Hebrews Xii. 24. 477

was shed, but by the power and efficacy of the blood shed for us/* The apostle does not say, the power and efficacy of the blood, but Christ's own (proper) blood (ch. ix. 12), by which an entrance was made into the sanctuary : nor does he call it MATERIAL blood, but the blood of Him, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot unto God. The discourses of excellent in terpreters and commentators often imitate this emphasis, which is given to this subject by the apostle. Chrysost. Horn. 33, on Heb. xiii. : " The actual economy of the suffering was without — I say, without ; but the blood was carried up INTO heaven. You observe, that we are partakers of the blood that was carried into the sanctuary — the true sanctuary — the blood of the sacrifice in which He alone, the High Priest, delighted." Some refer cer tain words of this passage to one thing, others to another; but all agree in giving the same meaning to dxx' sis rbvj x.r.X. The above translation is that which I am inclined to adopt. Conr. Pellicanus on Heb. ix. : " Christ brought the price of His blood for redeeming us to the Father, into heaven." Calvin on Heb. x. : " Since the blood of cattle became soon cor rupted, it could not long retain its efficacy ; but the blood of Christ, which has no foul corruption, but always flows with un tainted colour, will be sufficient for us to the end of the world. We cannot wonder, if the sacrifices of cattle that had been slain had no power to give life, as they were dead ; but Christ, who rose from the dead, to confer life upon us, diffuses His own life into us. This consecration of the way is perpetual, because the blood of Christ is always in a manner dropping before the Father's face for the purpose of bedewing heaven and earth." And on ch. xiii. : " Christ carried His own blood INTO the heavenly sanctuary, to make atonement for the sins of the world." Again : " The apostle (Heb. xiii. 20) seems to me to mean, that Christ so rose from the dead, that His death notwith standing is not effaced, but retains eternal freshness and efficacy ; as if he had said, God raised His Son, but in such a way, that the blood which He shed once for all in His death, for the rati fication of the eternal covenant, still retains its efficacy (vigour) after the resurrection, and brings forth its own fruit, as if it were continually flowing." Hunnius on Heb. xiii. : " Christ carried His own blood into the Holy of Holies." Dorscheus, P. I.