Obs. III. The oath of God is engaged against no sin but unbe- lief.
As God hath given his oath for the confirmation and consolation of believers, both as to the things which they are to believe and as to their assured safety on their believing, and to nothing else directly in a way of grace, for it is annexed unto his covenant; so he hath in a way of justice engaged his oath against no sin but that
VER. 15-19.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 193
of unbelief, and to the exclusion of unbelievers from eternal rest. “To whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?” Other sins there are that have great pro- vocations in them,—so had the murmurings of the people in the wilderness; but it is their relation unto unbelief, their growing upon that stock or root, that gives them such a height of provocation, as that God at any time enters a caveat against them by his oath. And in this sense it is not said amiss, that unbelief is the only damning sin; because as there is no other sin but may be, but shall be, remitted or pardoned unto men upon believing, so the formal consideration on which other sins fall under judgment, in them to whom the gospel is preached, is unbelief.
These things I shall put together, to represent the apostle’s ex- hortation, with the grounds and reasons of it, as unto our own con- cernment therein. For these things belong unto us, and they may be improved unto the use of all sorts of persons; as,—
1. Unto them who have never much considered their duty or concernment in this matter. I intend not open and profligate sin- ners, though the terror hereof will one day reach them in particular. “This is their condemnation, that light is come into the world, and they love darkness more than light, because their deeds are evil.” But it is them whom I aim at, whose consciences are so far awakened as that they would abstain from sin, and do good, with respect unto their latter end. They would be saved from “the wrath to come,” but as to believing, or mixing the promise of the gospel with faith, they have not endeavoured after it, or do not at all understand it. But this is the hinge on which their eternal condition doth turn. They may do well, therefore, to consider what hath been said from the apostle in this matter, and what is their concern therein, to examine their hearts what hath passed between God and them. For with whom is God provoked? concerning whom doth he thus swear that they shall not enter into his rest? Is it not against you, and such as you are, who believe not, whilst you continue in that state and condition?
2. Unto those who are in doubt whether they should believe or no; not notionally and indefinitely, but practically and in parti- cular. This is the state of many in their minds and consciences, which causeth them to fluctuate all their days. But what is it that they doubt of in this matter? Is it whether it be their duty to be- lieve or no?—it is indispensably required of them, by the command of God; so that not to do so is the greatest height of disobedience that they can make themselves guilty of. Is it whether they may do so or no, and whether they shall find acceptance with God in their so doing?—this calls the righteousness and faithfulness of God in question; it is no otherwise, where to believe is our duty by vir-
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194 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. III.
tue of his command, to question our acceptance in the performance of that duty. Is it because of the many objections which they find arising up in themselves against themselves, which leave them no hope of a personal. participation of the good things promised?—but what are all their objections before those evidences that are ten- dered in the gospel unto the contrary, which we have touched upon? The truth is, if men will not believe, it is out of love to sin, and a dislike of the design of God to glorify himself by Jesus Christ; and what will be the issue thereof hath been declared. If, then, it be a question with you whether you shail believe or not, consider what will be the event if you do not. The demerit of your sin is such as that it will justify, yea, and glorify God, in his greatest severity against you; and his oath is engaged that you shall never enter into his rest. What like this can you fear on the other hand? and why do you doubt what course to take?
3. Unto believers. Meat may be taken for them out of this eater. All this terror and dread of God’s severity speaks peace and conso- lation unto their souls; for as the oath of God is engaged against the entrance of unbelievers into rest, so also is it for the eternal security of them that do believe.
Ver. 19.—So we see that they could not enter in, because of unbelief.
This verse contains, in a summary conclusion, what the apostle had evinced by all his former arguings from the example of their forefathers as recorded by Moses, and the renewed representation of it for their use by David. And he lays it down as the especial foundation of that exhortation which he intends to pursue in the next chapter.