Twenty-Four Sermons, Sermon 23
SERMON XXIII.
October 1. 1697.
HEBREWS VII. xxv.
Wherefore he is able alſo to ſave them to the uttermoſt, that come unto God by him, ſeeing he ever liveth to make Interceſſion for them.
THE Glorious Office of the Prieſthood of Jeſus Chriſt, is the Subject of great part of this Epiſtle; and the Apoſtle's main Scope and Deſign, is, to ſhew the ſuperlative Excellency thereof beyond the Legal Prieſthood, which he does at large in various reſpects. In the two immediate foregoing Verſes, he compares Chriſt with the Prieſts under the Law, in reference to their Mortality. Verſe 23. They truly were many Prieſts (many, one after another) becauſe they were not ſuffered to continue, by reaſon of death; they were dying Men, and how well ſoever they diſcharged the Duty of their Places, yet in a few Years they left it to thoſe that ſurvived them, and knew it no more themſelves; the Miniſters of the Old Teſtament had their appointed time, when their Breath went forth, and returned not again, as you find that the Miniſters of the New Teſtament have now in their Generation. But, ver. 24. this man, (or this Chriſt, the Anointed of the Lord, whom the Apoſtle here ſpeaks of, for the word Man is not in the Original, but ſupplied by our Tranſlators) becauſe he continueth ever, hath an unchangable Prieſthood; his Office does not paſs from him to another, he hath no Succeſſors in it, whom the Exerciſe of it is committed to, but he ſtill manages it in his own Perſon, and will perpetually do it. Hereupon that comfortable and encouraging Inference and Concluſion is drawn up in the words of the Text, Wherefore he is able, &c. Whcih words, if they were to be caſt into our uſual Forms of Argument, would run thus; He who ever lives to make Interceſſion, is able to ſave to the uttermost; But Jeſus Chriſt ever lives, &c. Therefore he is able, &c. There are many important Truths lying in this Text, but all may be brought within the compaſs of this one.
Obſerv. Chriſt's eternal Life and Interceſſion in Heaven, in an infallible Proof of his Infinite ſaving Power. Here,
I. I ſhall enquire into the Thing which the Apoſtle undertakes to prove, The infinite-ſaving-Power of Jeſus Chriſt.
II. Into the Evidence which he proves it by, The Eternal Life and Interceſſion of Chriſt in Heaven. With the diſtinct Uſes which may be made of both theſe.
I. As to the thing which the Apoſtle here ſets himſelf to prove, viz. The infinite-ſaving Power of our Lord Jeſus. The Text it ſelf will lead us to the opening of two Things under this Head; The nature of this Power, and the extent of it; How he is able to ſave, and how far, even to the uttermoſt.
Firſt, With reference to the nature of this Power, How is Chriſt able to ſave? This may may be ſtated in the following Propoſitions.
1. There is a Power which belongs to Christ, as he is God. In this, as in all other Divine Perfections, the Second Perſon is equal with the Firſt. Rev. 1.8. I am the Almighty. The very ſame unlimited boundleſs Power appertains both to the Father and the Son. Therefore when Chriſt had aſſerted, That none ſhould pluck his ſheep out of his hand, John 10.28. he confirms it by this, That his Father is greater than all, and none is able to pluck them out of the Father's hand, ver. 29. Now if any ſhould go about to deny the Conſequence, the next words will clear it, I and my Father are one, ver. 30. If my Father is greater than all, ſo am I; if he be able to ſecure and preſerve the Sheep, ſo am I, for he and I are one; we are one in Eſſence and Nature, and ſo all the ſame glorious Perfections which are inherent in him, are in me likewiſe. But this, though it be a great Article of Faith, and a great ſupport to Believers, does not ſeem to be that which the Apoſtle hath ſo much an Eye to in this place; for he is now ſpeaking of his Ability to ſave, under the Notion of our High-Prieſt.
