Civ Dei l. 10. And as spending of our lives for God and our Brethren so the spending of our Estates all our Alms and charities are Evangelical Gifts and Oblations and Sacrifices therefore many times anciently made by Christians at the Altar See Heb. 13. 16. Phil. 4. 18. I have received c. the things that were sent from you an odour of a sweet smell a sacrifice accâ—…ptable c. All our doings then and all our spendings our souls and our bodies Rom. 12. 1. the spending of our lives and of our estates all these make up one compleat Holocaust which we owe unto God under the Gospel of which those under the Elements of the world were types and in which they are fulfilled after that our Savior had first begun to us and sacrificed instead of Beasts himself 1 Pet. 2. 5. Col. 1. 24. Now these the peoples sacrifices under the Gospel as those under the Law must of necessity have a Priest to offer them for the reason mentioned not only because they are so nothing worth the best we can bring of them and so unprofitable when we have done all we can and God so self all-sufficient without them whose offerings to him whatever are only his gifts to us 1 Chron. 29. 14. all of us but our sins being his but because by contagion of sin in us they are also all unclean for who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean Job 14. 4. and he so pure and so holy that we are in the same condition as Uzziah 2 Chron. 26. 18. or Nadab and Abihu unless there be one to bear the iniquity of our holy things and thro whose merits towards God and Gods love unto him they may be accepted To whom methink God speaks as Moses Exod. 19. Do thou come up c. but let not the people least I break forth upon them And unto us as disguised Joseph did to his brethren see not my face unless you bring your Brother with you Or as God to to the Friends of Job 42. c. 8. v. Take with you a sacrifice and go to my servant Job and my servant Job shall pray for you for him I will accept or as to Abimelech concerning Abraham Gen. 20. 7. He is a Prophet and he shall pray for thee and thou shalt live For these intercessors were set down for types of this supreme Mediator By our Savior therefore all these our Sacrifices must be offered or by us in his name which is all one Phil. 1. 11. and that not only our praiers and petitions where we need and ask something that they may be heard thro Jesus Christ our Lord but our giving of thanks and glory to God Alas what glory can we give where we present something that they may be accepted We then first come to him and he offers them for us so we are said to praise to give thanks to give glory to God by him See Heb. 13. 15. Rom. 1. 8. Col. 3. 17. 1 Pet. 2. 4 5. Therefore he stiles himself the way to the Father Jo. 14. 6. and the door Jo. 10. 9. thro which we must pass And to God be glory in the Church by Christ. Eph. 3. 21. The tongue being in the head that speaks for the body 3. But thirdly he not only presents and delivers our petitions for us c. but he hath procured for us free admission to the Father to deliver them our selves not in a body by presence indeed as yet but by the spirit Eph. 2. 18. and sent us unto the Father to ask any thing in his name see Jo. 16. 23 24 26 27. according to which the Church directs her praiers not to him as he saith vers 23. but to the Father telling us that the Father himself for his sake loveth us vers 27. Eph. 1. 6. Rom. 8. 39. love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. In this far outdoing the mediation under the law where Moses indeed went up but the people were rail'd out and trembling and quaking stood afar off which preeminence of us the Apostle often intimates in the Epistles Heb. 12. 17. By him therefore now we also are said to draw nigh unto God to have access to the Father access with boldness to come boldly unto the throne of grace into the Holiest Heb. 10. 19 22. all our words and works to be accepted if done in his name c. See Heb. 4. 16. Eph. 5. 20. Heb. 7. 19 25. Eph. 2. 18. -3. 12. Col. 3. 17. And for these causes above-said it is that the Church so often in all Divine service repeats that holy dear name and St. Paul 't is noted in his Epistles above 500 times because to by thro and in Him and his name are all things said and done and to be done that are well and acceptably done Which name be it blessed for ever 4. After these acts of this High Priests intercession let us now proceed to the fruits and benefits thereof And first As the legal High Priest first after he had offered the sacrifice and again after he had carried in the blood into the Holyest blessed and put Gods name upon the people Lev. 9. 22. c. Numb 6. 27. So our Savior answerable to the first before he went into the Sanctuary Luk. 24. 50 and at other times blessed his people and answerable to the second also doth it since his going in blessing us from it because by his everlasting Priesthood needing to make no more offerings he is not to come out of it till the consummation of all things when he will yet in a more transcendent manner give us his blessing See Act. 3. 