He knows that the whole visible order of things in this world shall pass away, and jnst as completely 11s the Jewish polity has already done. And he anticipates for himself a permanent home in the New Jerusalem that shall "come down out of heaven from God." CoNOLUSION. Seeing we possess such transcendent privileges" outside the camp," let us bear patienUy the" reproach" of Christ. We must be content t-0 appear "sin"ular" for hie sake. We must be willing to be ostracized by the world on accouot of o:lr love for him. The spirit of devotion to Jesus will be always diametrically opposed to the prevailing spirit of the ungodly. But what an honour to be permitted to suffer with him I And "if we endure, we shall also reign with him," Vers. 17-19.-Duty to present pastws. In ver. 7 the apostle had exhorted the Hebrews to honour the memory of their deceased ministers. But, if this was a duty incumbent on them, it was equally their duty to render Christian obedience to their living spiritual guides. These precepts connected with the pastoral relation remind us that even in the earliest times the Churches possessed a definite organization, and were presided over by regularly appointed spiritual office-bearers. A twofold duty towards their leaders ie pointed out in these verses. I. To OBEY THEM. (Ver. 17.) The spiritual government of the Church is an ordi- nance of Christ, and a means of grace to his people. It is not, however, a despotic government. Pastore and presbyters are simply to administer the Law of Christ. 'l'hey may not demand submission to what is based only upon their own will or caprice. But, within the limits of their rightful authority, they are to be honoured and obeyed, Their public teaching is to be received with a view to personal edification. Their private pastoral admonitions are to be accepted as" an excellent oil" (Ps. c::di. 5). The censures of the Church, administered after conviction of scandalous sin, are to be submitted to, not ae a penance, but as a means of spiritual benefit. The exhortation of this verse is needed in our own time. The present age is characterized not only by a. healthy independence of thought, but also by an unhealthy impatience of legitimate autbority-,-at once in the family, in the state, and in the Church. Yet there must be both government and discipline in every ecclesiastical society ; and the proper administration of such is indispensable to the order and purity of the Church, if not even to her visible existence. In the latter part of the verse some reasons and motives are presented by which to enforce this duty of obedience in spiritual things. 1. The solemn work of the pastw. Ho "watches in behalf of your souls." If the Church ruler be worthy of his office, he will be full of vigilant solicitude for the salvation of the people whom the Lord Jesus h11s committed to his care. He will take trouble for their souls. He will seek to know the flock personally-their individual condition, character, and needs. He will try to establish true sympathy between himself and them. He will watch, that he may teach and warn and comfort with a view to their salvation. 2. His responsibility to the chief Shepherd. Every minister knows that he "shall give accouut." In bis private communion with his Master he ought from time to time to report to him upon the condition of his charge. And he must not forget that at the end of the days, when the Son of man shall separate the sheep from the goats, he shall address to him the solemn question, "Where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?" (Jer. xiii. 20). 3. The hurtful recoil upon the souls of the people if they fail in obedience. A spirit of docility in the congregatiou will encourage its, spiritual guides to do their responsible work with ~h~er!ulness and joy. But when there is resistance to counsel and contumacy under d1sc1pline, the heart of the pastor will become cast down ; he will be prone to feel his work irksome, and to do it " with grief," if iudeed he be not tempted to abandon it 11ltogether. . And su~h. a fra~e of mind in him will react in turn upon the congregation. A dejected rorn_1ster will be more or less inefficient. The people will suffer much spiritual_loss, for which they c,m only have themselves to blame. II. 'fo PRAY FOR THEM. (Vcrs. 18, 10.) In the verse preceding, the apostle has had in view the anxieties 11nd burdens of the Christian ministry; so he now requests tho prayers of the Hebrews for tho pastors of the Church, and specially for himself. Her~, for tho fir8t, timo in the course of this Epistle, the 11utbor-wh~cvcr he was-allows his personality to appl'ar. He clriims to staud in a pastornl relation to the Hebrews, uot 401 THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. [ CH, XIII. 1-25.
only on the ground of former intercourse, but in virtue of this letter, which he has ~-eighted with precious instruction and affectionate e.ppei\l. Now, if e.poslles and inspired men felt the need of the intercessions of the Church, how ee.mestly ouaht she to pray for her ordinary pastors and teachers I And a congregation should n~t only implore Divine grace for "our beloved pastor "--a duty which is sometimes done in a spirit of parochial selfishness; we should also embrace in our intercessions the ministers of all the congregations with which we are associated in Church fellowship, and all the Lord's servants in the gospel everywhere. The writer advances two considerations in support of his request. 1. His purity of conduct. (Ver. 18.) He had the testimony of "a good conscience ; " and yet he yearned for the sympathy of his brethren in all bis labours and sufferings. Jewish zealots might asperse his motives and defame his character; but the prayers of his fellow-Christians would fortify him against such trials. And the Church ought still to pray for her godly pastors, that they may have grace "to live honestly in all things," preserving "a good conscience" in keeping their own hearts, in maintaining habits of study, in faithfully preaching the gospel, and in watching for souls by means of pastoral work. 2. His desire to revisit the Christian Hebrews. (Ver. 19.); The writer had resided among them at some former period, and he strongly wished to return to them so soon as circumstances mi~bt permit. He solicits their prayers, that the hindrances presently in his way may be removed. He makes this request very earnestly, and as a great personal favour to himself. We are reminded here, accordingly, that prayer is one of the powers which co-operate in the government of the world. The author of this Epistle was persuaded that the almighty energy of God is roused into action by the snpplications of his people. He was quite sure that human prayers, not less than human deeds, are a factor in the Divine government. So he begged that the "voice n of the Church might "rise like a fountain for him night and da.y."