XXXVII. THE DUTY OF CONSIDERING THE NAMES AND OFFICES OF JESUS CHRIST. Heb. iii. 1. Holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. OUR Lord possessed, from all eternity, a nature infinitely superior to that of Angels”— Yet did he submit to the lowest humiliation for us And it is by the knowledge of him, as humbled, we attain salvation The apostle having spoken much on this subject in the foregoing chapter, enforces it with this affectionate exhortation I. Explain the exhortation The first thing that calls for our attention is the description which he gives of all true Christians [Wishing to persuade, he strove by tenderness to conciliate their esteem He calls them brethren; which they are both by relation and affection— They are "holy;" set apart for the service and enjoyment. of God-washed in the fountain of Christ's blood-and renewed after the divine image They are "partakers of an heavenly calling;" called to heavenly exercises and enjoyments-obedient to that calland suitably influenced by it in their hearts and lives How amiable is such 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 object he sets before them [When he speaks of Christ in common, he places the name "Jesus" first; but when with more than ordinary solemnity, the name "Christ" is first He here describes the Saviour both by his names and offices a Heb. i. 3, 8, 19 Phil. H. 6,7. e John xvii. 3. His names," Christ,f Jesus," are peculiarly significant in this connexion His offices are such as Moses and Aaron sustained under the, law Christ is "the Apostle of our profession," as being sent, like Moses, to publish that religion which we profess He is also "the High Priest of it," because, like Aaron, he performs all that is necessary for our reconciliation with God-] The last thing to explain is the duty which he presses upon them [The word which we translate "consider," implies an attentive regard It might easily be shewn how important this duty is; but that our observations on this subject will occur more properly in another place-] Having spoken what was necessary to unfold the meaning of the exhortation, we proceed to II. Enforce it To those who answer the foregoing character we address the exhortation 1. Consider the object set before you His names [As "Jesus," divine Saviour, he is able to save to the uttermost As "Christ," he was anointed of God for this very purposeHad he not been appointed of God, or had he been less than God, you might have been afraid to trust in him But his names attest his right and ability to save— Think how these words would sound in hell; and let them be as sweet to you as they would be to the damned spirits-] f It is of the same import as Messias, John i. 41. and means, Anointed. 8 Jesus is the same with Joshua, Heb. iv. 8.; and Joshua is a contraction for Jah Oseah, the former of which signifies God, and the latter, Saviour. This name was given by God to Hoseah the son of Nun, who, as a type of Christ, led the Israelites into the land of Canaan: and the giving of this name to the virgin's son may be justly considered as an accomplishment of that prophecy which said he should be called Emmanuel, God with us. Its import therefore is, Divine Saviour. Vid. Matt. i. 21-23. and Bishop Pearson, p. 69, 70. h Jesus, as our High Priest, offered himself a sacrifice for us— is gone into the holy of holies to present his blood before the mercy-seat-liveth to make intercession for us-presents our offerings unto the Father-bears us on his breast-plate-and makes known to us the will of God. · Κατανοησατε. His offices [As the Apostle or Prophet of the church, he will instruct all k As the High Priest, he will open a way for us into the holy place O reflect on these, till your hearts burn within you with gratitude and love!-] 2. Consider more particularly the view given of him in the preceding and following context His compassion as an High Priest [He himself has endured persecution from men, temptation from Satan, desertion from God, &c." He will sympathize with you under your trials"— Let this be a source of comfort to you under every affliction-] His faithfulness as a Prophet [He extends his care to all his people He never suffered the weakest believer to err finally?— Go to him then for teaching in every doubt and every difficulty-] Those who do not answer to the character may reap benefit from the exhortation [Ye who are unholy, and strangers to the heavenly calling, consider this description of our blessed LordConsider it with attention, that you may understand itConsider it with faith, that you may have an interest in itConsider it with affection, that you may delight in itConsider it with gratitude, that you may display its influfluence on your heart-] 1 Heb. x. 19, 20. * Matt. xi. 29. m Heb. ii. 17, 18. Heb. iv. 15. This may be further illustrated by the care of a refiner, whom Christ is said to resemble, Mal. iii. 3. ⚫ Heb. iii. 2. p Isai. xxxv. 8. 4 Isai. xxx. 21. Ps. lxxiii. 24. XXXVIII. PAUL'S DISCOURSE BEFORE FELIX. Acts xxiv. 25. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. MEN usually persist in sin without duly reflecting on its consequences VOL. I. Z z Hence the peace which they enjoy, notwithstanding they are exposed to the displeasure of the Almighty— Yet the voice of warning and reproof will sometimes alarm them Too often, however, the alarm is only of short duration This was the case of Felix, when awakened by the preaching of Paul I. The subjects of the apostle's discourse He was sent for to explain the principles he professed But he was not satisfied with gratifying the curiosity of his hearers He endeavoured to reach their consciences, and convince them of their sins On this occasion he spoke of " righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come" [These subjects were well adapted to his audienceFelix and Drusilla were both of an abandoned character_ They needed to be "persuaded by the terrors of the Lord”— Nor was it probable they would regard the tidings of salvation, unless they were first made sensible that they were lost sinners Hence the apostle endeavoured to prepare their minds for the gospel-] On these subjects he "reasoned" [He shewed the nature and extent of the duties— He shewed the evil and danger of transgressing themHe shewed the certainty and strictness of the future judg ment A suitable lesson for avarice, iniquity, and oppression!And suitable, too, to every child of man!-] What degree of success attended this effort will appear from II. The effects it produced We read not of Drusilla being at all affected with the word But we are told of Felix, that he "trembled" a Felix had induced Drusilla to forsake her own husband, and to marry him: he was moreover remarkably avaricious and oppressive. Matt. ix. 12, 13. [What a wonderful sight! the judge trembling before his prisoner! He had sinned in unnumbered instances, and was obnoxious to God's wrath He now heard of the day of retribution, and of the sentence of condemnation under which he lay And now, though he feared no earthly tribunal, he was shaken with terror and with guilt And was not there cause for trembling?-] He was not, however, faithful to his convictions [One might have hoped that he would have cried out like those of old But he sought to efface the impression made upon his mind He put off his attention to his soul to a more convenient season" [What madness was here, to depend on the morrow in a concern of such importance! What season could be so convenient as that he then enjoyed? His conscience was then affected, and the Spirit was striving with him Moreover, he had then a faithful and inspired instructor before him Was he more likely to repent when he had seared his conscience, quenched the Spirit, yielded to Satan, and confirmed his evil habits?— But his future interviews with the apostle were of no availOne of the last acts of his government was marked with oppression and avarice Nor did he spare the innocence which he confessed, and admiredd A melancholy instance of judicial blindness!] APPLICATION Let this history serve as a CAUTION to us [All of us have known, in some measure, the motions of God's Spirit All of us have felt, at times, some general apprehensions respecting the account which we must give at the day of judg ment But how many have silenced their convictions, in hopes of finding some more convenient season for attending to them!And how many have died before the hoped-for opportunity arrived! e Acts ii. 37. d Ver. 26, 27. |