Holiest of All by Andrew Murray

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eternal strength that knows no past." The eternal life is that
which always remains the same, because it is always in God.
And when God speaks to His Son, Thou art Priest for ever,
it not only means that the priesthood will never cease, but it
points to what is the root and cause of this ;
it roots in the
life and strength of God. Christ is become a Priest after the
power of an endless life.
Unceasingly, without one moment's
cessation, in unbroken continuity, He lives and works in the
power of the divine life.
The contrast will make the meaning clear. He is made
Priest, not after the law of a carnal commandment, as
Aaron,
but after the power of an endless life, even as Melchi/.edek
who abideth a priest continually. Law and life are the
contrasts. Every creature naturally acts according to the life
that is iti it, without any law or compulsion from without. The
bird needs no law to bid it fly, or the fish to make it swim :
its
life makes it a delight. A law is a proof that the life is wanting.
The law that forbids stealing is a proof that the life of
those for whom it is made is wrong. And a law is not only
a proof that the right life is wanting, but it is helpless to
produce it. It may check and restrain, but cannot inspire. It
can demand, but cannot give ;
it has power to command, but
not to create what it seeks. Aaron became priest after the law
of a carnal commandment, a law that made nothing perfect, and
was disannulled for the
weakness and unprofitableness thereof;
Christ, after the power of an endless life. Plvery act of His
holy and blessed priesthood, every application of the fruits of
His eternal redemption, is wrought in the power of an endless
life.
These two principles mark two systems of religion, two
ways of worshipping God, two experiences of the inner life.