Aiwyiou.
538 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. V.
any other sort be admitted thereunto. He is “the author of eternal salvation” only unto “them that obey him;”’ whether there be any other author of salvation to those who neither know him nor obey him, they may do well to inquire who suppose that such may be saved. A certain number, then, they are, and not all men universally, unto whom he is the author of salvation. And as these elsewhere are described by the antecedent cause hereof, namely, their election, and being given unto Christ by the Father; so here they are so by the effects of it in themselves,—they are such as “obey him.” ‘Yaaxobw is “to obey upon hearing,” “dicto obedire;” originally it signifies only “to hearken” or “hear,” but with a readiness, or subjection of mind unto what is heard, to do accordingly. Hence it is faith in _the first place that is intended in this obedience. For it is that which, in order unto our participation of Christ, first “cometh by hearing,” Rom. x. 17; and that partly because the object of it, which is the promise, is proposed outwardly unto it in the word, where we hear of it and hear it; and partly because the preaching of the word, which we receive by hearing, is the only ordinary means of ingene- rating faith in our souls. Hence to believe is expressed by traxovten, “to hear” so as to answer the ends of what is proposed unto us. The ensuing subjecting our souls unto Christ, in the keeping of his com- mands, is “ the obedience of faith.” We may now draw some ob- servations from the words, for our further instruction: as,—
Obs. I. All that befell the Lord Christ, all that he did and suffered, was necessary to this end, that he might be the cause of eternal sal- vation to believers.
Being “ consecrated,” or “ perfected,” he became so; and what be- longed unto that consecration we have declared. This was that which he was of God designed unto. And the disposal of all things concern- ing him to this end was the fruit of infinite wisdom, goodness, and righteousness. No more was required of him, that he might be the author of eternal salvation unto believers, but what was absolutely necessary thereunto; nor was there an abatement made of any thing that was so necessary. Some have said, that “one drop of the blood of Christ was sufficient for the salvation of the whole world.” And some have made use of that saying, pretending that the overplus of his satisfaction and merit is committed to their disposal; which they manage to their advantage. But the truth is, every drop of his blood,—that is, all he did and all he suffered, for matter and man- ner, in substance and circumstance,—was indispensably necessary unto this end. For God did not afflict his only Son willingly, or without cause in any thing, and his whole obedience was afflictive. He did not die nor suffer dwpedy, Gal. ii. 21, without an antecedent cause and reason. And nothing was wanting that was requisite hereunto. Some suppose that Christ was and is the author of salvation unto
VER. 9.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS, 539
us only by showing, teaching, declaring the will of God, and the way of faith and obedience, whereby we may be saved. But why, then, was he consecrated in the way before described ? why did it “become God to make him perfect through sufferings?” why was he “bruised and put to grief?” for what cause was he reduced unto the state and condition described in the verse foregoing? Certainly such men have low thoughts of sin and its guilt, of the law and its curse, of the holiness and righteousness of God, of his love to Jesus Christ, yea, and of his wisdom, who suppose that the salvation of sinners could be attained without the price and merit of all that he did and suffered, or that God would have so dealt with his only Son, might it any otherwise have been attained. I might show in par- ticular from the Scripture, how every thing that Christ did and suf- fered was not only useful, but necessary also, to this purpose, allow- ing the wisdom and righteousness of God to give the standard and measure of what is so; but I must not too far digress. And hence it is evident,—1, How great a matter it is to have sinners made par- takers of eternal redemption; 2. How great, how infinite was that wisdom, that love and grace, which contrived it and brought it about; 8. How great and terrible will be the ruin of them by whom this salvation is despised, when tendered according to the gospel, etc.
Obs. II. The Lord Christ was consecrated himself in and by the sacrifice that he offered for us, and what he suffered in so doing. This belonged to the perfection both of his office and his offering. He had none to offer for him but himself, and he had nothing to offer but himself.
Obs. III. The Lord Christ alone is the only principal cause of our eternal salvation, and that in every kind. There are many instru- mental causes of it in sundry kinds. So is faith; so are the word and all the ordinances of the gospel; they are instrumental, helping, furthering causes of salvation,—but all in subordination unto Christ, who is the principal, and who alone gives use and efficacy unto all others. How he is so, by his oblation and intercession, by his Spirit and grace, in his ruling and teaching, offices and power, is the chief work of the ministry to declare. God hath appointed that in all things he should have the pre-eminence. There are both internal and external means of salvation that he hath appointed, whereby he communicates unto us the virtue and benefit of his mediation. These it is our duty to make use of according to his appointment; so that we expect no relief or help from them, but only by them. So much as they have of Christ in them, so much as they convey of Christ unto us, of so much use they are, and no more. Not only, therefore, to set up any thing in competition against him, as the works of the law, or in conjunction with him, as the Papists do their pen- ances, and pilgrimages, and pardons, and purgatory, is pernicious and