Exodus 28

God's covenant people are separated from the world, and sanctified by the Spirit. The priests under the law were not only to wash in the great laver, but were arrayed with glorious apparel (Exodus 28:2). This was typical, to show God's people are not only washed from gross sin,…

1. How illustrious every holy person is; he is [illegible], he is a fair glass in which some of the beams of God's holiness shines forth. We read Aaron put on garments for glory and beauty (Exodus 28:2). When we wear the embroidered garment of holiness, it is for glory and beaut…

2. A positive part, Vivification, which is the spiritual refining of the soul, which in Scripture is called a renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2), and a partaking of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). The priests in the law not only were washed in the great laver, but adorned with…

God has two heavens, and the humble heart is one of them. 2. A righteous man is devoted to holiness: the priests under the law were not only washed in the great laver, but adorned with glorious apparel (Exodus 28:2), the emblem of a righteous man who is not only washed from gros…

7. More particularly, our Lord, by his intercession, takes away the guilt of our holy things, for when we approach to God in worship, there is a carnalness, and pollutedness in the best things we do, much irreverence, much unbelief, much want of humility, zeal, sincerity, and te…

I should wish no higher happiness out of heaven, than to be carried in the circle of Christ's arms, and to lie with the lambs, in his bosom, and be warmed with the heart-love, that comes out of his breast. [illegible] is to carry on the shoulders; and Aaron is said in the same w…

Rule 5. [illegible], or [illegible], is undeniably expounded of all that are saved only, and is restrictive; such a Physician cured all the city; that is, no man is cured but by him. Exodus 28:4 Jethro says to Moses, What is this that you do? you sit alone. [illegible] and all t…

Hence we may perceive that the Priesthood under Christ, differs much from that which was under the Law. For under it only one tribe was admitted to offer sacrifices (Exodus 28:1). The Gentiles were rejected as unclean, neither did they once enter into the Temple: so far was it t…

In this matter David attempted nothing contrary to what the law enjoined. God had bestowed the priesthood on Aaron and his sons, (Exodus 28:1.) The other Levites were set apart to inferior offices, (Numbers 3:9.)

The golden Bells on this Ephod, by their precious Matter and pleasant Sound, do well represent the good Profession that the Saints make; and the Pomegranates, the Fruit they bring forth. And as in the Hem of the Ephod, Bells and Pomegranates were constantly connected, as is once…

But we positively affirm that to the works of regenerate persons, to their best works some defilement cleaves, so that though the action be not sinful, yet there is some sin in the action. There is a great deal of difference between a sinful action and sin in an action: We have…

Christ deals so with our performances. All the ingredients of self that are in them on any account, he takes away, and adds Incense to what remains, and presents it to God, Exodus 28:36. This is the cause that the saints at the last day when they meet their own duties and perfor…

In sum, we conceive the words look to one, or both of these similitudes, or allusions: 1. In general, to men who had such respect to their seals or rings, that they wore them on their fingers, and carried them still about with them; now, she would be carried about on his heart,…

The allusion is doubtless from the high priest of the Jews, in his spiritual representation of the church before God. He had a breastplate which he is said to wear on his heart (Exodus 28:29), wherein the names of the children of Israel were engraved after the manner of seals or…

Self, unbelief, form, drop themselves into all that we do. We may be ashamed of our choicest performances: God has promised that the saints' good works shall follow them; truly were they to be measured by the rule as they come from us, and weighed in the balance of the sanctuary…

There meets the first donation and the last. Now to obtain this life for them he died in their stead, appeared as the high priest, being perfectly, and truly what the name was on their plate of gold: holiness to the Lord (Exodus 28:36). And so bearing their iniquity, as it is ad…

In fact, (Matthew 10:30) the hairs of their heads are numbered; God has a particular notice of their necessities: and Jesus Christ, he is his remembrancer, one that ever appears before him to represent their wants. (Hebrews 9:24) As the high priest, in the law, was to go in with…

Sin infects men's prayers, the prayers of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 28:9), indeed, though offered up with incense to perfume them (Isaiah 1:13). Under the law Aaron was to bear the iniquity of the holy things (Exodus 28:38). Israel brought God many a pr…

Furthermore, Christ's bearing of our iniquities is an obvious Hebraism, and the same as the bearing, not of the intrinsic and fundamental guilt of sin, but of the extrinsic guilt, or debt and punishment of sin. So, (Exodus 28:38) a miter shall be on Aaron's forehead, that Aaron…

Nehemiah 13:22: when he had been most faithful in his place, and had set all in good order, Yet spare me O God, according to your rich mercies: to show you, that though the good man saw no guile in his heart, he sought the reformation of all things, yet spare me for the defects…