28. The blood of Jesus Christ is victory over the enemy. As it is written, " They [the martyrs who knew his power more than all else] overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." (Rev. 12:11.)
Having now just traced out in part (and we know hut in part, so can we but prophesy in part), some of the testimony about the blood of Jesus, as God estimates it in its uses and purposes, I close. Whilst writing, so many fresh views of the blood have opened upon me, that I feel almost discouraged to present that which I have here written. But if I forbear, and retrace the thing again and again, I am aware it would still but be in part; blessed be God's name for the unsearchable fullness of His truth! If there be any sweetness in the truth in these pages (and to me there is very, very much), 0 that the saints would learn from it the sweetness of the word of the Lord, as contrasted with the thoughts of man's teaching: for all that has been attempted here has been whilst tracing out the testimony, just ever and anon to repeat, in other words, what, the scriptures say: and occasionally to bring other scriptures to bear upon points, supposed to be less understood by the saints generally.
I add some references from the Old Testament, of places in which the blood seems to me, in the
Spirit's mind, to have looked forward to the blood of Jesus in some way or other.
Gen. 4:10, 11. Abel's.
Gen. 9:4, 5, 6. The prohibitions to Noah as to blood.
Compare Lev. 3:17; 7:26, 27; 17:14, 10-12; 19:26;
Deut. 12:16, 23, 27; 15:23; and 1 Sam. 14:32-34.
Gen. 37: 22, 26; 42:22. Joseph's blood and the guilt of it.
Gen. 49: 11.
Ex. 4:9. Here it is judgment resting on the waters and rivers turned to blood. Compare
Ex. 7:17, 19-21, 25, 26. Moses' wife.
Ex. 12: 7, 13, 22, 23. The passover. Judgment past because faith.
Ex. 22:23. N.B. As a mark of righteousness under the law, a night breaker-in might be killed; not a day breaker-in.
Ex. 23:18. Not to be offered on altar with leaven. Compare 34:25.
Ex. 24:6, 8. Blood of the covenant.
Ex. 29: 12, 16. The Altar; 20, 21. The priests; Lev. 8:15, 19, 23, 24, 30; 9:9, 12, 18.
Ex. 30: 10. Yearly atonement-Lev. 16:14, 15, 18, 19, 27.
Lev. 1:5, 11, 15. Burnt offering; and 3:2, 8, 13; 7:33, Peace offering.
Lev. 4: 5-7. Sins through ignorance; and verses 16-18, 25; xxx. 34.
Lev. 5: 9. Defilements.
Lev. 6:27. The holiness of the blood.
Lev. 6:30. No sin offering if the blood brought into the tabernacle to reconcile in holy place, to be eaten. Compare 10:18.
Lev. 7: 2, 14. Trespass offering.
Lev. 12: 4, 5, 7. Purification after child-birth.
Lev. 6, 14, 17, 25, 28, 51, 52. Purification of leper.
Lev. 15:19, 25.
Lev. 17:4, 6. The provision for supply of blood.
Lev. 17:3. The blood to be poured out to the Lord of, &c.
Lev. 19:16; 20. 9, 11, 12, 13, 16, 27. When the blood or life of man to be taken away.
Lev. 20:18.
Num. 18:17. For the maintenance of the priests.
Num. 19:4, 5. Red heifer.
Num. 23:24.
Num. 35:19, 21, 24, 25, 27, 33. The avenger of blood and city of refuge. Compare Deut. 19:6, 10, 12, 13; Josh. 20:3, 5, 9.
Deut. 7:18.
Deut. 21:7, 8, 9. Of uncertain murder. 22: 8. Guilt on a house.
Deut. 32:14, 42, 43.