VER. 12-14. ] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 113
[2dly.] By what means it renders the heart evil when it is brought under the power thereof.
[1sé.] It consists in the soul’s receiving impressions from argu- ments and reasonings against profession, in the whole or any de- grees of it. Satan is and will be casting “ fiery darts” at the soul, but when the “shield of faith” is held up constantly and steadfastly, they are immediately quenched, Eph. vi. 16; yea, it is the work of faith to arm the soul on all hands, that assaults make no impression upon it. If that fail, if that faint, more or less they will take place. And when or wherein the soul is brought but to parley with an ob- jection, then and therein unbelief is at work, whether it be as unto a particular fact or as unto our state. It was so with our first parents in the very entry of their treaty with Satan, in giving a considering audience unto that one question, “ Hath God said so?” Our great Pattern hath showed us what our deportment ought to be in all suggestions and temptations. When the devil showed him “all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them,” to tempt him withal, he did not stand and look upon them, viewing their glory, and pondering their empire, though he was fully assured that after all he could despise and trample upon the offer, and him that made it; but instantly, without stay, he cries, “Get thee hence, Satan,” and further strengthens his own authority with a word of truth, which was his rule, Matt. iv. 10. Innumerable are the in- clinations, objections, temptations, that lie against the profession of the gospel, especially in times of difficulty, particularly against steadfastness and preciseness in profession. That the whole of it be laid aside, or the degrees of it be remitted, is the great design of Satan, the world, and the flesh. To hearken unto what Satan sug- gests, though but under a pretence of seeing what is in it, to reason with the world, to consult with flesh and blood, contains the first actings of unbelief towards corrupting the heart in order unto a departure from God.
[2dly.| It consists in or acts itself by a secret dislike of something, notionally or practically, in the gospel. This was a common thing in the hearers of our Saviour. They disliked this or that in his doctrine or teaching, and that sometimes in things concerning faith, sometimes in things concerning obedience. So did those with whom he treated, John vi. Whilst he taught them in general of the “bread of God that came down from heaven,” they were pleased with it, and cried, “ Lord, evermore give us this bread,” verse 34; but when he began to acquaint them in particular that he himself was that bread, that his flesh was meat, and his blood was drink,— that is, that they were the spiritual nourishment of the souls of men, especially as given for them in his death,—they began to be offended and to murmur, they disliked it, crying, “ This is an hard saying;
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who can hear it?” verses 60, 61. And what was the effect of this dislike? Plain and open apostasy: verse 66, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” And whence did this dislike and murmuring arise? It was merely the acting of their unbelief, as our Lord declared, verses 63, 64, ‘My words, which you so dislike, are spirit and life, “ but there are some of you that believe not.” You pretend exceptions against my words, apprehended in your gross and carnal manner, but the true reason of the dislike of them is your own unbelief. God,’ saith he, ‘ hath not as yet given faith unto you; for I told you before, that “no man can come unto me” (that is, believe in me andthe gospel) “ except it were given unto him of my Father” (verse 65); and in this doth your unbelief act itself’? This was in matter of faith; and we have an instance unto the same purpose in the matter of obedience. The young man mentioned, Matt. xix., had a great respect unto the teaching of the Lord Christ, for he comes unto him to be instructed in the way to eternal life. And this he did with so much zeal and sincerity, according to his present light, that our Saviour approved them in him; for it is said he looked on him and “loved him,” Mark x. 21. And he likes his first lesson or instruction, according to his understanding of it, very well; but when the Lord Jesus proceeded to make a particular trial of him in an especial instance, bidding him sell what he had and give it to the poor, and follow him, this he liked not, but went away sorrowful, verses 21, 22.
Now, there are three things in the gospel and the profession of it about which unbelief is apt to act itself by this dislike; which if not obviated, will prove a beginning of turning away from the whole:—First, The purity and spirituality of its worship; secondly, The strictness and universality of its holiness or obedience; and, thirdly, The grace and mystery of its doctrine.