26. and what the blessing that he sent us was see Act. 2. 33. Upon whose blessing us from above that fire Act. 2. 2. descended upon the Apostles and consequently upon his Church ever since of which that material one which came out from before the Lord upon Aarons first blessing was a type Lev. 9. 24. Imagine him then first now speaking from Heaven putting his Fathers name upon us and pronouncing that form Numb 6. 24. and then after it all those spiritual and temporal blessings and deliverances of his Church here showred down by him but above all that fire of the Holy Spirit for ever burning upon the Altar of our hearts and hallowing all our sacrifices and elevating them unto God the manifold gifts and graces of which are mentioned elsewhere Only here take notice 1. Of the time of their collation and that was after his being ascended and entred into the Sanctuary and having interceded there See Jo. 7. 39. -16. 7. Act. 2. 33. Eph. 4. 7 8. Jo. 14. 28 29. So that we have and do receive far greâ—…ter advantages by his absence and service there then we could by his corporal presence here Blessed be God by whose wisdom all things serve for our good as also appears in his Disciples far more expert in knowledg
Legislator being faithful as Moses Heb. 3. 2. but yet more to be observed being Master of the house wherein Moses was a servant v. 6. Therefore Moses when he should come referred them wholly to him Deut. 18. 15. And in this office of his first a new Legislator in some respects as to the law moral First to rectifie the understanding of the Law formerly either falsifyed or mutilated he expounding it in most things more fully and in some things also contrary to what had been said of old It hath been said of old so but I say unto you Matt. 5 6 7 chapters Jo. 1. 17 18. -3. 2. -4. 25. 2. Again to exact to this Law thus expounded by him a more true and inward and full obedience of all men that would be his Disciples then ever had been performed before by the strictest Sects of all the Law-zealots not to let a title of it pass away pass away heaven and earth first till all the Law be fulfilled Matt. 5. 17 18 19 20. 1 Cor. 7. 19. Gal. 2. 17. Jam. 2. 12. 3. To make to such observers of this Law more open and manifest promises of the Kingdome of Heaven Heb. 8. 6. and against the breakers of this Law heretofore winked at and suffered to walk in their own way c. to revele the wrath of God from Heaven as not the joyes of heaven so neither the paines of Hell before his coming having been so much talked of Rom. 1. 18. charging men every where to repent Act. 17. 30. because a day is appointed wherein he will judge the world v. 31. Tit. 2. 11 12 13. Therefore he came saith the Baptist with an axe on his shoulder with a fan in his hand to cut down the fruitless trees to purge Gods floor of the chaff and with a fire made ready to burn them both Matt. 3. 10. c. He was laid a stone for stumbling and the fall as well as the rising again of many in Israel Luk. 2. 34. That every soul that hears not this man who the last speaks from Heaven Heb. 12. 25. should be destroyed from among the people Act. 3. 23. Es. 6. 9 10 11. compare with Matt. 13. 14. Esai 61. 2. and that none should have any way to escape that turneth away from him He came for judgment that they who will not see might be made blind Jo. 9. 39. and the last ages knowing by him Gods will and not obeying it should be beaten as they are with more stripes Luk. 12. 48. and their sin remain for ever Jo. 9. 41. 4. He was sent not only the most perfect and exact Interpreter of the letter that Gods law and will might be fully known and an exactor of the observance of it in the strictest senses thereof upon the most grievous punishments to the disobedient which is all hitherto but a fuller ministration of condemnation and death But as of the exactest letter so he came the minister of the spirit 2 Cor. 3. 6. Jo. 1. 16 17. Gal. 3. 14. Phil. 4. 13. Eph. 1. 23. 1 Cor. 1. 8. Act. 3. 26. that by the power of this spirit the Law by them that beleived might be fulfilled See Rom. 8. 3 4 which was the ministration of the soul as it were of the law and of righteousness and life unto us 2 Cor. 3. 7 8. Gal. 2. 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 compare with v. 17. and Rom. 8. 2. Jam. 2. 12. 1 Cor. 9. 21. Before the law was writ in the conscience only as the law of Nature for the Gentile Rom. 2. 14 15 or also more evidently in stone as the law of Moses for the Jew to bring forth knowledge of sin But by him it was written with the spirit in the heart to bring forth obedience to justification Jer. 32. 40. The other brought in the spirit of fear subjecting our inability to the curse of it but he gave the spirit of love out of this love procuring our observance of it 2. Tim. 1. 7. Rom. 8. 15. 1 Tim. 1. 5. 3. Which love keeps it far more perfectly then fear would as shewing its zeal not only in Negatives of which is the letter i. e. in working no ill Rom. 13. 9 10. but also in the Affirmatives not exprest in the word of the the law i. e. in doing all good to all to the highest degree Therefore this love the greatest of all gifts 1 Cor. 13. is called Christs new commandment Jo. 13. 