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VERSE 21.
I But this is a thorny and rugged way, full of many dangers, how shall we passe through it? Christ himselfe will be our leader in it. As hee is both the sacrifice, and the Priest: so he is the way, and the guide the way.
Hee doth not say, an High-Priest, but simply a Priest, because there is no other sacrificing Priest, save CHRIST, in the New Testament.
Not a small one, but a great one: great in person, being God and man: great in power, for heaven and earth are his: great in goodnesse and mercy, that will have compassion on our weaknesse, and if we happen to faint, he will support us by the way.
For his superiority and preheminence, over the house of God, that is, the Church, 1 Tim. 3.15. Heb. 3.6. Moses was over the house of God, yet as a servant, Hebr. 3.5. Christ as the Lord and King, the comman∣der in the house: he over a part of Gods house in Iudea; Christ over the whole house dispersed over all the earth.
* 1.1All Ministers in some sort are over the house of God: Who is a faithfull servant, that his Lord may make rule over his house? that bee over you in the Lord, 1 Thes. 5.12. So Moses was over the house. Yet a great difference betweene them and Christ. A noble man is over his house: and his steward is over his house. Christ as the Lord and owner of the house: wee as his stewards, to give you your meat in due season.
A singular comfort to all that be of this house, that such a one as Christ is over it! Some houses have tyrannicall governours, which scrape all to themselves and have no care of them in the house. Christ is not such a one: he hath a loving and fatherly care of all in the house. Some householders would provide for their house and cannot, they want ability: Christ Iesus, that is over this house, is both able and willing to provide all things necessary for us. Therfore let us be of good comfort, we shall not want the thing that is good.
The Church is God's house. All England is the Kings domini∣on: White-Hall is his Chappell: so all the world is Gods empire, but the Church is his house: therefore let us behave our selves wise∣ly and religiously in the house of God. Will any make the Kings house and Ale-house to quaffe and swill in? A brothel-house to commit adultery in? and shall we, that be in the Church, the house of God, be drunkards, adulterers, wicked and lascivious livers? As wee bee in Gods house, so let us demeane our selves accordingly.