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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>H E B R E W S.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. VIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter the apostle pursues his former subject, the priesthood
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of Christ. And,
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I. He sums up what he had already said,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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II. He sets before them the necessary parts of the priestly office,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:3-5">ver. 3-5</A>.
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And,
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III. Largely illustrates the excellency of the priesthood of Christ,
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by considering the excellency of that new dispensation or covenant for
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which Christ is the Mediator,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:6-13">ver. 6, to the end</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Heb8_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Heb8_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Heb8_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Heb8_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Heb8_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Priesthood of Christ.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 62.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Now of the things which we have spoken <I>this is</I> the sum: We
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have such a high priest, who is set on the right hand of the
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throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
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2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle,
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which the Lord pitched, and not man.
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3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and
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sacrifices: wherefore <I>it is</I> of necessity that this man have
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somewhat also to offer.
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4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing
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that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
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5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as
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Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the
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tabernacle: for, See, saith he, <I>that</I> thou make all things
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according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is, I. A summary recital of what had been said before concerning
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the excellency of Christ's priesthood, showing what we have in Christ,
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where he now resides, and what sanctuary he is the minister of,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>.
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Observe,
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1. What we have in Christ; we have a high priest, and such a high
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priest as no other people ever had, no age of the world, or of the
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church, ever produced; all others were but types and shadows of this
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high priest. He is adequately fitted and absolutely sufficient to all
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the intents and purposes of a high priest, both with respect to the
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honour of God and the happiness of men and himself; the great honour of
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all those who have an interest in him.
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2. Where he now resides: <I>He sits on the right hand of the throne of
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the Majesty on high,</I> that is, of the glorious God of heaven. There
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the Mediator is placed, and he is possessed of all authority and power
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both in heaven and upon earth. This is the reward of his humiliation.
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This authority he exercises for the glory of his Father, for his own
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honour, and for the happiness of all who belong to him; and he will by
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his almighty power bring every one of them in their own order to the
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right hand of God in heaven, as members of his mystical body, that
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where he is they may be also.
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3. What is that sanctuary of which he is a minister: <I>Of the true
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tabernacle, which the Lord hath pitched, and not man,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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The tabernacle which was pitched by man, according to the appointment
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of God. There was an outer part, in which was the altar where they were
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to offer their sacrifices, which typified Christ dying; and there was
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an interior part within the veil, which typified Christ interceding for
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the people in heaven. Now this tabernacle Christ never entered into;
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but, having finished the work of satisfaction in the true tabernacle of
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his own body, he is now a minister of the sanctuary, the holy of
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holies, the true tabernacle in heaven, there taking care of his
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people's affairs, interceding with God for them, that their sins may be
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pardoned and their persons and services accepted, through the merit of
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his sacrifice. He is not only in heaven enjoying great dominion and
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dignity, but, as the high priest of his church, executing this office
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for them all in general, and every member of the church in
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particular.</P>
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<P>
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II. The apostle sets before the Hebrews the necessary parts of Christ's
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priesthood, or what it was that belonged to that office, in conformity
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to what every high priest is ordained to,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>.
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1. <I>Every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices.</I>
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Whatever was brought by the people to be presented to God, whether
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expiatory sacrifices, or peace-offerings, or thank-offerings, must be
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offered by the priest, who was to expiate their guilt by the blood of
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the sacrifice, and perfume their gifts and services by his holy
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incense, to render their persons and performances typically acceptable;
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so then it necessarily belongs to the priesthood of Christ that he
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should have somewhat to offer; and he, as the antitype, had himself to
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offer, his human nature upon the altar of his divine nature, as the
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great atoning sacrifice that finished transgression, and made an end of
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sin once for all; and he has the incense of his own righteousness and
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merits too to offer with all that his people offer up to God by him, to
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render them acceptable. We must not dare to approach to God, or to
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present any thing to him, but in and through Christ, depending upon his
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merits and mediation; for if we are accepted, it is in the Beloved.
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2. Christ must now execute his priesthood in heaven, in the holy of
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holies, the true tabernacle which the Lord hath fixed. Thus the type
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must be fully answered; having finished the work of sacrificing here,
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he must go into heaven, to present his righteousness and to make
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intercession there. For,
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(1.) <I>If Christ were on earth, he would not be a priest</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
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that is, not according to the Levitical law, as not being of the line
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of that priesthood; and so long as that priesthood continued there must
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be a strict regard paid to the divine institution in everything.
