2. In the solemn promise made from the beginning to send him for this purpose. This gave him a virtual law-constitution, whereby he became, as its prophet, the object of the church’s faith and expectation. And this was included in the first promise, Gen. iii. 15. Darkness, blindness, and ignorance, being come upon us by sin, he that was to deliver us from all the effects and consequents of it must of necessity be our instructor in the light and knowledge of God. But the first open, plain expression of it by the way of promise is Deut. xvii. 18; which is confirmed by following promises innumerable. See Isa. xi. 1-5, xl. 11, xii. 1-7, xlix: 1-4, 8, 9, lii. 15; Zech. vi. 12,13; Mal. iii, 1-4.
3. In sending him actually into the world to be “the light of men,” John i. 4, and to “manifest that eternal life which was with the Father,” 1 John i. 2; to which end he furnished him with his Spirit and all the gifts thereof in all fulness, for the discharge of his office, Isa, xi. 2, 3, lxi. 1-3. For to this end he received not
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the Spirit by measure, John iii. 34, but was “anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows,” Heb. i. 9; of which unction we have treated at large before.
4. In the declaration he made of him to be his apostle and am- bassador by a visible sign. This was done in the descending of the Holy Ghost upon him in the likeness of a dove, John i. 32, 33.
And herewithal did God commit his charge and trust unto him, which he was to keep and preserve, Zech. vi. 12, 13. Being thus sent by the Lord of hosts, Zech. ii. 8, and therein clothed with his name, authority, and majesty, Mic. v. 4, he acted in all things as his legate and apostle——by his commission and authority, in his name, and unto his glory.
5. Lastly, Unto these acts of his appointment God added his com- mand, and published it from heaven unto all, to hear and obey him, as the great teacher sent from God, as his apostle, speaking in his name, Matt. xvii. 5.
By these means was the Lord Christ appointed to be the apostle of God; and “he was faithful unto him that appointed him,” as hath been declared.
Thirdly, “As was Moses in his whole house.” The last thing in these words is the further assertion of the fidelity of , Christ by a comparison with Moses, who was “ faith- ful in his whole house.’ We observed before, that it is not evi- dent unto whom these words are immediately applied. But whomso- ever they have respect unto, they belong also to the other; for the one as well as the other was faithful in the whole house of God. But the apostle seems directly to express the words used by God himself concerning Moses, Num. xii. 7: 837 ff282 °2"232;—“ Tn tota domo mea fidelis ipse;”—“ He is faithful in all my house.” And they
_are therefore here firstly intended of him. Three things are, then, considerable in these words: 1. The commendation of Meson cate was “faithful.” 2. The extent of his faithfulness,—it was “in all the house of God;” both which are expressed in the words. 3. The comparison implied between Christ and him.
1. “Moses was 1982, “faithful.” It is true, he failed personally in his faith, and was charged of God that he believed him not, Num. xx. 12; but this was in respect of his own faith in one particular, and is no impeachment of his faithfulness in the especial office in- tended. As he was the apostle, the ambassador of God, to reveal his mind and institute his worship, he was universally faithful; for he declared and did all things according to his will and appoint- ment, by the testimony of God himself, Exod. xl. 16, “ According to all that the Lorp commanded him, so did he.” He withheld nothing of what God revealed or commanded, nor did he add any thing thereunto; and herein did his faithfulness consist.
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2. The extent of his faithfulness was in “ the whole house of God,” —iv baw r@ ofxw: that is, saith Chrysostom, év 6m + rag@,—“ in the whole people.” “In his house;” that is, in his household, his family: Acts 11. 36, ’Acpadrdic yiva- oxéro res olnos *lopanx'— Let the whole house of Israel know;” that is, the whole family, the posterity of Jacob, or Israel. See “ house” for “household,” Acts xvi. 15; 1 Cor. i. 16; 2 Tim.i.16. The “house of God,” then, is his household, his family, his church; called his “house,’—(1.) By way of appropriation ; his lot, his portion, as a man’s house is to him. Deut. xxxii. 9, “The Lorn’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.” (2.) Because of his inhabita- tion. He dwells in his church by his especial and glorious presence, as a man in his own house, Rev. xxi. 8. Both which are springs of care, love, and delight. In this house was Moses faithful. And this commendation of Moses is on all occasions celebrated by the Jews. So they do in their hymns in the rituals of the Sabbath, in Machzor, part. i., fol. 49, soya nno wren naxan 5:5 sbmanp qos Tay > nay mow AI ND yD WT vax Nim ow» op on by qr9nb;—“ Thou calledst him thy faithful servant; and didst put a glorious crown on his head, when he stood before thee in mount Sinai, and brought down the two tables of stone, wherein was written the observation of the Sabbath,” ete. ;