Matthew Poole and continuators on Hebrews 9:10

10 Which stood only in meats and drinks , and divers washing , and carnal ordinances imposed on them l, until the time of reformation .

Having shewn the typicalness, weakness of the Mosaical Covenant-Administration, in respect of the Tabernacles, Services, and Ordinances, he closeth his Description of them in this Verse, by shewing their Carnality and Mortality. As they were external things, they could reach no further than the Flesh only, as appears by particular Instances, and therefore could not quiet the Conscience, considered without Christ, nor justifie, sanctifie, or save the Sinner. For Meat and Drink-Offerings, and Meats clean and unclean, and Drinks prohibited by God, in which the Iews placed much of their Religion, which separate from what they signified, commended no Man unto God, 1 Cor. 8.8. As to Meats, see Lev. ch. 11. and Deut. 14.3, to 21. As to Drinks forbidden the Priests, Lev. 10.9. and the Nazarites, Numb. 6.2, 3. The Jealousie-water, Numb. 5.24. and the Paschal-cup, Psalm 116.13. and Cup of Thankofferings; See Lev. ch. 1, and 2.

Which were many for the Priests in their Services, and for others in performing theirs by them, some by sprinkling with Blood, Exod. 29.20, 21. with Water, Numb. 8.7. and 19.9, to 19. Some by washing at the brazen Laver, as the Priests, Exod. 29.4. and 30.17, to 22. so the sprinkling of healed Leapers, Levit. 14.4, to 9. and the Purification of the unclean. All these were of God's own instituting, but still reach no further than the Flesh or Body of the Sinner. See Verse 13.

Other carnal Rites and Ceremonies, such as could not reach the Conscience, as they used them yet were to be used by them in obedience to God's Will, and to discriminate them from others, which were various in the Ceremonial Law. [non-Latin text not transcribed], imposed, may agree with [non-Latin text not transcribed], v. 9. Gifts imposed; or may have the whole Sentence for its Substantive, as, bring matters imposed or setled in Meats and Drinks. All these things were not the Inventions of Moses, but God's own Institutions injoyned by his own Authority on the Jewish Church to lead them by a regular Use of them to Life by Christ, but by their own Corruptions were made Burdens to them. The Divine Precept obliged them to an Observation of them, and to the serving God in, by, and through them.

As they were outward bodily, and carnal things, so they were mortal; as to their Being and continuance enjoyned by God, they were [non-Latin text not transcribed], until, is a term setled and limited, and not indefinite, and its limit is a singular time, even that point of Time, wherein Christ having finished the Work of Redemption, ascended and sate down on the Right Hand of God, and powerfully thence breathed forth the Spirit of Infallibility on his Apostles, for guiding them in laying the Foundation of his Church, by preaching the Gospel throughout the World, and perfecting of it, and no other. This the Iews and others expected from the Messiah, Joh. 4.25. in his time. All the New-Testament perfecting was by them, and therefore they give a charge against the least Alteration of the Gospel, Truth, and Law, which they left as a Rule for ordering of Christ's Church to his last coming. See Matth. 28.20.

[non-Latin text not transcribed] of putting things to right by the Law, Rule, and Ordinance of Christ, the Work of this special point of Time. He the great Church-Reformer throughly righteth things to God-ward, by removing and taking away what was faulty, not in it self, but by Man's abuse of it, even all the Mosaical Oeconomy and Church-frame, which carried Men about to God, by opening and making that to be seen with open Face, which was veiled and so mistaken, even the Mystery of Christ hid from Ages, by manifesting and establishing that which was the Truth it self, instead of the Shadows that did but represent it, even that true Church-frame intended first by God, and now fully revealed and setled by his Son as a standing Rule and Pattern to all for ever; which unmoveable Kingdom of his is described further Chap. 12.22, to 29.

Marginal references: Or, Rites and [illegible: 1 word].