570 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [cHAP. V.
to divulge their message. For God had so ordained, that in all places the accomplishment of the promise made unto their fathers should first be declared unto them, Acts xiii. 32, 33, 46. Now this could not be done but by those that were Jews; for the Gentile converts, being uncircumcised, could neither have access unto their synagogues nor acceptance with them. On this account it was greatly incum- bent on these Hebrews to thrive in knowledge, that they might be able to teach others, when God in his providence should call them thereunto. And hence it was, that when this church, not long after its first planting, was scattered by persecution, all the members of it went up and down preaching the gospel with great success, first to the Jews, and then to the Grecians also, Acts vill. 4, xi. 19, 20. After this those that succeeded, as it seems, were remiss and negli- gent in learning, and so unfit for this work; which the apostle blames in'them.
This I take to be the meaning of the place. But if you will sup- pose that the apostle useth the word é:dé0xaAo: in a larger sense, for any that are able to instruct others, as their neighbours, families, or relations, as occasion should require, then it was the duty of all these Hebrews to have been such teachers, and their sin it was wherein they were not able so to be.
Obs. II. Churches are the schools of Christ, wherein his disciples are trained up unto perfection, every one according to the measure appointed for him, and his usefulness in the body.
We may consider the church in general, and with respect unto some particular members of it. erst, In general, every one that belongs unto it ought to have a double aim; first his own edifica- tion, and then his usefulness in respect of others. ‘The first is the principal end, both of the ministry and the administration of all ordinances in the church, Eph. iv. 11-13. This, therefore, in the first place, is that which every one ought to attend diligently unto; which also they are continually exhorted, encouraged, and persuaded unto in the Scripture, as that which is indispensably required of them, 2 Pet. iii. 18. And those who are negligent herein do frustrate all the ends of Christ’s love and care towards them in his church; which they must answer for. And the want of it, in some good mea- sure, is a dreadful symptom of approaching eternal ruin, as our apostle declares, Heb. vi. 7, 8. The church is the garden of Christ, enclosed and watered; and every plant which continueth in a wither- ing, unthrifty condition will at length be plucked up and cast out. Herein, therefore, ought all to be trying and examining themselves who have any care of their own souls, and who intend not to make use of the ordinances of the gospel only to countenance them in their security, and so to hasten and aggravate their destruction. And there is nothing more lamentable, in the present profession of Chris-
VER, 12-14.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 571
tian religion, than the woful negligence of most herem. They hear the word, for the most part, as company, or custom, or their lusts, or ease, direct them. And they content themselves in hearing of it, without any endeavours for its improvement. So do many souls under the best of means come to the worst of ends. But this is not all. We are so to learn in the church as that we may be useful to others; a matter which few think of or trouble themselves about. But this Christ expects of all the members of his churches in an espe- cial manner. For every church is “the body of Christ, and members in particular,” 1 Cor. xii. 27; that is, of the whole body, and unto one another. And the apostle there shows what a monstrous thing it is for a member to be useless in the body. Every one is to contribute to the growth of the whole, Eph. iv. 16; Col. ii, 19. He that doth not so is dead. One way or other every one may contribute to this building, cast into this sanctuary, some their talents, some their mites. Times, seasons, opportunities, advantages for usefulness, are in the hand of God; but our duty it is to be prepared for them, and then to lay hold upon them. It is not every one’s lot or call to be public teachers of others; and the undertaking of that work without a due ability and an orderly call is forbidden, James iii. 1: but every one may have occasion to make use of the utmost of that light and knowledge which is communicated unto them in the dispensation of the word. They who have not flocks to watch over may yet have families, relations, children, servants, masters, whom, by their light and knowledge, they may benefit; and it is required of them that so they should do. It may not be the duty of every one, at all times, to “convince gainsayers,” and to stop the mouths of them that oppose the truth; but it is so to be “always ready to give an answer unto every man that asketh a reason of the hope that is in them, with meekness and fear,” 1 Pet. iii, 15; and it will be so, to plead for and defend the truth, if they are called to suffer for it, like the martyrs in former days. In these and such like things lies that usefulness in the body of Christ which every member of it ought to aim at under the means of instruction which he affords in his church, And those who do not will have their portion with the unprofitable. See Phil. ii. 15,16. It is asad condition, when a person can return no toler- able answer unto that inquiry, ‘Of what use are you in the church of Christ?’ Secondly, In particular, it were doubtless well if some persons in every church might be trained up under instruction with this very design, of being made meet to be teachers of others. The Lord Christ will indeed provide labourers for his harvest, but in his own way, and not in a compliance with our negligence.