A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Hebrews · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
1. THen verily the firſt covenant had alſo ordinances of divine ſervice, and a worldly ſanctuary.
1. The Moſaical Covenant had its proper Ordinances of Service to God, and an earthly, temporary Tabernacle.
2. For there was a tabernacle made, the firſt wherein was the candleſtick, and the table and the ſhew-bread, which is called the ſanctuary. 3. And after the ſecond vail, the tabernacle which is called the holieſt of all.
2, 3. This made Tabernacle had two parts: In the firſt, called the Sanctuary, was the Candleſtick, &c. And within the ſecond Veil was the Holieſt of all.
Note, Some out of Philo ſay, that the Tabernacle (and the Temple after) was made as an Image, or Figure of the World, and therefore called Worldly: the outer part figuring the lower World, in which was the Candleſtick with ſix Branches; and one in the midſt, ſignifying the Planets; and twelve Loaves on the Table, ſignifying the Fruits of the Earth: The inmoſt ſignifying the higheſt Heavens. But 'tis preſumptuous to truſt our Wit too far in feigning Divine Significations: And 'tis groundleſs, hence to gather, that it was called a Worldly Sanctuary.
4, 5. Which had the golden cenſer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; And over it the cherubims of glory ſhadowing the mercy-ſeat; of which we cannot now ſpeak particularly.
4, 5. In it was the Golden Cenſer, for Incenſe brought when the Prieſt went in; and the Ark overlaid with Gold, in which, or near it, was the Pot of Manna, and Aaron's Rod, and in it the Table of the Commandments of the Covenant; and over it, the Images of Angelical Cherubims, ſhewing God's Glory, when it appeared to men; which alſo ſhadowed the Covering, or Mercy-Seat.
6. Now when theſe things were thus ordained, the prieſts went always into the firſt tabernacle, accompliſhing the ſervice of God. 7. But into the ſecond went the high prieſt alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himſelf, and for the errors of the people.
6, 7. Into the firſt part of this Tabernacle, the Prieſts went to perform the ordinary Service: But into the ſecond, went only the High Prieſt once a Year, but not without the Blood of Calves and Goats, which he offered for ſuch ſins of himſelf and the people as were expiable.
8. The holy Ghoſt this ſignifying, that the way into the holieſt of all, was not yet made manifeſt, while as the firſt tabernacle was yet ſtanding:
8. By this the Holy Ghoſt ſignified that under that Law, or Tabernacle-ſtate, the Acceſs of Sinners to God, for aſſured Acceptance here, and Glory hereafter, was not yet clearly, fully, and with ſatisfiing Aſſurance revealed, nor by that Law, as ſuch, conferred: for it was reſerved to the coming of the Meſſiah: (Though the Promiſe, or Law of Grace ſaved men then.)
9. Which was a figure for the time then preſent, in which were offered both gifts and ſacrifices, that could not make him that did the ſervice perfect, as pertaining to the conſcience.
9. Which figuratively ſignified the time then (or now) preſent, when the Gifts and Sacrifices were offered, which could not ſuffice to perfect the Acceptance of the Offerer with God, or to cleanſe him from the Conſcience and Guilt of Sin.
10. Which ſtood only in meats and drinks, and divers waſhings, and carnal ordinances impoſed on them until the time of reformation.
10. I ſpeak not of the Laws of Nature, of Godlineſs, Charity, Juſtice and Sobriety, which are common to the Jews with us and other people, but of the (foreign) poſitive Inſtitutions of bodily Service to God, proper to Moſes's Law. And theſe Laws, in ſuch Outwards as the Body performeth, called Rites and Ceremonies, Meats, Drinks, Waſhings, which God indeed impoſed on them, as a material part of their Obedience; but it was as ſuited to their Carnality and Minority, till the Meſſiah's Reformation ſet up a better Law and Worſhip
11. But Chriſt being come an high prieſt of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to ſay, not of this building:
11. But Chriſt is come a High Prieſt of the future Felicity, promiſed in the Goſpel, even to procure us Grace and Glory, officiating in a greater and more perfect Tabernacle, even his Body, now glorified in Heaven (having done his preparatory Work on Earth) which was not built as Tabernacles are on Earth.
12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves: but by his own blood he entred in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
12. And not as the Levitical Prieſts, by the Blood of Goats and Calves, offered for Expiation; but by obedient and voluntary offering his own Blood a Sacrifice for the ſins of the World, he obtained his Entrance into the ſtate of Glorious Exaltation, there to intercede for us, and rule us, having here, by his Merit and Sacrifice, purchaſed Eternal Redemption for us, which thence he will beſtow.
13. For if the blood of bulls, and of goats, and the aſhes of an heifer ſprinkling the unclean, ſanctifieth to the purifying of the fleſh.
13. If theſe be by Divine Inſtitution effectual againſt corporal Legal uncleanneſs, by a ceremonial Sanctification, the figure of the ſpiritual.
14. How much more ſhall the blood of Chriſt, who through the eternal Spirit, offered himſelf without ſpot to God, purge your conſcience from dead works to ſerve the living God?
14. Moſt certainly then ſhall the Blood of Chriſt, who by the Eternal Spirit offered himſelf, Soul and Body, a ſpotleſs Sacrifice to God the Soveraign Righteous Judge, to cleanſe Soul and Conſcience from the power and guilt of dead works (which ſignifie a death in ſin, and tend to death for ſin) to ſerve the Living God, who will accept us to an Everlaſting Life.
