I need not pause to remind you how this Jewish people, who have at all events taught the world the purest Theism, and led men up to the most spiritual religion, had this same institution of a priesthood for the very centre of its worship.  Nor need I dwell at length on the fact that the New Testament gives—­in its full adhesion to the same idea.  We are told that all these sacerdotal allusions in it are only putting pure spiritual truth in the guise of the existing stage of religious development—­the husk, not the kernel.  It seems to me much rather that the Old Testament ceremonial—­Temple, priesthood, sacrifice—­was established for this along with other purposes, to be a shadow of things to come.  Christ’s office is not metaphorically illustrated by reference to the Jewish ritual; but the Jewish ritual is the metaphor, and Christ’s office the reality.  He is the Priest.

And what is the priest whom men crave?

The first requisite is oneness with those whom he represents.  Men have ever felt that one of themselves must fill this office, and have taken from among their brethren their medium of communication with God.  And we have a Priest who, ‘in all things, is made like unto His brethren,’ having taken part of their flesh and blood, and being ’in all points tempted like as we are.’  The next requisite is that these men, who minister at earth’s altars, should, by some lustration, or abstinence, or white robe, or other external sign, be separated from the profane crowd, and possess, at all events, a symbolic purity—­expression of the conviction that a priest must be cleaner and closer to God than his fellows.  And we have a Priest who is holy, harmless, undefiled, radiant in perfect purity, lustrous with the light of constant union with God.

And again, as in nature and character, so in function, Christ corresponds to the widely expressed wants of men, as shown in their priesthoods.  They sought for one who should offer gifts and sacrifices on their behalf, and we have One who is ’a merciful and faithful High Priest to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.’  They sought for a man who should pass into the awful presence, and plead for them while they stood without, and we lift hopeful eyes of love to the heavens, ’whither the Forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an High Priest for ever.’  They sought for a man who should be the medium of divine blessings bestowed upon the worshippers, and we know who hath gone within the veil, having ascended up on high, that He might give gifts unto men.

The world needs a priest.  Its many attempts to find such show how deep is the sense of need, and what he must be who shall satisfy them.  We have the Priest that the world and ourselves require.  I believe that modern Englishmen, with the latest results of civilisation colouring their minds and moulding their characters, stand upon the very same level, so far as this matter is concerned, as the veriest