CHAPTER THE NINTH.

so also Grotius,

stein.

1, 2. The New is better than the Old, not only in respect of the the worldly sanctuary prie thood and the taber., but also in regard to form and worship. ord nances, befitting regulations. of.. service, worship. a Ex. XXV. 8: xxix. 43; Nu. x. and.. sanctuary," ,a so-called bec., as some think, it was a re- 21. presentation of the world (cf. vv. 23, 24). wherein.. shew-b Jos. Ant. iii. 11; bread, see notes on O. T. sanctuary, the holy place. True worship must be spiritual.-As the strength of sin lies in the Hammond, Wetinward frame of the heart, so the strength of worship in the inward Ex. xxv. 31; complexion and temper of the soul. Shadows are not to be offered in- Re. i. 20; Ma. v. stead of substance. God asks for the heart in worship, and commands outward ceremonies, as subservient to inward worship, and goads and spears unto it. What value had the offering of the human nature of Christ been, if He had not had a Divine nature to qualify Him to be the Priest? And what is the oblation of our body, without a priestly act of the spirit in the presentation of external parade it? To offer a body with a sapless spirit, is a sacrilege of the and has the most same nature with that of the Israelites when they offered dead of the power of the Spirit." beasts. One sound sacrifice is better than a thousand rotten Starcke." ones.-S. Charnock.

16.

"No service of

God can be without ceremonies; but that is the most excellent which has cast off

3-5. and after, etc., see notes on O. T. particularly, the Holiest in detail, one by one.

of all

α

xxxvii., xl.; Le. xvi.; Nu. xvii.; De. x.; 1 K. viii. 9. "A survey of the

Ex. xxvi.,

of

the Old Testa

which he pos

The two veils. Only one veil is mentioned in the Scriptural account of the tabernacle and the temple of Solomon; and this was the one between the holy place and the holy of holies. There was indeed a hanging for the door of the tabernacle, but this is nowhere called a veil. The case was, however, different in the institutions temple which stood when the Apostle wrote; for it had two veils ment is not withbetween the holy place and the holy of holies. That is, there out utility to the was an outer, or first veil, facing the holy place, and an inner or Christian; it second veil facing the sanctuary; and between them there was shows him the the space of a cubit. In the temple of Solomon there was a wall prerogatives a cubit thick, between the holy place and the holy of holies; and sesses, viz., no the veil was that of the entrance in this wall. But in the second longer merely the shadow, but temple there was no wall, but these two large veils, a cubit apart, real, essential in its place. The reason of this difference was, that although blessings."the builders of the second temple knew of the wall in the previous temple, they could not tell whether its thickness, of one cubit, was to be measured as belonging to the forty cubits of the holy second veil, to place, or to the twenty cubits of the sanctuary; and, from this distinguish perplexity, they abstained from building any wall, but gave the curtain at the full measure of forty and twenty cubits to the holy place and entrance of the sanctuary respectively, and by the two curtains which they hung Holy Place, and was made that it up, separated a space equal to the thickness of the ancient wall. might conceal This, in brief, is the account which Maimonides gives of this the Inner Shrine, affair; and with him agree other Jewish writers, who often refer or Oracle, the Holy of Holies." to this difficulty, and to what they regard as the ingenious device -Wordsworth. by which it was obviated.-Kitto.

Heubner.

"It is called the

it from the other

offerings for

6, 7. ordained, arranged. always, continually; day by priest and day. accomplishing. God, care of lamps, incense, shew-people bread. second,a holy of holies. errors, ignorances, sins of a Le. xvi. 2, 11, ignorance.

VOL. V.

Ꭰ

15, 34.

b Nu. xv. 27-31. The sacrifice for the people made by the high-priest.-I. The c H. Daventry. sacrifice itself-"not without blood." II. The time of its offering "If every Chris--once every year. III. The persons for whom it was offeredtian is under ob- himself, the high-priest-the people. IV. The purpose of its ligation to serve offering-to atone for error. V. The manner of the offering God publicly in it was offered by the high-priest alone in the holiest place

only.c

His temple,much more must preachers be alThe high-priest in the holy of holies.-It was death for any one ways at hand when the public else, priest or layman, to enter the sanctuary. So carefully was worship of God this observed and provided for, that to prevent its being necessary is celebrated."- for anyone to enter to bring out the body of the high-priest in case he should die there, before the Lord, on the great day of expiation,-a cord was fastened to his foot, the end of which was "Holiness is the left beyond the veil, that he might be drawn out by it; if such a symmetry of the circumstance occurred. It should be observed that the Jews soul."-P.Henry. were always in dread lest the high-priest should perish in performing the services of that great day.d

Starcke.

d Kitto.

the offerer

not perfected a Jo. xiv. 6; He.

x. 19, 20; Ma. xxvii. 51.

b He. x. 1-4, 1 vii. 18, 19.

c Ps. li. 16, 17.

