the obedience of the second Adam doth consist in being obedient unto a positive commandment which was the symbol of his obedience to the whole Law of God This câ—mmandment received I of my Father saith he And as Moses the Head of that Covenant was faithful in all his house in so much as it s said of him As the Lâ—rd Commanded so did he so Jesus the head of this second Covenant was faithful in all his trust and as the Lord Commanded so did he As the Father gave me commandment saith he even so I do John 14. last So that the blood of sprinkling speaks the highest obedience in the World 4. It speaketh also the worth of souls If a Physitian have a Patient ready to die and nothing will work his cure but the heart-blood of the Physitian and the Physitian should vouchsafe thereto and let him have his heart-blood to drink Would it not argue that the Physitian thinks this mans life is of great concernment and of great worth so 't is here And what doth this argue but that Jesus did look upon the souls of men as of Infinite worth and Concernment 5. This blood of Jesus and the blood of sprinkling speaketh the evill of sin The hainousness the sinfulness the evill of sin There are many things that do speak the evill of sin but of all things methinks the blood of sprinkling the blood of Jesus speaks the evill of sin loudest Give me leave to name some that so you may compare them and this together First The separation from God and union with Satan speakes the evill of sin As by Grace we are united unto God made One with God and separated from the Devil so by sin we are separated from God and united unto Satan and made one with him 2. The Condemnation of the whole World by the sin of Adam speaks the evill of sin If the eating of the Apple committing that one sin brought Condemnation upon all the World how g eat must the evil of sin be 3. The fire of Hell speaks the evil of sin for what is the fewel that the fire of hell feeds upon but sin take sin away and the fire of Hell will die it will be quencht 4. The spoyl of Dutyes speaks it One sinful thought is enough to spoyl a prayer to spoyl a Duty to spoyl a Sermon And if one drop of Inke shall black a whole Glass of milk how black is that Inke 5. The horror of Conscience speaks it for If but one sin set on upon the soul by God doth put a man into such horror of Conscience how great is the evil of sin 6. The troublesomness of the relicks of sin in the Saints speaks it Sins in the Saints are but wasps without their sting And if the wasps without their sting be so troublesom how troublesom are the wasps that have their stings in them how troublesom is sin in it self But seventhly and above all The Blood of sprinkling speaks the evill of sin For if the guilt of sin be so great that nothing can satisfie for it but the Blood of Jesus and the Filth of sin be so great that nothing can fetch out the stain thereof but the blood of Jesus How great How hainous How sinfull must the evil of sin be The Blood of sprinkling speakes the evil of sin And then 6ly As the Blood of sprinkling speaks the evil of sin so it speakes the riches and the freeness of the Love of God 'T was love in Jonathan to part with his Garment for David What love is it in Christ to part with his Blood for us It was love that made Christ weep over Lazarus They said Behold how he loved him And if his Tears speak his love what doth his Blood 'T is love to give a cup of cold water to a Disciple what is it then to give ones warm Blood unto Enemies Three things there are that do make a gift greatly free 1. The greatness of the gift given 2. The unworthiness of the Person given unto 3. And the greatness of the person that gives 1. As for the gift it self What greater than the Blood of Jesus 2. As for the Persons given unto who more unworthy then sinfull men 3. As for the Person that doth give who greater then God in the three Persons The Father gives Christ to die The Son dies and gives his Blood And the Holy-Ghost comes and sprinkles it for it is the work of the Holy-Ghost to sprinkle this is another thing that the Blood of Jesus speaks It speakes the Riches and the freeness of the love of God these are the things that this blood of sprinkling speaketh And now if you ask How and in what respects it speaketh better things than Abel or then that of Abel For it may be translated both ways according to the several copies But take it according to our translation better than that of Abel or then the blood of Abel How and in what respects doth the blood of Jesus speak better things than the blood of Abel Why it speaks better things than the Personal blood of Abel And it speakes better things than the Sacrificed blood of Abel It speakes better then the Personal blood of Abel for the blood of Abel cryed for vengeance against his own Brother But the blood of Jesus cries for mercy and for remission for his Enemyes Father forgive them they know not what they do said Christ when their hands were imbrewed in his blood But others think rather that these words are to be understood of the sacrificed blood of Abel And because Abel is the first that stands upon record in Scripture for offering a sacrifice with blood It is as if the Apostle should say The sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross and the blood of Jesus speaketh better things than the sacrifice of Abel or of all the sacrifices in the Old-Testament And Indeed This is more sutable to the scope of the Apostle here For the design of the Apostle here is to shew the excellencie of New-Testament sacrifice and of the way of the New-Testament above the Old And if you look into the Scripture you find that though in the Fourth of Genesis it â—s said Abels blood cryed yet notwithstanding iâ— is not said that Abel or his blood speaketh buâ—â—n the Eleventh of the Hebrews 't is said that in point of sacrifice By faith Abel speaketh By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellenâ— sacrifice then Cain and by it he being dead yet speâ—keth In point of sacrifice by faith he yet speaketh And would you know how the blood of Jesus speaketh better things than the sacrificed blood of Abel or than all the sacrifices of the old Testament Thus. 1. The blood of Jesus and the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross doth give efficacie unto all those sacrifices What aâ—e all the Types and Ceremonies but dead things without the thing Typified 2. And though Abel offered an excellent sacrifice he did not offer
his own Blood But Jesus did he offered up himself by the Eternal Spirit as in the 9th of the Heb. 3. And though Abel and the Fathers of the Old Testament offered excellent sacrifices yet they offered often and so those sacrifices could not make the Commers thereunto perfect saith the Apostle But Christ offered himself once for all And so he hath for ever perfected them that are sanctified Heb. 10. 4. Though Abel and the Fathers in the Old Testament did offer excellent sacrifices yet their sacrifice was after their sin committed when they had commited a sin then they were to get a sacrifice and possibly they might have died before the sacrifice was offered but the sacrifice of Christ is before our sin is committed we cannot die between the sin and the sacrifice 5. And though Abel and the Fathers of the Old Testament offered excellent sacrifices the blood whereof was sprinkled on the people yet that was but to the purifying of the flesh for saith the Apostle at the 13th v. of the 9th Chap. If the Blood of Bulls and of Goats and the ashes of an Heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh c. But the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus purgeth our Consciences from dead works 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 Upon which words saith Capellus you have here the excellencie of this offering above all other offerings in the World above the offerings of the Heathen above the offerings of the Jews above the offerings of the Christians Above the offerings of the Heathens for they sacrificed to Devills but he offered himself without spot to God Above the sacrifice of the Jews for their blood of sprinkling sanctifyed to the purifying of the Flesh but this to the purging of your Conscience from dead works Above the offering of the Christians for though Christians offer up spiritual sacrifices to God as prayers and thanksgivings yet not without spot but he offered himself through the Eternal spirit without spot to God 6. And then Though Aâ—el offered an excellent sacrifice and so the Fathers of the Old Testament yet notwithstanding those were for themselves and for those times Abel offered for himself and the Jews for themselves for that time onely but Christ offered a sacrifice for all the World He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the