1st. The apostle, treating of the services, sacrifices, and place of worship, under the old testament, doth not instance in nor insist upon the temple, with its fabric and the order of its services, but in the tabernacle set up by Moses in the wilderness. And this he doth for the ensuing reasons :—
(ist.) Because his principal design is to confirm the pre-eminence of the new covenant above the old. 'To this end he compares them together in their first introduction and establishment, with what did belong unto them therein. And as this in the new covenant was the priesthood, mediation, and sacrifice of Christ; so in the old it was the tabernacle with the services and sacrifices that belonged unto it. These the first covenant was accompanied with and estab- lished by; and therefore were they peculiarly to be compared with the tabernacle of Christ, and the sacrifice that he offered therein. This is the principal reason why in this disputation he hath all along respect unto the tabernacle, and not unto the temple.
(2dly.) Although the temple, with its glorious fabric and excel- lent order, added much unto the outward beauty and splendour of the sacred worship, yet was it no more but a large exemplification of what was virtually contained in the tabernacle and the insti- tutions of it, from whence it derived all its glory; and therefore these Hebrews principally rested in and boasted of the revelation made unto Moses, and his institutions. And the excellency of the worship of the new covenant being manifested above that of the
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VER. 1.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 187
tabernacle, there is no plea left for the additional outward glory of the temple. 2dly. Designing to treat of this holy tent or tabernacle, he con- fines himself unto the first general distribution of it, Exod. xxvi. 33, “And thou shalt hang up the veil under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony: and the veil shall divide unto you between the holy and the most holy;”’ the holy utensils of which two parts he afterwards distinctly describes. The whole was called &1?2; which he renders by rd dysov, “the holy place,” or “sanctuary.” The tabernacle of witness erected in the wilderness in two parts, the holy and the most holy, with the utensils of them, is that whose description he undertakes. It is observed by the apostle, that the first covenant had this sanctuary; 1st. Because so soon as God had made that covenant with the people, he prescribed unto them the erection and making of this sanctuary, containing all the solemn means of the adminis- tration of the covenant itself. 2dly. Because it was the principal mercy, privilege, and advantage, that the people were made partakers of by virtue of that covenant. And it belongs unto the exposition of the text, as to the design of the apostle in it, that we consider what that privilege was, or wherein it did consist. And,— (ist.) This tabernacle, with what belonged thereunto, was a visible _ pledge of the presence of God among the people, owning, blessing, and protecting of them; and it was a pledge of God’s own institu- tion. In imitation whereof, the superstitious heathens invented ways of obliging their idol gods to be present among them for the _ same ends. Hence was that prayer at the removal of the tabernacle and the ark therein, Num. x. 35, 36, “ Rise up, Lorn, and let thine enemies be seattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.” And when it Resied he said, “ Return, O Lorpb, unto the many thousands of Israel.” And thence the ark was called “the ark of God’s strength” (see Ps. Ixviii. 1, 2, exxxii.8; 2 Chron. vi. 41), because it was a pledge of God’s putting forth his strength and power in the behalf of the people. And according unto this institution, it was a most effectual means to strengthen their faith and confidence in God; for what could they desire more, in reference thereunto, than “to enjoy such a gracious earnest of his powerful presence among them? But when they ceased to trust in God, and put their confi- dence in the things themselves,—which were no otherwise useful but as they were pledges of his presence,—they proved their ruin, Hereof we have a fatal instance in their bringing the ark into the field, in their battle against the Philistines, 1 Sam. iv. 8-11. And it will fare no better with others who shall rest satisfied with out- ward institutions of divine worship, neglecting the end of them all, which is faith and trust in God, Jer. vi. 4. But men of corrupt
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188 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP, Ix.
minds had rather place their trust in any thing but God: for they find that they can do so and yet continue in their sins; as those did in the prophet, verses 8-10. But none can trust in God unless he relinquish all sin whatever; all other pretended trust in him is but the entitling of him unto. our own wickedness.
(2dly.) It was the pledge and means of God's residence or dwell- ang among them, which expresseth the peculiar manner of his pre- sence, mentioned in general before. The tabernacle was God’s house; nor did he promise at any time to dwell among them but with respect thereunto, Exod. xv. 17, xxv. 8, xxix. 44-46; Num. v. 8. And the consideration hereof was a powerful motive unto holiness, fear, and reverence; unto which ends it is everywhere pressed in the Scripture.