*> Rev. xix. 10.
2310.1 PERFECTION OF CHRIST's SACRIFICE. 331
regard all that the prophets have written. We should consider their words, not merely as the words of the Holy Ghost, but as a testimony given by the Holy Ghost, in order to shew us what we should believe respecting the Lord Jesus, and to in- crease our faith in him. And, whatever his testimony be, we should give the most implicit credit to it, adoring him for his wonderful goodness in thus condescending to teach the inquiring, and to confirm the doubting, soul. On this oc- casion,]
His testimony is most convincing —
[The passage cited by the Apostle, is taken from the prophecies of Jeremiah*'. He has before cited it in a preceding chapter '^. There it is adduced more at length, in order to shew that the Jews under the Mosaic dispensation were taught to look forward to a new covenant, and to regard their own as waxing old. In the passage before us, a smaller portion of it only is adduced, in order to mark in a peculiar manner the sufiiciency of Christ's sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Its force will be best seen by contrasting it with the provisions made for the forgiveness of sin under the Mosaic dispensation. There was no actual forgiveness of suis obtained by the sacrifices which the law prescribed : they were par- doned, so to speak, for a year only ; at the expiration of which time, the same sacrifices were to be again offered, in order to the obtaining of a protracted pardon. Thus the very sacrifices which were offered for sin, were rather a remembrance of sins than a real expiation of them ; so that the conscience of the sinner was never relieved from a sense of guilt, and never brought to the enjoyment of solid peace. But, under that very dispensation, the Holy Ghost testified, that provision was made by the new covenant, for the full and everlasting re- mission of all sin, since God expressly engaged, " Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more :" and consequently no further sacrifice was wanted to be offered for them. This testimony comes exactly to the point. The Aaronic priests repeated annually the same sacrifices ; because the sins for which they were offered, were still kept in remembrance by God : but, in consequence of the offering which Christ has made, the sins of those who believe in him shall " never be remembered :" and consequently, without any repetition of his sacrifice, his people are " perfected for ever," being brought into perfect peace with God, and perfect peace in their own consciences.]
Hence we see,
1. How amply the Scripture testifies of Christ!
c Jer. xxxi. 31—34. i Heb. viii. 8—12.