World and a Lamb slain from the beginning of the Wâ—rld 7. Again though Abel offered an excellent sacrifice and the Fathers of the Old Testament offeâ—ed excellent sacrifices and the blood thereof was sprinkled yet it was not sprinkled upon all things but in the 9th Heb 't is said Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the Tabernacle and all the Vessels of the Ministry and almost all things are by the Law purged with blood It was but almost but now by the blood of Jesus all things are purged and cleansed not almost but all things are purged and cleansed Thus now you see what this blood of sprinkling speaketh and how it speaketh better things then the blood of Abel better than his Personal blood and better than his sacrificed blood and that 's the second General 3. Now 3 unto this blood of sprinkling are we come in these Gospel-tâ—mes We are not come unto the blood of Bulls and Goats and heifers but we are come unto the blood of Jesus the blood of sprinkling For what is the dispensation that we are now under but the dispensation of a crucâ—fied Christ There are two Comings of Christ mention'd in the Scripture A coming in a way of meanness riding upon an Ass his first coming is in a way of humiliatâ—on riding upon an Ass and accordingly his Kingdom is a Kingdom of Patience And there is a coming second Coming of Christ when he comes riding upon the Clouds in power and Great Glory and accordingly his Kingdom then shall be a Kingdom of power and Glory When Christ comes the second time we shall be under Glorious dispensations but now we are under the first Coming of Christ and therefore what is the Dispensation that now we are under but the dispensation of a crucified Christ What doth a Preaching signifie and hold forth but Christ crucified We Preach Christ crucified saith the Apostle What do the Sacraments hold forth why This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood saith he So that now we are under the Dispensation of a crucified Christ In the times of the Old Covenant they did believe in God and God himself was the first object of their Faith and so they came to Christ now in these times of the New Testament the first and immediat object of our Faith is the blood of Christ Faith in the Blood of Christ Rom 3. So that I say It is the blood of Jesus that now we are come unto Well but though in these Gospel-times we are now come to the blood of Jesus the blood of sprinkling yet it may be this blood of sprinkling may not be sprinkled upon my soul When may the blood of sprinkling be said to be sprinkled upon a mans soul How shall I know whether this blood of sprinkling be sprinkled upon my soul in particular that 's a Question of great Concernment Thus therefore 1. If it be your great work in all your Temptations and upon all Occasions to apply your selves unto the blood of Jesus then is the blood of Jesus applyed to you and so sprinkled on you The blood of Jesus is sprinkled on us by the Spirit of God and when it 's sprinkled by the Spirit of God it is applyed If you do make applications of your selves to Christ certainly Christ hath made applications of Himself to you for all our grace is but a reflexion of his Grace we love him because he loved us first and we choose him because he chose us first and we apply our selves to him because he hath applyed himself unto us first If therefore in all Temptations and upon all occasions it be your great work to make an application of your selves unto the blood of Jesus then hath the blood of Jesus been applyed to you and sprinkled upon you 2. If you ever have had such a sight of the blood of Christ as that thereby you are purged from an evil Conscience Then hath this blood been applyed to and sprinkled on you They go together In the 10th Heb. 22 it s said Let us draw neer with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience or purged the 9th of the Hebrews calls it purged having our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience What is that why an evil Conscience is an evil Conscience two wayes either because it is a sluggish Conscience and don 't stirr us up unto our duty and accuse for sin or else because it is a clamorous
in Heaven and Earth are reconciled Col. 1.20 6. Thereby are your souls justified and your sins pardoned In whom we have Redemption through his bloud The forgiveness of our sins Ephes 1. 7. Thereby are you washed and cleansed and sanctified The blood of Jesus cleanseth from all iniquity 1 Iohn 1. 8. Thereby is your great adversary Satan routed and overcome and spoyled Rev. 12. They overcame him by the bloud of the Lamb. 9. Thereby Christ is made welcome by his Father when he comes into Heaven in your name to intercede for you In the times of the Old Testament the high Priest went into the Holy of holiest and carried bloud and sprinkled the Mercy-Seat seven times But the high Priest did not sit down Now in the 10. of Heb. 11. it 's said And every high Priest standeth dayly ministring and offering often times the same sacrifices which can never take away sins But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever sat down at the right Hand of God the Father The high Priest did not then sit down but now when Christ comes into Heaven with your names upon his Heart to sprinkle the Mercy-Seat with his bloud Come my Son saith the Father sit down and welcome upon this account 10. And thereby also have you entrance into the Holy of holiest as in the 10th of the Heb. 11. And if indeed you be sprinkled with this bloud of sprinkling then are you at one with the Mercy-Seat 'T is the same blood that 's sprinkled upon the Mercy-Seat in Heaven and that 's sprinkled upon your souls here on Earth The same bloud in the time of the Old Testament that was sprinkled upon the people was sprinkled upon the Altar and the Mercy-seat so the same bloud that 's now in Heaven sprinkled upon the Mercy-seat is sprinkled upon your hearts 12. If you are sprinkled with this bloud of sprinkling then all the Promises are yours for all the Promises are Yea and Amen in Christ And if Christs bloud be sprinkled on you and applied to you then may you apply the Promises to your selves 13. And if indeed you be sprinkled with this bloud of sprinkling then are all things clean unto you for as the bloud of sprinkling is sprinkled upon your souls so are all your Injoyments be sprinkled with it 14. And if you be indeed sprinkled with the bloud of Jesus then may you go away and say Now are all the blessings of the Covenant mine The day that you are sprinkled with the bloud of Iesus you may say now know I that my sins are pardoned Mercy is mine and Pardon is mine and Adoption is mine As when the Psalmist had a sight of God he cried out and said Gilead is mine and Manasseh is mine So the day that you have this sight of God in being sprinkled with the bloud of Iesus you may cry out and say Not Gilead is mine and Manasseh is mine But Pardon is mine and Adoption is mine and Heaven is mine and God is mine for ever Oh! Who would not labour to get his soul sprinkled now with the bloud of sprinkling 5. You will say in the fifth and last place 'T is a great priviledge to be sprinkled with the bloud of sprinkling We grant it But what shall we do that even we may get our souls sprinkled with the bloud of Iesus the bloud of sprinkling First of all you must know That there is a two-fold sprinkling with the bloud of Sprinkling There is an Initial sprinkling and a Renewed sprinkling As there is an Initial Repentance and a Renewed Repentance so there is an Initial Sprinkling and a Renewed Sprinkling An Initial sprinkling and that 's a mans first Conversion when he is justified according to that in the 1 Cor. 6.11 Such were some of you but you are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Here 's the Initial sprinkling The Renewed sprinkling is upon a two-fold account 1. Upon the account of some great sin committed and 2. Upon the account of some special duty to be performed A fresh sprinkling there must be upon some great sin committed So in the 51 Psalm saith David Wash me throughly from mine iniquity He had sin'd a great sin but his sin was pardoned Psal 51. Title A Psalâ— of David when Nathan the Prophet came unto him that was after Nathan came to him And what diâ— Nathan say he told him his sin was pardoned yet saith David v. 7. Purge me with Hysop I must have a fresh sprinkling after some great sin committed there must be a fresh sprinkling with the blood of Jesus And upon duty to be performed especially some great duty to be performed there must also be a fresh sprinkling In the 10th Heb. 22. Paul saith Let us draw neer with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water why our bodies washed with pure water It relates to the washings in the Old Testament when the Priests were to come to offer a sacrifice there was a Laver and they were then to wash themselves so saith the Apostle let us draw neer to God having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water because upon a new address to God a fresh sprinkling with the blood of Jesus is to be had 'T is not enough to have an old sprinkling with the blood of Jesus but upon all our approaches to God especially after some great sin committed or some special duty to be performed we must come and get a fresh sprinkling with the blood of Jesus 2. You must know also that though you have bin very great sinners yet you are not uncapable of this sprinkling with the blood of Jesus The Apostle saith in that place of the Corinthians Such were some of you what such v. 9. