216 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IX,
as his perpetual testimony. That, therefore, which he taught the ©
church by and in all this, in the first place, was, that this law was to be fulfilled and accomplished, or they could have no advantage of or benefit by the covenant.
(4.) This law was given unto the people with great dread and terror. Hereby were they taught, and did learn, that they were no way able of themselves to answer or stand before the holiness of God therein. Hereon they desired that, on the account thereof, they might not appear immediately in the presence of God, but that they might have a mediator to transact all things between God and them, Deut. v. 22-27.
(5.) God himself by all ways declared, that if he should deal with the people according unto the tenor and rigour of this law, they could not stand before him. Wherefore on all occasions he calls them to place their confidence, not in their own obedience there- unto, but in his mercy and grace. And that this was their faith, themselves professed on all occasions. See Ps. cxxx. 3, 4, exliii 2.
(6.) All this God instructed them in, by those mystical vessels of
the most holy place. For after the tables were put into the ark, as under his eye and in his presence, he ordained that it should be covered with the mercy-seat. For hereby he did declare both that the law was to be kept and fulfilled, and yet that mercy should be extended unto them.
(7.) This great mystery he instructed them in three ways: [1.] In that the covering of the ark was a propitiatory, a mercy-seat ; and that its use was to cover the law in the presence of God. This was a great instruction ; for ifGod should mark iniquities according unto the law, who should stand? [2.] In that the blood of the atonement for sin was brought into the holy place and sprinkled on the mercy-seat, Lev. xvi. 14, And this was done seven times, to denote the perfection of the reconciliation that was made. And herein were they also taught, that the covering of the law by the mercy- seat, so as that mercy and pardon might be granted notwithstanding the sentence and curse of the law, was from the atonement made for sin by the expiatory sacrifice. [38.] By the cloud of incense that covered both ark and mercy-seat, testifying that God received from thence a savour of rest, Lev. xvi. 13.
(8.) The cherubim, or angels under that denomination, were the ministers of God in executing the curse and punishment on man when, after his sin, he was driven out of the garden of God, Gen. ii. 24. Hence ensued a fear and dread of angels on all mankind, which they abused unto manifold superstitions. But now, to testify that all things in heaven and earth should be reconciled and brought
under one head, Eph. i, 10, there was a representation of their ministry in this great mystery of the law and the mercy-seat.
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VER. 38-5.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 217
Wherefore they are ready unto the ministry of the church of man- kind, all things being now reconciled, Heb. i. 14, purely with respect unto the mercy-seat which their faces were turned towards, and — which they shadowed with their wings.
_ (9.) Yet was this mystery so great,—namely, that which was represented by these types,—that the angels themselves were to bow down to look into it, 1 Pet. i. 12. So are they here represented in a posture of admiration and adoration. And in their overshadowing of the mercy-seat with their wings, they declared how this mystery in the fulness of it was hid from the eyes of all men. See Eph. iii 8-12.
(10.) The ground was originally blessed of God, to bring forth food for man, for the preservation of his life in that state and con- dition wherein he was to live unto God according unto the covenant of works, Gen. i. 29; but upon the entrance of sin it was cursed, neither are the fruits of it any more a token or pledge of the favour of God, nor are they sufficient to maintain a life unto God, Gen. iii. 17, 18. Wherefore God declared that there must be bread given the church from heaven, which might maintain a spiritual life in them. This God did by giving them manna in the wilderness. And that all instructions in grace and mercy might be reduced into a head in this holy place, because of that whereof it was a type, a pot filled with 1¢ was placed for a memorial in this holy place, be- _ fore the ark and mercy-seat. See Ps. Ixxvii. 24, 25; John vi. 31.
Hereby were they taught to look for the bread of life from heaven, which should maintain them in their spiritual, and nourish them unto eternal life.
(11.) When the whole church was ready to perish for want of water, a rock was smitten with the rod of Moses, which brought water out of it unto their refreshment. God taught them thereby that the Rock of Ages was to be smitten with the rod of the law, that the waters of life might be brought forth thereby, 1 Cor. x. 4. Wherefore this rod also was laid up for an instructive memorial before the ark.