504 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. v.
finitely above what they had any interest in, should be given up to this dreadful, trembling conflict, wherein his whole nature was almost dissolved, out of a mere apprehension of those corporeal sufferings which were coming on him? Was it the forethought of them only, and that as such, which dispelled the present sense of divine love and satisfaction from the indissoluble union of his person, that they should not influence his mind with refreshments and consolation? God for- bid we should have such mean thoughts of what he was, of what he did, of what he suffered. There were other causes of these things, as we shall see immediately.
Again; on the cross itself it is said, AveCénoe pwvy mweyddn, Matt. xxvii. 46; that is plainly, “He prayed werd npauyiis ioxupis, —“ He cried with a great outcry,” or “loud voice,” with a “strong cry.” This was the manner of the sacerdotal prayers of Christ which concerned his oblation, or the offering himself as a sacrifice, as is reported in the evangelist. The other part of his sacerdotal prayer, which ex- pressed his intercession on a supposition of his oblation, he performed and offered with all calmness, quietness, and sedateness of mind, with all assurance and joyful glory, as if he were actually already in heaven; as we may see, John xvii. But it was otherwise with him when he was to offer himself a sin-offering in our stead. If, there- fore, we do compare the 22d psalm, as applied and explained by the evangelists and our apostle, with the 17th of John, we shall find a double mediatory or sacerdotal prayer of our Saviour in behalf of the whole church. The first was that which accompanied his obla- tion, or the offering of himself an expiatory sacrifice for sin. And this having respect unto the justice of God, the curse of the law, and the punishment due to sin, was made in an agony, distress, and con- flict, with wrestlings, expressed by cries, tears, and most vehement intensions of soul. The other,—which though in order of time an- tecedent, yet in order of nature was built on the former, and a sup- position of the work perfected therein, as is evident, John xvii. 11, —represents his intercession in heaven. ‘The first was were xpavyii¢ joxupis nad Ouxpbov, the other werd rerosdjoews nal wAnpopopias.
3. These are the things which are thus expressed by our apostle, “He offered up prayers and supplications, with strong cries and tears.” Such was the frame of his soul, such was his prayer and deportment in his sacrifice of himself. His tears, indeed, are not expressly men- tioned in the story, but weeping was one of those infirmities of our nature which he was subject unto: John xi. 35, “Jesus wept.” He expressed ‘his sorrow thereby. And being now in the greatest dis- tress, conflict, and sorrow, which reached unto the soul, until that was “ sorrowful unto death,” as we may well judge that in his dealing with God he poured out tears with his prayers, so it is here directly men- tioned. So did he here “ offer up himself through the eternal Spirit.”
VER. 7.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 505
Fourthly, The object of this offering of Christ, he to whom he offered up prayers and supplications, is expressed and described. And this was 6 duvdémevog ob%ew aidrdv éx Iavirov,—“ he pis Dunder that was able to save him from death,” that had power céZe abriy ix * so todo. It is God who is intended, whom the apostle «#7 describes by this periphrasis, for the reasons that shall be mentioned. He calls him neither God, nor the Father of Christ, although the Lord Jesus, in the prayers intended, calls upon him by both these names. So in the garden he calls him Father: “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me,” Matt. xxvi. 39. And on the cross he called him God: “ My God, my God, why hast thou for- saken me,” Matt. xxvii. 46; and “ Father” again, in the resignation of his life and soul into his hands, Luke xxiii. 46. But in the re- porting of these things our apostle waiveth these expressions, and only describeth God as “ Him who was able to save him from death.” Now this he doth to manifest the consideration that the Lord Christ at that time had of God, of death, and of the causes, consequents, and effects of it. For his design is, to declare what was the reason of the frame of the soul of Christ in his suffering and offering before described, and what were the causes thereof.
In general, God is proposed as the object of the actings of Christ’s soul in this offering of himself, as he who had all power in his hand to order all his present concernments: “To him who was able.” Ability or power is either natural or moral. Natural power is strength and active efficiency; in God omnipotency. Moral power is right and authority; in God absolute sovereignty. And the Lord Christ had respect unto the ability or power of God in both these senses: in the first, as that which he relied upon for deliverance; in the latter, as that which he submitted himself unto. The former was the object of his faith, namely, that God, by the greatness of his power, could support and deliver him in and under his trial. The latter was the object of his fear, as to the dreadful work which he had undertaken. ‘Now, because our apostle is upon the descrip- tion of that frame of heart, and those actings of soul, wherewith our high priest offered himself for us unto God, which was with “prayers and supplications,” accompanied with “strong cries and tears,” I shall consider from these words three things, considering the power or ability of God principally in the latter way:—1. What were the general causes of the state and condition wherein the Lord Christ is here described by our apostle, and of the actings ascribed unto him therein. 2. What were the immediate effects of the suffer- ings of the Lord Christ in and upon his own soul. 3. What limi- tations are to be assigned unto them. From all which it will appear why and wherefore he offered up his prayers and supplica- tions unto him who was able to save him from death; wherein a