IIL THE NECESSITY FOB THE REMOVAL OF THESE HINDRANCES OP SPIRITUAL MATURITY JB TO BE ATTAINED. 1. For (Jhrist, as revealed in the Word, is spiritual nourishment. The truth about Christ is "milk" and "strong meat." Christ is the essence of Scripture, and he is "the Bread of life." What nourishing food is to the body, therefore, the Word of God is to the Divine life in man. On participation on it that life depends. 2. There is a distinction drawn here between those truths which merely su,stain and those which increase life. What is the "milk"? Those first necessary principles recorded in eh. vi. 1, 2. There we have the essential life-giving points (not quite such a "simple gospel" as some think!). The doctrines of repentance, faith, the Holy Spirit, Christian service, the resurrection, and the judgment,-these are the" milk." What is the" strong meat"? The deeper, fuller truths about Christ set forth here-his character, work, relation, grace, Son of God and Son of man, our Prophet, Priest, and King, with the height and depth, and length, and breadth of meaning all this involves. 3. Ohriatian maturity depends on the partaking of truth in these higher forms. They ought to be " babes" no longer, but "strong men ; n and how ? " Let us cease to speak of the :first," etc. The method by which this Epistle seeks to arouse a lukewarm and eufe.el:>led Church to higher things is the presentation of these higher truths con- Colrning the surpassing glory of the Son of God. "Grow in grace, and in the know- ledge," etc.-C. N. Vers. 1-3.-The character and office of the .Aarrmic high priest foresha11ows the higher glory of Jesu,s Christ. As there had been given some counsels to pray for Di\'ine help because our Lord is the Divine High Priest, the thought advances to show the true idea of a. high priest under the Mosaic Law, that over against him may appear in hi~ glory the character of him who was one after the order of Melchizedek. The ancient priest was taken from among men to minister in spiritual thiugs, as others are appointed to manage temporal matters ; and therefore Paul declares that the ruler is a minister of God to us for good. It was the office of the priest to present sacri !ices for sins of ignorance, and those faults which arise from the weakness and inclinations of our nature. They were not offered for such de.ring and flagrant transgressions as were committed by David and Manasseh, who by faith and penitence sought and obtained pardon outside the ritual of the Jewish Law, and from the free and sovereign mercy of God. The sacrifices for ordinary faults were presented especially on the Day of Atone- ment, when the people bowed in penitence, and the errors of the past year were forgiven. The high priest himself needed the advantage of the atonement which was vouchsafed through the sacrifices which he offered for himself. To perform his office with success he must be, since he was beset with infirmity, tender-hearted without being indulgent to evil, a.nd firm without being severe and unfeeling. He had to deal with men's souls in states of anxiety, and, knowing his own frailties, must be merciful towards others. Eli charged Hannah with intemperance when she was prayiog with fervour for a gift which God only could bestow, and thoughtlessly added affliction to affiiction; but on her appeal he relented, and said," Go in peace, and the God of farael grant thee the petition thou host asked of him" (1 Sam. i. 14-17). The appointment of the priest is a proof of the merciful interest of Jehovah in the spiritual condition of men, and his willingness to invite them to enter into bleHsed relations with himself.-B.
Vera. 4-6.-Thcse verses show us the h01'1011r of the priesthood. Aaron was divinely called (Exod. xxviii. 1), and was endowed with gifts and qualifications for the office. It was an honour to approach unto God in the sacred uses of his ministry; "for blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to approach unto thee." He traosacted tho most important affairs for the people, and made reconciliation for them on the Day of Atonement. He revealed and interpreted the Divine will by Urim and 'rhummim, and his lips kept knowledge. Ho represented the people to Jehovah, and carried the names of the children of Israel on his breast and shoulders. He was set apart by the sacred• ness of his office from many of the cares and changes of human life, and was to lead a life of special consecration to the service of God. Our Lord undertook the work of a priest in a more glorious manner than was suggested by the most holy and distinguished miuister of the ancient Law. All the aspects of honour and gracious service are exalted in him tu an unimaginable degree, He is at the ri0ht hand of the Father. He officiates 15l THE EPISTLE TO Tlili: HgllnEWS.
for all nat.ions, pe-ople, and ton~ucs. He treats the successive generations of believers with constant love, and imparts Divine help in wor~hip. He is the final and most !!'lurious revelation of God to man. He exalts and enriches the life of his followers by the tenderness and sympathy of his nature, and inspires them with resolution to come boldly to the throne of grace.-B.
Vers. 7-10.-Sacrificial sorrow. I. THERE IS HERE AN AFFECTING OUTLINE OF THE SACRIFICIAL SORROWS OF OUR LORD. Like the ancient psalmists, he bows in solemn and agonizing prayer, with profuse weeping, that the cup which was presented to him in Gethsemane might be removed from him. It was a bitter and brimming cup of inde- scribable distress. Scripture gives us the outward signs of the sorrow, and leaves the awful cause in s?lem11 silence. 'fhis must have been from his standing in our place a.s Surety and Subst1tute. He was heard; and an angel from heaven appeared to strengthen him. lL THERE 18 THE CONTRAST BETWEEN HIS DIGNITY AS THE SON AND THE PBOOF OF ms OBEDIENCE. If we would understand the glory of his sonship, it is necessary to turn to the first chapter of the Epistle; yet he submitted, and learned, not by painful failure and unsuccessful attempts to obey his Father, but passed through the whole circle of teaching, working, enduring contradiction, until he could say," I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work thou gavest me to do." III. THE Dm:::-.""E PERFECTION AND ISSUES oF ms OBEDIENCE. He passed throu"'h his Divine consecration, and received the approving voice of his Father, who raised h~ from the dead. From him can now flow eternal salvation, which begins here in redemp- tion from guilt., the restraint of sin, the indwelling of the Spirit, freedom from the penal stroke of death, and the blessedness of eternal life. All this is connected with obedience on the part of believers, who, while they trust in his sacrifice, yield their life to his authority as the King of Zion. He was "called of God." The appointment is valid and unchangeable, and foreshadowed by the ministry and office of Melchizedek.-B.