Mark; Chrift was not only to die, and fo offer up a facrifice of atonement, but he was also to make reconciliation by it ever afterwards for his children (in cafe of tranfgreffion) whenever occafion fhould be. So faith John, If any man fin, we have an advocate with the Father (to plead for the forgiv ing and blotting out of the fin); and he is the propitiation (or reconciliation) for our fins; as the old tranflation renders it, 1 John ii. 1, 2.

Obferv. 5. Chrift, our apoftle and high-prieft, is as faithful over all his house as Mofes was over his. There is not one of the children, not one of his family, but he will teach: not one foul belonging to him, but he will fuccour, being tempted; nor any one, but he will be an advocate and reconciliation for (in case of fin), in and according to the way that God hath appointed, Heb. iii. 2.

Obferv. 6. Who are Chrift's house? over whom is he an apoftle and highprieft? It is over his own house; whofe houfe are all fuch as are called by him, if they receive and hold fast that which gives a right to him, and interest in him, chap. iii. 6. and ver. 14. For as under the law, the high-priest was priest only over the outward Ifrael, the Jews natural; fo under the gofpel, Chrift is appointed of God high-prieft over the inward Jews, the Jews fpiritual.

Obferv. 7. How this apoftle or high-prieft of our profeffion doth work in the hearts of his family or houthold? which is by the Word of Life, by the Word of his own eternal power, which pierceth deep, and divideth between foul and spirit, joints and marrow, difcerning and judging every thought and intent, and bringing every high reasoning and imagination into captivity, that the heart, foul, mind and fpirit, with all the thoughts and intents thereof, may become subject to his Spirit and power, chap. iv. 12.

Obferv. 8. What an advantage we have, by having fuch an high-prieft (as was tempted like us, and touched with the fenfe of our infirmities) of coming boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need! For he who experimentally knew what the weakness of our flesh is, and what it was to be tempted therein, and how needful and seasonable help from his Father then was; furely he cannot but be ready to give out, and multiply grace and mercy to his in the time of their need, chap. iv. 15, 16.

Obferv. 9. How Chrift came to be an high-priest? which was not by his own taking the honour to himself, but by God's glorifying him with the call thereto, chap. v. 4, 5.

Obferv. 10. How God fitted Chrift, and made him a perfect high-prieft? which was by preparing for him a body of flesh, and exercifing him in the days of his flesh with many trials and temptations; and at laft with a bitter baptifm, and cup of death, in which he felt and bare the griefs and forrows of his people, and cried mightily to his Father, and was heard in that he feared: and so having himself perfectly learned obedience to his Father, he knows how to become the author of eternal falvation to all that obey him. For Chrift, who was heard and faved from death in his obedience to his Father, is appointed to be the leader and Saviour of his people, to fave and redeem

Eee 2

redeem them in their obedience unto him, the leader into, and in the way and paths of life, chap. v. 7, 8, 9.

Obferv. 11. Where Chrift mediates for his people? which is within the veil, in the heavenly place, in the holiest of all, where the anchor of our hope reacheth to him and falleneth upon him, and there remains fure and stedfaft; fo that we are ftayed upon him, the rock of life and power, against all the ftorms and tempefts of the powers of darkness, both inward and outward, chap. vi. 19, 20. Obferv. 12. After what order Chrift was made an high-prieft; which was after the order of Melchizedeck, who was king of righteoufnefs, and king of peace, even after an holy and heavenly order: not after the order of the earthly priesthood, the high-prieits whereof were taken from amongst men, but after his order who was made mention of; without father, without mother, without descent (for who can declare his generation ?) without beginning of days or end of life, chap. vii. 1, 2, 3. and 15.

Obferv. 13. That this priest put an end to and changed the laws of the other earthly, fhadowy priesthood of Levi, by which perfection was not, that he might bring in that priesthood of his own, by which perfection was to be, chap. vii. ver. 11, &c.

Obferv. 14. How Chrift was made priest after a different manner from the priests of the law: for they were made priests after the law of a carnal commandment; but Chrift was not made priest so, but after the power of an endless life, chap. vii. 16.

Obferv. 15. That the work of Chrift's priesthood continueth until it be finished; that is, till this high-priest hath faved all whom he is to fave, which is thus as in all ages the Father draweth fouls to him, fo he is to fave them; to destroy their enemies, to blot out their fins, to break down what ftands between God and them, and fo to bring them into the true onenefs; for God will never be reconciled to his enemy the devil, nor to man while in union with him, chap. vii. 24, 25.

