Doctrine

10. Out of Christ, or without him, all mankind are at an incon

ceivable distance from God,

11. It is an effect of infinite condescension and grace, that God

would appoint a way of recovery for those who had wilfully

cast themselves into this woful distance from him,

12. All our approximation unto God in any kind, all our ap-

proaches unto him in holy worship, are by him alone who was

the blessed hope of the saints under the Old Testament, and is

the life of them under the New,

VERSES 20-22.

Page

505

ib.

506

509

1. The faith, comfort, honour, and safety of the church, depends

much on every particular remark that God hath put upon any

of the offices of Christ, or whatever belongs thereto,

2. Nothing was wanting on the part of God, that might give emi-

nency, stability, glory and efficacy, to the priesthood of Christ, 510

3 Although the decrees and purposes of God were always firm

and immutable, yet there was no fixed state of outward dispen.

sations, none confirmed with an oath, until Christ came,

4. Although God granted great privileges unto the church

under the Old Testament, yet still in every instance he with-

held that which was the principal, and should have given per-

fection to what he did grant. He made them priests, but with-

out an oath,

513

515

5. God by his oath declares the determination of his sovereign

pleasure unto the object of it,

ib.

6. Christ's being made a priest by the oath of God for ever, is a

solid foundation of peace and consolation to the church,

ib.

7. All the transactions between the Father and the Son, concern-

ing his offices, undertakings, and the work of our redemption,

have respect unto the faith of the church, and are declared for

our consolation,

8. How good and glorious soever any thing may appear to be, or

really be, in the worship of God, or as a way of our coming to

him, or walking before him; if it be not ratified in and by the

immediate suretiship of Christ, it must give way unto that

which is better; it could be neither durable in itself, nor make

any thing perfect in them that made use of it,

516

520

9. All the privileges, benefits and advantages of the offices and

mediation of Christ, will not avail us, unless we reduce them all

unto faith in his person,

522

532

10. The whole undertaking of Christ, and the whole efficacy of

the discharge of his office, depends on the appointment of God, 523

11. The stability of the new covenant depends on the suretiship

of Christ and is secured to believers thereby,

12. The Lord Christ's undertaking to be our surety, gives the high-

est obligation to all duties of obedience according to the covenant, 536

VERSES 23-25.

1. God will not fail to provide instruments for his work that he

hath to accomplish,

539

2. There is such a necessity of the continual administration of the

sacerdotal office in behalf of the church, that the interruption of

it by the death of the priests, was an argument of the weakness

of that priesthood,

540

Doctrine

3. The perpetuity of the priesthood of Christ, depends on his own

perpetual life,

4. The perpetuity of the priesthood of Christ, as unchangeably

exercised in his own person, is a principal part of the glory of

that office,

5. The addition of sacrificing priests as vicars of, or substitutes

unto Christ, in the discharge of his office, destroys his priesthood,

as to the principal eminency of it, above that of the Levitical

priesthood,

Page

6. Considerations of the person and offices of Christ, ought to be'

improved unto the strengthening of the faith, and increase of

the consolation of the church,

7. The consideration of the oflice-power of Christ, is of great use

unto the faith of the church,

8. It is good to secure this first ground of evangelical faith, that

the Lord Christ, as vested with his offices and in the exercise of

them, is able to save us,

9. Whatever hindrances and difficulties lie in the way of the sal-

vation of believers, whatever oppositions do rise against it, the

Lord Christ is able, by virtue of his sacerdotal office, and in the

exercise of it, to carry the work through them all to eternal per-

fection,

1c. The salvation of all sincere gospel worshippers, is secured by

the actings of Christ in the discharge of his priestly office,

11. Attendance unto the service, the worship of God in the gos

pel, is required to interest us in the saving care and power of

our high priest,

other way but

544

ib.

545

546

547

551

553

554

555

12. Those who endeavour to come unto God in any

by Christ, as by saints and angels, may do well to consider, whe-

ther they have any such office in heaven, as by virtue whereof,

they are able to save them to the uttermost,

13. It is a matter of strong consolation to the church, that Christ

lives in heaven for us,

14. So great and glorious is the work of saving believers unto the

utmost, that it is necessary that the Lord Christ should lead a

mediatory life in heaven, for the perfecting and accomplishment

of it. He lives for ever to make intercession for us,

15. The most glorious prospect that we can take into the things

that are within the veil, into the remaining transactions of the

work of our salvation in the most holy place, is in the repre-

sentation that is made unto us of the intercession of Christ,

16. The intercession of Christ, is the great evidence of the conti-

nuance of his love and care, his pity and compassion towards

his church,

VERSE 26.

1. God, in his infinite wisdom, love and grace, gave us such a

high priest, as in the qualifications of his person, the glory of

his condition, and the discharge of his office, was every way

suited to deliver us from the state of apostasy, sin and misery,

and to bring us unto himself through a perfect salvation,

2. Although these properties of our high priest are principally

to be considered as rendering him meet to be our high priest,

ib.

559

566

568

569,

572

Doctrine

Page

yet are they also to be considered as an exemplar and idea of

that holiness and innocency which we ought to be conformable to, 583

3. Seeing all these properties were required unto Christ, and in him,

that he might be our high priest, he was all that he is here said

to be for us, and for our sakes; and benefit from them doth re-

dound unto us,

4. The infinite grace and wisdom of God, are always to be ad-

mired by us in providing such a high priest as was every way

meet for us, with respect unto the great end of his office, namely,

the bringing of us unto himself,

5. The dignity, duty, and safety of the gospel church, depend

solely on the nature, the qualifications, and the exaltation of our

high priest,

ib.

ib.

ib.

