Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John, Commentary 14 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Verſe 1. Who is ſet on the right-hand]
ANd is therefore a King, as well as a Prieſt, as was Melchiſedech.
Verſe 2.foreign. A Miniſter of the ſanctuary] Or, A publike officer, an Agent for the Saints, about holy things.
Which the Lord pitched] Chriſts body was conceived in the Virgins womb, not by humane generation, but by divine operation. See Chap. 9.11. Joh. 1.14. He was the ſtone cut out of the mountains without hands, Dan. 2.Cant. 2.1. The roſe of Sharon that grows without mans care.
Verſe 3. Somewhat alſo to off…r] To wit, His own body, An offering and a ſacrifice to God for a ſweet ſmelling ſavour, Epheſ. 5.2. By Mount Olivet ſtood the garden of Gethſemane, where Chriſt was taken and led into the City through the Sheep-gate to be offered up, like an innocent ſheep, on the altar of his croſſe, for the ſins of his people.
Verſe 4. He ſhould not be a Priest] Becauſe not of the tribe of Levi, whoſe Prieſthood laſted to long as Chriſt lived on earth, and was done away by his death.
Verſe 5. Of heavenly things] So he calleth the myſtery: of Chriſt, ſhewed hereby to Moſes in the Mount, and ſhadowed out to the people by the ſervices of the Tabernacle.
Verſe 6. Of a better Covenant] Or rather T…ſtament (foreign and not foreign) heaven being conveied to the elect by legacy, It is part of Gods teſtament to write his laws in our hearts, &c. All that he requires of us is to take hold of this Covenant, to receive his gift go righteouſneſſe, to take all Chriſt, &c. and this alſo he hath promiſed to cauſe us to do, ver. 10.Iſa. 56. Rom 5.
Verſe 7. had been faultleſſe] Such as had not been weak and unprofitable, Chap 7.18. See the Note there. If the people could have performed it, and have been perfected by it.
Verſe 8. For finding fault with them] Or, Finding fault with it, that is, with the Covenant, he ſaith to them, Behold the daies, &c. So Junius readeth, and ſenſeth it.
Verſe 9. The Covenant that I made] He meaneth not here the Covenant of grace made with Abraham, but, circumcſion, the legall ceremonies and ſervices, that burden which neither they not their fathers could bear.
When I took them by the hand] Teaching them to go, taking them by the arms, Hoſ. 11.3. keeping their feet, … Sam. 29. and leading them thorow the deep as a horſe in the wildernes, than they ſhould not ſtumble, Iſa. 63.13.
And I regarded them not] Heb. Although I was an husband unto them, q.d. Yet nevertheleſſe they forſook the guide of their youth, and forgat the Covenant of their God, Jer. 31.32. Pro. 2.17.
Verſe 10. I Will put my laws, &c.] Gods Covenant is to write his laws and promiſes in his people mindes, ſo that they ſhall have the knowledge of them, And in their hearts, So that they ſhall have the comfort, feeling and fruition of them.
Verſe 11. And they ſhall not teach] The full performance of this promiſe is reſerved to the life to come; when we ſhall need no ordinances, but ſhall be all taught of God.
Verſe 12. I will be mercifull] I will be propitious thorow Chriſt the propitiation for our ſins, 1 Joh. 2.2.
Will I remember no more]Daniel comin. by Truſſell. Nihil obliviſci ſolet praeter injurias, ſaid Cicero of Caeſar. He was wont to forget nothing but ſhrewd turns. And of our Henry the ſixth it is ſtoried, that he was of that happy memory, that he never forgat any thing but injury. Let us but remember our ſins with grief, and God will forget them: Let us ſee them to confeſſion, and we ſhall never ſee them to our confuſion. He is a forgiving God. Nehem. 9.31. None like him for that, Micah 7.18. He doth it naturally, Exod. 34.6. Abundantly, Iſa. 55.7. Conſtantly, Pſal. 130.4. Job. 1.27. Mal. 3.6.
Verſe 13. He hath made the first old] He hath antiquated and aboliſhed it. This the Apoſtle often inculcates, becauſe the Jews went about to eſtabliſh their own righteouſneſſe, and it is a piece of popery naturall to us all, to think to go to heaven by our good meanings, and good doings.
Is ready to vaniſh away] So is the old man in Gods people: that's their comfort.