2. Who those fathers were with whom God made this covenant, is further evident from the time, season, and circumstances of the making of it :—
(1.) For the time of it, it was done év juépe, that is, éxeiv,—“in that day.” That a “day” is taken in the Scripture for an especial time and season wherein any work or duty is to be performed, is obvious unto all. The reader may see what we have discoursed concerning such a day on the third chapter. And the time here intended is often called the day of it: Ezek. xx. 6, “Tn the day I lifted up mine hand unto them to bring them forth of the land of Egypt;’—at that time or season. A certain, deter- minate, limited time, suited with means unto any work, occasion, or duty, is so called a “day.” And it answereth unto the description of the time of making the new covenant given in the verse foregoing, “Behold, the days are coming,’—the time or season approacheth. It is also used in a way of eminency; a day, or a signal eminent season: Mal. iii. 2, “ Who may abide the day of his coming ?”—the illustrious glory and power that shall appear and be exerted at his coming. ‘In the day,” is, at that great, eminent season, so famous ~ throughout all their generations.
(2.) This day or season is described from the work of it: ériAaCo-
Epanes, wavov wou rhs xelpis abray, *PMI,—“that I firmly laid pévov wou ris ~=nold.” And émirauCadvw, is “to take hold of” with a xpos wizor. desion of helping or delivering; and sundry things are intimated as well as the way and manner of the deliverance of that people at that time:—
[1.] The woful, helpless condition that they were in then in Egypt. So far were they from being able to deliver themselves out of their captivity and bondage, that, like children, they were not able to stand or go, unless God took them and led them by the hand. So he speaks, Hos. xi. 3, “I taught them to go, taking them by their arms.” And certainly never were weakly, froward children, so awkward to stand and go of themselves, as that people were to comply with God in the work of their deliverance. Some- times they refused to stand, or to make a trial of it; sometimes they cast themselves down after they were set on their feet; and some- times with all their strength went backwards as to what God directed. them unto. He that can read the story of their deliverance with any
"Ey nuetpy.
VER. 9.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 125
understanding, will easily discern what pains God was at with that people to teach them to go when he thus took them by the hand. It is therefore no new thing, that the church of God should be in a condition of itself able neither to stand nor go. But yet if God will take them by the hand for their help, deliverance shall ensue.
[2.] It expresseth the infinite condescension of God towards this people in that condition, that he would bow down to take them by the hand. In most other places the work which he then accom- plished is ascribed unto the lifting up or stretching out of his hand, Ezek. xx. 6. See the description of it, Deut. iv. 34, xxvi. 8. It was towards their enemies a work of mighty power, of the lifting up of his hand; but towards them it was a work of infinite condescen- sion and patience,—a bowing down to take,them by the hand. And this was the greatest work of God. For such were the frowardness and unbelief, so multiplied were the provocations and temptations of that people, that if God had not held them fast by the hand, with infinite grace, patience, forbearance, and condescension, they had inevitably ruined themselves. And we know in how many instances they endeavoured frowardly and obstinately to wrest themselves out of the hand of God, and to cast themselves into utter destruction, Wherefore this word, “When I took them by the hand,” for the end mentioned, compriseth all the grace, mercy, and patience, which God exercised towards that people, whilst he wrought out their deliver- ance by lifting up his hand amongst and against their adversaries.
And indeed no heart can conceive, no tongue can express, that infinite condescension and patience which God exerciseth towards “every one of us, whilst he holds us by the hand to lead us unto rest with himself. Our own hearts, in some measure, know with what waywardness and frowardness, with what wanderings from him and withdrawing from his holy conduct, we exercise and are ready to weary his patience continually ; yet do not mercy and grace let go that hold which they have taken on us. O that our souls might live in a constant admiration of that divine grace and patience which they live upon ; that the remembrance of the times and seasons wherein, if God had not strengthened his hand upon us, we had utterly de- stroyed ourselves, might increase that admiration daily, and enliven it with thankful obedience!
[3.] The power of this work intended is also included herein; not directly, but by consequence. For, as was said, when God took them by the hand by his grace and patience, he lifted up the hand of his power, by the mighty works which he wrought among their adversaries. What he did in Egypt, at the Red Sea, in the wilder- ness, is all included herein. These things made the day mentioned eminent and glorious. It was a great day, wherein God so magni- fied his name and power in the sight of all the world.