(3.) This tends directly unto our instruction in these perilous days, such as the latter days are foretold to be. All means that ever the devil made use of from the foundation of the world, to draw off or deter men from gospel obedience, are at this day displayed. The world smiles upon apostates, and promiseth them a plentiful supply of such things as the corrupt nature of man esteems desirable, Errors and false worship, with temptations from them, spread them- selves with wings of glorious pretences over the face of the whole earth. ‘Trials, troubles, storms, persecutions, attend and threaten on every hand; and “he only that endureth unto the end shall be saved.” He that, like Jonah, is asleep in this tempest, is at the door of ruin; he that is secure in himself trom danger, is in the greatest danger of falling by security. What, then, shall we do? what means shall we use for our preservation? Take the counsel of our blessed apostle, “Holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our profession;” and again, chap. xii, 3, “Consider him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” Be much in the consideration of the person, offices, and work of Christ. This will conform you unto him, derive strength from him, arm you with the same mind that was in him, increase all your graces, keep you from being weary, and give you assured victory. He deserves it, you need it; let it not be omitted.
_5. This will give direction unto them who are called unto the work of teaching others. The person and offices of Christ are the things which principally they are to insist upon; for that which is the chiefest object of the church’s faith ought to be the chiefest subject of our preaching. So Paul tells the Galatians, that in his preaching Christ was evidently crucified before their eyes, Gal. iii. 1: He proposed Christ crucified unto their consideration, “determining,” as he speaks in another place, “to know nothing amongst them but Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” For if the consideration of Christ be such an important duty in believers, certainly the due proposal of him unto their consideration is no less in preachers. Christ alone is to be preached absolutely, and all other truths as they begin, end, and centre in him, To propose the Lord Christ as amiable, desirable,
528 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP, IIL
useful, and every way worthy of acceptation, is the great duty of the dispensers of the gospel.
I have insisted the longer on this observation, because it com- priseth the main design of the apostle’s words, and is also of singular use to all that profess the gospel. Those which remain shall be only named.
XII. The union of believers lies in their joint profession of faith in the person and offices of Christ, upon a participation in the same heavenly calling. So it is described by the apostle; and the addition of other things, as necessary thereunto, is vain.
XIII. The ordering of all things in the church depends on the sovereign appointment of the Father. He appointed the Lord Christ unto his power and his office in the church.
XIV. The faithfulness of the Lord Christ in the discharge of the trust committed unto him, is the great ground of faith and assurance unto believers in the worship of the gospel. To that end is it men- tioned by the apostle.
XV. All things concerning the worship of God, in the whole church or house now under the gospel, are no less perfectly and completely ordered and ordained by the Lord Jesus Christ than they were by Moses under the law. The comparison is to be taken not only subjectively but objectively also, or it will not suit the apostle’s purpose. As the faithfulness of Moses extended itself unto the whole worship of God and all things concerning it under the old testament, so that of Christ must be extended to the whole worship of God and all the concernments of it under the new testament, It is true, the faithfulness of Christ intensively would be no less than that of Moses, if he revealed all that was committed unto him of his Father unto that purpose, for Moses did no more: but herein would Moses be preferred before him, if all things any way needful or use- ful to or in the worship of God, in matter and manner, were com- mitted unto him, so that nothing might be added thereunto, and not so unto Jesus Christ; which surely neither the design of the apostle in this place nor the analogy of faith will allow.
VERSES 3-6.
The apostle having made his entrance into the comparison designed by him between Christ and Moses, and showed in general wherein they were alike, and as to his purpose equal (which that those who are compared together should be in some things is neces- sary), he proceeds to evince the prelation of Christ and his exaltation above him in sundry signal instances, the matter principally aimed at:—
Ver. 8-6.—Tlasiovos yep O6Ens otros rupd& Mwvojy 7ziwras, xed’ doov TAsiova Thuy exer TOU o/Kov 6 xurKonsvdous air Ths yap oiKos narac-
ae
VER. 3-6.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS, 529
nevalsras bad rivos, 6 Ob re acura naTaoKEVEOaS, Osbs. Kad Mavoys Mey mioris gy bhAw 7& ofnw adrod, we Sepdawy, cig wapripioy ray AaANOy- Tomevenv, Xpiords Oe we vid eal voy olnov abrod* ob ofndg gomev neeis, edvrep THY Tappnoiar, rai rd xalynua ris éraidos meypr réroug BeCasay AUTH OY OLED.