An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews: With Preliminary ..., 2. cilt

6. There is such an uncleanness in our

natures, our persons, our duties, and

worship, that unless they and we are

all sprinkled with the blood of Christ,

neither we nor they can have any ac-

ceptance with God

7. The sacrifice of Christ is the one only

everlasting fountain and spring of all

sanctification and sacred dedication ib.

VERSE 24.

1. The distinct offices of Christ give di-

rection and encouragement to faith 176

2. Christ, accepted of God in our be-

half, is the spring of all spiritual con-

solation

177

VERSE 25.

1. Such is the absolute perfection of the

5. The assured salvation of the church of

old, from the foundation of the world,

by virtue of the one offering of Christ,

is a strong confirmation of the faith of

the church at present to look for, and

expect everlasting salvation thereby 191

6. It is the prerogative of God, and the

effect of his wisdom, to determine the

times and seasons of the dispensation of

himself and his grace to the church · 195

7. God had a design of infinite wisdom

and grace in his sending of Christ,

and his appearance in the world there-

on, which could not be frustrated 196

8. Sin had erected a dominion, a tyranny

over all men as by a law

9. No power of man, of any mere crea.

ture, was able to evacuate, disannul,

or abolish this law of sin

ib,

10. The destruction and dissolution of

this law and power of sin, was the

great end of the coming of Christ for

the discharge of his priestly office in

the sacrifice of himself

11. It is the glory of Christ, it is the

safety of the chureh, that by his one

offering, by the sacrifice of himself

once for all, he hath abolished sin as

to the law and condemning power of it ib.

VERSES 27, 28.

1. God hath eminently suited our relief,

the means and causes of our spiritual

deliverance, to our misery, the means

and causes of it; as that his own wis-

dom and grace may be exalted, and

our faith established.

199

2. Death in the first constitution of it,

was penal

200

3. It is still penal, eternally penal to all

unbelievers

4. The death of all is equally determined

and certain in God's constitution ib.

5. The ground of the expiation of sin by

the offering of Christ is this, that there-

in he bare the guilt and punishment

due unto it

203

6. It is the great exercise of faith, to live

on the invisible actings of Christ on

the behalf of the church

204

7. Christ's appearance the second time,

one offering of Christ, that it stands

in need of, that it will admit of, no

repetition in any kind

185

2. This one offering of Christ is always

effectual unto all the ends of it, even

no less than it was in the day and hour

when it was actually offered

186

3. The great call and direction of the

gospel is to guide faith, and keep it up

anto this one offering of Christ, as the

spring of all grace and me су

ib.

4. Whatever had the greatest glory in the

old legal institutions, carried along

with it the evidence of its own imper-

fection, compared with the thing signi-

fied in Christ and his office

. 187

VERSE 26.

1. It was inconsistent with the wisdom,

goodness, grace, and love of God, that

Christ should often suffer in that way

which was necessary to the offering of

himself, namely, by his death and

blood-shedding

190

2. It was impossible from the dignity of

his person

ib.

3. It was altogether needless, and would

have been useless

ib.

4. As the sufferings of Christ were neces-

sary unto the expiation of sin, so he

suffered neither more nor oftener than

was necessary.

ib.

his return from heaven to complete

the salvation of the church, is the

great fundamental principle of our

faith and hope, the great testimony we

have to give against all his and our

adversaries

206

8. Faith concerning the second coming

of Christ is sufficient to support the

souls of believers, and to give them sa-

tisfactory consolation in all difficul-

ties, trials, and distresses

ib.

9. All true believers do live in a wait-

ing, longing expectation of the coming

of Christ

ib.

10. To such alone as look for him will

VERSE ).

1. Whatever there may be in any reli-

gious institutions, and the diligent ob.

servance of them, if they come short of

exhibiting Christ himself unto believe

ers, with the benefits of his mediation,

they cannot make us perfect, nor give

us acceptance with God

212

2. Whatever hath the least representation

of Christ, or relation unto him, the obe

scurest way of teaching the things

concerning his person and grace,

whilst it is in force, hath a glory in it 216

3. Christ and his grace were the only

good things that were absolutely so

from the foundation of the world, or ile

giving of the first promise

217

4. There is a great difference between

the shadow of good things to come, and

the good things themselves, actually

exhibited and granted unto the church ib.

