Doct. That Jesus Christ came to execute his office by the water of sancti∣fication, and by the blood of redemption.

It is he that came to overcome the world, to redeem us. How, By water and blood. Why by water and blood both?

1 From the end of his coming, that he might fulfill the types of the Law. In the old Law no Priest might enter upon his office upon pain of death, but he must first wash his hands and feet, Exod. 30.19, 20. Which shews how carefull we should be, to come with clean hearts and hands to Gods ser∣vice; and it typed out, that when the Lord Christ should take upon him his Priestly office, he should come free and spotlesse from all sin, and he did so, so that • guile was found in his mouth. Pilate himselfe testified of him, I finde no evill in him.

2 As they came by water, so they might dot enter into the holyest place, except they were first sprinkled with blood. Which signified that it was need∣full that Christ should come by his own blood to exp•ate our sins, Heb. 9.7, to 12. More particularly:

Q. 2. Why shoald he come by water; that is throughly watred from all sin?

Answ. 1. It was fit he should be such a one, that he might not expiate for his own sins, Heb. 2.25, to 29. Had there been found the least sin in Christ, all the blood he spilt would have been little enough for himselfe.

2 That his sacrifice might be available for us. Had he been unjust himself, he could not have redeemed us, 1 Pet. 3.18. But being just himselfe, there was no need he should dye for himselfe, but for us.

Q Why was it needfull he should come by blood?

Answ Had he come never so purely sanctified, yet this would never have made attonement, for, without shedding of blood is no remission, Heb. 9.22. He came by blood therefore.

1 That by his blood and sufferings he might purchase out of his Fathers wrath, a Church unto himself, Acts 20 28. And by that blood, not onely the elect, but all the creatures are purchased, at least to be serviceable to the Church. Christ bath bought all things quick and dead, either for his Churches comfort or affliction, 2 Cor. 3.22, 23. All power in heaven and earth is given into his hand, Psal. 2.8.

2 That he might make at onement for our souls. It was impossible that the blood of Buls and Goats should expiate for our sins, but as they look at Christ, his blood is given to be an atonement for our sins, Heb. 9.12, 13. And it makes an atonement not only between God and us, but also between Jews and Gen∣tiles, Eph. 2.17, 18, 19. Whereas before the Gentiles would not become Jews, by reason of their hard ordinances; now, Christ took away that wall of separation.

3 That he might procure not only Gods favour, but this fruit of it, the re∣mission of our sins, Mat. 26.28.

4 That by the price of his blood, he might purchase the inhabitation of his Spirit to us, that he might procure it for us, that our consciences might be pu∣rified, Heb. 9.14. This blood purifieth our consciences. The blood of Christ clean∣seth us from all sin, 1 John 1.9. And that is done by putting in us a a Spirit of grace, which purgeth us from all uncleannesse and sin, and adorning us with the contrary graces of piety, humility, patience. Christ by his cursed death for us, hath procured a Spirit of •race for us, which purifies our consciences from the guilt and from the stain of sin, Heb. 9.14.

5 That he might confirm his new covenant, the New Testament to us, Page  360Mat. 26.28. This is the blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Now, without the death of the Testator no Testament is in force. Heb. 9.1•, to 21. It's accounted a sacrilegious thing to violate the Testament of the dead. So it is with Christ; for a man to call any of his pro∣mises into question, is a sacrilegious violation of his Testament.

6 That he might keep in us everlasting nourishment to feed on in our hearts, John 6.56. So that his blood may be his wine to chear us, that by the comfort of his blood, and mediation applyed to our souls, we might have wherewith to sustain our selves in the worst times. This is meat indeed, and drink indeed, no nourishment our souls can feed on, but this; our souls cannot feed on plea∣sures and profits, spirits must feed upon spiritual things. Those are beggerly naked souls that have nothing but lands and riches to feed on, the souls food is holy spirituall things; and if the ordinances yeeld you any good or comfort, whence comes this, but only from the blood of Christ that hath besprinkled all these ordinances, and made them effectuall, Heb. 9.19. It's the blood of sprink∣ling that makes every ordinance effectuall to us.

7 He came by blood to us, that so he might open a way to us into the most holy place.

Ʋse 1. Teacheth us, that a poor Christian that believes in Christ, may thereby overcome the world, because he believes on such a one as came both by water and blood, by the water of sanctification to purifie and cleanse us and by the blood of his redemption, whereby he hath procured for us pardon, and happinesse; therefore whosoever believes on Christ, is so sprinkled with the blood of Christ, that he is redeemed from the world, to become the servant of God, he hath all the promises of God, which make him overcome all the promises of the world, and encourageth him against all difficulties, and so as∣sureth him of heavenly glory; so that he looks at the world as a thing little to be regarded.

Ʋse 2. To stir up all those that desire to get victory over the world, to labour to get faith in Christ Jesus, who is so abundantly furnished with helps and means for our redemption, fit to sanctifie us by the water of sancti∣fication, fit to sprinkle us with the blood of redemption; whereas, if we do not believe on Christ, we shall be continually slaves to the world. Hence it is, that worldlings take such content and comfort in the things of this life, and are so discouraged at the losse of them; a plain signe they want faith to overcome the world.

Ʋse 3. Of tryall what portion we have in Christ. Why, what feedest thou on? If thou hast a part in Christ, thou hast a Spirit of God within thee to comfort thee, thou findest the ordinances sprinkled with the bloud of Christ to feed on; thou canst say to the flattering world, I have better meat and better comforts to feed on, then the world can yeeld, Psal. 4.6. It's poor nourishment for spirits to feed on the husks of this world; but a Christian findes the blood of Christ, the only food of his soul, and the world to be his Servant, and not his Master. But if we have no higher matters to feed on, then the profits and contents of the world, the Spirit of God and grace we relish not; why then truly Christians we are not.

4 If thou wouldst use the priviledges which come by Christ, why this is the way, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and then he is come for thee by water and blood. Distrust therefore thy owne righteousnesse, rest upon Christ, live in such pla∣ces where Christ is dispensed in his ordinances, that so being brought on to believe, thou mayst finde Christ to thy salvation.

5 Of consolation to such as renounce the world, and esteem Christ to be better worth then all the world; why, thy hope is not frustrate, thou believest on such a one as came by water and blood; so that though thou be unclean, and thy works defiled, yet he came by water to purge and cleanse thee, Exod. 28.37, 38. And what though thy heart be full of many sinful lusts, yet thou trustest on one that can by blood make attonement for thee to procure his Spirit, and when thou dyest, to give thee an open entrance into the most holy place.