3. It was the repository of all the principal memo- rials of God's power and grace —
[The Apostle enumerates the various things which were deposited in the holy of holies'^: all of them, either memo- rials of God's providential care, or exhibitions of his covenant love. And are they not all in heaven, concentrated and com- bined in the person of Christ? Christ is the true ark, in which the law is kept, and fulfilled: and, while he makes intercession for his people, he is also the food of their souls, and the performer of all those miracles of grace that are wrought on their behalf. We cannot behold him, but we must immediately be persuaded that God is able and willing to accomplish for us all that our necessities may require.]
But while we see that the true tabernacle, even heaven itself, was prefigured by the holy places made with hands, let us consider, II. The end for which our Lord ascended thither —
Our Lord could not go into the earthly tabernacle, because he was not of that tribe to which the priest- hood belonged : but into the heavenly sanctuary he went,
1. As our Forerunner —
[God has ordained, that all his people should one day dwell with him around his throne. All true penitents now are priests unto God, whether they be Jews or Gentiles, male or female': and Jesus is gone, as he himself tells us, to prepare places for them™. He is expressly said to be gone within the vail as our Forerunner". Let us then contemplate him in this view ; and look forward to the time when we shall follow him within the vail, and " be presented faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy."]
2. As our Head and Representative —
[It was not as an individual merely that Christ ascended into heaven, but as the Head and Representative of his re- deemed people. All that he did and suffered was in their place and stead. Hence they are said to be " circumcised in him," and to be " buried with him in baptism," and " crucified
^ ver. 4, 5. The Apostle does not say, that the censer, or altar of incense, as ^v^iarnpiov may signify, was in the holy of holies (for it was on the outside of the vail), but that the holy of holies had it : that being of very distinguished use, when the high-priest entered within the vail.
1 Rev. i. 6. m John xiv. 2, 3. " Heb. vi. 20.
310 HEBilEWS, IX. 24. [2305.
with him." In the same capacity also he went within the vail, to appear in the presence of God for us. Hence we are said to be " risen with him," yea, to be already " sitting with him in heavenly places"." And on this our hope greatly depends : for, because " our life is hid with Christ in God, we may be assured that, when he shall appear, we also shall appear with him in glory p."]
3. As our Advocate and High-priest —
[It is in this view that the Apostle principally speaks of him in the text. The end for which the high-priest entered into the typical sanctuary, was, to present the blood of the sacrifice, and to cover the mercy-seat with the clouds of in- cense. It was precisely thus that Jesus went into the heaven of heavens for us. He is gone to present his own blood before the throne of God, and to plead the merit of that blood on behalf of sinful men. And it is on this very account that he is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him, namely, because he ever liveth to make intercession for themi.]
Infer —
1. How excellent is the Gospel salvation !
[The Mosaic economy was excellent in comparison of the state of heathens, because it provided a way of acceptance with God, a way, too, that was of divine appointment. But the Gospel points out to us a far greater Priest, officiating in a nobler tabernacle, presenting an infinitely richer sacrifice, and offering a more powerful intercession on our behalf. Let us then value this Gospel, and search into its contents, and seek its blessings with our whole hearts.]