Otherwise many are forced into an eager and violent activity, so that they think it necessary to wring from themselves similar experiences and sensations ; and in the case of endeavours of this kind, nature is worn out, so as at length to render itself tranquil by that which itself accomplishes, either unconsciously or in a dream.
13. In short, the precious blood of Christ is applied to us in sprinkling, in washing, in drinking, on account of the personal union, in a manner real, yet supernatural, and therefore quite incomprehensible. " That (saying respecting the blood of Jesus Christ, 1 John i. 7) is to be understood, not only of the MERIT of the blood of Christ perfected once for all upon the cross, but John there treats of that subject, because in the business of jus tification, not merely the divine nature in Christ, but also His blood, in the way of EFFICACY, is to cleanse us from all sin. Thus the flesh of Christ is life-giving food." — Form. Cone., Art. 8, de Persona Christi, p. 776.
14. In like manner, on our part, faith not only has a moral power, but also in its own way a certain physical efficacy and operation for our justification and salvation.
15. I shall indeed rejoice, if, by means of the things which I have stated, any occasion (handle) will be afforded for increasing the love and knowledge of our Redeemer, who has paid the price of His blood for us. The capability of our heart for receiving holy mysteries is enlarged, not so much by the exercise of the understanding, as by the growth of the new man.
16. Jesus can save to the uttermost them that come to God by Him, ever living to make intercession for them.
— zpiirrov) So the more approved copies.1 Some of the more recent have xpi/rrova. — /.aXoDi/r/, that speaketli) not that crieth. — napa rbv " A/&X, than Abel) The blood of Abel, shed in the first parricide (fratricide), is put by Synecdoche for all the blood shed on the earth and crying for vengeance towards heaven, and greatly increasing the other cries raised by sin in the world; and the open and calm speaking of the blood of Christ in heaven for
1 Hence the margin of Ed. 2 more openly prefers the reading Kpiirrov than the larger Ed., and the Germ. Vers. has besser. — E. B.
ACD(Ay Vulg. read ^pinrov. None of the oldest authorities support of Rec. Text. — Ei>.