CONTENTS.

Introduction, page 1.

LECTURE I.

PRE-EMINENCE, ABOVE THE ANGELS, OF OUR GREAT APOSTLE, THE

SON OF GOD.

Heb. i. 1-18. ii. 4.

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past

unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by

his Son.-i. 1, 2.

Pre-eminence of the Apostle of our profession, who is the Son of

God, heir of all things, Maker of the worlds (i. 1, 2.) Light of Light,

Very God of Very God, Preserver of the universe, exalted even in

his human nature to the right hand of the Majesty on high, (i. 3.) far

above the angels, (i. 4.) page 17.

Proofs from the Old Testament that Christ is superior to the

angels;-as superior, as the Son to servants, (i. 4, 5.) as the Object

of adoration to his worshippers, (i. 6.) as the King eternal to his

ministers, (i. 7, 8.) as One having the Spirit without measure to those

who had but portions, (i. 9.)—as being Jehovah, the everlasting Crea-

tor, (i. 10-12.)—whilst the angels are but ministering spirits, (i. 13,

14.) p. 22.

Practical importance of the subject to the Hebrews-to ourselves.

(ii. 1-4.)-Temptations to deny the divinity of Christ.-Value of the

doctrine, as giving confidence of salvation by Christ.-Its solemnity,

as conveying a warning against neglect of that salvation, p. 25.

LECTURE II.

PRE-EMINENCE, ABOVE THE ANGELS, OF OUR GREAT HIGH-PRIEST,

THE SON OF MAN.

Heb. ii. 5-18.

For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come;

whereof we speak.—ver. 5.

The Apostle's endeavours, by reasoning out of the Scriptures, to

preserve the Hebrew Christians from Judaizing, as in ch. I. p. 35.

"The world to come"-what meant by it.-Subjected, not to

angels, (ii. 5.) but to man (ii. 6-8.) in the person of Jesus (ii. 9.)—

The consequent "dignity of human nature,"-how to be realized

individually, p. 38.

Necessary that Christ should suffer as a guide to our salvation,

(ii. 10.) and therefore be made man; (ii. 11-14.) so as to die for us,

(ii. 14, 15.) not for angels, (ii. 16.) and to be our compassionate

High-Priest, (ii. 17, 18.) p. 42.

LECTURE III.

MOSES A HUMBLE TYPE AND PRECURSOR OF OUR GREAT APOSTLE,

CHRIST JESUS.

Heb. iii. iv.

Let us labour, therefore, to enter into that rest; lest any man fall

after the same example of unbelief. iv. 11.

Application of the titles, Apostle and High-Priest to Christ, (iii. 1.)

p. 51.

Moses a humble precursor of Christ, (iii. 2-6.)—Christians the

house of Christ, if they adhere to him, (iii. 6.)-Reasons for adher-

ence.-Warning, from the example of the Israelites in the wilderness,

addressed by David to his contemporaries, (iii. 7-11.) and repeated

by St. Paul, (iii. 12.) too applicable to all Christians.-Our danger,

particularly from "an evil heart of unbelief," (iii. 13-19.) of for-

feiting, in like manner, our promised rest, (iv. 1-10.) p. 53.

Cordial perseverance in the faith enforced by a consideration of the

piercing judgment of God, (iv. 11—13.) and the tender sympathy of

Christ, (iv. 14-16.) p. 66.

LECTURE IV.

CHRIST, AS OUR HIGH-PRIEST WITH GOD, THE AUTHOR OF ETERNAL

SALVATION.

Heb. v. 1-10.

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto

all that obey him; called of God a High-Priest, after the order of Melchi-

sedec. ver. 9, 10.

Proposed consideration of the priesthood of Christ, p. 71.

The office of high-priest, under the law, 1, vicarious or mediatorial,

(v. 1.)-2, held by one, who could have compassion on the people,

(v. 2, 3.)-3, held by divine appointment, (v. 4.) p. 72.

Christ divinely appointed, (v. 5, 6.)—able to have compassion, (v. 7, 8.)

--and to mediate with God for our eternal salvation, as our perfect

High-Priest, (v. 9, 10.) p. 74.

Practical inferences.-1, from Christ's humility in not taking upon
himself the sacerdotal honour;-2, from his compassion for sinners
and sufferers ;-3, from his mediating for us ;-4, from his being thus
the Author of salvation to them that obey him, p. 78.

LECTURE V.

WARNING AGAINST SPIRITUAL DULNESS, AND WANT OF PROFICIENCY.

Heb. v. 11-14. vi.

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on

unto perfection. vi. 1.

Subject interrupted, and the Hebrews reproved for their spiritual

dulness, (v. 11.) notwithstanding the time that they had been Christ-
ians, (v. 12.)—Such dulness a dangerous symptom, (v. 13, 14.)—
Application of the reproof to ourselves, p. 88.

