SECONDLY, The punishment of this sin, or of him that was guilty of it, was, that “he died without mercy.” He “died,” —that is, he was put to death; not. always, it may be, “ de facto,” but such was: the constitution of the law, he was to be put to death without mercy. There were several ways of inflicting capital punishments appointed by the law, as hanging on a tree, burning, and stoning. Of all which, and the application of them unto particular cases, I have given a description in the Exercitations unto the first volume of these commentaries. And it is said that he
“died without mercy,” not only because there was no
eae “x7 allowance for any such mercy as should save and deliver
him, but God had expressly forbidden that either mercy
or compassion should be showed in such eases, Deut. xiii. 6-10, xix. 13.
This is expressly added unto the highest instanee of despising the law, namely, the decalogue in the foundation of it, whereon all other precepts of the law were built; and that which comprised a total apostasy from the whole law. Wherefore I doubt not but the apostle had an especial respect unto that sin in its punishment, which had a complete parallel with that whose heinousness he would leat However,—
Obs. II. When the God of mercies will have men show ‘no mercy, as in temporal punishment, he can and will, upon repentance, — show mercy as to eternal punishment; for we dare not condemn all unto hell which the law condemned as unto temporal punish- ment.
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VER. 28, 29.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 541
THIRDLY, The way of ewecution of this judgment: it was to be done “ under two or three witnesses;” that is, that were so of the fact and crime. The law is express in this case, Deut. xvii. 6, xix. 13; Num. xxxy. 30. Although God was very severe in the prescription of these judgments, yet he would give no advantage thereby unto wicked and malicious persons to take away the lives of innocent men. He rather chose that those who were guilty should, through our weakness, go free for want of evidence against them, than that innocence should be exposed unto the malice of one single testimony or witness. And ' such abhorrency God had of false witnesses in criminal causes, as that which is most contrary unto his righteousness in the govern- ment of the world, as that he established a “lex talionis” in this case alone;—that a false witness should suffer the utmost of what he thought and contrived to bring on another. The equity of which law is still continued in force, as suitable to the law of nature, and ought to be more observed than it is, Deut. xix. 16-21. .
On this proposition of the state of things under the law, by God’s appointment, as to sin and punishment, the apostle makes his infer- ence unto the certainty and equity of the punishment he had de- clared with respect unto sins against the gospel, verse ,,,, tie 29, “Of how much sorer punishment,” etc. And there vs atiaticceas, is in these words three things: 1.The nature of the sin * * ?- unto which the punishment is annexed. 2. The punishment itself, expressed comparatively with and unto that of the transgression of Moses’ law. 3. The evidence of the inference which he makes;. for this is such as he refers it unto themselves to judge upon, “ Sup- pose ye shall he be thought worthy.”
The sin itself is described by a threefold aggravation of it, each instance having its especial aggravation: 1. From the object sinned against; 2. From the act of the minds of men in sinning against it.
1. The first aggravation of the sin intended is from the object of it, the person of Christ,—“the Son of God;” and that included in it is the act of their minds towards him, “they trod,” or “ trampled upon him.” | -
2. The second is against the office of Christ, especially his sacerdotal office, and the sacrifice of his blood which he offered therein,—“ the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified ;” and the aggra- vation included therein from the act of their minds towards it is, that “ they accounted it an unholy thing.”
3. A third aggravation as unto the object, is the Spirit of Christ, or “the Spirit of grace;” and the aggravation included therein is, that “they do despite unto him.”
In general, the nature and aggravation of the sin intended may be reduced unto these heads :—
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542 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. x.
1. The object of it, which is the sum and substance, a divine con- stellation of all the blessed effects of infinite wisdom, goodness, and ' grace, yea, the whole divine wisdom, goodness, and grace of God, in the most glorious manifestation of them. All these things are com- prised in the person, office, and glory of the Son of God, as the Saviour and Redeemer of the church.
2. The actings of the minds of men towards this object, which is in and by all the vilest affections that human nature is capable of. Contempt, scorn, and malice, are ascribed unto such sin; they “trample on,” they “ despise,” and “ do despite.” Wherefore, if it be possible that any thing, any sin of men, can provoke the heat of divine indignation; if any can contract such a guilt, as that the holiness, righteousness, truth, and faithfulness of God, shall be en- gaged unto its eternal punishment, the sin here intended must do it.