Gold and silver might rivet our chains, and fix us more strongly in a vain conversation ; but it could never detach us from the love of present things.]
That, which alone was of value sufficient, was, " the precious blood of Christ" —
[The lamb that was offered daily in sacrifice to God was to be spotless and without blemish. By its blood, atonement was made for the sins of the Jewish nation ; and they were preserved a holy and peculiar people. This was a typical ordi- nance: it represented Christ, who in due time " offered himself without spot to God :" and the benefits visibly, and in a figure, enjoyed by the Jewish nation, are invisibly, but really enjoyed by us. We have the substance of which they had the shadow. Well then might the Apostle call his blood " precious." There is no bondage from which it does not deliver us. Were we under the curse and condemnation of the law? The blood of Christ redeems us from the penalty of all our transgressions : it gives peace to the guilty, and liberty to the captive, soul : it frees, moreover, from all the snares and entanglements of this vain world. This is mentioned both in the text and in other places as a principal end of Christ's death d. Precious indeed is it, when its influence is thus felt. To a true Christian the blood of Christ is not less precious as delivering him from sin, than it is as delivering him from hell itself.]
While we wonder that such a price was ever paid, let us inquire into,
III. The effect which the consideration of this price should have upon us —
The Apostle introduces the text as an argument for passing our time in fear —
[A slavish fear is one of those things from which we are delivered by the blood of Christ. We sprinkle that blood on our door-posts, and have no dread of the destroying angel. But there is a holy jealousy, which it is our duty ever to maintain. We are only sojourners in this world, and are hastening to our Father's house. We are moreover in danger of being diverted from our path. We have a subtle adversary and a deceitful heart. Sin itself also is deceitful, and will beguile us, if we watch not against its wiles. We should there- fore be on our guard, and pass the time of our sojourning here in fear.]
And well may this effect be produced by such a wonderful consideration —
d Gal. i. 4.