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.…

1. There was blood in Christ, he took the true nature of his brethren, true flesh and blood, that he might serve and satisfy God in the same nature, that had offended.

1. There was blood in Christ, he tooke the true nature of his brethren, true flesh and blood, that he might serve and satisfie God in the same nature, that had offended.

2. This blood was shed. If you ask, who shed it? I answer: Judas by selling it: the Priests by advising it: the people by consenting to it: Pilate by decreeing it: the soldiers by effecting it: Christ himself by permitting it, and after presenting it to God: (Heb. 9.14,) our sins, that chiefly caused it. If any ask for whom it was shed? I answer briefly for the Church, Act. 20. not for himself, nor for impenitent, and obstinate sinners, that dye in their sins.

2. This blood was shed. If you aske, who shed it? I answer: Iudas by selling it: the Priests by advising it: the people by consenting to it: Pilate by decreeing it: the soldiers by effecting it: Christ himselfe by permitting it, and after presenting it to God: (Heb. 9.14,) our sinnes, that chiefly caused it. If any aske for whom it was shed? I answer briefly for the Church, Act. 20. not for himselfe, nor for impenitent, and obstinate sinners, that dye in their sins.

3. It is not enough, that the blood of Christ be shed to make us happy, unless it be applied also: which the word sprinkling notes.

3. It is not enough, that the blood of Christ bee shed to make us happy, unlesse it be applyed also: which the word sprinkling notes.

5. That our estate in Christ is better now, than our estate in Adam was.¹

1. 1Our estate in Christ better then our estate in Adam here in this life.

For God here in his eternal counsel is brought in over-looking that first estate in Adam, and setting up his rest in this estate purchased in the blood of his Sonne. If any man marvel at this, he shall be thus satisfied: Our estate in Christ is better, than our estate was at the best in Adam, even in this life, and therefore much more in the world to come: In this life, it is better only in two respects. 1. That we cannot fall from this happiness. 2. That Christs righteousness imputed to us is better, then that righteousness was, inherent in Adam. Now for the world to come, heaven is better then paradise.

For God here in his eternall counsell is brought in over-looking that first estate in Adam, and setting up his rest in this estate purchased in the blood of his Sonne. If any man marvell at this, he shall be thus satisfied: Our estate in Christ is better, than our estate was at the best in Adam, even in this life, and therefore much more in the world to come: In this life, it is better onely in two respects. 1. That wee cannot fall from this happinesse. 2. That Christs righteousnesse imputed to us is better, then that righteousnesse was, inherent in Adam. Now for the world to come, heaven is better then paradise.

6. We can never discern our comfort in the blood of Christ, till we be sanctified in spirit, and set upon the reducing of our lives into the obedience of Christ. Justification and Sanctification are inseparable. Thus much for the general.

6. We can never discerne our comfort in the blood of Christ, till we be sanctified in spirit, and set upon the reducing of our lives into the obedience of Christ. Iustification and Sanctification are inseparable. Thus much for the generall.

In particular, concerning this sprinkling of the blood of Christ, I consider two things: 1. What benefits the Christian enjoys by the blood of Christ, which is here noted, as the end of his sanctification: 2. The mystery of this sprinkling, or applying of the blood of Christ, as it was shadowed out by the legal sprinklings.

In particular, concerning this sprinkling of the blood of Christ, I consider two things: 1. What benefits the Christian enjoyes by the blood of Christ, which is here noted, as the end of his sanctification: 2. The mystery of this sprinkling, or applying of the blood of Christ, as it was shadowed out by the legall sprinklings.

The benefits which flow from the effusion of the blood of Christ are either general, or particular. The general are;¹ 1. The purchase of the Church Acts 20. 2. The ratification of the new Testament, or covenant of grace, Heb 9.18. 3. The breaking down of the partition wall between Jews and Gentiles, and the adopting of the abject Gentiles, the free denizing of the Gentiles, and repealing of all statutes of aliens, Ephes. 2.13. &c. 4. The reconciliation of all things both in heaven and earth, and the dissolving of that enmity, which came in by sin, Col. 1.20.

The benefits which flow from the effusion of the blood of Christ are either generall, or particular. The generall are;¹ 1. The purchase of the Church Acts 20. 2. The ratification of the new Testament, or covenant of grace, Heb 9.18. 3. The breaking downe of the partition wall betweene Jews and Gentiles, and the adopting of the abject Gentiles, the free denizing of the Gentiles, and repealing of all statutes of aliens, Ephes. 2.13. &c. 4. The reconciliation of all things both in heaven and earth, and the dissolving of that enmity, which came in by sin, Col. 1.20.

1. 1The benefits flowing from the blood of Christ.

The particular benefits, which flow from the blood of Christ to every converted Christian, are

1. Justification: which hath in it, 1. the pacification of Gods anger: ⟨p. 22⟩Christs blood is the propitiatory, like the cover of the Ark, that hides the law from the sight of God, Rom. 3.25. 2. the pardon of all sins, 1 John 1. 7.9. Ephes. 1.7. 3. prevention of Gods eternal wrath, or the loss of heaven, Rom. 5.9. 4. the garment of imputed righteousness, or putting on of robes made white in his blood, Rev. 7.14.

1. Iustification: which hath in it, 1. the pacification of Gods anger: ⟨p. 22⟩Christs blood is the propitiatory, like the cover of the Arke, that hides the law from the sight of God, Rom. 3.25. 2. the pardon of all sinnes, 1 Iohn 1. 7.9. Ephes. 1.7. 3. prevention of Gods eternall wrath, or the losse of heaven, Rom. 5.9. 4. the garment of imputed righteousnesse, or putting on of robes made white in his blood, Rev. 7.14.

2. Sanctification, and the cleansing the conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Heb. 9.13, 14.

2. Sanctification, and the cleansing the conscience from dead workes to serve the living God. Heb. 9.13, 14.

3. The sanctification of all the means of help to the believer both spiritual and temporal: the very book of God is sprinkled with the blood of Christ, that it may be opened, and of use to the faithful, and so all means else in his general and particular calling. Heb. 9.19, 20.

3. The sanctification of all the meanes of help to the beleever both spirituall and temporall: the very booke of God is sprinkled with the blood of Christ, that it may be opened, and of use to the faithfull, and so all meanes else in his generall and particular calling. Heb. 9.19, 20.

4. Intercession: the blood of Christ speaking better things, then the blood of Abel, pleading daily for the godly, and procuring the establishment of favour in God, and acceptation. Heb. 12.24.

5. Victory over Satan, who is overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of the testimony, Rev. 12.11. so as his molestations, and temptations shall not prevail.

5. Victory over Sathan, who is overcome by the blood of the Lambe, and the word of the testimony, Rev. 12.11. so as his molestations, and temptations shall not prevaile.

6. The destruction of him, that had power over death, so as now the believer needs not fear death, nor can he be hurt of it. Heb. 2.14.

6. The destruction of him, that had power over death, so as now the beleever needs not feare death, nor can he be hurt of it. Heb. 2.14.