These and the like things do constitute such a special season and day as that we inquire after; and whether such a day be not now
4 42, AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. III.
in many places, needs no great travail of mind or eminency of under- standing to determine.
2. It is declared in the proposition laid down, that such a day, such a season, is diligently to be attended unto and improved. And the reasons or grounds hereof are,—
(1.) Because God expects it. He expects that our applications unto him in a way of obedience should answer his unto us in a way of care and tenderness,—that when he is earnest in his dealings with us, we should be diligent in our observance of him. Every circumstance that he adds unto his ordinary dispensations is to have its weight with us; and in such a day they aremany. See Isa. v. 1, ete.: “ My well-beloved hath a vineyard }2¥7]2 23,” “in an horn of a son of oil” (“planted in a fat and fruitful soil;” that is, furnished with all possible means to render it fruitful): “and he fenced it” (protected it by his providence from the incursion of enemies), “and gathered out the stones thereof” (removed out of it what- ever was noxious and hurtful,—it may be the gods of wood and stone in an especial manner out of the land); “and planted it with the choicest vine” (in its order, ordinances, and institutions of worship), “and built a tower in the midst of it” (that is, for its defence; namely, the strong city of Jerusalem, in the midst of the land, which was built “as a city that is compact together,” all as one great tower, “ whither the tribes went up, the tribes of the Lorp, unto the testimony of Israel,” Ps. cxxii. 3, 4), “ and also made a wine-press therein” (the temple and altar, continually running with the blood of sacrifices): “and he looked that it should bring forth grapes.” His expectations answer his care and dispensations towards his church. That is the meaning of the word 1?21,—he “looked,” he “ expected.” Expectation properly is of a thing future and uncertain,—so is nothing unto God; being therefore ascribed unto him, it only signifies what is just and equal, and what in such cases ought to be: such a vineyard ought to bring forth grapes answerable to all the acts of God’s care and grace towards it; and we may see in that place what is the end of frustrating such an ex- pectation. Such are the dealings of God with churches and persons in the day we have described, and an expectation of such fruit is it » accompanied withal.
(2.) Such a day is the season that is allotted unto us for es- pecial work, for especial duty. Some singular work is the end and design of such a singular season. So the apostle informs us, 2 Pet. iii, 11: “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?” The supposition in the words, concerning the dissolu- tion of all these things, is an intimation of such a day as we have described from one circumstance of it, namely, the impendent judg-
VER. 7-11. EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 43
ments of God then threatened to the church and state of the Jews, which was now expiring. And the inference that he makes from that supposition is unto a peculiar holiness and godliness. That this at such a time is intended, is a thing so evident, that he refers it to the judgment of them to whom he wrote. “ What manner of persons ought ye to be?”—‘ Judge in yourselves, and act accord- ingly. Great light, great holiness, great reformation, in hearts, houses, churches, are expected and required in such aday. All the advantages of this season are to have their use and improvement, or we lose the end of it. Every thing that concurs to the constitution of such a day hath advantages in it to promote special work in us; and if we answer them not our time for it is irrecoverably lost; which will be bitterness in the end.
(3.) Every such day is a day of great trials. The Lord Christ comes in it with his fan in his hand, to sift and try the corn; to what end is declared, Matt. iii. 12: “ His fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the gar- ner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” The “fan” of Christ is his word, in and by the preaching whereof he separates the precious from the vile, the “ wheat” from the “chaff.” He comes into his “floor,” the church, where there is a mixture of corn and chaff; he sifts and winnows them by his word and Spirit, so discarding and casting off light, empty, and fruitless professors. Such a day is described by Daniel, chap. xii 10: “ Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wick- edly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” “ Many,” that is, of the saints, “shall be purified,’— MAM, “ purged” (made clean from such spots, stains, or defilements, as in their affections or conversation they had contracted); “and made white,”—32221" , (shall be whitened in their profession,—it shall be rendered more eminent, conspicuous, and glorious) ; “and tried,” — 578) (as in a furnace, that it may appear what metal they are of). Thus shall it be with believers, so shall they be exercised in their spirits, and so approved; but wicked and false professors shall be discovered, and so far hardened that they shall go on and grow high in their wickedness, unto their utter destruction. So it fell out on the day of his coming in the flesh, and so it was foretold, Mal. iii, 1-8, The whole people jointly desired his coming, but when he came few of them could abide it or stand before it. He came to try them and purify them; whereon many of them, being found mere dross, were cast off and rejected. Christ in such a day tries all sorts of persons, whereby some are approved, and some have an end put to their profession, their hypocrisy being discovered. And it therefore concerns us heedfully to regard such a season; for,—