A commentary vpon the Epistles of Saint Paul to Philemon, and to the Hebrewes together with a compendious explication of the second and third Epistles of Saint Iohn. By VVilliam Iones of East Bergholt in Suffolke, Dr. in Divinity, and sometimes one of the fellowes of the foundation of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge.

VERSE 2.

THe second argument. Those high-Priests were Ministers of an earthly Sanctuary: this of an heavenly: Ergo, more glo∣rious than they.

Of the Sanctuary. The Greeke is Ambiguous; of the masculine or neuter gender. Some interpret it, Minister of the Saints. So in∣deed he is: not the Angels alone, but Christ Himselfe is our Mini∣ster. O unspeakable honour!

Rather, as the word is taken in this Epistle, of the Holies, that is of the Sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, Hebr. 9.12. and 24.

The place, where he Ministers, is Heaven: there he appeares in the sight of God for us.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, publicus, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: qui facit opus publicum. So are the Angels, Hebr. 1.14. the Magistrate, Rom. 13.4.

The third argument: hee that hath the more worthy Sacrifice, is the more worthy Priest. Christ's sacrifice is more worthy. Ergo.

This sacrifice is set forth to us. 1. Figuratively. 2. Properly.

Figuratively it is resembled to a Tabernacle.

Some by Tabernacle understand heaven too, as well as the San∣ctuary: but rather by it is meant, the body of our Saviour Christ.

• 1. It is not like, that in so few words he would use a tautology.
• 2. The Tabernacle was for the Priests, not for the High-Priests.
• 3. The reason following, Verse 3. doth evince, that by the Tabernacle is signified the body of Christ, wherewith hee did sa∣crifice.

It is an usuall thing to resemble the body to a Tabernacle, 2 Cor. 5.1, 2. 2 Pet. 1.13, 14. As a man dwelleth in an house or Taber∣nacle: So doth the soule in the body. And as God dwelt in the Ta∣bernacle among the Iewes: so doth the deity dwell in the humanity of Christ: therefore it hath the name of a Tabernacle.

This similitude is fitly introduced by the Apostle. As the high-Priest by the Tabernacle went into the Sanctum Sanctorum: so Christ by his body offered on the Crosse went into heaven: Hebr. 9.11.

Hence it is that Christ's body is compared to a Temple, Ioh. 2.21. to a vaile, Heb. 10.20.

This Tabernacle is illustrated by an adjunct, and the efficient cause.

The other was but a counterfeit to this True is not opposed to false: that was not a forged Tabernacle: it was of Gods institution, and made by his direction. But it is called the true Tabernacle, as Christ may be called the true David, Salomon, Melchizedec, the true Manna that came from heaven, Iohn 6.32. And as the picture of a man is nothing to the man himselfe: So that Tabernacle was but a picture of this: this is the true Tabernacle indeed. The shadow of the Sun in the water is not the Sunne: that is the true Sun that is in the firma∣ment: so that was but a shadow of this Tabernacle; this is the true Tabernacle.

2. It is illustrated by the efficient cause. Moses, Aholiab, Be∣zaleel and other artificers pight that Tabernacle, which were mortall men, though they did it by Gods appointment: this Tabernacle was framed immediately by God Himselfe: the body of our Saviour Christ, was conceived by the Holy Ghost.

* 1.1The name of a Minister is no base name; seeing Christ being now in heaven doth not thinke scorne of it. He was a Minister of the circumcision, when he lived on the earth: and he is a Minister of the Sanctuary now in heaven. Therefore let none have a base opi∣nion of the name and office of the Ministers. Christ is the head Mi∣nister, and we inferiour Ministers under him: therefore let us be re∣verently regarded for his sake.

There by presenting of his owne sacred body before the Fa∣ther, and by the efficacy of his passion he still maketh intercession for us; this is the Ministery which he performeth in this heavenly Sanctuary.

The High-Priest in the time of the Law went into the Sanctum Sanctorum himselfe alone, he could carry none of the people with him: but our High-Priest, which is a Minister of the celestiall San∣ctuary, shall one day take us up into that Sanctuary to himselfe: hee is gone thither to prepare a place for us: at the latter day wee shall meete him in the ayre, and bee translated into this Sanctuary with him, and remaine with him for ever. Let this be as honey to swee∣ten sicknesse, poverty, contempt, and all the crosses of this life: they all shall have an end: and we shall reigne with this our High-Priest in the Sanctuary of heaven for ever.

As Christ's body was a Tabernacle, so is ours: for he was like to us in all things, sinne onely excepted. Here is the difference: his body was a pure and undefiled tabernacle, not a spot or blemish of sinne in it; ours are impure and uncleane Tabernacles, infected with the Leprosie and contagion of sinne.

2. His body was a Tabernacle framed immediately by God, the Holy Ghost, the third person in the Trinity: we have our Tabernacles mediately from God, by the meanes and seede of our Parents.

3. His body is resembled to the holy Tabernacle, wherein God was served in the time of the Law; ours may be compared to those Tabernacles, wherein the Patriarcks dwelt, before they were seated in the land of Canaan.

Yet they may have the name of Tabernacles, and so they are cal∣led in the Scripture.

Now Tabernacles were different things from houses: they were of more sleight and slender stuffe, soone set up, and soone pulled downe: So our bodies are not houses, faire and magnificent buil∣dings, strong towers and stately pallaces: they be but brittle Ta∣bernacles, nay houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust: there∣fore there is no cause why we should be proud of them. The body of strong Samson, that carried the Gates of the Citties on his shoul∣ders, was but a Tabernacle, that was quickly crushed in pieces: the body of Saul, that was higher then any of the people, was but a Ta∣bernacle: the body of fat Eglon and of great Goliah, were but fraile Tabernacles: the body of Absalom that had not a blemish from the crowne of the head to the soale of the foote, was but a weake Ta∣bernacle: the body of the fairest Lady and the most comely Gen∣tlewoman on the face of the earth, is but a Tabernacle; up to day, and downe to morrow. Therefore let us glorifie God with these our Tabernacles in this world, that wee may receive them glorious and everlasting in the world to come.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. 15.8.