After our Lord Christ left this world, there was a mighty contest between the dying apostate church of the Jews and the rising gos- pel church of believers. The Jews boasted of their success, in that by fraud and cruelty they had destroyed him as a malefactor; the apostles and the church with them gave testimony unto his resur- rection and glory in heaven. Great expectation there was what would be the end of these things, which way the scale would turn. After a while, a visible and glorious determination was made of this controversy; God sent forth his armies and destroyed those mur- derers, burning up their city. Those enemies of the King, which would not have him to reign over them, were brought forth and slain before his face. So were all his enemies made his footstool. T do judge that these are the enemies of Christ, and the making of them his footstool, which are peculiarly here intended, namely, the destruction of the hardened, unbelieving Jews, who had obstinately rejected his ministry, and opposed it unto the end. Then were those his enemies who so refused him slain and destroyed thereon. For,—
(1.) This description of his enemies, as his enemies peculiarly, directs us unto this sense, the enemies of his person, doctrine, and
To Avszréy.
VER. 11-14. ] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 489
glory, with whom he had so many contests, whose blasphemies and con- tradictions he underwent. They were his enemies in a peculiar manner.
(2.) This the word éxdexduevos, “ expecting,” better answers unto than unto the other sense. For the glorious visible , propagation of the gospel and kingdom of Christ thereon, began and was carried on gloriously upon and after the destruction of Jerusalem, and the church of the Jews, his enemies. With refer- ence hereunto, expectation may be no less distinctly ascribed unto him than if we extend the word unto the whole time unto the end of the world.
(3.) The act of vengeance on these his enemies is not said to be his own, but is peculiarly assigned unto God the Father, and those employed by him. In the original promise, the words of God the Father to him are, “I will make thine enemies thy footstool ;’—‘ I take it upon me (vengeance is mine) to revenge the ininiies done unto thee, and the obstinacy of those unbelievers.’ Here in this place respect is had unto the means that God used in the work of their destruction, which was the Roman army, by whom they were, as the footstool of Christ, absolutely trodden under his feet, with respect unto this special act of God the Father; who in the execu- tion of it proclaims that “vengeance is his.” For in the following words the Lord Christ is said only to “expect” it, as that wherein his own cause was vindicated, and revenged, as it were, by another hand, while he pleaded it himself in the world by that mild and gentle means of sending his Spirit to convince them of sin, right- eousness, and judgment.
(4.) This is that which the apostle constantly threatens the obsti- nate Hebrews and apostate professors of the gospel withal, through- out this epistle, the time of their destruction being now at hand. So he doth, chap. vi. 4-8; and in this chapter, verses 26-31, where it must be spoken to.
(5.) This was that +d Ao, or “what remained,” as unto the personal ministry of Christ in this world.
Obs. IV. The horrible destruction of the stubborn, obstinate ene- _ mies of the person and office of Christ, which befell the nation of the Jews, is a standing security of the endless destruction of all who remain his obstinate adversaries.
I leave this interpretation of the words unto the thoughts of them that are judicious, and shall open the mind of the Holy Ghost in them according unto the generally received opinion of their sense. And to this end,—
(1) The subject spoken of is the enemies of Christ,—oi é0po/, “his enemies.” He hath had many enemies ever since _ his exaltation; and so shall have unto the consumma- tion of all things, when they shall all of them be triumphed over.
Dds ycopetvos.
Of txcdpol.
490 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. X.
For his enemies are of two sorts: first, Such as are so immediately and directly unto his person; secondly, Such as are so to his office and work, with the benefits of the salvation of the church. Those of the first sort are either devils or men, All the devils are in a combination, as sworn enemies unto the person of Christ and his kingdom, And for men, the whole world of unbelieving Jews, Mohammedans, and Pagans, are all his enemies, and do put forth all their power in opposition unto him. The enemies unto his office, grace, and work, and the benefits of it, are either persons or things.
[1.] The head of this opposition and enmity unto his office is Antichrist, with all his adherents; and in a special manner, all worldly power, authority, and rule, acting themselves in subser- viency unto the antichristian interest.
[2.] All pernicious heresies against his person and grace;
[3.] All others which make profession of the gospel, and live not as becomes the gospel, they are all enemies of Christ and his office.