plainly ascribed to the things here typified^'." It is therefore in reference to Christ that David says, " Purge me with hyssop." In the purification of a leprous house, water was used with the blood ^. This further typified the renewing influences of the Spirit of Christ, and David seems to allude to it, when he adds, " Wash me," &c. Nor is this by any means a forced or fanciful distinction. An inspired writer lays peculiar stress upon it% and every enlightened person sees as much need of Christ's Spirit to wash him from the defilement of sin, as of his blood to purge him from its guilt.]
The efficacy ascribed to these means is not at all exaggerated-
[There is no sin whatever which the blood of Christ can- not cleanse. We cannot conceive more enormous transgres- sions than those of David, yet even Ae could say with confidence, " Purge me, &c. and I shall be clean." Purified in this way, liis soul would become "whiter than snow." This blessed truth is attested by the beloved Apostle^, and it is urged by God himself as an inducement to repentance ''. Our renewal indeed by the Holy Spirit is not perfect in this life, but it shall be continually progressive towards perfection*^, and, when the leprous tabernacle shall be taken down, it shall be reared anew in consummate purity and beauty^.]
Infer —
1. How mistaken are they, who seek salvation by any righteousness of their own !
[We can no more eradicate sin from our souls, than a leprosy from our bodies. No man ever more deeply bewailed his sin, or more thoroughly turned from it than David ^, yet he did not say, " Pm'ge me with my tears, my repentances, or my duties, but, purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean :" he would make mention of no righteousness but that of Christ^; nor would St. Paul himself trust for a moment in any other ^. Shall we then boast as if we were more penitent than David, more zealous than Paul ? Let us rather humble ourselves in the language of Job ', and determine to glory in nothing but the cross of Christ'^.]
2. What encouragement is here afforded to mourn- ing penitents !
y Rom. iv. 25. ^ Lev. xiv. 48 — 53. a j Jq\^^ y. 6.
^ 1 John i. 7. <= Isai. i. 18. ^ 2 Cor. iv. 16.
e 2 Cor. v. 1. Phil. iii. 21. f Ps. vi. 6. and xxxviii. 4—6.
g Ps. Ixxi. 15, 16. I' Phil. iii. 9. i Job ix. 15. and xl. 4.
k Gal. vi. 14.