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(2.) All the services of the priest, under the law, as well as every
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thing in that tabernacle which was framed according to the pattern in
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the mount, were only exemplars and shadows of heavenly things,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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Christ is the substance and end of the law for righteousness. Something
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therefore there must be in Christ's priesthood that answers to the high
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priest's entering within the veil to make intercession, without which
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he could not have been a perfect priest; and what is this but the
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ascension of Christ into heaven, and his appearance there in the sight
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of God for his people, to present their prayers, and plead their cause?
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So that, if he had still continued on earth, he could not have been a
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perfect priest; and an imperfect one he could not be.</P>
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<A NAME="Heb8_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Heb8_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Heb8_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Heb8_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Heb8_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Heb8_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Heb8_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Heb8_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Old and New Covenant.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 62.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how
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much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was
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established upon better promises.
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7 For if that first <I>covenant</I> had been faultless, then should
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no place have been sought for the second.
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8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come,
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saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of
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Israel and with the house of Judah:
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9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers
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in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the
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land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I
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regarded them not, saith the Lord.
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10 For this <I>is</I> the covenant that I will make with the house
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of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws
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into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to
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them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
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11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every
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man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me,
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from the least to the greatest.
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12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their
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sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
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13 In that he saith, A new <I>covenant,</I> he hath made the first
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old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old <I>is</I> ready to vanish
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away.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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In this part of the chapter, the apostle illustrates and confirms the
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superior excellency of the priesthood of Christ above that of Aaron,
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from the excellency of that covenant, or that dispensation of the
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covenant of grace, of which Christ was the Mediator
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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his ministry is more excellent, by how much he is the Mediator of a
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better covenant. The body and soul too of all divinity (as some
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observe) consist very much in rightly distinguishing between the two
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covenants--the covenant of works and the covenant of grace; and between
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the two dispensations of the covenant of grace--that under the Old
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Testament and that under the New. Now observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. What is here said of the old covenant, or rather of the old
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dispensation of the covenant of grace: of this it is said,
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1. That it was made with the fathers of the Jewish nation at mount
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Sinai
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
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and Moses was the Mediator of that covenant, when God took them by the
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hand, to lead them out of the land of Egypt, which intimates the great
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affection, condescension, and tender care of God towards them.
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2. That this covenant was not found faultless
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:7,8"><I>v.</I> 7, 8</A>);
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it was a dispensation of darkness and dread, tending to bondage, and
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only a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ; it was perfect in its kind,
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and fitted to answer its end, but very imperfect in comparison of the
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gospel.
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3. That it was not sure or stedfast; <I>for the Jews continued not in
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that covenant, and the Lord regarded them not,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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They dealt ungratefully with their God, and cruelly with themselves,
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and fell under God's displeasure. God will regard those who remain in
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his covenant, but will reject those who cast away his yoke from them.
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4. That it is decayed, grown old, and vanisheth away,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
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It is antiquated, canceled, out of date, of no more use in gospel times
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than candles are when the sun has risen. Some think the covenant of
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peculiarity did not quite decay till the destruction of Jerusalem,
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though it was forfeited at the death of Christ, and was made old, and
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was now to vanish and perish, and the Levitical priesthood vanished
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with it.</P>
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<P>
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II. What is here said of the New-Testament dispensation, to prove the
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superior excellency of Christ's ministry. It is said,</P>
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<P>
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1. That it is a better covenant
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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a more clear and comfortable dispensation and discovery of the grace of
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God to sinners, bringing in holy light and liberty to the soul. It is
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without fault, well ordered in all things. It requires nothing but what
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it promises grace to perform. It accepts of godly sincerity, accounting
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it gospel perfection. Every transgression does not turn us out of
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covenant; all is put into a good and safe hand.</P>
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<P>
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2. That it is established upon better promises, more clear and express,
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more spiritual, more absolute. The promises of spiritual and eternal
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blessings are in this covenant positive and absolute; the promises of
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temporal blessings are with a wise and kind proviso, as far as shall be
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for God's glory and his people's good. This covenant contains in it