Exhortation to proceed from fundamental principles, (vi. 1, 2.)—
with God's blessing (vi. 3.)—to perfection: for only in so doing is
there safety, (vi. 4-8.) p. 96.

St. Paul's charitable persuasions respecting the Hebrews, (vi. 9,

10.)—whilst he exhorts them to final perseverance (vi. 11, 12.)—in

dependence upon the promise and oath of God, (vi. 13-17.)—which

are the ground of our hope, (vi. 18.) in heaven, (vi. 19, 20.) p. 100.

Concluding application, p. 102.

LECTURE VI.

THE EVERLASTING PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST, AS TYPIFIED IN

MELCHISEDEC.

Heb. vii.

For the law maketh men high-priests which have infirmity; but the

word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is con-

secrated for evermore. ver. 28.

Subject of our Lord's priesthood resumed.-Melchisedec's history,

(vii. 1—3.)--how typical and prophetical of Christ, p. 105.

Superiority of the sacerdotal order typified in Melchisedec to that

of Levi, (vii. 4-10.)-Abrogation of the latter by the former (vii.

11-24.) p. 111.

Practical applications.-1, The hope brought in for the Christian,

(vii. 25–28.)—2, The effect it should have upon us, p. 115.

LECTURE VII.

OUR GREAT HIGH-PRIEST THE MEDIATOR OF A NEW COVENANT.

Heb. viii.

For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel

after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and

write them in their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall

be to me a people. ver. 10.

Christ the minister of the true tabernacle, which that under the

law typified, (viii. 1–5.) is Mediator of a better covenant, (viii. 6.)—

which was promised because of the imperfection of the first, (viii.

7-9.) p. 123.

Leading privileges of the new covenant:-I. Divine teaching,

(viii. 10, 11.)—II. (which is the foundation of the first) pardon of

sin, (viii. 12.) p. 126.

Abrogation of the Old, by the introduction of the New, Covenant,

(viii. 13.) p. 136.

Practical conclusion, p. 137.

LECTURE VIII.

THE SANCTUARY, SACRIFICE, AND TESTAMENT OF CHRIST.

Heb. ix.

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, &c.

ver. 24-26.

Introduction of the subject, p. 141.

Description of the Jewish tabernacle, (ix. 1—5.)—Devotional view

of the types in the tabernacle not explained (ix. 5. latter clause) by

St. Paul, p. 142.

The entrance of the High-Priest into the holy of holies, not with-

out blood, typical of Christ's entrance into heaven with his own blood,

(ix. 6-14.)-to be the Mediator of a new testamentary covenant,

(ix. 15-26.)-His return from the holy place, (ix. 27, 28.) p. 148.

Exhortations to conform to the terms of the New Testament, and

to live in expectation of our Lord's return.—Application to the holy

communion, p. 153.

LECTURE IX.

EXHORTATION TO SINCERITY, AND PERSEVERANCE IN THE FAITH.

Heb. x.

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.
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering.

ver. 22, 23.

The imperfection of the typical sacrifices of the Law, intimated in
their repetition, (x. 1-4.) and declared in prophecy; which also
foretold the abolition of such sacrifices, as soon as the true expiation
should have been made, (x. 5—18.) p. 163.

Practical application.-I. Encouragement to draw near to God

(x. 19-22.) with sincerity, and faith in the blood of Christ; ful-

filling the intentions of our baptism, (x. 22, 23.)-II. Exhortation to

final perseverance.-Admonition to such as have to renew their profes-

sion of the faith;-those who do profess the true faith-sincerely—

exhorted to be stedfast, (x. 23.)—to stir up themselves and others,

(x. 24.)—to continue to maintain public worship, (x. 25.)—consider-

ing the awful consequences of apostasy, (x. 26–31.)—and remem-

bering the beginning of their Christian course, (x. 32-34.) so as to

persevere in the faith resolutely (x. 35.) and patiently, (x. 36.) during

their brief time of trial, (x. 37.) to the saving of the soul, (x. 38, 39.)

p. 166.

LECTURE X.

CONSTANCY IN THE FAITH ENFORCED BY EXAMPLES.

Heb. xi. 1-16.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having

seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and confessed that they

were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. ver. 13.

holy

Value of faith-definition of it, (xi. 1.)—such as it was in "

men of old,” (xi. 2.)—further explanation of it, (xi. 3.) p. 183.

Examples of faith :-viz. Abel, (xi. 4.)—Enoch, (xi. 5, 6.)—Noah,

(xi. 7.)—Abraham (xi. 8—10.)—Sarah, (xi. 11, 12.) p. 187.

The spiritual character, and heavenly reward, of the faith in which

“these all” departed, (xi. 13—16.)—Application of the example to

the Hebrews, and to ourselves, p. 193.