5. That worship which was outwardly performed in and by these © | things was full of beauty and glory, 2 Cor. iii. It was also suited to beget a due reverence of the majesty and holiness of God. It was God’s way of worship, it was God’s order; and so had characters of divine wisdom upon it. Wherefore, although the people were originally obliged junto the observance of it by the mere sovereign will and pleasure of God, yet the things themselves were so beauti- ful and glorious, as nothing but the substance of the things them- selves in Christ could excel. This made the devil as it were steal away so many rites of the tabernacle worship, and turn them unto his own use in the idolatry of the nations.
6. It is a sad instance of the degeneracy of the corrupted nature of man, that whereas all these things were appointed for no other end but to signify beforehand the coming of Christ, his sufferings, and the glory that ensued; the principal reason why the church of the _ Jews rejected him at his coming was, that they preferred these in- stitutions and their carnal use above and before him who was the substance and life of them all. And no otherwise will it fall out with them all who prefer any thing in religion before him, or sup- pose that any thing is accepted with God without him. Some
222 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IX.
things we may also observe in general, for our own instruction, from what we have discoursed on this occasion :—
Obs. VII. Although the sovereign will and pleasure of God be the only reason and original cause of all instituted worship, yet there is, and ever was, in all his institutions, such an evidence of divine wisdom and goodness as gives them beauty, desirableness, and use- fulness unto their proper end.—There is that in them which, unto an enlightened mind, will distinguish them for ever from the most plausible inventions of men, advanced in the imitation of them. Only a diligent inquiry into them is expected from us, Ps. exi. 2, 3, When men have slight considerations of any of God's institutions, when they come unto them without a sense that there is divine wisdom in them, that which becomes him from whom they are, it © is no wonder if their glory be hid from them. But when we dili- gently and humbly inquire into any of the ways of God, to find out the characters of his divine excellencies that are upon them, we shall obtain a satisfying view of his glory, Hos. vi. 3.
Obs. VIII. All the counsels of God concerning his worship in this world, and his eternal glory in the salvation of the church, do centre in the person and mediation of Christ.—The life, glory, and usefulness of all things whereof we have discoursed, arose from hence, that there was in them all a representation of the person and mediation of Christ. Hereunto were they designed by divine wis- dom. In him alone is Goa well pleased; in him alone will he be glorified.
VERSES 6, 7.
Having given an account of the structure or fabric of the taber- nacle in the two parts of it, and the furniture of those several parts distinctly, to complete his argument the apostle adds in these verses the consideration of the uses they were designed unto in the service of God. For in the application of these things unto his purpose and the argument he designeth from them, both of these in conjunc- tion, namely, the structure of the tabernacle with its furniture, and the services performed therein, were to be made use of.
Ver. 6, 7.—Totrav 0: olrw xareonsuaomivay, sig wey TAY TParny onnvaY Oiaravrds sioinow of tepe?s res Aurpelag eairedovvreg? eis O& THY Osurépay dauk rou euaurod povos 6 a&pysepeds, 09 ywpls alwaroc, o wpoodéper tatp EaUTOD nal TeV TOU Aanod ayvoNMaT av
Todray 0¢ ova xareonevacuevov, Wulg. Lat., “his vero ita compositis;” “so composed,” “so framed and put together.” Syr., 25 1227? 82255, “que ita dis- posita erant,” “ which things were so disposed;” altering the absolute construction of the words, and carrying on the sense of the former [verse] thus far. Others,
' TRANSLATION.—Instead of the past tense, “went,” it seems agreed that “enter,” and “entereth” should be substituted; as also, verse 9, “can” instead of “ could ;” and chap. x. 1, “offer” instead of “ offered.” The tense sheds light on the date of the.epistle, as written before the destruction of the temple.—Eb.
VER. 6, 7.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 223
“his vero ita ordinatis,” “ita praparatis;” “thus ordered,” “thus prepared,” “thus ordained.” ‘Ornatis,’ “adorned.” Beza, “constructis.” Karacxevacles is the ordering, placing, or fixing of vessels, or any materials prepared for use.
Eig riv xparny cxnviv. Vulg. Lat., “in priori tabernaculo;” for “in prius tabernaculum.” Syr., 8773 Siu, “into the outward tabernacle;” that is, of those parts mentioned by the apostle.
Avanravrds. Vulg. Lat., “semper,” “always.” Syr., 1217722, in omni tem- pore;” others generally, “ quovis tempore;” “at every season,” at any time, as occasion required.
Tae Aerpsions erirerovytes. WVulg. Lat., “sacrificiorum officia consummantes,” “perfecting to this part” or “ offices of the sacrifices;” but the sacrifices belonged not at all unto the duties of the tabernacle. Syr., pawen a4 paw, “and they were perfecting their ministry.” “Ritus obeuntes,” “cultus obeuntes;” Beza, “ritus cults obeuntes;”—“ performing the rites of sacred worship.”