A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 56. Of the difference betwixt the typicall and reall meanes of attonement

Vers. 12. THe Apostle having declared the truth of the Tabernacle, proceedeth to set forth the truth of the service which was performed in the most holy place, whereunto the high Priest entred thorow the holy place. This he doth ne∣gatively and affirmatively; that the difference betwixt the type and truth might more evidently appear.

He beginneth with the negative thus. Neither by the blood of goats and calves.

The high Priest under the law entred with the blood of these two kinds of beasts* 1.1 into the most holy place, to sprinkle it upon the mercy-seat, to make thereby an at∣tonement, Levit. 16. 14, 15, 16. But this was too mean a means for Christ to work a true attonement thereby. For it is not possible that the blood of buls and goats should take away sins, Heb. 10. 4.

There is in the law mention made of sundry other kinds of sacrifices, as of sheep and

Lambs, and of soules. Lev. 1. 10, 14. Yea, there is mention made of a Ram for a b•…•… offering, on that day when the High Priest entered into the most holy place; L•…•… 16. 3. But he carried not the blood of any other sacrifice into the most holy place, but only of Goats and Bullocks. Of the things typified under these and other kinds of sacrific•…•…s, see v. 19. §. 102.

The Beasts which the Law stiled Bullocks, the Apostle here calleth Calves, be∣cause the Bullock was to be but a young one. Lev. 16. 3.

To shew what an infinite disparity there was betwixt the blood that was •…•…yp∣ed* 1.2 by the foresaid blood of Goats and Calves, the Apostle thus sets it out, by his own blood. This relative, his own, hath reference to Christ, v. 11. Now Christ was true God as well as true man. God-man in one person. Hereupon it is said, that God hath purchased the Church with his own blood. Act. 20. 28.

Well might the Apostle infer this latter kinde of blood with the particle of op∣position, BUT, not by the blood of Beasts, BUT by his own blood.

There cannot be a greater difference betwixt a type and a truth th•…•… in this.

The true price of •…•…ans redemption is as far different from the type, as God i•…•… from beasts.

The truth was actually to do what the type could not▪ and so great a matter was to be done by the truth, as could not be done by any inferior means then God himself, yea then the blood of God.

This kind of opposition is a great aggravation of their dotage, who reject the truth, and trust to the type. They prefer Beasts to God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Blood of beasts the type.
• * 1.2

  Blood of God the truth.