Fifthly, Their especial honour will one day appear in their espe- cial reward: Dan. xii. 3, 0’?2¥87, “instructors,” “ teachers,” they that make men wise, that give them understanding, “ shall shine as the brightness of the firmament ;” 0°21] ‘P"1¥4, “ and the justifiers of many,” those that make them righteous ministerially, by reveal- ing unto them the knowledge and righteousness of Christ, whereby they are justified, Isa. liii. 11, “as the stars for ever and ever.” If they have not more glory than others, yet they shall have a distinct
538 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. III.
glory of their own; for when the prince of shepherds shall be mani- fested, he will give unto these his shepherds dmapévrwoy rig ddEns orégavoy, 1 Pet. v. 4,—such a peculiar crown as great triumphant con- querors were wont to be crowned withal.
Only it must be observed, that there is nothing of all this spoken merely with respect unto being employed one way or other, really or in pretence, in this house of God, but only unto a faithfulness in the discharge of the trust committed unto them who are so em- ployed. Moses was worthy of honour, not because he was employed, but because he was “faithful” in his trust and employment. The twelve spies that were sent into Canaan, to search the land, were all equally commissionated and employed ; but two of them only were esteemed worthy of honour, the rest died in their sin, as not faith- fully discharging their trust, but bringing up an evil report on the land of promise,—as many do on the house of God, by one means or other, who are employed in the service of it. And these are so far from being worthy of honour, that they deserve nothing but reproach, contempt, and shame; for as God says in this matter, “ He that honoureth me, I will honour;” so he adds, “and he that despiseth me shall be lightly esteemed.’ Such persons are rejected of God from any acceptance in their office, Hos. iv. 6; and as unsavoury salt unto the house itself, are to be cast out on the dunghill, Matt. v. 13. They are servants whom, when their Lord comes, he will tear in pieces, and give them their portion with hypocrites, Matt. xxiv. 50, 51. Persons, therefore, who undertake to be builders in the house of God, who have received no skill or ability from the master-builder, or are negligent in their work, or corrupt it, or daub with untempered mortar, or are any way unfaithful, whatever double or treble advan- tage they may obtain from men in this world, they shall have no- thing but shame and confusion of face from God in that which is to come.
Let, then, those who are indeed faithful in this work be satisfied with the work itself. It will prove in the end to have been a good revenue, a blessed inheritance. Add but that reward which the Lord Christ brings with him unto the reward of honour that is in the work itself, and it will be abundantly satisfactory. We dishonour our master, and manifest that we understand not much of our work, when we are solicitous about any other recompence.
And this also will serve to strengthen such persons in all the oppositions they meet withal, and all the discouragements they are encompassed with in the discharge of their duty. It is enough to give them a holy contempt and scorn of the worst that can befall them. And this also may teach others their duty towards them; which for the most part they are unwilling to hear, and more un- willing to practise, .
VER. 3-6.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 539
. 2. Let us now return to consider what is positively affirmed in this assertion, with the proof of it.
“This man,” ofros, a demonstrative pronoun, denoting the person treated of. It is rendered “this man,” but it respects him not merely as man, but directs to his person, God and man, as he is expressly called God in the next verse, as we shall show.
“Was counted worthy of more glory,’—much more glory. Adéns Theiovos Tapes Mavojy. See the explication of the words. sen. gasi- Speaking of the ministry of Christ and of Moses, 2 Cor, os wapa Mav- ii, 10, he saith, “For even that which was made glori- °” ous had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.” So doth the manner of the expression here used intimate the glory of Christ to be so far above the glory of Moses that in comparison thereof it might even seem to be “no glory.”
“Accounted worthy,’—more honoured, had more glory from God, and in the church was more glorious.
And this glory, although it did attend the person of Christ, yet it is not that which is due unto him upon the account of his person (as afterwards shall be more fully declared), but that which belongs to him in his office, the office which he discharged towards the church (wherein alone he is to be compared with Moses, for in his person he was before exalted above all); which yet is such as none could discharge but he whose person was so excellent, as he declares, verse 4, This the apostle positively asserts, and then proceeds to the proof of it in the next words. His way of proof is, as I observed, syllogistical, wherein the proposition is expressed, “That he who builds a house is of more honour than the house built.” The assumption is supposed and included, “But Christ built the house; Moses was only a part of it.” The force of which argument will appear in our opening of the words.