34. -15. 12. 1 Jo. 2. 8. 2 Jo. 5. had only from the beginning of the Gospel i. e. from Christ and belonging only to the sons thereof tho this Gospel hath had such sons from the beginning who are said 1 Thess. 4. 3. to be taught of God that is by his spirit 1 Jo. 4. 7 8. 16. as the spirit also the only Author of love and which is love was his new gift by which love he saith his disciples should be discerned from the disciples of the law Jo. 13. 35. By which ministration of the spirit and of â—…ove the proper fruit thereof by Christ we now so easily understand and do the things commanded by the law that the letter of the law is said to become as it were void and useless to us by the coming of the promised seed and the Schoolmastership thereof to be outdated by Christ not because we are now without law 1 Cor. 9. 21. but because we have it superabundantly written in our hearts by the spirit and the works thereof continually brought forth by love thro the efficacy of the last law-giver Jesus Christ. 1 Tim. 1. 5 9. Gal. 5. 23. -3. 19. Rom. 8. 15. Therefore called the law of liberty Jam. 2. 12. This for the law moral which in some sense our Saviour is said to abrogate Gal. 3. 25. Col. 2. 14. that is according to the former use thereof namely as only giving knowledge of sin Rom. 3. 20. being a letter of condemnation and working wrath Rom. 4. 15. 2 Cor. 3. 7 9. and keeping us in slavery and bondage Rom. 8. 15. Tho this abrogation is done not by absolving us from any more observance of it but by enabling us to keep it and by making this observance now also voluntary But next for the law Ceremonial he was sent yet more properly to annual and cancel it and to appoint new Ceremonies at pleasure instead of it He being the substance and body Col. 2. 17. of which it was a type and shadow when that which is perfect was come the imperfect being to be done away He was sent therefore to reform or perfect the worship of God from those many exterior rites so strict and burthensome see Act. 15. 10. Heb. 13. 9. Col. 2. 14. to that of the spirit and of truth Jo. 4. 23. As also to reform many liberties and indulgences under the law see Matt. 5. 31 34. -19. 8. Therefore his times by the Apostle are called the times of Reformation
the Lord and according to his word they were to do Lastly the benediction of the people was in a special manner conferred by him See Lev. 9. 22. Ecclus. 50. 5. c. Therefore in this Ceremony twice viz. after the ending of the Sacrifice and again after his coming out of the Sanctum Sanctorum He solemnly in Gods name blessed the people See Lev. 9. 22 23. Upon Aarons first solemn blessing them fire came out from before the Lord to abide on the Altar for ever vers 24. Now what was said before of the Levitical Sacrifice is here to be said again of the legal Priests They continuing sinners as well after as before their consecration and offering for their own faults as well as for the peoples Heb. 5. 3. a sinner for sinners were in themselves ineffectual Intercessors before God and as it was impossible for those sacrifices to take away sins so for such Priests being sinners and daily consorting with sinners and free from only some not all defilements to make any attonement but only in relation to and as types of the other Priest to come who only was without blemish holy undefiled and separate from sinners Heb. 7. 26. Add to this that the service they did in this office was very incompleat For they were not Intercessors before the Lord for all Nations but presented only the names of the twelve Tribes of Israel and for them they knew not every ones diverse confessions and requests nor were able to make particular recommendation of these Or if to recommend yet had no ability to help subnexed to their Intercession for them which we shall shew is a priviledge of the true Priesthood which is alwaies joined with Royalty and power They entred into the Divine presence but once a Year and presently came out again did not abide and wait and sit down there to be perpetual Advocates with God for the people And then the place they went into was not the true Sanctuary which the Lord pitched Heb. 8. 2. who tho he is every where in his essence yet is he only in Heaven as his dwelling place 1 King 8. 39. then hear thou in Heaven thy dwelling place The place of the appearance of his glory and Majesty of his Court and Attendants of his throne where he gives audience unto all his Creatures is there But their sanctuary served only unto the example and shadow of Heavenly things Heb. 8. 5. And the glory in it was but a shadow of his glory 2 Cor. 3. 10 11. Lastly the Requests they made in it were rather about temporal then eternal things about present and corporal not future and spiritual No new Canaans for us no new Jerusalems no new eternal places of rest prepared by them no conferring also on all the people their Brethren that sacerdâ—…tal Honor to wait for ever on God in his holy Temple which is the complement of all our felicity These benefits were reserved to crown the intercessions of another High Priest of an higher Order In the fulness of time therefore came the substance of whom these were types 1. As a Sacrifice without spot so a sacrifice without sin pure without all blemish not a bone of him broken unharmable undefiled separate from sinners not after a while decaying but continuing for ever at this day at this hour The same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 7. 