11;

d Jo. iv. 23; Ep. ii. 15; Col. ii. 16, 17.

e "i.e., when all these things would be better arranged, the substance

put

where the shadow was before, the sufficient

grace where the

insufficient type." -Alford.

8-10. signifying, by this ordinance something else was represented. way.. all, the way into the true holy places in heaven. while.. standing,a i.e., the first taber. of v. 6, i.e., the holy place. figure,' Gk., parable. for . . present, to them that was a fig. of this present time. him..perfect, i.e., the people, who offered through the priests. stood, consisted. only

ordinances,d outward observances, wh. of themselves did not affect the inner man. until . . reformation, until the season of rectification.e

Homiletical hints.-We need no longer seek the way to the heavenly sanctuary as if it were unknown, and may not complain as if it were closed to us; rather we can and should walk on the way which has been opened to us. Consider the means supplied by Divine worship for our spiritual well-being with regard to—I. Their nature; II. Their value; III. Their use.ƒ

The uses of the law. The law is, indeed, a looking-glass, able to represent the filthiness of the person; but the law gives not eyes to see that filthiness. Bring a looking-glass and set it before a blind man-he sees no more spots in his face than if he had C. B. Moll, D.D. none at all. Though the glass be a good glass, still the glass "They could not cannot give eyes; yet, if he had eyes, he would in the glass bring him to behold his blemishes. The Apostle James compares the law to a spiritual man-looking-glass; and a faculty to represent is all the law possesseth. But it doth not impart a faculty to see what it represents. It is Christ alone who opens the eyes of men to behold their own vileness and guilt. He opens the eyes, and then, in the law, a man sees what he is.g

hood." worth.

Words

g Illus. of Truth.

the heavenly sanctuary

a He. viii. 1, 2. b Ebrard.

b

d

11, 12. of.. come, i.e., of things wh. were yet to come while the figure (v. 9) lasted. by.. tabernacle," acc. to the Fathers, this "Christ's human nature;" others, "Christ's holy life;" others, "the Church on earth;" others, "the whole world;' c Ecolampadius. others,e "the lower region of the heavens;" others, "the especial abode of the invisible and unapproachable God.”f not.. building, not of human contrivance or work. once, once for all. having.. us," by wh. entering He obtained, etc.

d Justiniani.

e Bleek, De Wette, Stier.

f Alford.

Christ, the Son of God, made man.-Let us consider who Christ g He. x. 4; xiii. is: I. He is God-from eternity He was the living and true God. II. While He is God, He is also the Son of God, or rather, that

20; Re. v. 6.

i

J. II. Newman.

"About the tenth

century the cross

became the only symbol of the Christian faith, to the exclusion of the fish, a previous emblem.

He is God because He is the Son of God. His Sonship is-1. The Ep. i. 7; 1 Pe. guarantee to us of His Godhead; 2. The antecedent of His incar-i. 18, 19; Re. v. 9. nation. III. He was made man, yet was still God, having His manhood as an adjunct, dependent upon His Godhead. Explanation of redemption.-It was not a mere rescue, as of a slave liberated by the compassion of his master; nor as of a debtor set free at his earnest entreaties by his creditor and lord, as in the parable of the ten thousand talents; nor was it accomplished by the exertion of force only, as Abraham delivered Lot, and David his followers from the Amalekites at Ziklag. But this deliverance from Satan's dominion is a redemption, something purchased back, a rescue by a ransom price paid down. It implies a valuable consideration, as it were, first given; a full discharge of all that was due to the law, righteousness, and truth of God, by a substitute or surety, "a daysman coming between" the offended Majesty of heaven and us, and making a perfect satisfaction to Divine Justice on our behalf. "Christ" hath in this manner, and no other, "redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us."

From the death of Christ it had been the symbol Foster's Ency. of redemption."

k Bp. Wilson.

13, 14. sanctifieth. . flesh,a outward effect of sacrifices the was to make ceremonially pure. (Doubtless, the devout Israelite, conscience who offered spiritually, was the subject of Divine grace.) eternal purified Spirit, the consent of His Divine personality. offered a Nu. xix. 17-19. himself, the animals had no will to concur with the act of sacri- b Alford. fice. purge.. conscience, through faith in His blood. from works, works without holy moral purpose, and tending to eternal death. to.. God Pd in newness of life.

c 1 Jo. i. 7; 1 Pe. iii. 18; Tit. ii. 14; 1 Pe. i. 18, 19; He. x. 22; Ep. ii. 1. d Ro. iv. 13.

e C. Morris.

M.A.

