[2.] It consists in an eminent communication of the gifts of the Holy Ghost unto those by whom the mysteries of the gospel are to be dispensed, and that either as to the increase of their number or of their abilities, with readiness unto and diligence in their work. When God thus “gives the word, great is the army of them
- that publish it,’—2} 82¥ NNWIN0, Ps. Ixviii. 12. The word is of the feminine gender, and denotes the churches; which, verse 27 of that psalm, are called nionpd, which we render “ congregations ;” that is, churches, in the same gender: “Bless ye God in the congregations,” —nibappa, the churches or congregations publishing “the word” or “lad tidings,” as the word signifies. And hereof there is 2) 823, “a great army:” for the church in its work and order is nies732, as “ban- nered ones;” that is, MiX2¥ 422733, as “bannered armies,” “armies
with banners,” Cant. vi. 10. When God “gave the word” (it is
a prophecy of the times of the gospel), “ great was the number of
ninyapn nionp,” that like armies with banners, not for weapons, but
40 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. III.
for order and terror to the world, “preached” or “published it.” Such was the day that our apostle called the Hebrews to the considera- tion of. It was not long after the ascension of Christ when the gifts of the Spirit were poured out on multitudes of all sorts, as was foretold: Acts ii. 16-18, “This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days (saith God), I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on my servants, and on my handmaids, I will pour out in those days of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.” The extent of the communication of the Spirit at that season is emphatically expressed in these words, “I will pour out my Spirit uponall flesh.” As the act of powring denotes abundance, freedom, largeness, plenty, so the object, or “all flesh,” signifies the extent of it, unto all sorts of persons. And you know how great and eminent were the gifts that were communicated unto many in those days; so that this work was every way complete. By this means the churches were many, whose work and duty it is to be orbao: xa? soparmimara rhs adndcias, 1 Tim. ii. 15, “the pillars of the truth,’— that is, to hold it up, and to hold it forth, Phil. ii, 16. When, then, there is any such season wherein in any proportion or simili- tude unto this dispensation, or in a way or manner any thing extra- ordinary, God is pleased to give or pour out of the gifts of his Spirit upon many, for the declaration and preaching of the word of truth, then doth he constitute such an especial day or season as that we are Inquiring after.
(2.) When God is pleased to give out signal providential warnings, to awaken and stir up men unto the consideration of and attendance unto his word and ordinances, this makes such a season to become a special day; for the end of extraordinary providences is to prepare men for the receiving of the word, or to warn them of impendent judgments for the contempt of it. This mark did God put upon the season respected here by the apostle. For unto the mention of the. pouring out of the Spirit that of signs and judgments is adjoined: Acts ii. 19, 20, “And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, be- fore that great and notable day of the Lord come.” The things here spoken of were those signs, prodigies, and judgments, which God showed unto and exercised the people of the Jews withal before the destruction of Jerusalem, even those foretold by our Lord Jesus Christ, Matt. xxiv. And they were all wrought during the time that they enjoyed the dispensation of the gospel before described. And what was the end of them? It was evidently to put a signal mark and note upon that day and season of grace which was then
s : VER. 7-11.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 41
' granted unto that people; for so it is added, verse 21, “ And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved,”—that is, whosoever shall make use of these warnings by signs, and wonders, and dreadful representations of approaching indignation and wrath, so as to attend unto the word dispensed by virtue of the plentiful effusion of the Spirit before mentioned, and yield obedience thereunto (that is, make use of the day granted to them), they shall be saved, when others that are negligent, rebel- lious, and disobedient, shall utterly perish.
(3.) When it is a season of the accomplishment of prophecies and promises for the effecting of some great work of God in and upon the outward state of the church, as to its worship. The day the peo- ple had in the wilderness was the time when the great promise given unto Abraham four hundred and thirty years before was to have its typical accomplishment. Hereupon the outward state of the church was wholly to be altered ; it was to be gathered from its dispersion in single families, into a national union, and to have new ordinances of worship erected in it. This made it a great day to the church. The day whereunto the application of these things is made by the apostle, was the season wherein God would make that great alteration in the whole worship of the church, by the last revelation of his mind and will in the Son. This was a great day and signal. So also when the time comes of the fulfilling of any especial prophecy or prediction for the reformation of the church, it constitutes such a season. Something of this nature seems to. be expressed, Rev. xiv. 6-8: “And I saw ’ another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gos- pel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come. FR And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” The time approaching wherein Babylon is to be destroyed, and the church to be redeemed from under her tyranny, as also to be freed from her pollution, and from drinking any more of the cup of her fornication,—which is the greatest change or alteration that the outward state of it is left obnoxious unto in the world,—the everlasting gospel is to be preached with such glory, beauty, and efficacy, as if it were delivered from the midst of heaven; and men will have an especial day of repentance and turn- ing unto God given unto them thereby. And thus is it also at sundry seasons, wherein the Lord Christ deals with his churches in one place or another in a way of “ preludium,” or preparation unto what shall ensue in his appointed time amongst them all.