The Earthly Tabernacle
(Acts 7:44–47)

1The first alliance then had rites of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 2for the disposition of the tabernacle was such, that in the first part named the sanctuary, were placed the candlestick, the table, and the shew-bread; 3and beyond the veil, was the second part of the tabernacle which is called the holy of holys; 4there was the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant gilded all over with gold, wherein was the golden urn containing the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the alliance. 5over the ark were the cherubims of glory covering the propitiatory with their wings, of which we cannot now enter into a particular detail.

6These things being thus disposed, the priests went at all times into the first part of the tabernacle, to officiate the divine service, but into the other part, 7the high priest only enter'd, and that but once every year, when he carried the blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people. 8the holy spirit showing thereby, that the way to the holy of holys, was not yet open, while the first tabernacle was standing. 9This type subsists to the present time, both gifts and sacrifices being still offered, which cannot purify the mind of him that officiates 10only in matters relating to meats and drinks, and divers baptisms, meer external rites which were to subsist only till the time of reformation.

Redemption through His Blood

11but Christ, the high priest of a better dispensation that was to come, having appeared, is enter'd into the holy of holys by a nobler and more perfect tabernacle, not the effect of human art, but of a higher nature; 12nor with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood he enter'd once for all into the holy of holys, after having obtained for us an eternal redemption. 13For if the blood of goats and of bulls, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkled on the unclean, can cleanse them from external impurities; 14how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the holy spirit offered himself a spotless victim to God, purify our souls from deadly sins, to serve the living God?

15and for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that, the transgressions that were unexpiated by the first testament, being expiated by his death, they who are called might receive the eternal inheritance, which was promised. 16For where a testament is, there the death of the testator is necessarily pre-suppos'd. 17because a testament has no effect till after the demise: it not being in force while the testator is alive. 18whence even the first testament was not established without the effusion of blood. 19for when every precept of the law had been represented by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, wool of a scarlet dye, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book of the law and all the people, 20saying, "this is the blood of the testament which God has made in your behalf." 21he sprinkled likewise the tabernacle with blood, and all the vessels used in divine service. 22and indeed according to the law almost every thing is purified with blood, without the effusion of which, there is no remission of sins.

23It was therefore necessary that what was only a type of the heavenly sanctuary, should be purified by such sacrifices; but the heavenly sanctuary itself, by a more excellent sacrifice. 24for Christ is not entred into a sanctuary made by human art, such as is only representative of the true one, but into heaven itself, to appear from henceforth in the presence of God on our behalf: 25nor to make a frequent offering of himself, as the high priest every year enters into the holy of holies with other blood than his own. 26for then must he have suffered several times since the beginning of the world, when in the consummation of the ages, he has appeared once for all to expiate sin by offering himself as a sacrifice. 27as then it is appointed that men should die but once, after which the judgment ensues; 28so Christ being once offered up to take away the sins of many; he shall appear the second time, without making any further expiation to save those who expect him.