There is therefore nothing remaining but that we give an exposi- tion of these words of the apostle, as they contain the sense of the Holy Ghost in the psalm. And two things we must inquire into: 1. What is meant by this “body.” 2. How God “prepared” it.
1. A “body” is here a synecdochical expression of the human
i nature of Christ. So is the “ flesh” taken, where he is
we said to be “made flesh;” and the “flesh and blood” whereof he was partaker. For the general end of his having this body was, that he might therein and thereby yield obedience, or do the will of God; and the especial end of it was, that he might have somewhat to offer in sacrifice unto God, But neither of these can be confined unto his body alone. For, it is the soul, the other essen- tial part of human nature, that is the principle of obedience. Nor was the body of Christ alone offered in sacrifice unto God. He “made his soul an offering for sin,” Isa, hii. 10; which was typified by the life that was in the blood of the sacrifice. Wherefore it is said that “he offered himself unto God,’ Heb. ix. 14, Eph. v. 2; that is, his whole entire human nature, soul and body, in their sub- stance, in all their faculties and powers. But the apostle both here and verse 10 mentions only the body itself, for the reasons ensuing: (1.) To manifest that this offering of Christ was to be by death, as was that of the sacrifices of old; and this the body alone was subject unto. (2.) Because, as the covenant was to be confirmed by this offering, it was to be by blood, which is contained in the body alone, and the separation of it from the body carries the life along with it. (3.) To testify that his sacrifice was visible and substantial; not an outward appearance of things, as some have fancied, but such as truly answered the real bloody sacrifices of the law. (4) To show the alliance and cognation between him that sanctifieth by his offering, and them that are sanctified thereby: or that because “the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also took part of the same,” that he might taste of death for them. For these and the like reasons doth the apostle mention the human nature of Christ under the name of a “ body” only, as also to comply with the figu- rative expression of it in the psalm. And they do what lies in them to overthrow the principal foundation of the faith of the church, who would wrest these words unto a new ethereal body given him after his ascension, as do the Socinians.
2. Concerning this body, it is affirmed that God prepared %t for him, “Thou hast prepared for me:” that is, God hath done it, even God the Father; for unto him are these words spoken, “I come to do thy will, O God; a body hast thou prepared me.” The coming of Christ, the Son of God, into the world, his coming in the flesh by the assuming of our nature, was the effect of the mutual counsel of the Father and the Son. The Father pro-
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VER. 5-10.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 461
posed to him what was his will, what was his design, what he would have done. This proposal is here repeated, as unto what was nega- tive in it, which includes the opposite positive: “Sacrifices and burnt- offerings thou wouldest not have ;” but that which he would, was the obedience of the Son unto his will. This proposal the Son closeth withal: “ Lo,” saith he, “I come.” But all things being originally in the hand of the Father, the provision of things necessary unto the fulfilling of the will of God is left unto him. Among those the principal was, that the Son should have a body prepared for him, that so he might have somewhat of his own to offer. Wherefore the preparation of it is in a peculiar manner assigned unto the Father: “A body hast thou prepared me.” And we may observe, that,—
Obs. VII. The supreme contrivance of the salvation of the church is in a peculiar manner ascribed unto the person of the Father.— His will, his grace, his wisdom, his good pleasure, the purpose that he purposed in himself, his love, his sending of his Son, are every- where proposed as the eternal springs of all acts of power, grace and goodness, tending unto the salvation of the church. And there- fore doth the Lord Christ on all occasions declare that he came to do his will, to seek his glory, to make known his name, that the praise of his grace might be exalted. And we through Christ do believe in God, even the Father, when we assign unto him the glory of all the holy properties of his nature, as acting originally in the contrivance and for the effecting of our salvation.
Obs. VIII. The furniture of the Lord Christ (though he was the Son, and in his divine person the Lord of all) unto the discharge of his work of mediation was the peculiar act of the Father.—He pre- pared him a body; he anointed him with the Spirit; it pleased him that all fulness should dwell in him. From him he received all grace, power, consolation. Although the human nature was the nature of the Son of God, not of the Father, (a body prepared for him, not for the Father,) yet was it the Father who prepared that nature, who filled it with grace, who strengthened, acted, and sup- ported it in its whole course of obedience.