§. 29. Of Christs purging our sinnes by HIMSELF.
A Third difference betwixt Christ and the legal Priest, is in the sacrifice by which the one and the other purged people. The Priests sacrifice was of unrea∣sonable beasts; Christ of HIMSELF. He by himself purged our sinnes.
The first particle of this verse (who) having reference to that excellent Person* 1.1 who is described in the words before it, and after it, noteth out the Priest. This* 1.2 clause (by himself) sheweth the sacrifice or means of purging. The Sonne of God, the Creator of all things, the Sustainer and Governour of all, is the Priest, and this Priest offered himself, and so by himself purged our sinnes.
True it is that the humane nature of Christ only was offered up: whereupon it is said that he was put to death in the flesh (1 Pet. 3. 18.) and suffered for us in the flesh, 1 Pet. 4. 1. yet by reason of the hypostaticall union of his two natures in one Per∣son, he is said to give himself, Ephes. 5. 2. and to offer up himself, Heb. 7. 27. And thereupon it is said, that he put away sinne by the sacrifice of himself (Heb. 9. 26.) And, as here, purged our sinnes by himself. For as much as it was impossible that* 1.3 the Word should die, being the immortal Sonne of the Father, he assumed a body, that he might die for all, and yet remain the incorruptible Word.
Great is the emphasis of that phrase: It sheweth that this work of purging our sinnes was above humane strain; though an humane act, or rather passion were re∣quisite thereto; as to suffer, to shed blood, to die: yet a divine value and vertue must needs accompany the same, to purge sinne. It must be done even by him himself, who is God-man: He himself must be offered up. In which respect it is said, that God hath purchased the Church with his own blood, Acts 20. 28.
This title Himself, having reference to that Person who is both God and man, in∣cludes both the natures. This Person, himself, offered up himself to purge our sinnes by himself. This is a great mystery; the like was never heard of. The Priest that offereth, the sacrifice that is offered, one and the same. The same mystery is implied under this phrase, Christ sanctified the people with his own blood, Heb. 13. 12. But this of sanctifying or purging with or by himself, hath the greater emphasis. More cannot be said to set out the invaluable price of our redemption, the indelible stain of sinne, and available means of purging it. See Chap. 9. v. 12. §. 57.