Xapls apap- Tins.
Els cwrnpiuy.
VER, 27, 28. ] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. — 417
Obs, VII. Christ’s appearance the second time, his return from heaven to complete the salvation of the church, is the great funda- mental principle of our faith and hope, the great testimony we have to give against all his and our adversaries. And,—
Obs. VIII. Faith concerning the second coming of Christ is suffi- cient to support the souls of believers, and to give them satisfactory consolation in all difficulties, trials, and distresses.
Obs. IX. All true believers do live in a waiting, longing expecta- tion of the coming of Christ. It is one of the most distinguishing characters of a sincere believer so to do.
Obs. X. To such alone as so look for him will the Lord Christ appear unto salvation.
Obs. XI. Then will be the great distinction among mankind, when Christ shall appear unto the everlasting confusion of some, and the eternal salvation of others;—a thing that the world loves not to hear of.
Obs. XII. At the second appearance of Christ there will be an end of all the business about sin, both on his part and ours.
Obs. XIII. The communication of actual salvation unto all be- lievers, unto the glory of God, is the final end of the office of Christ,
Méivy +H Oe 66F0.
CHAPTER X.
THERE are two parts of this chapter. The first concerneth the necessity and efficacy of the sacrifice of Christ; from the beginning unto verse 18. The other is an improvement of the doctrine of it unto faith, obedience, and perseverance; from verse 19 to the end of the chapter. Of the first general proposition of the subject to be treated of there are two parts: 1. A demonstration of the insufficiency of legal sacrifices for the expiation of sin, verses 1-4; 2. A declaration of the necessity and efficacy of the sacrifice of Christ unto that end, verses 5-18. Of this declaration there are two parts: (1.) The sub- stitution of the sacrifice of Christ in the place and room of all legal sacrifices, because of its efficacy unto the end which they could not attain, and without which the church could not be saved, verses 5-10. (2.) A final comparison of his priesthood and sacrifice with those of the law, and their absolute preference above them, unto verse 18. In the first particular of the first general part, there are three _ things: [1.] An assertion of the insufficiency of legal sacrifices unto
q VOL. XXIII. yy
418 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. xX.
the expiation of sin, wherein a reason of it also is included, verse 1. [2] A confirmation of the truth of that assertion, from the consi- deration of the frequency of their repetition, which manifestly evi- denceth that insufficiency, verses 2,3. [8.] A general reason taken from the nature of them, or the matter whereof they did consist, verse 4, The first of these is contained in the first verse,
VERSE 1.
SHicy yep Exwv 6 vouos ray werrdvrav ayudar, oon auTaY TAY Einbva TOY Tpayucarur, nar euauToy rails adrars Suolass ug rpoopepovory ig 7d Oimvents, oudémore Olvaras rods TpooEpyoméevoug TEAEIGOUI.
There is no difficulty in the reading, nor much difference about the translation of the words. Syr., "32 87 MS amu A sot), “for the law, a shadow was in it;” NOP NT wb, “not the substance itself. » TI pooepxopeévous, yr P21, “that shall offer them’! Eis ro dinvexés that translator omits, supposing it the same with xer égvievrey. But it hath its own signification: “ Continenter,”
. . . » § My » “in assicuum,” “in perpetuum.” "Exay, “habens,” “ obtinens,” “ continens. Adryy thy sixdve, “ipsam expressam formam,” “ipsam imaginem.” TeAgiaoot “sanctificare,” perfecté sanctificare,” “ perfectos facere,” Vulg. Lat.; “make perfect;” “ perficere,” “confirmare;” “to perfect,” “to confirm.”
Ver. 1.—For the law having a shadow of good things to come, not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offer year by year continually, make the comers thereunto | the worship- pers | perfect.
There are in these words, 1. A note of inference, giving a connec- tion unto the preceding discourse; “for.” 2. The subject spoken of; “the law.” 3. An ascription made unto it; it had “a shadow of good things to come.” 4. A negation concerning it, derogatory unto its perfection; it had “not the very image of the things” themselves, 5. An inference or conclusion from both; “can never with those sacrifices,” ete.
First, The conjunctive particle ydép, “for,’ intimates that what follows or is introduced thereby is an inference from what he had before discoursed, or a conclusion made thereon. And this is the necessity of the sacrifice of Christ. For having declared that he had perfectly expiated sin thereby, and confirmed the new covenant, he concludes from thence and proves the necessity of it, because the legal sacrifices could not effect those ends which they seemed to be appointed for. Wherefore they must be taken away, to give place unto that whereby they were perfectly accomplished, This, therefore, he now proceeds to prove. God having designed the complete consummation or sanctification of the church, that which only made a representation of it, and of the
Tap.
VER. 1.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 419
way whereby it was to be done, but could not effect it, was to be removed. Tor there was an appointed time wherein he would per- fectly fulfil the counsel of his infinite wisdom and grace towards the church herein. And at this time, which was now come, a full, clear understanding of the insufticiency of all legal sacrifices for that end was to be given unto it. For he requires not faith and obe- dience in any, beyond the means of light and understanding which he affords unto them. Therefore the full revelation and demonstra- tion hereof were reserved for this season, wherein he required express faith in the way whereby these things were effected.