(2.) It is the cause of it with respect unto the consciences of be- hevers, in the application of vt unto their souls. There are not only all the hinderances mentioned, on the part of God, lying in the way of our access unto him, but also the consciences of men, from a sense of the guilt of sin, were filled with fear and dread of God, and durst not so much as desire an immediate access unto him. ‘The efficacy of the blood of Christ being through believing communicated unto them, takes away all this dread and fear. And this is done princi- pally by his bestowing on them the Holy Spirit, which is a Spirit of liberty, as our apostle shows at large, 2 Cor. ili, Wherefore “we have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,” on these three accounts :—
[1.] In that atonement is made thereby for sin, and peace made
504 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. x. ©
with God, so as that he is reconciled unto us; all that anger being turned away that.did deter us from any such approach.
[2.] Fear, dread, and bondage, are taken away, so that the acting of faith on God through the blood of Jesus doth expel them, and remove them out of our mind,
[3.] We receive the Holy Spirit therewithal; who is a Spirit of liberty, power, holy boldness, enabling us to cry, “ Abba, Father.”
Obs. III. Nothing but the blood of Jesus could have given this boldness; nothing that stood in the way of it could otherwise have been removed; nothing else could have set our souls at liberty from that bondage that was come upon them by sin.
Obs. IV. “Rightly esteem and duly improve the blessed privilege which was purchased for us at so dear a rate. What shall we render unto him? How unspeakable are our obligations unto faith and love!
Obs. VY. Confidence in an access unto God not built on, not re- solved into the blood of Christ, is but a daring presumption, which God abhors.
Ver. 20.—Having told us that we have rjy sioodor, “an entrance” into the holiest, he now declares what the way is whereby we may do so. The way into the holiest under the tabernacle was a passage with blood through the sanctuary, and then a turning aside of the veil, as we have declared before. But the whole church was for- bidden the use of this way; and it was appointed for no other end but to signify that in due time there should be a way opened unto believers into the presence of God, which was not yet prepared, And this the apostle describes, 1. From the preparation of it; “which he hath consecrated.” 2. From the properties of it; it was “a new and living way.” 8. From the tendency of it; which he expresseth, (1.) Typically, or with respect unto the old way under the tabernacle, it was “through the veil;” (2.) In an exposition of that type, “that is, his flesh.” In the whole, there is a description of the exercise of faith in our access unto God by Christ Jesus: “ Having therefure, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath conse- crated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.”
1. The preparation of this way is by an éyxaivowos, by a “ dedi- cation.” The word hath a double signification, one in things natural, the other in things sacred; which yet are of no affinity unto one another. In things natural, it is to new make, so as to be ready for use; in things sacred, it is to dedicate or consecrate any thing, at the first erection or making of it, unto sacred services. The latter sense of the word, which we receive in our translation, is here to be embraced, yet so as it includes the former
"Ey xaivicpos.
a
VER. 19-23. ] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 505
also. For it is spoken in opposition unto the dedication of the tabernacle, and way into the most holy place, by the blood of sacri- fices, whereof we have treated in the ninth chapter. So was this way into the holy place consecrated, dedicated, and set apart sacredly for the use of believers, so as that there neither is, nor ever can be, any other way but by the blood of Jesus. Or there is this also in it, that the way itself was new prepared and made, not being extant before.
Obs. VI. The way of our entrance into the holiest is solemnly dedicated and consecrated for us, so as that with boldness we may make use of it. He hath done it “ for us,” for our use, our benefit, and advantage.
2. The properties of this way are two:—
C1.) That it is rpécpaurog, “new:” [1.] Because it was but newly made and prepared; [2.| Because it belongs unto the new covenant; [3.] Because it admits of no decays, but is always new, as unto its efficacy and use, as in the day of its first preparation. Whereas that of the tabernacle waxed old, and so was prepared for a removal, this way shall never be altered nor changed, never decay,—it is always new.