532 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. IIT.
them unto constancy and perseverance, as the verses immediately ensuing do manifest.
The connection of the discourse is denoted in the first word, “for,” a causal conjunction, which sometimes renders a reason of what hath been before spoken; sometimes directs unto an inference of what is afterwards to be introduced, as we have seen, chap. ii. 10, 11. In this place it is evident that the apostle doth not render a reason of what he had last affirmed,— namely, that Christ was faithful in all the house of God, as was Moses,—-seeing he passeth directly unto a new argument for his gene- ral end and purpose, namely, the dignity of Christ above Moses; which he manifests by sundry instances. Neither doth this word respect the ensuing proof of the pre-eminence of Christ asserted, as if he had said, ‘He is worthy of more glory than Moses, because he that buildeth the house,’ ete. But there is a retrospect in it unto the first verse, and a reason of it induced why it was so necessary for the Hebrews diligently to consider “the apostle of our profession,” namely, because of his glory, honour, and dignity, above that of Moses. ‘Consider him,’ saith he, ‘for he is worthy of more glory than Moses;’ which he demonstrates in these four verses, and then returns again unto his exhortation. This is the order of the dis- course; and in it there is a proposition, and two arguments for its confirmation, which contain the subject-matter of it.
The proposition laid down by the apostle in these verses is plain and evident; so also do the arguments whereby he confirms it seem to be. But the illustration that he makes of them, and the infer- ences he takes from them, are involved. Wherefore these things in general we shall endeavour to give some light into.
The proposition is this, that “Christ was counted worthy of more glory than Moses.” The first proof of this proposition lies in these words of verse 8, “‘ Inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house;” and this he further confirms or illus- trates, verse 4, “ For every house is builded of some; but he that built all things is God;” the latter expressly in verses 5, 6, of which afterwards.
As for the manner of arguing here used by the apostle, it is educed from the foregoing verses, In the comparison made between Christ and Moses, he allowed Moses to be faithful, proving it by the testimony of God himself, who had said he was “ faithful in all his house.” The church or people of God being in that testimony called “The house of God,” and that by God himself, the apostle takes ad- vantage of the metaphor to express the dignity of Christ in his rela- tion to the church under that expression of “The house of God;” for not only the things themselves, but the manner of their expres- sion in the Scripture, is of great importance, and much wisdom,
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VER. 3-6.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. ~ 533
much acquaintance with the mind of God, may be attained by a due consideration thereof. And a double relation unto this house doth he ascribe unto him, which are the principal relations that attend any house whatever. The first is of a builder, whence he takes his first argument, verses 8, 4; the other is of an owner, inhabiter, and possessor, whence he takes his second, verses 5, 6. And these are the principal respects of any house: without the first, it is not; and without the latter, it is of no use.
In his first argument, verse 3, the proposition only is expressed, the assumption is included, and the conclusion left unto an obvious inference; for plainly the apostle reasons syllogistically in this case.
The proposition is this, “ He that buildeth the house hath more honour than the house.”
The assumption included is, “ But Christ built the house, re Moses was only of the house, or a part of it: and therefore he had more glory than Moses.”
That this assumption is included in the words is evident both from the necessity of it, to infer the purpose of the apostle, as also from his management of his second argument to the same end, verses 5, 6: for therein the proposition is only supposed, as having been before, for the substance of it, expressed; and the assumption is plainly laid down, as containing the new medium which he insists upon.
The proposition of the argument in these verses is, ‘A son over his own house is of more honour than a servant in the house of an- other.’ This is only supposed.
The assumption is expressed, “ But Christ is a son over his own house; Moses was only a servant in another’s house:” whence the conclusion is plain and evident.
As, then, the proposition in the latter argument is supposed, so is the assumption in the former.
In the confirmation of the first argument the fourth verse is inserted, “ For every house is builded of some; but he that built all things is God.”
Some say these words are produced in the confirmation of the proposition of the first argument, “ He that buildeth the house hath more honour than the house ;” and so, that it is God the Father who is intended inthem. For to prove that he who buildeth the house is more honourable than the house, he instanceth in him who.is the great builder or creator of all things, even God himself, who is infi- nitely more glorious than all things built by him; which holds in proportion to all other builders and their buildings. Others say that this is affirmed in confirmation of the minor proposition, namely, that “Christ built the house;” because it being a house, it must be built by some; and being such a house as it is, it could be built by