"Some

con

catch harmless

The blood of Christ, and the sinful conscience.-Paul's argument is to show that Christ is superior to all other beings in this world. Hence the analysis of it is-He is superior to all others in—(1) Nature, (2) Office, (3) Dominion, (4) Claims. Now, in reference to G. C. Beckwith, the words of the text, consider two things: I. Purity of conscience is essential to serving God. Three things show His claim to be sciences are like served: 1. The special grandeur and glory of His nature; 2. The the Achilles of relation that subsists between Himself and His creatures; 3. His Greek fable, who favour and manifestation to His creatures. II. The blood of able in one spot, was only vulnerChrist is the only means of purifying the conscience. In reference and that the heel: to this sacrifice, three things are implied: 1. Its intrinsic worth; or like spiders' 2. The manner in which it was presented; 3. The difficulties con- webs, which nected with it. This sacrifice may be applied to our consciences flies, and are to take away-(1) The guilt, (2) The power and dominion, of sin.e broken through -Influence of the atonement on the believer's conscience.-Intro- by hornets and duction:-How does the blood of Christ purify and relieve the "A man who sells conscience? (1) Is it by destroying the conscience? (2) Is it by his conscience forgetting sins? (3) Is it by becoming conscious of ill-desert? No! for his interest, The blood of Christ relieves the Christian's conscience-I. By will sell it for his preparing the way for his repentance, and ultimate deliverance pleasure. A man from all sin; II. By counteracting the evils of sin; III. By eventually bringing more glory to God, and more happiness to the universe, than would have resulted from the punishment, or even the prevention of sin./

bats."-Beecher.

who will betray

his country, will betray his

friend."-Miss Edgeworth.

"A guilty con

science is like a whirlpool, drawing in all to itself

Emblem of a troubled conscience.-There is a species of poplar whose leaves are often rustled by a breeze too faint to stir the foliage of other trees. Noticing the fact one day, when there was scarce a breath of air, Gotthold thought with himself, "This tree otherwise pass is the emblem of a man with a wounded and uneasy conscience, by."-Fuller.

which would

the Testament and the Testator

a Ro. iii. 25; viii.

30.

b Alford.

c W. Nicholson.

66

eternal leaves of

in
sheets of dark-

which takes alarm at the most trifling cause, and agitates him to such a pitch, that he knows not wither to fly."

15-17. for.. cause, etc.,a "This pre-eminent spiritual virtue of His redeeming blood constitutes His fitness to be Mediator of the New Coven., the main blessing of wh., forgiveness, extends even back over the insufficient former one, and ensures the inheritance to the called." where.. testator, etc., for until he dies, his will (or testament) is a dead letter; his death gives it force.

They that are Christ, a Testator.-Like a testator-I. Christ made His willwritten in the executed the covenant of eternal redemption; II. He provided for heaven shall the necessities of His friends; III. He made His will, knowing never be wrapped His hour was coming; IV. He recorded in His will the persons the cloudy whom He bequeathed the blessings of the covenant; V. He disness."--T. Adams. annulled the old will, the Old Covenant, by establishing the New; VI. He had His will attested by credible witnesses (John v. 32, 36, 37; Acts x. 39); VII. He ratified it with a seal-His own blood; VIII. He committed it to proper executors-His Father and the Spirit; IX. He has made it unalterable; X. He commanded that it should be made known after His death.c

we are purged,

yan.

saints with savpurposes;

ing

"Nothing that polluteth or is unclean must enter into God's sanctuary; much less into the most holy part thereof, A wonderful deliverance.-Mr. John Avery, a pious minister, but by that Sa- having been driven from his native country by the persecution of crifice by which Archbishop Laud, fled to New England. Upon his arrival, he and for the sake settled for a short time at Newbury; but, receiving an invitation of which we are to Marble Head, he determined upon a removal to that place. accepted."-Bun- Having embarked in a small vessel, together with Mr. Anthony Thacker, another worthy minister, there arose a most tremendous "God saves the storm, by which the vessel struck against a rock, and was dashed to pieces. The whole company, consisting of twenty-three persons, the wicked He got upon the rock, but were successively washed off and drowned, saves tempo- except Mr. Thacker and his wife. Mr. Thacker and Mr. Avery rarily to destroy held each other by the hand a long time, resolving to die together, them eternally; He saves them till, by a tremendous wave, the latter was washed away, and from a present drowned. The moment before this happened, he lifted up his ger, and lets them eyes to heaven, saying, "We know not what the pleasure of God ripen for hell; as may be. I fear we have been too unmindful of former deliverances. we save our Lord, I cannot challenge a promise of the preservation of my life; young wood for but Thou hast promised to deliver us from sin and condemnation, and to bring us safe to heaven, through the all-sufficient satisfaction of Jesus Christ. This, therefore, I do challenge of Thee." He had no sooner uttered these words, than he was swept into the mighty deep, and no more seen. Mr. Thacker and his wife were also washed off the rock; but, after being tossed in the waves for some time, the former was cast on shore, where he found his wife a sharer in the deliverance.

sickness or dan

greater growth,

and then cut it down for the fire."-Gurnall.

the blood of the Testament

18-20. dedicated, inaugurated. blood, the death of the victim made the will of God, dependent on the offering, effective. Death gave force to the will. precept.. law, this was the testament. he took, etc., see notes on O. T.a blood.. testament, by wh. the things willed, and commanded, are confirmed to you. which.. you, and being shed according to the prewithout fear of scribed rule the blessings of the covenant are yours.

a Ex. xxiv. 6-8.

b Ma. xxvi. 28.

