1. No judgment is so to be feared and deprecated as a depriva- tion of the dispensation of the word. No judgment is like famine: “They that are slain with the sword are better than they that be
. VER. 12-14.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 691
slain with hunger; for these pine away, stricken through for want ’ of the fruits of the field,’ Lam.iv. 9. And no famine like that of the word, which God threateneth as the sorest of his judgments, Amos viii. 11. This is as much to be dreaded above the other as the soul is to be preferred before the body, and spiritual life above natural. To be deprived of the food of our souls is of all distresses the most dreadful. And we may do well to consider, that when Egypt was in the midst of its plenty,—which no doubt was sufficiently abused, —it was then that their consuming famine was at the door.
2. No temporal mercy is so liable unto abuse as fulness of bread. This, joined with pride and idleness, which usually accompany it in the world, produced the sins of Sodom, Ezek. xvi. 49. So is it with the fulness of this spiritual food,—spiritual pride and spiritual sloth are apt to grow up with it, to corrupt and abuse it. It requires much wisdom and heedfulness to manage ourselves aright under the plentiful dispensation of the word, such as at this time we enjoy. Some apparently are proud and delicate, waxing wanton under their enjoyment, so that wholesome food is despised by them,—nothing will serve them but some poisonous dainties of fond and foolish imaginations. And some are slothful, thinking all pains and charge too much that they take or are at about the word. The curiosity and sloth of these days bode no good. I am almost persuaded that the generality of the Egyptians derided Joseph, when they saw him make such diligent and vast preparations in the years of plenty, when for so long a time together “the earth brought forth by handfuls.” If they did not think his labour altogether needless, why did they not do in like manner, why did they make no provision for them- selves?—which afterwards they so smarted for. Learn, therefore, of him as well as you are able, to lay in provision of this spiritual food in a time of plenty, that you may have some stores for your use in an evil day that may be approaching.
8. Those who by any means endeavour to obstruct the dispen- sation of the word, they do their endeavour to famish the souls of men, They keep their food from them, without which they cannot live. Whether this be done by negligence, ignorance, or disability in those who take upon themselves to be God’s stewards, but have none of his provision under their disposal, or whether it be done out of a real hatred to the word, the cruelty is dreadful, and the crime will be avenged. The people will curse him who hoardeth corn ina time of dearth ; and God will curse them who, at any time, detain from others the bread of life.
4. The word is to be esteemed, valued, and sought after, as our daily food. Negligence and carelessness about the food of our souls is too great an evidence that there is no principle of life in us. Think not too much of your pains.
602 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. V.
Obs. II. Whereas the word is food, it is evident that it will not profit our souls until it be eaten and digested.
It is called here rpop4, “nourishment;”’ which food is not as it is prepared, but as it is received. When manna was gathered and laid up, and not eaten, it “stank and bred worms.” We see that some take great pains to come and hear the word. This is but the gather- ing of manna. What do you with it afterwards? If it lie by you, it will be of no use. But what is required unto this eating and diges- tion, was, as I remember, before declared.
Obs. III. It is an evidence of a thriving and healthy state of soul, to have an appetite unto the deepest mysteries of the gospel, or most solid doctrines of truth, and to be able profitably to digest them.
This is the substance of the character which the apostle here gives of such persons; and he blames these Hebrews that such they were not: and therefore such we ought all to be, who live under circum- stances and advantages like to theirs. This is the property of a thriving soul, of a good proficient in the school of Christ. He is naturally inclined to desire the declaration of the most weighty and substantial truths of the gospel; in them is he particularly delighted, and by them is he profited : whereas if you take others beyond milk, or first principles, ordinarily they are at a loss, and very little bene- fited by any provision you can make for them. But yet sometimes it falls out in these things spiritual as it doth in things natural, Some persons under sickness and distempers, having their appetite cor- rupted, and their taste vitiated, do greatly desire, and impetuouslylong after strong food; which is no way meet for them, and which, when they have eaten it, does but increase their indisposition and heighten their distemper. So some, altogether unmeet for the right under- standing and due improvement of the deep mysteries of the gospel, yet, out of pride and curiosity, do neglect and despise the things which are suited unto their edification, and desire nothing, delight in no- thing but what is above them, and indeed beyond their reach, That we may not be deceived, nor deceive ourselves herein, I shall give some differences between this property of sound, thriving, and healthy souls, desiring, delighting in, and profiting by the strong meat of gospel mysteries, and the inordinate longing of spiritually sick and distempered minds after those things which are not meet for them :—