"Ey ais Qucic- Sévees.
560 AN EXPOSITION OF THE ' [CHaP. x.
shining into their hearts is this illumination,—the saving, sanctifying light which they received at their first effectual call, and conversion to God. This spiritual change was presently followed with days of affliction, trouble, and persecution. In itself it is, for the most part, accompanied with joy, delight, zeal, and vigorous actings of faith and love, 1 Pet. i. 8. For, 1. God did usually grant unto believers some secret pledge and sealing of his Spirit, which filled - them with joy and zeal, Eph.i.15. 2. Their own hearts are ex- ceedingly affected with the excellency, glory, and beauty of the things revealed unto them, of what they now see perfectly, where- unto they were before in darkness; that is, the love and grace of Christ Jesus in the revelation of himself unto them. 3. All graces are new and fresh, not yet burdened, clogged, or wearied by temp- tations, but are active in their several places. Hence frequent mention is made of and commendation given unto the “first love” of persons and churches. ?
This was the state and condition of those Hebrews when the days of trial and affliction came upon them; it was immediately after their first conversion unto God. And it is usual with God thus to deal with his people in all ages. He no sooner calls persons to himself, but he leads them into the wilderness. He no sooner plants them, but he shakes them with storms, that they may be more firmly rooted. He doth it, 1. Utterly to take off their expec- tutions from this world, or any thing therein. They shall find that they are so far from bettering their outward estate in this world by cleaving unto Christ. and the church, as that the whole rage of it will be stirred up against them upon that account, and all the things enjoyed in it be exposed unto ruin. This the Lord Christ everywhere warned his disciples of, affirming that those who are not willing to renounce the world, and to take up the cross, do not belong unto him, 2. For the trial of their faith, 1 Pet. i. 6, 7. 3. For the glory and propagation of the gospel. 4. For the exercise of all graces. 5. To breed us up into the military discipline of Christ, as he is the captain of our salvation, They who pass through their first trials, are Christ’s veterans on new attempts.
Obs. II. All men by nature are darkness, and in darkness.
Obs. III. Saving illumination is the first-fruit of effectual voca- tion.
Obs. IV. Spiritual light in its first communication puts the soul on the diligent exercise of all graces.
Obs. V. It is suited unto the wisdom and goodness of God, to suffer persons on their first conversion to fall into manifold trials and temptations.
This was the state of the Hebrews in those days which the apostle would have them “call to mind.” But the words have respect
VER. 32-34. | EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 561
unto what follows immediately, “ Which ye endured.” The descrip- tion of their state and condition, namely, that they were enlightened, is interposed for the ends we have spoken unto. Wherefore the season he would have them call to remembrance is described,—
Secondly, By what they suffered therein. This, as was observed, he expresseth two ways: first, In general; secondly, In particular instances, ‘The first is in these words, “ Ye endured a great fight of afflictions.” 1. That which he would have them to mind is “ afflic- tion.” 2. The aggravation of it, it was “a great fight of afflictions.” 3. Their deportment under it, in that they “endured them.”
1. We render this word by “afflictions,” although, by the parti- culars mentioned afterwards, it appears it was “ per- secutions” from men that the apostle only intended. And if we take “afflictions” in the ordinary sense of the word, for chastisements, corrections, and trials from God, it is true that men’s persecutions are also God’s afflictions, with the special end of them in our trials; we are “ chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.” God used them as his furnace and fining pot, “ for the trial of their faith; which is more precious than gold.” And under all persecutions we are to have a special regard unto the immediate hand of God in such afflictive trials. This will keep us humble, and in a constant subjection of our souls unto God, as the apostle declares, Heb. xii. But the word in the original is xabgware, which is properly “sufferings;”—the same word that the apostle useth to express the sufferings of Christ, Heb. ii. 10, v. 8 It is a general name for every thing that is hard and afflictive unto our nature, from what cause or occasion soever it doth arise.. Even what wicked men undergo justly for their crimes is what they suffer, as well as what believers undergo for the truth and profession of the gospel. Materially they are the same, 1 Pet. iv. 14-16. It is therefore the general name of all the evils, troubles, hardships, dis- tresses, that may befall men upon the account of their profession of the truth of the gospel. This is that which we are called unto, which we are not to think strange of. Our Lord Jesus requires of all his disciples that they “take up their cross;” to be in a continual. readiness to bear it, and actually so to do as they are called. And there is no kind of suffering but is included in the cross. He calls us, indeed, unto his eternal glory; but we must suffer with him, if we desire to reign also with him.