the changeableness of Aaron's priesthood ; and intimated, that it should successively devolve on dying men, till he should arrive, who should never die, but "be a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedec."
But the manner in which this transfer was carried into execu- tion deserves particular attention, inasmuch as it was peculiarly calculated to give the people an insight into the whole nature and design of the ceremonial law. Whether the ceremony passed in the sight of all the congregation or not, we cannot say : but they were certainly informed of what was about to take place on the arrival of Moses and Aaron at the destined spot. Now Moses was the person who, by God's appointment, had put the priestly garments on Aaron, forty years before d ; and he also was the person appointed to strip them off". Was this an accidental circumstance, without any mystical design ? Can we suppose that, in a dispensation which was altogether figurative, such a singular fact as this was devoid of meaning ? No : it was replete with instruction. We dread exceedingly the indulgence of fancy in interpreting the Scriptures ; but we are persuaded that a very deep mystery was shadowed forth on this occasion. Moses was the representative of the law, as Aaron was of our great High-Priest. Now it was the law which made any priesthood necessary. If the law had not existed, there had been no transgression : if that had not denounced a curse for sin, there had been no need of an High-Priest to make atone- ment for sin : and if there had been no need of a real sacrifice, there had been no occasion for either a priesthood or sacrifices to shadow it forth. The law then called forth, if I may so speak, the Lord Jesus Christ to his office : and therefore Moses put the priestly garments on him who was to prefigure Christ. But the same law which rendered a real atonement necessary, made the figurative priesthood wholly ineffectual : its demands were too high to be satisfied with mere carnal ordinances : there was nothing in a ceremonial observance that could be accepted as a fulfilment of its injunctions ; nor was there any thing in the blood of a beast that could compensate for the violation of them : therefore, to shew that nothing but the priesthood and sacrifice of Christ could be of any avail, the same hand that put the shadowy garments upon Aaron must strip them off again.
Thus in this transaction are we taught, not only that the ceremonial law was a mere temporary appointment, but that men should look through it to Him whom it shadowed forth. The language of it was, in effect, similar to that of the Apostle ; " I through the law am dead to the lawe ;" that is, " I, through the strictness of the moral law, am cvit off from all hopes of acceptance with God by any obedience to its commands ; yea,
d Exod. xxix. 4 — 7. e Gal. ii. 19.