2. He is described from the nature of his office in general. He is “ordained for men in things pertaining to God.” There are things to be done with God on the behalf of men as sinners, and with re-
448 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [cHaP. v.
spect unto sin, as is declared in the close of the verse. Hence arose the necessity of priests, as we have showed elsewhere. Had there been no sin, no atonement to be made with God for sin, every one in his own person should have done that which appertained unto God, or what he had to do with God. For God required nothing of any man but what he might do for himself. But now, all men being sinners, God will not immediately be treated withal by them; and besides, there is that now to be done for them which in their own persons they cannot perform. It was therefore upon the account of the interposition of Jesus Christ, with respect unto his future priest- hood, that any one was ever admitted to treat with God about an atonement for sin; and this was the ground of the typical priesthood of old. Those priests were “ ordained for men in things pertaining to God.”
Obs. II. It was the entrance of sin that made the office of the priesthood necessary. This hath Been abundantly confirmed else- where.
Obs. III. It was of infinite grace that such an appointment was made. Without it all holy intercourse between God and man must have ceased; for neither, 1. were the persons of sinners meet to ap- proach unto God, nor, 2. was any service which they could perform, or were instructed how to perform, suited unto the great end which man was now to look after,—namely, peace with God. For the persons of all men being defiled, and obnoxious unto the curse of the law, how should they appear in the presence of the righteous and holy God? Isa. xxxiii. 14; Mic. vi. 6, 7. It may be it will be said; ‘That these priests themselves, of whom the apostle treateth in the first place, were also sinners, and yet they were appointed for men in things appertaining unto God; so that sinners may appear in such matters before the Lord.’ I answer, It is true, they were so. And therefore our apostle says that they were to offer for their own sins as well as for the sins of the people, verse 8; but then they did none of them officiate in that office merely in their own names and on their own account, but as they were types and representatives of him who had no sin, and whose office gave virtue and efficacy unto theirs. Again, men in their own persons had nothing to offer unto God but their moral duties, which the law of their creation and the covenant of works required of them. Now these, as is known, for many rea- sons were no way meet or able to make atonement for sin, the great work now to be done with God, and without which every thing else that can be done by sinners is of no consideration, God there- fore appointing a new service for this end, namely, that of sacrifices, appointed also a new way, with performance by a priest in the name and behalf of others. And a most gracious appointment it was, as that on which all blessed intercourse with God and all hopes of ac-
VER. 1.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 449
ceptance with him do solely depend. Though the occasion was grievous, the relief is glorious.
Obs. IV. The priest is described by the especial discharge of his duty or exercise of his office; which is his “ offering both gifts and sacrifices for sins.” This is the proper and principal work of a priest, as we have at large declared in our Exercitations. Priests and sacri- fices are so related as that they cannot be separated. Take away the one, and you destroy the other. And these sacrifices here are “for sin;” that is, offered unto God to make atonement, propitiation, and reconciliation for sin.
Obs. YV. Where there is no proper propitiatory sacrifice there is no proper priest. Every priest is to “offer sacrifices for sin ;” that is, to make atonement. And therefore,—
Obs. VI. Jesus Christ alone is the high priest of his people; for he alone could offer a sacrifice for our sins to make atonement. This our apostle designs to prove, and doth it accordingly, in this and the ensuing chapters.
Obs. VII. It was a great privilege which the church enjoyed of old, in the representation which they had, by God’s appointment, of the priesthood and sacrifice of Christ in their own typical priests and sacrifices. In themselves they were things low and carnal, such as could by no means expiate their sins: that is a work not to be done by the blood of bulls and goats. An expectation of that issue and effect by the mere virtue of such sacrifices, is the highest affront to the nature, rule, holiness, and rigliteousness of God. But this was their glory and excellency, that they typed out and represented that which should really accomplish the great and mighty work of taking up the controversy between God and man about sin.