were many, “because they were not suffered to continue, by reason of death:”  but he, “because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.”  Chap. 7:23, 24.  Their offerings could not take away sin.  They were only typical of expiation, and therefore needed to be continually repeated.  But Christ has by his one offering “perfected for ever them that are sanctified”—­perfected them in respect to the expiation of sin, which is the foundation on which the work of personal sanctification rests.  Heb. 10:11, 12.

Mediatorship between God and man through propitiatory sacrifice constitutes the central idea of priesthood.  The Levitical priests did indeed make intercession for the people in the burning of sweet incense (see above, No. 8), and in presenting to God their unbloody offerings, but all this was done through the blood of atonement.  We see, then, how false and mischievous is the idea that there can be true mediating priests under the New Testament dispensation.  Christ appeared once for all “to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Heb. 9:25-28; 10:10-12), since which no further sacrifice is needed, or can be lawfully offered.  Christ also opened to all believers through his blood a new and living way of access to God, through which they can come boldly to the throne of grace, having no need of human mediators.  Heb. 10:18-22.  Believers as a body are “a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Pet. 2:5.  They present themselves to God “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God.”  Rom. 12:1.  They “offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of their lips, giving thanks to his name.”  Heb. 13:15.  These spiritual sacrifices offered by the body of believers through Christ, their glorified High Priest, are the only sacrifices known to the New Testament church.

Of the high priest’s garments, made by divine direction “for glory and for beauty,” we cannot here speak in detail.  Suffice it to say that they represented in general the dignity and excellence of his office, as the divinely appointed mediator between God and the covenant people.  The golden plate with the inscription HOLINESS TO THE LORD is its own interpreter.  The twelve names of the tribes of Israel, graven on two precious stones, and borne on the shoulders of the high priest, six on each shoulder, and then the same twelve graven on twelve gems, and borne on his breast as he ministered before the Lord, beautifully typify Christ our great High Priest, who bears his people on his shoulders by his almighty power and efficacious atonement, and on his heart by his everlasting love.

14.  From the typical priests we naturally pass to the consideration of the typical sacrifices offered by them.  Upon Noah’s leaving the ark, God prohibited the eating of blood on the ground that it is the life of the animal.  Gen. 9:4.  The reason of this prohibition is unfolded