The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-01

nately. the subject Is not important. The
general purpose OF the book. however. is
well understood by all. II was designed to
strengthen the faith of those Hebrews who
had embraced Christianity and were in dan-
ger Of returning to the religion OF their
fathers. The very simplicity and freedom
OF the Gospel. contrasting with the imposing
ritual, caused some to think that they had
surrendered what was better for what was
comparison between the two dispensations
for the purpose Of showing that what was
valuable in the old had been retained ard
expanded In changed form in the new Our
lesson presents Christ as the successor OF
the Jewish high priest. of whom a full ac-
count is given in Levitfcus-
VERSES IL and came
to be a high priest OF the spiritual blessings
of the future; that Is. OF the Christian as
pensation. As such. he obtained redemp-
as the Jewish high priests did LEV. viii.
30. but by his own blood. which was shed
for the remission of sins. (Col. 1, % After
tabernacle more perfect thar that of Moses.
which was made with hands. and entered
into the holy place. The Leyitical priest
ministered in the earthly. and temporary
tabernacle. but Christ ministers in the
heavenly and spiritual tabernacle. Where.
fore. he was greater than Aaron or any OF
his successors. No man In renouncIng Ju-
daism and embracing Christianity lost what
he had. but rather gained that for which
the old priesthood was only typical. THIS
official description of Christ was a we'll
chosen and powerful argument in favor Oh
loyalty to him. and was so intended.
EFFICACIOCS Verses IL and
might still be in some minds. who accepted
the last statement. a question whether a
change of religion were proper and wise.
Suppose Christ had become high priest in
the place of these of the old economy. Is
the service of that priesthood as valuable:
Every man who considers the subject OF
sin at all desires to find some remedy for It,
May this be obtained under the new system
as well as under the old? The writer an
swers: The blood Of bulls and goats had been
used for centuries for the purpose of sancti-
~fication, Of outward cleansing CNumb. viii.
.. and no one had doubted the result OF
this ceremonial. Through the whole history
Of the people they had relied upon ms with
was more precious. Il Pet 1. l9) Who
would doubt that ii would be efficacious to
remove guilt and deflement? And IL the
former entitled one TO enter into, the wor-
ship of the congregation. why should not
the blood OF Christ purge the conscience
from Its sins and prepare for the service OF
Goo?
ACCOMPLISHED Verse 2D-In the
nine verses following the fourteenth, which
are omitted from our lesson by the com,
the thought that the blood Of Christ was
the blood of the new covenant. and that 1t
sbs slosa 'o os f pSe sseri %Sse Under RndsSe' iSe '" oia
covenant. The student should carefully
consider those verses before entering upon
the twenty-fourth. as thereby the force OF
the latter will more readily appear. Here
the thought Is that Christ has actually en-
tered into the h~eaven-it is not a mere mat
faith. but an accomplished fact. Moreover.
in doing this. he had really completed what
had been signifed in the sacrihcial worship
of the past aces. The offerings made were
only figures of the true-they represented
Christ The old were, therefore,. abolished
and laid aside. as no longer serviceable-. All
that was intended by them had been fully
accomplished and superseded. Men ought
NOT any longer to look back to them. but to
look to that which had come in their place.
DEDE~ATEn fEnvcn CSl-If Uaa nocpSS2rV
to protect the readers against ore error to
which they were liable on considering the
priest to make atonement by his own blood.
II must not be supposed that lie would be
obliged to offer himself often. Under Juda-
ism the high priest entered into the holy
utory requirement. The great day of atone
ment was a time Of peculiar and national
interest. Every man was concerned in the
proper observance of that occasion. because
his life depended upon II. And when the
high priest came forth with assurances that
the ransom OF souls had been accepted.
every one rejoiced. Generation after gen.
Grafton. and century after century. this an.
nual sacrihcal offering was made and God
fore nave inferred that Christ would need
frequently TO perform expiatory rites by the
sacrifice Of himself. That would. indeed.
have been a very natural conclusion TO one
who might follow the
FINAL Verse 3S)-But that would have
been a grievcus error. resulting IN serious
consequences III tnOugnt am Idit0 anu
practice. and reducing the spiritual power
of the Christian system. On the contrary.
Christ's offering was made once for all.
Heb. vii, ~ He came in the end OF the
world-in the end of the age or dispensa-
tion-and brought the whole sacrifical sys-
TEN to an end, so that there should be no
more sacrifices. Heb. x. 81 He did this to
nut away sin: that IS. to make such provis-
lon that the fear and burden Of sin might no
longer distress the PEOPLE. All through the
prior ages the nations had groaned. know
Ing no settled and complete method of de-
liverance, but compelled to renew the ap-
pointed offering in order to obtain peace
FOR their souls. Christ designed by his death
to make one way. and that always avail
able. so that any one at any time
might seek and find. Here again the su-
periority CT the new over the old appears.
The slain beasts upon thousands Of affairs
have ali disappeared The scenes Of blood
are no longer enacted. Christ crucified il
the sinners hope. Whosoever will may
jook unto him. and he who looks shall live. |
lisa. XIV. -
yICARIOUS Verses q and SIT viii he
seen that after the eleventh verse less
stress r. laid on the priesthood OF Christ
and more on his sacrifice. That was repre-
eented as efhcacious. typihed and final.
three points of great Importance. leading up
10 the one now to be considered 1t was
vicarioue. He was Offered to bear the sins
OF many" lisa. ill. 81 Let those who are
able tell the number included under that
term many. and let others who fnd profit
In the. discussion continue to consider the