to handle this subject。 Of all the inspired writers in the New
Testament； none seems to have been so thoroughly taught of God to deal
with the conflicts of the human heart as St。 Paul。 None was better
acquainted with the dangers； diseases； and remedies of the soul。 The
proof of this is to be seen in the seventh chapter of his Epistle to
the Romans； and the fifth chapter of his Second Epistle to the
Corinthians。 Those two chapters ought to be frequently studied by every
Christian who wishes to understand his own heart。
Now what is the ground of encouragement which St。 Paul proposes？ He
tells us to 〃hold fast our profession；〃 and not let it go； because 〃we
have a great High Priest that is passed into the heavens； Jesus the Son
of God。〃
That word 〃High Priest〃 would ring with power in the ears of a Jewish
reader far more than it would in the ears of Gentile Christians。 It
would stir up in his mind the remembrance of many typical things in the
service of the tabernacle and temple。 It would make him recollect that
the Jewish high priest was a kind of mediator between God and the
people；that he alone went once every year into the Holy of Holies on
the day of atonement； and had access through the veil to the
mercy…seat；that he was a kind of daysman between the twelve tribes
and God； to lay his hand on both （Job。 9：33）；that he was the chief
minister over the house of God； who was intended 〃to have passion on
the ignorant and them that were out of the way〃 （Heb。 5：2）。 All these
things would give the Jews some idea of what St。 Paul meant when he
said； 〃Let us hold fast；〃 because we have got a great High Priest in
heaven。 The plain truth is； that the Christian is meant to understand
that we have a mighty； living Friend in heaven； who not only died for
us； but rose again； and after rising again took His seat at the right
hand of God； to be our Advocate and Intercessor with the Father until
He es again。 We are meant to understand that Christ not only died
for us； but is alive for us； and actively working on our behalf at this
very day。 In short； the encouragement that St。 Paul holds out to
believers is； the living priesthood of Jesus Christ。
Is not this exactly what he meant when he told the Hebrews that Christ
is 〃able to save them to the uttermost who e unto God by Him；
because He ever liveth to make intercession for them〃 （Heb。 7：25）？ Is
not this what he meant when he told the Romans； 〃If； when we were
enemies； we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son； much more；
being reconciled； we shall be saved by His life〃 （Rom。 5：10）？Is not
this what he meant when he wrote that glorious challenge； 〃Who is he
that condemneth？ It is Christ that died； yea； rather； that is risen
again； who is even at the right hand of God； who also maketh
intercession for us〃 （Rom。 8：34）？ Here； in one word； is the believer's
fountain of consolation。 He is not only to look to a Saviour who died
as his Substitute； and shed His blood for him； but to a Saviour who
also after His resurrection took His seat at God's right hand； and
lives there as his constant Intercessor and Priest。
Let us think for a moment what a wonderful and suitable High Priest is
the High Priest of our profession； a million times superior to any high
priest of the family of Aaron。
Jesus is a High Priest of almighty power； for He is very God of very
God； never slumbering； never sleeping； never dying； and eternal。 The
Jewish high priests were 〃not suffered to continue by reason of death〃
（Heb。 7：23）； but Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more。 Our
great High Priest never grows old； and never dies （Rom。 6：9）。
Jesus is a High Priest who is perfect Man as well as perfect God。 He
knows what our bodies are； for He had a body Himself； and is acquainted
with all its sinless weakness and pains。 He knows what hunger； and
thirst； and suffering are； for He lived for thirty…three years upon
earth； and knows the physical nature of an infant； a child； a boy； a
young man； and a man of full age。 〃He hath suffered Himself； being
tempted〃 （Heb。 2：18）。
Jesus is a High Priest of matchless sympathy。 He can be 〃touched with
the feeling of our infirmities〃 （Heb。 4：15）。 His heart was always
overflowing with love； pity； and passion while He was on earth。 He
wept at the grave of Lazarus。 He wept over unbelieving Jerusalem。 He
had an ear ready to hear every cry for help； and was ever going about
doing good to the sick and the afflicted。 One of His last thoughts on
the cross was one of care for His mother； and one of His first messages
after His resurrection was one of 〃peace〃 to His poor fallen Apostles。
And He is not changed。 He has carried that wonderful heart up to
heaven； and is ever watching the weakest lamb in His flock with
merciful tenderness。
Jesus is a High Priest of perfect wisdom。 He knows exactly what each of