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of God Be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor Effeminate nor Abusers of themselves with man-kind nor Thieves nor Covetous nor Drunkards nor Revilers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God And such were some of you but ye are washed how why ye are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God which sprinkles which applies the blood of Christ So then though ye have bin great sinners yet you are not uncapable of being sprinkled with this blood of sprinkling 3. You must know this also that there is nothing on this side the blood of Jesus this blood of sprinkling that can cleanse you If any thing should bid for our cleansing methinks it should be our sufferings and persecutions for the name of God but look into the 7th Rev. 14th it's said These are they which came out of great Tribulations and have washed their Robes and made them white in the
CHRIST And the COVENANT THE Work and Way of Meditation Gods Return to the Soul or Nation Together with his Preventing Mercy Delivered in Ten SERMONS VIZ. 1. Christs Personal Excellencies the Object of of our Love 2. Christ crucified the Object of our Faith 3. The New Covenant of Grace opened 4. Christ the Mediator of the New Covenant 5. The Way and Spirit of the New Covenant or New Testament 6. The Blood of Sprinkling 7. The sweetness and profitableness of Divine Meditation 8. The Work and Way of this Meditation 9. Gods Return to the Soul and Nation 10. Preventing Mercy By W. B. LONDON Printed for N. Ranew and J. Robinson at the Angel in Jewen-street 1667. To the READER Courteous Reader THese Ten Sermons lately taken by an expert band as they fell from the mouth of the sweet Preacher of them contain so great a variety of Heavenly matter so much of the very marrow and quintessence of the Gospel that thou wilt no sooner begin to read them but wilt presently find that the heart of the Reverend Author of them hath lay'n long asoke in the blood of Jesus and that he hath been no stranger to his very bosome Love Buy them therefore with what speed thou canst and read them over diligently it will be a good bargain for thy Soul and one of the Richest Commodities that ever thou mettest with at so cheap a Rate It is put into so small a Letter and Bulk purposely for thy better accommodation and that not only in the ease of thy Purse but principally that thou mayest make it as well thy Pocket as thy Hearts Companion where e're thou goest Farewell The Reader is desired to Correct or Pardon these few faults or any other literal mistakes that he meets with PAge 17. line 9. for love read heart p. 20. l. 25. f. love r. good p. 21. in the Title f. faith r. love p. 25. l. 4. f. think r. thing p. 29. l. 23. f. cleary r. clearly p. 32. in the Title f. Christs r. Christ p. 35. l. 15. f. Elias r. Eli. p. 41. l. 25. f. gorw r. grow p. 43. l. 9. for spirit r. sight p. 64. l. 1. f. for r. if p. 100. l. 27. f. for lo. p. 355. l. 22. f. when r. where p. 356. l. 25. f. Samaritans r. the Samaritans p. 367. l. 24. f. dange r. danger p. 371 l. 9. f. with that r. what is that p. 378 l. 24. f. when r. where p. 384 l. 12. leave out your p. 388 in the title f. and r. of p. 389 l. 15. leave out be p. 397 l. 6. leave out a. p. 403. l. 12. leave out and. p. 409 l. 7. f. uno r. unto p. 419 l. 28. f. a r. the and line 29. leave out therefore p. 426 l. 23. f. so r. see p. 445 in the title for wory r. work p. 451 l. 8. f work r. want p. 455 l. 25. for aytance r. assistance p. 476 l. 12. for not gone r. not so gone l. 19. for not gone r. not so gone p. 487 l. 23. for ere r. or Christs Personall Excellencies the object of our Love SERMON I. John 14.28 â—f ye loved me ye would rejoyce because I said I go unto the Father for my Father is greater than I. THese words are part of the last sweet Sermon which our Saviour Preached unto his Disciples before his Death and departure from them wherein he labours to allay their sorrow and grief upon the â—ccasion of his departure Therefore he tells them 〈◊〉 the second Verse In my Fathers house are many manâ—s and at the third Verse I go to prepare a place for 〈◊〉 Then he tells them at the 16 17 18 verses that 〈◊〉 would send them another Comforter and I will not leave 〈◊〉 comfortlesse I will come unto you Then he labours to perswade them unto comfort 〈◊〉 their protestation of their own Love unto him 〈◊〉 say you love me saith he If ye loved me yo would reâ—e because I said I go unto the Father for my Father is â—ter than I. â—f ye loved me that is If you loved me so much as you should 'T is usuall with Scripture to speak of thingâ— absolutely when they are meant câ—mparatively If you loved me so much as you proâ—esse and so much as you should for they did love him If ye loved me ye would rejoyce because I go unto mâ— Father Joy is the top of Comfort as Comfort is the top oâ— Peace Joy is the cream of Comfort If ye loved me ye would be so far from being troubled at my going that you would be very much comforted for I gâ— unto my Father who is greater than I Than I am aâ— Mediatour who upon my coming to him will exaâ— me and therefore if ye loved me ye would ratheâ— rejoyce because I go unâ—o my Father who is greatâ— than I From whence then I take up this Doctrine Doct. That true love unto the Person of Christ wâ— make us rejoyce in his Personall Exaltment thou it may be in some respects unto our debasement or prâ—sent losse For the opening and prosecuting whereof 1. We must enquire what there is in Christ's gâ—â—ing to the Father that is matter of our Rejoycing 2. I shall labour to shew you that 't is our duty rejoyce in the Personall Exaltment of Christ thoâ— in some respects it may be to our own losse and â—basement 3. That true love to the Person of Christ will 〈◊〉 able us to do this 4. That 't is possible that Christ's own and 〈◊〉 Disciples may be wanting in their Love to Chriâ— Person 5. What an excellent thing it is to love the Pâ—son of Christ rather than the benefits of Christ To have our hearts drawn out in Love to his Person more excellent than to have a love to him upon the account of benefits And 6. What we should do that our hearts may be drawn out in love to the very Person of Christ so as we may be able to rejoyce in his exaltment though to our own debasement First If you ask what there is in Christ's going to the Father that is matter of our Rejoycing of a Disciples rejoycing I answer much every way much in reference to our own concernments much in reference to the concernments of Christ much in reference to the concernments of God the Father As for our own concernments First If Christ had not gone unto the Father his â—atisfaction for our sins had not been accepted nor â—ur Redemption perfected Heb. 9.12 Neither by the blood of Goats and Calves but by his own blood he entred in once into the holy place having obtained eternal Redempâ—ion for us It doth relate and allude unto the manner of the Old Testament when the blood of Goats â—nd Calves was poured out the Priest took the blood â—nd carried it into the holy of holyest and sprinkled the merâ— Seat But though the blood of Bulls or Calves had â—een poured out yet if the Priest had not
