How the apostle proves his intendment. by this testimony hath been declared in the opening of the words, and the force of it unto his purpose lies open to all. We may now divert unto those’ doc- trinal observations which the words offer unto us; as,—
I. All the properties of God, considered in the person of the Son, the head of the church, are suited to give relief, consolation, and supportment unto believers in all their distresses.
This truth presents itself unto us from the use of the words in the psalm, and their connection in the design of the psalmist. Un- der the consideration of his own mortality and frailty, he relieves himself with thoughts of the omnipotency and eternity of Christ, and takes arguments from thence to plead for relief.
And this may a little further be unfolded for our use in the ensu- ing observations :-—
1. The properties of God are those whereby God makes known himself to us, and declares both what he is and what we shall find him to be in all that we have to deal with him: he is infinitely holy, just, wise, good, powerful, etc, And by our apprehension of
212 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. I,
these things are we led to that acquaintance with the nature of God which in this life we may attain, Exod. xxxiv. 5-7.
2. God oftentimes declares and proposeth these properties of his nature unto us for our supportment, consolation, and relief, in our troubles, distresses, and endeavours after peace and rest to our souls, Isa, xl. 27-81.
3. That since the entrance of sin, these properties ef God, abso- lutely considered, will not yield that relief and satisfaction unto the souls of men which they would have done, and did, whilst man continued obedient unto God according to the law of his creation. Hence Adam upon his sin knew nothing that should encourage him to expect any help, pity, or relief from him; and therefore fled from his presence, and hid himself. The righteousness, holiness, purity, and power of God, all infinite, eternal, unchangeable, considered absolutely, are no way suited to the advantage of sinners in any con- dition, Rom. i 32; Hab. i. 12, 13.
4, These properties of the divine nature are in every person of the Trinity entirely; so that each person is so infinitely holy, just, wise, good, and powerful, because each person is equally partaker of the whole divine nature and being.
5. The person of the Word, or the eternal Son of God, may be considered either absolutely as such, or as designed in the counsel, wisdom, and will of the Father, by and with his own will and con- sent, unto the work of mediation between God and man, Prov. viii. 22-31. And in him as such it is that the properties of the nature of God are suited to yield relief unto believers in every con- dition; for,—
(1.) It was the design of God, in the appointment of his Son to be mediator, to retrieve the communion between himself and his creature that was lost by sin. Now, man was so created at first as that every thing in God was suited to be a reward unto him, and in all things to give him satisfaction. This being wholly lost by sin, and the whole representation of God to man becoming full of dread and terror, all gracious intercourse, in a way of special love on the part of God, and spiritual, willing obedience on the part of man, was intercepted and cut off. God designing again to take sinners into a communion of love and obedience with himself, it must be by representing unto them his blessed properties as suited to their encouragement, satisfaction, and reward. And this he doth in the person of his Son, as designed to be our mediator, Heb. i. 2, 8; for,—
(2.) The Son is designed to be our mediator and the head of his church in a way of covenant, wherein there is an engagement for the exerting of all the divine properties of the nature of God for the good and advantage of them for whom he hath undertaken, and
VER. 10-12.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 213
whom he designed to bring again into favour and communion with God. Hence believers do no more consider the properties of God in the person of the Son absolutely, but as engaged in a way of covenant for their good, and as proposed unto them for an everlast- ing, satisfactory reward. Thisis the ground of his calling upon them so often to behold, see, and consider him, and thereby to be refreshed. They consider his power, as he is mighty to save; his eternity, as he is an everlasting reward; his righteousness, as faithful to justify them; all his properties, as engaged in covenant for their good and advantage. Whatever he is in himself, that he will be to them in a way of mercy. Thus do the holy properties of the divine nature become a means of supportment unto us, as considered in the per- son of the Son of God. And this is,—
[1.] A great encouragement unto believing. The Lord Christ, as the Wisdom of God inviting sinners to come unto him, and to be made partakers of him, lays down all his divine excellencies as a motive thereunto, Prov. viii. 14, 15, etc.; for on the account of them he assures us that we may find rest, satisfaction, and an abundant reward in him. And the like invitation doth he give to poor sin- ners: Isa. xlv. 22, “ Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” They may justly expect salvation in him who is God, and in whom all divine attri- butes are proposed to their benefit, as they find who come unto him, verses 24, 25. The consideration hereof prevents all the fears and answers all the doubts of them that look up unto him.