XXXVII. THE DUTY OF CONSIDERING THE NAMES Heb. iii. 1. Holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, confider the Apostle and High Priest of our profeffion, Chrift Jefus. OUR Lord poffeffed, from all eternity, a nature infinitely fuperior to that of Angels Yet did he fubmit to the lowest humiliation for us— And it is by the knowledge of him, as humbled, we attain falvation c The apoftle having spoken much on this fubject in the foregoing chapter, enforces it with this affectionate cxhortation I. Explain the exhortation The first thing that calls for our attention is the defcription which he gives of all true Chriftians [Wishing to perfuade, he ftrove by tenderness to conciliate their esteem He calls them brethren; which they are both by relation and affection They are "holy;" fet apart for the fervice and enjoyment of God washed in the fountain of Chrift's blood and renewed after the divine image They are "partakers of an heavenly calling;" called to heavenly exercifes and enjoyments-obedient to that calland fuitably influenced by it in their hearts and lives How amiable is fuch a character!" brethren!" "holy !” "called!" &c. Who would not wish to be found of their number?-] The next thing which demands our notice is the obje he fets before them [When he speaks of Chrift in common, he places the name "Jefus" firft; but when with more than ordinary folemnity, the name "Chrift" is firft He here defcribes the Saviour both by his names and offices His a Heb. i. 3, 8, 10. Matt, xxiii. 9. b Phil. ii. 6, 7. • John xvii. 3. 1 John iii. 14. His names, "Chrift, Jefus &," are peculiarly fignificant in this connexion- His offices are fuch as Mofes and Aaron fuftained under the law Chrift is the Apoftle of our profeffion," as being fent, like Mofes, to publish that religion which we profefs He is alfo "the High Prieft of it," becaufe, like Aaron, he performs all that is neceflary for our reconciliation with God —] The last thing to explain is the duty which he preffes upon them [The word which we tranflate "confider," implies an attentive regard1 It might easily be fhewn how important this duty is; but that our obfervations on this fubject will occur more properly in another place-] Having fpoken what was neceffary to unfold the meaning of the exhortation, we proceed to II. Enforce it To those who answer the foregoing character we addrefs the exhortation 1. Confider the object fet before you His names [As "Jefus," divine Saviour, he is able to fave to the attermoft As "Chrift," he was anointed of God for this very purpose→ Had he not been appointed of God, or had he been lefs than God, you might have been afraid to truft in him But his names atteft his right and ability to fave-Think how thefe words would found in hell; and let them be as fweet to you as they would be to the damned fpirits-] His f It is of the fame import as Meffias, John i. 41. and means, Anointed. Jefus is the fame with Joshua, Heb. iv. 8. ; and Jofhua is a conwraction for Jah Ofeah, the former of which fignifies God, and the latter, Saviour. This name was given by God to Hofeah the fon of Nun, who, as a type of Chrift, led the Ifraelites into the land of Canaan : and the giving of this name to the virgin's fon may be jusily considered as an accomplishment of that prophecy which faid he should be called Emmanuel, God with us. Its import therefore is, Divine Saviour. Vid. Matt. i. 21-23. and Bishop Pearfon, p. 69, 70. h Jefus, as our High Prieft, offered himfelf a facrifice for us-is gone into the holy of holies to pretent his blood before the mercy-feat liveth to make interceffion for us-prefents our offerings unto the Father-bears us on his breast-plate--and makes known to us the will. of God. Κατανοήσατε. His offices [As the Apoftle or Prophet of the church, he will inftruct all k As the High Prieft, he will open a way for us into the holy place —— O reflect on thefe, till your hearts burn within you with gratitude and love!-] 2. Confider more particularly the view given of him in the preceding and following context His compaffion as an High Prieft [He himfelf has endured perfecution from men, temptation from Satan, defertion from God, &c.