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SERMON IX.

The Aaronick Priesthood a Type of
CHRIST.

SERM.
IX.

HEB. IX. 7, 11, 12.

Into the fecond [Tabernacle] went the High Prieft alone once every Year, not with Blood, which he offered for himself, and for the Errors of the People.

But Chrift being come an High Priest of good Things to come, by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle, not made with Hands, that is to fay, not of this Building.

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 us.

T

HE Unition of Jefus as the Meffiah or Chrift, and the Offices he was invefted with by Virtue of that Unction, are the Subjects to which I have already bespoke your Attention. His Prophetick Office, which

was

IX,

was the first he was to perform; I have al- SER M. ready explained; and have fhewed that he was not only a Prophet, in the general Acceptation of the Word, but also that he was that one, peculiar Prophet which Mofes foretold, the Lord fhould in Time raise up to the Jews, from among their Brethren, like unto bimself.

The next Office that comes in order to be fpoke to, is his Sacerdotal or Priestly one; For this alfo he muft neceffarily perform, or he could not be the Chrift. The Predictions that are contained in the Old Testament concerning himself, foretelling no lefs clearly that he should be a Prieft, than that he fhould be a Prophet. For thus fpeaketh the Lord of Hofts (by his Prophet Zech.) faying, Behold the Man whofe Name is the BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his Place, and he fhall build the Temple of the Lord: even he shall build the Temple of the Lord, and he shall bear the Glory, and shall fit and rule upon his Throne; and he fhall be a Prieft upon his Throne, and the Counsel of Peace shall be between them both, Zech. vi. 12, 13. i. e. The Meffias, (who, according to the Promife of God, was to be a peculiar Branch or Offspring from David's Lineage or Stock) fhould build up

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IX.

SER M. a spiritual Temple, the Church, in which he fhould reign as a King, and at the fame Time officiate as a Prieft: For the Kingdom and the Priesthood being in him both joined in one Person, there shall be no clashing of Jurifdiction between the two Offices. Of the fame Perfon it is that David fays, prophetically, The Lord hath fworn and will not repent, Thou art a Prieft for ever, after the Order of Melchifedeck, Pf. cx. 4. And at the fame Office both Ifaiah and Daniel evidently point, when the former mentions his bearing the Sins of many, and his making Interceffion for the Tranfgreffors, Ifai. liii. 12. and the other, his making Reconciliation for Iniquity, Dan. ix. 24. From the Nature of which Performances, his Sacerdotal Office must neceffarily be inferred. Since therefore it is evident that the Christ was to be a Prieft, I must now, in order to fhew that Jefus is the Chrift, go on to fhew that Jefus is a Priest.

And in doing this, I have the Sacred Author of my Text to fupport me. For in the Paffage which I have read to you (which is one and the fame Sentence, though feparated by three Verses which I fhall have no Occafion to speak to) he firft recites the principal Office of the High Priest amongst the Jews;

and

IX.

and then obferves how exactly it was anfwer- SER M. ed by Jefus the High Prieft of the Chriftian Church; though in fuch a Manner as that every Circumftance fhews a Virtue in the Antitype which was wanting in the Type. Into the fecond Tab. &c. in

This is the Subject, and this the Text which the Course I am engaged in directs me to fpeak to: A Subject of the greatest Importance and Concern to all Mankind; I would therefore lay the true Notion of it before you, in as clear and intelligible a Manner as I can. And the best Way to do it I appre

hend is this, viz.

I. FIRST, to fhew what was the Nature and Office of the High Priesthood amongst the Jews: And then

II. SECONDLY, to explain how Jefus, as the Meffiah or Chrift, did affume, and perform and finish all which that Priesthood prefigured.

I. FIRST, I would lay before you the Nature and Office of the High Priesthood amongst the Jews. In order to which it will be proper to obferve in the first Place, what the Holy Penman of the Epistle before us VOL. II.

M

him

IX.

SER M. himself remarks, viz. That every High Prief taken from among Men, is ordained for Men in Things pertaining to God: So that he was a Mediator between God and Man: In fome Cafes representing the one, and in fome the other. In Prayers and Praises, he was the Mouth of the People; their Petitions and Thanksgivings being all offered up to God by him. But in Abfolutions and Blessings he was the Reprefentative of God, pronouncing with Authority, as from God's Mouth, and in God's Stead. And thus far he was not fingular in his Priesthood: All Priefts whatsoever, whether Patriarchal, Jewish, or Chriftian, having ever performed the fame Offices, and ftood in the fame Relation between God and their People.

But you must remember that under the Jewish Difpenfation, (which was all typical, i. e. fhadowing and reprefenting, by fome Rites and Ceremonies, what was in Time to be performed by fome great Antitype, for the Salvation of Mankind, under that Oeconomy) the Priests not only rendered the Calves of their Lips, but had material Sacrifices alfo to offer. For every High Prieft taken from among Men, was ordained for Men in Things pertaining to God; that he might offer both

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