carried it â—to the holy of holyest the typicall satisfaction and reâ—emption had not been obtained And so here though â—e blood of Jesus had been shed and poured out upâ—n the Crosse if he had not gone unto the Father and â—rried his blood into heaven into the holy of holyest his â—tisfaction for our sin had not been accepted and ouâ—â—edemption had not been perfected Secondly If Christ had not gone unto the Father he had not made the application of his Death and Blood and Merits unto our Souls He came into the world that we should have Repentance and Remission both were purchased by his Death But now if he had not gone unto the Father there had not been an application Both were purchased by his Death on earth But was the businesse so left at a loose no but by his going to the Father what he purchased by his Death he doth apply In Acts 5. it 's said Him hath God exalteâ— with his Right hand to be a Prince and Saviour for to givâ— Repentance unto Israel and forgivenesse of sins So that haâ— he not gone unto the Father there had not been aâ— application of his Blood and Death and Merit untâ— our souls Thirdly If Christ had not gone unto the Fatheâ— the Holy Ghost the Comforter had not come If go not away the Comforter will not come But whâ— might not the Comforter or the Holy Ghost come though Christ had been here on earth if he had nâ— gone unto the Father I answer The gifts graces and comforts of thâ— Holy Ghost were the Dona Regia which were giveâ— out upon the Coronation of Christ for by this goinâ— to the Father he was crowned with glory and honour 〈◊〉 in Heb. 2. When the Holy Ghost comes he do bear witnesse to our spirits that we are the childreâ— of God and God reconciled to us But how shouâ— God give such a testimony of his Reconciliation unâ— us if Christ had not first gone into heaven and give up his accounts of what he had done here on earth 〈◊〉 is said expresly in John 7. This spake he of the spirâ— which they that believe on him should receive for the Hâ— Gh st was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet gloâ—fied And if Jesus Christ had not gone unto the Fâ—ther and so sent the Spirit how should we haâ— known that he had so much care for us and love to us when he was in heaven as by the sending of the Holy Ghost We are never more fit for the Holy Ghost than when we are weaned from the carnall presence of Christ And therefore if Christ had not gone unto the Father the Spirit the Holy Ghost had not come Fourthly If our Lord and Saviour Christ had not gone unto the Father we should have had no Advocate in heaven to plead our Cause in heaven upon all occasions 'T is a great matter we say to have a Friend at Court an Agent there that may plead for us What a mercy is it to have an Agent in heaven to negotiate our businesse there why now saith the Apostle If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous If Christ had not gone unto the Father we had not had this Advocate in heaven to plead for us upon all occasions And Fifthly If Christ had not gone unto the Father we should have no entrance into heaven heaven was locked up the Gates of Paradise were shut and kept by an Angel with a a flaming sword This Paradise was opened upon the Crosse This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise and we enter into it by Christ's going into heaven by his going into the holy of holiâ—est I go to prepare a place for you not as sent before to take up your Lodgings but as one Friend goes before another to make a great entertainment for his Friends But I say if Christ had not gone unto the Father we had had no entrance into heaven Why now is it not a matter of Joy and of great Comfort that we have entrance into heaven That the Comforter is come That we have always one in heaven to plead our Cause upon all occasions These and many other things we obtain by Christ's going to the Father This for our own concernment And Secondly As for the concernment of Christ By his going to the Father he was exalted and glorified as Mediatour I speak And if you ask what was the Glory and greatnesse that was put upon Christ as Mediatour by his going to the Father It consists in two things The Royalty of his entertainment when he came unto his Father And the greatnesse of his advancement And if yoâ— ask yet what was the Entertainment that he had when he came unto the Father Why it was an Entertainment suitable to such a Father and to such a Son When that great Sinner the Prodigall returned unto his Father his Father fell upon his neck and kissed him Bring out the Robes kill the Fatted Calf bring out the Ring And if such an entertainment for a Prodigall Son what entertainment then for the Naturall Son of God the obedient Son of God that had been upon his Father's great concernment in the world Great was this Entertainment surely beyond all my expression But now more particularly 1. No sooner did he come into heaven unto his Father but he was Justified in all that which he did and suffered for us as you have it in the 1 Tim. 3.16 God was manifest in the flesh Justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the world received up into glory 2. No sooner did he come unto the Father but he was mightily declared to be the Son of God as you have it in Rom. 1. Thou art my Son this day that is upon the Resurrection this day have I begotten thee The Apostle explains it concerning the Resurrection in Acts 13. 3. No sooner did he come unto the Father but he was annointed with a new and fresh Annointing with the oyle of gladnesse above all his fellows For as David the Type had a double Annointing one by the hand of Samuel after which he was thrust out into the Wildernesse and another at the day of his Coronation so Christ Typified had a double Annointing one upon his Incarnation in which respects he saith The Spirit of the Lord is upon me and he hath annointed me to preach and another upon his Coronation when he was crowned with Glory and honour And therefore in Heb. 1. he is annointed twith the oyle of gladnesse above his fellows comes in upon his exaltation And 4. No sooner did he come into the presence of his Father but his Father said unto him Sit thou down at my Right hand the most honourable place in heaven sit thou at my Right hand my Son Why now is it not a matter of great rejoycing to us that Christ going to heaven with our names upon his shoulder and heart
the death of his Son much more being reconciled we 〈◊〉 all be saved by his life Rom. 5. and chap. 8.32 He â—at spared not his own Son but delivered him up for 〈◊〉 all how shall he not with him also freely give us all â—â—ings If God the Father did give his Son to â—ath for you will he deny you other things Go away and look no more sorrowfull let it apâ—are that you know Christ and that you know â—hrist crucified 3. In case at any time any temptation doth aâ—ise upon you Presently turn and look wishly upon â—hrist crucified and there fix If a man be in a â—â—eat temptation possibly the temptation may be â—t by by way of divertisement turning to another â—â—ject but if that other object be ingaging â—â—en he is helpt thereby not onely by way of diâ—rtancie but by way of assistance Now if a temâ—ation do arise at any time upon any of you preâ—â—ntly turn your eye fix it upon Christ crucified â—ere stand and there look and thus shall you be helped not onely in a way of divertancie but in way of assistance 4. If you do indeed know Christ crucified the why should you not hold forth the vertues of thâ— Christ the death of Christ in your dying unto 〈◊〉 things below and say with Paul upon all occaâ—â—ons Henceforth let no man trouble me I bear aboâ—â— in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus You coâ—â— to tempt me to such a sin do not trouble me know Christ crucified henceforth let no man troâ—ble me I know Christ crucified answer all yoâ— temptations thus and be peremptory and resoluâ—â— let no man trouble me do not trouble me I knoâ— Christ crucified 5. Go away and communicate that knowledâ— of a crucified Christ unto others your knowledâ— is nothing unless you make others to know wâ—â— you know There is a twofold revelation 〈◊〉 Christ Christ revealed to men and Christ 〈◊〉 vealed in men as Paul speaks When it pleased 〈◊〉 Lord to reveal Christ IN me When a man haâ—â— revelation of Christ within him he will comâ—nicate that knowledge Ye see how it is with 〈◊〉 Sun shining upon the wall and with a Candle 〈◊〉 Lanthorn the Sun shines upon the wall and 〈◊〉 wall enlightens no body why because the Suâ— not in it but there is a Candle in a Lanthorn aâ— that enlightens others why because the Candâ—â— within it So when a man hath a revelation Christ upon him it falls dead as upon a mud wâ— and he communicates not that light unto others but if Christ be in me the hope of Glory then câ—â—tainly I shall communicate this knowledge of Châ—â— unto others also 6. And to end all if you do know Christ and him crucified then go and place your selves before the Lord as David did when the Lord had made known his mind unto him Then went King David in and sat before the Lord and he said who am I O Lord God and what is my house that thou hast brought me hitherto c. And what can David say more unto thee for thou Lord God knowest thy Servant for thy Word sake and according to thine own heart hast thou done all these great things to make thy Servant know them So I say go you and place your selves before the Lord and say What am I Lord O what am I poor ignorant creature as well as others that Christ crucified should be made known to me O the riches and the greatness of the Grace of God According to thine own heart Lord hast thou done this to make these things known unto thy poor Servant Wherefore Glory and Honour unto God the Father and unto the Lamb that sitteth upon the Throne for ever And thus now I have spoken something concerning a crucified Christ as the Object of your Faith the former time concerning the Excellencies of Christ to draw out your Love Now then let your Faith and Love meet together and may your Love be quickned and your Faith strengthned I have enough The New Covenant of Grace opened SERMON III. Heb. 12. 