proofs of such persons, do but render them the more contemptible, and on many accounts tend to the hardening of those whom they pretend to instruct. And where men regard iniquity in their hearts, although there be no notoriety in their transgressions, they will grow languid and careless in their watch over others: and if they keep up the outward form, it will be a great means of hardening themselves in their own sin. I look on this as one of the greatest blessings of the ministry, that we have that enjoined us to do with respect to others, which we neither can, nor will diligently attend to, if we do not first endeavor to have its effects upon ourselves. It behoves us therefore in all things, wherein we may deal with others about sin, to take care of ourselves in the first place, that our consciences may be purged from dead works, while we serve the living God.

VERSE 4.

And no man taketh this honor to himself, but he that is called of. God, as was Aaron.

$1. 2. (I.) The words explained. §s. (II.) Observations. 1. It is an act of sovereignty in God to call whom he will to his work, especially to that of hon or and dignity in his house. 4 Wherein consists an ordinary call to the ministry. $5. 2. No work for God will warrant our engaging in it, unless we are called thereto.

§1. (I.) THE foregoing verses declare the personal' qualifications of high priests; but these alone are not sufficient actually to invest any one with that office; it is required moreover, that he be lawfully called. The former makes him meet for it, and this gives him his right to it. There is no difficulty in rendering these words, and consequently very little difference among translators. The words may be taken as a negative universal proposition, with a particular ex

ception subjoined. No man taketh this honor to himself, but only he who is called. Or, they may be resolved into two disjunctive propositions; the one universally negative without exception or limitation; no man taketh this honor to himself: the other particularly affirmative, he that is called of God doth receive the honor.

“Any one doth not take to

And this verb (λau

(Ουκ εαυτω τις λαμβανει himself," that is, no man doth. Bava) is not here simply named (sumo) to take; but (assumo) to take upon, to take to him; or as it some, times signifies, (prehendo, corripio) to take unduly, by laying hold of any thing. No man taketh, that is, according to the law or divine institution, ( ) the honor, either the office itself, or the dignity of it this honorable office, without authority from God, such as men would naturally desire, and obtrude themselves into, had not God set bounds to their ambition by his law.

§2. (Alλa o`naλæμevoç) "But he that is called of God;" he hath, he receiveth the honor of his office. God doth, as it were, look on a person among others, and calls him out to himself, Exod. xxviii, 1.—(Kabatep NAI Aapav) "Even as Aaron," in like manner as Aaron. The note of similitude is regulated, either by the word called, or by the subject of the instance, Aaron. If by the former, no more is intended but he must have a"call" from God, as Aaron had; but if by the latter, then the "special manner and nature of the call" is limited and determined; he must be called immediately, and in an extraordinary way; which last is the senseof the words and place. Our apostle disputes here about the erection of a new priesthood, such as was that of Christ. Herein no or linary call, no legal constitution, no succession, could take place. Again,

VOL. III.

the note of similitude expresseth an agreement in an "extraordinary call," but not in its manner and spe cial kind; for that of Christ, as to the manner, was incomparably more excellent and glorious than that of Aaron.

§3. (II.) Obs. 1. It is an act of sovereignty in God to call whom he pleaseth to his work and special service, and eminently so, when it is to any place of honor and dignity in his church. The office of priesthood among the Jews was, at the first plantation of the church, the highest and most honorable; and who would not think now but that God would call Moses to this dignity, and so secure also the honor of his posterity after him? But he takes another course, and calls Aaron and his family, leaving Moses and his children after him in the ordinary rank of Levites. By a mere act of sovereign pleasure, God chose him from the many thouands of his brethren. Under the New Testament none was ever called to greater dignity, higher honor, or more eminent employment, than the apostle Paul. Christ takes him in the midst of his persecuting madness and blasphemy, turns his heart to himself, and calls him to be his apostle and honored witness, bearing his name to the ends of the earth. And this he himself mentions, on all occasions, as an effect of sovereign grace and mercy. What merit was there, what previous disposition to their work, in a few fishermen about the lake of Tiberias, or sea of Galilee, that our Lord Jesus Christ should call them to be his apostles, advancing them to twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel?

§4. In his ordinary calls there is the same sovereignty, though somewhat otherwise exercised; for in such a call there are three things:

影

1. A providential designation of a person to such an office or employment. When any office in the house of God, suppose that of the ministry, is fixed and established, the first thing that God doth in the call of any one to it, is the providential disposition of the circumstances of his life, directing his thoughts and designs toward such an end.

2. It is a part of this call of God, when he blesseth and prospereth the endeavors of men to prepare themselves with those previous dispositions and qualifications as are necessary to the actual susception of this office. Such as an inclination of their hearts in compliance with his designation: an especial blessing of their endeavors for the due improvement of their natural faculties and abilities in study and learning; the communication of peculiar gifts, rendering them able to discharge the duty of their office; and an outward call according to rule, for admission into the church: in all which God acts according to his own will and pleasure. Hence we should cultivate an awful reverence of God, and an holy readiness to comply with his call, and not run away from it, as did Jonah, chap. i. Nor be weary of it because of difficulty and opposition, as at sundry times it was ready to befall Jeremiah, chap. xv, 10, chap. xx, 7-9, much less desert it on any earthly account whatever; seeing that he who sets his hand to this plough and takes it back again, is unworthy of the kingdom of heaven: and it is certain that he who deserts his calling on wordly accounts, first took it up on no other. We may also learn hence, not to envy one another, on account of whatever God is pleased to call any to..

$5. We may further observe-The highest excellency and utmost necessity of any work to be done for God in this world, will not warrant our engaging

in it, unless we are called thereto. Yea,The more excellent any work of God is, the more express ought our call to be. And, It is a great dignity and honor to be duly called to any service, or office, in the house of God.

VERSE 3.

So also Christ glorified not himself, to be made an high priest; but He that said to him, thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee.

51-3. (1) Explanation of the words. $4. (II.) Observations. 1. The office of a high priest over the house of God, was an honor and glory to Jesus Christ. $5. 2. Relation and love are the cause of God's committing all authority over the church to Jesus Christ.

$1. (1.) THE description of an high priest according to the law, with respect to his nature and employment, ver. 1, his qualifications, ver. 2, his special duty with regard to himself and others, ver. 3, and his call, ver. 4, being completed, we have in this verse an application of the whole to our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Oulo nai) “so also," and so, or, in like manner, referring to the last express instance of a call to office. As they were called of God, "so," or in like manner, was "Christ also." This is primarily regarded, though respect may be had to it in all the particular instances of analogy and similitude which follow.

Christ is an high priest. Had he been of the tribe of Levi, and of the family of Aaron, he would have been so acknowledged by all; but how he should become so who was a stranger to that family, who sprang of the tribe of Judah (concerning which Moses spake nothing of the priesthood) might be highly questioned. Fully to remove the whole difficulty, the apostle in the preceding verse lays down a concession in an uni