volume 4

VER. 1.]
EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 441
is vested with all those sacred offices in and over the church of God
which were typically exercised by others under the old. Of these,
in the following chapters he more particularly treats of his kingly
and prophetical ; comparing him therein with Moses and Joshua,
showing in sundry instances his pre-eminence above them. He had
also by the way interserted several things concerning his sacerdotal
office, with a general description whereof, and declaration of the
advantage of the church thereby, he closeth the foregoing chapter.
In all these it things was the purpose of the apostle not to handle
them absolutely, but with respect unto that exercise of them which,
by God s appointment, was in use in the church of the Hebrews
under the old testament; for that the nature of his treaty with them
did
require. And herein he effected two things, both apposite unto
his principal end ; for, 1. He declares what it was in all those
institutions which God intended to instruct them in, seeing they
were all
"
shadows of good things to come." So he lets them know
that whatever esteem they had of them, and however they rested
in them, they were not appointed for their own sakes, but only for
a time, to foresignify what was now, in the person and mediation of
Christ, actually and really exhibited unto them. 2. He makes it
evident how exceedingly the way and worship of God which they
were now called unto, and made partakers of under the gospel, did
whence the con
excel those which before they were intrusted with ;
clusion was easy and unavoidable, unto the necessity of their steadf^stness
in the profession of the gospel, the principal thing aimed
at in the whole.
On these grounds, the apostle undertaketh a comparison between
the priesthood of Aaron and his successors and that of Jesus Christ,
which was prefigured thereby. And this he doth with respect unto
both the ends mentioned ; for, first, he shows them how they were
of old instructed in the nature and use of that priesthood which,
according to the promise of God, was to be introduced and erected
in the church in the person of his Son. Hence he lays down sundry
things which they knew to belong unto the priesthood of old, whence
they might learn somewhat, yea much, of the nature of this now
exhibited, seeing they were instituted on purpose to declare it, al
though they did it but obscurely. And then also he makes known
the excellency of this priesthood of Christ above that of old, as the
substance excels the shadow, and the permanent thing represented,
the obscure and fading representations of it. Unto the handling of
these things an entrance is here made, which, with sundry occasional
diversions, is pursued to the end of the 10th chapter.
Secondly, In particular, the present discourse of this chapter hath
relation unto what immediately precedes in the close of the fore
going; for having therein proposed to their consideration the priestly