AUDITORES EVANGELII,
l. Nfs. 2. Ttasion Suntque Suntque (1.) Nwbpol vais dxouis. (1.) Bpovipeos, (2.) *Aersipos Xoyou Tixasoodyns. (2.) Ta aicdnripa yryupvacutva trovres, Opus habent . Opus habent Taranros. Drepeas rpoas.
And the intention of the apostle is to represent unto the Hebrews herein their state and condition, arising from their being “ dull in hearing.” And this he doth both absolutely and comparatively, with respect unto what others were, and what they themselves might and ought to have been. For he shows that they were yet “babes, un- skilful in the word of righteousness,” and such as had need “to be fed with milk.”
First, The first thing considerable in these words, is an aggravation of the fault reproved in the Hebrews, fromacircumstance | |, of time: Ard riv xpévov, “pro ratione temporis.” ‘Con- SPs Lae sidering the time and season you Hebrews have had, you might,
566 AN EXPOSITION OF THE ' [CHAP. v.
have been otherwise long ago;-—“ jamdudum,” as one renders the words. Or ds& rv xpévov may not intend the space of time, but the nature of the season which they were under. ‘The season is such, whether you consider the opportunities of it, or the dangers of it, or the shortness of its continuance, as that you ought so diligently to have improved it, that yourselves might have been at work in the teaching of others, had you been zealous for the gospel, as you ought to be, or careful about your own duty.’ Such times as were then come on and passing over the Hebrews, as to their profession of the gospel, called for more than ordinary diligence in their improve- ment. There is no inconvenience in this sense, and it hath good instruction in it ; but I shall rather adhere unto that which is more commonly received, Asc& riv ypévov, “for the time,’ is as much as ‘with respect unto the time past and gone since their first calling un- to and profession of the gospel.’ But men may have time enough, and yet have no advantage by it, for want of other necessary helps and assistances. A tree may have been planted a long time in a dry and barren wilderness, and yet it would be a vanity to expect any great growth or thriving from thence, as having the benefit neither of rain nor a fruitful soil. And when God expects fruit from his vine- yard, he gives it not time only, but all other things necessary to its improvement, Isa. v, 1-4. Wherefore it is supposed, that during the time intended, these Hebrews wanted no necessary means of in- struction. This the apostle had before declared, chap. ii. 1, 3. The word of the gospel was both “preached” and “confirmed” unto them. And as they had fora season the ministry of all the apostles, and of sundry of them for a longer continuance, so it is justly sup- posed they had yet one of them surviving and abiding among them. Moreover, they had in common use the scriptures of the Old Testa- ment, which testified unto all that they had been taught concern- ing Jesus Christ; and most of the writings of the New Testament were before this time communicated unto them. Wherefore, dur- ing the season intended, they enjoyed sufficient means of “grow- ing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Without a supposition hereof they could not have been justly reproved for a want of proficiency. Yea, in every expression. of their crime this is supposed. They were “dull in hearing;” which they could not have been had not the word been constantly preached unto them, for without preaching there can be no hear- ing. And all this the apostle makes evident, chap. vi. 7, where he compares them unto the earth, which hath frequent showers of rain falling upon it, because of the abundant waterings which they had received by the constant preaching of the word unto them.
As for the duration of this season in particular, it was not equal
VER, 12-14. ] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 567
unto them all. Every one had only the time since his own conversion to account for. If we shall take the words with respect unto the whole church at Jerusalem, then the date of this time is to be fixed on the day of Pentecost, when, upon the effusion of the Holy Ghost on the apostles, testified and evidenced by the miracle of tongues, with the sermon of Peter unto them that ensued thereon, so many thousands of them were converted to the faith, Actsii. And if this ‘ be allowed, the space of time intended was about thirty years, But, not to bind up the expression unto any especial epocha, it is enough that they had, all and every one of them whom the apostle intends, more time than they had well used or improved. And we ought to observe, that,—
Obs. I. The time wherein we enjoy the great mercy and privilege of the dispensation of the gospel unto us, is a matter which must in particular be accounted for.
This time is variously dispensed, its measure being given by the sovereign will and wisdom of God. All who have time given them to this purpose, have not the same time. The day of the gospel is not of the same length unto all nations, churches, persons, unto whom it is granted. But all have time and light enough to do the work that is required of them. And it is a talent to be accounted for. Neither must we account for it only im general, but as to our im- provement of it in particular duties. These Hebrews had such a time, And it was not enough, it did not answer the design of God in it, that they professed the gospel, and did not renounce Jesus Christ, as some among them did; it was moreover expected from them, that they should grow and thrive in knowledge and holiness proportionable to their time and means: and not doing s0, it is charged on them as a great aggravation of their guilt. An evil it was that they had not profited under the dispensation of the gospel, but especially it was so, in that they had not answered the time that God had graciously intrusted them withal. And we may all do well to consider it, who have the like day of grace, mercy, and patience, with what they enjoyed. See our exposition of chap. iii. 13, 15,