6. If such a high priest became us, was needful to us, for the

establishment of the new covenant, and the communication of

the grace thereof to the church, then all persons, Christ alone ex-

cepted, are absolutely excluded from all interest in this priesthood, 584

7. If we consider aright what it is that we stand in need of, and

what God hath provided for us, that we may be brought unto

him in his glory, we shall find it our wisdom to forego all other

expectations, and to betake ourselves unto Christ alone,

VERSES 27, 28.

1. No sinful man was meet to offer the great expiatory sacri-

fice for the church; much less is any sinful man fit to offer

Christ himself,

ib

596

2. The excellency of Christ's person and priesthood, freed him in

his offering from many things that the Levitical priesthood was

obliged unto,

ib.

3. No sacrifice could bring us to God, and save the church to the

utmost, but that wherein the Son of God himself was both priest

and offering,

ib.

4. It was burdensome and heavy work to attain relief against sin,

and settled peace of conscience, under the old priesthood, at-

tended with so many weaknesses and infirmities,

597

5. There never was, nor ever can be, any more than two sorts of

priests in the church, the one made by the law, the other by the

oath of God,

6. As the bringing in of the priesthood of Christ after the law,

and the priesthood constituted thereby, did abrogate and disannul

it so the bringing in of another priesthood after his, will abro-

gate and disannul that also,

603

ib.

7. Plurality of priests under the gospel, overthrows the whole argu-

ment of the apostle in this place, and if we have yet priests that

have infirmities, they are made by the law, and not by the gospel, ib.

8. The sum of the difference between the law and the gospel, is

issued in the difference between the priests of the one and the

other state, which is inconceivably great,

ib.

9. The great foundation of our faith, and the hinge whereon all

our consolation depends, is this, that our high priest is the Son

of God,

ib.

10. The,everlasting continuance of the Lord Christ in his office,

is secured by the oath of God,

ib.

PREFACE.

The following PREFACE is prefixed by the Author, to the Volume which contains the Exposition of the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth Chapters.

N

In my former discourses on this subject, I have declared sø fully the general design, scope, and end of this Epistle; the proper way and means of its interpretation; with the method of the present Exposition, which is the same throughout; that I shall not at all here detain the reader with a renewed declaration of any of them. Only some few things which immediately concern that part of the Exposition which is now presented unto him, and my labour therein, may be mentioned, as I suppose, unto some usefulness.

1. And it may not be amiss, in the first place, to take notice of an objection to which the present endeavour seems liable and obnoxious; and this is, the unseasonableness of it. We live in times that are fortified against the use of discourses of this nature, especially such as are so long and bulky. The world, and the minds of men therein, are filled with disorder and confusion, and the most are at their wit's end, with looking after the things that are come, and coming, on the earth.

They have enough to do in hearing, telling, and reading real or pretended news of public affairs, so as to divert them from engaging their time, and industry, in the perusal and study of such discourses. Besides, there is not any thing in this which is now published, to condite it unto the palate of the present age, by personal contests and reflections, by pleading for or against any party of men, or espécial way in the profession of religion; only the fundamental truths of the gospel are occasionally contended for. These, and the like considerations, might possibly, in the judgment of some, have shut up this whole discourse in darkness, upon the account of its being un seasonable. VOL. V.

B

I shall briefly acquaint the reader with what relieved me against this objection, and gave me satisfaction in the publish ing of this part of the Exposition, after it was finished. For I could not but remember, that the times and seasons wherein the former parts of it were published, were very little more settled and quiet, than are these which are now urgent on us; yet did not thu, hinder, but they have been of some use and benefit unto the church of God in this nation, and to others also. And who knows but this may have the same blessing accompanying of it? He who hath supplied seed to the sower, can multiply the seed sown, and increase the fruits of it. And although at present the most are really unconcerned in things of this nature, yet not a few from many parts, both at home and abroad, have earnestIs solicited the continuation of the Exposition, at least unto that period whereunto it is arrived.

Besides, in labours and endeavours of this nature, respect is not had merely unto the present generation, especially as many are filled with prejudices and causeless enmity against the author of them. We have ourselves more benefit and advantage by the writings of sundry persons in former ages, than they received by them who lived in their own days.

Pascitur in vivis livor, post fata quiescit.

It is therefore the duty of some in every age, to commit unto those that shall survive in the church of God, and profession of the truth, their knowledge in the mysteries of the gospel, whereby spiritual light may be more and more increased unto the perfect day.

On these, and the like considerations, I have wholly left these times and seasons in the hand of him who hath the sole disposal of them; and will not so far observe the present blustering wind and clouds, as not to sow this seed, or despair of reaping fruits thereby.

2. The reader will find no Exercitations prefixed unto this volume, as there are unto the former. And this has so fallen out, not because there were no things of weight or moment occurring in these chapters, deserving a separate peculiar handling and consideration, but for other reasons, which made the omission of them necessary and unavoidable. For indeed, continued infirmities and weaknesses, in my near approach unto the grave, rendered me insufficient for that labour, especially considering what other duties have been, and yet are, incumbent on me. And yet also my choice was compliant with this necessity. For I found that this part of the Exposition, comprising so many chapters, and those all of them filled with glorious mysteries, and things of the highest importance unto our faith and