24. And to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenaâ—â— and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh bettâ—â— things then that of Abel IN this Scripture you have the difference bâ—tween the Law and the Gospel The exceâ—lency of the state of the Church under tâ—â— New Testament above the state of the Chuâ—â— under the Old Testament for saith the Apostle 〈◊〉 the 18. vers Ye are not come unto the Mount thâ— might be touched and that burned with fire nor unâ— blackness and darkness and tempest and the sound of trumpet and the voice of words But ye are come uâ—to Mount Sion vers 22. and unto the City of the liâ—ing God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumâ—rable company of Angels c. So that first look how much Mount Sion dotâ— excell Mount Sinai The City of the living Goâ—â— doth excell the Wilderness and the heavenlâ— Jerusalem doth excell the Mountain that might bâ— touched from whence the Law was given 〈◊〉 much doth our state now exceed and excell that of the Jews And saith he Ye are also come unto an innumerable company of Angels The Law was given at Mount Sinai by the ministration of Angels Look therefore how much our communion now with an innumerable company of Angels doth exceed that ministration which was by the ministration of Angels then so much doth our Gospel state now exceed theirs And ye are also come to the general assembly and Church of the first born Look how much the Catholick Church drawn out of all Nations doth exceed the Jewish Synagogue so much doth our Gospel Church state now exceed theirs And ye are come unto God the Judge of all Look therefore how much the manifestation of God as the Judge of all the world doth exceed the manifestation of God as a Law-giver upon Mount Sinai unto the Nation of the Jews onely so much doth our Gospel state and Church exceed theirs And ye are come to the spirits of just men made perfect It is true in regard of the Saints in heaven for we are fellow Citizens with the Saints there Or if you understand it of the spirits of just men made perfect with Gospel perfection by the imputation of the righteousness of Christ it is true So that look as the state of Heaven doth exceed the state of Earth and as Gospel perfection doth exceed the imperfect state of the Law so doth the state of the Church and Gospel now exceed that of the Jews And ye are come to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then that of Abel Look therefoâ—â— as Jesus Christ the Mediator of the New Covenaâ—â— exceeds Moses the Mediator of the Old Aâ—â— as the blood of Christ the blood of sprinkling doâ—â— excell and exceed the blood of all sacrifices in tâ—â— time of the Old Testament so doth our Gospâ— Church state now exceed that of theirs
the first 2. Jesus was and is the fittest person in the World to mediate between God and us There was no creature fit to Umpire the business between God and us and therefore Job saith well at the 9th Chap. 33. verse Neither is there any dayes-man betwixt us that might lay his hand upon us both Man was not fit to mediate because man is the person offending Angels not fit to mediate for the shoulder of an Angel could not bear the weight of Mediation-Work neither could an Angel satisfie God the Father not fit for this work the first person in the Trinity for he was the person offended The Holy Ghost not fit for this work for 't is his work to apply the blood of this mediation so then there is none other fit but Christ fit Jesus fit The fittest person For first of all he is the person appointed by the Father If a man will undertake to mediate between two and be not chosen thereunto he is not fit for it but if chosen then he is fit Why Jesus is the person chosen mine elect Servant saith the Father Whom I have chosen I have given him for a Covenant unto the People Isa 42. 2. He was and is the fittest person to mediate between God and us for he is a middle person partaking of Gods nature and of mans Extreams are joyn'd together by a middle who more fit to mediate between two then he that is a middle between them 3. He is the fittest person for he is the fittest to make reconciliation between God and us to reconcile God to us and us unto God First He is the fittest to reconcile God to us for that God might be reconciled he must be satisfied his Justice satisfied and his Anger satisfied Now Jesus Christ was God and Man as Man he ought to satisfie but could not as God he could satisfie but he ought not but as God-man he both could and ought and so the fittest And again 2. Who more fit to reconcile God unto us then he that was the most fit to intercede that had credit and favour and love with the Father Now Jesus lay in the bosome of his Father This is my beloved Son and I was the Fathers delight saith he in the 8th of Prov. Therefore the most fit to intercede and so to reconcile God unto us 3. Who more fit to reconcile God to us then he that was fit to be a surety to undertake for us If a man come to mediate with a person offended for another Saith the person offended but will you undertake he shall do so no more Yes Why then I am willing Now Jesus is called our surety in the 8th Heb. He undertakes that though we have broken with God already we shall break no more and therefore the fittest person to reconcile God to us But secondly the fittest person also to reconcile us to God 1. Who more fit to reconcile us to God then he that can change our natures Now Jesus is able to change our nature I find saith Paul a Law in my Members rebelling against the Law of my mind and bringing me into captivity unto the Law of sin which is in my members O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death then I thank God through Jesus Christ And Rom. 8.2 The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death And 2. Who more fit to reconcile us to God then he that can beget good thoughts in us concerning God So long as a man hath hard thoughts of God he will never be reconciled to God Now Jesus Christ lay in the bosome of his Father and can tell the Soul what volumes of Love there were and are in the bosome of the Father for it from all eternity and so can beget love in the Soul towards God and so able to reconcile the Soul to God You have it clearly in John 1.18 he lay in the bosome of the Father c. 3. And then to say no more but this Who more fit to reconcile us to God then he that can give the Holy Ghost into our Souls For as God is reconciled to us by the blood of Christ so we are reconciled to God by the Spirit of Christ Now Jesus gives the Spirit I will send the Comforter saith Christ so that he he is the fittest person in all the world to reconcile God to us and to reconcile us to God and so the fittest person in all the world to mediate between God and us And so you have the second thing 3. But then thirdly As Jesus is the fittest person to mediate between God and us so he hath undertaken this work of Mediation and he will certainly carry it on unto due perfection First I say he hath undertaken it and therefore he is called the Mediator 1 Tim. 2.5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and Man the man Christ Jesus and he alone is the Mediator I confess indeed the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is given to Moses and Moses in the 3d. of Gal. is called a a Mediator The Law was ordained by Angels in the hand of a Mediator vers 19. that is not Christ But the Law was ordained by Angels in the hand that is by the Ministry of a Mediator Christ was not the Minister of Angels Moses was and therefore Moses is to be understood here The same word that is used concerning Christ is used here But now although Moses was a Mediator a Typical Mediator and did stand between God and the people as in the 5th of Deut. to deliver out the Law unto them vers 5. I stood between the Lord and you at that time to shew you the word of the Lord. Though I say Moses is called a Mediator because he stood between God and the people to give and deliver out the Law to them yet you never find that Moses is called a Mediator in a way of Redemption or satisfaction or paying of any ransome so Jesus onely is In the 1 Tim. 2. There is one God and one Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransome for all And so in the 9th Heb. For this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament For what cause Why vers 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered up himself without spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God and for this cause is he the Mediator It is never said so of Moses No but Christ the Mediator and he onely the Mediator in a way of satisfaction and redemption and paying of a price Well thus he hath undertaken the work And certainly he will carry on his work of Mediation unto due perfection for saith the Apostle he is faithfull in all his house as Moses was Moses a Servant he as a Son Moses the
