Reading: “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”—Hebrews 4:14-16

Is Christ your high priest, and His priesthood so indispensably necessary to your salvation? Then freely acknowledge your impotency to reconcile yourselves to God by anything you can do or suffer, and let Christ have the whole glory of your recovery ascribed to Him. It is highly reasonable that He that laid down the whole price should have the whole praise. If any man think or say he could have made an atonement for himself, he doth therein cast no light reproach upon that profound wisdom which laid the design of our redemption in the death of Christ.

—John Flavel (1627–1691)