And we may observe from the first sense of that expression, “You are become,’—
Obs. VII. There will be a time when false and unprofitable pro- fessors will be made manifest and discovered, either to their present conviction or their eternal confusion.
And from the second sense of it, it may be observed,—
Obs. VIII. That men do oftentimes secretly wax worse and worse under profession and means of grace. Of the causes and ways hereof see our exposition on chap. iv. 13.
Obs. IX. There are provisions of truth in the Scripture, suitable a” the spiritual instruction and edification of all sorts of persons that ™ belong to Jesus Christ. There isin it both “milk” and “strong meat.”
The disciples of Christ ever were, and ever will be, in shea world, of several sorts, sizes, and capacities. In the house of God there are all sorts of vessels, of lesser and greater quantity, cups and flagons, Isa. xxii. 24, There are in the church babes, young men, and fathers, 1 John ii. There are among the hearers of the gospel per- sons sound, healthy, thriving; and those that are weak, sickly, and feeble. Their different ages and capacities, with their distinct mea- sures of opportunities and diligence, their temptations and occasions of life, make this diversity necessary and unavoidable ;—as in the same flock of sheep there are lambs, and strong sheep, and ewes great with young. Now, in a house where there dwell together old men, and strong men, and children or babes, those that are healthy and those
Lerspeas TpoPns.
584 AN EXPOSITION OF THE _ [omap. v.
that are sick, if they should be all of them bound up unto the same diet or food, some of them must necessarily perish. But a wise householder will provide for them differently, according to their several states and capacities, that which shall be wholesome and con- venient for them all; and the principal wisdom of the steward of the house is to give out to every one a portion proper for him. So is it in the church of Christ, which is the family of God; and therefore the great Householder hath prepared his heavenly manna according to the spiritual appetite and digestion of them all. As upon the receiv- ing of manna every one gathered }°28"5?, Exod. xvi. 18,—accord- ing to his appetite and need,—so is the heavenly manna of the word disposed, that every one may have what suits him. There are in the word, as was said of old, fords where the lamb may wade, and depths where the elephant may swim. There are in it plain doc- trines and first principles, necessary unto all; and there are truths of a deeper search, that are profitable to some. And concerning these things we may observe,—1. That the Lord Christ hath an especial care of the weak, the young, the sick, and the diseased of his flock. There is, indeed, a difference to be put between them who are so in- vincibly by their natural infirmities, temptations, and tenderness in the ways of religion, and those who are so through their own neglect and sloth, asit was with these Hebrews. The latter sort are severely to be admonished and rebuked; but to the former Christ showeth singular tenderness and compassion. So in the first place he com- mitteth unto Peter the care and charge of his lambs, John xxi. 15. And the like affection he declareth in his own person, as he is the great Shepherd of the sheep, Isa. xl. 11. He will take care of the whole flock, according to the office and duty of a shepherd, but his especial care is concerning his lambs, and those that are with young; and in the severity which he threateneth against false and idle shepherds, he regards principally their neglect of the diseased, the sick, the broken, and that which is driven away, Ezek. xxxiv. 4. These, therefore, in the dispensation of the gospel, must be carefully attended unto, and food convenient, or nourishment suitable to their state and condition, is carefully to be provided for them. And not _ only so, but they are in all things to be dealt withal with the same gentleness, tenderness, and meekness, that Christ exerciseth towards them. He will one day call some to an account for rough and brutish usage of his lambs. Whether they have hindered them from being fed according to their necessity, or have driven them from their pasture, or have further exercised severity against them, it must be all accounted for unto the love and care of Christ. But, 2. The de- light of Christ is in them that thrive, and are strong in the faith, as those from whom he receives most of honour and glory. We, there- fore, ought to aim that they may all be such, such as may take in
VER 12-14.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS, 585
and thrive upon solid food, the deeper mysteries of the gospel. To pretend, from Christ’s care of the weak, that those other more deep and mysterious truths, which the apostle compareth unto “strong meat,” are needless to be inquired into, is highly blasphemous. This some are come unto; they think we have no need td search into the principal mysteries of the gospel, but to take up with the plain les- sons of morality which are given us therein, and in other good books besides. But a higher reflection on the wisdom of God men can scarcely contract the guilt of. To what end hath he revealed these things unto us? Why hath he recorded that revelation in his word? Why doth he appoint his whole counsel, so revealed, to be declared and preached? Certainly never was any thing more unwisely con- trived than the giving the Scripture to the church, if it be not our duty to endeavour an acquaintance with the principal things con- tained in it. But these men seem not to know the design of God towards his church. They may learn it if they please from our apostle, Eph. iv. 7-14. It is not merely that men may have so much light and knowledge, faith and obedience, as will, as it were, serve their turn, to bring them at last unto heaven, though no pretended measures of these things are sufficient for that end, where men rest in them to the neglect of further attainments. But God aimeth to bring men unto clearer discoveries of his wisdom, grace, and love, than they have yet attained; into nearer communion with himself; to a fuller growth in light, knowledge, faith, and experience; that even in this world he may more eminently communicate of himself unto them: which he doth in and by the truths which they despise. These truths and doctrines, therefore, also, which the apostle calls “strong meat” for “them that are of full age,’ are to be searched, inquired into, and preached. Wherefore, hence it will follow in general,—l. That it is the wisdom of the dispensers of the gospel to consider what doctrines are most suitable unto the capacity and con- dition of their hearers. And in particular, 2. That it is a prepos- terous and unprofitable course, to instruct them in the greater mys- teries of the gospel who have not as yet well laid the foundation, in understanding the more common and obvious principles of it;