sufferings are your servants for all things are yours for you are Christs who is the Head of the Covenant And in case that you are under any spiritual desertion Then praise God for his love to Jesus when you cannot praise God for his love to you A true Gospel spirit will praise God the Father for his love to Christ his Son when he cannot praise God for his love to himself because he wants assurance Again if you would yet walk up unto this condition of the Gospel whereunto now we are come then whatsoever you do be sure that you do it upon Gospel Principles Principles of Love principles of Thankfulness principles of Ingenuity Principles are the springs of Actions If your principles be Evangelical your actions will be Evangelical if your principles be legal your actions will be legal Stock therefore and store your selves with Gospel principles principles of Love principles of Thankfulness and principles of Ingenuity doing all in the Name of Jesus this Mediator of the Covenant And when you have wrought and done all Rest upon Jesus this Mediator as if you had done nothing Yet repent work and do as if you had no such Mediator I say Work and pray and read and meditate and confer and repent as if you had no Mediator for to rest upon but onely your works and yet rest upon this your Mediator as if you had done no work at all Thus do and thus shall you comply and comport with your Gospel state Which that you may do consider This is that you are now called unto you are now come to Jesus not to Moses you are now come to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant VVhy then As in the time of the Old Testament they had recourse unto Moses so now in the times of the New Testament ye are in all things to have recourse unto Jesus VVhat saith Jesus to this business Here 's VVorship VVhat saith Jesus to it Here 's an Ordinance VVhat saith Jesus to it Here 's an Officer of the Church VVhat saith Jesus to it This is suitable unto the state that now you are come unto And thus shall all your Convictions Graces and your duties be refined you shall have much in a little room A legal work may be great for the bulk yet be but little a Gospel work though but little hath a great deal in it for 't is refined And thus also shall you have the wedding Garment on For pray What is the wedding Garment but a Gospel disposition sutable to a Gospel dispensation this is the wedding Garment Not Faith nor Repentance nor this nor that particular Grace But a Gospel disposition sutable to a Gospel dispensation is the wedding Garment and thus shall you be cloathed with it Thus also your Onely shall stand in its proper place For mark where the Apostle places your onely Onely saith he let your Conversation be as it becomes the Gospel there stand a Christians onely upon a conversation becoming the Gospel Thus also shall you please the Father The more that you come to Jesus the Mediator whom the Father hath appointed And the more your Conversation suites thereunto the more you please the Father You can never please the Father more than in coming to the Son Now therefore as ever you do desire that you may please the Father As you do desire that your onely may be found in the right and proper place As you do desire that you may be found having the wedding Garment on As you do desire that all your Convictions Graces Duties may be more refined and so preserved and kept As you do desire to be found doing according to the state whereunto you are called so let it be your work your and business to stand clear from Moses and to stand upon clear Gospel ground and to come off fully unto Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant For saith this Doctrine In these Gospel times we are not come unto Moses the Mediator of the Old Testament or of the Old Covenant but unto Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant And so I have done with this third Observation There is a fourth thing yet behind which concerns the Blood of Sprinkling that speaketh better things than the blood of Abel The Blood of Sprinkling SERM. VI. Hebr. 12.24 And to the Blood of Sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel VVHen I made entrance into these Words I took up four Observations from them And having gone through three of them I now come unto the fourth which more largely runs thus Observ 4. That it is a very great priviledge which in these Gospel times we are partakers of To come unto the Blood of Sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel For the clearing and prosecuting whereof First I shall shew you what this Blood of Sprinkling is what are the grounds and use of this Sprinkling 2. That this Blood of Sprinkling is a speaking-Blood and speaketh better things than that of Abel 3. That we are now come unto this blood of Sprinkling 4. What are the priviledges of coming to this Blood of sprinkling and of being sprinkled with this Blood of Sprinkling And then 5. What we must do that we may get our hearts sprinkled with this Blood of Sprinkling First If you ask what this Blood of Sprinkling is I answer That it is no other than the blood of Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant called the Blood of Sprinkling Because it was and is the thing specified by all the Sprinkings of Water and Blood in the Old Testament In the dayes of the Old Testament it was their way and manner then to mix water and blood together and to sprinkle it upon Persons and Things which was a Pattern and Type of this Blood of Jesus as you read from the 13. verse unto the 24. of the 9. of the Heb. When our Lord and Saviour Christ died upon the Cross there came water and blood out of his side saith John And if you look into the 1 of John c. 5. you shall see that John his beloved Disciple insists much upon it at the 6. v. This is he that came by Water and Blood even Jesus Christ not by Water onely but by Water and Blood Again This is he even Jesus Christ that came by water and blood which blood of Sprinkling is the blood of Jesus saith Peter expresly in his 1 Epist 1.2 Elect according to the foreknowledge â—f God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Iesus Christ So that plainly then and briefly this Bâ—ood of Sprinkling is the blood of Iesus Called the Blâ—od of Sprinkling in reference unto those Types and Ceremonies of sprinkling blood in the time of the Old Testament For our better understanding whereof I shall labour to shew you briefly what were the grounds and reasons of their sprinkling blood in the times of the Old Testament and how that is appliable to
the blood of Jesus If you look therefore into the Old Testament you shall find that they sprinkled blood upon a fourfold account To confirm and ratifie the Covenant between God and them To make an Attonement for their sin For the sanctification and purification of their Persons and things And for the preservation of their Persons Accordingly therefore saith the Apostle Heb. 9.19 the Book was sprinkled so in the 24. of Exod. the meaning of it is given v. 7. And he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the audience of the people and they said all that the Lord hath said we will do and be obedient and Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people and said behold the blood of the Covenant and the 9th of the Heb. tells us That he sprinkled the Book it self And why so But to shew thus much That it is the Blood of Jesus that doth ratifie and confirm the Covenant now made between God and us as at large in that 9th of the Hebrews 2. Then also in those times of the Old Testament they sprinkled blood to make an Attonement for the sins of the people as you have it in the 4th of Levit. 6 and the 20. verses And the Priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the Lord before the Vail of the Sanctuary The Mercy Seat and the Altar were sprinkled the reason is given at the 20 v. And he shall do with the Bullock as he did with the Bullock for a fin offering so shall he do with this And The Priest shall make an Attonement for them and it shall be forgiven them And why so But to shew that it is the blood of Jesus whereby we have Attonement as in Rom. 5.11 3. Again In the times of the Old Testament they did sprinkle blood for the purification of mens Persons and of Things As you have it in Levit. 