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§. 32. Of Faithfulness, and that to him that appointed us.
Who was faithfull to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithfull in all his house.
THe Apostle having declared Christ to be a Prophet, he further proceedeth to set forth Christs manner of executing his Propheticall Office: which was with all faithfulness.
This the Apostle doth both by a simple expressing of the point: and also by a comparative illustration thereof.
The simple proposition is thus expressed, Who was faithfull to him that appointed him.
This relative WHO, is not in the Greek: where word for word it is thus se•…•… down, * 1.1 being faithfull. This kinde of connexion makes this a part of the former sentence (as if it had been thus rendred, Consider Christ Iesus being faithfull▪) and it implieth an especiall reason why we should the more seriously consider •…•…hrist, even because he was faithfull: For his faithfulness made him every way 〈◊〉〈◊〉 what was meet to be done for us: thereupon we may more confidently rest upon 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and in that respect ought the more seriously to consider him.
What it is to be faithfull, and how Christ shewed himself faithfull, both to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and man in all things that he undertook, hath in generall been manifested, Ch•…•…▪ v. 17. §. 177. We shall have occasion to speak more distinctly of Christs sau•…•… nesse in his Prophetical Office, when we come to the comparison betwixt him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Moses. §. 39.
The general Point of Christs faithfulnesse is amplified by that respect he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 therein to him that appointed him, which was his Father, Heb. 5. 5.
They that appoint a task to any, do therein trust them; Now Faithfulnesse much* 1.2 consisteth in a due fullfilling of that trust which is committed to any. The serv•…•… that improved their Talents according to that which their Master who appointed them expected of them, are accounted and called Faithful, Mat. 25. 21, 23.
Faithfulnesse is opposed to deceitfulnesse; a faithfull man will not deceive 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that trusts him; If he do, he is not counted faithful.
Christ in manifesting his faithfulnesse had his eye especially upon him that a∣pointed* 1.3 him. He was faithfull to him. His care was to approve himself to him. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was his care in his very youth, I must be about my Fathers businesse, saith he, L•…•… 2. 49 So the like in his man-age, I must work the work of him that sent me while 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is day, Joh. 9. 4. yea, in the last act of his life while he was drinking his bitter cop, he thus saith to his Father, Not as I will, but as thou wilt, Mat. 26. 39.
- 1. He did bear such respect to his Father as in all things he sought to please him,* 1.4 For I came down from heaven, saith he, not to do mine own will, but the will of him th•…•… sent me. Joh. 6. 38.
- 2. He knew that he was to give an account to his Father, which he did in the l•…•…∣ter end of his life, Ioh. 17. 4. &c.
- 3. He had a great desire to approve himself unto his Father; His Father 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to him, Behold my Servant whom I uphold, mine Elect in whom my soul delighted, Isa. 42. 1. His desire therefore was to be in the number of those to whom his Fa∣ther saith, Well done, thou good and faithfull Servant, &c. Mat. 25. 21.
This is a strong prop to our faith; For hereby we may be assured that wh•…•… Christ doth will be accepted of his Father; In that he did it according to his Fa∣thers will to whom he was faithfull. Now what Christ did as Mediatour he did 〈◊〉〈◊〉 us, and we reap the benefit thereof.
Herein is Christ a patern as to all others who desire to approve themselves 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God, so to Ministers especially whom Christ as a Prophet hath left in his stead; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 therefore must be faithfull to him that hath appointed us; Herein shall we walk 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thy of the Lord unto all well-pleasing, Col. 1. 10. For this end observe these 〈◊〉〈◊〉 rules.* 1.5
- 1. Be careful thy self to do what the Lord hath appointed thee to do, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it not off to others. We must every one give an account of such as are com•…•…∣ted