§. 109. Of Christ being holy, harmlesse, undefiled, separate from sinners.
THe purity of Christ, as he is our Priest, is set out in four distinct branches.
The first is this, a 1.1 holy, This implieth one that is dedicated and conse•…•… to God. Herein the Apostle hath reference to the condition of the High-Priest •…•…∣der the Law, who were counted and called holy. Aaron had this stile, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Lord, Psal. 106. 16. As his person, so his apparell was counted holy, Exod. 28. 2. So the place where he exercised his Ministery was the holy place, Exod. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 29. and the place whereinto the High-Priest went once a year, the holy of holies, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 9. 3. All appertaining to him was accounted holy: therefore there was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on the breast-plate, when he went before the Lord, Holinesse to the Lord, Exod. 28. 36. All these shewed, that in his office he was sanctified and consecrated to God. So was Christ; but in a far more excellent manner. The legall Priests were holy in an outward and legall manner. So they might be holy Priests, yet unholy men. Christ was inwardly, truly, properly, every way holy. This is evident by the other parts following, concerning Christs purity, to which points, parts and degrees of holi∣nesse, none of those Priests ever attained.
The second is b 1.2 harmlesse. This is a privative compound. The c 1.3 simple 〈◊〉〈◊〉 signifieth an hurtfull or mischievous person. He that wronged his fellow 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hath this title given unto him, and it is translated evill, Matth. 24. 28. * 1.4 The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which Saul did to the Church, are comprised under this word, Act. 9. 13.
This compound signifieth one that doth no wrong. In Latine it is fitly •…•…∣ted d 1.5 innocent, one that doth no wrong. Every sin is a wrong to God o•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉. This therefore sheweth that Christ was free from all actuall sin, within and 〈◊〉〈◊〉. He never did any wrong, or harm to God or man, in thought, word, or deed, and in that respect this Epithite harmlesse, or innocent is attributed to him. He never committed any offence outwardly, either in speech, (for no guile was found 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mouth, 2 Pet. 2. 22.) nor in deed. In this respect, he challenged his advers•…•…, Ioh. 8. 46. When the devill came to fist him, he found nothing in him, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 14 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Neither did he inwardly commit any sin; for he knew no sin, 2 Cor. 5. 21. Had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 been any in him, he must needs have known it. As privatively he did no offence, so positively he performed all duty: for he fulfilled the Law to the full. He loved God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind, and with all his strength: and his neighbour as himself, Luk. 10. 27. In reference to God he saith, I have fini•…•…d 〈◊〉〈◊〉 work which thou gavest me to do, Joh. 17. 4. And in reference to man, thus, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 love hath no man than this, •…•…at a man lay down his life for his friends Joh. 15. 13. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so did Christ.