[2.] The other benefit is expressed by having their bodies washed with pure water. As the former alluded to the sprinklings of the law, this to the washings of the law ; that to the sprinkling of blood, and this to the washing of water : ' Our body is cleansed,' not but that the heart is washed from sinful pollution as well as the body, no, but there must be salt cast into the spring. If the heart be washed from sin, it will show itself in the j^urity of the outward man. Now this washing implied sanctification, which is accomplished by the Spirit. See Titus iii. 5, ' He hath saved us by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.' This is promised to penitent believers : Ezek. xxxvi. 25, ' I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your filthiness.' Now, our bodies are said to be washed to show that if the Spirit hath renewed our hearts, our outward conversations should be blameless and holy. All outward actions are done by the body, and our bodies must be washed as with pure water. Well then, Christ doth justify and sanctify the penitent believer to qualify us for communion with God ;
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and the purging of Christ's blood is joined with the renewing of the Spirit. He that is justified must be sanctified, and his sanctificatiou must be evidenced by an holy and blameless conversation. He that would dwell in God's holy hill must have a clean heart and pure hands, Ps. xxiv. 3, 4, or else he hath no part or right in the matter of the new covenant.
5. With respect to the seals or confirming signs of the new cove- nant, which are baptism and the Lord's supper. The analogy of the two sacraments showeth the necessity of this washing, and they are both employed in Christ's speech. In the supposition, ' If I wash thee not,' is implied baptism , in the commination, ' Thou hast no part with me,' is implied the Lord's supper, which Christ was then about to institute. Clearly in baptism washing is implied ; in the Lord's supper, the bene- fits of Christ's death are signed, sealed, and confirmed to us. In foro ecclesicc, none but baptized persons have right to the Lord's table ; so mforo cceli, before God, none but those that have the fruit of baptism have right to the benefits thereof ; no right to the benefits purchased by his blood till we have the spirit of sanctificatiou. More distinctly — (1.) Baptism is the sign and seal of spiritual washing by regeneration ; it assureth us of the purifying virtue of the Lord's grace, and bindeth us to seek after it. If we do our part, God will on his part give grace, whereby our hearts may be purified and cleansed. By the visible act we profess the acceptance of the gospel covenant to both ends, and it is but a nullity and empty formality if sin be not washed away. That baptism signifieth the washing away of sin is clear by the scriptures : Titus iii. 5, Xovrpov TraXtyyeveaia';. Water, by its mixing quality, doth j)urge and cleanse : Acts xxii. 16, 'Arise and be baptized, for the wash- ing away of thy sins.' It is the rite used by us when first dedicated to God. Now the external application is nothing without the internal efTect or renewing of the Holy Ghost. Baptism saveth, ' not the putting away the filthiness of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God,' &c., 1 Peter iii. 21. Careless christians forget their bap- tismal covenant; some renounce it, but most forget it, 2 Peter i. 9. The water is sprinkled on their bodies, but the Spirit is not poured out upon their souls. Christ would revive this signification before he would admit his disciples to his table — (1.) For the efficacy of baptism is the true preparation required to the Lord's supper ; (2.) The Lord's supper, as it supposeth baptism or washing from sin, so it promotethit. We remember Christ's blood, which is the foundation of all the grace communicated to us, 1 John i. 7, and bind ourselves anew to purge out sin, that we may keep an holy feast to God, 1 Cor. 5-8, and that we may partake more of the sanctifying Spirit, and be encouraged to pursue after holiness in confidence of his blessing ; for it is but a renewing of the covenant that we made in baptism ; not another, but the same covenant, Mat. xxii. 20.
6. With respect to the types of the law. Drawing nigh to God, and having communion with God, was the privilege of priests under the law ; for when the people were kept at a distance, the priests had leave to draw near, and to be conversant about his holy thmgs. Now under the gospel we are all made priests to God, 1 Peter ii. 5 ; yea, we have the privilege of the high priest to enter into the holiest, Heb. x. 19 :
458 A SERMON ON JOHN XIII. 8.
he but once a year, but we at all times, Heb. iv. 16. Here I would observe three things — (1.) Their consecration to their office. No priest could officiate and draw near to God till he was consecrated by certain rites, which consisted either in oblations or offerings, and ablu- tions or washings. For full communion with Grod our whole life is our consecration ; but for such communion as we are capable of now, our first dedication sufficeth, when sanctified by the Spirit. There is our ministration before the throne of glory in heaven, when justification and sanctification are complete ; before the throne of grace, when first accepted, renewed, or washed in the laver of regeneration. Rev. i. 6. (2.) In the exercise of their office. The priests went to the laver first before they went to the altar. The high priest was not to enter into the holiest but after many washings and purifications, Lev. xvi. 4 ; after a five-fold sprinkling, washing his body : Exod. xxx. 20, ' They shall wash with water, that they die not, when they come near to the altar to minister.' So must we be washed. (3.) In the privileges of their office and function. They had a portion for their own table ; but if they eat it in their uncleanness they were to die. He must not eat the bread of God in his uncleanness, Lev. xxii. 30 ; Lev. vii. 20, 21, and other places. They were in danger of cutting off by the hand of God, and so for any of the off'erings, which otherwise were their allowance.