4. We have not the full privileges of priests till then, which is inti- macy, full communion, nearness of access to God, and ministration before him. This is the privilege we have as priests. The apostle tellelh us, Heb. ix. 8, ' The Holy Ghost signifieth that the way to the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing.' How did the Holy Ghost signify this ? I answer — By the whole economy and frame of that dispensation. God kept state and majesty then, and his people must not come too near him ; the com- mon Israelite must not come too near the sanctuary ; they were not to camp or pitch their tents round about it, but only the Levites, lest they die: Num. i. 52, 53, 'And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard through- out the host. But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel/ It was a dangerous thing for the common Israelites to be too near the symbols of God's presence ; to teach us the distance between God and men, and their unworthiness to come near him and his holy things. But though the Levites might encamp near it, yet none but the priests must enler into the tabernacle : Num. iv. 18-20, ' Cut ye not off the tribe of the family of the Kohathites from among the Levites ; but this do unto them, that they may live, and not die ; when they ap- proach unto the most holy things, Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service, and to his burden : but they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.' They were to keep near the tabernacle, and the Kohathites to bear
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tilings which they must not see and touch, upon pain of death. And this was not only threatened, but executed on the Bethshemites, which was a city of Levites, when they looked into the ark : 1 Sam. vi. 19, 20, ' And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men. And the people lamented, because the Lord had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? and to whom shall he go up from us? ' Well, God kept at a distance from that people, and would not have them too familiar with him ; but the priests might come near and minister before the Lord, but not till they were consecrated, and till they had cleansed themselves : Exod. XXX. 20, 21, 'When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not ; and when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire unto the Lord. So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not.' But though an ordinary priest might come to the altar of burnt- offering, yet the high priest was only to enter into the sacrary, or holiest of all ; and that not when he pleased, but only once a year : Lev, xvi. 2, ' And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil, before the mercy-seat, which is upon the ark, that he die not' The high priest was a solemn type of Christ, yet he was not to be too familiar with God. The people were sensible of this state and distance which God kept, and murmured at it : Num. xvii. 12, 13, ' And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish ; whosoever cometli anything near unto the tabernacle of the Lord, shall die : shall we be consumed with dying ? ' What did the Holy Ghost signify by all this ? That the way of the holiest of all was not yet made manifest. But now God is more familiar with his people ; a christian hath the privilege of the high priest, a privilege which the most eminent person of that dispensation could enjoy but once a year, in the most solemn service which ever he performed, and that not till after many washings and purifications. In every time of need we may come tq the throne of grace. It was dangerous heretofore to thrust themselves upon God, but now the Lord is willing to admit us into his presence ; gospel-believers may come to him, the fountain of grace is not inaccessible. Well, but though we may come to the throne of grace, we cannot come to the throne of glory, thence we are all shut out ; no man can immediately approach the throne of glory till he be both fully and perfectly justified and sanctified ; for the present we are not fit to come nigh him ; as Absalom, when his peace was made, and he was permitted to come home to Jerusalem, yet he was not admitted to his father's sight and presence : 2 Sam. xiv. 24, ' The king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face.' And Esther, when chosen for a spouse for the great king Ahasuerus, yet she was to ' accomplish the months of her purification,' Esther ii. 12. We have access to the throne of grace, that is all we can have in this life ; but hereafter we shall have access to the throne of glory, then W3 shall have full communion with our God, and a clear vision of his eternal