VER. 1.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 439
ries of the gospel, begun in this, and carried on in the beginning of the next chapter, verses 11-14.
In the first part, the general description of a high priest is given: 1. From his original ; he is “ taken from among men.” 2, From the nature of his office; he is “ordained for men in things pertaining to God.” 3. From the especial end of it; to “ offer both gifts and sa- crifices for sins,” verse 1. 4. From the qualification of his person for the discharge of his office; for he must be one that “ can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way:” whereunto is subjoined the ground of that qualification; for “he himself also is compassed with infirmity,” verse 2. 5. From the continual duty arising from his office and personal qualification for it, in respect of others and himself; for “by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins,” verse 3. 6. From his call to his office: which is,—(1.) Asserted to be from God, “ And no man taketh this honour to himself, but he that is called of God;” (2.) Exemplified in the instance of Aaron’s, “ As was Aaron,” verse 4,
Secondly, The daédcor¢, or “ application” of this description unto the person of Jesus Christ (which is the second part of the chapter), is not to show an exact conformity thereunto, as though all things should be the same, and even or equal, in the high priest which he had described and him whom he would now represent unto them. This would have been contrary to the design of the apostle. For the description he hath given us of a high priest is of him, or such a one as the Hebrews had under'ihe law ; and his purpose was to show them how much more excellent a priest he was of whom he treated. There must, therefore, of necessity be sundry differences between them. Wherefore, in the application of this description of a legal high priest unto the person and office of Christ, three things (as we shall show afterwards in particular) the apostle aimeth at :— 1. To demonstrate that there was nothing essentially requisite unto the constituting of any one to be a high priest, or in the discharge of that office, but it was found in and agrees unto the Lord Jesus Christ ; 2. Whatever was of weakness or infirmity in the high priest of old, on the account of his infirm and frail condition, that Jesus Christ was free from; 3. That he had in this oftice several pre- eminences and advantages which the old high priest was not par- taker of or sharer in: which things will in our progress be explained. Hence the application made by the apostle of the precedent descrip- tion is not to be expected such as should exactly correspond with it in all particulars. Wherefore,—
1. By a derepor xpérepoy, he insisteth first, in the application, on the last instance of his description, namely, the call of a high priest, And this as to the person of Christ is expressed,—(1.) Negatively, “ He glorified not himself to be made a priest:” (2.) Positively, it
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was of God; which he proves by a double testimony, one from Ps. ii. 7, the other from Ps. ex. 4-6.
2. On the discharge of his office whereunto he was so called of God: which he describes,—(1.) From the season of it; “it wasin the days of his flesh:” (2.) The manner of its performance; “ he offered up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears: (3.) The general issue of it; he “was heard in that he feared,” verse 7.
8. He proceeds by the anticipation of an objection, and therein the declaration of a singular pre-eminence that he had above all other priests, with the love and condescension with which the dis- charge of his office was accompanied; together with the great benefit which ensued thereon: “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obe- dience by the things which he suffered.” verse 8.
4. The glorious end of his priesthood, manifesting the incompa- rable excellency of it above that of Aaron, is expressed verse 9. All issuing,—
5. In asummary description of his call and office, as he intends afterwards to enlarge upon them, verse 10.
The third part of the chapter contains a diversion unto a reproof of and expostulation with the Hebrews, about the things concerning which he intended to treat with them: wherein is expressed,— 1. The occasion; and that,—(1.) On the part of the things which he treated about, not absolutely, but with respect unto them, “Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered;” (2.) On their part, “ Seeing that ye are dull of hearing,” verse 11. 2. This fault of theirs, occasioning their reproof, is aggravated,—(1.) From the means and advantages to the contrary which they had enjoyed, verse 12; (2.) By a particular elegant description of the nature of that weakness, evil, and defect which he blamed in them, verses 12, 13; (3.) By a declaration of the contrary virtue, the want whereof in them he complains of, verse 14.