Aropbacins.
- into the worship of God;—so it was by our Saviour with respect
unto pharasaical traditions: but the apostle treats here of the wor- ship itself as it was first instituted by God, without respect unto any such abuses. This was not the object of any just correction.
The time intended is sufficiently known and agreed upon. It is the great time or season of the coming of the Messiah, as the king,
‘priest, and prophet of the church, to order and alter all things, so as
it might attain its perfect state. This was the season that was to put an end unto all legal observances, wherein they were to expire. Unto the bringing in of this season God had ordered and disposed all things from the foundation of the world. See Luke i. 68—75. And it is called xaspis dsopdcicews, because therein God finally disposed and directed all things in the church unto his own glory and the eternal salvation thereof. See Eph, i. 10. And we may observe from the whole verse,—
Obs. I. That there is nothing in its own nature so mean and ab- ject, but the will and authority of God can render it of sacred use and sacred efficacy, when he is pleased to ordain and appoint it.— Such were the “ meats and drinks, and divers washings,” under the law; which, however contemptible in themselves, had a religious use
VOL, XXIII. 17
258 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. IX.
from the appointment of God. For others to attempt the like, as they do with their salt, and oil, and the like, in the Papacy, is fool- ishly to imitate his sovereignty, and’ proudly to usurp his authority. ~ Obs. II. The fixing of times and seasons, for the state of things in the church, is solely in the hand of God, and at his sovereign dis- posal.—He alone appointed this “time of reformation;” the church could neither hasten it nor was to refuse it. Wherefore quiet wait- ing alone is our duty, as unto the accomplishment of all promises concerning the state of the church in this world.
Obs, III. It is a great part of the blessed liberty which the Lord Christ brought into the church, namely, its freedom and liberty from legal impositions, and every thing of the like nature m the worship of God.
Obs. IV. The time of the coming of Christ was the time of the general final reformation of the worship of God, wherein all things were unchangeably directed unto their proper use.
VERSE 11.
Unto this verse the account of the Levitical priesthood, its sanc- ~ tuary and services, is continued. Amongst them, the service of the high priest inthe most holy place on the day of expiation was prin- cipally designed; for this was looked on and trusted unto by the Hebrews, as the principal glory of their worship, and as of the greatest efficacy as unto atonement and reconciliation with God. And so it was, in its proper place. Hence they have a saying yet common amongst them, “ That on the day of expiation, when the high priest entered into the most holy place, all Israel were made as innocent as in the day of creation.” In what sense it neither was nor could be so shall be declared on chap. x. 1-3. But in these things the glory of the administration of the old covenant did-consist; which the apostle allows unto it in his demonstration of the excellency of the new above it. Wherefore this ministry of the high priest on that day he hath an especial respect unto, in the account he gives of the priesthood of Christ and its administration.
But yet, although he hath a principal regard hereunto, he doth not respect. it only and singly. The whole description of the sane- tuary and its services he also regards, in the comparison he intends between the Lord Christ in his office and these things. In him, his office, sanctuary, and sacrifice, do the excellency and efficacy of the new covenant consist, in opposition unto all those of the like kind under the law. The want of a due observation hereof hath led some expositors into mistakes: for they would confine all that he says unto a correspondency with what was done on that solemn day by the high priest, whereas he doth also expressly declare that the truth, reality, and substance of the tabernacle, all its utensils, its services
_ VER. 11.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 259
and sacrifices, were to be found in him alone; for unto this end doth
he give us such a description of them all in particular.
But, as was said, that which he principally respects in the com- parison he makes between the type and the antitype, is the high priest and his especial service in the most holy place, which he makes an entrance into in this verse.
v Ver. 11.—Xprords 5: rauparysvousvos, cprrepeds raiv medddvrcn ayaday, AY ~ y \ , ~ > 4 7” ° Oe rijs weiCovos xa! rererorépag onnvjg, od yxerpororjrov, Tour eoriy, Ov TavTNS THs urioews,?
Tlapayevousvos. Vulg., “assistens,” “assisting.” Syr., 8°87, “who cometh.” Adveniens,” “ coming.”
"Apxiepsds. Syr., S724> 34 810, “ was an high priest,” or “ was made an high priest;” whereunto it adds, instead of “good things to come,” “of the good things which he hath wrought.”