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§. 68. Of drawing an Argument from a thing known.
For if the blood of bul•…•…, and of goats, and the ashes of an •…•…eiser sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purisying of the flesh:
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who, thorow the eternall Spirit, of∣fered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead workes, to serve the living God.
THese two verses are a proof of the perfection of that which Christ the truth of the legall types performed. The first particle in our English being a 1.1 a cau∣sall conjunction giveth evidence hereof. It hath in speciall reference to the last cl•…•…use of the former verse: namely, to that eternall redemption which Christ ob∣tained by his own blood.
The Argument is drawn b 1.2 from the lesse, namely, from the externall vertue of legall sacrifices. It is set down in a connex, or conditionall proposition, thus;
If the blood of beasts did cleanse according to the flesh, much more doth Christs blood cleanse according to the conscience.
The Hebrews well knew that such as were legally unclean, by the rites ordained under the law, were made clean again, Therefore he useth this kind of argu∣ment, having to deal with them that were well acquainted with the legall rites.
Hereby the Apostle giveth us to understand, that argum•…•…nts taken from such things* 1.3 as they, with whom we have to do, are well acquainted with, are of greatest force to convince them. Thus much is intended under this phrase, I speak to them that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the law, Rom. 7. 1. and this, do you not hear the law? Gal. 4. 21.
It is in this respect an especiall point of prudence to observe, wherein they with whom we deal are most skilfull: and answerably to seek to convince them by su•…•…h things a•…•… they best understand, and which they cannot gain say. See Chap. 13. v. 11: §. 126.
That which hath been delivered about parables, may be applyed to other argu∣ments. See Chap. 6 v. 7. §. 45.