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promises of assistance and acceptance in duty, promises of progress and
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perseverance in grace and holiness, of bliss and glory in heaven, which
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were more obscurely shadowed forth by the promises of the land of
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Canaan, a type of heaven.</P>
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<P>
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3. It is a new covenant, even that new covenant that God long ago
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declared he would make with the house of Israel, that is, all the
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Israel of God; this was promised in
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:31,32">Jer. xxxi. 31, 32</A>,
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and accomplished in Christ. This will always be a new covenant, in
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which all who truly take hold of it shall be always found preserved by
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the power of God. It is God's covenant; his mercy, love, and grace
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moved for it; his wisdom devised it; his Son purchased it; his wisdom
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devised it; his Son purchased it; his Spirit brings souls into it, and
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builds them up in it.</P>
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<P>
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4. The articles of this covenant are very extraordinary, which are
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sealed between God and his people by baptism and the Lord's supper;
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whereby they bind themselves to their part, and God assures them he
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will do his part; and his is the main and principal part, on which his
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people depend for grace and strength to do theirs. Here,</P>
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<P>
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(1.) God articles with his people <I>that he will put his laws into
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their minds and write them in their hearts,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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He once wrote his laws to them, now he will write his laws in them;
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that is, he will give them understanding to know and to believe his
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law; he will give them memories to retain them; he will give them
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hearts to love them and consciences to recognize them; he will give
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them courage to profess them and power to put them in practice; the
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whole habit and frame of their souls shall be a table and transcript of
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the law of God. This is the foundation of the covenant; and, when this
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is laid, duty will be done wisely, sincerely, readily, easily,
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resolutely, constantly, and comfortably.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) He articles with them to take them into a near and very honourable
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relation to himself.
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[1.] He will be to them a God; that is, he will be all that to them,
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and do all that for them, that God can be and do. Nothing more can be
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said in a thousand volumes than is comprehended in these few words:
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<I>I will be a God to them.</I>
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[2.] They shall be to him a people, to love, honour, observe, and obey
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him in all things; complying with his cautions, conforming to his
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commands, comporting with his providences, copying out his example,
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taking complacency in his favour. This those must do and will do who
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have God for their God; this they are bound to do as their part of the
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contract; this they shall do, for God will enable them to do it, as an
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evidence that he is their God and that they are his people; for it is
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God himself who first founds the relation, and then fills it up with
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grace suitable and sufficient, and helps them in their measure to fill
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it up with love and duty; so that God engages both for himself and
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them.</P>
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<P>
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(3.) He articles with them that they shall grow more and more
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acquainted with their God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>):
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<I>They shall all know me from the least to the greatest,</I> insomuch
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that there shall not be so much need of one neighbour teaching another
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the knowledge of God. Here observe,
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[1.] In the want of better instruction, one neighbour should be
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teaching another to know the Lord, as they have ability and opportunity
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for it.
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[2.] This private instruction shall not be so necessary under the New
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|
Testament as it was under the Old. The old dispensation was shadowy,
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dark, ritual, and less understood; their priests preached but seldom,
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and but a few at a time, and the Spirit of God was more sparingly given
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out. But under the new dispensation there shall be such abundance of
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public qualified preachers of the gospel, and dispensers of ordinances
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statedly in the solemn assemblies, and so great a flocking to them, as
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doves to their windows, and such a plentiful effusion of the Spirit of
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God to make the ministration of the gospel effectual, that there shall
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be a mighty increase and spreading of Christian knowledge in persons of
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all sorts, of each sex, and of all ages. O that this promise might be
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fulfilled in our days, that the hand of God may be with his ministers,
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that a great number may believe and be turned to the Lord!</P>
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<P>
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(4.) God articles with them about the pardon of their sins, as what
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always accompanies the true knowledge of God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
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<I>For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness,</I> &c. Observe,
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[1.] The freeness of this pardon. It does not result from merit in man,
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but from mercy in God; he pardons for his own name's sake.
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[2.] The fullness of this pardon; it extends to their unrighteousness,
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sins, and iniquities; to all kinds of sin, to sins highly aggravated.
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[3.] The fixedness of this pardon. It is so final and so fixed that God
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will remember their sins no more; he will not recall his pardon; he
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will not only forgive their sins, but forget them, treat them as if he
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had forgotten them. This pardoning mercy is connected with all other
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spiritual mercies. Unpardoned sin prevents mercy, and pulls down
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judgments; but the pardon of sin prevents judgment, and opens a wide
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door to all spiritual blessings; it is the effect of that mercy that is
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from everlasting, and the earnest of that mercy that shall be to
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everlasting. This is the excellency of the new dispensation, and these
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are the articles of it; and therefore we have no reason to repine, but
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great reason to rejoice that the former dispensation is antiquated and
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has vanished away.</P>
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