2. There is a given delegated Power, which belongs to Chriſt as he is Mediator; a Power received, and entruſted with him, from the Father. God's laying of help upon him for us, implies the furniſhing and qualifying of him to afford and diſpenſe that help to us. So we read, Pſalm 89.21. With whom my hand ſhall be eſtabliſhed, mine arm alſo ſhall ſtrengthen him. Again, Iſa. 42.1. Behold, my Servant, whom I uphold, &c. There was ſuch a mighty Preſence and Influence of God with and upon his Son Jeſus Chriſt, in the Execution of his Mediatory Office, as enabled and empower'd him to all that this Office required. Therefore he attributes the Work which he did to the Father, and calls them the Works of the Father, John 10.37. and argues from them, as plain convincing Teſtimonies, that the Father had ſent him, chap. 5.36. The Power which he had from God to do ſuch things, was a demonſtration of his Commiſſion. The Son of himſelf, conſider'd in this Capacity, as the Father's Servant and Meſſenger, diſpatched from Heaven, about the great Buſineſs of our Salvation, could do nothing, ver. 19. but his God was his ſtrength; he that appointed him this Service, gave him Ability to perform it.
3. This Power of Christ is determined by the Father's Pleaſure. It pleaſed the Father, that in him ſhould all fulneſs dwell, Col. 1.19. All Fulneſs, therefore a Fulneſs of Power, as well as Merit; but we muſt ſuppoſe it to be all exerted and put forth, as is pleaſing to the Father alſo. The Power given unto Chriſt, can never be thought to be employed by Chriſt againſt the Mind and Will of him that gave it. God and Chriſt go hand in hand (as it were) in all their mighty Acts of Grace, with one conſenting Will. John 5.21. As the Father raiſeth up the dead, and quickeneth them, even ſo the Son quickeneth whom he will; not in oppoſition to the Father's Will, but in conjunction with it. He came not to do his own will, but his that ſent him, chap. 6.38. It was his delight to do this, and impoſſible that he ſhould do any thing contrary to it. This does not import any inſufficiency or weakneſs in Chriſt, but the regularity and exactneſs of his Obedience.
4. Chriſt's ſaving Power with reſpect to us, takes in his Sovereignty and Dominion over all Creatures, which is for our Advantage. We have the benefit of his univerſal governing Power, in order to our Salvation. He that is exalted to be our Saviour, is a mighty Prince, whoſe Kingdom reaches ever where, to every thing that he hath made. He that carries his Lambs in his Boſom, hath all the things in the world put under his Feet; he hath all the Wolves that would tear and deſtroy them, in a Chain, and they cannot touch ſo much as the Fleece of any of his Sheep, without his permiſſion. All power is given unto him in Heaven and in Earth (yea, and in Hell too) Matth. 28.18. He hath power over all fleſh, John 17.2. whether Devils and wicked malignant Spirits, over all that ſeek our burt, or that give us any cauſe of Terror. He hath a Command over all Creatures, that diſpoſal of all Events, and he can make every one of theſe, not only not to hinder and obſtruct, but poſitively to promote and further our Salvation. The whole Adminiſtration of the Affairs of Providence, which is committed to Chriſt, ſerves to this very purpoſe.
5. The ſaving power of Christ, to all that have experience of it, does neceſſarily include a great and extraordinary mixture of Compaſſion. We muſt conclude his Pity equal to his Power, and united with it, or elſe no Soul would ever be ſaved by it. His infinite Ability to relieve us, would be of ſmall Comfort to us, if he were not touched with a feeling of our Infirmities. We have an hint of this, chap. 2.18. He is able to ſuccour them that are tempted, (the ſame Greek word both there and in the Text.) Now 'tis manifeſt from the Context there, that Chriſt's being able to ſuccour, implies not barely a Power, but a fitneſs and readineſs to do it, a compaſſionate Inclination, by reaſon of his being tempted. Now though Chriſt be no longer ſo tempted, for he ſits on the right hand of the power of God, Luke 22.69. yet his Bowels are the ſame. If he wanted thoſe Bowels, his Power would be dreadful; we could only look upon him as our Deſtroyer, able to caſt us Soul and Body into Hell, able to inflict Wrath upon us to the uttermoſt; but we could have no thoughts of Peace, or hopes of Mercy.
