tain quantity of sin, to speak humanely, was borne by Christ. "His own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree." "If any man sin, he has an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."* Again," the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." t The propitiation is, therefore, effected through the blood-shedding of Christ; i.e. by His sacrifice and as the sum of the sins of all who would be saved through Christ, must have been known to God when his well-beloved Son became sin and made the atonement, we may conclude that He bare that quantity only which would be redeemed. The saving effect of the sacrifice is the same, if we regard it as in influence, independent of all notions of quantity. It is still known to God who would drink of the living waters. The only profit to be drawn from such questions is, in our becoming more diligent" to make our calling and election sure." It was the office of the high-priest to sacrifice a sin-offering: to enter behind the vail into the holy of holies, with the blood of the victim, which he sprinkled upon the mercyseat. A ceremony which St. Paul shows to have * 1 John ii. 2. + Ibid. i. 7., also 2 Cor. v. 21. Lev.xvi. 15. been typical of the entrance of Christ into heaven with His own blood, as an oblation for the sins of the pepole, "by which offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." * Concerning the scape-goat †, and some minor coincidences, such as the sin-offering being carried out of the city; and for the full application of the typical sacrifice, I must refer you to the Scriptures themselves. The Apostle writes to the Hebrews, By His own blood, He (Christ) entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." $ Thus giving substance to the shadows of the Mosaic dispensation, by fulfilling in His own person the several types regarding both the priest and the victim. In my next letter I will treat of the spiritual blessing obtained for man through the sacrifice of his Redeemer. I am, &c. *Heb. x. 14. + Lev. xvi. 21. Heb. ix. 12. |