III. Its efficacy in our behalf —
[The people's services were, through this typical holiness of their high-priest, accepted of God, notwithstanding the imperfection of them : nor shall ours be despised, if we trust in the merits and mediation of the Lord Jesus. This was beautifully represented under the Mosaic dispensation by the acceptance of leavened bread b, and mutilated beasts c, when offered as thank-offerings, and not as offerings for sin : and the same encouraging truth is plainly asserted in the New Testament d. Let us only be interested in " the spotless Lamb of God," and all that we do in his name shall find ac- ceptance before God.]
This subject is well calculated,
1. To humble the self-righteous —
[What room can there be for trusting in our own right- eousness, when the most righteous act we ever performed had an iniquity in it which needed to be borne by our great High- Priest? Lay aside your proud thoughts, and " seek to be found in Christ, not having your own righteousness, but his."]
2. To encourage the desponding —
[Be it so ; you are a sinner : " but if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous .-" and through him you may draw nigh to God with boldness and confidence6.]
3. To direct and animate the godly —
[You are now " priests unto God ;" and are to have holi- ness to the lord written upon your foreheadsf, that it may be visible to God and man. Remember that " God will be sanctified in all that draw nigh unto himg ;" and that " as He who hath called you is holy, so must ye be holy in all manner of conversation11."]
b Lev. ii. 11. with vii. 13. and xxiii. 17. c Lev. xxii. 21 — 23.
d Heb. xhi. 15. 1 Pet. ii. 5.
e Eph. iii. 12. Heb. x. 19—22. f Zech. xiv. 20.
s Lev. x. 3. Ps. xciii. 5. h 1 Pet. i. 15, 16. andii. 9.