— He will fympathize with you under your trials" Let this be a fource of comfort to you under every affliction-] His faithfulnefs as a Prophet [He extends his care to all his people - He never fuffered the weakelt believer to err finally- Go to him then for teaching in every doubt and every dif ficulty-] Thofe who do not answer to the character may reap benefit from the exhortation [Ye who are unholy, and strangers to the heavenly calling, confider this defcription of our bleed Lord Confider it with attention, that you may understand it→ Confider it with faith, that you may have an intereft in it-Confider it with affection, that you may delight in itConfider it with gratitude, that you may difplay its influence on your heart-] 1 Heb. x. 19, 20. * Matt. xi. 29. m Heb. ii. 17, 18. "Heb. iv. 15. This may be further illuftrated by the care of a refiner, whom Chrift is laid to refemble, Mal. iii. 3. • Heb. iii. 2. Piiai. xxxv. 8. ↑ Ìfai. xxx. 21. Pf. lxxiii. 24. XXXVIII. PAUL'S DISCOURSE BEFORE FELIX. Acts xxiv. 25. And as he reafoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and anjeered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient feufon, I will call for thee. MEN ufually perfift in fin without duly reflecting on its confequences VOL. I. A A Hence Hence the peace which they enjoy, notwithstanding they are expofed to the displeasure of the AlmightyYet the voice of warning and reproof will fometimes alarm them Too often, however, the alarm is only of fhort duration This was the cafe of Felix, when awakened by the preaching of Paul I. The fubjects of the apoftle's difcourfe He was fent for to explain the principles he profeffed But he was not fatisfied with gratifying the curiofity of his hearers He endeavoured to reach their confciences, and convince them of their fins On this occafion he spoke of "righteoufnefs, tempcrance, and judgment to come" [Thefe fubjects were well adapted to his audienceFelix and Drufilla were both of an abandoned character 2. They needed to be "perfuaded by the terrors of the Lord"Nor was it probable they would regard the tidings of falvation, unless they were firit made fenfible that they were loft finners Hence the apoftle endeavoured to prepare their minds for the gofpel-] On thefe fubjects he "reafoned" [He fhewed the nature and extent of the dutiesHe fhewed the evil and danger of tranfgreffing themHe fhewed the certainty and ftri&tnefs of the future judg ment A fuitable leffon for avarice, iniquity, and oppreffion!- What degree of fuccefs attended this effort will appear from II. The effects it produced We read not of Drufilla being at all affected with the word But we are told of Felix, that he "trembled " [What Felix had induced Drufilla to forfake her own hufband, and to marry him he was moreover remarkably avaricious and oppreflive, : Matt, ix. 12, 13. [What a wonderful fight! the judge trembling before his prifoner! He had finned in unnumbered inftances, and was obnoxious to God's wrath He now heard of the day of retribution, and of the fentence of condemnation under which he lay And now, though he feared no earthly tribunal, he was fhaken with terror and with guilt And was not there caufe for trembling?-1 He was not, however, faithful to his convictions [One might have hoped that he would have cried out like thofe of old But he fought to efface the impreffion made upon his mind-] He put off his attention to his foul to a more convenient feafon" [What madness was here, to depend on the morrow in a concern of fuch importance !-- What feafon could be fo convenient as that he then enjoyed?— His confcience was then affected, and the Spirit was striving with him- Moreover, he had then a faithful and infpired inftructor before him Was he more likely to repent when he had feared his confcience, quenched the Spirit, yielded to Satan, and confirmed his evil habits? But his future interviews with the apoftle were of no availOne of the laft acts of his government was marked with oppreffion and avarice Nor did he fpare the innocence which he confeffed, and admired d A melancholy inftance of judicial blindness!-] APPLICATION Let this hiftory ferve as a CAUTION to us [All of us have known, in fome meafure, the motions of God's Spirit All of us have felt, at times, fome general apprehenfions refpecting the account which we must give at the day of judgment But how many have filenced their convictions, in hopes of finding fome more convenient feafou for attending to them!And how many have died before the hoped-for opportunity arrived! Let |