A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the…

In the preceding Discourses the Apostle hath fully proved, that the Introduction of this new Priesthood under the Gospel had put an end unto the old; and that it was necessary so it should do, because as he had abundantly discovered in many instances, it was utterly insufficient to bring us unto God, or to make the Church-State perfect. And withal he had declared the nature of this new Priesthood. In particular he hath showed, that although this High Priest offered his great expiatory Sacrifice once for all, yet the consummation of this Sacrifice, and the derivation of the Benefits of it unto the Church, depended on the following discharge of his Office, with his personal state and condition therein. For so was it with the High Priest under the Law, as unto his great Anniversary Sacrifice at the Feast of Expiation, whose efficacy depended on his entrance afterwards into the holy place. Wherefore he declares this state of our High Priest to be spiritual and heavenly, as consisting in the Ministry of his own Body in the Sanctuary of Heaven.

In the preceding Discourses the Apostle hath fully proved, that the Introduction of this new Priesthood under the Gospel had put an end unto the old; and that it was necessary so it should do, because as he had abundantly discovered in many instances, it was utterly insufficient to bring us unto God, or to make the Church-State perfect. And withall he had declared the nature of this new Priesthood. In particular he hath shewed, that although this High Priest offered his great expiatory Sacrifice once for all, yet the consummation of this Sacrifice, and the derivation of the Benefits of it unto the Church, depended on the following discharge of his Office, with his personal state and condition therein. For so was it with the High Priest under the Law, as unto his great Anniversary Sacrifice at the Feast of Expiation, whose efficacy depended on his entrance afterwards into the holy place. Wherefore he declares this state of our High Priest to be spiritual and heavenly, as consisting in the Ministry of his own Body in the Sanctuary of Heaven.

Having fully manifested these things, unfolding the mystery of them, he proceeds in this Verse to show how necessary it was that so it should be, namely that he should neither offer the things appointed in the Law, nor yet abide in the state and condition of a Priest here on earth, as those other Priests did. In brief he proves that he was not in any thing to take on him the Administration of holy things in the Church, according as they were then established by Law. For whereas it might be objected, If the Lord Christ was an High Priest as he pleaded, why then did he not administer the holy things of the Church according to the duty of a Priest? To which he replies, That so he was not to do; yea a supposition that he might do so, was inconsistent with his Office, and destructive both of the Law and the Gospel. For it would utterly overthrow the Law, for one that was not of the Line of Aaron to officiate in the holy place; and God had by the Law made provision of others, that there was neither room nor place for his Ministry. And the Gospel also would have been of no use thereby, seeing the Sacrifice which it is built upon, would have been of the same nature with those under the Law. This the Apostle confirms in this Verse.