404 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. IV.
wards them. Whose heart will not the consideration hereof refresh ? whose spirit will it not revive?
(2.) As our high priest, he gives us actual help and assistance in this case. The ways licnabys he doth this have been partly de- clared on chap. ii. 18; and must yet be spoken unto, verse 16 of this chapter. At present I shall only show in general that the aid which he gives us is sufficient to secure our profession, and conquer the opposition that is made against it; for, as hath been observed, there are three parts of it,—our faith, our obedience in general, and our especial observance of instituted worship. And there are three espe- cial principles of the opposition made to them:—
[1.] Our faith is opposed by Satan and his temptations in chief, with a contribution of aid from the world and our own corruptions. Faith’s overthrow is his principal design, Luke xxii. 31, 32. No such irreconcilable enemies as faith and the devil. And this adversary is prevailed against by our high priest. He hath contended with him, bruised his head, conquered him, bound him, spoiled him, triumphed over him, and destroyed him, Gen. ii. 15; Col. ii. 15; Heb. ii. 14, 15. And shall we suffer ourselves to be deprived of our profession by one thus dealt withal in our behalf? He shall not prevail in his attempt. [2.] Our obedience is opposed princi- pally by our own corruptions, aided by Satan and the world. These “war against our souls,” 1 Pet. ii. 11; and tend unto death, James i. 14, 15. Whence our apostle warns us to take heed that these prove not the cause of our apostasy, Heb. i. 13. And against these also there is relief for us in and by our high priest; for as “he was mani- fested to destroy the works of the devil,’ 1 John iii. 8, or all the effects of his first temptation in our hearts; so whatever evil it intends to- wards us, there is a remedy provided for it and against it in his grace, his blood, and by his Spirit. [3.] Our profession, as formally such, consisting in the diligent observance of the laws and ways of Christ, is continually opposed by the world, not without assistance from Satan and the treacheries of indwelling sin. But he also hath “overcome the world,” John xvi. 33. He hath overcome it for us, and he will overcome it 7m us. And who, on this account, would not be encouraged to contend earnestly for the preservation of that pro- fession wherein they are sure they shall be assisted?
Professors have an aim and an end in their profession. They do not “run in vain,’ nor “fight uncertainly,” nor “beat the air,” in what they do. Now their great design is to have their profession, and their persons therein, “accepted with God.” Without this they must acknowledge themselves to be “ of all men most miserable.” For what would it avail them to spend their time in fears, hazards, conflicts, sorrows and troubles in this world, and when they have done all, be rejected of God, and have their everlasting portion
VER. 14.] © EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 405
amongst them who take the full of their sins and satisfactions in this world? And if it be so, why do they yet suffer persecution? And yet there are two things that do vehemently assault their faith and hope in this matter:—[1.] The sinfulness and unworthiness of their own persons. Whatever be the duties that they perform, yet they find their persons on many accounts so vile, as that both they and their duties may be justly rejected of God. Hence they sup- pose themselves to defile whatever they touch. The guilt and defile- ment of their consciences by sin perplex their thoughts when they consider what it is to appear before the great and holy God. [2.] They find that even the duties themselves wherein their profession doth consist are so weak, so mixed and imperfect, as it is hard for them to conceive how they should obtain acceptance with God. Their endeavours are weak and faint, their strivings against sin uneyen and uncertain, their prayers ofttimes languid, and a fading is on all their duties. And say they often in themselves, ‘ What ground of hope is there that a profession so made up will be ac- cepted with God, and rewarded by him?’
But against all these considerations believers have relief in their
relation to this high priest; for in this matter lies the principal part of his office, As such he hath undertaken to render our persons and duties accepted with God. This he respects both in his obla- tion and intercession ; by which two ways he dischargeth the duties of this office :— . [1.] By them he gives acceptance with God unto our persons. For as he hath “made reconciliation for our sins,” Heb. ii. 17, so he hath “ brought in everlasting righteousness,” Dan, ix. 24, _ Yea, he himself is “ our righteousness,” Jer. xxiii. 6. ‘In him have we righteousness and strength,” Isa. xlv. 24; he being “made of God unto us righteousness,” 1 Cor. 1. 30; having been “made a curse for us,” that the blessing of faithful Abraham might be ours, Gal. iii. 13, 14; who “ believed God, and it was imputed unto him for right- eousness,” Gal. iii. 6. So that although we have no such righteousness ef our own as on the account whereof our persons may be accepted with God, yet upon the account of him and his who is ours, we shall not fail thereof.