Obferv. 16. That this high-prieft needeth not to offer many facrifices to atone by, as the priests under the law needed to do often: for he was a perfect prieft, and offered up one perfect, fpotlefs facrifice; and is a propitiation for the fins of the whole world, chap. vii. 27, 28.

Obferv. 17. What fanctuary is Chrift the high-priest and minister of? which is, of that fanctuary and true tabernacle which the Lord pitcheth, and not man, chap. viii. 2.

Obferv. 18. What he hath to offer? for every high-priest was ordained to offer both gifts and facrifices. He hath the heavenly gifts and facrifices to offer; even all the gifts and spiritual facrifices that are revived and brought forth by him in the holy place, even in his temple or spiritual house within the veil; he is to offer them all up to his Father, ver. 3, &c.

Obferv. 19. What covenant he is mediator of? even a better covenant than the priests under the law were mediators of, which is established upon better,promises: a covenant, wherein there is no defectiveness or imperfection,

wherein

wherein all fhall certainly be redeemed and faved by him, who come to him in the drawing of the Father, and abide with him. For in fuch God will put his laws into their minds, and write them in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be his people; and will fo teach them, that they shall need no other teacher; but fhall all know him from the leaft to the greateft.. For as men come into this covenant, God will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their fins and their iniquities will he remember no more, ver, 6. to the end.

Obferv. 20. That Chrift is not an high-priest of the figures of things, but of the good things themselves (which came in the time of reformation), even of the perfect covenant, the perfect tabernacle, and of the worship and fervice in Spirit and truth; where the perfect refiner (by his Spirit of judgment and burning) purifieth the fons of Levi, that they may offer to God an offering in righteoufnefs, chap. ix. 9, 10, 11. and Mal. iii. 3.

So that there is a different ftate witnessed by the people of God in this covenant, from what was witneffed by the Jews in the other covenant: for what was amifs there, is reformed here by the Spirit and power of our God, in all those that abide and walk in this covenant; who live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit, and do not fulfill the lufts of the flesh, which grieve and provoke God's Holy Spirit.

Obferv. 21. How Chrift came to obtain eternal redemption for all his ? which was by his blood. For as the high-priest under the law entered into the holy place of that tabernacle made with hands, by the blood of goats and calves, and fo obtained remiffion for the fins of that outward people the Jews; fo Chrift entered into the truly holy place, into the greater and more perfect tabernacle, and there by his blood obtained remiffion for all that should receive repentance from him, and believe in him, ver. 11, 12.

Obferv. 22. How Chrift purifieth, purgeth, and fanctifieth the people with his blood? which is, by fprinkling it upon them. For under the law, in that outward covenant, the unclean were fprinkled with the blood of the facrifice, that they might be fanctified to the purifying of the flesh; and under the gospel, in this inward covenant, believers are fprinkled with the blood of the Lamb, that their confciences might be purged from dead works to ferve the living God, as his cleansed, holy, renewed people, ver. 13, 14.

Obferv. 23. For what caufe Chrift was mediator of the New Teftament? which was, that by means of death for the redemption of the tranfgreffors under the first Teftament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance, ver. 15. For God hath made Chrift a propitiation for all men, both Jews and Gentiles, that through faith in his blood, his righteousness might be declared for the remiffion of fins that are paft, through the forbearance of God, that he might be juft, and a juftifier of him who is of the faith of Jefus, Rom. iii. 15, 16. So that they that were under the first covenant, hearkening unto him, and believing in him, were justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the law of Mofes, Acts xiii. 39.

Obferv.

Obferv. 24. The neceffity of Chrift's death, which was, because he was to make way by his own blood into the holieft, to appear before God for us; and to fprinkle the heavenly things with the blood of a facrifice, of an higher and better nature than the blood of bulls and goats was; for that was the blood of the covenant, which was to pafs away, but he was to fprinkle his with the blood of the everlasting covenant; and by this his death and blood (sprinkled upon the hearts of his) his covenant comes to be of force, ver. 16. to 25. and chap. xiii. 20, 21.

