And this should stir us up unto a diligent search into the word, wherein God hath recorded all the concernments of his law and gospel that are for our use and advantage. That is the cabinet wherein all these jewels are laid up and disposed according to his wisdom and the counsel of his will. A general view of it will but little satisfy, and not at all enrich our souls. This is the mine wherein we must dig as for hid treasures. One main reason why we believe not more, why we obey not more, why we love not more, is because we are not more diligent in searching the word for sub- stantial motives unto them all. A very little insight into the word is apt to make men think that they see enough; but the reason of it is, because they like not what they see: as men will not like to look far into a shop of wares, when they like nothing which is at first presented unto them. But if, indeed, we find sweetness, benefit, profit, life, in the discoveries that are made unto us in the word about the law and gospel, we shall be continually reaching after a further acquaintance with them. It may be we know some- what of those things; but how know we that there is not some especial concernment of the gospel, which God in a holy conde- scension hath designed for our good in particular, that we are not as yet arrived unto a clear and distinct knowledge of? Here, if we search for it with all diligence, may we find it; and if we go maimed in our faith and obedience all our days, we may thank our own sloth for it.
VER. 2-4. ] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 293.
Again, whereas God hath distinctly proposed those things unto us, they should have our distinct consideration. We should seve- rally and distinctly meditate upon them, that so in them all we may admire the wisdom of God, and receive the effectual influence of them all upon our own souls. Thus may we sometimes converse in our hearts with the author of the gospel, sometimes with the man- ner of its delivery, sometimes with the grace of it; and from every one of these heavenly flowers draw nourishment and refreshment unto our own souls. O that we could take care to gather up these fragments, that nothing might be lost unto us, as in themselves they shall never perish!
IV. What means soever God is pleased to use in the revelation of his will, he gives it a certainty, steadfastness, assurance, and evi- dence, which our faith may rest in, and which cannot be neglected without the greatest sin: “ The word spoken was steadfast.”
Every word spoken from God, by his appointment, is steadfast; and that because spoken from him and by his appointment. And there are two things that belong unto this steadfastness of the word spoken :—
1. That in respect of them unto whom it is spoken, it is the foundation of faith and obedience, the formal reason of them, and last ground whereinto they are resolved.
2. That on the part of God, it is a stable and sufficient ground of righteousness in proceeding to take vengeance on them by whom it is neglected. The punishment of transgressors is “a meet recom- pence of reward,” because the word spoken unto them is “ steadfast.” And this latter follows upon the former; for if the word be not a stable, firm foundation for the faith and obedience of men, they cannot be justly punished for the neglect of it. That, therefore, must be briefly spoken unto, and this will naturally ensue as a con- sequent thereof.
God hath, as we saw on the first verse of this epistle, im various ways and means, declared and revealed his mind unto men. That declaration, what means or instruments soever he is pleased to make use of therein, is called his Word; and that because originally it is his, proceeds from him, is delivered in his name and autho- rity, reveals his mind, and tends to his glory. Thus sometimes he spake by angels, using their ministry either in delivering his messages by words of an outward sound, or by representation of things in visions and dreams; and sometimes by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, enabling them so inspired to give out the word which they received purely and entirely,—all remaining his word still Now, what ways soever God is pleased to use in ths commu- nication of his mind and will unto men for their obedience, there is that steadfastness in the word itself, that evidence to be from him, as
294 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. II.
to make it the duty of men to believe in it with faith divine and supernatural ; and it hath that stability which will never deceive them. It is, I say, thus steadfast upon the account of its being spoken from God, and stands in no need of the contribution of any strength, authority, or testimony from men, church, tradition, or aught else that is extrinsical unto it. The testimonies given hereunto in the Scripture itself, which are very many, with the general grounds and reasons hereof, I shall not here insist upon, and that because I have done it elsewhere. I shall only mention that one consideration which this place of the apostle suggests unto us, and which is contained in our second observation from the word “steadfast.” Take this word as spoken from God, without the help of any other advantages, and the steadfastness of it is the ground of God’s inflictmg vengeance on them that receive it not, that obey it not. Because it is his word, because it is clothed with his authority, if men believe it not they must perish. But now if this be not sufficiently evidenced unto them, namely, that it is his word, God could not be just in taking ~ vengeance on them; for he should punish them for not believing that which they had no sufficient reason to believe, which suits not with the holiness and justice of God. The evidence, then, that this word is from God, that it is his, being the foundation of the justice of God in his proceeding against them that do not believe it, it is of in~ dispensable necessity that he himself also do give that evidence unto it. From whence else should it have it? from the testimony of the church, or from tradition, or from probable moral inducements that men can tender one to another? Then these two things will inevi-