A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 116. Of the resolution and observations of Heb. 7. 26, 27.

Vers. 26.

For such an High-Priest became us, who is holy, harmelesse, undefiled, se∣parate from sinners, and made higher then the heavens.

Vers. 27.

Who needeth not daily, as those High-Priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the peoples: for this did he once, when he offered up himself.

Vers. 26. THe sum of these two verses is, The excellency of Christ above other Priests. Hereof are two parts.

• 1. A description of Christ. v. 26.
• 2. A declaration of the difference betwixt Christ and other Priests.

In the description there is set down.

• 1. The person described.
• 2. The substance of the description.

The person is set out by his office, High-Priest.

In the substance we may observe two points.

• 1. The purity of Christ.
• 2. His dignity.

The purity of Christ is,

• 1. Set down, in four properties.
• 2. Amplified by the ground thereof.

Among the foresaid properties, one in generall hath respect to his function, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is holy. The other three are a qualification of his person, namely, harmlesse, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 led, separate from sinners.

About the ground of these is noted.

• 1. The kind of ground, became.
• 2. The persons whom it concerneth, us.

The dignity of Christ is,

• 1. Set out by the place, heavens.
• 2. Amplified by a comparative expression, higher then.

Vers. 27. The difference betwixt Christ and other Priests is,

• 1. Propounded.
• 2. Proved.

The point propounded is in a dissimilitude, wherein is,

• 1. Intimated an agreement betwixt them.
• 2. Is expressed a difference.

The agreement is in offering sacrifice.

The difference is in three points.

• 1. In time. They offered daily. Christ once.
• 2. In the extent of the end. They for their own sins and others. Christ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for others. The extent of their offering is amplified by the order, first, for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 own sins, then for the peoples.
• 3. In the kind of sacrifice. Christ offered up himself. They offered up 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sacrifices.

Doctrines.

• I. Christ was an High-Priest. He is so stiled. See 6. 108.
• II. Christ was such a Priest as was every way sit. This relative, such, in this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 implyeth as much. See §. 108.
• III. God ordered matters so as our need required. Even so as became us. See §. 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪
• IV. Christ by his function was an holy one. In this respect he is here stiled 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ See §. 109.
• V. Christ never committed any actuall sin. He was harmlesse. See §. 109.
• VI. Christ was without originall sin. He was undefiled. See §. 109.
• VII. Christ was not guilty of Adams sin. In this sense he is said to be separate from sinners. See §. 109.
• VIII. Christ was perfectly pure. This geneall is gathered out of all the •…•…∣mentioned particulars. See §. 109.
• IX. Christ as our Priest is above all creatures. This phrase, higher then the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, intendeth as much. See §. 110.
• X. Christ as mediator is advanced to that high dignity which he hath. The 〈◊〉〈◊〉, made, as here used, implieth as much. See §. 110.
• Vers. 27. XI. Christ needed not the things which other Priests did. Thus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is expressed in this phrase needed not. See §. 111.
• XII. Priests offered up sacrifices: This is taken for granted. See §. 113.
• XIII. Legall Priests oft offered up their sacrifices: even daily. See §. 112.
• XIV. What cannot at once be effected, must by daily performance be helped 〈◊〉〈◊〉. T•…•… is the reason, why the Priests daily offered. See §. 112.
• XV. Legall Priests offered sacrifice for their own sins. This is plainly expressed. See §. 113.
• XVI. They who are in place to cleanse others, must first be cleansed themselves. T•…•… adverb of order first, demonstrateth as much. See §. 113.
• XVII. Priests offered sacrifice for others also. This is plainly expressed. See 〈◊〉〈◊〉 114.
• XVIII. They who have charge over others, must seek their cleansing. This corre•…•… conjunction, then, intends so much. See §. 114.
• XIX. Christ, only once, offered up his sacrifice. This adverb once is ex•…•…. See •…•…. 115.
• XX Christ offered up himself. This is clearly expressed. See §. 115.