Obferv. 25: That this high-prieft need not often offer facrifices, to put away fin, as the priests of the law did; because this one offering is fufficient, and the blood thereof fprinkled upon the confcience, is able to purge away dead works, wherever it is fprinkled. There needeth not any other offering, nor any other blood to do it; but all that is now further needed, or to be expected by his, is his appearing the fecond time, without fin, unto falvation, in the pure virtue, power, and life of his own Spirit, ver. 25. to

the end.

Obferv. 26. What it was, that was the thing of great value with the Father, in Chrift giving up himself to death? It was his obedience. He did obey his Father in all things, not doing his own will, but the will of him that fent him. He was obedient to death, even the death of the cross: and fo, as by one man's difobedience, death came upon all; fo by the obedience of one, the free gift came upon all, which free gift is unto life; for life comes upon all that come to him, and believe in him, through the free gift, which is freely tendered to, and come upon all; chap. x. 7. Rom. v. 18, 19. Obferv. 27. That God took away facrifices, and burnt-offerings, which were appointed by the old covenant, that he might eftablish this obedience among all his children. Chrift led the way, and all are to follow him in the new obedience, and to walk in newness of Spirit before the Lord, ver. 9.

Obferv. 28. That we are fanctified by the fame will, by which Christ was fanctified, or fanctifieth himself. In fubjection to the fame will, which the head obeyed (even in denying themfelves, taking up the cross to their own wills, and fubmitting to God's) are the members fanctified. The Spirit of God works them into holiness by this will of God, and through the offering of the body of Jefus Chrift once, ver. 10. John xvii. 19.

So mark there is the will of God, the offering up the body of Jefus, the pouring out the Spirit of grace, the new covenant, and faith in Chrift, &c. All these tend to work out one and the fame thing, and they all concur thereto, in their several orders and places.

Obferv. 29. That as this high-prieft fanctifies men, fo he perfects them; and when they are fully fanctified, then they are for-ever perfected; but till then, Chrift, the high-priest of our profeffion, hath fomewhat to do upon them towards the perfecting of them, that he may present them spotless, and blameless to his Father, ver. 14, 15.

Obferv.

Obferv. 30. How the apoftle proves, That by this one offering, Chrift hath for-ever perfected them that are fan&tified. He proves it thus: by this offering the covenant is established, wherein is the putting and writing God's law in the heart and mind, the remiffion of fins.

So, come into this covenant, come under this high-prieft; there is no more remembering of fin there, but perfect forgiveness through this one offering, and fo no more need of any more facrificing or offering for fins to fuch, ver. 15.-19. For be fhall sprinkle many nations with the blood of this one offering, Ifa. lii. 15.

Obferv. 31. The great privilege of thofe, who do indeed believe in Chrift, and are fprinkled with the blood, and how they are to improve and make use of that privilege.

First, They have liberty, confidence, or boldness, to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jefus, ver. 19. What is more holy than God's Spirit? Is not that the most holy place? Why, there they are to worship; for they that worship the Father in the new covenant, or according to the new covenant, muft worship him in the Spirit, and in the truth; yea, and muft alfo live in the Spirit, and walk in the Spirit, which is the place of everlasting reft, and land of the living.

Secondly, Take notice how they come into the holieft, which is by the new and living way, which Chrift hath prepared, or confecrated through his flesh, ver. 20.

Thirdly, They have an high-prieft there over the house of God, who appears before God in the holieft, and ftands ready there to perform all the offices of prieft-hood for his houfhold, ver. 21.

Fourthly, There is an orderly way of drawing nigh to God, and worshipping him in the holieft? There is a certain manner, after which believers are to approach, and draw nigh to God: which is; 1. With a true heart. 2. In fullness of faith, or in full affurance of faith; not waveringly, but as those that are called of God, and fhall be helped by him, and accepted of him through their high-prieft. 3. In purity of confcience and conversation, having their hearts fprinkled from an evil confcience, and their bodies washed with pure water, ver. 22, 23. and Pfal. xxvi. 6. Chrift came by water and blood; fo here is both the water and the blood, according to the figures thereof, under the law.

Obferv. 32. Whither they came in the apoftles days, who knew Chrift as their high-prieft and mediator, and who partook of the blood of fprinkling? They came to fpiritual Mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerufalem, Heb. xii. 22.

Obferve likewise where they walked, who felt the virtue of Chrift's blood cleanfing them; which was in the light, as God is in the light, 1 John i. 7.

Now, what light is that which the redeemed are to walk in? Is it not the light of the Lamb's city, the new Jerufalem? Is it not the light thereof,

that