The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 69

evidence by which His confirmed witnesses to the increased certainty of the punishment of those who neglect it. The very grace which has provided and which offers the "great salvation" renders the punishment of those who reject it more certain and inexpressibly more terrible. Their punishment is more certain, for their guilt is greater; for the same rea.~on H will be more terrible also. It will be punishment from One who in infinite love has done everything which he could do to eave us. It will be "the wrath of the Lamb." How, then, "shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation" ? Can yourjtemporal resources open up a way for your escape? Can your own arm save you? "Hast thou an arm like God?" Can education, or science, or philosophy save you? There is but one Saviour from sio, even Jesus. .Acceptin"' him, we shall be saved with" so great salvation." Neglecting him and his salvation~ we shall be lost. You need not toil to secure your ruin. Neglect alone is sufficient to bring you under the most terrible condemnation and punishment. Disregard the offered salvation, and all the dread consequences of sin will fall upon you with pitiless and infiexible severity. "Therefore we ought to give the more t:a.rnest heed to the things which we have heard," etc.-W. J. Vers. 5-9.-The Divine destiny for man. "For unto the angels bath he not put in subjection,'' etc. The writer now resumes the subject of the exaltation of the Son of God over the holy angels. He proceeds to show that in that human nature in which he suffered death, he is raised to supreme glory and authority, and that man also is exalted in and through him. Notice- I. THE DESTINY FOR WHICH MAN WAS OREA.TED. In certain aspects of his being man seems to be an insignificant creature, and to occupy a comparatively mean position in the universe. The psalmist, who is quoted in the text, refers to this: "When I consider thy heavens, . . . what is man?" etc. The word translated "man" denotes the weakness and frailty of our nature ; and the words translated " son of man" point to man as" formed of the dust of the ground." Yet there are aspects in which man is great ; and the destiny for which God created him is a glorious one. That destiny is briefiy indicated in this quotation from Ps. viii. 8. It consists in: 1 . ...4. high place in tlie Divine regard. As evidence of this we have a twofold fact. (1) God graciously thinks of man. "Thou art mindful of him;" "I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil." God's care of man, which is manifested in the provision which he has me.de for him, witnesses to his thought of him. What significance it gives to our life when we refiect that the Infinite thinks upon us and cares for us! How the fact tends to exo.lt our nature I What a consolation and inspiration it should be to us I " I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh upon me." (2) God graciously visits man. "Thou visitest him." The word used indicates a kindly visitation, as of" a physician visiting the sick." His visitation preserveth our spirits. His visits bring light o.nd refresh- ment and joy. "His going forth is prepared as the morning,'and he shall come unto u, as the rain," etc. Hie visits are redemptive. " Blessed bo the Lord God of Israel; for he bath visited and redeemed his people." 2. ..4.n exalted rank in creation. " 'l'hou mo.dest him a little lower than the angels." We have already called o.ttention to the distinguished rank of angels in the universe.1 Man is only a little lower than they. "God created man in his own im11ge, in the image of God created he him." M11n's nature is intellectual. He can reason, refiect, etc. It is spiritual. The body is the vesture of that which comes from God and returns to him. "There is a spirit in man," etc. It is moral. He can understand and feel the heinousness of the morally wrong, the majesty of the morally right. Conscience spel\ks within him. It is religious. He can love, admire, and adore. It is capa~le of endless progress. If man attains unto his Divine destiny he will for ever have to sa.y, "It doth not yet appear what we shall be." Truly, "Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; " "a little less than Divine." 3. A position of kingly majesty and authority in tliis world. (1) Here is regal majesty. "Thou crownedst him with glory and honour." The figure of coronation is intended to set forth the royal majesty which was conferred upon man, as of a kingly crown. Amongst creatures in this world he is royal in his faculties and capacities. and in his position. (2) Here is regal authority, "'l'hou didst put all 1 On eh. L 4, 6.  60 THE EPISTLE '1'0 THE HEBREWS. [CH, tr. 1-18,