f the divine law
in behalf of sinners; and that God accepted this propitiatory
offering as a satisfaction to his justice in such a sense that
he can pardon all who believe in Christ without dishonor to
himself or injury to his moral government.

13. We have considered Christ as the great Antitype of the Levitical
priests and sacrifices. Let us now go back and consider the
_characteristics belonging to the types themselves_, beginning with the
priesthood.

(1.) The first point in which the Levitical priests typified Christ was
in their possession of _the same common human nature_ as those in whose
behalf they acted. "For both he that sanctifieth [Christ] and they who
are sanctified [believers] are all of one [one Father, having a common
sonship as members of the same family of Adam]: for which cause he is
not ashamed to call them brethren" (Heb. 2:11); and again: "Forasmuch
then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself
likewise took part of the same" (ver. 14); and still further: "Wherefore
in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren; that he
might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to
God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he
himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succor them that are
tempted" (ver. 17, 18; and compare 4:15). Accordingly the priests who
typified Christ were taken from among men, not angels; and "able to have
compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way," being
themselves "compassed with infirmity." Heb. 5:1, 2.

(2.) The Levitical priests, again, were _appointed to their office by
God_: "And no man taketh this honor upon himself, but he that is called
of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made a
high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to-day have I
begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for
ever after the order of Melchizedec." Heb. 5:4-6.

(3.) The Levitical priests, once more, were _mediators between God and
the people_. After the establishment of their priesthood, no Israelite
or sojourner in the land could approach God with sacrifices and
oblations in his own right, and be his own priest. He must come to God
through the priesthood of his appointment--an expressive type of the
great truth announced by Christ; "I am the way, and the truth, and the
life: no man cometh unto the Fathe