394 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IL
(6.) He provides a reward, a crown for them; and in the bestow- ing thereof accomplisheth this his blessed office of the captain of our salvation. He is gone before the sons into heaven, to make ready their glory, to “prepare a place for them;” and “he will come and receive them unto himself, that where he is, there they may be also,” John xiv. 2,8. When he hath given them the victory, he will take them unto himself, even unto his throne, Rev. 1, 21; and, as a righteous judge, give unto them a crown of righteousness and glory, 2 Tim. iv. 8,1 Pet. v. 4. And thus is the whole work of con- ducting the sons of God unto glory, from first to last, committed unto this great captain of their salvation, and thus doth he discharge his office and trust therein; and blessed are all they who are under his leading and guidance. And all this should teach us,—
First, To betake ourselves wnto him, and to rely wpon him in the whole course of our obedience and all the passages thereof. To this purpose is he designed by the Father; this hath he under- taken; and this doth he go through withal. No address that is made unto him in this matter will he ever refuse to attend unto; no case or condition that is proposed unto him is too hard for him, or beyond his power to relieve. He is careful, watchful, tender, faithful, powerful; and all these properties and blessed endowments will he exercise in the discharge of this office. What should hinder us from betaking ourselves unto him continually? Is our trouble so small, are our duties so ordinary, that we can wrestle with them or perform them in our own strength? Alas! we can do nothing,— not think a good thought, not endure a reproachful word. And whatever we seem to do or endure of ourselves, it is all lost; for “in us there dwelleth no good thing.” Or are our distresses so great, our temptations so many, our corruptions so strong, that we begin to say, “There is no hope?” Is any thing too hard for the captain of our salvation? Hath he not already conquered all our enemies? Is he not able to subdue all things by his power? Shall we faint whilst Jesus Christ lives and reigns? But, it may be, we have looked for help and assistance, and it hath not answered our expecta- tion, so that now we begin to faint and despond. Sin is not sub- dued, the world is still triumphant, and Satan rageth as much as ever; his temptations are ready to pass over our souls. But have we sought for his help and assistance in a due manner, with faith and perseverance; unto right ends, of his glory, and advantage of the gospel? Have we taken a right measure of what we have received? or do we not complain without a cause? Let us not “judge accord- ing to outward appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” What is it to us if the world triumph, if Satan rage, if sin tempt and vex? we are not promised that it shall be otherwise. But are we for- saken? Are we not kept from being prevailed against? If we
VER. 10.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 395
ask amiss or for improper ends, or know not what we do receive, or think, because the strength of enemies appears to be great, we must fail and be ruined, let us not complain of our captain; for all these things arise from our own unbelief. Let our application unto him be according unto his command, our expectations from him accord- ing to the promise, our experiences of what we receive be measured by the rule of the word, and we shall find that we have all grounds of assurance that we can desire. Let us, then, in every condition, “look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,” who hath undertaken the leading of us in the whole course of our obedience from first to last, and we shall not need to faint, nor shall we ever fail.
Secondly, To look for direction and guidance from him. This in an especial manner belongs unto him, as the captain of our salva- tion. ‘There are two things which we find by experience that pro- fessors are apt to be at a great loss in whilst they are in this world, —the worship of God, and their own troubles. For the first, we see and find that woful variance that is among all sorts of men; and for the latter, we are apt ourselves to be much bewildered in them, as unto our duty and our way. Now, all this uncertainty ariseth from the want of a due attendance unta Jesus Christ as our guide. In reference unto both these he hath peculiarly promised his presence with us. With the dispensers of the word he hath promised to be “unto the end of the world,” or consummation of all things, Matt. xxviii. 20; and we find him walking in the midst of his golden candlesticks, Rev. i. In that allegorical description of ‘the gospel church-state and worship which we have in Ezekiel, there is a peculiar place assigned unto the prince. Now, one end of his presence is, to see that all things are done according unto his mind and will. And unto whom should we go but unto himself alone? His word here will prove the best directory, and his Spirit the best guide. Ifwe neglect these to attend unto the wisdom of men, we shall wander in uncertainties al! our days. It is so also in respect of our troubles) We are ready in them to consult with flesh and blood, to look after the examples of others, to take the advice that comes next to hand, when the Lord Christ hath pro- mised his presence with us in them all, and that as the captain of our salvation. And if we neglect him, his example, his direction, his teaching, it is no wonder if we pine away under our distresses.