VER, 19-23, ] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 513
And this is the first thing in particular, namely, the way or means of the removal of this evil conscience; which is by .,.., L sprinkling of owr hearts, The expression is taken ya i sa from the sprinkling of blood upon the offering of the *s- sacrifices, Exod. xxix. 16, 21; Lev. iv. 17, xiv. 7: the spiritual in- terpretation and application ‘whareof is given us, Ezek. xxxvi. 25, And whereas this sprinkling from sin, and cleansing thereby, is in Ezekiel ascribed unto pure water, and whereas it was in the type the blood of the sacrifice that was sprinkled, it gives us the sense of the whole. For as the blood of the sacrifice was a type of the blood and sacrifice of Christ as offered unto God, so it is the Holy Spirit and his efficacious work that are denoted by “pure water,” as is fre- quently promised. Wherefore, this sprinkling of our hearts is an act of the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost, by virtue of the blood and sacrifice of Christ, in making of that application of them unto our souls wherein the blood of Christ, the Son of God, cleanseth us from all our sins. Hereby are “our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience;” {1.] Originally, in the communication of regenerating, sanctifying grace; [2.] Continually, in fresh applications of the vir- tue of the blood of Christ, for the taking away of the defilement by internal, actual sin.
Obs. XIV. Although that worship whereby we draw nigh unto _ God be performed with respect to institution and rule, yet without internal sanctification of heart we are not accepted in it.
Obs. XV. Due preparation, by fresh applications of our souls unto the efficacy of the blood of Christ for the purification of our hearts, that we may be meet to draw nigh to God, is required of us. This the apostle hath especial respect unto; and the want of it is the bane of public worship. Where this is not, there is no due reve- rence of God, no sanctification of his name, nor any benefit to be expected unto our own souls,
Obs. XVI. In all wherein we have to do with God, we are prin- cipally to regard those internal. sins we are conscious of unto our- selves, but which are hidden from all others.
(2.) The last thing required of us in order to the duty exhorted unto, is, that “our bodies be washed with pure water.” xa} acrov- This at first view would seem to refer unto the outward “im 70 capa
Uoari nabupa. administration of the ordinance of baptism, required of Ws all antecedently unto their orderly conjunction unto a church-state in the causes of it; and so it is carried by many expositors. But, [1 ] The apostle Peter tells us that saving baptism doth not consist in the washing away of the filth of the body, 1 Pet. ii. 21; there- fore the expression here must be figurative, and not proper. [2.] Although the sprinkling and washing spoken of do principally respect - our habitual, internal qualification, by regenerating, sanctifying
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514 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [cHap, x.
grace, yet they include also the actual, gracious, renewed preparation of our hearts and minds, with respect unto all our solemn approaches unto God; but baptism cannot. be repeated. [3.] Whereas the sprinkling of the heart from an evil conscience respects the internal and unknown sins of the mind; so this of washing the body doth the sins that are outwardly acted and perpetrated. And the body is said to be washed from them, 1st. Because they are outward, in opposition unto those that are only inherent, in the mind, 2dly. Be- cause the body is the instrument of the perpetration of them; hence are they called “ deeds of the body;” the “members of the body;” our “earthly members,” Rom, iii, 13-15, viii, 18, Col. ii, 3-5. 3dly. Because the body is defiled by them, by some of them in an especial manner, 1 Cor. vi.
Pure water, wherewith the body is to be washed, is that which is promised, Ezek. xxxvi. 25, 26;—the assistance of the sanctifying Spirit, by virtue of the sacrifice of Christ. Hereby all those sins which cleave unto our outward conversation are removed and washed away; for we are sanctified thereby in our whole spirits, souls, and bodies. And that scripture respects the deeds of sin; as unto a con- tinuation of their commission, he shall keep and preserve us. We are so by the grace of Christ, and thereby we keep and preserve ourselves from all outward and actual sins, that nothing” may ap- pear upon us, as the bodies of them who, having wallowed inj the mire, are now washed with pure water; for the body is placed as the instrument of the defilement of the soul in such sins.
Obs, XVII. Universal sanctification, upon our whole persons, and the mortification in an especial manner of outward sins, are required of us in our drawing nigh unto God.
Obs. XVIII. These are the ornaments wherewith we are to pre- pare our souls for it, and not the gaiety of outward apparel.
Obs. XIX. It is a great work to draw nigh unto God, so as to “worship him in spirit and in truth.”