Such being indisputably the character of our High- priest, let us contemplate,
II. The encouragement to be derived from it in all our addresses at the throne of grace —
The thought of having such an High-priest passed into the heavens to further our cause in the presence of his God, emboldens us to come to God himself,
1. Without fear, as arising from a sense of our own unworthiness —
[Had we not such an Advocate, it would be impossible for us to draw nigh to God with any hope of acceptance. To such unholy creatures as we, God would be nothing but " a consuming fire." But, when we recollect what a sacrifice our great High-priest has offered, and that " he is entered into heaven with his oivn blood," and that he pleads the merit of that blood in behalf of his believing people, how can we doubt of acceptance through his prevailing intercession ? Be it so, our sins have been most heinous : yet are we assured, that " his blood will cleanse from all sin," and that they who are washed in it, shall be as wool, and their crimson sins be white as snow. Had we the guilt of the whole world accumu- lated on our own souls, still need we not despair, since he who is our Advocate is also " a Propitiation for us, and not for our sins only, but also for tlie sins of the whole world ^." If the blood of bulls and goats prevailed for Israel to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who, through the Eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God, purge our conscience from dead works to serve the living Gods. With such an Advocate we have nothing to fear. We are sure that " him the Father heareth always :" and that " he is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them*^." He has the names of all his people on his breast- plate, and on his heart : and the chief of sinners may be as confident of acceptance through him, as those who have com- paratively little to be forgiven'.]
2. Without doubt, as arising from the greatness of the things we have to ask —
[All that we can need is comprehended in two things, " mercy and grace ;" the one, for the pardon of our past trans- gressions ; the other, for the preservation of our souls from sin
f 1 John i. 2. g Heb. ix. 13, 14.
^ Heb. vii. 25. ' 1 Tim. i. 15, 16. ^loi Trpmro),