II. The prohibition reversed —
It is reversed, as it relates to the use of blood —
[To the first converts indeed it was enjoined, that they should abstain from the use of blood g, no less than from for- nication itself : and hence it has been supposed that there was a moral evil in the one, as well as in the other ; and that, con- sequently, the prohibition still equally exists against both. But this is by no means the case. There was a necessity at that time to prohibit fornication, because the Gentile converts, who had been habituated from their youth to regard it as allowable, and in some instances even to practise it in their idolatrous worship, were still in a great measure insensible of its moral turpitude. They therefore needed to be more clearly informed respecting that sin, and to be cautioned against it : whilst we, having been educated with clearer views and better habits, are well aware of the sinfulness of such a practice. There was also a need to prohibit the eating of blood, because the Jews, who had been accustomed to regard the use of it with such abhorrence, would have been greatly offended when they saw Christians taking so great a liberty in direct opposition to what they considered as the law of God. On this account it was thought right to continue the prohibition for a time, that they might not shock the prejudices of the Jewish nation. But St. Paul assures us repeatedly that another part of this same prohi- bition was revoked: and declares that the circumstance of meat having been offered unto idols does not render it unfit for a Christian's use, provided he see the liberty into which the Gospel has brought himh. In like manner he declares, that " there is nothing unclean of itself," but that " to the pure all things are pure1." Hence we are sure, that the prohibition in our text is reversed.]
It is reversed also in a far higher sense —
[The real intent of the offerings under the Old Testament is abundantly declared in the New : and the blood of Christ which was once shed on Calvary for the remission of sins, is uniformly represented as the great Antitype to which all the types referred. Now it is true, that that material blood can- not be drunk by us : but in a spiritual sense it may. Do I say, It may ? I must add, It must: we are required to drink it : and the command is enforced with sanctions still more solemn than those by which the prohibition in our text was enforced. Let us attend to the words of Christ himself: " Ex- cept ye eat the flesh of Christ and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life : for my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is
e Acts xv. 20, 29. h 1 Cor. viii. 4, 8.
1 Rom. xiv. 14, 20. 1 Tim. iv. 4, 5.