14. v. 7. And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the Leprosie seven times and shall pronounce him clean And why so But to shew that it is the blood of Jesus that doth cleanse us from all Iniquity as in the first Epist of John Chap. 1. 4. Then in those times they did sprinkle mens persons for preservation from the destroying Angel when the destroying Angel came to destroy the Aegyptians the posts of the Israelites were sprinkled that they might be preserved And why But to shew that it is by the blood of Jesus that we are preserved from the destroyer In the 1. v. of the 1. of Jude it s said Jude the servant of Jesus Christ and Brother of James to them that are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ or preserved by Jesus Christ and Christ our passover is sacrificed for us saith the Apostle to the Corinthians So that thus now you see briefly what were the grounds and reasons of their sprinkling blood in the times of the Old Testament and how all this is applicable to the Blood of Jesus And if you look wishly into the Scripture and compare things with things you shall find that Moses in the times of the Old Testament did divide the blood of the Covenant part whereof was sprinkled upon the Altar poured down at the foot of the Altar to oblige God to the Covenant And part of it was sprinkled upon the people to confirm their souls in the certainty of the Covenant and to oblige them to observe and keep Covenant with God So with the blood of Christ And therefore when our Lord and Saviour Christ speaks at the Lords Supper he saith This Cup is the New Testament in my blood shed for many for the Remission of sins The first part part of the words This Cup is the New Testament in my blood hath regard to us shewing that our souls are to be confirmed in this that we are in covenant with God The second part of the words shed for many for the remission of sins relates unto God shewing the use of Christs blood to satisfie God for our sins and to obtain our Remission And if you would know What is the use of this Sprinkling I say Sprinkling of the Blood notes Application What are we the better for the Blood of Christ if it be not applyed to us and sprinkled on us There are two great Attributes of God that we have to deal withal in the great matter of our Redemption The Justice of God and the Mercy of God That the Justice of God might be be satisfied Christ was made a sacrifice on the Cross and his blood shed on Earth that the favour of God might be obtained Christ carries as our great High-priest his Blood the vertue of it into Heaven and sprinkles the Mercy-seat seven times And that we might be sanctified and reconcil'd to God this Blood is sprinkled upon us too As it 's sprinkled upon the Altar and the Mercy-seat that God might be reconciled to us so 't is sprinkled upon us that we might be sanctified reconciled to God And that thereby we might be assur'd that God is in covenant with us As when the Jews were sprinkled with blood the Priest saying This is the Blood of the covenant they were assured thereby that they were in covenant with God So when we are sprinkled with the blood of Jesus we are or may be assured that we are in the covenant of Grace with God And thus now you see what this Blood of Sprinkling is upon what account 't is sprinkled and what is the use of the sprinkling thereof And so I have done with the first General Secondly This Blood of Sprinkling which is the blood of Iesus is a speaking Blood and speaketh better things than that of Aâ—el or than Abel It speaketh in regard of its continual and perpetual Virtue and Operation But here are two things First What this Blood of Sprinkling speaketh 2. How and in what sense it speaketh better things than that of Abel First What this Blood of Sprinkling speaketh 1. It speaketh a necessity of satisfaction for Without blood there is no Remission 2. It speaketh the Righteousness of God If God have burnt down such a City as this to declare his Righteousness how much more doth the shedding of the blood of Iesus declare the Righteousness of God To declare I say his Righteousness saith the Apostle in Rom. 3. 3. It speaketh the highest Obedience that ever the Sun saw That the Son of God should be obedient unto death laying down his blood is the highest Obedience As the disobedience of the first Adam was in the matter of the Tree so the obedience of the second Adam was in the matter of the Tree Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the Tree saith the Apostle As the disobedience of the first Adam was in the transgressing a positive commandment which was the symbol of obedience to the whole Moral Law So
and despondent Conscience Now if you have had such a sight of the blood of Jesus as hath quickned your Conscience and wakened your Conscience and yet pacified your Conscience at the same time Then have you been sprinkled with this blood of Jesus You see how they go together in the 10th Chap. 1.2 3. v. But 3. If you have a continual sight and remembrance of the blood of Iesus in all your goings out and your comings in Then hath the blood of Iesus been sprinkled upon you When the destroying Angel passed over the houses of the Israelites the Posts were sprinkled with the blood of the Lamb The Posts And why their Posts But that in all their goings out and their comings in they might have an eye thereunto So now how is it with me Do I not onely find the virtue of the Lord Christ within me But that in all my goings out and comings in I have an eye unto his blood then is his blood sprinkled upon my posts and applied unto me 4. If that you do walk in the Light as God is in the Light then the blood of Iesus hath been and is sprinkled upon you and applied to you 1 John 1.7 But if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin If we walk in the Light as he is in the Light What 's that How is God and Christ in the Light why he is in the Light certainly in regard of Grace and Holiness So he is in the Light and to that purpose the Apostle speaks here So then Although you cannot walk in the Light of Comfort but as a child of Light walking in darkness yet if you do walk in the Light of Holiness walk in the Light as God is in the Light then certainly the blood of Iesus Christ hath cleansed you and so hath been sprinkled upon you 5. If you are indeed separated and set apart for God and for the Work and Service of God then is the blood of Iesus sprinkled upon you He that is dipt in this bloud of sprinkling is separated You shall observe that when the Priests were Consecrated the tip of the right Ear was sprinkled with bloud and the Thumb of the right hand and the Toe of the right Foot And not onely the Priests when they were consecrated were so sprinkled But when a man was cleansed from his Leprosie he was so sprinkled also You have them both in Leviâ— concerning Aaron Levit. 8.23 He slew the Ram and Moses took of the bloud of it and put it upon the tip of Aarons right ear and upon the thumb of his right hand and upon the great Toe of his right foot This in regard of Aaron In regard of the Leprosie you have it in the 14 of Levit. And of the rest of the Oyl that is in his hand shall the Priest put upon the tip of the right Ear of him that is to be cleansed and upon the Thumb of his right hand and upon the great Toe of his right Foot upon the blood of the Trespass-offering And so in regard of Blood as well as of Oyl what 's the meaning of this that the tip of the right ear was to be toucht with bloud and the thumb of the right hand was to be touched with bloud and the toe of the right foot with bloud both when the Priest was consecrated and when the Leprosie was cleansed But to shew thus much That the whole man is to be set a part for God The Ear of his understanding and knowing part is to be set aside for God The Thumb of his hand the believing part by Faith we lay hold is to be set apart for God And the great Toe of the right foot the Practical part of life and conversation The whole man is to be set apart for God where this sprinkling comes So that look therefore when a man is set apart for the Worship and Service of God Ear and Hand and Foot set a part for the Worship and Service of God then he is said to be sprinkled with this blood of Sprinkling 6. Once more If that you have had such a prospect of Christ crucified and have seen what great and wonderful things Christ hath done and suffered insomuch as your hearts have been astonied therewithal then have your souls been