and Family, his Church, he is but a Servant. # His faithfulneſs was evident in his bearing true Witneſs to the Church, of all God made known tohim, that they might not be uncertain of the Truth ; even all that Truth, which was more fully and clearly to be ſpoken by the Prophets after him, and by Chriſt and his Apoſtles ; but which the Spirit thall ſpeak to them further concerning Chriſt and his Church in this Epiſtle, John 5. 45. In which is infinuated, That Chriſt was the Truth himſelf witneſſed to by Moſes, who was a Witneſs of an Infe- riour degree, though in his Work faithful, and conformed unto Chriſt.
6 But Chriſt 2s a Son over his own houle 7,
* * whoſe houſe are we o, t if we hold faſt the con- « fidence 7, and the rejoycing of the hope firm unto the
T Mat. 24. 13:
end 7. |
n the Anointed Goſpel-Prophet by God the Father, Chap. 1. verſe 9. who was eminently faithful and true to his Truſt, who is Heir and Lord of all, and therefore by the Law of Nature and Nations 15 above the beſt Servant, Gal. 4. 1. Who is the Head and Lord over his own Church, which he purchaſed by his own Blood, Ads 20.28. and built for himſelf ; Moſes was in it but a Servant, fulfilling his Maſter's Will and Pleaſure, and ordering all. in it agreeable to 1t. "0 The Hebrews perſonal Priviledge, as well as the Prophets excellen- cy, perſuading and obliging them to know by conſideration, what 15 repreſented to them, and to influence their Hearts to a perſeverance under his Teaching and Government in their Chriſtian Courſe, be- cauſe they are Parts of his Houſe, and Members of his Church; a particular Houſe and Body, and Church to Him, and Members of the Catholick One. A Temple wherein God doth inhabit and dwell by his Spirit, 1 Cor. 3. 15, 17. compare Fpheſ. 2.27. and Zo 17. 127i. 3.15. A Howſehe will glorifie and perfe& with his own preſence, and which he will fill with tranſcendently more Glory, than he did the litera] Temple, Exod. 40. 34, 35. 2 Chron. 7. 1, 2. Jia. 6.1, 5. compare Haggai 2. 6. But how compleatly ſhall 1t be filled with his Glory in Heaven 2? Phil. 3. 21. How ſhould ſuch a zlorious State influence them to a ſincere perſeverance in his Religion. p A tenacing hr/ding, as with both hands, with our utmoſt Strength againſt all Infinuations and Temptations of all Adverſaries whatſoc- ver. which would cither intice or force them from it. Naggymnz Th: tm. Bo Is an ingenuors, bold, and confiacnt profeſſion of our Hope before all the World, without doubting, wavering, or feartul ſhaking ahout what is the true objet of it, let the Perſecutions or Sufferings for it be what they will, Ape here is a firm ExpeRation of Salvation in Eternal Glory by Jeſus Chriſt. It neceſſarily includes in it Fnth, for we cannot hopefor that we do not belreve ; And Faithrepreſent- inz to the Soul from the Goſpel, Chriſt purchaſing, and the Father in Him covenanting and promiſing to give 1t to us if we truly believe in, and ſincerely obey him, ſo as we may on the ſureſt and beſt grounds look out for it, and expe it, verſe 14. chap. 11. Ads 25. 5, 7. compare Col. 1. 5, 23. Titus 2.13. 1 Pet. 1. 3. q This Hoje keeps up the Soul ina joyous and glorious Condition under all threat- ning Evil; it makes Chriſtians glory in Tribulation, Rom. s. 2, 3. and 12.12. Rejoycing in want of ſenſible good, 2 Cor. 6. 10. compare 1 Pet. $.10. Both this confidence and glorying of Hope muſt be re- tiined firm to the end. Perſevere they mult in the exerciſe of them, with ſtability and conſtancy.till they reach the Salvation of theirSouls, Cl. 1.23. I Pet. 1.5. to 10. which Chriſtians are not to truſt to their own power to compaſs, but on the continued afliſtance of God in the uſe of thoſe means that He hath appointed thereunto, who will never be wanting to ſuch who do ſo rely on Him, and conſtant- ly ſeek it from Him, 1 Cor. 1. 8, 9. ; ' 7 Wherefore, as the Holy Ghoſt faith 7, * To day if ye will hear his voice /. |
7 The Spirit inforceth his Counſel for theſe /7ebrews, improve- ment of his Dodrine about the Goſpel- Prophet, by alledgins a ſad example of their Fathers refuſing to hear and obey Him, trom verſe 7. to 11. The Allegation might be beſt placed in Parentheſ1s, and the introduftive Ilative Particle Wherefore, may refer to verſe 12, Take heed, Brethren. As the Spirit, the Holy One, that third Relati- on in the Trinity, whoſe Eſſence is Holineſs, is the Author. of what the Pſalmiſt doth write, and 1s here quoted by him, Pſal. 95. 7. to 12. ſo that the Example regiſtred is true and infallible, and ſhould ſuitably affe& them, reading it. / Every preſent time, wherein the
great Builder and LORD of God's Church ſpeaketh to them; God
would not have a hearer of his Prophet to procraſtinate a Day, but to be exerciting all thoſe internal As, which this Word of Senſe Hear doth comprehend, ſuch as reacheth the Heart as well as the Ear, if you will attend, intend, believe, Ive and obey ; a hearing bet- ter than all external Sacrifices, 1 Sam. 15.22. The Angel of the Covenant ſpeaking his Mind and Will to them by 27ſes and the Pro- phets, which was for the matter of it Faith in God's Covenant, made with them in and through Chriſt, Pſal. 95. 7. compare Fxod. 23. 20, 2I, 22, 23+ ;
'$ Harden not your hearts, 7 as in the provo- cation z, in the day of temptation in the wilder: nels w : |
t Tohelp in the former Duty the Spirit ſubjoyns this negative Countel, that is ſtiled hard, which will not yield to any Impreſſion : Make not your Heart a Stone, ſo as not to underftand, beheve, or obey God's Voice. to it, Deut. 15. 7. and 1 Sam. 6.6. For God re- Guires them to be his Fleſhly Tables to write his Will on, 2 Cer. 3. 3, The hardening of this part 1s the hardening of the whole Perſon, and when hardened by themſelves, is provoking God's judicial har- dening of them to their Deſtrution. u« 't» mi mpamngaopi. In The bitter contention, comprehending in it both Work, Scaſon, and Place, Called Meribah, Numb. 20.13, 14. Names of Places and Perſons expreſt by Words of the ſame fſignification, though not of the ſame found. w In the day of Maſſah, when Tj-ael in the Wilderneſs did murmur and ſtrive againſt, and vexed God ( after He had divided the Sea for 'them ) for their want of Water, Exod. 17. 2,7. Deut. 5.15, and 33. 8, That bitter Conteſt of | Unbe-
HEBREWS.
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