VER.ü,I2,T3. Epifile tothe HEBREWS. 2 fI at this day more contended for in this world, than that Chrift might be thought to be aCaptain offalvation unto them unto whom he is not aSaneiifier ; that he may have anunholy Church, a dead Body. There things tendneither to the glory of Chrift, nor to the good of the fouls of men. Let none then deceive themfelves, Jan:ification is a qualification indifpenlibly neceffaryunto theta whowill be under the conduct ofthe Lord Chrift unto falvation, to lead none to heaven but whom he fanEtifies on the earth. The holy God will not receive unholy perlons. This hying Headwill not ad- mit ofdead members, nor bring men into the poffellionof a glory which they neither love nor like. Secondly, Having given this defcription of the Captain offalvation, and of thefins to be brought unto glory, the Apoftle affirms of them that they are ie We, of'one, which 'Eÿ 4`,ó0. made it meet for him to fuffe-, and for them to bemade partakers of his fufrings. Theequity hereoflies in theagreement, that he and they are of one ; which what it is, we muff now enquire. Theword hath this ambiguity in it, that it may beof the Ntafaline Gender, and de- note oneperfon ; or ofthe Neuter, and lignifie one thing. If it relate unto the perfgn, it may have a double interpretation. Firft, That it is God who is intended ; they are ofone, that is God. And this may be fpoken infeveral refpeAds. The Son was ofhim by Eternal Generation, the many fans by Temporal Creation, they were made byhim. Or they are all ofhim, he or- dainedhimto be the SanEtifier, them to befanEïified ; Him to be the Captain offalvation, and them tobe brought unto glory. And this fenfe the laic teflirnony produced by the Apolile feems togive countenance unto : BeholdI and the children whom God bath given untome ; Me to be their Father, Captain, Leader ; they to be the children to. be cared for, and condudtedby me. And this way went molt of the Antiente, in their Éxpofi- tion of this place. In this fenfe the reafon yieldeduy the Apolile iu there words, why theCaptain offalvation Ihould be made perked by tùderings, becaufe the foes to be brought unto glory were alfa to fuffer, and they were a6 ofone, both he and they, even ofGod. But though thefe things are true, yet they contain not a full reafon of achat the Apolile intends to proveby this affertion. For this Interpretation allows no other Relation to be expreffed between Chrill and the Cons, than what is between him and Angels ; they are alío withhim of one Gad. And yet theApolile afterward iheweth, that there was another Vnion and Relation between Chrill and the Eledt needful, that they might be fared by him, than any that was between him andAngels. And if nothing be intimated but the good pleafure ofGod, appointing him to be a Saviour, and them tobe laved, becaufe they were all of himfelf, of one God, which was fufficient to make that appointment jufl and righteous, then is here nothing afferted to prove the meetnefIof Chrill to be a Saviour unto men, and not to Angels, which yet the Apolile in thefollowing Verfes exprefly deduceth from hence. Secondly, Ifit refpok a perfon, it may be ex uno homme, of one man, that is, ofAdam ; they are all ofone common Root and Rock, heand they came all of one Adam : unto him is the Genealogie ofChrii referred by Luke. And as a common flock of our nature he is often called the One, the One man, Rom. 5. And this for the fubfiance ofit falls inwith whit willbe next conlidered. Secondly, It may be taken in theNeuterfenfe, and denote one thing; and foalío it may receive adouble Interpretation. Fist,It may denote the fame mall ofhumane nature. 't ivts eopaf faros, of one and theCame maflofhumane nature ; or ig tivts ¿mate- , fo it is raid ofall mankind, that God made them ig svts äetua7&, of one blood, Ails 17. i6. of one common principle, whichgives anAlliance, Cognation,and Brotherhood unto the whole Race of Man- kind. As the making ofall mankind byone God gives them all a relation unto him, as faith the Apolile,WWe areall hit of ring; fo their being made of oneblood gives them a'Brotherhoodamong themfelves. See Ails 14.15. And this interpretation differs not in the fubilanceof it from that laff preceding ; in as much as the whole mall ofhumane nature had its exiflence in theperfon ofAdam, only it refers not the Onenefl mentioned formally unto hisperfon, but unto the nature it felf whereof he was made partaker. And this fence theApolile farther explains, verfe 54. ashe alfoobferves it, Rom. 9.5- ' Secondly, By One, fume underftand the Came fjSfritual nature; the principles ofCpi- ritual life which is in Chrift theHead, and the children hismein/leis. And this they fay is that which is their peculiar Onenefl, or beingofone; feeing all wicked men, even Reprobates, are of the fame common mallofhumane nature as well as the children. Eeee B:R
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