V. 14.— How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?How much more shall the blood of Christ purge the consciences of his people from dead works?— [Dead works, or works which merit death. Chap. 6:1. All are by nature dead in trespasses and sins, hence all their works are dead works. John 14:4. The sacrifices appointed by Moses had in themselves no efficacy, but they did sanctify to the purifying of the flesh, they fitted the Israelites who had contracted uncleanness to come into the court of the tabernacle, and to unite in the tabernacle worship. This was a parable for the time then present. It prefigured the efficacy of the sacrifice of Christ in giving the believer the answer of a good conscience that he might draw near to God with childlike confidence. He who appointed the legal sacrifices, and gave them efficacy to answer the end of their appointment, hath provided a better sacrifice, which gives the true Israel boldness and access with confidence to approach to God. Christ is said to have offered Himself without spot to God. Reference is here made to the sacrifices offered by the law. A sin-offering must be perfect to be accepted. Leviticus 22:21; Matthew 18:13-14. This was an emblem of Christ’ s spotless purity, chap. 4:15. He is a lamb without blemish and without spot, 1 Peter 1:19. Christ offered Himself through the eternal Spirit. He was truly man born of a woman, while all the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in Him bodily. He was also the Father’ s servant to “ raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to rest on the preserved of Israel;” and, as all Adam’ s posterity received natural life from Him, which was forfeited by sin, so all the people of God, all whom He had chosen in Christ, were to receive spiritual and eternal life from their great Head. When He entered upon His public work, and was manifested to Israel by a figurative burial and resurrection, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in a bodily shape like a dove, and abode upon Him. Thus was He sealed as the Son of God, the source and fountain of spiritual life. As the precious oil poured on the head of Aaron ran down to the skirts of his garments, so is the Holy Spirit which he received beyond measure communicated to all His people, who were dead in trespasses and sins, but are now made alive through their glorious Head; hence their life is said to be hid with Christ in God, and because He lives, they shall live also. By one Spirit they are all baptized into one body, and are all made to drink of that one Spirit. All He did and said was under the guidance of the Spirit. He said, “My doctrine is not mine, but the Father’ s who sent me.” He represents Himself as casting out devils by the Spirit of God. In short, all He did and said upon earth was in obedience to His Father's will, communicated through the Spirit; and the last scene of His eventful life was consequently by the eternal Spirit through which He offered Himself without spot to God. So entire is the unity of the persons of the Godhead, that whatever is done by one is done by all. For instance, Christ rose from the dead by the glory of the Father, He laid down His life and took it again, and He was quickened by the Spirit. Here we are told that through the eternal Spirit He offered Himself without spot to God, and the perfection of this sacrifice cleanseth believers from all sin, and gives them boldness and confidence before God. “ Who,” they exclaim, “shall lay anything to the charge of God’ s elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who is even now at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” The Father heareth him always, for His intercession is founded on that sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour, in which His Father is ever well pleased. The eternal covenant between the Father and the Son ran thus:—“ When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.” Isaiah 53:10. Never was a service so hard as that which Jesus served, and never was reward so glorious as that which He received in recompense. All things are put under His feet; all power in heaven and in earth is committed to Him; the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment to the Son, in order that His prayer may be fulfilled in all its extent— "Father, I will that those whom Thou hast given me may be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which Thou hast given me;” and thus, according to His own declaration, is He preparing mansions for them, even an eternal inheritance.