صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

the glory,' Rom. ix. 4. The giving of the law, the erection of the visible church-state in the posterity of Abraham, attended with all that glorious worship which was instituted therein, was a work of exceeding glory. In this work was Moses employed, and that in so high and honourable a manner, as to be the sole Mediator therein between God and the people, Gal. iii. 19. As himself speaketh, Deut. v. 5. "I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to shew you the word of the Lord." This was his peculiar glory, that God singled him out from amongst all the posterity of Abraham, to be thus employed.

2dly, In his fidelity in the discharge of his work and office. This is a singular excellency, which, added unto the former dignity, makes it complete. It is no glory for a man to be employed in a glorious work, and to miscarry therein: it will rather end in his dishonour and reproach. As he in the fable, who would needs drive the chariot of the sun, which ended in the breaking of his neck. Better never be employed in the work of God, than deal unfaithfully in it. But a glorious trust, and great faithfulness therein, render the condition of a man really excellent. So was it with Moses, as was declared on the preceding verses. However he might fail personally in his own faith as a believer, he failed not ministerially in his fidelity, as the Internuncius between God and his people. And every personal failing in faith, doth not impeach a man's ministerial fidelity, or faithfulness in his office. In these things was he excellent. It is a thing very glorious to be faithful in an office committed to us of God.

Secondly, He had the fame and reputation of these excel. lenci es, on a double account.

1st, In the testimony that was given him by God himself, as to his fidelity in the discharge of his trust. This God gave him during his life, as was shewed, and sundry times after his death. This is the great foundation of all his renown. And what greater honour could be done unto any creature, than to be adorned with such an illustrious testimony by God himself? Greater honour never had any, but he alone with whom he is compared. And thus God gives grace and glory. Grace to be faithful, and glory upon men's being so.

2dly, He had glory in that honour and esteem which was continued unto him in the church, until the Son himself came; until that time, the whole church of God was precisely bound unto the observance of the laws and ordinances appointed by him, and thereon did all their happiness in this world, and that to come, depend. That was the condition of their temporal and eternal welfare. The neglect hereof exposed them unto all misery from God and man. This was the charge that God

left on them throughout all their generations, " Remember the law of Moses, my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb, for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments," Mal. iv. 4. This made his name and remembrance honourable unto the church, and the sinful abuse of this turned afterwards to the snare, temptation and disadvantage of the incredulous Jews. According to the prophetical imprecation of the Psalmist, "Let their table become a snare before them, and that which should have been for their welfare become a trap," Psal. Ixix. 22. which our apostle declares to have befallen them on their rejection of the gospel, through an obstinate adherence to the letter of the law of Moses, Rom. xi. 8-10. Yet we may observe, that in all the honour which God gave Moses in the church, he never commanded, he never allowed that any should worship him, or adore him, pray to him, or make images of him. To give this honour unto saints, apostles or others, is men's invention, not God's institution. God knows how to give glory unto his servants, without imparting unto them his own, the royalty of his crown. "His glory will he not give unto another."

This then was the glory of Moses; and if we shall add hereunto other concernments of him, they will make it the more conspicuous. Such were the care of God over him in his infancy, his miraculous call to his office, the honour he had in the world, the miracles which he wrought, and the signal testimony given him from God, in all the contests about his ministry, and many things of the like nature might be added. But it is the things which appertain to his office, and the discharge of it, which are principally intended.

This therefore the apostle grants, that he might not give the least suspicion unto the Hebrews, that he would detract from the due praises and honour of Moses, as he was commonly traduced amongst them to do; see Acts xx. 21. 28. ch. xxv. 8. The unbelieving part of them indeed boasted of Moses, unto the contempt of the Lord Christ, John ix. 29. "We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not whence he is." And they generally thought the prevalency of the gospel was derogatory unto his honour and law, Acts xiii. 45. 50. But these things moved not him to deal partially in the truth. He allows unto Moses his due honour and glory, and yet asserts the excellency of Christ above him, shewing evidently the consistency of these things, as there neither is, nor can be, any opposition or contrariety between any ordinances or institutions of God. And we may hence observe,

I. Every one who is employed in the service of God in his house, and is faithful in the discharge of his work and trust therein, is worthy of honour.-So was Moses. It becometh neither the greatness nor goodness of God that it should be

otherwise. And he hath established it by an everlasting law. "Them that honour me," saith he, "I will honour; and they that despise me, shall be lightly esteemed," 1 Sam. ii. 30. The honouring of God in the service of his house, is that which by this unalterable edict for its being honoured, is ratified and confirmed. They who therein honour God, shall be honoured; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. They are honourable; for,

1st, Their work is so. Reputation, glory and honour, attend honourable works. This work is God's. The church is God's husbandry, God's building, 1 Cor. iii. 9. They have a great work in hand, God's work, and have a glorious coreyor, or associate, even God himself. God so works by them, as that also he works with them, and they are vigy Osov, labourers. together with God.' They work also in the name and on the behalf of God, 2 Cor. v. 20. Whatever glory and honour then can possibly redound to any, from the nature of the work wherein they are employed, it all belongs to them. Hence the apostle commands, that we should esteem such very highly in love for their work's sake, 1 Thess. v. 13. Their work makes them worthy of estimation, yea of double honour, 1 Tim. v. 17. What that is in particular, it may be, is uncertain; but it is certain, that not an ordinary honour, not a common respect or esteem, but that which is double, or abounding, is intend

ed.

