330 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. II.
1 Cor. xi. 8. He is so to every believer respectively and seve- rally; and that in both those senses wherein he is a head,—that is, according to the natural and metaphorical use of the word. For,— f
(1.) He is the only head of vital influence to the whole church and every member thereof. As from the natural head all influences of life, for subsistence, motion, acting, guidance, and direction, are communicated unto the whole body and to every member thereof; so from the Lord Christ alone, as he is the spiritually vital head of the church, in whom are the springs of life and all quickening grace, there are communicated unto the whole church, and every believer therein, both the first quickening vital principle of life itself and all succeeding supplies and influences of grace, for the enlivening, strengthening, acting, guiding, and directing of them. This himself declares, by comparing the relation of all believers unto him unto that of branches unto the vine, John xv. 2, 4; which have no life but by virtue of their union unto the vine, nor sap for fruitfulness but what is derived therefrom; which he teacheth expressly, verse 5, “ Without me,” saith he, “ye can do nothing.” And this the apostle lively sets out unto us in the similitude of the natural body, Col. ii. 19. And this placing of all fulness in the Lord Christ, as the head of the church, that thence the whole and every member of it might derive needful supplies to themselves, is fully taught us in the gospel. Hence the church is called “ the fulness of Christ,” Eph. i. 23; or that whereunto Christ communicates of his all-fulness of grace, until it come unto the measure or degree of growth and per- fection which he hath graciously assigned unto it. And none, I suppose, will contend but that the Lord Christ is the alone and only head of the church in this sense. It hath not a spiritual depend- ence on any other for grace. There is, indeed, I know not what monster lies in the opinion of them who take upon themselves to confer grace upon others, by virtue of such things as they do unto them or for them; but this we do not now consider. If any man think he may have grace from any but Christ alone, be they angels or men, let him turn himself unto them, but withal know assuredly that he “forsakes the fountain of living waters” for “broken cis- terns,” which will yield him no relief.
(2.) He is the only head of rule and government unto the whole church, and every member thereof. This rule or government of the church concerneth all that obedience which it yields unto God in his worship. And unto a head herein it is required that he give perfect rules and laws for all things necessarily belonging thereunto, and take care that they be observed. And here a great contest ariseth in the world. The Papists, in behalf of their pope and others under him, contend to be sharers with the Lord Christ in this his
VER. 5-9.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS, 331
headship; and fain they would persuade us that he himself hath appointed that so it should be. The Scripture tells us that he was faithful in the whole house of God, as was Moses, and that as a lord over his own house, to erect, rule, and establish it. And himself, when he gives commission unto his apostles, bids them to teach men to do and observe all that he had commanded them; and ac- cordingly they tell us that they delivered unto us what they received from the Lord, and command us not to be wise above what is written. But I know not how it is come to pass that these men think that the Lord Christ is not a complete head in this matter, that he hath not instituted all rules and laws that are needful and convenient for the right discharge of the worship of God and obedience of the church therein; at least, that somewhat may be added unto what he hath appointed, that may be much to the advantage of the churcly. And this they take to be their work, by virtue of I know not what unsealed warrant, unwritten commission. But to add any thing in the worship of God unto the laws of the church, is to exercise autho- rity over it, dominion over its faith, and to pretend’that this world to come, this blessed gospel church-state, is put in subjection unto them, although it be not so to angels;—a vain and proud pretence, as at the last day it will appear. But you will say, ‘ Christ gives his laws only unto his whole church, and not to individual believers, who receive them from the church; and so he is not an immediate head unto every one in particular.’ I answer, that the Lord Christ com- mits his laws unto the church’s ministry to teach them unto believ- ers; but his own authority immediately affects the soul and con- _ science of every believer. He that subjects himself aright unto them doth it not upon the authority of the church, by whom they are taught and declared, but upon the authority of Christ, by whom they are given and enacted.