diabiixns. of the covenant.” And that included in it, is the frame Kowsy 4yn- of their minds in that opposition, “they counted it an io ke unholy thing;” both which have a third aggravation
from the use and efficacy of that blood,—it is that “wherein he was sanctified.”
For the first, in what sense the blood of Christ was “the blood of the covenant,” hath been fully declared on chap. ix.;—that whereby the new covenant was ratified, confirmed, and made effectual as unto all the grace of it unto them that do believe; and it was the foun- dation of all the following actings of God towards him in his exalta- tion, and of his intercession. See chap. xii.20. The “blood of the covenant” was the great expression of the grace of God, and of the love of Christ himself, as well as the cause of all good unto us; the centre of divine wisdom in all the mediatory actings of Christ, the life and soul of the gospel. Of this blood of the covenant it is said, that they who were guilty of the sin intended, “eounted it an un- holy thing;” they judged it so, and dealt with it accordingly. Both the judgment of the mind, and practice thereupon are intended.
Koivév is “ common,” and opposed unto any thing that is dedicated and consecrated untoGod, and made sacred. Hence it is used for “pro- fane” and “unholy,”—that which no way belongs unto divine worship. They did no longer esteem it as that blood wherewith the new covenant was sealed, confirmed, established; but as the blood of an ordinary man shed for his crimes, which is common and unholy, not sacred,—not of so much use unto the glory of God as the blood of bulls and goats in legal sacrifices: which is the height of impiety. And there are many degrees of this sin, some doctrinal, some prac- tical; which though they arise not unto the degree here intended, yet are they perilous unto the souls of men. Those by whom the efficacy of his blood unto the expiation of sin, by making satisfac. tion and atonement, is denied, as it is by the Socinians, will never be able to free themselves from making this blood in some sense a common thing. Yea, the contempt which hath been cast on the blood of Christ by that sort of men will not be expiated with any other sacrifices for ever. Others do manifest what slight thoughts — they have of it, in that they place the whole of their religion within — themselves, and value their own light as unto spiritual advantages above the blood of Christ. And practically there are but few who —
VER, 28, 29.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 545
trust unto it for their justification, for pardon, righteousness, and acceptance with God; which is in a great measure to account it a common thing,—not absolutely, but in comparison of that life, ex- cellency, and efficacy that are in it indeed. But as Christ is precious unto them that believe, 1 Pet. ii. 7, so is his blood also, wherewith they are redeemed, 1 Pet. i. 19.
Obs. VI. Every thing that takes off from a high and glorious esteem of the blood of Christ as “the blood of the covenant,” is a dangerous entrance into apostasy: such is the pretended sacrifice of the mass, with all things of the like nature.
The last aggravation of this sin with respect unto the blood of Christ, is the nature, use, and efficacy of it; it is that “wherewith he was sanctified.” It is not real or in- ternal sanctification that is here intended, but it is a separation and dedication wnto God; in which sense the word is often used. And all the disputes concerning the total and final apostasy from the faith of them who have been really and internally sanctified, from this place, are altogether vain; though that may be said of a man, in aggravation of his sin, which he protesseth concern- ing himself. But the difficulty of this text is, concerning whom these words are spoken: for they may be referred unto the person that is guilty of the sin insisted on; he counts the blood of the covenant, wherewith he himself was sanctified, an unholy thing. For as at the giving of the law, or the establishing of the covenant at Sinai, the people being sprinkled with the blood of the beasts that were oftered in sacrifice, were sanctified, or dedicated unto God in a peculiar manner; so those who by baptism, and confession of faith in the church of Christ, were separated from all others, were pecu- liarly dedicated to God thereby. And therefore in this case apos- tates are said to “‘ deny the Lord that bought them,” or vindicated them from their slavery unto the law by his word and truth for a season, 2 Pet. ii. 1. But the design of the apostle in the context leads plainly to another application of these words. It is Christ himself that is spoken of, who was sanctified and dedicated unto God to be an eternal high priest, by the blood of the covenant which he offered unto God, as I have showed before. The priests of old were dedicated and sanctified unto their office by another, and the sacri- fices which he offered for them; they could not sanctify themselves: so were Aaron and his sons sanctified by Moses, antecedently unto their offering any sacrifice themselves. But no outward act of men or angels could unto this purpose pass on the Son of God. He was to be the priest himself, the sacrificer himself,—to dedicate, conse-, crate, and sanctify himself, by his own sacrifice, in eoncurrence with the actings of God the Father in his suffering. See John xvii. 19; Heb. ii. 10, v. 7,9, ix.11,12. That precious blood of Christ, where-