566 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. III.
can take of the wisdom and power that are laid out in this work, and yet I am not more satisfied that there is a God in heaven than I am that he that built this thing is God. And herein also may we see whence it is that this building goes on notwithstanding all the opposition that is made unto it. Take any one single believer, from the foundation of the world, and consider the opposition that is made, by sin, Satan, and the world, in temptations and persecutions, unto his interest in this house of God, and doth it not appear marvellous that he is so preserved, that he is delivered? How hath it been in this matter with our own souls, if we belong unto this house? That we should be “called out of darkness into marvellous light;” that we should be preserved hitherto, notwithstanding our weakness, faint- ings, infirmities, falls, sins, etce,—is there not some secret, hidden power that effectually, in ways unknown to us, unperceived by us, puts forth itself in our behalf? Take any particular church in any age, and consider the persons of whom it is composed ;—commonly the poor, the weak, the foolish in and of the world, are the matter of it. The entanglements and perplexities that it meets withal from the remainders of its own darkness and unbelief, with the reproach and persecution which for the most part it meets withal in the world, seem enough to root it up, or to overwhelm it every moment, yet it abides firm and stable. Or consider the whole church, with all the individual persons belonging thereunto, and that in all ages, through- out all generations, and think what it requires for its preservation in its inward and outward condition. Divine power shineth forth in all these things. Not one stone of this building is lost or cast to the ground, much less shall ever the whole fabric of it be prevailed against.
III. The greatest and most honourable of the sons of men that are employed in the work of God in his house are but servants, and parts of the house itself: Verse 5, “ Moses verily as a servant.”
Moses himself, the great lawgiver, was but a servant. And if he were no more, certainly none that followed him under the old testament, being all inferior unto him (seeing there arose not a pro- phet in Israel like unto him, Deut. xxxiv. 10), were in any other condition. So did the principal builders of the church under the new testament declare concerning themselves. “Servants of Jesus Christ,” was their only title of honour; and they professed themselves to be servants of the church for Christ’s sake, 2 Cor, iv. 5. And on that ground did they disclaim all dominion over the faith or worship of the church, as being only “helpers of their joy,” 2 Cor. i. 24; “not lords over the Lord’s heritage, but en- samples to the flock,’ 1 Pet. v. 3;—all according to the charge laid upon them by their Lord and Master, Matt. xx. 25-27. And this appears,— :
VER. 3-6.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 567
First, Because no man hath any thing to do in this house but by virtue of commission from him who is the only Lord and Ruler of it. This bespeaks them servants. They are all taken up in the market- place from amongst the number of common men by the Lord of the vineyard, and sent intoit by him. Neither are they sent to rest or sleep there, nor to eat the grapes and fill themselves, much less to tread down and spoil the vines; but to work and labour until the evening, when they shall receive their wages. All things plainly prove them servants; and their commission is recorded, Matt. xxviii. 18-20, which ought carefully to be attended unto.
Secondly, It is required of them, as servants, to observe and obey the commands of their Lord ; and nothing else are they to do, have they to do in his house. It is required of them that they be faith- ful; and their faithfulness consists in their dispensation of the mysteries of Christ, 1 Cor. iv. 1, 2. Moses himself, who received such a testimony unto his faithfulness from God, did nothing but what he commanded him, made nothing but according to the pattern showed him in the mount. Nor were the builders under the new testament to teach the church to do or observe any thing in the house of God but what the Lord Christ commanded them, Matt. xxvii, 20. This is the duty of a faithful servant, and not to pre- tend his own power and authority to ordain things in the house, for its worship and sacred use, not appointed by his Lord and Master. There is a strange spiritual fascination in this matter, or men could not at the same time profess themselves to be servants, and yet not think that their whole duty consists in doing the will of their Lord, but also in giving out commands of their own to be observed. This is the work of lords, and not of servants. And ifit be not forbidden them by Christ, I know not what is.
Thirdly, As servants they are accountable. They must give an account of all that they do in the house of their Lord. This their - Master often and solemnly warns them of. See Matt. xxiv. 45-51; Luke xii. 42-48. An account he will have of the talents committed to them,—of their own gifts, and of the persons or souls committed to their charge, his sheep; an account of their labour, pains, dili- gence, and readiness to do and suffer according to his mind and will. An account they must give, Heb. xiii. 17, and that unto the chief Shepherd when he comes, 1 Pet. v. 4. It is to be feared that this is not much in some men’s thoughts, who yet are greatly concerned in it. They count their profits, advantages, preferments, wealth; but of the account thay are to make at the last day they seem to make no great reckoning. But what do such men think? Are they lords, or servants? Have they a Master, or have they not? Are they to do their own wills, or the will of another? Do they fight uncertainly and beat the air, or have they some certain scope