Mather - Houston-Packer Collection BS478 .M3 1705

The Gofpel of the Legal Purifications. 307" z. It is particularly required, that it be a Red Heifer, a Colour of- ten and fitly applied to Chrift in a myftical Senfe. My Beloved is White and Ruddy, Cant; 5. to. So Ifa. 63.1. Who is this that coretb from Edom, with Red Garmentsfrom Bozrah ? Red with his own Blood, and with the Blood of his conquered Enemies. AndRev. r 9. 13. his VePtire dipt in Blood. The rednefs of the Heifer did alfopoint at the Humane Nature of Chrift, which he had from Adam, who was made out of red Earth, Gen. 2.7. from which allo he took his NameAdam. Thus Chrift is red, and that in regard of his Sufferings, and in regard of his Viaories, and of the Blood of his conquered Enemies, and alfo in regard of his Beau- ty and laftly, in regard that he took part of Flefh and Blood, was really and truly Man. 3. It is further required in this -Sacrifice, that it muft be without Spot and Blemifh, Numb. r 9.i. This was required in all the Sacrifices, as Levit. t. 3,1o. without Blemifh. And it fpeaks forth the Purity and Perfeaion of Jefus Chrift : Therefore it is Paid, i Pet. I. 19. We are redeemed by bis Blood, as of a Lambwithout Spot and Blemifh. And him that knew no Sin, bath God made Sin for us, that we might become the Righteoufref ofGod by him, 2 Cor. 5. 21. So he is both whiteand rud- dy Ruddy in regard of his bloody Sufferings : But white in regard of his pure and perfect Righteoufnefs. 4. It muft be filch an Heifer, on which never came Toke. Numb; 19. 2. So Chrift was free from the Bondage of Sin, and did never come under the Yoke of Mens Inventions and Commands, nor did he fuller by Compulfion, but freely and willingly when he died for us. Sin, and the Puni(hment of it, is compared in Scripture to a Yoke. Lament. 1. 14. TheToke of my Tran/grefons is bound by bis Hand : They are wreathed, and come up upon my Neck. And fo 7°68. 33, 34, 35, 36. whofoever committeth Sin is the Servant of Sin, he that lives in Sin, and commits and makes a Trade of it, he is the Servant of Sin. They boafted that they were free, and never in Bondage to any Man ; but he tells them of a Spiritual Servitude, which they underftood not : This was Chrift free from. And yet further, as there was not this Yoke of Sin upon him ; fo neither was there any Yoke of Conftraint or Compùllon in his Suf- ferings, in any thing he underwent for us : All he did and fuffered, was fpontaneous and voluntary, Yoh. IO. 17, 18. I ley down my Life, that 1 might take it again. No Man taketh it fromme, but I lay it down ofrayPelf : 1 have Power to lay it down, and Ihave Power to take it again. Rrz S)

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