The priestly office of Christ is the first and great thing that is
presented to us in the gospel; namely, how he died for our sins, and
gave himself to the cross, that the blessing of Abraham might come
upon us through him. But now because this priestly office of his is
divided into two parts, and because one of them, to wit, this of his
intercession, is to be accomplished for us within the veil,
therefore--as we say among men, out of sight, out of mind--he is too
much as to this forgotten by us. We satisfy ourselves with the
slaying of the sacrifice; we look not after our Aaron as he goes
into the holiest, there to sprinkle the mercy-seat with blood upon
our account.
But since his dying is his laying down his price, and his
intercession the urging and managing the worthiness of it in the
presence of God against Satan, there is glory to be found therein,
and we should look after him into the holy place. The second part of
the work of the high-priests under the law, had great glory and
sanctity put upon it. Forasmuch as the holy garments were provided
for him to officiate in within the veil, also it was there that the
altar stood on which he offered incense. Also there were the
mercy-seat and the cherubim of glory, which were figures of the
angels, that love to be continually looking and prying into the
management of this second part of the priesthood of Christ in the
presence of God.
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