492 SUMMARY OF DOCTRINAL AND [CHAP. VII. 26.
them to the uttermost. 13. It isa matter of strong consolation to the church that Christ lives in heaven for us. 14, So great and glorious is the work of saving believers unto the utmost, that it is necessary that the Lord Christ should lead a mediatory life in hea- ven for the perfecting and accomplishment of it. He lives for ever to make intercession for us. 15. The most glorious prospect that we can take into the things that are within the veil, into the remaining transactions of the work of our salvation in the most holy place, is in the representation that is made unto us of the intercession of Christ. 16. The intercession of Christ is the great evidence of the continuance of his love and care, his pity and compassion towards his church.
Ver. 26.—1. God, in his infinite wisdom, love, and grace, gave us such a high priest as, in the qualifications of his person, the glory of his condition, and the discharge of his office, was every way suited to deliver us from the state of apostasy, sin, and misery, and to bring us unto himself through a perfect salvation. 2. Although these pro- perties of our high priest are principally to be considered, as render- ing him meet to be our high priest, yet are they also to be con- sidered as an exemplar and idea of that holiness and innocency which we ought to be conformable to. 3. Seeing all these properties _ were required unto Christ and in him, that he might be our high priest, he was all that he is here said to be for us and for our sakes, and benefit from them doth redound unto us. 4. Theinfinite grace and wisdom of God are always to be admired by us in providing such a high priest as was every way meet for us, with respect unto the great end of his office, namely, the bringing of us unto himself, 5. The dignity, duty, and safety of the gospel church, depend solely on the nature, the qualifications, and the exaltation, of our high priest. 6. If such a high priest became us, was needful to us, for the establishment of the new covenant and the communication of the grace thereof to the church, then all persons, Christ alone ex- cepted, are absolutely excluded from all interest in this priesthood. 7. If we consider aright what it is that we stand in need of, and what God hath provided for us that we may be brought unto him in his glory, we shall find it our wisdom to forego all other expecta- tions, and to betake ourselves unto Christ alone.
VER. 27, 28.—1. No sinful man was meet to offer the great ex- piatory_sacrifice for the church; much less is any sinful man fit to offer Christ himself. 2. The excellency of Christ's person and priesthood freed him in his offering from many things that the Le- vitical priesthood was obliged unto. 3. No sacrifice could bring us — to God, and save the church to the utmost, but that wherein the — Son of God himself was both priest and offering, 4 It was bur-
CHAP, VIII. 3.] PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS, 493
densome and heavy work to attain relief against sin, and settled peace of conscience, under the old priesthood, attended with so many weaknesses and infirmities. 5. There never was, nor ever can be, any more than two sorts of priests in the church, the one made by the law, the other by the oath of God. 6. As the bringing in of the priesthood of Christ after the law, and the priesthood consti- tuted thereby, did abrogate and disannul it; so the bringing in of another priesthood after his will abrogate and disannul that also. 7. Plurality of priests under the gospel overthrows the whole argu- ment of the apostle in this place, and if we have yet priests that have infirmities, they are made by the law, and not by the gospel. 8. The sum of the difference between the law and the gospel is issued in the difference between the priests of the one and the other state, which is inconceivably great. 9. The great foundation of our faith, and the hinge whereon all our consolation depends, is this, that our high priest is the Son of God. 10. The everlasting continuance of the Lord Christ in his office is secured by the oath of God.
Cap. VIII. Ver. 1—1. When the nature and weight of the mat- ter treated of, or the variety of arguments wherein it is concerned, do require that our discourse of it should be drawn forth to a length more than ordinary, it is useful to refresh the minds and relieve the memories of our hearers by a brief recapitulation of the things insisted on. 2. When doctrines are important, and such as the eternal wel- fare of the souls of men are immediately concerned in, we are by all means to endeavour an impression of them on the minds of our hearers. 3. The principal glory of the priestly oftice of Christ depends on the glorious exaltation of his person.
Ver. 2.—1. The Lord Christ, in the height of his glory, conde- scends to discharge the office of a public minister in the behalf of the church. 2. All spiritually sacred and holy things are laid up in Christ. 3. He hath the ministration of all these holy things com- mitted to him. 4 The human nature of Christ is the only true tabernacle wherein God would dwell personally and substantially. 5. The church hath! lost nothing by the removal of the old taber- nacle and temple, all being supplied by the sanctuary, true taber- nacle, and minister thereof. 6. We are to look for the gracious presence of God in Christ only. 7. It is by Christ alone that we can make our approach unto God in his worship. 8. It was an institu- tion of God, that the people in all their distresses should look unto, and make their supplications towards, the tabernacle or holy temple. 9. If any one else can offer the body of Christ, he also is the minis- ter of the true tabernacle.