VER. 1, 2.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 245
strengthening them unto obedience. - It is not the intention of the words to declare barely and nakedly that they did not believe in any sort or sense, but that these hearers did not receive and im- prove the word of promise in such a way and manner as to obtain the full benefit and advantage of it. They had, as we find, an ap- prehension of the truth of the promise, which did so far prevail upon them that sometimes they professed that they would place their con- fidence in it, and regulate their obedience accordingly. But they were not steadfast herein, because, notwithstanding all their profes- sion, their faith and the word of God were never solidly united, mixed, and incorporated in their souls. They tasted sometimes a little sweetness in it, but took it not down to digest it, that it might have a subsistence, power, and efficacy in them. This caused the word to fail of its end towards them,—it did not profit them; and them to fail of their end by it,—they entered not into the rest of God. And with the consideration hereof doth the apostle press the Hebrews, and us with them. And it is of great weight. The same promise being left unto us as to them, and this being the way whereby they came short of it, we have reason to be watchful against the like miscarriages in ourselves. And the truths doctrinally de- clared in this latter part of the verse may be comprised in the ensu- ing observations :—
_ Obs. IV. God hath graciously ordered that the word of the gospel shall be preached unto men; whereon depends their welfafe or their ruin.
To them and to us was the word preached; and this as a great effect of the love, care, grace, and goodness of God towards them and us. The word is like the sun in the firmament. Thereunto is it compared at large, Ps. xix. It hath virtually in it all spiritual light and heat. But the preaching of the word is as the motion and beams of the sun, which actually and effectually communicate that light and heat unto all creatures which are virtually in the sun itself.
The explanation of this similitude is expressly insisted on by our apostle, Rom. x.18. And because of this application doth the apostle make that alteration in the expression. For whereas in the psalm it is said 53?, “their line is gone forth into all the earth,” with re- spect in the first place and literally to the line or orderly course of the sun and other celestial bodies, he renders that word by gééyyos, “their sound,” “voice,” or “speaking,” respecting the mystical sense of the place, and application of the words to the preaching of the gospel, which was principally intended in them. And this is the true reason of that variety which many critics have troubled themselves and others about to little purpose. What, then, the motion and beams of the sun are to the natural world, that is the preaching of the gos-
246 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IV.
pel to the spiritual world,—to all who intend to live unto God here, or to enjoy him hereafter. Of old the preaching of the gospel was by many wise men, or those that thought or boasted themselves so to be, esteemed folly, 1 Cor. i,—that is, a thing needless and useless; and the wiser any one would have himself esteemed to be, the more vehemently would he condemn preaching as folly. But notwith- standing all their pride, scorn, and opposition, it proved the “foolish- ness of God,” which was wiser than all their wisdom; that is, what God chose to compass his end by, which seemed unto them “ foolish- ness,” but was indeed the “ wisdom and power of God.” And it is that which the eternal welfare or ruin of men depends upon: as the apostle in this place declares, and as the Scriptures testify every- where. And this may direct us to make a right judgment both of that contempt and neglect of it which are found amongst many who ought to have other thoughts about it. The whole work is by some despised and decried; and few there are who labour in it with dili- gence as they ought. But they shall all bear their own judgment.
Obs. V. The sole cause of the promise being ineffectual unto sal- vation in and towards them to whom it is preached, is in themselves and their own unbelief.
This the apostle expressly asserts. It is granted that “the word did not profit them.” But what was the reason of it? Was it weak or insufficient in itself? Was it like the law, that made nothing perfect? that could not take away sin, nor justify the souls of men? No; but the sole cause hereof was that it was “not mixed with faith.’ God hath not appointed to save men whether they will or no; nor is the word of promise a means suited unto any such end or purpose. It is enough that it is every way sufficient unto the end whereunto of God it is designed. If men believe it not, if they refuse the application of it to themselves, no wonder if they perish in their sins. —