520 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [omar. m1.
he was the eternal Son of God, “ the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person,” by whom the worlds were made; and therefore deservedly exalted, even.as mediator, being incarnate, in- comparably above the most glorious beings of all God's creation. This he would have us especially to regard in our consideration of him. So did the apostles of old. They considered his glory as “ the only-begotten of the Father,” therefore “full of grace and truth,” John i, 14, This excellency of the person of Christ brancheth it- self into many instances, not here to be recapitulated. It may suffice in general that this is to be the principal object of our meditation. The revelation which he made of himself under the old testament had an especial respect unto this glory. Such is the description of him, Ps. lxviii. 17, 18, applied unto him, Eph. iv. 8; as that also, Isa. vi. 1-8, applied unto him, John xii. 41. And it is a signal promise, that under the gospel we shall “see the king in his beauty,” Isa, xxxiii. 17, or see by faith the uncreated excellencies and glory of this king of saints. And indeed the faith of the saints of the old testament did principally respect the glorious person of the Messiah. In other things they were very dark, and little can be gathered from the Scripture of what spiritual apprehension they had concerning other things whereby they were instructed; but their minds and faith were distinctly fixed on his person and his coming, leaving his work and the mystery of redemption unto his own wisdom and grace. Hence had they so many glorious descriptions of him granted unto them ; which were always to keepup their hearts in a desire and expec- tation of him, And now under the new testament, it isthe greatest trial of faith, whether it be evangelical, genuine, and thriving, namely, by the respect that it hath to the person of Christ. If that be its im- mediate and principal object, if it respect other things with regard unto him and in subordination unto him, it is assuredly of a heavenly extract; if otherwise, it may justly be suspected. This is that head of gold which the spouse admires in her beloved, Cant. v. 11. And unspeakable is the influence which the consideration of this glorious excellency of Christ, attended with infinite wisdom and power, hath into our preservation in the truth. [2.] His grace and condescen- sion. This the apostle insists upon, Heb. ii. His design therein is to show what this glorious and excellent person submitted himself unto, that he might save and deliver sinners. And this he greatly presseth, Phil. ii, 5-8. This glorious one humbled himself into the form of a man, of a servant, unto death, the death of the cross) A due mixture of greatness and grace or goodness is the most power- ful attractive and loadstone of affections. Hence God, who is infi-
nitely great and infinitely good, is the ultimate object of them. In —
the person of Christ it is incomparably and inimitably, so that there is nothing in the creation to shadow it out unto us. See Rev. i.
VER. 1, 2. ' EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 521 a
5,6, 11, 18-16. He who is Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the prince of the kings of the earth, even he loved us, and washed us in his own blood. Hence unto a believing soul, he becomes “white and ruddy, the chiefest of ten thousand,” Cant. v.10. See Ps. xlv, 2-4, This is a means of preservation. Hence the apostle wonders at the Galatians, that they should depart from the truth, after that Jesus Christ had been evidently set forth before their eyes, crucified amongst them, Gal. ii. 1; for an evident declaration of him, and representation of his love in the preaching of the gospel, is a suffi- cient means to preserve men from such miscarriages. We see what a warm, natural, blind devotion will be stirred up in the Papists by the superstitious pictures of Christ which they have amongst them. And if a false means shall be effectual to stir up a false love and devotion, shall not the true, proper, instituted means of the repre- sentation of the glory of Christ, in the gospel, be effectual to beget constancy and perseverance in faith and obedience? These things the apostle minds them off concerning his person, to be improved unto the ends proposed.
(2.) Consider him as to his offices.. In these verses the apostle minds the Hebrews of his prophetical and sacerdotal; but he di- rects them to his regal also, which he had treated of, chap. i. Nei- ther doth he mind them so directly of the offices themselves, as the qualifications of his person on their account. His authority as a king, his mercifulness as our high priest, and his faithfulness as a. prophet, or God’s apostle, are the things he would have them con- sider.
[1.] His authority, as king, lord, and heir of all, chap. i. 1-3. His dealing with the Hebrews was principally about the institution of new ordinances of worship, and abolishing of the old. This, sove- reign authority was required unto. This the Lord Christ was fur- nished withal, as the Son, as the heir and lord of all. A due consideration hereof would thoroughly remove all doubts aud scruples in this matter. And the neglect hereof is the cause of all that con- fusion and disorder that is at this day in the world about the worship of God. Men not considering the authority of Christ, either as in- stituting the ordinances of the gospel, or as judging upon their neglect and abuse, are careless about them, or do not acquiesce in his plea- sure in them. This hath proved the ruin of many churches, which, neglecting the authority of Christ, have substituted their own in the room thereof. The consideration, therefore, of this kingly, legisla- tive authority of the Lord Christ by men, as to their present duty and future account, must needs be an effectual means to preserve them in the truth and from backslidings. See Rom. xiv. 9-12; 2 Cor. v. 9, 10.