Excpofition of the C P.11; eve Jçrec vñv cilmehura, x 74p dt7h0 74O1101 74 it:two/alas; Havingfhewed the bro- therhood ( that was between Chrift and the children ) be lap down the caufer ofthat di- #enfation ; an4what they are, wenull find here expreffed. .There ar' undry things which the Apoftle fuppofeth intheft words, as known unto, and granted by the Hebrew:. As, firlt that the Devil had the power ofdeath. Secondly, That on this account men were filled withfear of it, and led a life full of anxiety and troubleby reafon ofthatfear. Thirdly, That a deliverance from this con- ditionwas tobeeffeéìed by the Megiah. Fourthly, That the way whereby he was to do this was by hisAttiring. All which, as they are contained in the firft Promife, fo that they were allowed of by the Hebrews ofold, we have fully proved elfe-where. And by all theft doth the Apoftle yield a reafon of his former conceflion, that the Meffiah was for a little while made lower than the Angels, the Caufes andEnds whereof he here declares. Thereare in the words, Fir([, A fuppofition of a twnfeldffate and condition of the children to be brought unto glory, Finft, Natural, or their natural flateand condition, they were all ofthem in com- mon partakrr offlefh andbloud : For as mudo then as the children were partakers of fief"; and blood. Secondly, Mora!, their moral (late and condition ; they were obnoxious unto death, alit is pcenal for fin, and ingreat bondage through fear of it : them who throughfear of death were alltheir lit time fúbjetìunto bondage. Secondly, There is a double inferencewith refpeçt unto this fuppofition, on the part ofChrift, the Captain offalvation. Firft, As to their natural condition, that he didpartake ofit, he was fo to do ; He bimfelfalfodidpartake ofthefame. Secondly, As to their moral condition, hefreed them from it : and deliver them. Thirdly, The means whereby he did this, or this was to be done, evidencing the neceffityofhis participation with them in their condition of nature, that he might relieve them from their condition oftrouble ; he did it by death : that bydeath. Fourthly, The immediate EfÇnhofhis death, tending unto their delivery and and that is the deflruilion ofthe devil, as tohis power over and intereft in death aspcenal, whereof theirdeliverance is an infallible confequent : anddefiro, bim, &c. In the fist[ place the Apoflle exprelfeth, as by wayof fuppofition, the natural con- ditionof the children, that is the children whomGod defigned to bring unto glory; thofe who were given untoChrift, they were in commonpartakers offlelb and blood. I shall not flay to remove the conceit ofCome, who yet are not a few among the Roma- nifta, who refer thofe words unto the participation of the ftefh and blood ofCbrift in the Sacrament, whereunto allo, as we obferved,the 1EthiopickVerfiongives countenance. For not only is there not any thing in theexpreliion that inclines into fuch an ima- gination, but alfo it enervates the whole defign of the Apoftles difcourfe and argu.: ment, as from the former confideration of it doth appear. Flejh andblood are by an ufual put for the wholehumane nature ; not as though by blood the foul was intended, becaufè the life is Paid to be in it, as not acîing without it; but this ex- preffion is ufed, becaufe it is not humane nature asabfolutely confidered, but as mortal, paJibk,fubjeïï unto infirmities anddeath it Pelf, that is intended. Andit is no morethan if he had faid, thechildren were menfubjett unto death. For hegives his reafon herein, why the Lord Chrift was made a manfubjeti netto death. That he and the children Mould be of one nature he had (hewed before; for asmuch then is this was the con- ditionofthe children, that they wereall partakers ofhumane riature, liable to fuf- ferings, forrow, and death ; he was fo alto. And this is thus expreffed to let forth the love and condefcenfion of Jefus Chrift, as will afterward appear. The fecond thingin thefe words is the moralconditionof the children ; and there are fundry things, partly intimated, partlyexpreffed In the defcriptionthat is here given us ofat as, 1. Their eftate abfolutely confidered, they were fubjetl to death. 2. The eonfequences of thateftate. 1. It wroughtfear in them. 2. That fear brought them into bas doge. g. Thecontinuance of that condition, it wasfor the whole courfe oftheir lives. Firft, It is implied that they were fobjett, obnoxious unto, guilty of death, and that as it was penal, due to fin, as contained in the eurfeofthe Law; which what it comprehendeth, and how farit is extended is ufually declared. On this fuppofition lies the whole weight of the MediationofChrift. The children to be brought unto glory were obnoxious unto death, the curie and wrath of God therein, which became to deliver them from. Secondly,
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