This sense is pious, and agreeable to the analogy of faith; for our free, gracious acceptance with God is the foundation and cause of all that grace or assistance that we are made partakers of. But,—
2. The apostle is not treating of the personal acceptance of sinners or believers in or by Christ in this place, but of that espe- cial assistance which, upon particular addresses unto him, we do obtain. Now this may be considered two ways:—(l.) In respect of the fountain of it, and so it is “ beneficentia,” the will of God to assist us; or, (2.) Of the effect itself, the “beneficium,” the actual assistance and help we do receive. So when our apostle, in his strait upon his temptation, made his address to God for relief, he received that answer, “ My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is
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Kal yep et pamev,
Xap.
434 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. Iv.
made perfect in weakness,” 2 Cor. xii. 9. Wherein he had an inti- mation both of God’s gracious care and good-will towards him, as also of the actual powerful assistance which he should be supplied with against his temptation. And this sense isdetermined by the next words.
Eis eVxaspov Bonderav. What kind of help Sojdea 1s hath been de- clared on chap. ii. 18. It is a “succour;” that is, aid yielded unto any upon their cry. 7 eig Bory, “to run in to assist upon the cry of any,” is the original of the word’s signi- fication, And this help is,—
Etxoupos, “seasonable;” that is, help iAY3, “ in its time,” its proper time or season. Prov. xv. 23, 07D inya 721;—“ A word in its time” (or “its season”),“how good is it!” Help that is fit, suitable, seasonable,—that is, on the part of God that gives it, of the persons that receive it, of the time wherein it is afforded, of the end for which it is bestowed,—is edxaspos. This kind of help it becometh the greatness and wisdom of God to give. And it is an impression on the minds of men by nature that such kind of help is from God. Hence the proverb, Osis &x) unyavis, for unexpected aid when all things otherwise would be lost. This the psalmist excel- lently expresseth, Ps. xlvi. 2, TiN N¥D2 NI AY ;—*« God is a help wonderfully found in straits.” And so the Syriac version adds in this place, “help in time of affliction” or “persecution,” Grace, there- fore, effectual for our assistance in every time of need, upon our cry to God in Christ, is that which is here intended. I know not whether I may add an allusion that may be found in the Hebrew words, if respect may be had to that language here. For as 8D3 is a “throne,” the throne whereunto we approach for help; so 822 is as much as jot an “ appointed time” or “season.” We come NDB? for help 833,
We have opened the words in their order as they lie in the text, Our observations from the resolution of the sense will arise from the last clause and ascend unto the first; and in them the meaning of the words themselves will be yet more fully explained; as,—
Obs. I. There is, there will be a season, many a season in the course of our profession and walking before God, wherein we do or shall stand in need of especial aid and assistance.
This is included in the last words, “help in a time of need,”— help that is suitable and seasonable for and unto such a condition, wherein we are found earnestly to cry out for it. This I shall a little enlarge upon. Our condition all along and in all things is wanting and indigent. We do live, we must live, if we intend to live, always in a constant dependence on God in Christ for supplies. There is a continual ériyopnyia rod Tvebwaros, Phil. 1. 19, or “ additional supply of the Spirit” unto what we have received, without which we cannot well spiritually subsist one moment. And “God supplies all our wants according to his riches in glory” (that is, his glorious riches in
Eis Bonde,
Evxaspos.
VER. 16.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 435
grace) “ by Christ Jesus,” Phil. iv. 19. But besides that want which always attends our condition in this world, and which God constantly supplies according to the tenor of the covenant of grace, there are especial straits and difficulties, which in especial seasons we are ex- posed unto. I need not prove this to them that read; they have found it, they have felt it, and so have I also. I shall therefore only call over a few instances of such seasons, some whereof we have al- ready been exercised in, some whereof we cannot escape for the future, and the rest may probably befall us, if they have not done so already.
1. A time of affliction is such a season. God is a help M3, Ps. xlvi. 2, in all sorts of straits and afflictions. And the Scripture abounds in instances of believers making their especial application unto God for especial assistance in such a season, and directions for them so to do. And the rule of the covenant in sending relief, is upon the coming up of the cry of the afflicted unto God, Ps. ]. 15, Exod. ii. 23-25. And let men’s stock of wisdom, grace, experience, and resolution, be what.it will, or what they can fancy, they are not able to go through with the least new affliction to the glory of God without new especial aid and assistance from him.