6

[ocr errors]

2dly, Honour is reflected upon them from him who goes before them in their work, and their especial relation unto him. This is Jesus Christ, the great Builder of the church. Are they pastors or shepherds: he is the TS TWY uxw, the Bishop of souls,' I Pet. ii. 25. and the agxy, the chief, or prince of those shepherds,' ch. v. 4. And to be associated with Christ in his work, to share in office under him, will appear at length to have been honourable. The queen of Sheba counted them happy and blessed who were servants unto Solomon, and stood before him, 2 Chron. ix. 7. And what are they who stand before him, who is infinitely greater and wiser than SoJomon! The Lord help poor ministers to believe their relation unto the Lord Christ, and his engagement with them in their work, that they may be supported against those innumerable discouragements that they meet withal.

3dly, The especial nature of their work and employment, is another spring of honour unto them. It lies about things holy, spiritual, mysterious, and more excellent than all the things of this world. It is their work to discover and to bring forth to light unsearchable riches, Eph. iii. 8. to reveal and to declare the whole counsel of God, Acts xx. 27. to prepare and make

ready the bride for the lamb, to gather in God's revenue of glory, &c.

4thly, The effects of their work do also communicate honour unto them. They are such, they are all those things whereon depends all the glory of God in the concernments of the souls of men, unto eternity. The ministry of the word is that alone whereby God ordinarily will treat with the souls of men, the means that he will make use of, for their conviction, conversion, sanctification and salvation. These things depend therefore on this work of theirs, and are effects of it. And in them will the glory of God be principally concerned unto eternity. In them will his goodness, righteousness, grace, mercy, patience, and all the other excellencies of his nature, shine forth in glory; all of them appear in his dealings with the souls of men by his word.

5thly, Their especial honour will one day appear in their especial reward, Dan. xii. 3. bowen, instructors, teachers," they that make men wise, that give them understanding, shall

and ; ומצדיקי הרבים',shine as the brightness of the firmament

the justifiers of many,' those that make them righteous ministe rially, by revealing unto them the knowledge and righteousness of Christ, whereby they are justified, Isa. liii. 11. as the stars for ever and ever. If they have not more glory than others, yet they shall have a distinct glory of their own. For when the Prince of shepherds shall be manifested, he will give unto these his shepherds auxgavτiver τns dons σripavor, 1 Pet. v. 4. such a peculiar crown, as great triumphant conquerers were wont to be crowned withal.

Only it must be observed, that there is nothing of all this spoken merely with respect unto being employed one way or other, really, or in pretence, in this house of God, but only to a faithfulness in the discharge of the trust committed unto them who are so employed. Moses was worthy of honour, not because he was employed, but because he was faithful in his trust and employment. The twelve spies that were sent into Canaan to search the land, were all equally commissioned and employ. ed. Two of them only were esteemed worthy of honour, the rest died in their sin, as not faithfully discharging their trust, but bringing up an evil report on the land of promise, as many do on the house of God, by one means or other, who are employed in the service of it. And these are so far from being worthy of honour, that they deserve nothing but reproach, contempt and shame; for, as God says in this matter, "He that honoureth him, he will honour;" so he adds, " and he that despiseth me, shall be lightly regarded." Such persons are rejected of God, from any acceptance in their office, Hos. iv. 6. and as unsavoury salt unto the house itself, are to be cast out on the

dunghill, Matt. v. 13. They are servants, whom their Lord, when he comes, will tear in pieces, and give them their portion with hypocrites, Matt. xxiv. 50, 51. Persons therefore who undertake to be builders in the house of God, who have received no skill or ability from the Master-builder, or are negligent in their work, or corrupt it, or daub with untempered mortar, or are any way unfaithful, whatever double or treble advantage they may obtain from men in this world, they shall have nothing but shame and confusion of face from God in that which is to come.

Let then those who are indeed faithful in this work, be satisfied with the work itself. It will prove in the end to have been a good revenue, a blessed inheritance. Add but that reward which the Lord Christ brings with him, unto the reward of honour that is in the work itself, and it will be abundantly satisfactory. We dishonour our Master, and manifest that we understand not much of our work, when we are solicitous about any other recompence.

And this also will serve to strengthen such persons in all the oppositions they meet withal, and all the discouragements they are encompassed with in the discharge of their duty. It is enough to give them a holy contempt and scorn of the worst that can befal them. And this also may teach others their duty towards them, which for the most part they are unwilling to hear, and more unwilling to practise.

Let us now return to consider what is positively affirmed in this assertion, with the proof of it.

This man,' oures, a demonstrative pronoun, denoting the person treated of. It is rendered this inan; but it respects him not merely as man, but directs to his person, God and man, as he is expressly called God in the next verse, as we shall shew..

Was counted worthy of more glory;' much more glory. Δόξης πλείονος παρά Μεσην; see the explication of the words, Speaking of the ministry of Christ and of Moses, 2 Cor. iii. 10. he saith," For even that which was made glorious, had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth." So doth the manner of the expression here used, intimate the glory of Christ to be so far above the glory of Moses, that in comparison thereof, it might even seem to be no glory.

Accounted worthy,' wra; more honoured, had more glory from God, and in the church, was more glorious.

And this glory, although it did attend the person of Christ, yet it is not that which is due unto him upon the account of his person, as afterwards shall be more fully declared, but that which belongs to him in his office, the office which he discharged towards the church, (wherein alone he is to be compared with Moses, for in his person he was before exalted above VOL. III.

[ocr errors]
« السابقةمتابعة »