(2.) They eye the blood of Christ as the blood of sprinkling. Comipg to " Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant," they come to the * " blood of sprinkling," Heb. xii. 24. The eyeing of the blood of Christ as shed will not of itself take away pollution. There is not only aifiar£x,^v(fia, — a " shedding of blood," without which there is no remission, Heb. ix. 22 ; but there is also aJ/xaro? pavrie,mg, — a " sprink- ling of blood," without which there is no actual purification. This the apostle largely describes, Heb. ix. 19, "When Moses," saith he, " had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book and all the people, saying,
' Ezek. xvi. 4, 6, etc.; John iii. 3, 5; nSv ko/vou*, Rev. xxi. 27; Ilab. i. 13.
OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. 205
This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled likewise 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 therefore necessary that the pat- terns of things in the heavens should be purified Avith these ; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these," verses 19-23. He had formerly compared the blood of Chiist to the blood of sacrifices, as offered, in respect of the impetration and the purchase it made ; now he doth it unto that blood as sprinkled, in respect of its application unto purification and holiness. And he tells us how this sprinkling was performed : it was by dipping hyssop in the blood of the sacrifice, and so dashing it out upon the things and persons to be purified ; as the institution also was with the paschal lamb, Exod. xii. 7. Hence, David, in a sense of the pollution of sin, prays that he may be " purged with hyssop," Ps. li. 7. For that this peculiarly respected the uncleanness and defilement of sin, is evident, because there is no mention made, in the institution of any sacrifice (after that of the lamb before mentioned), of sprinkling blood with hyssop, but only in those which respected purification of uncleanness; as in the case of leprosy, Lev. xiv. 6; and all other defilements. Numb. xix. 18: which latter, indeed, is not of blood, but of the water of separation ; this also being eminently typical of the blood of Christ, which is the fountain for separation for uncleanness, Zech. xiii. 1. Now, this hunch of hyssop, wherein the blood of purification was prepared for the sprinkling of the unclean, is (unto us) the free promises of Christ. The cleansing vhtue of the blood of Christ lies in the promises, as the blood of sacrifices in the hyssop, ready to pass out unto them that draw nigh thereunto. Therefore the apostle argueth from receiving of the promise unto universal holiness and ijurity : " Having there- fore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God," 2 Cor. vii. 1. This, then, the saints do: — they eye the blood of Christ as it is in the promise, ready to issue out upon the soul, for the puri- fication thereof; and thence is purging and cleansing virtue to be communicated unto them, and by the blood of Christ are they to be purged from all their sins, 1 John i. 7. Thus far, as it were, this puri- fying blood, thus prepared and made ready, is at some distance to the soul. Though it be shed to this purpose, that it might purge, cleanse, and sanctify, though it be taken up with the bunch of hyssop in the promises, yet the soul may not partake of it. Wherefore, —
(3.) They look upon him as, in his own Spirit, he is the only dispen- ser of the Spirit and of all grace of sanctification and holiness. They consider that upon his intercession it is granted to him that he shall make effectual all the fi-uits of his purchase, to the sanctification, the
206 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST.
purifying and making glorious in holiness, of his whole people. They know that tlii.s is actually to be accomplished by the Spirit, accord- ing to the innumerable promises given to that purpose. He is to sprinkle that blood upon their souls; he is to create the holiness in them that they long after; he is to be himself in them a well of water springing up to everlasting life. In this state they look to Jesus : here faith fixes itself, in expectation of his giving out the Spirit for all these ends and purposes; mixing the promises with faith, and so becoming actual partaker of all this grace. This is their way, this their communion with Christ; this is the life of faith, as to grace and holiness. Blessed is the soid that is exercised therein: " He shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green ; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit," Jer. xvii. 8. Convinced persons Avho know not Chi'ist, nor the fellowship of his sufferings, would spin a holiness out of their own bowels; they would work it out in their own strength. They begin it with^ trying endeavours; and follow it with vows, duties, resolutions, engagements, sweating at it all t!ie day long. Thus they continue for a season, — their hypocrisy, for the most part, ending in apostasy. The saints of God do, in the very entrance of their walk- ing with him, reckon upon it that they have a threefold want: — [1.] Of the Spirit of holiness to dwell in them. [2.] Of a habit of holiness to be infused into them. [3.] Of actual assistance to work all their works for them; and that if these should continue to be wanting, they can never, with all their might, power, and endeavours, perform any one act of holiness before the Lord. They know that of themselves they have no sufficiency, — that^ without Christ they can do nothing: therefore they look to him, Avho is intrusted with a fulness of all these in their behalf; and thereupon by faith derive from him an increase of that whereof they stand in need. Thus, I say, have the saints communion with Christ, as to their sanctification and holiness. From him do they re- ceive the Spirit to dwell in them; from him the new principle of life, which is the root of all their obedience; from him have they actual assistance for every duty they are called unto. In waiting for, expectation and receiving of these blessings, on the accounts before mentioned, do they spend their lives and time with him. In vain is help looked for from other mountains; in vain do men spend their strength in following after righteousness, if this be wanting. Fix thy soul here ; thou shalt not tariy until thou be ashamed. This is the way, the only way, to obtain full, effectual manifestations of the Spirit's dwelling in us; to have our hearts purified, our consciences 1 Rom. X. 1-4. ' John xv. 5.