of them that they be "faithful;" and their faithfulness consists in their dispensation of the mysteries of Christ, 1 Cor. iv, 1, 2. Moses himself, who received such a testimony to his faithfulness from God, did nothing but according to the pattern shewn him in the mount. This is the duty of a faithful servant, and not to pretend his own power and authority to ordain things in the house for its worship and sacred use, not appointed by his Lord and Master. There is a strange fasci nation in this matter, or men could not at the same time profess themselves servants, and yet not think that their whole duty consists in doing the will of their Lord, but also in giving out commands of their own to be observed. This is the work of lords, and not of servants; and if it be not forbid them by Christ, I know not what is.

(3.) As servants they are accountable. They must give an account of all they do in the house of their Lord. This their Master often warns them of; See Matt. xxiv, 45-48; Luke xii, 42. An account he will have of their talents, and of the souls committed to their charge; an account of their labor, diligence, and readiness to do or suffer according to his mind and will, Heb. xii, 14. It is to be feared that this is not much in some men's thoughts, who yet are greatly concerned in it. They count their profits, preferments, and wealth; but of the account they are to make at the last day, they seem to make no great reckoning. But what do such men think? Are they lords or servants? Have they a master or have they not? Are they to do their own will or the will of another? Do they fight uncertainly and beat the air, or have they some certain scope or aim before them? If they have, what can it be, but how they may give up their account with joy? Joy, if not in the safety of

all their flocks, yet in their own faithfulness, and the testimony of their consciences.

(4.) As servants they shall have their reward, every one his penny, what he hath labored for. For although they are but servants, yet they serve a good, just, great, and gracious Lord, who will not forget their labor, but give them a crown at his

1 Pet. v, 4.

appearance,

See hence the boldness of the man of sin, and his accomplices, whose description we have exactly, Matt. xxiv, 48, 49, "An evil servant who says in his heart that his Lord delayeth his coming, and so smites his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with the drunken." He pretends, indeed, to be a servant of servants, but under that specious title, and shew of voluntary humility, takes upon him to be an absolute lord over the house of God. Others also would do well to ponder the account they are to make; and well is it with those, happy is their condition, whose greatest joy in this world is, on solid grounds, that they are accountable

servants.

§13. Obs. 3. The great end of Mosaical institutions was to prefigure and give testimony to the grace of the gospel by Jesus Christ. To this end was Moses faithful in the house of God, and the demonstration of this principle is the main scope of our epistle, so far as it js doctrinal; and the particular consideration of it will occur to us in a more convenient place.

§14. Obs. 4. It is an eminent privilege to be a part of the house of Christ. "Whose house are we." This the apostle justly supposes, and reminds the Hebrews of, that a sense of so great a privilege might prevail with them in favor of the duties he had before urged. And it is an eminent privilege.

(1.) Because this house is God's building, 1 Cor. iii, 9; an house that he built, and that in an admirable manner. The tabernacle of old was thus far of God's building, that it was built by his appointment, and according to the pattern he gave of it to Moses. But this building is far more glorious; chap. ix, 11, "a great and perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building." Again, it is of "God's building," that none is employed in a way of authority for the carrying of it on, but the Lord Christ alone; the Son and Lord over his own house.. And he takes it upon himself, Matt. xvi, 18, “I will build my church." This house whereof we speak excelleth, on many accounts, the whole fabric of heaven and earth; for it is a sacred temple: "Ye are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together growing into an holy temple in the Lord," Ephes. ii, 20, 21. This is Jehovah's mansion; when all other things of the world are let out to farm to the sons of men, as cottages for flesh and blood to dwell in, this is God's place of constant and special residence.

(2.) It is a spiritual house, 1 Pet. ii, 5, made up of living stones in a strange and wonderful manner. A temple not subject to decay, but such as grows continually, as to every stone in particular that is laid in it, and in the daily accumulation of new ones. And although some are continually removed from the lower rooms in grace, to the higher apartments in glory, yet not one stone of it shall be lost.

(3.) The manner of God's habitation in this house is peculiar also. He dwelt indeed in the tabernacle and temple of old; but how? By sacrifices, carnal ordinances, and some outward appearances of glory.

In this house he dwells by his Spirit: "Ye are builded together an habitation of God through the Spirit," Ephes. ii, 22. And "know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" 1 Cor. iii, 16. Unspeakable therefore is the privilege, and the consequent advantages!

§15. Obs. 5. The greatness of this privilege requires an answerableness of duty. Because we are this house of God, it becometh us to hold fast our confidence to the end. It is incumbent on us to cultivate universal holiness, special purity of soul and body, becoming an habitation of the holy Spirit. How should we endeavor to fill up the place we occupy, and relation we sustain in this house, for the good of the whole.

§16. Obs. 6. In times of trial and persecution, freedom, boldness, and constancy in profession, are a good evidence to ourselves that we are living stones in the house of God. Hold fast, saith the apostle, your liberal profession of the gospel, and your exultation in the hope of the great promises it contains. This duty God hath set a singular mark upon, as what he indispensably requireth, and that whereby he is peculiarly glorified. A blessed instance we have hereof in the three companions of Daniel. They beheld, on one side, (vultum instantis tyranni) a threatening tyrant, the form of whose visage was changed with fury; on the other, a "flaming fiery furnace," into which they were instantly to be cast, if they let not go their profession. But behold their (appy) boldness and confidence in their profession, Dan. iii, 16-18. They answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter, if it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto

thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." They do not ask a moment's space to deliberate in this matter; and a blessed end they had of their confidence. So Basil answered Julian when he would have given him space to consult; "Do, says he, what you intend, for I shall be the same to-morrow as I am to-day." So it is observed of Peter and John, Acts iv, 13. The Jews were astonished, observing their (Tappov) "confidence," the word in the text which we there translate boldness, that is, their readiness and promptitude of mind and speech in their confession of the name of Christ, when they were in prison, and under the power of their adversaries. Hence all they that fail in this duty are termed (deo) fearful ones, and are in the first rank of them who are excluded out of the new Jerusalem, Rev. xxi, 8.

§17. Obs. 7. Interest in the gospel gives sufficient cause of confidence and rejoicing in every condition. "Hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of your hope." The riches of it are invaluable, eternal, peculiar; such as out balance all earthly things, satisfactory to the soul, and terminating in endless glory; and he that is duly interested in them, cannot but have abundant cause of joy unspeakable at all times.

$18. Obs. 8. So many and great are the inconveniences, hinderances, and temptations that lie in the way of our profession, so great is the number of them that decay in it, or apostatize from it, that the princi pal discovery of its truth and sincerity is to be taken from its permanency. Whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence, the profession, and the rejoicing of our hope, firm unto the end.

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