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 ...

§. 15. Of the most holy place typifying heaven.

Heb. 9. 3.

3.

And after the second Vailes the Tabernacle which is called, The Holiest of all.

4.

Which had the golden censer, and the Ark of the covenant, overlaid round about with Gold, wherein was the golden pot, that had Manna, and Aarons rod that budded, and the Tables of the covenant.

5.

And over it the •…•…herubims of glory, shadowing the Mercy-seat: of which we can∣not now speak particularly.

THe Apostle goeth on to set forth other special types, which were in the other* 1.1 part of the Tabernacle, which he describeth in the 3. verse.

He describeth it by the division of it from the former, and by the proper title gi∣ven unto it.

We will first speak of the Title, and then of the division.

The word a 1.2 Tabernacle is here Synecdochically used for a part thereof. For it was shewed, 9. 6. that there were two parts of the Tabernacle. Of the former he spake in the former verse. Here he speaketh of the latter-part: and this is it which he call•…•…th the Holiest of all. Of this title, see Chap. 8. v. 2. §. 4.

This was at the west-end of the Tabernacle. It was four square, ten cubits long, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 broad, ten high. The like place in Solomons Temple was called the Oracle, which was twenty cubits in length, twenty in breadth, and twenty in height, 1 King 6. 20. Now Solomons Temple, was in every place twice as big as the Tabernacle. It was overlaid every way with pure Gold. It was kept most close. None might enter into it, but the High-Priest, and he but once a year, verse 7. This place 〈◊〉〈◊〉 heaven, verse 12, 24.

It was as fit a resemblance of Heaven, as every any edifice framed in this world. For,* 1.3

• 1. It was the most glorious place that ever was.
• 2. God did more conspicuously manifest his presence in this place, then in any o∣ther on earth.
• 3. None but the High-Priest might enter into this place. So none but 〈◊〉〈◊〉, collectively taken for his mystical body, (1 Cor. 12. 12.) might out of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 enter into heaven.
• 4. The Priest went with blood into it, Lev. 16. 9. So Christ entered into hea∣ven with blood, v. 12. For our sins close heaven against us: but Christs blood takes away our sins.
• 5. The High-Priest was arayed all in fine linnen, when he entered into it. And al∣so was otherwayes gloriously attired. So Christs humane nature was endued with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 p•…•…rity, and exceeding great glory. So likewise, his mystical body enter∣ing into heaven is pure and glorious.
• 6. Therein was the Mercy-seat. So heaven is the throne of •…•…race, Heb. 4. 14.
• •…•… There the High-Priest presented the names of the twelve tribes unto God. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for us 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God.
• ...

• •…•…. There were Cherubims attending the Mercy-seat. In heaven are Angels atten∣•…•… the throne of God.

This sheweth the priviledge of Saints, as they are members of the mystycal body* 1.4 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christ, who is the true great High-Priest: and by virtue of this union, they par∣•…•… of this priviledge to have admittance into this most holy place. It was one of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 greatest priviledges of the High-Priest under the Law. No King had the like, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the difference betwixt the type and the truth be well weighed, it will appear to be a great priviledge indeed. It was a priviledge to Israel to be admitted into the courts 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Tabernacle: a greater for Priests to be admitted into the holy place: but the greatest for the High-Priest to be admitted into the most holiest place.

This was as Gods bed-chamber, or privy closet. While here we live, we cannot* 1.5 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a personal accesse thereto: therefore we must long to be there, (Phil. 1. 23.) and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all occasions lift up our eyes thereunto (Psal. 121. 1 Lam. 3. 41.) and set our 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thereon (Col. 3. 1.) and make such prayers as may pierce thereinto, which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be by the voyce, but by the power of the Spirit, Rom. 8. 26, 27.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Two parts of the Taber∣na•…•…le.
• a 1.2

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

  The most holy place typified heaven.
• * 1.4

  Saints enter into heaven.
• * 1.5

  How Saints affected to heaven