Il. We may observe, that the Lord Jesus Christ being priest, sacrifice, and altar himself, the offering whereby he was consecrated unto the perfection and complement of his office was of necessity to be part of that work which, as our priest and mediator, he was to undergo and perform.
When other typical priests were to be consecrated, there was an
396 AN EXPOSITION OF THE ~ [OHARA
offering of beasts appointed for that purpose, and an altar to offer on, and a person to consecrate them. But all this was to be done in and by Jesus Christ himself. Even the Father is said to conse- crate him but upon the account of his designing him and appointing him unto his office; but his immediate actual consecration was his own work, which he performed when he offered himself through the eternal Spirit. By his death and sufferings, which he underwent in the discharge of his office, and as a priest therein offered himself unto God, he was dedicated and consecrated unto the perfection of his office. This would require our further explication in this place, but that it will again occur unto us more directly.
III. The Lord Christ, being consecrated and perfected through sufferings, hath consecrated the way of suffering for all that follow him to pass through unto glory.
IV. All complaints of sufferings, all despondencies under them, all fears of them, are rendered unjust and unequal by the sufferings of Christ. It is surely righteous that they should be contented with his lot here who desire to be received into his glory hereafter. Now, there are sundry things that follow upon this consecration of the way of suffering by Jesus Christ; as,—
(1.) That they are made necessary and unavoidable. Men may hope and desire other things, and turn themselves several ways in their contrivances to avoid them, but one way or other sufferings will be the portion of them that intend to follow this captain of salvation. The apostle tells believers that they are predestinated to be conformed to the image of the Son of God, Rom. viii. 29; and lets them know, in the close of that chapter, that no small part of this conformity consists in their afflictions and sufferings. The head having passed through them, there is a measure of afflictions be- longing unto the body, which every member is to bear his share of, Col. 1. 24, And the Lord Jesus himself hath given this law unto us, that every one who will be his disciple must take up his cross and follow him. Discipleship and the cross are inseparably knit to- gether, by the unchangeable law and constitution of Christ himself. And the gospel is full of warnings and instructions unto this pur- pose, that none may complain that they were surprised, or that any thing did befall them in the course of their profession which they looked not for. Men may deceive themselves with vain hopes and expectations, but the gospel deceiveth none. It tells them plainly beforehand, that “through much tribulation they must enter into the kingdom of God;” and that they who “ will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” If they like not these terms, they may let the way of Christ alone; if they will not do so, why do they yet complain? Christ will be taken with his. cross, or not at all. And the folly of our hearts can never be enough bewailed, in thinking |
VER. 10.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 397
strange of trials and afflictions, when the very first thing that the Lord Christ requireth of them that will be made partakers of him is, that “they deny themselves, and take up their cross.” But we would be children, and not be chastised; we would be gold, and not be tried; we would overcome, and yet not be put to fight and contend; we would be Christians, and not suffer. But all these things are contrary to the eternal law of our profession. And so necessary is this way made, that though God deals with his people in great variety, exercising some with such trials and troubles, that others sometimes in comparison of them seem utterly to go free, yet every one, one way or other, shall have his share and measure. And those exceptions that are made in the providence of God as to some individual persons at some seasons, derogate nothing from the ge- neral necessity of the way towards all that do believe.
(2.) It hath made all sufferings for the gospel honourable. The sufferings of Christ himself were indeed shameful, and that not only in the esteem of men, but also in the nature of them and by God’s constitution. They were part of the curse, as it is written, “Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” And as such our Lord Jesus Christ looked on them, when he wrestled with and conquered the shame as well as the sharpness. _ But he hath rendered all the suffer- ings of his that remain very honourable in themselves, whatever they are in the reputation of a blind, perishing world. That which is truly shameful in suffering, is an effect of the curse for sin. This Christ by his suffering hath utterly separated from the sufferings of his disciples. Hence the apostles rejoiced that they had the honour to suffer shame for his name, Acts v. 41; that is, the things which the world looked on as shameful, but themselves knew to be honourable. They are so in the sight of God, of the Lord Jesus Christ, of all the holy angels; which are competent judges in this case. God hath a great cause in the world, and that such a one as wherein his name, his goodness, his love, his glory, are concerned; this, in his infinite wisdom, is to be witnessed, confirmed, testified unto by sufferings, Now, can there be any greater honour done unto any of the sons of men, than that God should single them out from among the rest of mankind and appoint them unto this work? Men are honoured ac- cording to their riches and treasures; but when Moses came to make a right judgment concerning this thing, he “esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt,” Heb. xi. 26. We believe that God gave great honour unto the apostles and mar- tyrs of old in all their - sufferings, Let us labour for the same spirit of faith in reference unto ourselves, and it will relieve us under all our trials. This, then, also hath Christ added unto the way of suffer- ings, by his consecration of it for us. AJ] the glory and honour of the world is not to be compared with theirs unto whom “it is given