He suffered, first, that he might purge us from the guilt of sin by his blood. To this the inspired writers bear witness with one consent. They declare that he was a propitiation for our sins; that we are reconciled to God by his death, and that we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Even the saints that are in heaven are represented as singing praises to him that loved them, and washed them from their sins in his own blood, and as ascribing their salvation wholly to the Lamb that was slain. Behold then, ye who are bowed down under a sense of guilt ; draw nigh to Calvary, and see the provision made for your salvation : God had ordained, that without shedding of blood there should be no re- mission; and behold, here is the blood of that spotless Lamb once offered for you on the cross. Take of this by faith, and sprinkle it on your hearts and con^ sciences ; and you shall find it effectual to cleanse from sins of deepest die. The true Christian is cha- racterized by the Apostle as having " come to the blood of sprinkling"." Let us then answer to this character : so shall we be protected from the sword of the destroying angel0, and sing for ever the song of Moses, and possess the white and spotless robes in which the redeemed are arrayed before the throne of God'.
The other end of Christ's suffering was, that he might cleanse us from the power and pollution of sin by his Spirit. It had been promised by the prophet, " I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean ; from all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse youq." And it was to procure this benefit for us, that Christ submitted to his sufferings; " He gave himself for us," says the Apostle, " that he might sanctify and cleanse us with the washing of water, by the word, that he might present us to him- self holy and without blemish1." Let us then draw near to him, " having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure
n Heb. xii. 24. ° Heb. xi. 28. P Rev. vii. 14, 15.
<J Ezek. xxxvi. 25. r Eph. v. 25 — 27.