1. From the subject ; ‘Because the Son of God, or Christ,is nowhere in the Scripture called 6 Aéyog rod @coi, “ the Word,” or.“ Word of God,” but only in the writings of John the apostle, as in his Gospel and the Revelation. By Paul he is everywhere, and in an especial manner in this epistle, called the Son, the Son of God, Jesus Christ; and nowhere is he termed by him the Word, or the Word of God.’ This argument is made use of by all that are of this mind; but that it is not available to evince the conclusion intended shall imme- diately be made manifest.
2. From its attributes. They say, ‘The things here spoken of, and attributed unto the word of God, as that it is “ powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit,” are not personal properties, or such things as may properly be ascribed unto a person, as the eternal Word of God is, but rather belong unto things, or a thing, such as is the word preached. Now this must be particularly examined in our expo-
352 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IY.
sition of the words; wherein it will be made to appear, that the things here ascribed unto the word of God, taken together in their order and series, with respect unto the end designed, are such as cannot firstly and properly belong to any thing but a person, or an intelligent subsistence, though not merely as a person, but as a per- son acting for a certain end and purpose, such as the Son of God is; and this will also be evinced in our exposition of the words.
3. From the context. It is objected by Estius, ‘That the mention- ing or bringing in of Christ, the Son of God, in this place is abrupt, and such as hath no occasion given unto it; for the apostle in the precedent verses is professedly treating about the gospel, and the danger they were in that should neglect it, or fall away from the profession of it. Hence it naturally follows, that he should confirm his exhortation by acquainting them with the power and efficacy of that word which they did despise.’ But neither is there any force in this consideration: for,—(1.) We shall see that there is a very just occasion to introduce here the mention of the Lord Christ, and that the series of the apostle’s discourse and arguing did require it. (2.) It is the way and manner of the apostle, in this epistle, to issue his arguings and exhortations in considerations of the person of Christ, and the respect of what he had insisted on thereunto. This we have already manifested in several instances. (8.) Thus, in parti- cular, when he had treated of the word of the law and of the gospel, he closeth his discourse by minding them of the punishment that should and would befall them by whom they were neglected. Now punishing is the act of a person, and not of the word, chap. ii. 1-3. And there is the same reason for the introduction of the person of Christ in this place. (4.) Estius himself doth, and all must confess, that it is either God or Christ that is intended, verse 13, “with whom we have to do,” and “ before whose eyes all things are opened and naked.” And if the order of the discourse admit of the intro- duction of the person of Christ in verse 13, no reason can be assigned why it may not do so inverse 12. Yea, it will be found very difficult, if possible, to preserve any tolerable connection of speech, and so to separate those verses that what is spoken of in the one should not be the subject of the other also.
4, Cameron argues, from the connection of the words, to prove the preaching of the word, and not the person of Christ, to be intended. For saith he, ‘The conjunction, xa, noteth the reason of the thing spoken of before ; but that which precedes is a dehor- tation from the contempt of the gospel. And the reason hereof the apostle gives in these verses, in that those who forsake the gospel which they have once embraced are wont to be vexed in their con- sciences, as those who have denied the known truth. And although they seem to be quiet for a season, yet it is stupidness, and not peace,
VER, 12, 13.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 353
that they are possessed with, Now this judgment is often ascribed unto the word of God.’
Ans. These things are somewhat obscurely proposed. The meaning seems to be, that the apostle threatens the Hebrews with the judging and disquieting power of the word when it is by any rejected. But this is inconsistent with the true design of the words, which we be- fore laid down. Having exhorted them to perseverance, and to take heed that they neglected not the promise of entering into the rest of God through unbelief, he presseth them further to care, diligence, sincerity, and constancy, in the performance of the duty that he had exhorted them unto. And this he doth from the consideration of the person of Christ, the author of the gospel; as his manner is in all his arguings, to bring all to that point and centre. And as to his present purpose, suitably unto his exhortation and the duty which he enjoined them, he insists upon his ability to discern and discover all the secret frames and actings of their spirits, with all the ways and means whereby a declension in them might be begun or carried on.