24 26. -13. 8. 2. Tho thus perfect and perpetual yet which is strange 1. one of our selves a man as we raised up from the midst of us of our brethren Deut. 18. 15. For this was altogether necessary for such an office in which he was to be the Representative of his brethren Therefore the legal High Priest appeared before the Lord not only in his person like unto them but with all their names engraven upon his brest and this saith the Text for a memorial of them before the Lord continually Exod. 28. 12 21. and therefore the Apostle puts in the definition of an High Priest Heb. 5. 1. Taken from amongst men 2. Again one he was that was to be compassed with infirmity for a while at least that standing before the Lord he might have all compassion in him toward those for whom he officiated might be the more earnest the more constant and diligent and know how more tenderly to present to the Holy Majesty the temptations the miseries himself had experienced and they also might have more confidence to commend their suits unto him as being their brother and once as they straitned Therefore 't is a Rule Heb. 2. 11. He that sanctifieth and those who are sanctified are all of one and therefore this Priest for as much as the children were partakers of flesh and blood did also himself likewise take part of the same v. 14. not the nature of Angels but of man v. 16. and was not ashamed to call them Brethren ver 11. and to be made like unto them in all things v. 17. and that for the foresaid ends that he might be merciful be faithful unto them Heb. 2. 17 18. -5. 1 2. -4. 15. Besides Before Gods justice no intercession could be effectual without merit therefore mediation of sinners for sinners profits not nor no merit but in a condition and nature liable to temptations and sufferings at least such merit not serviceable in the behalf of men where his merits are not in the same kind as their demerits were and therefore there is the same reason of the humanity of our Savior for his being a Priest as for his being a sacrifice 3. Thus being man and man clothed with infirmity fitted for this office he was not appointed by himself but called as other Priests were to this office and anointed by God Heb. 5. 4 5. Heb. 3. 2. 2 Pet. 1. 17. Act. 10. 38. But far more glorified and honored in it then any before him God now anointing a Priest once and for all Heb. 7. 28. and not to the same order of which the former were in many things as is shewed before deficient but to the very best that of Melchisedeck i. e. a Priesthood everlasting and royal and that had power joyned with Intercession and the honor of sitting down by him to whom he officiated For this man was counted worthy of more glory then any before as being the builder and afterward upon its ruin rebuilder of this house over which God thus made him Lord. Heb. 3. 3. Thus made a Priest now let us view the exact discharge of his office in the several parts thereof and first the Priests office for expiation of sin c. being first to offer the sacrifice and then to carry the blood thereof into the Sanctuary and there make an attonement and intercession with it for the offenders He therefore first offered the sacrifice a sin-offering upon the altar of the Cross such as never Priest offered before him neither for the worth of it
other in a cloud to speak with Moses the other to David 1 Chron. 28. 19. in a design Of which heavenly Sanctuary we may have a divine sight a far-off from the several visions and apparitions of Gods glory both those in the old Testament see Esai 6. 1. Ezech. 1. 4. -10. 1. c. and those in the new to St. John For 't is worth the noting that not only Gods glory on the Mount to Moses Ps. 68. 17. but in the heavens to St. John appeared still as in a Temple or Sanctuary see Rev. 6. 9. -7. 15. -8. 3. -9. 13. -11. 1 19. -13. 8. -14. 15 18. -4. 5 4. where is mention of the Court of the Altar of burnt-offerings Rev. 11. 1. and 6. 9. of the Altar of Incense upon which were offered Incense together with the Saints prayers see Luk. 1. 9 10. comp Rev. 8. 3. of the Ark of the Covenant upon the top or covering of which was the Mercy-Seat or propitiatory or throne of grace For the Ark Cherubims c. did alwaies represent a Throne or triumphant Charet which besides the Cherubims winged for flying and footed in such a manner for running had wheels also for which see besides Ezek. 1. chap. in whose visions were oftentimes removals of this Charet or Throne from place to place and Dan. 7. 9. 1 Chron. 28. 18. where the Ark is called the Charet of the Cherubims The Cherubims the 4 Beasts the same with Ezekiels and Esaiahs by whom Gods Throne was supported of all Creatures his nearest and most vigilant Rev. 4. 