§. 28. Of our sinnes purged by Christ.
TO discover the filth that by Christ is purged away, the purgation here men∣tioned is stiled a purgation o 1.1 of sinnes. Sinne is the worst filth that ever besmear∣ed a creature: It makes the creature loathsome and odious in Gods sight: It makes it most wretched and cursed; for it pulleth upon the sinner Gods wrath which is an unsupportable burthen, and presseth the soul down to hell. By sinne Angels of light became Devils: and by reason of sinne they are called foul and unclean spirits,* 1.2 Mark. 9. 25. Rev. 18. 2. Matth. 10. 1. By purging away this kinde of filth, Christs sacrifice is distinguished from all the legal sacrifices and purifications: none of them could purge away sinne. Sinne makes too deep a stain even into the very soul of man, to be purged away by any external and earthly thing. That which the Apostle saith (Heb. 10. 4.) of the blood of Bulls and Goats, which were the greatest and most efficacious sacrifices of the Law, may be said of all external means of pu∣rifying: It is not possible that they should take away sinnes. Therefore they are said to sanctifie to the purifying of the flesh (Heb. 9. 13.) not to the purifying of the soul.
Quest. Was not legal uncleanness a sinfull pollution?
Answ. Not simply as it was legal; that is, as by the Cerimonial Law it was jud∣ged* 1.3 uncleanness. For
- 1. There were sundry personal diseases which by that Law made those that were infected therewith unclean: as Leprosie (Lev. 13. 3.) Running of the Reins (Lev. 22. 4.) Issue from the flesh (Lev. 15. 2.) and other the like.
- 2. There were also natural infirmities, which were counted uncleanness, yet not sins in themselves: as womens ordinary flowers (Lev. 15. 33.) their lying in ehildbed, (Lev. 12. 2.)
- 3. Casual matters that fell out unawares, and could not be avoided, caused un∣cleanness, Lev. 5. 2. Numb. 19. 14.
- 4. So also did sundry bounden duties: for the Priest, who slew and burnt the red Cow; and he who gathered up her ashes, were unclean: yea and he who touched a dead corps (which some were bound to do, for a decent burial thereof;) Numb. 19. 7, 10, 11.
Quest. 2. Was it not a sinne to remain in such uncleanness, and not to be cleansed from▪ it?
Answ. It was: and thereupon he that purified not himself was to be cut off, Numb. 19. 13, 26. But this sinne was not simply in the legal uncleanness, but in the con∣tempt of that order which God had prescribed (Lev. 22. 9.) or at least in neglect of Gods Ordinance.
The like may be said of an unclean persons touching any holy thing (Lev. 22. 3.) It was sinne if he came to knowledge of it (Lev. 5. 3.) because therein he wittingly transgressed Gods Ordinance.
Quest. 3. Were not sinnes also taken away by the oblation of legal sacrifices?
Answ. True it is, that by the offering up of those sacrifices, people were assured of the pardon of sinne: but not as they were external things, but as they were types of the allsufficient sacrifice of Christ: It was then peoples faith in the mysticall substance of those sacrifices (which was Christ) whereby they came to assurance of the pardon of sinne.
It therefore remains a true conclusion, that sinne is purged away by Christs sa∣crifice alone: so as herein the sacrifice of Christ surpasseth all other sacrifices.
Whereas the Apostle further addeth this relative particle OUR (our sinnes,) he* 1.4 maketh a difference therein also betwixt the Priests under the Law with their sacrifi∣ces,* 1.5 and Christ with his. For they offered for their own sinnes (Lev. 16. 6.) as well as for others: But Christ had no sinne of his own to offer for: His sacrifice was to purge away Our sinnes: our sinnes only, not his own. Thus is this phrase to be ta∣ken exclusively, in relation to Christ himself: but in relation to others inclusively, None, no not the best excepted. For the Apostle using the plural number inde∣finitely,