BY THE SPIRIT AND BLOOD OF CHRIST, 259 nature of thebloodof Christ, from whence alone these institutions had their efficacy; and the virtue of it is promised under that notion, Zech. xiii. 1. And this the faith and experience of all believers doth confirm; for they are no imaginations of theirown, but what be- ing built on the truth and promises of God, yield sensi- ble spiritual relief and refreshment unto their souls. This they believe, this they pray for, and find thefruits and effects of it in themselves. It may be some of them do not, it may be fewof them do comprehend, distinctly, the way whereby, and the manner how the blood of Christ, so long since shed and offered, should cleanse them now from their sins. But the thing itselfthey do believe, as it is revealed, and find the use of it in all wherein they have to do with God. And I must say, (let profane and ignorant persons, whilst they please, deride what they understand not, nor are able to disprove), that the Holy Spirit of God, which leadeth believers into all truth, andenableth them to pray according to the mind and will of God, doth guide them in and by the working and experience of faith, to pray for those things the depths of whose mysteries they cannot com- prehend. And he who well studieth the things which he is taught of the Spirit to ask of God, will find a door opened into much spiritual wisdom and knowledge. For (let the world rage on) in those prayers which believers are taught, andenabled unto, by the Holy Ghost help- ing of them, as a Spirit of supplications, there are two things inexpressible: (1.) The inward labouring and spiritual working of the sanctified heart and affections towards God, wherein consist those sighs and groans that cannot be uttered, Rom. viii. 26. God alonesees, and knows, and understands the fervent workingsof thenew creature, when acted by the Holy Ghost in suppli- cations. And so it is added in the next words, ver. 27. And he who searcheth the hearts knoweth ri re Q;N,nwa ee vuares, what is the meaning of the Spirit, what it favours and inclines- unto. It is not any distinct or se- parate acting of the Spirit by himself that is intended, but what and how he works in the hearts of believers, as he is a Spirit of grace and supplication. And this is known only to him who is the searcher of hearts, and as he is so. And he knoweth what is the bent, frame, inclination, and acting of the inward man in prayer from the power of the Spirit, which they themselves in whom they are wrought, do not fathom nor reach 3 T the depth of. This he Both in the subject of prayer, the hearts and minds of believers, the effects of his ope- ration in them are expressible. (4.) As to the object of prayer, or things prayed for, he doth in and by the word, so represent and exhibit the truth, reality, sub- sistence, power, and efficacy of spiritual mysterious things unto the faith and affections of believers, that they have a real and experimental sense of domix faith with, and are affected by those things now made nigh, now realized unto them, which, it may be, they are not able doctrinally and distinctly to explain in their proper notions. And thus do we oft-times see men low and weak in their notional apprehensionof things, yet in their prayers led into communion with God in the highest and holiest mysteries of his grace, having an experience of the life and power of the things themselves in their own hearts and souls. And hereby do their faith, love, affiance, and adherence unto God, act and exercise themselves. So is it with them in this matter of the actual present purifying of thepollutions of sinby the blood ofJesus Christ, the way whereofwe shall'now briefly inquire into. Sect. 4.-1. Therefore, by the blood of Christ here- in, is intended the blood of his sacrifice, with the pow- er, virtue, and efficacy thereof. And the blood of a sacrifice fell under a double consideration: (1.) As it was offered unto God to make atonement and reconci- liation. (2.) As it was sprinkled on other things for their purging and sanctification. Part of the blood in every propitiatory sacrifice was still to be sprinkled round about the altar. Lev. i. 11. And in the great sa- crifice of expiation, some of the blood of the bullock was to be sprinkled before the mercy-seat seven times, Lev. xvi. 14. This our apostle fully expresseth in a great and signal instance, Heb. ix. 19, 20, 21, 22. ,s For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the a people, according to the law, he took the blood Of " calves and of goats, with water and scarlet- wool, and w hyssop, and sprinkled both the book and all thepeo- " ple, saying, This is the blood of the Testament which « he bath enjoined unto you, and almost all things are by the law purged with blood." Wherefore the blood of Christ, as it was the blood ofhis sacrifice, bath these two effects, and falls under this double consideration; (1.) As heoffered himself by the eternal Spirit unto God to make atonement for sin, and procure eternal 28
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