3. These words may be diversely distinguished and read. For, (1.) Placing the note of distinction thus, Mewpéduevos yap, Toor gc airoig reve, the sense is, “ For finding fault,” com- yi, — abccis plaining, blaming, “he saith unto them;” so that ex- 7+ Yd. pression, wzwpsuevos, “finding fault,” respects the covenant itself. Piscator was the first, that I know of, who thus distinguished the words; who is followed by Schlichtingius and others. But (2.) Place the note of distinction at airoz, as it is by most interpreters and expositors, and then the sense of the words is rightly expressed in our English translation, “For finding fault with them,” (that is, with the people,) “he saith.” And airo7 may be regulated either by _ eepbmevos OF Ayes.
Tép.
Meu Popeevos.
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106 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. VIII
The reasons for fixing the distinction in the first place are, (1.) Because weupdmevos, “finding fault,’ answers directly unto obx duewrros, “was not without fault.” And this contains the true reason why the new covenant was brought in. And, (2.) It was not God’s complaint of the people that was any cause of the introduc- tion of the new covenant, but of the old covenant itself, which was insufficient to sanctify and save the church.
But these seem not of force to change the usual interpretation of the words. For,—
(1.) Although the first covenant was not every way perfect with
respect unto God’s general end towards his church, yet it may be it is not so safe to say that God complained of it. When things or persons change the state and condition wherein they were made or appointed of God, he may complain of them, and that justly. So when man filled the world with wickedness, it is said that “it re- pented the Lorp that he had made man on the earth.” But when they abide unaltered in the state wherein they were made by him, he hath no reason to complain of them. And so it was with the first covenant. So our apostle disputes about the law, that all the weakness and imperfection of it arose from sin; where there was no reason to complain of the law, which in itself was holy, just, and good. 5 (2.) God doth in this testimony actually complain of the people, namely, that they “brake his covenant;” and expresseth his indig- nation thereon,—“ he regarded them not.” But there is not in this testimony, nor in the whole context or prophecy whence it is taken, nor in any other place of Scripture, any word of complaint against the covenant itself, though its imperfection as unto the general end of perfecting the church-state, be here intimated.
(3.) There is an especial remedy expressed in the testimony against the evil which God complains of, or finds fault with in the people. This was, that “they continued not in his covenant.” This is expressly provided against in the promise of this new cove- nant, verse 10. Wherefore,—
(4.) God gives this promise of a new covenant together with a complaint against the people, that it might be known to be an effect of free and sovereign grace. There was nothing in the people to procure it, or to qualify them for it, unless it were that they had wickedly broken the former. And we may hence observe,—
Obs. I. God hath ofttimes just cause to complain of his people, when yet he will not utterly cast them off—It is mere merey and grace that the church at all seasons lives upon; but in some seasons, when it falls under great provocations, they are signalized.
Obs. II. It is the duty of the church to take deep notice of God’s complaints of them.—This, indeed, is not in the text, but ought not
VER. 8.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 107
to be passed by on this occasion of the mention of God’s complain- ing, or “finding fault with them.” And God doth not thus find fault only when he speaks immediately by new revelations, as our Lord Jesus Christ found fault with and rebuked his churches in the revelation made unto the apostle John; but he doth it continually, by the rule of the word. And it is the especial duty of all churches, and of all believers, to search diligently into what God finds fault withal in his word, and to be deeply affected therewith, so far as they find themselves guilty. Want hereof is that which hath laid most churches in the world under a fatal security. Hence they say, or think, or carry themselves, as though they were “rich and in- creased in goods, and had need of nothing,’ when indeed “they are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” To consider what God blames, and to affect our souls with a sense of guilt, is that “trembling at his word” which he so approves of. And every church that intends to walk with God unto his glory ought to be diligent in this duty. And to guide them herein, they ought carefully to consider,—
1. The times and seasons that are passing over them.’ God brings his church under variety of seasons; and in them all requires especial duties from them, as those wherein he will be glorified in each of them. If they miss it herein, it is that which God greatly blames and complains of. Faithfulness with God in their genera- tion,—that is, in the especial duties of the times and seasons wherein they lived,—is that which Noah, and Daniel, and other holy men, are commended for. Thus there are seasons of the great abounding of wickedness in the world; seasons of great apostasy from truth and holiness; seasons of judgment and of mercy, of persecution and tranquillity. In all these, and the like, God requireth especial duties of the church ; whereon his glory in them doth much depend. If they fail here, if they are not faithful as unto their especial duty, God in his word finds fault with them, and lays them under blame. And as much wisdom is required hereunto, so I do not judge that any church can discharge its duty in any competent measure with- out a due consideration of it. For in a due observation of the times and seasons, and an. application of ourselves unto the duties of them, consists that testimony which we are to give unto God and the gospel in our generation. That church which considers not its especial duty in the days wherein we live, is fast asleep; and it may be doubted whether, when it is awaked, it will find oil in its ves- sel or no,