c This is ſpoken of the High-Prieſt ſat down on the Right Hand of the Majeſty in the Heavens, and relates to that Work of his whereby he was conſtituted ><7»:3%, which according to Suidas, is compounded of two Words, 7275 Mir vel Mime tpyor, publick Work, toas it might be rendred 4dniniftrator; and notes any pub- lick officer from the higheſt to the 'oweſt. The Spirit of God in the New-Teſtament hath applicd it to the higheſt and ſubrdmate Ainiſt;y, in this Verſe to Chriſt himfelt in his exalted State, and ſo notes a Ruley, as he was now God's publiſhed ſeticd King, the Lond 4dminiſtrator ot all things in his Kingdom, agreeable to what he foretold, Pſal. 2.5, 7. and 110.1. compare Acts 13. 33. and here properly it notes him 1n all his Offices, his Royal, Sacercotal, and Prophetical Miniſtry in the Heavens and Earth, adiiniſtring and governing all tiiags in them. The things about which his Ad- miniſtration 15 concerned, are d i ey of Holies, Some refer this to Perſn1, Was noting Saints, of whom he is the Ruler and Go- vernour, Rev. 15. Z- Others to Things, Graces and Endowments beſtowed by him upon his, but moſt properly here in the Neuter Gen- der, it notes the Place, the Sanfuary in Heaven, the Hily of Ho- lieſ!, where he is adminiſtring and governinz all, thouch it may be applied to a!l of theſe. For Heaven 1s the Place, the Sanftuary wherein, Sajiits the Perſons for whom, and all holy Endowments, the matters about which he adminiſters. But the holy Z»yſe or S,n#rary, 1s the proper 1mport of it; and ſo, though expreſt in the Plura! Number, to all tte holy parts of 1ts Types, the Temple and Tabcrnacie. e And of the 7abernacle, Some, becauſe of the con- nection ot ths to the former word Sanfuary, would have it 1m- port the ſame thing, even Heaven ; but the Spirit diſtinguiſheth theſe from each other, chap. 9. Some would underſtand it ot the Body of Chriſt, but here not ſo properly, and yet agreeably to what the ſpirit 15 ſpeaking of. But by Tabernacle, here is meant Chrift Myſtical, the true Temple, Church and Habitation of God on Erth. For as Chriſt was the Body of Truth of all the Shadows and Typcs of the Tabernacle, Colof. 2. 17. ſo not all one way. Some of the Types were ſin;/e, and terminated on his Perſon, as Prictthocod, Sacriice, Altar, Shew-bread, Incenſe, Ark of the Co- venant, gc. Other Types were aggregate and compounded of many things, as Tent, Sanduary, and Tabernacle here, parallel to this, there muſt be a Truth in Chriit complex, that 1s, Chrift the Church, to framed and pitched a Houſe by God, that he may dwell in 1t. Tie Apoſtle ſo interprets it, 1 Cor. 3. 15, 17. 2 Cor. 6.16, com- pare Epheſ. 2. 20,21. 1 Pet. 2. 4, 5, Chriſt in Perſon is its Foun- dation ; Saints are the ſeveral livinz materials, of which the Houſe and Tabernacle 1s made ; their Diſpotitions, Graces, and Endow- ments, the Ornaments ot 1t : The Laws, Rules, Orders, Ordinances, are the Cement, tie Cords and Stakes that jovns them together ; and the Glory of God fills it, as it did the Tabernacle and Temple, Hag 2. 7, 9. Revel, 21.23, Tt is ſtiled, The true one, the Taber- nacle of God, becauſe of it, the litera] Tabernacle was but an im- pertett Shadow and Type ; in this God dwells truly and perſonally, theretore to be entred into by the Hebrews ; the old one, the Type being aboliſhed and vamiſhed by the appearance of this the Truth. For now was that Word ftulhlled, 7er. 3.16. The Days were come tht Men frould mention no mwre the Arkh of the Covenant of the Lord, (- no mire the Tabernacle of the Witneſs; but the truth of God in Chriſt frould be acknowledged by them. The Reaſon of this Interpretation 1s evident. A Tabernacle 1s God's Habitation z the Chriſtian Church 15 ſuch, it anſwers 1n all parts, and bears its proportion to the com- plex Type, and cannot fully be matched by any other things : It is congru-us to Chriſt's Seffion in Glory; for thence he doth, as the ho- nourabic and glorious Adminiſtrator of God's Church, ordcr and manaze all in 1t according to his Will, having ſetled in this true Ta- bernacle a Miniftry, Epheſ.4.8, to 14. Covenant, as below, v. 6,to 13. Service, 43,5. and Priviledges far exceeding its Type. All which this grand Officer, as the only Royal High-Prieſt and Head of his Church, Prophet of his People, orders by his Spirit, the only Vicar he uſeth in it. Of this true Tabernacle, Church, or Houſe of God, the Sove- ra1zn, independent, omnipotent, infinitely wiſe and hol-, the eternal Lord, was the Author ; and ſuch as his Work, as no other can que- {tion 1t, can add to, or alter it, can reach it, ſo proportioned is it to its Framer. f "E7ngz» he framed and prepared every piece that con- ftituteth this Tabernacle himſelf, as the materials of the firſt were wrought by his Pattern and Order. He c:mpa&ed and joyned all the parts of it together, to make it his Tahernacle ; and eſpecially reared, pitched, and firmly conſtituted this his own Habitation. This he doth tor ever fo pitch, as Hell and Earth with all their Arts and Force can never remove it, Matth.15. 15,18 It js his Reſt for cver, here he will dwell, for he hath defired it, and will make it 810r7ous, chap. 12, 25, 27, 28. Pſal. 132. 14. Iſa. 11. 19, Rev. C22. 21, £ This is denied becauſe 3/an is weak, ſinful, and mor- Tal, NO ſuch Hands iatermeddle with the Work of God's Tabernaele, tor his Work would be like him, weak, faulty, and periſhing, which could not long ſurvive its Author. L 5
2 For every high priet js ordained to offer gifts
ba) oo
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HEBREW Ss.
|
Chap. Vin
and ſacrifices þ : wherefore * 77 js of neceſſity that this * 1.
man have ſomewhar allo to offer 7.
h In Chriſt's Adminiſtration for his in Heaven ; as he is a Kino | . . . - . Ds 2) ſo he 15 a High-Prieſt ; and ſuch as muſt have Service, and Mini(t;,. tion ſuitable to himſelt there, as the Aaronical High-Prieſts had on Earth : Every of which was conſtituted to ſtand and Miniſter 1: God's Aitar, and were to offer Sacrifices and Gifts, as cleared bc