Thirdly, What is required on our part hereunto is included in the manner of the expression of it, E/s rd Aurpebes,— “that we may serve.’ And two things are required hereunto: 1. Liberty; 2. Ability. The first includes right and bold- ness, and is expressed by rapfnofa: our holy worship is rpocayay7 ev wappnoia,—* an access with freedom and confidence.” This we must treat of on chap. x. 19-21. The other respects all the supplies of the Holy Spirit, in grace and gifts. Both these we receive by the blood of Christ, that we may be meet and able in a due manner to serve the living God. We may yet take some observations from the words :—
Obs. YI. Faith hath ground of triumph in the certain efficacy of _ the blood of Christ for the expiation of sin: “How much more!” The Holy Ghost here and elsewhere teacheth faith to argue itself into a full assurance—The reasonings which he proposeth and in- sisteth on unto this end are admirable, Rom. viii. 31-39. Many ob- jections will arise against believing, many difficulties do lie in its way. By them are the generality of believers left under doubts, fears, and temptations, all their days. One great relief provided in this case, is a direction to argue “a minore ad majus:” ‘ If the blood of bulls and goats did so purify the unclean, how much more will the blood of Christ purge our consciences!’ How heavenly, how divine is that way of arguing unto this end which our blessed Sa- viour proposeth unto us in the parable of the unjust judge and the widow, Luke xviii. 1-8; and in that other, of the man and his friend that came to seek bread by night, chap. xi. 5-9. Who can read them, but his soul is surprised into some kind of confidence of being heard in his supplication, if in any measure compliant with the rule prescribed? And the argument here managed by the apostle leaves no room for doubt or objection. Would we be more diligent in the same way of the exercise of faith, by arguings and expostulations upon Scripture principles, we should be more firm in our assent
Eis 70.
‘
318 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. TX.
unto the conclusions which arise from them, and be enabled more to triumph against the assaults of unbelief.
Obs. VII. Nothing could expiate sin and free conscience from dead works but the blood of Christ alone, and that in the offermg him- self to God through the eternal Spirit—The redemption of the souls of men is precious, and must have ceased for ever, had not infinite wisdom found out this way for its accomplishment. The work was too great for any other to undertake, or for any other means to effect. And the glory of God is hid herein only unto them that perish.
Obs. VIII. It was God, as the supreme ruler and lawgiver, with whom atonement for sin was to be made: “He offered himself unto God.” It was he whose law was violated, whose justice was provoked, to whom it belonged to require and receive satisfaction.— And who was meet to tender it unto him, but “the man that was his fellow,” who gave efficacy unto his oblation by the dignity of his person? In the contemplation of the glory of God herein the life of faith doth principally consist.
Obs. IX. The souls and consciences of men are wholly polluted, before they are purged by the blood of Christ. And this pollution is such as excludes them from all right of access unto God in his worship; as it was with them who were legally unclean.
Obs. X. Even the best works of men, antecedently unto the purging of their consciences by the blood of Christ, are but “dead works.’—-However men may please themselves in them, perhaps think to merit by them, yet from death they come, and unto death they tend.
Obs. XI. Justification and sanctification are inseparably conjoined in the design of God’s grace by the blood of Christ:—“ Purge our consciences, that we may serve the living God.”
Obs. XII. Gospel-worship is such, in its spirituality and holiness, as becometh “the living God;” and our duty it is always to con- sider that with him we have to do in all that we perform therein.
VERSE 15.
Ka) biz rovro biabquns nuigs weolrns cori, bras Savdrov yevowevov, cfg drorurpuc ray exl 74 xpurn biabnun Tapucdoemy, Thy Erayyenioy AdCwoW Ol Her~rneVol, THIS Hinviov AAnpovOLins.
Ai rovro. Vulg., “et ideo,” “and therefore.” Syr., S20 baat, » “ propter hoc,” “for this;” or “ propterea,” “ itaque ob id,” “and for this cause.”
Meolrns tor, Syr., 8°22 8 “T, “he himself was the mediator.” “He is the mediator.” Heb., 272°2 28, “a man coming between.”
“Orus Savdrov yevoyevov, Vulg., “ut morte intercedente,” “by the interpo- sition of death.” The Syriac reads the passage, “Who by his death was a purging’ them wpe had transgressed against the first testament;” probably,
es
VER. 15.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 319
to avoid the difficulty of that expression, “for the redemption of transgressions.” The Ethiopic corrupts the whole text. :
Eig drodtrowcw tay seeeeeeser, “in redemptionem eorum prevaricationum.” Vulg., “ad redemptionem eorum transgressionum;” properly, “for the redemp- tion of transgressions,” or those transgressions which were.
"Exayyshiay Ades. Vulg., Syr., “ that they may receive the promise who are called to the eternal inheritance.” But in the Original and in the Vulgar “eternal inheritance” is joined unto and regulated by “the promise;”—“ the promise of an eternal inheritance.”?