A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…

Doct. That Jesus Christ came to execute his office by the water of sanctification, and by the blood of redemption.

It is he that came to overcome the world, to redeem us. How, By water and blood. Why by water and blood both?

1 From the end of his coming, that he might fulfil the types of the Law. In the old Law no Priest might enter upon his office upon pain of death, but he must first wash his hands and feet, Exod. 30.19, 20. Which shows how careful we should be, to come with clean hearts and hands to Gods service; and it typed out, that when the Lord Christ should take upon him his Priestly office, he should come free and spotless from all sin, and he did so, so that • guile was found in his mouth. Pilate himself testified of him, I find no evil in him.

1 From the end of his coming, that he might fulfill the types of the Law. In the old Law no Priest might enter upon his office upon pain of death, but he must first wash his hands and feet, Exod. 30.19, 20. Which shews how carefull we should be, to come with clean hearts and hands to Gods service; and it typed out, that when the Lord Christ should take upon him his Priestly office, he should come free and spotlesse from all sin, and he did so, so that • guile was found in his mouth. Pilate himselfe testified of him, I finde no evill in him.

Q. 2. Why should he come by water; that is throughly watered from all sin?

Q. 2. Why shoald he come by water; that is throughly watred from all sin?

Answ. 1. It was fit he should be such a one, that he might not expiate for his own sins, Heb. 2.25, to 29. Had there been found the least sin in Christ, all the blood he spilt would have been little enough for himself.

Answ. 1. It was fit he should be such a one, that he might not expiate for his own sins, Heb. 2.25, to 29. Had there been found the least sin in Christ, all the blood he spilt would have been little enough for himselfe.

2 That his sacrifice might be available for us. Had he been unjust himself, he could not have redeemed us, 1 Pet. 3.18. But being just himself, there was no need he should dye for himself, but for us.

2 That his sacrifice might be available for us. Had he been unjust himself, he could not have redeemed us, 1 Pet. 3.18. But being just himselfe, there was no need he should dye for himselfe, but for us.

Q Why was it needful he should come by blood?

Q Why was it needfull he should come by blood?

Answ Had he come never so purely sanctified, yet this would never have made atonement, for, without shedding of blood is no remission, Heb. 9.22. He came by blood therefore.

Answ Had he come never so purely sanctified, yet this would never have made attonement, for, without shedding of blood is no remission, Heb. 9.22. He came by blood therefore.

1 That by his blood and sufferings he might purchase out of his Fathers wrath, a Church unto himself, Acts 20 28. And by that blood, not only the elect, but all the creatures are purchased, at least to be serviceable to the Church. Christ bath bought all things quick and dead, either for his Churches comfort or affliction, 2 Cor. 3.22, 23. All power in heaven and earth is given into his hand, Psal. 2.8.

1 That by his blood and sufferings he might purchase out of his Fathers wrath, a Church unto himself, Acts 20 28. And by that blood, not onely the elect, but all the creatures are purchased, at least to be serviceable to the Church. Christ bath bought all things quick and dead, either for his Churches comfort or affliction, 2 Cor. 3.22, 23. All power in heaven and earth is given into his hand, Psal. 2.8.

2 That he might make at onement for our souls. It was impossible that the blood of Bulls and Goats should expiate for our sins, but as they look at Christ, his blood is given to be an atonement for our sins, Heb. 9.12, 13. And it makes an atonement not only between God and us, but also between Jews and Gentiles, Eph. 2.17, 18, 19. Whereas before the Gentiles would not become Jews, by reason of their hard ordinances; now, Christ took away that wall of separation.

2 That he might make at onement for our souls. It was impossible that the blood of Buls and Goats should expiate for our sins, but as they look at Christ, his blood is given to be an atonement for our sins, Heb. 9.12, 13. And it makes an atonement not only between God and us, but also between Jews and Gentiles, Eph. 2.17, 18, 19. Whereas before the Gentiles would not become Jews, by reason of their hard ordinances; now, Christ took away that wall of separation.

3 That he might procure not only Gods favour, but this fruit of it, the remission of our sins, Mat. 26.28.

4 That by the price of his blood, he might purchase the inhabitation of his Spirit to us, that he might procure it for us, that our consciences might be purified, Heb. 9.14. This blood purifieth our consciences. The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin, 1 John 1.9. And that is done by putting in us a a Spirit of grace, which purgeth us from all uncleanness and sin, and adorning us with the contrary graces of piety, humility, patience. Christ by his cursed death for us, hath procured a Spirit of •race for us, which purifies our consciences from the guilt and from the stain of sin, Heb. 9.14.

4 That by the price of his blood, he might purchase the inhabitation of his Spirit to us, that he might procure it for us, that our consciences might be purified, Heb. 9.14. This blood purifieth our consciences. The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin, 1 John 1.9. And that is done by putting in us a a Spirit of grace, which purgeth us from all uncleannesse and sin, and adorning us with the contrary graces of piety, humility, patience. Christ by his cursed death for us, hath procured a Spirit of •race for us, which purifies our consciences from the guilt and from the stain of sin, Heb. 9.14.

5 That he might confirm his new covenant, the New Testament to us, ⟨p. 360⟩Mat. 26.28. This is the blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Now, without the death of the Testator no Testament is in force. Heb. 9.1•, to 21. It's accounted a sacrilegious thing to violate the Testament of the dead. So it is with Christ; for a man to call any of his promises into question, is a sacrilegious violation of his Testament.

6 That he might keep in us everlasting nourishment to feed on in our hearts, John 6.56. So that his blood may be his wine to cheer us, that by the comfort of his blood, and mediation applied to our souls, we might have wherewith to sustain our selves in the worst times. This is meat indeed, and drink indeed, no nourishment our souls can feed on, but this; our souls cannot feed on pleasures and profits, spirits must feed upon spiritual things. Those are beggarly naked souls that have nothing but lands and riches to feed on, the souls food is holy spiritual things; and if the ordinances yield you any good or comfort, whence comes this, but only from the blood of Christ that hath besprinkled all these ordinances, and made them effectual, Heb. 9.19. It's the blood of sprinkling that makes every ordinance effectual to us.

6 That he might keep in us everlasting nourishment to feed on in our hearts, John 6.56. So that his blood may be his wine to chear us, that by the comfort of his blood, and mediation applyed to our souls, we might have wherewith to sustain our selves in the worst times. This is meat indeed, and drink indeed, no nourishment our souls can feed on, but this; our souls cannot feed on pleasures and profits, spirits must feed upon spiritual things. Those are beggerly naked souls that have nothing but lands and riches to feed on, the souls food is holy spirituall things; and if the ordinances yeeld you any good or comfort, whence comes this, but only from the blood of Christ that hath besprinkled all these ordinances, and made them effectuall, Heb. 9.19. It's the blood of sprinkling that makes every ordinance effectuall to us.

7 He came by blood to us, that so he might open a way to us into the most holy place.