486 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. II.
high priest to transact all our affairs with God, he would be sensible of that condition in his own person which he was afterwards to pre- sent unto God for relief to be afforded unto it.
IIL. Temptations cast souls into danger.
They have need under them of relief and succour. Their spring, rise, nature, tendency, effects, all make this manifest. Many perish by them, many are wounded, none escape free that fall into them. Their kinds are various, so are their degrees and seasons; but all dangerous. But this I have elsewhere particularly insisted on*
IV. The great duty of tempted souls, is to cry out unto the Lord Christ for help and relief.
To succour any one, is to come unto his help upon his ery and call. This being promised by Christ unto those that are tempted, supposeth their earnest cry unto him. If we be slothful, if we be negligent under our temptations, if we look other ways for assistance, if we trust unto or rest In our own endeavours for the conquest of them, no wonder if we are wounded by them, or fall under them. This is the great “arcanum” for the cure of this disease, the only means for supportment, deliverance, and conquest, namely, that we earnestly and constantly apply ourselves unto the Lord Christ for succour, and that as our merciful high priest, who had experience of them. This is our duty upon our first surprisal with them, which would put a stop to their progress; this our wisdom in their success and preva- lency. Whatever we do against them without this, we strive not lawfully, and shall not receive the crown. Were this more our practice than it is, we should have more freedom from them, more success against them, than usually we have. Never any soul mis- carried under temptation that cried unto the Lord Christ for succour in a due manner,—that cried unto him under a real apprehension of his danger, with faith and expectation of relief. And hereunto have we encouragement given us, by the great qualifications of his person in this office. He is “ faithful,’ he is “ merciful,” and that which is the effect of them both, heis “able;” he is every way sufficient to relieve andsuccour poor tempted souls. He hath a sufficiency of care, wisdom, and faithfulness, to observe and know the seasons wherein succour is necessary unto us; a sufficiency of tenderness, mercy, and compas- sion, to excite him thereunto; a sufficiency of power, to afford suc- cour that shall be effectual; a sufficiency of acceptation at the throne of grace, to prevail with God for suitable supplies and succour. He is every way “able to succour them that are tempted.” To him be praise and glory for evermore!
1 See the treatise on “Temptation,” vol. vi. p. 88, of the author’s works.—Ep.
VER. 1, 2.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 487
CHAPTER III.
THE general nature of this whole epistle, as in the former part of our exposition was declared, is parenetical. And therefore the doctrines proposed and insisted on in it are constantly improved to press and enforce the exhortations intended; as such is the end and use of all principles in sciences that are practical, especially of that taught us in the Scripture, which is a wisdom and a knowledge of living unto God. Wherefore our apostle, having in the foregoing chapters manifested the excellency of Christ (who was the author of the gospel), both in his person and his work, and that both abso- lutely and comparatively with the angels, the most glorious minis- ters employed in the dispensation of the will of God unto the church of old, with some respect unto Joshua, the captain of the people, under whose conduct they entered into Canaan,—in the en- trance of this chapter he acquaints the Hebrews to what end he insisted on these things, namely, that by the consideration of them they might be prevailed with unto constancy and perseverance in the faith and worship of God, by him declared and revealed. This is the design of his discourse in this chapter. But, as his manner is throughout this epistle, he hath no sooner intimated his intention in the first verse, but he adds a new enforcement to his exhortation, unto the end of the sixth verse. From thence again he proceedeth unto his general exhortation, with a supply of new reasons, argu- ments, and inferences, taken from the consideration or enforcement newly and occasionally insisted on.
There are therefore three general parts of this chapter :—
1. An exhortation unto constancy and perseverance in the profes- sion of the gospel. And therein are observable, (1.) The means of accomplishing the duty exhorted unto, verses 1, 8, 9, 12, 13; (2.) The nature of it, verses 6, 14; (3.) The things that are con- trary unto it, verses 12,15; (4.) The benefits of it, verse 14; (5.) The danger of its neglect, verses 8-11, 15-19.
2. A new enforcement of the exhortation, taken from the fidelity of Christ in the discharge of the office committed unto him, verses 2-6: wherein occur, (1.) The reason itself, or the fidelity of Christ asserted; (2.) The manner of its proposal, by comparing him with and preferring him above Moses. And therein the apostle [1.] Prevents an objection that might yet remain on the behalf of the Tudaical church-state upon the account of Moses, the principal re- - yealer of it; and [2.] Lays down a concession of the faithfulness of Moses in his trust and employment; with [3.] A comparison of him with the Lord Christ as to the dignity of his person and work; and [4.] The evictions of his coming short of him therein.