In the last place, the apostle declareth the manner how these things are to be secured: “If we hold fast our confidence firm unto the end.” The duty itself, relating unto the manner of our retain-
Katynua vag alti tAridos.
564 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [cHap. II.
ing these things, is to “hold them fast;” the state of them, wherein they are to be retained, is “firm” or “steadfast;” and their duration in that estate is “to the end.”
The first is expressed by the word xardéoymmev, which signifies a careful, powerful holding any thing to it against opposition. Karéyev rd rAxjdos, is effectually to retain the multitude in obedience when in danger of sedition. And xaréyew gpovpaic, to hold, retain, or keep a place with a guard; as in Latin, “‘Oppidum presidio tenere.” Two things, therefore, are represented in this word. First, That great opposition will arise against this duty, against our firmitude and constancy in profession. Secondly, That great care, diligence, and endeavour are to be used in this matter, or we shali fail and miscarry in it. Because of the opposition that is made against them, because of the violence that will be used to wrest them from us, unless we hold them fast,—that is, retain them with care, diligence, and watchfulness,—we shall lose them or be deprived of them.
Secondly, They are to be kept “firm.” The meaning of this word the apostle explaineth, Heb. x. 23, “ Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;’ B<Ca/av, that is, dxAwy,—without declining from it or shaking in it. It is not enough that we keep and retain, yea, hold fast our profession; but we must keep it up against that uncertainty and fluctuating of mind which are apt to invade and possess unstable persons in a time of trial.
Thirdly, Herein must we continue “unto the end;” that is, whilst we live in this world,—not for the present season only, but in all future occurrences, until we come unto the end of our faith, or the end of our lives and the salvation of our souls, The observations from these verses ensue:—
II. The building of the church is so great and glorious a work as that it could not be effected by any but he who was God. “He that built all things is God.” To him is it ascribed, Acts xx. 28, 1 John iii. 16. And it requires God to be the builder of it,—
First, For the wisdom of its contrivance. When God appointed Bezaleel to the work of building the tabernacle, he says, that he had “ filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in under- standing, and in knowledge,” Exod. xxxi. 3; and none were to be employed in the work with him but such as were “ wise-hearted,” and into whom God had put wisdom, verse 6. And yet this was but for the building of an earthly tabernacle, and that not, to contrive it, but only to make and erect it according to a pattern which God himself did frame. This they could not do until they were filled with the Spirit of God in wisdom, What, then, must needs be re- quired unto the contrivance of this glorious, mysterious, spiritual,
Kardoxupey.
BeCaiay.
Els x0 réAos.
VER. 3-6.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 565
heavenly house of God? Nothing could effect it but infinite wis- dom. Yea, “the manifold wisdom of God” was in it, Eph. iii. 10; “all the treasures of his wisdom and knowledge,” Col. ii. 3. In this infinite wisdom of God was the mysterious contrivance of this build- ing hid from the foundation of the world, Eph. iii. 9; and its break- ing forth from thence in the revelation of it made in the gospel was accompanied with so much glory that the angels of heaven did earnestly desire to bow down and look into it, 1 Pet.i. 12. We have a very dark view of the glories of this building; and where it is mystically represented unto us, as Isa. lx., Ezek. xl—xlviii., Rev. xxi. 22, we may rather admire at it than comprehend its excellency. But when we shall come to see how the foundation of it was laid, at which all the sons of God shouted for joy; how, by the strange and wonderful working of the Spirit of grace, all the stones designed from eternity for the building of this house were quickened and made living in all ages and generations; and how they are, from the beginning of the world unto the end of it, fitly framed together to be a temple unto the Lord; and what is the glory of God’s inha- bitation therein,—we shall be satisfied that divine wisdom was re- quired thereunto.
Secondly, For the power of tts erection. It is the effect of divine power; and that whether we respect the opposition that is made unto it, or the preparing and fitting of the work itself. Those angels who left their first habitation had drawn all the whole creation into @ conspiracy against the building of this house of God. Not a per- son was to be used therein but was engaged in an enmity against this work. And who shall prevail against this opposition? Nothing but divine power could scatter this combination of principalities and powers, and defeat the engagement of the world and the gates of hell against this design. Again, for the wcrk itself; the sins of men were to be expiated, atonement for them was to be made, a price of redemption to be paid; dead sinners were to be quickened, blind eyes to be opened, persons of all sorts to be regenerated; ordinances and institutions of worship for beauty and glory to be erected; sup- plies of the Spirit at all times, and all ages and places, for its in- crease in grace and holiness, were to be granted, with other things innumerable; which nothing but divine power could effect. Con- sider but this one thing, whereas all the parts of this house are sub- ject to dissolution, the persons whereof it consists do and must all die, he that builds this house must be able to raise them all from the dead, or else his whole work about the house itself is lost. Now, who can do this but he that is God? They who think this is the work of a mere man, know nothing of it; indeed, nothing of God, of themselves, of the Spirit of God, of faith, grace, redemption, or reality of the gospel as they ought. It is but a little dark view I