5. The principal interest and design of

them that come to God, is to have as-

sured evidence of the perfect expiation

of sin

6. What cannot be effected for the expi-

ation of sin, at once, by any duty or

sacrifice, cannot be effected by its reit-

eration or repetition

7. The repetition of the same sacrifices

doth of itself demonstrate their insuffi-

ciency to the ends sought after

8. God alone limiteth the ends and efficacy

of his own institutions

218

VERSES 2, 3.

1. The discharge of conscience from its

condemning right and power, by virtue

of the sacrifice of Christ, is the founda-

tion of all the other privileges which

we receive by the gospel

223

2. All peace with God is resolved into a

purging atonement made for sin ib.

3. It is by a principle of gospel light

alone, that conscience is directed to

condemn all sin, and yet to acquit all

sinners that are purged

ib.

4. An obligation unto such ordinances of

worship as could not expiate sin, nor

testify that it was perfectly expiated,

was part of the bondage of the church

under the old testament

225

5. It belongs' unto the light and wisdom

of faith, so to remember sin and make

confession of it, as not therein or there-

by to seek after a new atonement for

it, which is made once for all

1. It is possible that things may usefully

VERSE 4.

represent what it is impossible that in

and by themselves they should effect 231

2. There may be great and eminent uses

of divine ordinances and institutions,

although it be impossible that by them-

selves, in their most exact and diligent

use, they should work out our accept-

ance with God

3. It was utterly impossible that sin should

be taken away before God, and from

the conscience of the sinner, but by the

blood of Christ

4. The declaration of the insufficiency of

all other ways for the expiation of sin,

is an evidence of the holiness, right-

eousness, and severity of God against

sin, with the unavoidable ruin of all

unbelievers

5. Herein also consists the great

demon-

stration of the love, grace, and mercy

of God, with an encouragement to

faith, in that, when the old sacrifices

neither would nor could perfectly ex-

piate sin, he would not suffer the work

itself to fail, but provided a way that

should be infallibly effective of it ib.

VERSES 5-10.

1. We have the solemn word of Christ,

in the declaration he made of his rea-

diness and willingness to undertake the

work of the expiation of sin, proposed

unto our faith, and engaged as a sure

anchor of our souls

234

2. The Lord Christ had an infinite pros-

pect of all that he was to do and suffer

in the world, in the discharge of his

office and undertaking

236

3, No sacrifices of the law, not all of

them together, were a means for the

expiation of sin, suited to the glory of

God or necessities of the souls of men 239

4. Our utmost diligence, with the most

sedulous improvement of the light and

wisdom of 'faith, is necessary in our

search into and inquiry after the mind

and will of God in the revelation be

makes of them

240

5. The constant use of sacrifices to sig-

nity those things which they could not

effect or really exhibit to the worship-

pers, was a great part of the bondage

that the church was kept in under the

old testament

6. God may in his wisdom appoint and

DOCTRINE

Page,

accept of ordinances and duties to one

end, which he will refuse and reject

when they are applied to another 240

7. The supreme contrivance of the salva-

tion of the church, is in a peculiar

manner ascribed unto the person of the

Father

244

8. The furniture of the Lord Christ,

(though he were the Son, and in his

divine person the Lord of all,) for the

discharge of his work of mediation,

was the peculiar act of the Father. ib.

9. Whatever God designs, appoints, and

ealls any unto, he will provide for

them all that is peedful unto the duties

of obedience, whereunto they are so

appointed and called

245

10. Not only the love and grace of God

in sending his Son, are continually to

tre admired and glorified, but the act-

ing of this infinite wisdom, in fitting

and preparing his human nature, 30 as

to render it every way meet unto the

work which it was designed for, ought

to be the especial object of our holy

contemplation

247

11. The ineffable, but yet distinct opera-

tion of the Father, Son, and Spirit, in,

about, and towards the human nature

assumed by the Son, are, as an uncon.

trollable evidence of their distinct sub-

sistence in the same individual divine

essence; so a guidance unto faith, as

unto all their distinct actings towards

us in the application of the work of

relemption unto our souls

12. It is the will of God that the chureh

should take especial notice of this sa-

cred truth, thai nothing can expiate or

take away sin but the blood of Christ

alone

250

13. Whatever may be the use or efficacy.

of any ordinances of worship, yet if

they are employed or trusted unto for

such ends as God hath not designed

them unto, he accepts not of our per-

sons in them, nor approves of the

things themselves

14. The foundation of the whole glorious

work of the salvation of the church,

was laid in the sovereign will, pleasure,

and grace of God, even the Father 254

15. The coming of Christ in the flesh was,

in the wisdom, righteousness, and holi-

ness of God, necessary for to fulfil his

will, that we might be saved unto his

glory

ib.