"I dare assert,

b

successful con- The blood of the Testament.-I. The blood of the covenant. tradiction, that This blood shows-1. How exclusively salvation originates with writers attribute the Trinity; 2. The solemn interest taken in us, since the cove

the inspired

nant is by blood; 3. The securities of Christ's people. II. The all the blessings sense in which the word "testament" is here actually used. It of salvation to the precious signifies a will. III. The fact that this blood is the blood of blood of Jesus sanctification, for God intends to make us holy. IV. In what Christ."-Dr. R. manner this blood is the blood of separation and dedication, Newton. binding us to remember that we are not our own, but God's.c c J. Walker. Gratitude due to Christ.-M. Manlius deserved exceedingly well of the Roman state, having valiantly defended their Capitol; but afterwards, falling into disfavour with the people, he was condemned to death. However, the people would not be so unthankful as to suffer him to be executed in any place from whence the Capitol might be beheld; for the prospect thereof prompted them with fresh remembrance of his former merits. At last they found a low place in the Peteline grove, by the river gate, where no pinnacle of the Capitol could be perceived, and there he was put to death. We may wonder how men can find in their hearts to sin against God. They can only do so by putting themselves into a position of forgetfulness of God's mercy towards them, and more especially His mercy shown in Christ's atonement.d

"We cannot, by all our sufferings, any more than merit heaven as a debt; but by our patience un

by our services,

der our sufferings, we are qualifled for the joy that is promised to patient sufferers in the cause of God."— Henry.

d Illus. of Truth. no remission without shedding

of blood

"If thy guilt of
sin goes off, and
convictions
off, in any way

go

righteous

ness of Christ,

21-23. moreover, after. when the taber. and its vessels were constructed. he.. ministry, although this was not enjoined by law: yet it was natural, since the altar was to be touched with the blood. almost, as one may say so to speak. blood .. remission, water and fire did not suffice: blood demanded a Le. xvi. 10-14. when forgiveness was needed. necessary, to meet the require- Le. xvii. 11; Re . ments of the law. patterns, delineations, outlines. of.. vii. 14, 15. heavens, heavenly taber. with contents. but.. these, we must rest in the plain and literal sense that the heaven itself needed, and obtained, purification by the atoning blood of Christ." The priesthood of Christ.-I. Its nature-what it supposes. It but by the blood supposes-1. Man's revolt and fall from God; 2. God's unal- and terable purpose to take vengeance for sin; 3. Man's utter thy guilt goes off, impotency to appease God by himself; 4. The necessity of not right, but Christ's being God-Man; 5. The extremity of His sufferings; 6. wrong, and thy Our final reconciliation to God through Christ. II. Its necessity. latter end will be a very bitter Christ alone can save us, because-1. God stood upon full satis- end."-Bunyan. faction, and would not remit one sin without it; 2. Man can tender no satisfaction of his own for the wrong done by his sin.c The blood-shedding.-There is here-I. A negative expressedno remission-without blood-the blood of Christ. This negative is-1. Divine in authority; 2. Decisive in its character; 3. Universal in extent; 4. Perpetual--enduring. II. A positive implied-that there is remission with blood. This remission is a present fact.a

Propitiation by sacrifice.—It has often been remarked that the idea of propitiation by sacrifice is to be found in connection with all the sacrifices of heathen nations. This is strikingly illustrated by the following account of one of the festivals of the North American Indians :--Dr. Edward Walsh describes a village, the houses of which surrounded a large green or common, in the centre of which the council-house or temple was erected. was lighted," he says, "by a few small square apertures, close to the eaves, which also let out the smoke; consequently, it was somewhat dark. The door facing the west had a rude but The roof, which had a high pitch, was propped strong posts, between which was the hearth,

spacious portico.
up within by four

c J. Flavel.

d C. H. Spurgeon. A wicked rich man, who felt

himself independent both of God and man, was driven into church, where he heard the text,

"Ye are not your

a

own; for ye are bought with price," and plain sermon on redemption.

That he was not "It his own was a

new thought,

which entered his soul, and led

him soon to seek and serve his Redeemer.