sprinkled with this blood See how they go together Isa 52.13 14 15. Behold My Servant shall deal prudently he shall be exalted and extolled and be very high speaking of Christ As many were astonied at him his Visage was so marred more than any mans and his Form more than the Sons of men so shall he sprinkle many Nations the Kings shall shut their mouths at him for that which had nâ—t been toâ—d them shall they see and that which they had not heard shall they consider Where this bloud is sprinkled there comes Astonishment at the Mirror and Wisdom and Mystery of a crucified Christ So that thus now you see that we are come unto this bloud of Sprinkling and how a man shall know whether his own soul be sprinkled with this bloud of sprinkling in particular And is this a small matter 4. The fourth thing tells us It is a priviledge and a very great priviledge to come unto the bloud of sprinkling it is a very great priviledge to be sprinkled with this bloud of Sprinkling It was a very great priviledge for the Jews to have a sacrifice by them at hand when they had committed sin to have the bloud of sprinkling by them But alas what 's that to this what was that sacrifice to this of Christ and what was that bloud to this of Christ and what was that sprinkling unto this sprinkling of the bloud of Jesus Look what difference is between the Type and the thing Typified Look what difference there is between the bloud of Bulls and Goats and the bloud of Jesus Look what difference between Carnal and Spiritual things so great a difference is there between the coming to the blood of Bulls and Goats and the coming to and being sprinkled with the bloud of Jesus Let me open this a little to you if you be indeed come unto this blood of sprinkling and be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Then look whatsoever benefits do flow from the blood of Jesus all those doe belong to you And do you well consider what are the benefits that do flow from the blood of Jesus Let me name some to you 1. Thereby in the General we have redemption In whom we have Redemption through his Blood saith Paul Ephes 1. 2. Thereby the Covenant of Grace is ratified and confirmed Heb. 9. at large 3. Thereby the Church of God is purchased Acts 20. purchased by his bloud By the bloud of God 4. Thereby the Wall of Partition made between Jew and Gentile God and us is broken down Ephes 2.13 5. Thereby all things
Blood of the Lamb. They have washed their Robes how what with their great Tribulations No They came out of great Tribulations but their Tribulations dont wash them these are they that came out of great Tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Nothing on this side Christ and this blood of sprinkling can cleanse your souls But 4. Though there be nothing on this side Christ that can cleanse your souls but the blood of Jesus yet it is the Spirit of Christ that must sprinkle it The blood of Jesus is then sprinkled when it is applied now this is the work of the Holy Ghost I will sprinkle you with clean water I le wash you with water As it is a derogation to the blood of Christ to go to any else for cleansing So 't is a derogation to the Spirit of Christ to go to any else for sprinkling or to go to any else for that application of the Blood of Christ 'T is onely the Spirit of Christ that must sprinkle this blood upon your and my soul 5. Though this sprinkling must be done only by the Spirit Yet notwithstanding this blood of Jesus is sprinkled by the ordinance in the hand of the Spirit by the preaching of the Gospel He preaches not that sprinkles not the blood of Christ in preaching and especially by that great ordinance of the Lords Supper You may observe therefore that the same words that were used in the Old Testament when they sprinkled the blood This is the blood of the Covenant as in the 9th of the Hebrews are used by our Saviour Christ at the Lords Supper This Cup is the New Testament in my blood c. Why so but to shew thus much that this ordinance of the Lords Supper is the Hysop in the hand of the Spirit whereby the souls of believers are sprinkled with a fresh sprinkling Oh therefore who would not come to this ordinance of the Lords supper in a right way and manner 6. But then again you must knâ—w â—lso that you must come for sprinkling with the great'st sense of unworthines that may be Iâ— you look into the 19th of Numb you shall find that he that sprinkâ—â—d the blood was to be unclean until the evening v. 7. Then the Priest shall wash his cloaths and he shâ—l bâ— tâ—e his flesh in Wâ—ter and afterward he shall come into the Camp And the Priest shall be unclean until the evening At v. 6. The Priest shall take Cedar-wood and Hysop and Scarlet and cast it into the midst of the burning or the Heifer and then the Priest shall wash his cloaths and come into the Camp and shall be unclean until the evening And at the 8th v. He that burneth her shâ—ll wash his cloathes in Water and bathe his flesh in Water and shall be unclean until the evening And a man that is clean shall gather up the Ashes of the Heifer and lay them up without the Camp in a clean place and it shall be kept for the Congregation of the children of Israel for a Water of separation It is a purification for sin and he that gathereth the Ashes of the Heifer shall wash his cloaths and be unclean until the evening What 's all this but to shew thus much That they might not come to this sacred Expiation but with the greatest sense of their unworthiness Plainly shewing thus much That there is no medling with this blood of sprinkling but with the greatest sense of our unworthiness of the blood of Jesus Now therefore do you desire that you may be sprinkled with this blood of sprinkling then whensoever you go to the blood of Jesus and look upon it go with the greatest sense of your unworthiness of this blood then go to the Spirit of God whose work alone it is to apply and sprinkle and then stand and wait where the Spirit stands with his Hysop to sprinkle the souls of men and so shall you be made partakers of this great priviledge But suppose that I be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus and that this blood of sprinkling hath indeed fallen upon my soul what is my duty then 1. Then Go away and doubt no more When the sinning Jew was sprinkled do you think he doubted whether he were pardoned or no No surely he did believe that he was pardoned and that he was in Covenant with God For those words were used This is the Blood of the Covenant And shall you be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus and will you doubt whether you be in Covenant with the Lord by Grace or no c. This blood of sprinkling speaketh and you have heard what it speaks now then I pray take heed that you don't refuse him that speaketh from Heaven mark how it follows in the very next words to the Text We are come to the Blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then that of Abel See that ye refuse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on Earth much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven Why man or woman 't is Jesus that speaketh to thee Jesus the Mediator of the Covenant that speakes unâ—o you to believe What are you sprinkled go away then and doubt no more but take heed that ye refuse not him that speaketh from Heaven And secondly Then also conclude and say Now know I that I shall be preserved from the destroyer When the Isralites posts were sprinkled with the blood of the Lamb They could say Now know I that I shall not be destroyed by this destroying Angel Art thou sprinkled with the blood of Jesus say then Now know I that I shall not be destroyed but that the Angel shall pass over me in the destroying day 3. Then also go away and be Contented with your Condition what ever it be And well you may if you be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus you are made partakers of the greatest priveledg that can be and will you not then be contented with your Condition Go away and be contented with your Conditions saying I have now received the greatest privelege for I am sprinkled with the blood of Jesus therefore will I be contented with my Condition What ever it be 4. And then go away and praise God and be very thankful Be very thankful to God the Father and to the Lamb with whose blood you are sprinkled Look into the 5th Rev. and you shall find there are 3 quires of Praisers and all praising upon the account of this blood And when he had opened the book v. 9. the 24. Elders fell down before the Lamb and they sung a new song The four and twenty Elders these are men saying Thou art worthy to take the Book and to open the Seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood By thy bloud here 's the foot of the Song Then comes in the