this, that God in his infinite grace and love intended to bring some of these fallen creatures to the enjoyment of himself, and by a new appointment to be for him again: supposing I say, these things, which are all here supposed by our apostle, and were granted by the Jews, it became the justice of God," that is, it was so just, right, and meet, that the Judge of all the world, who doth right, could no otherwise do, than cause him who was to be the means and author of this recovery of men to a new condition, to suffer in their stead. For whereas the vindictive justice of God, which is the respect of the universal rectitude of his holy nature to the deviation of his rational creatures from the law of their creation, required, that, at any rate, the deviation should be revenged, and that themselves be either brought into a new way of being for God, or else made to glorify him by their sufferings, when they had refused to do so by obedience; it was necessary, I say, on that account, that if they were to be delivered from that condition, the Divine author of their deliverance should suffer for them.

§13. And this excellently suits the design of the apostle, which is to prove the necessity of the sufferings of the Messiah, which the Jews so stumbled at, For if the justice of God required that it should be so, how could it be dispensed with? Would they have God unjust? Shall he forego the glory of his righteousness and holiness, to please them in their presumption and prejudices? It is true, indeed, if God had intended no salvation for his sons but one that was temporal, like that of old under Joshua, there had been no need at all of the sufferings of the captain of their salvation. But they being such, as in themselves had sinned, and come short of the glory of God, and the salvation intended them being spiritual, consisting in a

new ordering of them for God, and the bringing of them to the eternal enjoyment of himself in glory, there was no way to maintain the honor and justice of Jehovah, but by the Redeemer's meritorious sufferings. And as here lay the great mistake of the Jews, so the denial of this condecency of God's justice, as to the sufferings of the Messiah, is the (polov eudos) "master error" of the Socinians. The apostle says not, that it became an arbitrary decree of God, but it became himself as the Supreme Ruler and Judge of all; and herein we have with our apostle discovered the great, indispensable, and fundamental cause of the sufferings of Christ.

$14. Obs. 1. That the whole work of saving the sons of God from first to last, their guidance and conduct to glory, is committed to the Lord Jesus: whence he is constantly to be eyed by all believers, in the concernments of their faith, obedience, and consolation. "Behold," saith the Lord, "I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people,” Isa. lv, 4. A witness, to testify the truth, in revealing the mind and will of God; a leader, going before them as a prince and captain, as the word signifies, and a commander, that gives out laws and rules for their obedience. God hath set him as a lord over his whole house, chap. iii, 5; and committed all the management of its momentous concerns to him. There is no person but is under his rule and inspection; neither is there any circumstance that relates to these "sons," in their passage towards glory, whereby they may be advanced or hindered in their way, but the care thereof is committed to Christ, as the care of the whole army lies on the general or prince of the host. This the prophet sets out in his type, Eliakim, Isa. xxii, 20-24, "He is fastened as a nail in a sure

place; and all the glory of the house, and every vessel of it, from the greatest unto the least, is hanged on him," the weight of all, the care of all is upon him. When the people came out of Egypt with Moses, they were numbered unto him; and he being the administrator of the law, they all died in the wilderness; but they were delivered again by tale and number to Joshua, the type of Christ; and not one of them failed entering into Canaan. And,

§15. As to the manner in which Christ, as the faithful captain of salvation, dischargeth this trust, it is with care, tenderness, and power. With care and watchfulness. Oh, how great an encouragement is this to adhere to him, and to follow him in the whole course of our obedience! This puts life into soldiers and gives them a happy security, when they know their commander is continually careful of them. With tenderness and love. Indeed Sion is ready sometimes to complain, that she is "forgotten." The "sons," in the great distresses, afflictions, persecutions, and temptations, that may befall them in their way to glory, are apt to think they are disregarded, that they are left, as it were, to shift for themselves, and to wrestle with their difficulties by their own strength and wisdom, which they know to be a thing of nought. But this fear is vain and ungrateful; for whilst they are found in the way, following the captain of their salvation, it is utterly impossible that his watchfulness and care, love and tenderness, should in any instance be wanting. With power, authority, and majesty; Mic. v, 4, "He shall stand and rule in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God, and they shall abide." There is nothing so high, so great, so mighty, that lies in the way of his dependent followers, but it must stoop to his authority, and give place to his

power. The whole kingdom of Satan, the strongholds of sin, the high imaginations of unbelief, the strength and malice of the world, all sink before him. And thence they are described so glorious and successful in their way, Mic. ii, 13, "The breaker is come up before them, they have broken up and passed through the gate, and are gone out by it, and their king shall pass before them, and the Lord on the head of them." Many obstacles lie in their way, but they shall break through them all, because of their king and lord who goes before them. And though their sufferings and difficulties may somewhat tarnish or retard their outward profession, yet they shall not in the least hinder them in their real progress towards glory. Their captain goes before them with power and authority, and breaks up all the obstructions that lie in their way, and gives them a free and abundant entrance into the kingdom of God, even their God and Father.

$16. As the manner, so the acts of this Divine antecessor may be considered. He goes before them, guides and directs them, supplies them with strength, subdues their enemies, avenges their sufferings, and provides a reward.

1. He goes before them. This is principally the duty of a captain or leader, to go before his soldiers. Hence they that went to war, were said of old to “go at the feet" of their commanders, Judges iv, 10, "Barak went up and ten thousand men at his feet," that is, followed him, going where he went before them. And this also became the captain of the Lord's hosts, even to go before his people in their whole way; not putting them on any enterprise or hardship through which himself passed not before them. As to obedience; he himself was made under the law, and learned obedience, fulfilling all righteousness. Though he was in

his own person above the law, yet he submitted himself to every law of God, and righteous law of men; that he might afford a complete example to those who are of necessity subject to the law. "Christ," saith Peter, "hath suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow his steps;" that is, be ready and prepared patiently to suffer when we are called thereunto, as he explains himself, chap. iv, "Forasmuch as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves, therefore, with the same mind," that you may follow him in the same way. And this our apostle presseth much in this epistle, chap. xii, 2, 3, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame;" for "consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." The sons of God are sometimes ready to think it strange, that they should fall into calamity and distress, and are apt to say with Hezekiah, "Remember, O Lord, we beseech thee, how we have walked before thee in truth, and with an upright heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight, and weep sore;" supposing this might have freed them from oppositions and persecutions; and, as Gideon, though the angel told him that the Lord was with him, they exclaim, "Whence is all this evil come upon us?" For, notwithstanding many favorable tokens, yet if their troubles continue, if they are not in their season removed, they begin to be "weary and faint in their minds." But, saith the apostle, consider the captain of your salvation, he hath set you a different example; notwithstanding all his sufferings he fainted not. The Jews have a saying, that "the third part of afflictions and troubles that shall be in the world, belong to the Messiah." But our apostle, who