Lastly, The evil itself particularly cautioned against is expressed in that word oxAnpurd7, “should be hardened;” of the sense and importance whereof we have spoken fully on the foregoing verses. The design, then, of this verse is to prescribe a duty unto the Hebrews, with the manner of its performance, and the season they had for it, which might prevent their departure from God through an evil heart of unbelief, by preserving it from being hardened by the deceitfulness of sin; our concernment wherein will be manifest in the ensuing deductions from it :—
Obs. I. Sedulous mutual exhortation is an eminent means to obviate and prevent the design of the deceitfulness of sin.
The apostle having declared the pernicious consequence of depart- ing from God through the deceitfulness of sin, and the danger that professors are in of so doing, singles otit this duty as a signal means of its prevention. And hereby, as great weight is laid upon it, so great honour is done unto it. We may, therefore, do well to con- sider both the nature of it and the manner of its performance; for its efficacy unto the end proposed depends merely on its institution. There are many practical duties that are neglected because they are not understood; and they are not understood because they are sup- posed to have no difficulty in them, but to be exposed to every lazy and careless inquiry. High notions, curious speculations, with knotty controversies, are thought to deserve men’s utmost diligence in their search and examination; but for these practical duties, it is gene- rally supposed that they are known sufficiently at a word’s speaking, if they were but practised accordingly. Yet it will be found that ‘the great wisdom of faith consists in a spiritual acquaintance with the true nature of these duties; which indeed are therefore practically neglected because they are not doctrinally understood. I shall
ZxAnpovdn.
138 _ AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP, III.
therefore offer somewhat here briefly towards the right understand- ing of the nature of this duty and the manner of its performance; and to this purpose some things we are to observe with respect unto the persons that are to perform it, and some things with respect unto the duty itself :—
First, For the persons concerned, this duty of exhortation is in- cumbent on some by virtue of especial office, and on others by virtue of especial love.
1. Some it is expected from upon the account of their office; so it is of all ministers of the gospel. The duty of constant exhortation,— that is, of persuading the souls of men unto constancy and growth in faith and obedience, unto watchfulness and diligence against the deceitfulness of sin, and that from the word of truth, in the name and authority of Christ,—is the most important part of their minis- terial office. This are they diligently to attend unto: 'O rapanaréy, év rh rupaxrgoss, Rom. xii. 8;—“ Let him that exhorteth” (his office taketh name from this part of his work) “attend unto” (or “ abide in”) “exhortation.” This is it which is required of him, and will be expected from him. So our apostle distributes the whole minis- terial work into three parts, enjoining their observance unto his son Timothy: 1 Tim. iv. 13, “ Diligently attend,” saith he, r7 dvayvéiess, “to reading;” that is, studying and meditating on the holy Serip- tures, for his own information and growth,—which ministers ought to do all their days, and not to sit down lazily with a pretence of their attainments: and secondly, r7 rupuxdgjoe, “to consolatory exhorta- tion,’—the duty before us; and lastly, 77 didacxursu, “to doctrinal instruction,” for the enlightening and informing of the minds of his disciples. These are the principal duties of an evangelical minister. So he again conjoins teaching and exhortation, as the two main parts of preaching, 1 Tim. vi. 2. And these he would have a minister to be instant in, or insist upon, sixa/pus, d&xa/pws, “in and out of sea- son,” 2 Tim. iv. 2,—a proverbial expression denoting frequency and diligence. Where this is neglected by any of them, they deal treacherously with God and the souls of men. But this ministerial work is not that which is here intended. But, 2. There is that which is mutual among believers, founded in their common interest, and proceeding from especial love. And this especial love is that which distinguisheth it from another duty of the same nature in general with this, which we owe unto all mankind; for the eternal law of nature binds us to love our neighbour as ourselves. Now, we neither do nor can love any without endeavouring of their good, and effecting of it according to our power. And herein is comprised a persuading of men unto what is good for them, and a dehorting them from that which is morally evil and pernicious, as oceasions and opportunities are offered. Thus dealt Lot with the Sodomites;
VER. 12-14.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 139
whom the Holy Ghost therefore commends, though they reviled him as a pragmatical intruder into their concernments, So God and the world have very different measures and touchstones of moral duties. But there is somewhat special in the duty here intended; for it is confined unto them who are brethren in the same fellowship of professing the gospel, verse 1, and proceeds from that mutual love which is wrought in them by the Spirit of Christ, and required of them by the law of Christ. And this differs from that philanthropy, or love to mankind in general, which ought to be in us; for they have different principles, different motives, different effects, and dif- ferent ways of expression. The one is an inbred principle of the law of nature, the other an implanted grace of the Holy Ghost; the one required from a common interest in the same nature, the other from an especial interest in the same new nature. In brief, the one is a general duty of the law, the other an especial duty of the gospel. I say, this especial love is the spring of this mutual exhortation.