Our Lord, therefore, must have had a trust committed to him wherein he was faithful. Accordingly he sought not his own glory, but the glory of him that sent him; declaring, that he came not in his own, but in his Father's name, John v, 43. He moreover sealed that truth with his blood, which he came into the world to bear witness to, John xviii, 37. And greater faithfulness could not be expressed.

"To him that appointed him." This appointment of Christ, or his being made the apostle of God, consists in the eternal designation of him to his work and office; in the solemn promise made from the beginning to send him for this purpose; in sending him actually into the world to be the light of men, John i, 4; and to manifest that eternal life which was with the Father, 1 John i, 2; and, by a visible sign, in the descent of the Holy Ghost upon him. To these acts of appointment, God added his command, and published it from heaven to all, that they hear and obey him, Matt. xvii, 5.

$7. "As also Moses was faithful." These words express the farther fidelity of Christ in comparison with Moses. The apostle seems directly to express the words used by God himself concerning Moses, Numb. xii, 7, "He is faithful in all my house." It is true he failed personally in his faith, and was charged of God that he believed him not, Numb. xx, 12; but this no impeachment of his faithfulness in the special office intended. As he was to reveal Jehovah's mind, and institute his worship, he was universally faithful by an infallible testimony, Exod. xl, 16, "according to all that God appointed him, so did he."

was

The extent of his faithfulness (εν όλω τω δικῳ) to "the whole house of God;" that is, saith Chrysostom, (Ev o'λw To λaw) “in the whole people;" his household,

his family, his church, by way of appropriation; his lot, his portion, as a man's house is to him, Deut. xxxii, 9, "The Lord's portion is his people, Jacob is the lot of his inheritance." He dwells in his church by his special and glorious presence, as a man in his own house, Rev. xxi, 3, which denotes care, love, and delight. In this house was Moses faithful; he was the visible mediator between Jehovah and the Hebrew tribes when their church state was erected, and they brought into the enjoyment of those privileges, whereby they were exalted above all the nations of the globe. It is worthy of notice, that the apostle deals not with them in this matter directly, until he had made such a declaration of the person of Christ, and proved him to be so incomparably exalted above angels, that they could not be justly prejudiced, if he preferred him before Moses also; which was indispensably necessary to his design. He produceth the highest and most honorable testimony that is given Moses in the whole scripture; whereby he at once grants all that they had to plead concerning him in this matter, and removes all suspicions of his derogating any thing from his real excellence, Moreover, he discovers a consistency between the true honor of Moses and the exaltation of Christ, which as yet many of them did not understand; but thought, that if Christ were exalted and the gospel established, Moses must be cast off and condemned, In this comparison he reminds them, that the Lord Jesus Christ was the great promised prophet of the church, to whom they were to attend on pain of being disowned of God.

How suitable this procedure was to the removal of their prejudices, is to inform their minds, and to endear their affections; and, consequently, what wisdom

was used in it, needs no proof. We now proceed, as proposed,

$8. (II.) To make some observations on the words thus explained.

Obs. 1. All the doctrines of the gospel, especially those concerning the person and offices of Christ, are to be practically improved, for the important ends of their revelation,-faith and obedience. We are so to know Christ, as to live in the strength of his grace, to the praise of his glory. "If ye know these things," saith the Redeemer, "happy are ye if ye do them." It is our privilege, our great privilege, to know them, but it is our blessedness to do them. When men content themselves with the notion of spiritual things, without endeavoring to express their efficacy, in the practical conformity of their minds and souls to them, it proves their ruin. That word which is preached to us, ought to dwell in us. It is a miserable profession, when some preach without application, and others hear without practice. To hear and to learn are good, not for their own sake, but for the sake of practice. The apostle tells us of some who are always learning, (perhaps make it their business, and scarce do any thing else) but are never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, 2 Tim. iii, 7; that is, to have an impression of its power and efficacy on their souls. Gospel truths are (medicina anima) physic for a sin-sick soul; now what use is it to get store of medicines and cordials, and never to take them? No more is it to collect, with whatever diligence, sermons and doctrines, if we apply them not. Some contract, as it were, a dropsy in hearing; the more they hear the more they desire: but they are only pleased with it at present, and swelled for the future; are neither really refreshed nor strengthened. But every truth hath, as the Hebrews express

it, "meat in its mouth," something for our own nourishment. We should regard sermons, as Elijah did the ravens, that brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening, 1 Kings xvii, 6; they bring food with them for our souls, that we may feed on it. When the Israelites gathered manna to eat, it was bread from heaven, angels' meat, food excellent and precious; but when they laid it by, it became offensive and bred worms, Exod. xvi, 20. When God scatters truths amongst men, if they gather them to feed on, they are the bread of heaven, angels' food; but if they only hoard them up in their books, or notionally in their mind, they will breed the worms of pride and hypocrisy, and make them an offensive savor unto God. When, therefore, any truth is proposed to you, learn what is your great concern therein, and let it have its proper and perfect work upon your souls.

$9. Obs. 2. Dispensers of the gospel ought to use holy prudence in dealing with those whom they are to instruct. Next to our Lord himself, Paul is the most admirable example of holy wisdom, tenderness, compassion, and zeal, to all ministers of the gospel. This, the instructions given to his two beloved sons, Timothy and Titus, sufficiently testify. His care, pains, travail, and watchfulness; his patience, love, compassion, and zeal, who can declare, or worthily admire! By these means he removed, or at least rendered ineffectual, the great prejudice in favor of Judaism; kept up in his hearers a becoming caution against the insinuations of seducers and false apostles; raised their attentions, prepared them every way for instructions, and won them over to Christ. Blessed Jesus! what cause have we to mourn, when we consider the pride, covetousness ambition, negligence, self-seeking, and contempt of thy

flock, which are found amongst many of them who take upon themselves to be dispensers of thy word, whereby the souls of men are filled with offences against thy holy ways!

$10. Obs. 3. Believers are all related to one another in the strictest bond of an equal relation. They are all brethren, holy brethren; and what the reproaching world calls them in scorn, the Holy Spirit calls them in mercy and in truth. They have one Father, one elder brother, who is not ashamed to call them brethren; and one spirit, who being a spirit of adoption, gives them all an interest in the same family, whereby they become joint heirs with Christ. The duties of unity, love, and compassion, which depend on their relation, are more known than practised. Of old, indeed, the Pagans spake proverbially of the Christians, "See how they love one another!" by way of admiration. The contrary observation hath now prevailed, to the shame and foul stain of the profession of these latter days. Through dissentions and divisions amongst them who are interested in the privilege of sonship, and through various visible defects in most that are called Christians, we have lost the thing intended, and the same is become a term of reproach. When iniquity abounds, love will wax cold. In the mean time, it were well if those who are brethren indeed, could live as brethren, and love as brethren, and agree as brethren; for the motives to it are great and many.

§11. Obs. 4. All true and real professors of the gos pel are sanctified by the Holy Ghost, and made truly and really holy. So Paul here terms those Hebrews, exercising the judgment of charity; declaring what they ought to be, and what they professed themselves to be, what he believed them to be, and what if living members of Christ they really were.