(3.) We have this access through Christ, in that he is entered be- fore us into the presence of God, to make way for our access unto him, and our acceptance with him. So the apostle, Heb. iv. 1 4, " We have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God." He is gone already into the presence of God to that purpose. The same apostle tells us, chap. vi. 19, 20, " Let us look to ' that within the vail, whither Jesns the forerunner is for us entered/" — Kpodpo/Aog Wi? qfiuv u6r\\div. The words are better rendered, " The forerunner for us is entered." He is a forerunner for us, — one that is gone into the presence of God to declare that all his saints are coming to him, coming into his presence with their solemn worship and oblations ; — he is entered into heaven himself, to carry, as it were, tidings, and make way for the entrance of his saints. This is no small encourage- ment to follow him : he is gone before for us, and is in continual expec- tation of the coming of them whose forerunner he is ; as is the manner of those who take that office. And this also adds to the glory of gos- pel worship, with them to whom Christ is precious and honourable : with them by whom he is despised, it is no wonder if his ways be so also. This belongs also to the rubric, and adds to the order of gospel worship. It is an access to God, even the Father, in the holy place
64 THE NATUBE AND BEAUTY
not made with hands, on the account of the atonement made, and favour and acceptance purchased, by Jesus Christ, being sprinkled with his blood, and following him, as one that is gone before to pro- vide admittance for us. Here is order and beauty too, if we have either faith or eyes to apprehend or perceive what is so.
(1.) We have this access through Christ, as he is " the high priest over the house of God." This the apostle at large declares, and much insists upon, in the Epistle to the Hebrews. One or two places shall suffice to instance in. Chap. iv. 14-16 : The inference which the apostle makes from this consideration, that Christ is our high priest entered into heaven, is, that we should draw nigh unto the throne of grace ; and, because he is such a holy priest as he there describes, that we should draw nigh with boldness, or spiritual confidence of our ac- ceptance with God. And this the apostle manageth at large through- out that epistle; — that notwithstanding all the outward glory and splendour of the legal worship, yet that which is appointed in the gospel is far to be preferred before it, inasmuch as the High Priest of this is unspeakably above the high priest by whom that was princi- pally administered. And again, chap. x. 21, 22, the encouragement to draw nigh to God is taken from this, that we have a " high priest over the house of God." And it is also considerable, what the Holy Ghost requireth in them who should come nigh to worship God under the guidance and conduct of this blessed and merciful high priest. Is it that they have such vestments and ornaments in their admission? No; but faith, and sanctification, and holiness, are the three great qualifications of these worshippers. " Let us draw nigh," saith he, " in full assurance of faith," etc., " and our bodies washed with pure water ;" — that is, purified with the blood of Christ, typified in the water of baptism ; or else, it may be, effectually cleansed in soul and body by the Holy Ghost, who is frequently compared to water in the work of purifying and sanctifying the souls of believers.
Upon this general head I might make a long stand, to evidence the beauty, order, and glory of the spiritual worship of God, in that it is our access to God through Christ, " as the great high priest over the house of God." This, indeed, is so great, that the apostle makes it the sum of his whole dispute about the excellency of the gospel, and our coming to God thereby, Heb. viii. 1,2. " This is," saith he, " upon the matter, the sum of all : Those with whom we have to do, they had a high priest, in whom, and the administration by him performed, con- sisted the glory of all their worship. We also," saith he, " have a high priest no less than they had; but herein there is no comparison between them and us, that we have such a high priest," — whom he de- scribes;— first, from his own dignity, honour, and glory; he is " set on the right hand of the Majesty of heaven;" — secondly, from his
OF GOSPEL WORSHIP. 65
office or ministry, — namely, that he ministers not in a tabernacle, such as was that of Moses, and Solomon's temple, but in heaven itself, the place of the glorious presence and immediate manifestation of God's glory ; — which he calls " the tabernacle which the Lord pitched ;" that is, which he appointed for the place of worship to his saints under the ministry of Christ, their high priest. And though other places are necessary here on earth for their assemblies, as they are men clothed with flesh and infirmities, yet there is none pitched, appointed, or consecrated for the holy and solemn acceptance of their service, but heaven itself; where the High Priest is always ready to administer it before God. And as to the assemblies here below, all places are now alike. And what can be more glorious than this, — namely, that the whole spiritual worship of the gospel, performed here on earth by the saints, is administered in heaven by such a holy Priest, who is at the right hand of the throne of the majesty of God ! and yet under his conduct we have by faith an entrance into the presence of God.