culiar to a tabernacle, and so was it with the body of Christ in his death and resurrection.

The author of this work was (o Kupios) the Lord. This is the word whereby the writers of the New Testament express the name Jehovah. And whereas, in the revelation of that name, God declared that selfsubsisting firmitude and unchangeableness of his nature, whereby he would infallibly give subsistence to his word, and accomplishment to his promises, the apostle hath respect to it in this great work wherein all the promises of God became yea and amen. "And not man." Some suppose that this expression is redundant; for it may seem that to say it was pitched by the Lord sufficiently includes it was not done by But rather the expression is emphatical, and the apostle hath an especial respect to the incarnation of Christ, without the concurrence of man in natural generation; in answer to that inquiry of the blessed virgin, "how shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" Luke i, 34, 35. This was the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and whereof Christ is the minister. $5. (III.) Hence we may observe the following things:

man.

1. The Lord Christ in the height of his glory, condescends to discharge the office of a public minister in behalf of the church. As all the shame, reproach, misery, and death that he was to undergo on earth deterred him not from undertaking this work; so all the glory which he is environed with in heaven, diverts him not from continuing the discharge of it.

2. All spiritually sacred and holy things are laid up in Christ. All the utensils of holy worship of old, all means of sacred light and purification were laid in the tabernacle.

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3. He hath the ministration of all these holy things committed to him. He is the minister both of the sanctuary and tabernacle and of all things contained in them. Herein he stands in no need of assistance, nor can any take his work off his hands.

4. The human nature of Christ is the only true tabernacle wherein God would dwell personally and substantially. The dwelling of God with men was ever looked upon as an infinite condescension. So Solomon, at the dedication of the temple; "but will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold the heaven, and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee," 1 Kings viii, 27. But his dwelling in the human nature of Christ is quite of another nature, and his loving condescension inconceivably more conspicuous. Hence is that expression of our apostle, "in him dwelt the fulness of the godhead bodily," Col. ii. 9. It is not any sign or token, it is not any effect of the divine power, good. ness and grace, that dwells in him, but the fulness of the godhead, that is, the divine nature itself. And this dwelleth in him bodily; that is, by the assumption of the body, or the human nature into personal subsistence with the Son of God. How glorious should this be in our eyes! How did they of old admire the condescension of God, in his dwelling in the tabernacle and temple by the glorious signs of his presence! And yet was it all but a dark representation, a shadow of this love and grace, whereby he dwells in our nature in Christ!

5. The church hath lost nothing by the removal of the old tabernacle and temple, all being supplied by this sanctuary, true tabernacle, and minister thereof. It is almost incredible how the vain mind of man is addicted to an outward beauty and splendor in relig jous worship. Take it away, and with the most

you destroy all religion itself; as if there were no beauty but in painting, no evidence of health, or vigor of body, but in warts and wens! An hard thing it is to raise the minds of men to a satisfaction in things merely spiritual and heavenly. Hence is there at this day so great a contest in the world, about tabernacles and temples, modes of worship and ceremonies which men have found out in the room of those very things which they cannot deny but God would have removed. But to them that believe Christ is precious, and this true tabernacle, with his ministration, is more to them than all the old pompous ceremonies and services of divine institution, much more the superstitious observances of human invention.

6. We are to look for the gracious presence of God only in Christ. As of old, all the symbols of God's presence were confined to the tabernacle; so neither the love, nor grace, nor goodness, nor mercy of God are elsewhere to be found but in Christ, nor can we by any other means be made partakers of them.

7. It is by Christ alone that we can make our approach to God in his worship. All sacrifices of old were to be brought to the door of the tabernacle; what was offered elsewhere was an abomination to the Lord. With the instruments, with the fire, with incense that belonged to the tabernacle, were they to be offered, and no otherwise. "And it is now by Christ alone that we have access by one spirit unto the Father." Ephes. ii, 18. He is the only way of going to him, John xiv, 6; and by his blood is consecrated a new and living way to the holy place, chap. x, 19, 20.

8. It was an institution of God, that the people in all their distresses should make their supplications towards the tabernacle or holy temple. 1 Kings viii,

29, 30. And it is to the Lord Christ alone, who is both the true tabernacle and the minister thereof, that we care to look in all our spiritual distresses.

VERSE 3.

For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices; wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.

$1. The subject stated. 2. (I.) A general assertion concerning every high priest. $3. (II.) A particular inference of what necessarily belongs to Christ The offering of himself. §4. (III.) Observations.

§1. THE Summary description of our High Priest is carried on in this verse. And the apostle manifests, that as he wanted nothing which any other high priest had, that was necessary to the discharge of his office, so he had it all in a more eminent manner than any other. There are two things in the words:

I. A general assertion of the nature, duty, and office of every high priest.

II. A particular inference from them, of what necessarily belonged to the Lord Christ in the susception and discharge of his office.

§2. (I.) "Every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices." The universality of the expression is to be observed; (tas apxiɛpevç) every high priest. The apostle thus expresseth it, because there lay no exception against his argument, seeing that in the whole multitude of high priests, in their succession from first to last, there was no one but was appointed to this end, and had this duty incumbent upon him, yet it is not one special duty of their office that he insisteth on, but the general end for which they were appointed. (Kabiolalar) is ordained, appointed of God by the law, see chap. v, 12. "To offer gifts and sacrifices." This

appears in their original institution, Exod. xxviii, 29; and none but they might approach to God, to offer any thing sacredly unto him. The people might bring their offerings to God, but they could not offer them upon the altar. And God hereby taught the people that nothing should ever be accepted from them, but by the hand of the High Priest who was to come. And whoever he be, if as great and prosperous as King Uzziah, who shall think to approach to God immediately without the interposition of this High Priest, he is smitten with the plague of spiritual leprosy. "Gifts and sacrifices;" (dwpa, munera, donaria, dona.) Sometimes all (p) the corbans in general are intended by this word; for all sacred offerings, of what sort soever, were called corbans, (voixi) bloody sacrifices; sacrifices by immolation, or killing, of whatever sort the matter of it was, or to whatever special end it was designed. And the Mincoth were offerings of dead things, as of corn, oil, meats and drinks. To offer all these was the office of the priesthood ordained; and we are taught thereby, that there is no approach to God without continual respect to sacrifice and atonement for sin; and so necessary was this to be done, that the very office of the priesthood was appointed for it. Men do but dream of the pardon of sin, and acceptance with God, without atonement. This the apostle layeth down as that which was necessary for every high priest by God's institution. There never was any high priest, but his very office and essential duty was to offer gifts and sacrifices, for to that end was he ordained of God.

§3. (II.) Hence he infers, that it was necessary "this man should have somewhat to offer." For being a minister of the heavenly sanctuary, and the true tabernacle, he was an high priest; yet this he could not