218 The Gofpel of Cleañfngfrom the Leprofy. Virtues, Excellencies we receive from him, muff be dipped in his$lood to cleanfe them, and make them and us accepted of God. 3. The Living Bird mutt be let loofe into theopen Field, Verf. 7. This clearly reprefents, not only Jefus Chrift's efcaping and deliverance from Death to Life : After he had faffered and humbled himfelf unto Death, he did efcape and live again, and lives for ever. But alto the open Publication and Preaching hereof, as it were in the open Firmament, in the view of all Men : So that Phrafe imports, Rev. 14. 6. flying in the midft of Heaven, Preaching the everlafting Gofpel. This refpeets alfo the fetting of the Leper free from his Refraint that was upon him before, by reafon ofhis Uncleannefs, as appears by the Connexion. He (hall pronounce him clean, and let the Bird loofe into the open Field. Thefe are the Ceremonial Actions relating to the Living Bird. 3. The Ceremonial Allions in reference to the Leper himfelf ; thefe alfo are three. t. The Priefl (hall fprinkle . upon him [even times, and pronounce him clean, ver.7. This fpr.inkling of that typical Blood andWater upon him, is nothing elfe .but the Application of-the Blood of Jefus Chrift. There muff be aparticular.Application of it to the Soul : It muff be fprinkled upon the Leper, and then he is pronounced Clean. All the other Ce- remonies woñld not make hide clean without this ; though the Bird were killed, and other Ordinances obferved ; yet it muff be alfo fprinkled. The . Death and Blood of Chrift is not enough to the ceanfing of our Souls, unlefs the Blood be fprinkled, the Death of Chrift applied to us. There muff be a Wórk of Application, as well as of Redemption. All the precious Blood that Chrift bath fhed, will not fave a Sinner; unlefs this Blood be effeaually appliedand fprinkled on the Soul. Ap- plication is a.great and necefl'ary Part of our Recovery and Salvation, as well as the Blood of Chrift it Pelf. And it muff be applied feven times : Both frequently, and perfeîty, over and over again; once is not enough, fuppofe thou haft believed and laid hold upon Chrift already, and applied him by Faith to thy feif in particular, ( the Blood muff be fprinkled (even times over) thou muff apply Chrift, and lay hold upon Chrift again. And the number fe- ven being-a Number of Perfeliion fo it holds forth perfell Cleanfing of the Sinner as well as frequent Application of the Blood of Chrift for that end. z. The Leper mull ma(h his,Cloaths, and himfelf, and (have his Hair, And then come into the Camp; but not yet into bis Tent. Verf. S. The like
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