VER. 5.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 43
There was nothing left unto them but to do and observe what he had appointed.’ And it is true; when God first reveals the way of his worship immediately from himself, as he did first by Moses, and last of all by his Son Jesus Christ, the people have nothing to do therewith, but only to observe and do what is appointed, as our Saviour expressly declares, Matt. xxvili. 20: but when his worship is so revealed and declared, there is not the meanest person, who professeth obedience unto him, who is exempted from this com- mand of taking most diligent care about the due discharge of his duty herem. And this care and diligence are necessary,—
[1.] From the aptness and proneness of the minds of men unto pernicious extremes in this matter; for,—
1st. The generality of men have been-stupidly negligent herein, as if it were a matter wherein they were not at all concerned. What is provided for them, what is proposed unto them, what comes in the ordinary way whereunto they have been accustomed, whatever it be, that they follow. And as they take it up on light grounds, so they observe it with light spirits. And this hath been the true cause of that inundation of profaneness which is come on the Chris- tian world. For when once men come unto such an unconcernment in the-worship of God, as to engage in it they know not well why, and to perform it they know not how, all manner of impiety will ensue in their lives; as is manifest in experience beyond the evidence of a thousand arguments.
2dly. Many in all ages have been prone to indulge unto their own imaginations and inventions, in the disposal of divine worship. And this bitter root hath sprung up into all the superstition and idolatry that the earth is filled withal at this day. From these two poisoned springs hath proceeded that woful apostasy from Christ and evan- gelical worship which the world groans under. Wherefore our ut- most care and diligence are required herein.
[2.] The concernment of the glory of God calls for the same care im like manner. It were no hard thing to demonstrate, that the principal way and means whereby God expects that we should give glory unto him in this world, is by a due observation of the divine worship that he hath appointed; for herein do we in an especial manner ascribe unto him the glory of his sovereignty, of his wisdom, of his grace and holiness. When in his worship we bow down our souls under his authority alone; when we see such an impress of divine wisdom on all his institutions, as to judge all other ways folly in comparison of them; when we have experience of the grace repre- sented and exhibited in them; then do we glorify God aright. And without these things, whatever we pretend, we honour him not in the solemnities of our worship. But we return.
(2.) In the charge given to Moses two things are observable: [1.] The time when it was given him. [2.] The charge itself.
44 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. VIII.
[1.] The time when it was given: MéAdwv émreret qv oxnvy,— “ When he was about to make the tabernacle.” MéAAwy expresseth that which is immediately future. He was “in pro- cinctu,” in readiness for that work; just as it were taking it in hand, and going about it. This made the divine warning season- able. It was given him upon the entrance of his work, that it might make an effectual impression on his mind. And it is our duty, upon an entrance into any work we are called unto, to charge our con- sciences with a divine admonition. What immediate revelation was to Moses, that the written word is tous. To charge our consciences with rule from it, and its authority, will preserve us in whatever may fall out in the way of our duty; and nothing else will do it.
’EqireAei is “ perficere,” “to accomplish,” “to perfect,” “ to finish.” But it includes here the beginning as well as the end of the work which he was to perfect. The same with woijoos, Acts vil. 44, where this whole passage is somewhat other- wise expressed, to the same purpose: Kada¢ derd&arw 6 Away +H Maton rorjoosr airhy xard roy rimoy by éwpdxe,—< AS he appointed who spake unto Moses,” (which was God himself, as our apostle here declares, in the second person, the great Angel of the covenant), “that he should make it according to the pattern which he saw.” Wherefore éireA¢/ compriseth the whole service of Moses, in making, framing, and finishing the tabernacle.
[2.] The warning and charge itself is, that “he should make all things according to the pattern showed hima in the mount.” What this « pattern” was, how it was “ showed unto Moses,” and how he was to “ make all things according unto it,” are all of them things not easy to be explained.
In general, it is certain that God intended to declare hereby that the work which Moses had to do,—the tabernacle he was to erect, and the worship thereof,—was not, either in the whole, or in any part of it, or any thing that belonged unto it, a matter of his own invention or contrivance, nor what he set upon by chance; but an exact repre- sentation of what God had instructed him in and showed unto him. This was the foundation of all the worship of God under the old testament, and the security of the worshippers. Hence, at the finishing of this work, it is eight times repeated in one chapter, that all things were done “as the LorD commanded Moses.” And herein was that truth fully consecrated unto the perpetual use of the church in all ages, that the will and command of God are the sole reason, rule, and measure, of all religious worship.