A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 104. Of sprinkling the book of the Covenant.

THe first thing that is here said to be dedicated with blood and water is the book.

The book here intended was the book of the Covenant containing in it all the lawes of God, Exod. 24▪ 7.

This was sprinkled in two respects. One of it self: another of the people.* 1.1

• 1, In regard of the law it self. It was not able to make perfect, as hath been shewed. Chap. 7. v. 19. §. 86. Therefore it was requisite that another means, even Christs blood should be added thereto.
• 2. In regard of children of men, who by use, or rather abuse made it a condemning* 1.2 letter, it needed to be sprinkled with blood.

• 1. This sprinkling of the book with blood and water, is directly against the Po∣pish proud conceit of justification by works. All works come under the law. If man could be justified by the law, what need was there of sprinkling this book.

Object. They are works dipt in Christs blood which justifie.

Answ. Christs blood was added to the law, not to enable the law to justifie a man: but to bring in a new way of justification, Rom. 8. 3. Christ is therefore said to be a new and living way, Chap. 10. v. 20.

2. Object. Christ merited to make our works meritorious.

Answ. This is to make Christ to dye, that we should be redeemer•…•….

• 2. Let us by this sprinkling of the book, take notice of the necessity of Chri•…•… death: without it all Covenants betwixt God and man are in vain. Only in Christ the Covenant of God is made effectual to sinners.
• 3. This sprinkling of the book, giveth instance, that pure and holy things are* 1.3 made impure to sinfull men: not that they are so in themselves, but in mens use of them. The law that was written in this book is pure and clean, Psal. 19. 8, 9. B•…•… yet to men a killing letter, 2 Cor. 3. 7. yea, the Gospell is made a savour of death, 2 Cor. 2. 16. And the holy Sacrament, judgement, or damnation, 1 Cor. 11. 29. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christ himself a stone of stumbling, and rock of offence, 1 Pet. 2. 8.

The ground hereof is mans sin, which turneth blessings into curses: and that cor∣ruption which is in man, whereby he perverteth every good thing that he useth. As the sweetest herbs are made poysonous to spiders: the cleer sun noysome to dung∣hils; The purest waters that come from heaven produce weeds in ranck ground•…•…▪ not in themselves, but by reason of the venom in the spider, the stanch in the dung∣hil, and the rancknesse in the ground: so is it in this case.

• 1. Much matter of humiliation doth this minister unto us. If Iohn had cause to weep, because no man was found worthy to open the book, Rev. 5. 4. what cause have men to mourn, because the book being opened is made death to them. Whether i•…•… worst, not to have the book opened, which endangereth life: or to have the book so opened as death to follow thereupon?
• 2. Upon sprinkling the book with blood and water great matter of gratulation is ministred unto us: for hereby death is taken away.

God thought it not enough to give unto his people that book of the Covenant, but that it might be usefull unto them, he causeth it to be sprinkled with the blood of his Son.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Why the hook sprink∣led.
• * 1.2

  Against justifi∣cation by the law.
• * 1.3

  Pure things impure to the impure, Tit. 1. 15.