§. 27. Of Christs purging.
FRom the Regal function of Christ, the Apostle proceeds to his Priesthood; the first part whereof is noted in these words, When he had by himself purged our sinnes.
The purging here mentioned, com∣priseth under it the expiation which Christ made by his death on the Cross: which was an especial act of his Priest∣ly function: for it belonged to the Priests under the Law to offer up Sacri∣fices, whereby expiation was made for peoples sinnes.
The Metaphor of purging is taken from the Law: For almost all things are by the Law purged with blood, Heb. 9. 22. The * 1.1 word here used, is sometimes put for the means of purging, Ioh. 2. 6. and sometimes for the act it self of being purged, Mar. 1. 44. To make purgation (as the Greek phrase here soundeth) is to do that which is sufficient to purge, and by a metonymie of the cause, it also implieth the very act of purging. Now Christ by shedding his blood, hath done that which is sufficient to purge away sinne: yea, that which he hath done, doth indeed purge the soul, when it is rightly applied. In both these respects it is said, The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sinne, 1 Joh. 1. 7.
The purging therefore here meant, compriseth under it both the merit of Christs sacrifice, whereby the guilt and punishment of sinne is taken away; and also the efficacy thereof, whereby the power and dominion of sinne is subdued.
This word purged, expounds f 1.2 two words of the original Greek, which the Rhemists, in imitation of the g 1.3 vulgar Latin translating, as they suppose ver∣batim, word for word, do extenuate the sense and come short of the minde of the Apostle. They translate it thus, ma∣king purgation of sinnes. Herein first they miss the emphasis of the h 1.4 tence, which implieth a thing finished. The Latines wanting that tence, are forced to use the passive, and to change the case, thus, purgatione facta: or a periphra∣sis, by premising a conjunction of the time past, thus, postquam purgatio∣nem fecisset. So our English, when he had purged▪ very fitly according to the sense. But we have in our tongue a par∣ticle, which joyned to the Verb, doth ful∣ly express the emphasis of the tence and voice, thus, having purged. Besides,* 1.5 they that translate it by the present tence, thus, making purgation imply that Christ is still tempering the medi∣cine: as if the purgation were not ab∣solutely finished while Christ was on earth. I deny not but that Christ still continueth to apply the merit and effi∣cacy of this purgation: but there is dif∣ference betwixt making and applying a thing.
The i 1.6 Verb whence the Greek k 1.7 word is derived, is sometimes put for clensing or purging the soul from the guilt of sinne; and it importeth justification; and is distinguished from sanctification: as, where it is said, that Christ gave himself for his Church, l 1.8 that he might sanctifie it, having cleansed, or purged it. Sometimes it is put for purging the soul from the inherent filth of sinne▪ as, where it is said, Christ gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity (this notes out our justification) and m 1.9 purifie or purge us: this notes out our sanctification. And sometimes it compriseth under it both these benefits: as where mention is made of Gods n 1.10 purifying or purging our hearts by faith. Faith applies the merit of Christs sacrifice for our justification; and drawes vertue from him for our sanctification.