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 ...

§. 109. Of sprinkling holy things with blood.

Heb. 9. 21.

M•…•…reover he sprinkled with blood both the Tabernacle, and all the Vessels of the Mi∣nistery.

THe Apostle having, by a short digression, shewed the end and warrant o•…•… sprink∣ling things with blood, he returneth to his enumeration of other things that were so sprinkled.

In bringing in those particulars he useth two conjunctions, a 1.1 And, b 1.2 But, and an Adverb, c 1.3 likewise. Our English compriseth them all under this word, more∣over. They imply that these are distinct things from the former, but yet used as the former were.

Of sprinkling, and that with blood, see v. 13. §. 71, 72.

Of the Tabernacle, see v. 11. §. 55. and Chap. 8. v. 2. §. 5.* 1.4

By vessels of the Ministery, he meaneth the Candlestick, the Table, the Altar, both that of Gold, and that of Brasse, the great Sea, other Lavers, all such instruments as were set upon the Table of shew-bread, as Dishes, Cups, Spoons, Bowles, and such like, whereof you may read a particular enumeration, 1 King. 7. 45. 50. They are called vessels of the Ministry, because they were for publick service.

Of the notation of the Greek word translated d 1.5 Ministery, see Chap. 1. v. 7. §. 79.

All these were holy in their institution, and consecrated to holy uses. These and such other are stiled dedicate things, 1 Chro. 26. 20, 26.

Que•…•…t. if they were holy, why were they sprinkled with blood?

Answ.

• 1. Though in themselves by Gods institution they were holy, yet being u∣sed by man, in regard of that pollution which is in man, and issueth from him, they were to be sprinkled, and thereby purged.
• 2. They were sprinkled with blood, to shew that the things which man useth are made acceptable to God by the merit of Christs Sacrifice. For the blood here men∣tioned typified the blood of Christ.

Of the former, namely, that pure things are made impure to sinfull men. See v. 19. §. 104.

The latter, that holy things are made acceptable to God by the merit of Christs Sacrifice, is evident by the mention of saith in offering those things which God ac∣cepted, as the offering of Abel, Gen. 4. 4. Heb. 11. 4. The like may be applyed to all other acceptable Sacrifices. As this was typified by the sprinkling of blood, by the incense that was offered up under the law; in all •…•…sion, whereunto it is said, that the

smoak of incense which came with the prayers of the Saints, ascended up before 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Revel. 8. 4.

God himself saith of Christ, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, Matth. 3. 17. God is not only well pleased with Christ, but his good pleasure doth so rest in and on him, as he is well pleased with all that are presented unto him b•…•… his Son. On this ground it is said, that God hath made us accepted in the beloved, Eph. 1. 6.

On this ground it becometh us, whensoever we approach into Gods presence (as* 1.6 they did who went into the Tabernacle▪) and perform any holy duty, to apply to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 selves the Sacrifice of Christ, this is to be sprinkled with the blood of Christ. Faith is the means of applying the same: so as the believer may with a strong confiden•…•… appear before God in any holy duty, as the Priest might enter into the Tabernacle with the sprinkling of blood.

As all the vessels were to be sprinkled, so all Gods ordinances, and the particul•…•…* 1.7 circumstances appertaining to them, are to be performed through saith in Christ.

As thou desirest to be accepted in thy person, so let thy desire extend to all the ho∣ly things thou usest, do them all in faith, so will God have respect to thee, and to thy services.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• b 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• c 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.4

  were What of the ministry.
• d 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.6

  Apply Christs sacrifice.
• * 1.7

  Do all in saith.