Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John, Commentary 14 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Verſe I. Both gifts]
Of things without life.
And ſacrifices] Of living creatures.
For ſins] Chriſt, as God, was the Prieſt Altar to offer up and to ſanctifie the ſacrifice: And, as God-man, he was the ſacrifice: for the Church was purchaſed by the bloud of God, Act, 20.28. A bloudy Spouſe ſhe was unto him, as in a ſenſe it may he ſaid.
Verſe 2. Who can have compaſſion] Or, Bear anything With reaſon, foreign.and not be eaſily angry, but ſhew as much mercy as is meet for his, whether they have ignorantly offended, or upon deliberation. they cannot commit more, then he can remit.
He is compaſſed With infirmity] Chriſt was compaſſed With that which we call miſerable, not that we call ſinfull infirmity.
Verſe 3. He ought as for the people] A prieſt is a perſon by Gods appointment taken from amongſt men, and for men to offer gifts and ſacrifices for ſinne in their, and his own behalſe.
Verſe 4. And no man taketh, &c.] Or if he doc, he ſhall ſmoke and ſmart for it, as did Nadab and Abibu, Ʋzzah and Ʋzziah, &c. In phyſicis aer non facit ſeipſum ignem, ſed fit à ſuperiori; as Aquinas noteth upon this text. No man might come uncalled to the King of Perſia, upon pain of death. What then ſhall become of ſuch as come without a call to the King of heaven? Chriſt would not let the devil preach him, Mark I. Quia extra vocationem (as one well noteth) becauſe he had no calling to ſuch an office.
Verſe 5. Glorified not himſelf] As the Pope doth, who will needs be ſtiled, Pontifex maximus, the greateſt high-Prieſt (whereas Chriſt is called only the great, and not greateſt high Prieſt, Heb. 4.14.) Pope Hildebrand eſpecially: whom when no man would advance to Peters chair, he gat up himſelf.Heidſoll. Quis enim melius de me judicare poteſt, quam ego? ſaid he, Who can better judge of me then my ſelf?
But he that ſaid unto him] He glorified him, or made him high Prieſt.
To day have I begotten then] Adde the words following, Ask of me, & a. and the ſenſe is full. For to ask of God thoſe things that pertain to the peoples ſafety and ſalvation is the proper office of an high-Prieſt. Chriſt as he expiated his peoples ſins by his own blond, ſo he made interceſſion for them, 1. A little afore his attachment, Job 17.1, 2. &c. 2. In the very time, when the ſacrifice was hanged up, Luk, 23.34.3. In the heavenly Sanctuary, Heb. 9 24.
Verſe 6. Thou art a Prieſt, &c.] The former proof was not ſo evident: bus this puts the matter out of all queſtion, A Miniſter ſhould uſe ſound ſpeech that cannot be contradicted: that he that is of the contrary part may be a ſhamed, having nothing reaſonably to oppoſe, Tit. 2.8. The Jew would object, That Chriſt was not of the Tribe of Levi, therefore no Prieſt. the apoſtle anſwers; Yes, a Prieſt, but after another order, and proves it. This is foreign, colla… is teſtimon… is demonſtrare, as Paul did, Act 9 22. to confirm and aſſert.
Verſe 7. Praiers and ſupplications] Gr. Deprecations, foreign.and moſt ardent requeſts, uttered With deep ſighes, hands lifted up, and manifold moans.
Ʋnto him that Was able to ſave him, &c.] Neither let any here object, That many Marty is ſuffered with leſſe ado, may with great joy and triumph. For, 1. What were all their ſufferings to his? 2. He therefore ſuffered the worſt, that they might the better ſuffer. 3. They were lifted up with the ſenſe of Gods love, which he for preſent feſt not. 4. Their bodily pains were miraculouſly mitigated: as Roſe Allen being asked by a friend, how ſhe could abide the pain full burning of her hand held over a candle,Act. And Men. fol. 1821. ſo long till the very ſinews crackt aſunder? She ſaid, at the firſt it was ſome grief to her; but afterward, the longer me burned, the leſſe the felt, or well near none at all. Sabina a Roman Martyr, crying out in her travell, and being asked by her keeper how ſhe would endure the fire next day; On well enough, ſaid ſhe: for now I ſuffer in childe-birth for my ſins, Geneſis 3. but then Chriſt ſhall ſuffer in me, and ſupport me.
And was heard in that he ſeared] Or, He was heard (that is,foreign. Delivered) from his ſear. I or no ſooner had he praied, but he met his cnemics in the face, and asked them, Whom ſeek ye? I am he.
Verſe 8. Yet learned be obedience] He came to know by experience what a hard matter it was, thus to obey God. Schola crucis, foreign N…ument: docume…a.ſchola lu…, Gideon by threſhing the men of Succoth, taught them, Judg. 8.7-16. Gods chaſtiſements are our advertiſements. See my Treatiſe on Rev. 3.19. p.145.
Verſe 9.foreign. And being made perfect] Or, Being offered up in ſacrifice, or being complcated by this experimentall knowledge of paſſive obedience alſo.
The anthour]foreign. And finiſher too, cap. 12.2. Gr The cauſe, viz. by his merit and eſſicacy.
Verſe 10.foreign. Called] Gr. Spoken unto, called by name, or entituled an high-Prieſt, &c. therefore he is truly ſo. For perſons and things are as God calleth them.
Verſe 11. Of Whom We have, &c.] The digreſſion here begun holds on to the end of the next Chapter.
Hard to be uttered] Gr. Hard to be expounded. But diſſiculty doth not diſhearten, but rather what on heroick ſpirits to a more ſerious ſearch: it doth not weaken, but waken their earneſtneſſe. not amate, but animate them.
Seeing Me are dull]foreign Mako. Gr. Slow▪paced and heavy▪banded. Our mindes me like narrow mouthed veſſels. Our Saviour therefore ſpake as the people could bear, like as Iacob drave as the little ones could go.
Verſe 12. Ye have need that one] But people plead their rotten cha…ters of age and marriage againſt Catechiſme.
Verſe 13. In the Word of righteouſneſſe] That is in the more ſolid doctrine of the Goſpel concerning Chriſt, who is our righteouſneſſe.
Verſe 14.foreign. To them that are of full age] Or that are perfect, comparatively perfect, not only paſt the ſpoon, but full grown.
Who by reaſon of uſe] Gr. By reaſon of habit, got by continuall cuſtome, and long practice, as in an expert Artiſt.
Have their ſenſes exerciſed] Their inward ſenſes]: for the foul alſo hat her ſenſes,foreign. as the body hath. Inſtead of ſeeing, faith; of hearing obedience; of ſmelling, hope; of taſting, charity: of touching, humility.
To diſcern good and evil] Doth not the ear try words, and the mouth taſte his meat? Iob 12.11. Eye bath not ſeen, &c. 1 Cor. 2.9. Where the carcaſe is, the Eagles Will be. Saints have a ſpirituall ſagacity: and they lay hold on eternall life.