A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle general of St.…A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle generall of St.…

¹The blood of Christ is commended for the marvellous preciousness of it, which may appear besides the express affirmations of Scripture: 1. By the continual view of the slain sacrifices. 2. By the amazement of the creatures, when it was shed: The Sun eclipsed, the veil of the Temple rent, the rocks torn, the earth trembling, &c. 3. By the admirable effects of it: it appeased Gods anger. Rom. 3.25. it purchased the Church, Acts 20. 28. which all the gold and silver could not do: it ratified the covenant, therefore called the blood of the covenant, Luke 22.20. Heb. 9.18. it is our drink indeed, John 6. it makes a holy consanguinity between Jew and Gentile, they are all allied in the blood of Christ, Eph. 2.13. it overcomes the Devil, Rev. 12. it saves us from the destroying Angels, Heb. 11.18. it makes intercession for sins after calling continually in heaven, Heb. 12.24. it purgeth the conscience from dead works, Heb. 9.14. and it opens the holy of holies ▪ and gives an entrance into the kingdom of heaven, Heb. 10.19.

¹The blood of Christ is commended for the marvellous preciousnesse of it, which may appeare besides the expresse affirmations of Scripture: 1. By the continuall view of the slaine sacrifices. 2. By the amasement of the creatures, when it was shed: The Sunne eclipsed, the vaile of the Temple rent, the rockstorne, the earth trembling, &c. 3. By the admirable effects of it: it appeased Gods anger. Rom. 3.25. it purchased the Church, Acts 20. 28. which all the gold and silver could not doe: it ratified the covenant, therefore called the blood of the covenant, Luke 22.20. Heb. 9.18. it is our drinke indeed, Iohn 6. it makes a holy consanguinity betweene Iew and Gentile, they are all allyed in the blood of Christ, Eph. 2.13. it overcomes the Devill, Rev. 12. it saves us from the destroying Angels, Heb. 11.18. it makes intercession for sins after calling continually in heaven, Heb. 12.24. it purgeth the conscience from dead workes, Heb. 9.14. and it opens the holy of holies ▪ and gives an entrance into the kingdome of heaven, Heb. 10.19.

1. 1O• the preciousness of the blood of Chr••t.O• the preciousnesse of the blood of Chr••t.

Quest. But whence comes this preciousness into the blood of Christ?

Quest. But whence comes this preciousnesse into the blood of Christ?

Answ. I answer; many ways, 1. Because it was shed willingly, Joh. 10.

Answ. I answer; many wayes, 1. Because it was shed willingly, Ioh. 10.

1. 1What makes the blood of Christ so precious.What mak•s the blood of Christ so precious.

¹Is the blood of Christ so precious?

1. 1Use.Vse.

1. Then let us for ever exalt that riches of grace in God, that spared not the blood of his own Son, that he might not destroy us, Ephes. 1.7. Revel. 1.5.

1. Then let us for ever exalt that riches of grace in God, that spared not the blood of his owne Sonne, that hee might not destroy us, Ephes. 1.7. Revel. 1.5.

2. Then let us for ever detest merits of our own works, seeing the price is of such infinite value, and sufficiency, Rom. 3.25. Coherence.

2. Then let us for ever detest merits of our owne workes, seeing the price is of such infinite value, and sufficiency, Rom. 3.25. Coherence.

3. •t should then augment the confirmation of our faith in our redemption against all the temptations of Satan, or rebellion of our own hearts, or oppositions of the world, Rom. 5.9.

3. •t should then augment the confirmation of our faith in our redemption against all the temptations of Sathan, or rebellion of our owne hearts, or oppositions of the world, Rom. 5.9.

4. If shows, how careful we should be of our selves, that were bought at so precious a rate, Mat. •6.

4. If shewes, how carefull we should be of our selves, that were bought at so precious a rate, Mat. •6.

5. Let […] all then take heed of sinning against the blood of Christ (for if it be thus precious, it must needs diffuse a horrible guilt upon such as offend against it: if Abel's blood cried so, what will Christs blood do? &c.) as they do, 1. That swear by it. 2. That commit the sin against the Holy Ghost. 3. That trust to their own merits. 4. That receive the Sacrament unworthily, 1 Cor. 11.

5. Let 〈…〉 all then take heed of sinning against the blood of Christ (for if it be thus precious, it must needs diffuse a horrible guilt upon such as offend against it: if Abels blood cryed so, what will Christs blood doe? &c.) as they doe, 1. That sweare by it. 2. That commit the sinne against the Holy Ghost. 3. That trust to their owne merits. 4. That receive the Sacrament unworthily, 1 Cor. 11.

As a lamb without blemish and spot.

