"Inooty roy Tidy rod Oeod, “Jesus the Son of God.” Translations do not well express the emphasis of these words, through the interposition of the article, *Inooi» rdy Yidy,—the Son eminently, peculiarly, that Son of God; that is, the natural, only-begotten Son of the Father. And there is in the words a double designation of the person of our high priest; first by his name, and then by his relation unto God.
1. By his name; that is, “Jesus,”—a name given him from the work he had to do. He was to “save his people.” Jesus, a saviour. Matt. i. 21, KaAaéosss 7d tvome adrod "Inoody, saith the angel; “Thou shalt call his name Jesus.” For what cause? Saith he, Adris yap owoe: riv Aaly adrod dard ray amapridy airéiv,—“ For” (or “ because”) “he shall save his people from their sins.” So our apostle calls him ’Inooty riv fuduevor,—“ Jesus the de- liverer,” 1 Thess. i.10. Our high priest is our saviour; and he is so [that is, the latter] in a great measure by his being so [that is, the former]. And this name was given him as born of a virgin: “She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus.” It doth not, therefore, in this place on/y—nay, not so much—denote him by
"Incovy roy Tidy rod Otov.
"Incovy,
VER. 14.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 397
his work of saving, according to the signification of his name, “Jesus ;” but declares his human nature, whereof he was made partaker “ that he might be a merciful high priest,” wherein he was called by that name.
2. He describes him hy his relation unto God: Tw Yiiv rod cod, —“that Son of God ;” the eternal Son of God. The reason and nature of this sonship of our high priest ste mean ee hath been elsewhere declared. At present it may suffice to observe, that his divine nature is included in this appellation; for in his one person, as comprising both these natures, is he our high priest, as he is Yeévdpwroc, God and man in one. And we are here minded of it as a great encouragement unto our duty, Suprosses in the next words.
Kparaiwev rig iworoyiag, “let us hold fast our profession.” Vulg. Lat., in some copies, “spei et fidei nostree,” “of our hope Leaky and faith;” words taken from chap. iii. 6, which here , be pal 7a have no place. “Hold fast the profession,”—that is," which we make, or have made; and so “ our profession,” as we sup- ply the words.
Two things are to be inquired into for the opening of these words: —l. What is meant by éuorcyia, or “ profession;” 2. What is in- cluded in xpardpev, “let us hold fast.”
1. For the word éuoroyia, it hath been opened, and the thing itself intended somewhat spoken unto, on chap. iii 1, where the Lord Christ is called “the apostle and high priest of our profession.” I shall therefore here only so far treat. of it as it contains the duty which the apostle exhorts us unto, and wherein all the lines of his discourse do meet and centre. This makes it assuredly a matter of singular consideration, as being that about which he doth so greatly labour.
Our éuoroyia is our “ professed subjection to the gospel of Christ,” 2 Cor. ix. 13; or the subjection of our souls in the acknowledgment of the power and authority of Jesus Christ in the gospel: ‘Yaoray7 éuoroyias. It contains both our secret subjection unto the gospel, and our solemn declaration of it. The former, which respects the matter of our profession, is ouvedjoews cyabiis exspirnun sig Oedv OF divaordoews "Incod Xpicrod, 1 Pet. iii. 21;—‘ “the answer” (or “ reply”) “of a good conscience,” by virtue of the resurrection of Christ, unto the demands of God in the precepts and promises of the gos- pel. And it hath two parts:—(1.) Faith in Christ. (2.) Obedience unto him; the “obedience of faith,” Rom. i. 5.
(1.) Faith is the root, and obedience the fruit of our profession. And that faith which constitutes evangelical profession is distinctly acted on Christ, the Son of God, the mediator of the covenant, the king, priest, and prophet of his church, This he calls for, John
398 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. Iv.
xiv. 1, “ Ye believe in God, believe also in me,” expressly. See John iii. 18, 36; chap. vii. 38. This, I say, makes our profession formally evangelical, distinguishing it from that of believers under the old testament. Their faith was directly in God as one, Deut. vi. 4; con- sequentially in the Messiah, as promised. Ours is express in Christ also, John xvii. 3; and in the Father by him, 1 Pet. i. 21.
(2.) Unto faith is added obedience, which is indeed imseparable from it. See a full description of it, Rom. vi. 22. It may be con- sidered two ways:—[1.] As it is internal and absolutely spiri- tual, or the constant acting of all the graces of the Spirit of God, unto purification and holiness, 2 Cor. vii. 1; 1 Thess. v. 23; Acts xv. 9. This belongs unto our profession, not absolutely as profes- sion, but as sincere and saving; on which account we ought to hold it fast. [2.] As it is external also, in the diligent observation of all gospel commands in our course and practice. And these are of two sorts:—Ist. The moral duties of a holy conversation, Phil. 1. 27; Tit. 1. 10-13. By a failure herein our whole profession is over- thrown, Phil. iii. 17,18; Tit. i. 16; 2 Tim. ii, 19. 2dly. The insti- tuted duties of holy gospel worship, Matt. xxviii. 20. And herein consists that part of our profession which the apostle in this epistle doth principally intend, as hath been declared. This is the matter of our profession; herein consists our subjection to the gospel.