May 25

Hebrews viii.—1. Now, of the things which we have spoken, this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

2. A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

3. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.

4. For, if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law;

5. Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See (saith he) that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.

6. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

7. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

8. For, finding fault with them, he saith, Behold the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

9. Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

10. For this is the covenant that 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:

11. And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord; for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

12. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

13. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now, that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

The elaborate system of worship established by Moses was never meant to be an end in itself. Its offerings and sacrifices, its prayers and songs, its priestly mediations and absolutions, assumed an inner spirit of penitence, faith, thanksgiving, love, devotion. The ritual was an appropriate expression in outward signs of the emotions of the heart in view of its sins and sorrows, and of the goodness and mercy of the Lord. It was also a help to the understanding of promises to come, and to faith in their fulfilment. In believing hearts it nursed the expectation of the Messiah, and set forth the great doctrine of atonement through the daily sacrifice, — a type of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. This was the real import of the covenant that God made with Israel at Sinai. When, however, from being an exponent of feeling

and an educator of faith, the Jews perverted their worship to an end in itself, and a meritorious act, both the prophets of the Lord and his providence taught them that the ritual could neither save them nor preserve itself. Yet the mercy of God prevailed, even over the abuse of mercy. There always was a spiritual Israel; and it was promised, that, by the coming of Christ, the covenant of an inner spiritual life — of knowledge, obedience, grace, righteousness, salvation — should be renewed, enlarged, and made perpetual. Christ was not only a greater and more perfect priest than any other; he superseded all others as priest in his own right, and priest forever: and therefore, to put a priesthood or ritual in his place is to usurp his sole prerogative, and to forfeit his atoning and saving grace.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 83, 119, 196.

Our heavenly Father, who seekest those who worship thee in spirit and in truth, grant us grace to serve thee with all the heart. May the worship in which we have engaged this day minister to our sanctification, and our instruction in righteousness!

We pray thee, O heavenly Father! to plant thy fear and thy love in all our hearts. Teach us to remember that thou art ever near us; and draw us closer to thyself. Make us consistent followers of our blessed Lord and Master. Give us a spirit of watchfulness and prayer. Forgive our vain and foolish thoughts, our idle and unprofitable words, our unkind and hasty tempers, our wasted time and misused talents.

May we lie down this night at peace with thee! and casting all care upon the Lord, who careth for us, may we rest under the shadow of thy wings! We bless thee that by faith we may rise above all earthly forms and helps, and come directly to thee.

We humbly beseech thee to own this family in the covenant of thy grace. May each member of it be a member of the true family of Christ!

We would entreat thy blessing on behalf of all whom we love. If any of them are still far from thee, do thou in thy great mercy change their hearts, and bring them home to thy fold.

Look favorably upon our land. Prosper us as a nation. Let true religion flourish amongst us. Let thy Word have free course and be glorified in the midst of us; and from us may thy gospel go forth into other lands, and may all the ends of the earth acknowledge the Lord!

Accept, O God! these our imperfect supplications, and do for us far above our desires and our deservings. Guide us evermore with thy counsel, and afterward receive us to thy glory, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.