto his work, who actually sent him, and set him forth in the fulness of time; and therefore on him was it incumbent both to furnish him unto his work, and to crown him upon its performance. And herein these several acts, partly eternal, partly temporal, are considerable: —1. The engagement of the eternal will, wisdom, and counsel of the Father with the Son about his work, Prov. viii. 22, 28, 30, 31; Isa. lil, 10-12. 2. His fore-ordination of his coming, by an eternal free act of his will, 1 Pet. i. 20; Acts ii. 23. 3, His covenant with him to abide by him in the whole course of his work, Isa. xlix. 6-9, 1, 7-9. 4. His promise of him from the foundation of the world, often reiterated and repeated, Gen. iii. 15. 5. His actual mission and sending of him in his incarnation, Zech. ii. 8-10. 6. The exert- ing of his almighty power unto that purpose and effect, Luke i. 35. 7. His giving of him command and commission for his work, John
VER. 10-12.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 195
x. 18, xx. 21. 8. Furnishing him with all the gifts and graces of his Spirit, to fit him and enable him unto his work, Isa. xi. 2, 3, lxi, 1-3; Matt. 01.16, 17; John i. 32, 33; Col... 19. 9. Abeding by him in care, love, power, and providence, during the whole course of his obedience and ministry, Isa. xlix. 2,8. 10. Speaking in him, work- ing by him, and in both bearing witness unto him, Heb.i.1, 2; John v. 36. 11. Giving him up unto death, Rom. viii. 32; Acts ii. 23. 12. Razsing him from the dead, 1 Pet. i. 21; Acts ii, 24. 13, Giv- ing all power, authority, and judgment unto him, John v. 22; Matt, xxv. 18. 14, Hwalting of him by his assumption into heaven and glorious session at his right hand, Acts i. 32, 33; Phil. ii 9, 10. 15. Giving him to be the head over all unto the church, and sub- jecting all things under his feet, Eph. i. 20-22. 16. In all things crowning him with eternal glory and honour, John xvii. 5; Heb. ii. 9. All these, and sundry other particulars of the like nature, are assigned unto the Father as part of his work in reference unto the mediation of the Son; and amongst them his exaltation and une- tion with the oil of gladness hath an eminent place. And this are we taught, that in this whole work we might see the authority, counsel, and love of the Father, that so our faith and hope through Jesus Christ might be in God, who raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory, 1 Pet.1. 21.
VIII. The Lord Jesus Christ is singular in this unction.
This is that which the apostle proves in several instances, and by comparing him with others, who in the most eminent manner were partakers of it. And this we are in the consideration of, as the par- ticulars of it do occur. Neither shall I at present further insist on the ensuing observations, because I will not longer detain the reader from the context, namely, that, —
IX. All that serve God in the work of building the church, ac- cording to his appointment, are anointed by his Spirit, and shall be rewarded by his power, Dan. xii. 3.
X. The disciples of Christ, especially those who serve him in his church faithfully, are his companions in all his grace and glory.
VERSES 10-12.
In the following verses the apostle, by another illustrious testi- mony, taken out of Ps. cii., confirms his principal assertion, in the words ensuing. .
Ver, 10-12.— Kus 30 nar’ dpycs, Kips, ry yy sdewerinous, eel epye ‘ray xeipay cov ciolv of odpavor. Adrol drododyras, ov OF diapévess xe! adhy- reg We Imtrioy rarosmbjoovras, ual woed repiCbrcuoy EdiEerg adrovs, nal adrraynoovras ov 2 6 abric si, xal re gen cov odn exreirLovor.
In the last verse, for ér/Zers one copy hath éarwZes, to answer unto array h- covras and MS. T., EA(Zetg adrods wg iuariov. i
196 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [cHAP. I.
The words are the same in the Greek Bibles as in this place of the apostle, nor is there any footstep of any other old translation of them in the psalm. The Syriac differs little. Ke/ it renders 3°"), “and again,” to show that zal is no part of the testimony cited, but serves only to the introduction of another. Verse 11, -for adrol déaonodyras, “they shall perish,” 722 75, “they shall pass away;” alluding to that of 2 Pet. iii. 10, Of odpavol poslnddv meapercvoovrot,—* The heavens shall pass away with a noise.” Dd Oe dvapes- vets, © but thou abidest,” “thou continuest;” M8 5°? PIs, “ et tu stans es,” “et tu stas,” “et tu stabilis es,’—“and thou standest,” “thou art standing,” answering the Hebrew 7727, in the psalm. “EasZes wirods, “thou shalt roll them up,” }8 5)"; which words interpreters render variously, though to the same purpose. “ Involves,” Boderianus,—* roll them;” “complicabis,” Tremellius, —* fold them ;” “ duplicabis,” De Dieu,—“ double them up.” And it is manifest that the translator reads éa/Zess, and not édaacwéers. And I doubt not but the same word was inserted into the translation of the psalm from this place of the apostle. Sb 82 6 wires si,—* Thou art the same,” or, “ Thou art, Iam;” 7S PIX FST, Boderianus, “ Et tu sicut existens es ;”—“ And thou art as thou ex- istest.” Tremellius, “Tu autem sicut es, eris ;’— But thou shalt be as thou art.” Properly, “ And thou, as thou art, art;” that is, “art the same.”