From what hath been spoken, it is evident in what sense we worship “the man Christ Jesus” with divine honour and worship, even as his human nature, by virtue of personal union, subsisteth in the person of the Son of God, which person is the proper object of our worship.
To close this matter, here lies a great difference between Christ and Moses, that whereas the. work of Moses brought all the honour and glory he had unto his person, and which yet was but an inferior work, the work of a servant or ministerial builder, the person of Christ brought glory and honour unto his work, although it was very excellent and glorious; for he condescended and humbled him- self unto it, Phil. ii, 6-8. But yet the work being done, is a cause of giving new honour and glory unto his person.
It remains only that I briefly give the reasons why this building of the house doth render the Lord Christ. so aise: of glory and honour. It doth so,—
VER. 8-6.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 553
First, Because the work itself was great and glorious. Great works make the authors of them famous and honourable. Hence have been the endeavours of men to eternize their names, to make themselves famous and renowned by their works and buildings. This was one end of that stupendous enterprise of the children of men in the building of Babel; they would build a tower to make themselves a name, Gen. xi. 4,—to get them renown and glory, And they have been imitated by their posterity, who in all ages have praised their saying. So Nebuchadnezzar testifieth concern- ing himself: Dan. iv. 30, “Is not this,” saith he, “great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom, by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” But alas, what poor perishing heaps have been the products of their endeavours! they have all long ago been made a spoil unto time and confusion. When Solomon went about to build a material typical house for God, he tells Hiram, the king of Tyre, in his message unto him, that the house which he built was very great; for, saith he, “ Great is our God above all gods,” 2 Chron. it 5,6. But he adds moreover, “ But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him;’—‘ The use of this house is, not for God to dwell in, but for us to worship him in. Do not conceive that Iam building a temple with such thoughts and apprehensions as the nations build theirs unto their false deities, namely, to confine them to a place and keep them in. The im- mensity of the nature. of our God will admit of no such thing. It is only a place for his service that I intend.’ But now this hath Christ done; he hath built a house for God to dwell in for ever. And this, on many accounts, was a greater work than that of the creation of all things out of nothing. But if from that ancient work of crea- tion was to arise all the glory of God according to the law of nature, how excellent is this honour and glory which ariseth to Jesus Christ, and to God by him, from this new creation, from his forming and creating “ new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteous- ness |”
Secondly, It is glorious on all accounts of glory. Glorious in 7t- self ; who can set forth, who can express the glory and beauty, the order of this work? The tabernacle, with the temple of old, and all their furniture, were exceeding glorious; but yet they and their worship had no glory in comparison of the more excellent glory of this spiritual house, 2 Cor. ii, 10.
It is glorious in its foundation; which is Christ himself. “Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ,” 1 Cor. iii. 11. This is the rock on which this house is built, Matt. xvi. 18. He is laid “in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried
554 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. III.
stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation,” Isa. xxviil. 16,— so glorious that when he is brought forth, those concerned in the building shout with crying, “Grace, grace unto it,” Zech. iv. 7. And it is glorious in its superstruction; it is built up of living stones, 1 Pet. ii. 4; which also are precious and elect, cemented among them- selves and wrought into beauty and order by the Spirit of God. It is also glorious in respect of its end; it is built unto the glory of God. This house is the foundation of eternal glory, as being that upon the account whereof God will for ever be glorified. It comes into the place of the whole creation at first, and doubles the revenue of glory unto God. But as unto these things more must be spoken afterwards.
Our duty is to bear in mind this honour and glory of Christ, as that whereunto he is exalted, that whereof he is every way worthy. And herein our concernment and honour doth lie. For if any one member of the mystical body being honoured, all the members re- joice with it, 1 Cor. xii. 26, how much more have all the members cause to rejoice in this unspeakable honour and glory of their head, whence all their honour in particular doth flow !