As a lambe without blemish and spot.

Hitherto of his passion. Now follows his obedience, or innocency both of na••re and action, and both as they commend the excellency of him, that suffered for us: His innocency is set out by comparison of a spotless lamb, in which words it is Gods purpose to lift up our hearts to an apprehension of a wonderful purity in Christ, as he is our surety and Saviour.

Hitherto of his passion. Now followes his obedience, or innocency both of na••re and action, and both as they commend the excellency of him, that suffered for us: His innocency is set out by comparison of a spotlesse lambe, in which words it is Gods purpose to lift up our hearts to an apprehension of a wonderfull purity in Christ, as he is our surety and Saviour.

The main observation is, that God would have us to know affectionately the wonderful holiness of Christ, as he is our Mediator and Redeemer: it is one chief thing we should be informed in. Hence the sacrifices still shadowed him out by the similitude of a spotless lamb, and therefore he is called the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world, Rev. 13.8. and the Apostles for urging this point may well be called the Apostles of the Lamb, Rev. 21.24. John calls him the Lamb of God, Joh. 1.29, 36.

The maine observation is, that God would have us to know affectionatly the wonderfull holinesse of Christ, as he is our Mediator and Redeemer: it is one chiefe thing we should be informed in. Hence the sacrifices still shadowed him out by the similitude of a spotlesse lambe, and therefore hee is called the Lambe slaine from the beginning of the world, Rev. 13.8. and the Apostles for urging this point may well be called the Apostles of the Lambe, Rev. 21.24. Iohn calls him the Lambe of God, Ioh. 1.29, 36.

Christ may be called a Lamb:¹

Christ may be called a Lambe:¹

1. 1Christ like a lamb in six things.Christ like a lambe in six things.

1. For harmlessness. 2. For patience and silence in affliction, Isaiah 53.7. Jer. 11.19. 3. For price and value: for rareness and high account: it seems lambs were of special account, Gen. 33.19. & 21.28, 30. 4. For infirmities: he took the infirmities were miserable, but not those were damnable. 5. For meekness and humility. 6. For sacrifice:¹ He was the substance of all that was signified by the typical lambs: he was the substance of the paschal lamb, of the lamb for daily sacrifice, for the peace-offerings, for the trespass-offerings, for the purification of women, and of the lepers, and the lamb for the first fruits, and for the trespass-off•ing of the Nazarites, and for the free will offerings, or vows; and the lamb for the sabbaths, and new moons, and the feast of trumpets; and the lamb for the day of humiliation, and for the feast of tabernacles; the lamb for the Priests, and the Princes, and the people.

1. For harmelesnesse. 2. For patience and silence in affliction, Esay 53.7. Ier. 11.19. 3. For price and value: for rarenesse and high account: it seemes lambes were of speciall account, Gen. 33.19. & 21.28, 30. 4. For infirmities: he tooke the infirmities were miserable, but not those were damnable. 5. For meeknesse and humility. 6. For sacrifice:¹ He was the substance of all that was signified by the typicall lambes: he was the substance of the paschall lambe, of the lambe for daily sacrifice, for the peace-offrings, for the trespasse-offrings, for the purification of women, and of the lepers, and the lambe for the first fruits, and for the trespasse-off•ing of the Nazarites, and for the free will offrings, or vowes; and the lambe for the sabbaths, and new moones, and the feast of trumpets; and the lambe for the day of humiliation, and for the feast of tabernacles; the lambe for the Priests, and the Princes, and the people.

It is by the sprinkling of his blood we scape the destroying Angels: It is for his sake, that God is every day pleased in his propitiation for our sins: He is our daily sacrifice, that we must still offer to God for our selves: It is he we must offer to God for our trespasses, and no gifts we can bring to God will be acceptable without him: In him we are freed from the corruption of our natures, and from the leprosy of actual transgressions: In him we have the confirmation of all our outward blessings: The Priests, and Princes, as well as the people must ascribe all their reconciliation to him: There are no persons so devoted to religion, but they must acknowledge their needs of Christ; nor can our best actions or times be accepted without him.

It is by the sprinkling of his blood we scape the destroying Angels: It is for his sake, that God is every day pleased in his propitiation for our sinnes: He is our daily sacrifice, that we must still offer to God for our selves: It is he we must offer to God for our trespasses, and no gifts wee can bring to God will be acceptable without him: In him we are freed from the corruption of our natures, and from the leprosie of actuall transgressions: In him we have the confirmation of all our outward blessings: The Priests, and Princes, as well as the people must ascribe all their reconciliation to him: There are no persons so devoted to religion, but they must acknowledge their needs of Christ; nor can our best actions or times be accepted without him.