altar. Nor has he ceased from his priestly work : he is now within the vail, offering up the incense of his own prevailing intercession, while his people continue praying without. Nor will he desist from his labour as long as there shall continue one single soul, for whoin to intercede before God. As he had none to precede him in his office, so will he have none to follow him : " He abideth a priest continually, the same yes- terday, to-day, and for ever^."]
Advice —
1. Regard the Lord Jesus according to his real dignity —
[Jesus imites in himself the kingly and priestly character. None of the Levitical kings or priests ever attained to this honour. Uzziah, presuming to exercise the priestly office, was smitten with a leprosy, and made a monument of the Divine displeasure to the latest hour of his life^. But Jesus, as was foretold concerning him, was, like Melchizedec, " a priest upon his throne^." Let us view this combination of character with lively gratitude. Let us contemplate him as every way
qualified to be a Saviour to us And let us beg that he
will exalt us also to " a royal priesthood, that we may offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through him*."]
2. Look to him for the blessings which he is authorized to bestow —
[As our exalted head " he is a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance and remission of sins." " He has ^received gifts even for the most rebellious :" and, having given himself for us, he is fully authorized to bestow upon us the purchase of his blood. Shall we not then make our application to him? What " bread and what wine" would he not bestow on us for the refreshment of our weary souls! Shall we not then " open our mouths wide that he may fill them?" Surely, "if we be straitened, it is not in him, but in ourselves :" he would " sa- tisfy the hungry with good things ;" he would " fill us with all the fulness of God." O that that " God, who raised him up from the dead, would now send him to bless us, in turning every one of us from our iniquities^ !"]
3. Consecrate to him, not the tenth only of your spoils, but all that you possess —
[Though we should " honour him with our substance, and with the first-fruits of all our increase," yet that is by no means
f Heb. vii. 23 — 25, 28. andxiii. 8. e 2 Chron. xxvi. 16—21. h Zech. vi. 13. ' t Pet. ii. 5, 9.
^ Acts iii. 26.