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 ... | Early English Books Online | University of Michigan Library Digital Collections

§. 34. Of the insufficiency of legall sacrifices.

THe forenamed daily ministring is thus exemplified, offering ostentimes. The most speciall work of this ministry was, to offer sacrifices. Hereof see Chap. 5. v. 1. §. •…•…, 7.

Priests stood in Christs roome, and by offering sacrifices were types of Christs of∣fering himself a sacrifice for our sins.

The special point intended here by mentioning that act of offering, is, that they did* 1.1 it a 1.2 oftentimes. For the high Priest did every year when he entred into the most

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holy place offer sacrifices. They offered sacrifices at every feast, and on the first day of every moneth: and morning and evening every day; when any committed a spe∣cial sin, and brought a sacrifice for it, the Priest offered it up: So they did for such as were legally unclean and desired to be cleansed: yea, there were also gratulatory sacrifices offered up for mercies and blessings received: Well might it therefore be said, that they offered oftentimes.

This in generall implyeth an insufficiency and imperfection in what they did, §. 4. which is further made manifest by this phrase following, the same sacrifices.

This word b 1.3 the same, hath respect.

1. In general to the kind of sacrifices. They were all living creatures, unrea∣sonable creatures, such as were counted clean by the law, and that beasts and sowle.
2. In particular to the same occasions: for on every day of attonement, a goat and a bullock was to be offered up, Levit. 16. 6, 15. Every morning and evening a lamb was to be offered up, Exod. 29. 39. For the sin of a Priest, and of the whole congregation, a yong bullock was to be offered up: and for the sin of a ruler an shee∣goat, and for the sin of any of the people a shee-goat, Lev. 4. 3, 14, 23, 28. So in other cases, the same sacrifices were prescribed to be offered upon like occasions.

The ost offering of the same sacrifices doth cleerly demonstrate that those sacri∣fices did not take away sin. See v. 2. §. 4.

Though those sacrifices could not make perfect, yet might not the Priests offer* 1.4 up any other sacrifices of their own invention. Gods wrath was provoked by such, Isa. 65. 3, 4. Some would offer the first born, and fruit of their body: but God was not pleased with such Michah. 6. 7.

1. God is a supreme Lord. The most high soveraign over all; To his word, must all creatures stand and not swerve from it.
2. God is of infinite wisdome, and best knoweth what is fit to be done. To adde to such things as he hath determined, is to oppose our shallow wit, to his in∣comprehensible wisdome.

1. This plainly demonstrateth the impiety and folly of all humane inventions a∣bout Gods holy ordinances.
2. Let us under the Gospel, do that which the Priests did under the law: which is to observe the same ordinances which God hath instituted, and to hold close unto them: but still do the same, as the same are to be done. In vain, saith God, they do worship me, teaching for doctrines, the commandements of men, Matth. 15. 9.

c 1.5 The same, that are here intended were more then one, for the word is of the plural number: so is the word wherewith it is joyned, d 1.6 Sacrifices. For under the law there were many sacrifices, whereof sundry instances were given before.

One kind of sacrifice was not sufficient to typifie that whole truth, and all the be∣nefits* 1.7 and excellencies that were in Christs sacrifice: therefore there were many: one to prefigure one thing, another, another thing.

This giveth us instruction in the wisdome of God, who to help his peoples weak∣ness, and the better to fet forth the manifold benefits which they received by Christ, prescribed many types, and many kinds of sacrifices.

Thus he dealeth with his Church under the Gospel, in prescribing unto it one Sa∣crament of regeneration, and another of spiritual nourishment.

2. As this taught the Jewes to offer up all those sacrifices, as occasion was offered, according to the ends and uses: So it teacheth us to search into the mysteries of the several sacrifices and other types; that we may find out the distinct ends and uses of them.

By way of analogie, we Christians may hence learn, to take notice of the several ordinances, that God enjoyneth to us: and to know that none of them are in vain: but all of them in regard of our need, and for our good.

That which was implyed under legal Priests daily ministring and offering often∣times, and that the same sacrifices, is plainly expressed in this last phrase, e 1.8 can ne∣ver take away sins: for if they could have done that, they would have ceased: as the Apostle himself inferreth, v. 2. §. 4.

Of •…•…he emphasis of these two words, can never, See v. 1. §. 3.

It hath been shewed, v. 4. §. 9. that there is an impossibility in such sacrifices, as were offered under the law, to take away sin.

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The word translated f 1.9 take away is a compound, derived from the same simple 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that that word was which is used, v. 8. §. 23. It is compounded with another preposition then g 1.10 that was, yet used in the same sense, that there it was, and car∣•…•… as great an emphasis; for the taking away of sin here intended, is an utter free∣•…•…g of a man from the guilt and punishment thereof; yea, also from the dominee∣•…•…g power of it. But this the legall sacrifices could not do. This strongly proves the imperfection, insufficiency and impotency of them.