But further. The paschal lamb was typical of CHRIST our passover in another respect. For as the blood of the lamb, after it was slain, was sprinkled upon the door-posts of the _Israelites_ houses, so the blood of JESUS CHRIST, shed for the sins of the world, is to be applied to, and by faith sprinkled upon the hearts of the true _Israel_ of GOD. And as the destroying angel had no power to execute vengeance on, or hurt those whose door-posts were thus sprinkled with the blood of the paschal lamb, so in the great and terrible day of the LORD, he shall be prohibited both from destroying or hurting true believers, who by a living faith in the blood of JESUS, have their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience. Hence the blood of CHRIST is called “The blood of sprinkling.” And lastly, As the lamb under the law was feasted upon by GOD’s people, after it was slain, so believers under the gospel by faith feast upon a crucified Redeemer. CHRIST, our passover, says the apostle, is sacrificed for us, therefore let us keep the feast, not barely upon an Easter-day, but all the year round. For the just, i. e. truly justified souls, live by faith, and find, by happy experience, that in a spiritual sense CHRIST’s flesh is meat indeed, and his blood drink indeed; and therefore believing on him is stiled “Eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the son of man.” Agreeable to this, in our communion office, the minister, when he gives the bread to the communicants, is directed to make use of these affecting words, “Take and eat this in remembrance that CHRIST died for thee, and feed on him in thy heart by faith with thanksgiving.” May all who give, and all that receive that bread, feel the meaning of this form of sound words experimentally, and powerfully pressed home upon their souls! Then indeed, but not till then, may they expect to take this holy sacrament to their comfort. Upon all these accounts then, well might the Baptist recommend the holy JESUS under the significant character of the Lamb. And with equal propriety might he be called the LAMB of GOD, not only because he was a Lamb of GOD the Father’s providing, but because he was co-equal, co-essential with the Father: “The Word that was with GOD, the Word that was GOD,” even GOD over all, GOD blessed for evermore. For ever adored be the triune GOD for this great mystery of godliness, GOD manifest in the flesh! O may it be continually marvellous in our eyes! O make us, thou altogether lovely Redeemer, like-minded with thy blessed angels, that with them we may always so eagerly, and so perseveringly desire to look into it, that neither the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, or pride of life, may ever in the least divert us from beholding thee!
What this beholding him imports, comes next to be considered, under our second general head.
And here I take it for granted, that it cannot imply a beholding the LORD JESUS in person with our bodily eyes. It is true, indeed, when _John_ called upon the people and his disciples to behold the LAMB of GOD, they were thus highly favoured: and we are apt to say within ourselves, Blessed are the eyes which saw what they saw; and so undoubtedly they were. But had their views terminated only in beholding his person, or knowing him barely according to the flesh, they might notwithstanding have died in their sins, and been condemned to depart from him into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.――Our LORD himself hath told us, that there will be many who will plead that they eat and drank in his presence, and heard him preach in their streets, to whom he will say, “Verily I know you not.” A true beholding of the LAMB of GOD, must therefore necessarily import something more; and what can that be but a beholding him with an eye of faith? This is what the Old Testament saints were invited to, when the glorious Redeemer called upon them in those emphatic terms, “Behold me, behold me;” and again, “Look unto me, all the ends of the earth.” This our LORD in another place terms, believing on him: “Blessed are they which have not seen me, and yet have believed:” not barely as the result of a mere rational conviction, which is no more than an historical faith, but as the consequence of a true spiritual conviction of our being every way undone, and liable to eternal condemnation without him. This is believing on him with the heart, and is sometimes expressed by coming to, receiving, and trusting in him: different expressions, but all importing one and the self same thing. “I wound, and I heal.” That is the method the Holy Ghost takes, and that is the pattern gospel ministers must follow in preaching him. From any other, though prescribed to us by an angel from heaven, good LORD, deliver us!