But what is the end of all this obedience and suffering? death lies at the door, as the ocean whereinto all these streams do run, and seems to swallow them up, that there they are lost for ever. No; for,—[3.] This captain of our salvation is gone before us in passing through death, and entering into glory. He hath showed us in his own resurrection (that great pledge of our immortality) that death
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is not the end of our course, but a passage into another more abid- ing condition. He promiseth that whosoever believeth on him, they shall not be lost, or perish, or consumed by death, but that he will raise them up at the last day, John vi. 39, 40. But how shall this be confirmed unto them? Death looks ghastly and dreadful, as a lion that devours all that come within his reach. ‘ Why,’ saith Christ, ‘behold me, entering into his jaws, passing through his power, rising from under his dominion; and fear not,—so shall it be with you also.’. This our apostle disputes at large, 1 Cor. xv. 12-21. He is gone before us through death, and is become “the first-fruits of them that sleep.” And had Christ passed into heaven before he died, as did Enoch and Elijah, we had wanted the greatest evidence of our future immortality. What, then, remains for the finishing of our course? Why, the captain of our salvation, after he had suffered, entered into glory, and that as our leader, or forerunner, Heb. vi. 20. Jesus as our forerunner is entered into heaven. He is gone before us, to evidence unto us what is the end of our obe- dience and sufferings. In all this is he a captain and leader unto the sons of God.
(2.) He guides them and directs them in their way. This also belongs unto him as their captain and guide. Two things in this are they of themselves defective in:—[1.] They know not the way that leads to happiness and glory; and, [2.] They want ability to discern vt aright when it is showed unto them. And in both they are relieved and assisted by their leader; in the first by his word, in the latter by his Spirit. [1.] Of themselves they know not the way; as Thomas said, “ How can we know the way?” The will of God, the mystery of his love and grace, as to the way whereby he will bring sinners unto glory, is unknown to the sons of men by na- ture. It was a secret “hid in God,” a sealed book, which none in heaven or earth could open. But this Jesus Christ hath fully de- clared in his word unto all the sons that are to be brought unto glory. He hath revealed the Father from his own bosom, John i. 18; and declared those “ heavenly things” which no man knew but he that came down from heaven, and yet at the same time was in heaven, John iii. 12, 13. In his word hath he declared the name and re- yealed the whole counsel of God, and “brought life and immortality to light,’ 2 Tim. i. 10. Whatever is any way needful, useful, help- ful, in their obedience, worship of God, suffering, expectation of glory, he hath taught it them all, revealed it all unto them; other teachers they need not. Had there been any thing belonging unto their way which he had not revealed unto them, he had not been a perfect captain of salvation unto them. And men do nothing but presumptuously derogate from his glory, who will be adding and - imposing their prescriptions in and about this way.
390 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP, IT.
[2.] Again; the way being revealed in the word, he enables them by his Spirit to see, discern, and know it, in such a holy and saving manner as is needful.to bring them unto the end of it. He gives them eyes to see, as well as provides paths for them to walk in. It had been to no purpose to have declared the way, if he had not also given them light to see it. This blessed work of his Spirit is every- where declared in the Scripture, Isa. xlii. 16. And by this means is he unto us what he was unto the church in the wilderness, when he went before them in a pillar of fire, to guide them in their way, and to show them where they should rest. And herein lies no small part of the discharge of his office towards us as the captain of our salvation. Whatever acquaintance we have with the way to glory, we have it from him alone; and whatever ability we have to discern the way, he is the fountain and author of it. This God hath de- signed and called him unto. And all our wisdom consists in this, that we betake ourselves unto him, to him alone, for instruction and direction in this matter, Matt. xvii. 5. Doth not he deservedly wander, yea, and perish, who in war will neglect the orders and directions of his general, and attend unto every idle tale of men pretending to show him a way that they have found out better than that which his captain hath limited him unto?