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 ...

§. 116. Of the sprinkling of Christs blood.

Heb. 12. 24.

And to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then that of Abel.

THe last priviledge here noted, as it is a distinct priviledge in it self, as the co∣pulative a 1.1 AND importeth; so it is an amplification of that which is imme∣diatly

set before it. For it is one of the prime fruits of Christs mediation.

Being our Mediator he shed his blood for us. His blood being the blood of a Me∣diator, it proves a blood of sprinkling. Being a blood of sprinkling, it speaks bet∣ter, &c.

To handle this as a distinct priviledge, the meaning of the words is first to be o∣pened.

By blood he meanes the death of the Mediator before mentioned. For mans life is in his blood, Gen. 9. 5. The shedding of a mans blood is the taking away of his life. Now Christs blood was shed, as the blood of beasts under the Law, for a sacrifice, for expiation of sin. And that Gods people might have a more particular assurance of their clensing by the blood of their sacrifices, it was wont under the Law to be sprinkled upon them, Exod. 24. 8. and 29. 21. Lev. 14. 6, 7. Hereunto alludeth the Apostle in this place. And by blood of sprinkling, by a figure, he means blood sprinkled, or (as Heb. 11. 28. 1 Pet. 1. 2.) sprinkling of blood.

Sprinkling of blood setteth out the application of the merit thereof to the par∣ticular persons that are sprinkled. Now Christs blood is applied on his part by his* 1.2 Spirit, which inwardly perswades the soul of a right it hath to Christ, and to all that he hath done and endured for mans redemption. And on our part by faith, which moves us to rest upon Christ for a particular benefit to our selves of his obedi∣ence unto death. So as the mention of blood shews the ground of aton•…•…ment: sprink∣ling the means of receiving benefit thereby. So that from the sprinkling of Christs blood, the Apostle gives us to understand, That Christs blood is communicable, which is evident by the frequent sprinkling of that blood, and of that water, (which under the law were types of Christs blood.)

For by the sprinkling thereof, things and persons were consecrated to an holy use, and unclean things and persons were cleansed.

To give some particular instances; The Tabernacle (which was the place of the holy worship) was thus sprinkled, and all the ministring vessels therein, Heb. 9. 21. And the Altar, Lev. 1. 5. And the Mercy Seat, Lev. 16. 14. And the Book of the Co∣venant, Heb. 9. 19. So also the Priests and their garments, Lev. 8. 30. And all the people; Exod. 24. 8. That sprinkling of blood was a rite of consecration is evident, Lev. 8. 30.

Quest. Why should the forementioned things be consecrated by sprinkling of blood?

Answ. All things are unclean to sinful man, till by Christs blood, and faith there∣in, they are sanctified. So as hereby the contagion of mans natural pollution was set out.

Instances of cleansing unclean things by sprinkling of blood and water are these.

• 1. Such as eat any unclean thing, Lev. 11. 8. This being prohibited was a plain sin. So touching, or any way medling with unclean things wilfully.
• 2. Such as unawares touched any unclean thing, Lev. 5. 2. This was a casualty.
• 3. Such as were infected with leprosie, running issue, or any like disease, Lev. 13. and 15. So women certain dayes after child-bearing. These were infirmities.
• 4. Such as buried their dead friends, or touched their corps, Numb. 19. 11. to ty∣pifie the danger of having to do with such as are dead in sin. Like to this was the uncleannesse of him who killed the red cow, who carried her out, who burnt her, who gathered up her ashes to make the sprinkling water withal. All these were duties commanded; yet because they were occasioned by sin, though they were about the means of purging from uncleannesse, made the performers thereof unclean.

All these, and other like kinds of legal uncleannesse, were purged with blood sprinkled on them, Numb. 19. 17, 18. Heb. 9. 22. Thus purging vertue arising from sprinkling of blood, evidently shewes, that Christs blood is communicable, the ver∣tue of it extends to others: for the legal purging was but a type of Christs.

This is further manifest by the Sacramental sprinkling of water in Baptism, which is a sign of Christs blood, and by the communicating bread and wine in the Lords Supper.

Two especial respects there are, wherein Christs blood may well be stiled blood of sprinkling, and truly said to be communicable.

One in regard of the merit.

The other in regard of the vertue of it.

The merit whereby the guilt and punishment of sin is taken away. The vertue whereby the dominion and power of sin is abated and subdued.

The former was especially typified under the Law. For the sprinkling of the blood of beasts was for cleansing such as were unclean; whereby both the guilt and punish∣ment of their uncleannesse was taken away; as the uncleannesse of the Leper, Lev. 14. 7, 8. and the uncleannesse of him that touched a dead corps, or were any o∣ther way unclean, Numb. 19. 18, 19. Hereunto alludeth the Apostle, Heb. 9. 19. In this respect being cleansed with such sprinkling as the Law enjoyned, they might freely and boldly do service to God, otherwise it was death, Numb. 19. 13, 20.

But the sprinkling of Christs blood, that is, a right application thereof by the Spirit of Christ on his part, and by faith on our part, wrought by the said Spirit, doth every way cleanse from all sin, taking way the guilt, and freeing from the pu∣nishment, in which respect the beloved Disciple Iohn saith, 1 Ioh. 1. 7. the blood of Iesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. Yea also it hath a vertue and power to subdue in us the power of sin, and to free us from the dominion thereof: in which respect Christ is said thereby (Heb. 9. 14.) to purge our conscience from dead works to serve the living God; And Heb. 10. 22. we are said to be sprinkled in our hearts from an evill conscience.

These phrases import a freedom from the power, as well as from the guilt of sin. In this respect (Act. 15. 9.) God is said to purifie our hearts by faith; because faith ap∣plieth Christs blood to the soul.

• 1. This doth inform us of the means whereby Christs blood is made useful and profitable to us. His blood is shed, and being shed, it is expiatory and satisfactory. But how may we be made partakers of the benefit of it, this legal rite sheweth; even by having it sprinkled upon our souls. Though the Paschal Lamb were slain, and the blood thereof poured into a Bason; yet if it had not been sprinkled on the door, the destroyer would have entered in: So though Christs blood be shed, and prea∣ched by the Gospell, and represented in the Sacraments; yet if it be not sprinkled on us, it doth us no good; we may be destroyed with the rest of the wicked. Our heart is as the door of the soul, (Psal. 24. 7.) if that be sprinkled with Christs blood, the destroyer dares not enter in. Therefore as the Apostle admonisheth, Heb. 10. 22. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprink∣led from an evill conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
• 2. This may teach us how to have this blood sprinkled on our hearts. Its sprink∣led by a particular application thereof to our selves, which is done by faith. For by faith we apply unto our selves in particular that which in the word is indefinitely revealed concerning Christs death, and the benefit thereof. By faith we apply the me∣rit thereof. By faith we draw a speciall vertue from thence. By faith we apply Christs intercession, and there place all our confidence for acceptance.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.2

  How Christs blood is sprinkled.