304 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IL
cannot be conceived or expressed. Might we here stay to contem- plate and admire, in our dim and dawning light, in our weakness, according to the meanness of our apprehensions of the reflections of it in the glass of the gospel, the eternity of this contrivance; the transactions between Father and Son about it; the retrievement of the lost glory of God by sin, and ruined creation in it; the security of the holiness, righteousness, veracity, and vindictive justice of God, provided for in it; with the abundant overflowings of grace, good- ness, love, mercy, and patience, that are the life of it; we might manifest that there is enough in this fountain to render the streams flowing from it great and glorious. And yet, alas! what a little, what a small portion of its glory, excellency, beauty, riches, is it that we are able in this world to attain unto! How weak and mean are the conceptions and thoughts of little children about the designs and counsels of the wise men of the earth! and yet there is a pro- portion between the understandings of the one and the other. But there is none at all between ours and the infinite depth of the wis- dom and knowledge of God which are laid out in this matter. We think as children, we speak as children, we see darkly, as in a glass; and the best acting of our faith in this business is humble admira- tion and holy thankfulness. Now, certainly it is not in the capacity of a creature to cast greater contempt on God, than to suppose he would set all his glorious properties on work, and draw forth all the treasures of his wisdom, to produce or effect that which should be low, mean, not every way admirable. And yet unto that height of impiety hath unbelief arrived amongst many of them unto whom the gospel is and hath been preached, as to reject and contemn the whole mystery of it as mere folly, as an empty notion, fit to be ne- glected and despised. So hath the god of this world blinded the eyes of men, that the light of the glorious gospel should not shine into their minds. But when God shall come to be admired in all them that believe, on the account of this design of his grace and wisdom, they will with astonishment see the glory of it im others, when it shall be too late to obtain any benefit by it unto them- selves.
Secondly, The salvation preached in the gospel is great upon the account of the way and means whereby it was wrought and accom- plished, or the great effect of the infinite wisdom and grace of God in the incarnation, sufferings, and death of his Son. Thus was it wrought, and no otherwise could it be effected. We were “not re- deemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,” 1 Pet. i, 18. No such price would be accepted with God; salvation is more pre- cious than to be so purchased, Ps. xlix. 6, 7. ‘ But it/may be it might be effected and brought about by the law, which was God’s own institution? either its precepts or its sacrifices might effect this
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VER. 2-4.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 305
work, and salvation may be attained by the works of the law?’ But yet neither will this suffice. For the law is weak and insufficient as to any such purpose, Rom. viii. 2, 3; nor would the sacrifices of it be accepted unto that end, Heb. x. 7,8. ‘How then shall it be wrought ? is there none worthy in heaven or earth to undertake this work, and must it cease for ever?’ No; the eternal Son of God himself, the Word, Power, and Wisdom of the Father, the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, he hath undertaken this work. ‘This renders it great and glorious, that the Son of God in his own person should perform it; it must assuredly be the “great sal- vation” which he came himself to work out. ‘And how doth he do it,—by the mighty word of his power, as he made all things of old ?’ No; this work is of another nature, and in another manner must it be accomplished. For,—
1. To this purpose he must be incarnate, “made flesh,” John i. 14; “made of a woman,” Gal. iv. 4. Though he was in the form of God, and equal to God, yet he was to humble and empty himself unto and in the form of a man, Phil. ii. 6, 7. This is that great “mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh,” that “the angels desire to look into.” That the Son of God should take the nature of man into subsistence with himself, in the same person,—which was necessary for the effecting of this salvation,—is a thing that the whole creation must admire unto eternity. And yet this is but an entrance into this work; For,—
2. In this nature he must be “made under the law,” Gal. iv. 4; obnoxious to the commands of it, and bound to the obedience which _ it required. It became him to fulfil all righteousness, that he might
‘be our Saviour; for though he were a Son, yet he was to learn to yield obedience. Without his perfect obedience unto the law our salvation could not be perfected. The Son of God must obey, that we may be accepted and crowned. The difficulties also, tempta- tions, and dangers, that attended him in the course of his obedience, are inexpressible. And surely this renders salvation by him very great. But yet there is that remains which gives it another exalta- tion; for,—