Note; By the Eternal Spirit, by which Chriſt offered himſelf, ſome Expoſitors underſtand Chriſt's Immortal Soul voluntarily reſigning his Life, 2. Others underſtand the Holy Ghoſt, the Third Perſon in the Trinity, by whom Chriſt is ſaid to be conceived, and to do his Miracles. 3. Others underſtand his own Divine Nature, as the Second Perſon: It's hard to be ſure which is meant, but it is of no great moment, ſeeing it is certain that indeed he did it by all theſe three. There is a fourth Opinion of ſome that underſtand it of a prime ſuperangelical Nature of Chriſt, which they think, by Eternal Emanation, cometh from the Deity united to it, which they make a middle Third Nature in Chriſt; and in which they ſuppoſe it is that, as a Creature, he is advanced above all Angels; becauſe they take Angels and Men to to be ſpecie diſtinct, and that if Humane Nature muſt be ſet above Angels, in it ſelf, it muſt thereby change its ſpecies, and be no more humane. But to be wiſe to ſobriety in ſuch Myſteries is ſafe, and not to preſume.
15. And for this cauſe he is the mediatour of the new teſtament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the tranſgreſſions that were under the firſt teſtament, they which are called might receive the promiſe of eternal inheritance.
15. And for this cauſe Chriſt became Mediator between God and Man, to procure, ſeal and promulgate the New Covenant, or Law of Grace, that his death doing that which no other Sacrifice could do in expiation of the Jews ſins, committed under the Moſaical Covenant, (as well as of the reſt of the World,) they which are by his call made ſound Believers, might by promiſe be ſecured of the Eternal Inheritance, and poſſeſſed of it in due time.
16. For where a teſtament is, there muſt alſo of neceſſity be the death of the teſtatour. 17. For a teſtament is of force after men are dead: otherwiſe it is of no ſtrength at all whileſt the teſtatour liveth.
16, 17. And Chriſt being by his Sponſion to be a Sacrifice, his Donation doth preſuppoſe his Purchaſe; and thence his Covenant hath alſo the nature of a Teſtament, which ſuppoſeth the death of the Teſtator, and is not of efficacy till then, to give full right to what he bequeatheth.
Note; That the eminent Evangelical Kingdom of the Mediator, in its laſt full Edition, called the Kingdom of Chriſt, and of Heaven, diſtinct from the obſcure ſtate of Promiſe before Chriſt's Incarnation, began at Chriſt's Reſurrection, Aſcenſion, and ſending of the eminent Gift of the Holy Ghoſt, and was but as an Embrio before.
18. Whereupon, neither the firſt teſtament was dedicated without bloud.
18. Therefore the firſt as figurative of the ſecond, was conſecrated and ſealed in blood.
19. For when Moſes had ſpoken every precept to all the people, according to the law, he took the bloud of calves and of goats, with water and ſcarlet wool, and hyſſop, and ſprinkled both the Book and all the people, 20. Saying, This is the bloud of the Teſtament which God hath enjoyned unto you. 21. Moreover he ſprinkled with bloud both the tabernacle, and all the veſſels of the miniſtry, 22. And almoſt all things are by the law purged with bloud: and without ſhedding of bloud is no remiſſion.
19, 20, 21, 22. Note 1. God purpoſely inſtituted all theſe bloody Purifications to prefigure Chriſt. 2. The Cuſtom of ſacrificing from the Fall, muſt ariſe from Divine Inſtitution, and not without it from natural Invention, as ſome now affirm: And no doubt but it is propagated among all Idolaters through the World; 1. By Tradition from Adam; 2. Corrupted by Devils, who would be worſhipped as God, and to that end promote the imitation of God; 3. The Papiſts ſprinkling of Holy Water, is ſuch another corrupt imitation, ſetting up their Ceremony inſtead of Gods, which Chriſt aboliſhed.
23. It was therefore neceſſary that the patterns in things in the heavens ſhould be purified with theſe, but the heavenly things themſelves with better Sacrifices than theſe.
23. Theſe Ceremonies being ordained to prefigure and notifie things that are in Heaven, and belong to Heaven, it was meet that ſuch blood ſhould be the purifying Ceremony: But the heavenly things themſelves muſt be purchaſed, and the Souls fitted for it purified, and the Covenant conſecrated by a more precious Sacrifice, even the blood of the Lamb of God, who taketh away the ſins of the World.
24. For Chriſt is not entred into the holy places made with hands▪ which are the figures of the true, but into heaven it ſelf; now to appear in the preſence of God for us.
24. For it was not to officiate in a Tabernacle made by man, that Chriſt became our High Prieſt, but (though his Sacrifice was offered on Earth) it was to officiate by continued Interceſſion for us in the Heavens, in the preſence of God's Glory, of which the other was but a Type.
25. Nor yet that he ſhould offer himſelf often, as the high prieſt entreth into the holy place, every year with blood of others. 26. For then muſt he often have ſuffered ſince the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world, hath he appeared to put away ſin by the ſacrifice of himſelf.
25, 26. Note 1. Chriſt's once offering was ſufficient: It may oft be commemorated, but only once done. 2. It is unſpeakable joy to Believers, that Chriſt is for us, as our High Prieſt, entred into Heaven. For he hath promiſed that we ſhall be with him where he is. And where elſe now ſhould we deſire to be? 3. The days of Chriſt here, were the declining latter part of the World, called the end, as fifty, or ſixty years old is the end, that is, the latter part of man's Life. How near then is it now to an end, 1684 after?
27, 28. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the Judgment: So Chriſt was once offered to bear the ſins of many, and unto them that look for him ſhall he appear the ſecond time, without ſin, unto ſalvation.
27, 28. And as it is with the common ſtate of man on Earth, who muſt all once die, and then be doomed to their endleſs ſtate; ſo Chriſt was once to die as a Sacrifice for the ſins many; and to them that wait for him in the prepared ſtate of Faith, Hope, Obedience and Patience, he ſhall appear again, but not any more to bear the puniſhment of their ſins, but to juſtifie them publickly, and take them to his glory.