And what type, think ye, was the commandment unto Israel, that the men in whom sin had been accomplished should offer a heifer, and after they had slaughtered it should burn it, and that children should then take the ashes and cast them into vessels, and place scarlet wool and hyssop around a stick -- behold, again, the type of the cross and the scarlet wool, -- and so the boys should sprinkle the people one by one, that they might be purged from their sins?
Behold, therefore, in what way he speaketh unto you with simplicity. The heifer signifieth Jesus; they who offer it are the sinful men who brought him unto the slaughter. But now the men are no longer before us, no longer doth the glory belong to sinners.
The boys who sprinkled are they who brought us the good news of the forgiveness of sins and purification of heart, to whom he hath given the authority of the gospel for the purpose of preaching, being twelve in number, for a testimony unto the tribes, for twelve were the tribes of Israel.
And why, then, these boys who sprinkle? For a testimony unto Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because these are great before God.
And what signifieth the wool upon the stick? Because the kingdom of Jesus is upon the cross, and because they who hope upon him shall live for ever.
And why are there at the same time the wool and the hyssop? Because in his kingdom the days in which we shall be saved shall be evil and filthy, because also he that grieveth his flesh is healed through the purifying of the hyssop.
And these things having happened on this account are manifest unto us, but obscure unto them, because they hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.