ix. 10. “Imposed on them till the time of reformation."

us.

Behold I make all things new.

1

12. "Neither by the blood of goats and calves,' but by His own blood; He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for 13. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15. And for this cause He is the Mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator livẹth. 18. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. 22. And without shedding of blood is no remission. 23. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified, with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25. Nor yet that He should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others:

26. For then must. He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared, to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment ; 28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation."

The Apostle here shews the superiority of the sacrifice once offered by Christ over those of the Mosaic ritual; declares him to have obtained an eternal redemption for us, and the promise of an eternal inheritance; and that by putting away sin, by the sacrifice of Himself. Here, as every where. else, he assumes, that like as the high priest, chosen. from among men, exercised his office only for their benefit, so He hath entered into the presence of God for mankind.

x. 10. By the which will we are sanctitied through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 12. But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of God, 13. From henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. 14. For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that He had said before, 16. This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17. And their sins and iniquities will I re-i member no more. 18. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the

holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20. By a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; 21. And having an high priest over the house of God; 22. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."

The same idea prevails here, that we have an High Priest over the house of God, who, by offering sacri fice for us, hath opened for us a new and living way, if we will walk therein; but if we do not, all remain in their sins; but no intimation that death, instead of being destroyed by Him, is immortalized, still to reign over us, and that we are made eternal to be subject to his rule. This would not be worthy our merciful High Priest, who took our nature. upon Him, that He might be touched with our infirmities.

26. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29. Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith He was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30. For we know Him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32. But call

have

to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 34. Knowing in yourselves that ye in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35. Cast not away, therefore, your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36. For we have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37. For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."

Here we have an account of the difference between those that died under Moses' law and him who shall have counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing; and a much sorer punishment it is to be cut off from the possibility of immortality, than to lose this present life retaining that possibility. That this is the full force of the distinction, appears from the 38th and 39th verses, he that draws back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. He draws back unto perdition. xi. 1. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Then we can tell why, without faith, no man shall see the Lord-they reject that which is the substance of the good man's hope, and there is no other evidence of 'unseen things.

3.

"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

5. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God."

That is the same faith which procured Enoch's translation, and whereby we can understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God; the unregenerate are incapable of either.

xii. 2. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith: who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

The joy that was set before Him was the joy that is in heaven over sinners that repent. If those that repent not are made eternally miserable, for one joy there must be many sorrows.

9. "Shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?"

Will it be said we can live without?

14. "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."

Surely it is conceivable that holiness might have been made the measure of existence: if it were so, Eternal Torment would be unnecessary.

22. "But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. 23. To the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24. And to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 25. See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh: for