us is； and what each of us requires。 〃He will not suffer us to be
tempted above that which we are able to bear〃 （1 Cor。 10：13）； nor allow
us to remain in the furnace of suffering one moment beyond the time
that is required for our refining。 He will give us strength according
to our day； and grace according to our need。 He knows the most secret
feelings of our hearts； and understands the meaning of our feeblest
prayers。 He is not like Aaron； and Eli； and Abiathar； and Annas； and
Caiaphas； an erring and imperfect high priest in dealing with those who
e to Him； and spread out their petitions before Him。 He never makes
any mistakes。
I challenge every reader of this paper to tell me； if he can； what
greater consolation and encouragement the soul of man can have than the
possession of such a High Priest as this？ We do not think enough of Him
in these days。 We talk of His death； and His sacrifice； and His blood；
and His atonement； and His finished work on the cross； and no doubt we
can never make too much of these glorious subjects。 But we err greatly
if we stop short here。 We ought to look beyond the cross and the grave；
to the life； the priesthood； and the constant intercession of Christ
our Lord。 Unless we do this； we have only a defective view of Christian
doctrine。 The consequences of neglecting this part of our Lord's
offices are very serious； and have done great harm to the Church and
the world。
Young men and women in all our churches； and generally speaking； all
new believers； are taking immense damage for want of right teaching
about the priestly office of Christ。 They feel within themselves a
daily craving after help； and grace； and strength； and guidance in
running the race set before them along the narrow way of life。 It does
not satisfy them to hear that they ought to be always looking back to
the cross and the atonement。 There is something within them which
whispers that they would like to have a living friend。 Then es the
devil； and suggests that they ought to go to earthly priests； and make
confession； and receive absolution； and keep up the habit of doing this
continually。 They axe often fax too ready to believe it； and foolishly
try to supply the hunger of their souls by extravagantly frequent
reception of the Lord's Supper； and submitting to the spiritual
directorship of some clergyman… All this is little better than
religious opium…eating and dram…drinking。 It soothes the heart for a
little season； but does no real good； and often results in bringing
souls into a state of morbid superstitious bondage。 It is not the
medicine which Scripture has provided。 The truth which all believers；
and especially young men and women in these days； have need to be told
is the truth of Christ's life in heaven； and priestly intercession fox
us。 We need no earthly confessor； and no earthly priest。 There is only
one Priest to whom we ought to go with our daffy wants； even Jesus the
Son of God。 It is impossible to find one more mighty； more loving； more
wise； more ready to help than He is。 It is a wise saying of an old
divine； that 〃the eyes of a believer ought to be fixed on Christ in all
his dealings with God。 The one eye is to be set on His oblation； and
the other on His intercession。〃 Let us never forget this。 The true
secret of holding fast our profession is to be continually exercising
faith in the priestly office of Christ； and making use of it every day。
He that acts on this principle will find it possible to serve God and
be a Christian in any position； however hard it may be。 He need not
suppose for a moment； that he cannot have true religion without
retiring from the world； and going into a monastery； or living like a
hermit in a cave。 A young woman must not suppose that she cannot serve
God in her own family； because of unconverted parents； brothers； and
sisters； and that she must…go into some 〃Religious House；' so called；
in pany with a few like…minded women。 All such ideas are senseless
and unscriptural； they e from beneath； and not from above。 At school
or in college； in the army or the navy； in the bank or at the bar； in
the merchant's house or on 'Change； it is possible for a man to serve
God。 As a daughter at home； or a teacher in a high school； or an
assistant in a house of business； a woman can serve God； and must never
give way to the cowardly thought that it is impossible。 But how is it
all to be done？ Simply by living the life of faith in the Son of God；
by continually looking back to Him on the cross； and to the fountain of
His blood for daily pardon and peace of conscience； and by daily
looking up to Him at the right hand of God interceding for us； and
daily drawing from Him supplies of grace in this world of need。 This is
the sum of the whole matter。 We have a great High Priest who is passed
into the heavens； and through Him it is possible not only to begin； but
to 〃hold fast〃 our profession。