Obs. III. This variety of institutions was a great part of the bon- dage-state of the church under the old testament; a yoke that they were not able to bear. For it was almost an insuperable difficulty to attain an assurance that they had observed them all in a due manner; the penalties of their neglect being very severe. Besides, the outward observation of them was both burdensome and charge- able. It is the glory of the gospel, that we are directed to make our address by faith on all occasions unto that one sacrifice by the blood of Christ, which cleanseth us from all our sins. Howbeit many that are called Christians, being ignorant of the mystery thereof, do again betake themselves unto other ways for the purifi- - cation of sin, which are multiplied in the church of Rome,
Obs. 1V. The great mystery wherein God instructed the church from the foundation of the world, especially by and under legal in- stitutions, was, that all purging of sin was to be by blood. This was that which by all sacrifices from the beginning, and all legal insti- tutions, he declared unto mankind. Blood is the only means of purging and atonement. This is the language of the whole law.
VER. 18-22. EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 367
All was to manifest that the washing and purging of the church from sin was to be looked for from the blood of Christ alone.
2. The second assertion of the apostle is, that “ without shedding of blood there is no remission.” Some would have these words to contain an application of what was spoken before unto the blood of Christ; but it is manifest that the apostle yet continues in his account of things under the law, and enters on the application of them not before the next verse. Wherefore these words, xara riv vouor, “according to the law,” or by virtue of its institutions, are here to be repeated: “By the law, without shedding of blood,” that is, im sacrifice, “there is no remission.” Yet though that season be particolarly intended, the axiom is universally true, and® applicable unto the new covenant ;—even under it, without shedding of blood is no remission.
The curse of the law was, that he that sinned should die; but whereas there is no man that liveth and sinneth not, God had pro- vided that there should be a testification of the remission of sins, and that the curse of the law should not be immediately executed on all that sinned. This he did by allowing the people to make atonement for their sins by blood; that is, the blood of sacrifices,” Lev. xvii, 11. For hereby God signified his will and pleasure in two things: (1.) That by this blood there should be a political remission granted unto sinners, that they should not die under the sentence of the law as it was the rule of the government of the nation. And in this sense, for such sins as were not politically to - _ be spared no sacrifice was allowed. (2.) That real spiritual for- giveness, and gracious acceptance with himself, were to be obtained alone by that which was signified by this blood; which was the sacrifice of Christ himself.
And whereas the sins of the people were of various kinds, there were particular sacrifices instituted to answer that variety. This variety of sacrifices, with respect unto the various sorts or kinds of sins for which they were to make atonement, I have elsewhere dis- cussed and explained. Their institution and order are recorded, Lev. i—vu. And if any person neglected that especial sacrifice which was appointed to make atonement for his especial sin, he was left under the sentence of the law, politically and spiritually ;—there was no remission. Yea also, there might be, there were, sins that could not be reduced directly unto any of those for whose remission sacri- fiees were directed in particular. Wherefore God graciously pro- vided against the distress or ruin of the church on either of these accounts. For whether the people had fallen under the neglect of any of those especial ways of atonement, or had contracted the guilt of such sins as they knew not how to reduce unto any sort of them that were to be expiated, he had graciously prepared the great
368 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IX.
anniversary sacrifice, wherein public atonement was made for all the sins, transgressions, and iniquities of the whole people, of what sort soever they were, Lev. xvi. 21. But in the whole of his ordinances he established the rule, that “ without shedding of blood was no remission.” ;
There seems to be an exception in the case of him who was so poor that he could not provide the meanest offering of blood for a sin-oftering ; for he was allowed by the law to offer “the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour” for his sin, and it was forgiven him, Lev. v, 11-13. Wherefore the word oxv<dév, “almost,” may be here again repeated, because of this single case. But the apostle hath respect unto the general rule of the law. And this exception was not an ordinary constitution, but depended on the impossibility of the thing itself, whereunto it made a gracious condescension. And this ne- cessity ofttimes of itself, without any constitution, suspends a posi- tive law, and gives a dispensation unto the infringers of it. So was it in the case of David when he ate of the shew-bread in his hun- ger; and as to works of necessity and mercy on the Sabbath-day; which instances are given by our Saviour himself. _Wherefore the particular exception on this consideration did rather strengthen than invalidate the general rule of the law. Besides, the nearest ap- proach was made unto it that might be. or fine flour is the best of the bread whereby man’s life is sustained; and in the offering of it the offerer testified that by his sin he had forfeited his own life and all whereby it was sustained: which was the meaning of the offering of blood.