so Jesus alone could save them from everlasting perdition b.
In discoursing upon the words before us, it will be proper to notice,
I. What is implied —
Nothing can be more clearly implied than that there is salvation for us in Christ. It may be thought that it is unnecessary to insist upon so plain and obvious a truth, more especially among those who call them- selves Christians : but this truth is far from being universally known ; and the grounds on which it stands are very little considered : and, if it were as well understood as we are apt to imagine, still there would be a necessity for dwelling frequently upon it, on account of its vast importance, and of " deter- mining with St. Paul to know nothing among our people but Jesus Christ, and him crucified."
In confirmation of it, we shall appeal,
1. To the typical representations of Christ — [There were a great variety of sacrifices under the law,
which typified the Lord Jesus Christ. The lamb that was offered every morning and evening, foreshewed " the Lamb of God that should take away the sin of the world :" and the scape-goat, which bore the iniquities of all Israel into an unin- habited wilderness, exhibited in yet more striking colours the removal of our guilt by a transfer of it to the head of Jesus. To dwell on all the ceremonies that were appointed on dif- ferent occasions for the expiation of sin, is needless : suffice it to observe, that " the blood of bulls and of goats could not take away sin ;" and that if those offerings had not respect to Christ, they were altogether unworthy, either to be prescribed to man, or to be accepted for him. But the efficacy of those sacrifices for the ends for which they were instituted, proves, beyond a doubt, the infinitely greater efficacy of that sacrifice which Christ in due time offered on the cross0.]
2. To the positive declarations concerning him — [Nothing can be conceived more clear and strong than
the Scripture declarations of Christ's sufficiency to save.
"° It is evident that the text refers, not to bodily healing, but to a salvation which the Apostles themselves, and all their hearers, stood in need of.
c Hcb. ix. 13, 14.