The Types Unveiled, Chapter 33
CHAP 33. The work which the High Prieſt was to do for the people when choſen for them.
UNder which general, there are theſe things to be conſidered:
Firſt, The place where the High Prieſt was to perform the work of the Prieſthood.
Secondly, The work he was to do when in the place for adminiſtration.
Thirdly, What the Prieſt was to do for the people upon all occaſions of need, beſides his ſolemn work in the Tabernacle.
Firſt, The place where the Prieſt was to perform the work of the Prieſthood, & that was in the Tabernacle within the veil, a place where none but the Prieſt was to enter, Lev. 16. 16, 17. This was a Type of Chriſts interceding work now he is in Heaven, Heb. 9. 24. For Chriſt is not entred into the holy place made with hands, but into heaven it ſelf, there to appear in the preſence of God for us: He is there to intercede forth bleſſings for us, and to Advocate our Caſe he takes up all our accuſations laid in againſt us. There he anſwereth all objections which may be made in Heaven by the Law againſt us, he is there to gather up all our Inditements which may be laid into our charge, and he is always there for this work, Chriſt is never abſent when there is need for his preſence on our behalf, ſaith the Apoſtle, he ever liveth to make Interceſſion for us, its likewiſe ſaid that the people were not to go into the Tabernacle, but were to ſtand without at the door of the Tabernacle, Lev. 16. …6. 17.
This ſhews us two things.
Firſt, The dark ſtate which God held them under in compariſon to us Goſpellers, it was little of the glory or of the myſtery of the grace of the Goſpel which that people knew; its true, they knew they had a High Prieſt within, in the Tabernacle, within the veil of it, but what he did or acted they were not to look into, what manifeſtations he had of God, or glorious diſcoveries from God, they were not to ſee or have any knowledge of, therefore if the miniſtration of the Law were glorious, much more will the miniſtration of the Goſpel exceed in glory, ſo reaſons St. Paul, 2 Cor. 3. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. And he tells you wherein the Goſpel is rather glorious, in that the veil is taken away, and we can now with open face behold as in a glaſs the glory of the Lord, ver. 16. 18.
Secondly, It ſhews us that at beſt while we are in this Tabernacle of our body, we are abſent from our greateſt Viſion of glory, we are but in the outer Court, we behold only the back-ſide of the Tabernacle in compariſon to what we ſhall ſee when we come to paſs within the veil where our High Prieſt is, he ſaith, Paul at beſt, We walk by faith and not by ſight, 2 Cor. 5. 7.
We have here but a few drops of our true Tabernacleglory brought whom to us by the eye of faith through Ordinances; O but when we are out of the body we ſhall ſwim in the Rivers of all glorious perfection, ſaith David, Pſalm 16. 11. (Where we ſhall be brought) into the preſence of God, where ſhall be the fulneſs of joy, at whoſe right hand there are pleaſures for evermore: therefore ſaith Paul, 2 Cor. 5. 8. We are confident I ſay, and willing rather to be abſent from the body, and to be preſent with the Lord. Who would deſire to live in this dark dungeon Tabernacle ſtate apart from thoſe celeſtial glories; but rather who would covet, as Paul did, to be at whom to this bleſſed Canaan of reſt, where all true bleſſedneſs dwells.
Again, Its obſerved that the people were to bring their offerings, and lay them down at the door of the Tabernacle, and the Prieſt was to take it and offer it for them before the Lord, Levit. 1. 3. 4, 5. This teacheth what believers ſhould do now in Goſpel dayes, bring all their offerings to the Lord Chriſt, all the duties in worſhip, and offer it to him that he may preſent it in his own name to God. O how doth this reprove that vain opinion of the Papiſts, who dream of I know not how many High Prieſts in Heaven, whom they adore with that reſpect, which is onelyonly due to Chriſt, as the Virgin Mary the Mother of God, as they can term her, and Saint Peter, Paul, and John, beſides many other late canonized Saints, whom they attribute the honour of the Prieſthood unto, unto whom they dedicate the Services: Pray what Saint or Angel were the Jews to create to themſelves in this great work, beſides their High Prieſt which was of the Lords own inſtitution by Moſes.
2. As to the work the High Prieſt was to do when in the Tabernacle within the rail.
Firſt, he was to take the blood of the ſacrifice, and to ſprinkle the mercy-ſeat therewith, Levit. 16. 14, 15. which ſhews the prevalency and force of Chriſts interceſſion now in heaven for us: Chriſt enters heaven with the worth of his Merits, and in the vertue of his Blood, and ſhews the Father a ſufficient ground for what he intercedes about. Lord here is my Blood for this requeſt, and for the other petition which I put up to thee in the behalf of my people below; if I ask grace or pardon, Lord, here is my blood upon the mercy-ſeat: if I ask deliverance for them from their enemies, Lord, here is my blood for it upon the mercy-ſeat.
Secondly, The Prieſt was to adde to this ſtrong cryes and prayers, by the burning incenſe Altar for the people, praying to God for pardon for them, and that he would accept their perſons, and their ſacrifices, and would be their God, and would bleſs their ſouls, and would ſend them help from his holy Sanctuary, Levit. 16. 12, 13. This is the very work of Chriſt now in Heaven, the bleſſing of his people, with all ſpiritual bleſſings in heavenly things, is from him, its attributed to Chriſt; Acts 3. 26. Unto you firſt God having raiſed up Jeſus Chriſt ſent him to bleſs you, in turning every one of you from his iniquities: therefore ſoul, what ever thou wanteſt of this nature, apply thy ſelf to the Prieſt of Bleſſings, and thou ſhalt not fail.
Again, then was the Prieſt to take of the Incenſe and caſt it into the fire, which was upon the Incenſe Altar, that ſo a cloud of Incenſe might ariſe before the Lord, Lev. 9. 22, 23. This was to ſhew us for our comfort, what abundance of acceptable matter goeth up to God in the interceſſion of Chriſt, a whole cloud of Incenſe: and certainly this muſt prevail with God in the behalf of his people; for that's the purpoſe of Chriſts offering up incenſe; it was not for himſelf, but his people: it is the Incenſe of his own bleſſed worth and excellency, which is in a way of powerful Interceſſion, of fered up to God with his peoples duties, to make them and their ſervices a ſweet ſmelling ſavour to God: and after this manner, and to this purpoſe you have our Saviour repreſented again by the Spirit to John after his Aſcention, …e…. 8. 3, 4. Where the purpoſe of the going up of this cloud of Incenſe is laid open to you; it is as I have ſaid, to perfume all the reſt of the Saints prayers, duties, and ſervices, as that they may be a ſweet ſmelling ſavour to God: this makes the weakeſt ſervices of the weakeſt Believer acceptable to God: therefore ſoul, when ever thou art about to perform any duty to God, and findeſt that thou canſt not do it but with weakneſs, yea, much weakneſs; then take that weak duty and caſt it into the Incenſe fire of interceſſion, which ſtandeth upon the Altar Chriſt, in the veſſel of the hot burning coals of his zeal, and love to thee, and for thy good, and then it will aſcend up, with the reſt (of Chriſts and his peoples) to God, in that great cloud where it will be acceptable indeed.