372 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. II.
unto us, as unto one part of our obedience: Phil. ii, 5, “ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus;” and what that mind was he declares in the ensuing verses, laying out his infinite condescension in taking our nature upon him, and submitting to all misery, reproach, and death itself for our sakes. If this mind were in Christ, should not we endeavour after a readiness and willingness to submit ourselves unto any condition for his glory? “ Forasmuch,” saith Peter, “as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm your- selves likewise with the same mind,” 1 Pet. iv. 1. Many difficulties will lie in our way, many reasonings will rise up against it, if we consult with flesh and blood; but, saith he, “ Arm yourselves with the same mind that was in Christ;” get your souls strengthened and fenced by grace against all oppositions, that you may follow him and imitate him. Some that profess his name will suffer nothing for him. If they may enjoy him or his ways in peace and quietness, well and good; but if persecution arise for the gospel, immediately they fall away. These have neither lot nor portion in this matter. Others, the most, the best, have a secret loathness and unwillingness to eqns eons unto a condition of trouble and distress for the gos- pel. * Well, if we are unwilling hereunto, what doth the Lord Christ lose by it? Will it be any real abatement of his honour or glory? Will he lose his crown or kingdom thereby? So far as suffering in this world is needful for any of his blessed ends and purposes, he will not want them who shall be ready even to die for his name’s sake. But what if he had been unwilling to be humbled and to suffer for us? If the same mind had been in Christ as is in us, what had been our state and condition unto eternity? In this grace, love, and willingness of Christ, lies the foundation of all our happiness, of all our deliverance from misery and ruin; and shall we reckon our- selves to have an interest therein, and yet find ourselves altogether unready to a conformity unto him? Besides, the Lord Christ was really rich when he made himself poor for our sakes; he was in the form of God when he took upon him the form of a servant, and be- came for us of no reputation. Nothing of this was due to him or belonged unto him, but merely on our account. But we are in our- selves really poor, and obnoxious unto infinitely more miseries for our own sins than what he calls us unto for his name. Are we un- willing to suffer a little, light, transitory trouble in this world for him, without whose sufferings for us we must have suffered misery, and that eternal, whether we would or no? And I speak not so much about suffering itself as about the mind and frame of spirit wherewith we undergo it. Some will suffer when they cannot avoid it, but so unwillingly, so uncheerfully, as makes it evident that they aim at nothing, and act from no principle, but merely that they dare not go against their convictions. But “the mind that was in Christ”
VER. 5-9.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 373
will lead us unto it out of love unto him, with freedom and enlarged- ness of heart; which is required of us.
III. The blessed issue of the abasement of Jesus Christ, in his exaltation unto honour and glory, is an assured pledge of the final glory and blessedness of all that believe in him, whatever difficulties and dangers they may be exercised withal in the way.
His humiliation and exaltation, as we have seen, proceeded out of God’s condescension and love to mankind. His electing love, the eternal gracious purpose of his will to recover lost sinners, and to bring them unto the enjoyment of himself, was the ground of this dispensation; and therefore what he hath done in Christ is a certain pledge of what he will do in and for them also. He is not crowned with honour and glory merely for himself, but that he may be a captain of salvation, and bring others unto a participation of his glory
TY. Jesus Christ, as the mediator of the new covenant, hath ab- solute and supreme authority given unto him over all the works of God in heaven and earth.
This we have so fully manifested and insisted on upon the fore- going chapter, that we shall not here further pursue it; but only mind by the way, that blessed is the state and condition, great is the spi- ritual and eternal security of the church, seeing all things are under the very feet of its Head and Saviour.
VY. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only lord of the gospel state of the church, called under the old testament “the world to come;” and therefore he only hath power to dispose of all things in it relat-
ing unto that worship of God which it is to perform and celebrate.
It is not put into subjection unto any other, angels or men. This privilege was reserved for Christ; this honour is bestowed on the church. He is the only head, king, and lawgiver of it; and no- thing is it to be taught to observe or do but what he hath com- manded. But this will fall more directly under our consideration in the beginning of the next chapter.