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 ...

§. 53. Of Christ an high Priest of good things.

Heb. 9. 11, 12.

Vers. 11.

But Christ being come an high Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this▪ building;

Vers. 12.

Neither by the blood of goats, and calves: but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternall redemption for us.

THe Apostle having distinctly set down sundry legall types and services, here he beginneth to shew forth the substance of them all. This he continueth to do in the remainder of this Chapter, & in the former part of the next Chapter to the 19. v.

In handling this point concerning Christ, the truth and substance of the legall Priest-hood, and the manifold types thereof, the Apostle applyeth the substance to the shadows: and the truth to the types. This he doth, generally in the 11. and 12. v. and more particularly in the verses following.

The first particle, a But, implyeth that that was done by the truth, which could not be done by the types. He had before declared that the types could not make perfect: BUT Christ the truth could.

Of this title, Christ, see Chap. 3. v. 6. •…•…. 54.

Of Christs being an high Priest. See Chap. 2. v. 17. §. 173.

This phrase, b being come, implyeth an actuall exhibition of Christ, after a long expectation of him. It is a compound word, and signifieth sometimes to come to a place: as Matth. 2. 1. And sometimes to be present at a place, Matth. 3. 1.

Thus Christ came to his Church, when he was first incarnate, Ioh. 1. 11. And being come he continueth ever with his Church, Matth. 28. 20.

Christ being so come is said to be an high Priest of good things to come.

Of the various acception of the word good, see Chap. 13. v. 9. §. 116.

By good is here meant, that which is true, solid, and substantiall. Good is not here exposed to evill: but to figures, shadowes, types which are impotent, and in∣sufficient

to make good, Chap. 10. v. 1. They are said to be things to come, not i•…•… relation to the Apostles time: for then those good things were actually exhibited▪ but to the time of the law, while the legall types were in force. Thus it may ha•…•…▪ reference to this phrase, which was a figure for the time then present, v. 9. At the present time, these good things were to come.

If it be demanded what these good things are, I answer

• 1. In generall, All the truths typified under the law.
• 2. In particular, Christ himself. His body, and soul. The union of them with the divine nature. His doings, his sufferings, especially his death as a sacrifice, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 resurrection, ascension and intercession. The benefits also flowing from those, 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ expiation of sin, reconciliation with God, justification, sanctification, salvation. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 two words, Grace and Glory. These are stiled good.

• 1. In their kind and quality: For they are good and perfect in themselves.
• 2. In their unity and excellency. They do good to such as partake of them.

Thus we see, that the things where-about Christs Priest-hood was exercised were substantiall truths, sufficient to make those that trust in him perfect. In this resp•…•… he is said to be a Minister of the true Tabernacle, Chap. 8. 2.

This must needs be so, by reason of the excellency of his person; who was God∣man.

Yea, this was the end which he aimed at in assuming the office of Priest-hood.

This manifesteth a main difference between the legall and Christs Priest-hood: even as great a difference as is between a shadow and substance: a type and truth, •…•… signe and things signified: that which is imperfect and perfect: carnall and spiritu∣all: unprositable and prositable; earthly and heavenly.

O that Christs Priest-hood were esteemed by us Christians according to this diffe∣rence!

Notes

• a

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• What meant by good.
• Good things to come.
• What they are.
• Difference betwixt the legall Priest∣hood and Christs.