Christ Set Forth

Now therefore if this be so essential a property to an High-Priest as such; then it is in Christ most eminently. And as Christ had not been fit to have been Gods King, if he had not had all power and strength in him, which is essential to constitute him a King; so nor to have been Gods High-Priest, if he had not had such an heart for mercifulness; yea, and no longer to have been a Priest, then he should continue to have such a heart. Even as that which internally qualifies a Minister for the ministry is his gifts, which if he loseth, he is no longer to be in that office: Or, as reason makes a man a man, which if he loseth he becomes a beast: Thus no longer should Christ continue to be a Priest, then he hath an heart that can have compassion, (as this second ⟨p. 88⟩verse hath it.) And the word which we translate [to have compassion] is exceeding emphatical, and the force of it observable; it is in the Original [[Greek or Hebrew]] and signifies [to have compassion according to every ones measure and proportion.] He had said of Christ in the words of my text, that he was touched with the feeling of our infirmities, or that, he had a suffering with us in all our evils: and this word also here used imports a suffering: But then, some greatly distressed souls might question thus; Though he pities me, and is affected, yet my misery and sins being great, will he take them in to the full, lay them to heart, to pity me according to the greatness of them? To meet with this thought therefore, and to prevent even this objection about Christs pity, the Apostle sets him out by what was the duty of the High-Priest who was his shadow; that he is one that can have compassion according to the measure of every ones distress; and one that considers every circumstance in it, and will accordingly afford his pity and help, and if it be great, he hath a great fellow-feeling of it, for he is a great High-Priest: Thy misery can never exceed his mercy. The word here used comes from [[Greek or Hebrew]] a measure, and [[Greek or Hebrew]] to suffer.

Now therefore if this be so essentiall a property to an High-Priest as such; then it is in Christ most eminently. And as Christ had not been fit to have been Gods King, if he had not had all power and strength in him, which is essentiall to constitute him a King; so nor to have been Gods High-Priest, if he had not had such an heart for mercifulnesse; yea, and no longer to have beene a Priest, then he should continue to have such a heart. Even as that which internally qualifies a Minister for the ministery is his gifts, which if he loseth, hee is no longer to be in that office: Or, as reason makes a man a man, which if hee loseth hee becomes a beast: Thus no longer should Christ continue to be a Priest, then he hath an heart that can have compassion, (as this second