16. The fundamental motive unto the

Lord Christ, in his undertaking the

work of mediation, was the will and

glory of God

ib.

17. God's records in the roll of his book,

are the foundation and warrant of the

faith of the church in the head and

members.

256

18. The Lord Christ, in all that he did

and suffered, had continual respect

unto what was written of him

256

19. In the record of these words, 'Lo I

come,' &c. 1. God was glorified in his

truth and faithfulness. 2. Christ was

secured in his work and the underta-

king of it. 3. A testimony was given

unto his person and office. 4. Direc-

tion is given unto the church, in all

wherein they have to do with God,

what they should attend unto, namely,

what is written. 5. The things which

concern Christ the mediator, are the

head of what is contained in the same

records

20. Whereas the apostle doth plainly dis-

tinguish and distribute all sacrifices and

offerings, into those on the one side

which were offered by the law, and

that one offering of the body of Christ

on the other side, the pretended sacri-

fice of the mass is utterly rejected

from any place in the worship of God 257

21. God, as the sovereign lawgiver, had

always power and authority to make

what alteration he pleased in the orders

and institutions of his worship

22. Sovereign authority is that alone

which our faith and obedience res-

pect in all ordinances of worship ib.

23. As all things from the beginning made

way for the coming of Christ in the

minds of them that did believe, so every

thing was to be removed out of the

way, that would hinder bis coming and

the discharge of the work he had un-

dertaken. Law, temple, sacrifices,

must all be removed to give way unto

his coming

258

24. Truth is never so effectually declared

as when it is confirmed by the expe-

rience of its power in them that believe

it and make profession of it

259

25. It is a holy glorying in God, and no

unlawful boasting, for men openly to

profess what they are made partakers

of by the grace of God and blood of

Christ

26. It is the best security in differences

in and about religion, (such as these

wherein the apostle is engaged, the

greatest and highest that ever were,)

when men have an internal experience

of the truth which they do profess ib.

27. The sovereign will and pleasure of

God, acting itself in infinite wisdom

and grace, is the sole, supreme, origi-

nal cause of the salvation of the

church

261

VERSES 11-14.

1. If all those divine institutions, in the

diligent observance of them, could not

take away sin, how much less can any

thing do so that we can betake our.

selves unto for that end !