6. Ezek. 1. 10. attendants who gave out Gods orders to the rest of the Angels Rev. 15. 7. of the Candlestick with 7 Lamps of fire burning before the Throne the representation of the Holy Ghost as appears by Rev. 1. 4. -5. 6. Ezek. 4. 2 10. comp with 6. Act. 1. 3. And which never appeared in the former visions of the old Testament of a Lamb that was slain before the Throne and about the Throne on either side of it of 24 Presbyters in a Semicircle sitting on seats representing the Church Triumphant and the Session of the President and the Elders in the Jewish Synagogue or Consistory and afterward of the Bishop and his Presbyters in the Christian Churches these encircled with a guard of millions of Angels Rev. 7. 11. Rev. 5. 11. Habited all like Priests as also our Savior himself was in another vision Rev. 1. 13. Exod 28. 40. in linnen garments to the foot white and resplendent and girt about the paps Crowns on their heads See Exod. 28. 40. like those of the Priests for ornament and for glory Bearing his name on their foreheads Rev. 22. 4. as the High Priest did holiness unto the Lord Palms and Instruments of Musick and Vials full of Incense in their hands celebrating divine service in this Temple praising God and the Lamb and offering to him as the Clergy here do the praiers of the Saints Praising the Lamb for the redemption of themselves and of mankind Rev. 5. 9 10. comp with 1. 6. Ready to comfort John about the power of the Lamb Rev. 5. 5. and to instruct him concerning his suffering Brethren Rev. 7. 13. see Rev. 4. 4. -6. 11. -7. 9. -15. 6. Having thus made a description of the place the heavenly Sanctuary and the propiatory or throne of grace there over the Ark compassed with 4 Cherubims c. according as the Lord Jesus was pleased to represent it to St. John Here first now let us imagine to enter and present himself this great High Priest soon after his work finisht upon the Altar of the Cross such as he is described Heb. 7. 26. Holy unharmable undefiled separate from sinners needing no washing first as the Legal did arrayed with all the truth and substance of those things which were typified by the ornaments of the legal High Priest bearing our names upon his shoulders Esai 53. 6. -9. 6. Esai 63. 9. and again engraven as a Signet upon his heart according to Cantic 8. 6. Hagg. 2. 23. for a memorial of us before the Lord continually Exod. 28. 12 21. Having engraven upon his Miter Holiness pure and never stained unto the Lord that so his holiness may bear the iniquities of our holy things and we in and by it may be accepted before the Lord he being made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption Numb 18. 1. Exod. 28. 38. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Rom. 5. 19. appearing again a Priest with the restord Urim and Thummim Ezra 2. 63. upon his heart light and perfection perfect wisdom and perfect righteousness opening the book of all Gods secrets and shewing them as he pleaseth to his Brethren Rev. 5. 5. -1. 1. Numb 27. 21. by the Holy Ghost Jo. 16. 13 14. as it first hears and receives from him thus passing thro the outer Sanctuary of the heavens Heb. 9. 11. whilst it is proclaim'd before him Behold the Lamb of God c. my servant whom I have chosen my Beloved in whom my soul is well pleased Let us imagine him I say in such equipage to appear in this Sanctum Sanctorum before that Mercy-Seat that throne of grace and to appear in the presence of God there not for himself but for us saith the Apostle Heb. 9. 24. -8. 1. for himself had that glory there with his Father before the world was and came down out of his bosom for this purpose for he that would ascend thus must be such a one that descended first that he might return thither with these new engagements upon him with a great many names besides his own new relations and new kindred entring in thither now for his poor Brethren Thus entred first into this Sanctuary he carries with him not only the blood but the whole sacrifice being restored unto him after he had offered it as an entire Holocaust and poured out all the blood thereof at the foot of the Altar to offer it here a second time to the acceptation of his Father See Heb. 8. 3. comp 9. 7. carries it with all the wounds and piercings made in it as honourable marks of his sufferings and remembrances thereof to his Father which 't is probable that his glorified body still retains appearing in his Father sight a Lamb as it had been slain See Rev. 5. 6. as also he appeared before for confirming the faith of his Disciples Jo. 20. 27. to which the Apostle alludes Gal. 6. 17. and likely shall appear at the last day to the everlasting reproach of his enemies See Rev. 1. 7. In memory whereof also the very Altar the Cross is imagined to be that which is called the sign of the son of man Matt. 24. 30. and which shall appear in the heavens and be carried before as his royal Ensign in his procession to the last judgment Which Sacrifice since he appoints here in the consecrated elements to be shewed forth by his Priests in our Sanctuaries before God in