VER. 12-14.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 151
formance of good works, without deriving strength for them from their relation unto Christ; for all that they do is either nothing in itself, or nothing as unto acceptation with God. “We are the work- manship of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,” Eph. ii. 10. Becoming new creatures by our inbeing in him, 2 Cor. v. 17, we are thereby enabled unto those good works, or fruits of holiness, which God hath ordained that we should walk and abound in. And hence on many accounts is our perseverance; for, 1. By virtue hereof we are interested in the covenant, which is the great means of our preservation, God having engaged therein so to write his law in our hearts as that we shall not depart from him, Jer. xxxi. 33. Now, this covenant is made with us under this formal consideration, that we are the children and seed of Abraham, which we are not but by our union with Christ, the one seed, to whom the promises of it were originally made, as our apostle declares, Gal. iii, 16. 2. His care is peculiar for the members of his body: for as “no man hateth his own flesh, but loveth and cherisheth it,” nor will suffer any of his members to perish, if by any means he can prevent it; so is the heart of Christ towards those that are united to him, and therein are “members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones,” Eph. v. 29, 30. And therefore, 3. The care of giving out supplies unto us for assistance against opposition and strength for duties, which is the grace of perseverance, is incumbent on him. Our resurrection also depends on this union,—I mean, a blessed resurrection in joy and glory unto light and life eternal; for this resurrection is nothing but the entire gathering up together of the whole body of Christ unto himself, whereof he gave us a pledge, example, and assurance, in his own person. So the apostle assures us, Rom. viii. 11, “If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you” (which, as hath been showed, is the means of our union with him), “he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” And this he expressly proveth at large, 1 Cor. xv, And this lands us in eternal glory; which, as was observed before, is nothing but the consummation and perfection of this union with Christ. And hence it appears on how many accounts it is the principle and measure of all other graces and privileges whatever.
And we may see hence how great our concernment is to inquire diligently into this foundation of all grace, mercy, and glory. If we fail here, as too many seem to do, we do but run in vain, and build im vain, and boast in vain, for all will be lost and perish. We may do well to remember what became of the house that was built on the sand, when its trial came: it fell, and its fall was great and irreparable. Such will be the end of the profession of men that doth not spring and arise from union with Christ. Many ways there
152 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. III.
are whereby this may be put to the trial, on which all our peace, satisfaction, and assurance of spirit in the things of God, do depend. I shall only consider that which our apostle here proposeth, and that in the ensuing observation :—
Obs. II. Constancy and steadfastness in believing is the great touchstone, trial, and evidence of union with Christ, or a participa- tion of him.
So it is here proposed by the apostle. We are “ partakers of Christ,” —that is, declared, manifested, and evidenced so to be,—“if we hold fast the beginning of our subsistence in him firm unto the end.” So our Saviour, describing the great trials of men’s faith that shall befall them, adds that in the close, as the certain note of diseri- mination: “He that endureth to the end shall be saved,” Matt. x. 22. It is enduring faith that is ¢r-we facth, and which evidenceth us indeed to be partakers of Christ. And he gives it as a mark of a false pro- fession, that it “ but dureth for a while,” Matt. xiii, 21. Further to explain, evince, and improve this truth, it may be observed,—
First, That there are many appearing evidences of union with Christ that may and do fail. The blade is an appearing evidence of well-rooted corn, but it often fails, and that for want of root, Matt. xiii. 21. Now, by such an appearance I do not intend a pre- tence, or that there is therein a show made of what is not; only there is something which appears to be that which it is not; or it is somewhat, but not what it appears to be. And so it isa failing sign, not a rexwypiov, or assured, infallible token. Things of this nature may be such as to satisfy them in whom they are that they are really united unto Christ; but this through their own darkness and mistakes. And they may be such as others may, nay ought to be satisfied in, to the same purpose concerning them, as not being able to evince them to be otherwise by any rule or word of truth. So was it with many that are mentioned in the gospel. They pro- fessed themselves to belong unto Christ. This they did on some grounds that were satisfactory to themgelves.) They were also ac- cepted by others as such, and that judging according to rule and as they ought. And yet, after all, they were either discovered to be hypocrites, or declared themselves apostates. Now, these kinds of signs must extend so far, as [that] there is nothing whereby union with Christ may be evidenced, nothing that is required according to rule thereunto, but there must be something in those who are thus de- ceived and do deceive that shall make an appearance and resem- blance thereof. They must have wéppwow rig eboeCeiag, 2 Tim. iii, 5, a complete “ delineation of holiness” upon them, or they can have no pretence unto any such plea. They must be able to give an account of a work of conviction, humiliation, illumination, conyer- sion, and of closing with Christ; as also of affections someway suit-