2. Faith in Christ doth jointly respect

both his oblation of himself by death,

and the glorious exaltation that ensued

thereon

266

3. Christ in this order of things is the

great exemplar of the church

267

4. It was the entrance of sin which raised

up all our enemies against us

270

5. The Lord Christ, in his ineffable love

and grace, put himself between us and

all our enemies

6. The Lord Christ, by the offering of

himself making peace with God, ruined

all the enmity against the church and

all the enemies of it

7. It is the foundation of all consolation

to the church, that the Lord Christ,

even now in heaven, takes all our ene-

mies to be his; in whose destruction

he is infinitely more concerned than

8. Let us never esteem any thing, or any

person, to be our enemy, but only so

far and in what they are the enemies

of Christ

9. It is our duty to conform ourselves to

the Lord Christ in a quiet expectancy

of the ruin of all our spiritual adver-

saries

10. Envy not the condition of the most

proud and cruel adversaries of the

church

11. There was a glorious efficacy in the

one offering of Christ

272

12. The end of it must be effectually ac-

complished towards all for whom it

was offered

13. The sanctification and perfection of

the church, being that end designed in

the death and sacrifice of Christ, all

things necessary unto that end must be

included therein, that it be not frus-

of the gospel, that believers, in all

their holy worship, have liberty, bold-

ness, and confidence, to enter with it

and by it into the gracious presence of

God

279

3. Nothing but the blood of Jesus could

have

given this boldness, nothing that

stood in the way of it could otherwise

have been removed, nothing else could

have set our souls at liberty from that

bondage that was come upon them by

sin

281

4. Rightly esteem and duly improve the

blessed privilege which was purchased

for us at so dear a rate

5. Confidence in an access unto God not

built on, not resolved into the blood of

Christ, is but a daring presumption

which God abhors

6. The way of our entrance into the ho.

liest is solemnly dedicated and conse-

crated for us, so as that with boldness

we may make use of it

282

7. All the privileges we have by Christ

are great, glorious, and efficacious, all

tending and leading unto life

8. The Lord Christ doth peculiarly pre-

side over all the persons, duties, and

worship of believers in the church of

God

285

9. The heart is that which God princi-

pally respects in our access unto him 286

10. Universal internal sincerity of heart

is required of all those that draw nigh

unto God in his holy worship

11. The actual exercise of faith is required

in all our approaches unto God in

every particular duty of his worship 287

12. It is faith in Christ alone, that gives

us boldness of access unto God . ib.

13. The person and office of Christ are to

be rested in with full assurance, in all

our accesses to the throne of grace ib.

14. Although that worship whereby we

draw nigh unto God be wrought with

respect to institution and rule, yet

without internal sanctification of heart,

we are not accepted in it

289

15. Due preparation, by fresh applica-

tions of our souls unto the efficacy of

the blood of Christ, for the purification

of our hearts, that we may be meet

to draw nigh to God, is required of us ib.

16. Universal sanctification upon our

whole persons, and the mortification in

an especial manner of outward sins,

are required of us in our drawing nigh

unto God

17. These are the ornaments wherewith

we are to prepare our souls for it, and

not the gaiety of outward apparel 290

18. It is a great work to draw nigh unto

God, so as to worship him in spirit and

in truth

ib.

19. There is an internal principle of sav-

ing faith required unto our profession

VERSES 15-18.

1. It is the authority of the Holy Ghost

alone, speaking to us in the Scripture,

whereunto all our faith is to be resolved 274

2. We are to propose nothing in the

preaching and worship of the gospel,

but what is testified unto by the Holy

Ghost

3. When an important truth consonant

unto the Scripture is declared, it is

useful and expedient to confirm it with

some express testimony of Scripture . ib.

VERSES 19-23.

1. It is not every mistake, every error,

though it be in things of great import-

ance, while it overthrows not the foun-

dation, that can divest men of a frater-

nal interest with others in the heavenly

calling

277

2. This is the great fundamental privilege

of the doctrine of the gospel, without

which it will not avail

. 292

20. All that believe ought solemnly to

give themselves up unto Christ and

his rule, in an express profession of the

faith that is in them and required of

them

21. There will great difficulties arise in,

and opposition be made unto, a sincere

profession of the faith

ih.

22. Firmness and constancy of mind, with

our utmost diligent endeavours, are ru-

quired unto an acceptable continuance

in the profession of the faith . ib.

23. Uncertainty and wavering of mind as

to the truth and doctrine we profess, or

neglect of the duties wherein it doth

consist, or compliance with errors for

fear of persecution and sufferings, do

overthrow our profession and render it

useless

24. As we ought not on any account to

decline our profession, so to abate of

the degrees of fervency of spirit therein,

is dangerous unto our souls

ib.

25. The faithfulness of God in his promi.

ses, is the great encouragement and

supportment, under our continual pro-

fession of our faith against all opposi-

in church relations, ought to be marked,

and their ways avoided

298

6. Forsaking of church assemblies is usu-

ally an entrance into apostasy.

7. When especial warnings do not excite

us unto renewed diligence in known

duties, our condition is dangerous as

unto the continuance of the presence of

Christ amongst us

300

8. Approaching judgments ought to in-

Auence unto especial diligence in all

evangelical duties

301

9. If men will shut their eyes against evi-

dent signs and tokens of approaching

judgments, they will never stir up

themselves, nor engage into the due

performance of present duties. 302

10. In the approach of great and final

judgments, God, by his word and pro-

vidence, gives such intimations of their

coming, as that wise men may discern

them

11. To see evidently such a day approach-

ing, and not to be sedulous and dili-

gent in the duties of divine worship, is

a token of a backsliding frame, tending

unto final apostasy.

1. If a voluntary relinquishment of the

VERSES 26, 27.

profession of the gospel and the duties

of it, be the highest sin, and be attended

with the height of wrath and punish-

ment, we ought earnestly to watch

against every thing that inclineth or

disposeth us thereunto

. 304

2. Every declension in or from the pro-

fession of the gospel, hath a proportion

of the guilt of this great sin, according

unto the proportion that it bears unto

the sin itself