pally designed, as being indeed the sole foundation of Christian religion. Wherefore, we have in this Epistle, a clear exposition of the first promise, with all those which were given in the explication or confirmation of it; and also of the law and of its worship, which were afterwards introduced; that is in general of the whole Old Testament or of the instruction which God gave to the church under it. Hence that blessed light which now shines forth in the promises and legal institutions of the Old Testament, is derived unto us, through the exposition of them given unto us, by the Holy Ghost, in this Epistle. We are, therefore, to remember, that in our inquiries into these things, we are conversant in the deepest mysteries of the wisdom and counsel of God; those which animated the faith and obedience of both churches; which calls not only for our utmost diligence but for continual reverence and godly fear.
Unto the general end mentioned, the apostle makes use of all sorts of arguments, taken from the constitution, nature, use, efficacy, officers, and ordinances of the one covenant and the other; comparing them together. And in all his arguings, he openly designs the demonstration of these two things; 1. That the old covenant, with all its administrations, was to cease. 2. That it was not only to the advantage of the church, that they should so do, but absolutely necessary, that it might be brought unto that perfect state, which it was designed unto.
In order unto the first of these, he hath done two things in the preceding chapters. 1. He hath declared, that there were prefigurations and predictions of the cessation of the first covenant, and of all its administrations. As also, that God had so ordered all things in and under that covenant, as that they must necessarily expire and cease at a certain appointed time. 2. He hath evinced the necessity hereof, because that covenant could not consummate the state of the church, nor give assured rest and peace unto the consciences of them, that approached unto God in and by its services. And both these he confirms, by the consideration of the typical nature of all its ordinances and institutions. For whereas there was in and by them a representation made of heavenly things, those heavenly things themselves could not be introduced without their removal.
It is the second thing mentioned, or the advantage of the church by the taking away of the first covenant, and all its sacred administrations, that he principally insists upon. For herein he designed (as was before observed) to declare the glorious mystery of the counsel of God, concerning the redemption and salvation of the church by Jesus Christ. But whereas this in general is the substance of the gospel, and the subject of all his other Epistles, he doth not here consider and declare it absolutely, but as it was prefigured and typified by those institutions of worship, whereby God both instructed the church, and exercised the faith and obedience of his people, under the Old Testament.
Three things there were, which were the glory of those administrations, and which the Hebrews so rested in, as that they refused the gospel out of an adherence unto them. 1. The priestly office. 2. The tabernacle, with all its furniture, wherein that office was exercised. 3. The duties and worship of the priests in that tabernacle by sacrifices;