The apostle by ayiwy here, div ray &y/wv, intends the same with what, verse 3, he called dyia réiv ayiav, “the holy of holies,” the second part of the sanctuary; whereinto the high priest alone could enter once a-year, as he declares ‘in the foregoing verse: only whereas he there spake of the material fabrie of the tabernacle, and the things contained in it, here he designs what was signified thereby; for he declares not what these things were, but what the Holy Ghost did signify in and by them. Now, in that most holy place were all the signs and pledges of the gracious presence of God,—the testimonies of our reconciliation by the blood of the atonement, and our peace with him thereby. Wherefore, to enter into these holies, is nothing but an access with liberty, freedom, and boldness, into the gracious presence of God, on the account of reconciliation and peace made with him. This the apostle doth so plainly and positively declare, Heb. x. 19-22, that I somewhat admire so many worthy and learned expositors should utterly miss of his meaning in this place. The “holies,” then, is the gracious presence of God, whereunto believers draw nigh in the confidence of the atonement made for them, and of ac- ceptance thereon. See Rom, y. 1, 2; Eph. ii. 14-18; Heb. iv. 14-16,
*Odd ray ayiwy,
. 240 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IX.
x. 19. The atonement being made, and received by faith, conscience being purged, bondage and fear being removed, believers do now under the gospel enter with boldness into this gracious presence of God. 2. We must consider what is the “ way” into these holies, which was “not yet made manifest.” And here also expositors indulge unto many conjectures, very needlessly, as I suppose; for the apostle doth elsewhere expressly declare himself, and interpret his own meaning, namely, Heb. x. 19, 20. This way is no other but the sacrifice of Christ, the true high priest of the church. For by the entrance of the high priest into the most holy place with blood the Holy Ghost did signify that the way into it, namely, for be-
lievers to enter by, was only the one true sacrifice which he was to
offer and to be. And accordingly, to give an indication of the ac- complishment of this type, when he expired on the cross, having offered himself unto God for the expiation of our sins, the veil of the temple, which enclosed and secured this holy place from any entrance into it, was rent from the top to the bottom, whereby it was laid open unto all, Matt. xxvii. 51. And an evidence this is that the Lord Christ offered his great expiatory sacrifice in his death here on earth, a true and real sacrifice; and that it was not an act of power after his ascension, metaphorically called a sacrifice, as the Soci-
nians dream. For until that sacrifice was offered the way could
not be opened into the holies; which it was immediately after his death, and signified by the rending of the veil. This is 6dd¢ rap ayiov, the only way whereby we enter into the most holy place, the gracious presence of God, and that with boldness. _
3. Of this way it is affirmed that it was “not yet made manifest, whilst the first tabernacle was standing.” And a word is peculiarly chosen by the apostle to signify his inten- tion. He doth not say that there was no way then into
Mire repu- vepacbes,
the most holy place, none made, none provided, none made use of ; ;
but, there was not a gavépwors, an “ open manifestation” of it. There was an entrance under the old testament into the presence of God, as unto grace and glory, namely, the virtue of the oblation of Christ; but this was “not as yet made manifest.” Three things were want- ing thereunto :—
(1.) It was not yet actually existent, but only was virtually so. The Lord Christ had not yet actually offered himself unto God, nor made atonement for sin. Howbeit by virtue of the eternal agreement that was between the Father and him, concerning what he should accomplish in the fulness of time, the benefit of what he was so to do was applied unto them that did believe; they were saved by faith, even as we are. Hence is he called, “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world;” that is, in and from the giving of the Jirst promise.
VER. 8. EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 241 -
(2.) Although the coming of his person was promised, and his sacrifice variously shadowed out or represented unto the church," yet their perception and understanding thereof was weak and dark, —proportionate unto the means of its revelation. Hence, whatever were its virtue and efficacy, yet was it not in itself and its own
nature made manifest.
(3.) ‘There were many blessed privileges that attended the open- ing of this way, or the actual existence of it, in the oblation of
Christ, which the church of the old testament was not acquainted with, nor made partaker of. And although these things belonged not unto the essence of the way, yet they did so as unto our entrance ‘intoit. We couldnot without them,—that is, the administration of the Spirit in gospel ordinances,—make use of this way, though prepared and set open, unto the glory of God and our own spiritual advantage.