552 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. V.
made an “overseer, to feed the church of God;” but his design in general is, to “keep back nothing that is profitable,’—as is the sense of all the Scripture, even in its most abstruse and difficult passages, 2 Tim, iii. 16. 2. That his duty is, as much as in him lieth; to carry on his hearers unto perfection, Heb. vi. 1: for the ministry itself being given to the church “for the perfecting of the saints,” Eph. iv. 12, 18, or the bringing of them all “unto a perfect man” in Christ Jesus, every one who is faithful in that office ought to make it his design and work. And hereunto doth their growth in light and knowledge, and that of the most mysterious truths, in an especial manner belong. And whereas some, through the blessing of God on their holy diligence and endeavours, do thrive and grow in light and knowledge above others, they are not to be clogged in their progress, by being bound up always unto their lines and measures who, it may be, are retarded through their own sloth and negli- gence. This we shall have afterwards occasion to speak unto. But, 3. Whereas the greatest part of our congregations, it may be, fre- quently are such as stand in need of milk, and are not skilful as yet in the word of righteousness, it is our duty also to insist on those plainer truths which are suited unto their edification. 4. Those who are called by the state of their flocks to engage sometimes in the exposition of abstruse and mysterious passages of Scripture, may do well to observe the ensuing rules, all which may be evi- dently gathered from the way and manner of our apostle’s treating concerning Melchisedec and his office:—(1.) That their interpreta- tions be openly and evidently conformable to the analogy of faith. To search after new opinions in, or to found new or peculiar doc- trines on, abstruse and mystical passages of Scripture, is a pestilent curiosity. (2.) That the exposition of them be necessary from pre- sent circumstances, which are principally two:—[1.] That the things contained in them do belong unto some important truth, which is plainly declared for the substance of it in other places, although from them it may receive light and illustration. Thus our apostle doth not designedly, and on set purpose for its own sake, choose out that abstruse and mysterious passage about Melchisedec; but whereas he was engaged in the declaration of the priesthood of Christ, he taketh in the consideration thereof, as that which did belong thereunto, and which would add light and argument to the truth he had in hand. And herein consists the greatest wisdom in the treating of such places, namely, when we can reduce them to that proper head and seat of doctrine in other places whereunto they do belong, which is our sure guide in their interpretation. To choose out such places for our subjects to speak on separately, and to make them the sole basis of our discourse, may have somewhat of an unwarrantable curiosity. [2.] When they offer themselves in
VER. 11.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 553
the course of our work or ministry, where God gives light into the sense of the Holy Ghost in them, they are not to be waived, as we would be esteemed faithful in our work (38.) Always to remember that what is so abstrusely expressed is so on purpose, for the exer- cise, as of our faith, humility, and subjection of mind unto the authority of the Holy Ghost speaking in the Scripture, so of our diligence and dependence on him for instruction; which calls for an especial frame of spirit in the work we undertake. (4.) That the difficulty and necessity of treating concerning such things be inti- mated unto them who are to be instructed, that so they may be prepared to attend with diligence, and judge with sobriety of what is delivered. So deals our apostle with the Hebrews on this occa- sion in this place. Under a due observation of these rules, it will be necessary sometimes for ministers of the gospel to insist on the most abstruse and difficult truths that are revealed in the Scripture, and that because their doing so is necessary unto the edification of the church.
Obs. III. There is a glorious light and evidence in all divine truths, but by reason of our darkness and weakness, we are not always able to comprehend them. Our want of that acquaintance with them which it is our duty to have, and which is needful unto our edification, is from ourselves alone, and for the most part from our sinful neglect of what is required thereunto.
Obs. IV. Many who receive the word at first with some readiness, do yet afterwards make but slow progress either in knowledge or grace. ‘This the apostle here chargeth on the Hebrews; which we must further afterwards consider.
Obs. VY. It is men’s slothfulness in hearing that is the sole cause of their not improving the means of grace, or not thriving under the dispensation of the word; or, all our miscarriages, with respect unto the gospel, are to be resolved into our own sloth, negligence, and depraved affections. For it is not any one particular vice, fault, or miscarriage in hearing, that the apostle intendeth and reproveth; but the want in general of such an attendance to the word as to be edified thereby, proceeding from corrupt affections and neglect of duty. And whereas this is a sin of so perilous a nature as to deprive us of all benefit by the gospel, it will be necessary to give a summary account of the duty of hearing the word in a due manner, so as to discover those defects and faults which constitute this sloth that we are thus warned of. Unto hearing, therefore, as intended and en- joined in the gospel, belong all things required on our part to make the word useful, and to give it its proper effect upon our souls: “Faith cometh by hearing,” Rom. x. 17. Whatever is required of us that we may believe and obey the word, it belongs in general to this duty of hearing; and from a neglect of any thing material thereunto we