ENCOURAGEMENT DERIVED FROM THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST.
Heb. iv. 15, 16. We have not an High-priest which cannot he touched with the feeling of our injirviities ; hut was in all points tempted like as we are, yet ivithout siti. Let lis there- fore come holdly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help ifi time of need.
NOTWITHSTANDING the excellency of the Christian religion, when compared with that of the
2286.1 ENCOURAGEMENT FROM CHRIST's CHARACTER. 213
Jews, there were not wanting many specious objec- tions, which a Jew might bring against it, and which, on a wavering and ill-instructed mind, might operate with considerable force. A Jew might, with some appearance of truth, say, * We know that our religion is from heaven : we know that the sacrifices which we offer are of divine appointment : we see the priest actually making an atonement for us : we behold the high-priest carrying the blood of the sacrifice within the vail : and we hear him pronouncing the very benediction which God put into his mouth. You Christians lose all these advantages, and rely on mere notions of your own, which have nothing visible, no- thing real.' But to these objections the Christian may reply, * We have a better sacrifice, and a greater High-priest than you : and though we see neither the sacrifice nor the High-priest with our bodily eyes, we know he is entered into a better tabernacle, that is, into heaven itself, ** there to appear in the pre- sence of God for us :" and therefore do we " hold fast our profession," yea, and will hold it fast, what- ever menaces, or whatever allurements, be employed to turn us from it.'
But if the greatness of our High-priest be suffi- cient to determine us, what will not the consideration of his goodness be ? Let us but contemplate that, and we shall need nothing further to keep us stead- fast even to the end : for we shall have a perfect assurance that we shall never want any thing that is requisite either for our spiritual or eternal welfare.
This is the idea suggested in the text; from whence we are naturally led to notice,
I. The character of our great High-priest —
Though he was " the Son of God," '' Jehovah's Fellow," "the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person," yet " He was in all points tempted like as we are."
[In bodily sufferings, he was tried with hunger and thirst, and weariness and pain ; and had not even a place where to lay his head. As for persecutions from men, no human being