6. There is a deſtructive Power of Chriſt, which always does and muſt accompany this ſaving Power. In magnifying his ſaving Power to us, there is a neceſſity of letting out his deſtructive Power againſt our Enemies. If he ſaves our Lives and ranſoms them, what follows? O Death, I will be thy Plague; O Grave, I will be thy Deſtruction, Hoſ. 13.14. We cannot be delivered from Death, but Death muſt be unſtung, and conſequently deſtroy'd. This is the laſt Enemy, but all the reſt are dealt with in like manner, Hebr. 2.14. That through death he might deſtroy him, who had the power of death, i. e. the Devil. The choſen and called of God cannot eſcape, if the Devil do; if they obtain Salvation in Chriſt, he muſt be deſtroy'd; not as to his Being, but his Power. And the Works of the Devil muſt be deſtroyed alſo, 1 John 3.8. There muſt not remain ſo much as one of them; as is ſaid of that total overthrow of the Egyptians in the Red Sea, when the Iſrael of God were ſaved out of their hands, Exod. 14.28.
Secondly, With reference to the extent of this Power, How far is Chriſt able to ſave? The Text makes the Anſwer, even to the uttermost. foreign. There are two things intimated by this Phraſe, The Perfection of that Salvation which Chriſt is able to work, and the duration of it.
1. His being able to ſave to the uttermoſt, notes Perfection. He is able to ſave fully, abſolutely, and compleatly; ſo that nothing more needs, or can be done. Chriſt without us, and Chriſt in us, does all that belongs to this work of our Salvation. He gives a right to Salvation, and a meetneſs for Salvation: He juſtifies perfectly, he Sanctifies wholly; what the Law could not do, that he as the End of the Law (not a deſtroying, but a perfecting End) hath done. Particularly,
1. He ſaves from all Sin; or elſe that indefinite expreſſion could hardly be ſav'd from an Equivocation, which the Spirit of Truth abhors: Matth. 1.21. He ſhall ſave his People from their Sins, i. e. from all their Sins, not one excepted (for as to the unpardonable Sin, he ſaves his People from that preventively, becauſe none of them ſhall ever be ſuffer'd to commit it.) He is able to ſave from the greateſt Sins, as from the leaſt; from Sins of the blackeſt Aggravation, and the deepeſt die. He ſaved our firſt Parents from their firſt Sin, which being a leading Act of Rebellion, was a very great one. He ſav'd ſeveral of his Murderers, and they that ſhed his Blood were waſh'd in it. He ſaves from the Sin of Unbelief, which is the worſt of Sins, and in thoſe that are guilty of it now, is really greater than the Sin of the Jews in putting him to death.
2. He ſaves from all that is in Sin; from the guilt and filth of it. He takes out every ſpot from the Soul, and wipes out every Line from the Score. He pays the uttermoſt Farthing, and therefore ſaves to the uttermoſt; he diſcharges all, and leaves nothing to ſtand in God's Book againſt us. His whole Church ſhall be preſented Holy, and without blemiſh, Epheſs. 5.27. No Corruption is ſuffer'd to domineer, where he comes to ſave; as Job enters his ſolemn Proteſtation, That no blot cleaves to his hands, chap. 31.7. Blots may be, and unavoidably will be contracted, while we are in ſuch a polluting World, but they with whom Chriſt hath any thing to do, ſoon ſhake them off again, as Paul did the Viper which faſtned on his hand, and felt no barm, (Acts 28.5.) Yea at length, Chriſt will ſave from the in being of Sin too; when we quit our earthly Houſes, Sin ſhall be quite turn'd out of Doors.
3. He ſaves from all that's due to Sin, and from all the effects of it; from Wrath preſent and to come; not meerly from Hell, but from all purely Judicial Strokes upon Earth too; He does not ſave from God's loving Rebukes, (for that would be to our prejudice, and therefore it would be no proper, deſirable Salvation) but from God's furious Rebukes he does. He hath Redeemed us from the Curſe of the Law, &c. Gal. 3.13. from the whole Curſe, and every part of it. There is not the leaſt Grain of the Legal Curſe in all the afflictions which Chriſt's ſaved ones do at any time undergo. There are chaſtened as Children, not perſecuted as common Malefactors. They are ſav'd from every thing that would make them truly miſerable; they are exercis'd with nothing but what ſhall do them good; thoſe very Calamities, of which Sin is the occaſion, ſhall be the means to advance their Bleſſedneſs.
2. His being able to ſave to the uttermoſt, notes duration.
As 1. The ſaving Power of Chriſt ſtretches it ſelf to the final Accompliſhment of his own Work; Whatever He puts his hand unto, he will give it his laſt hand; the Author and Finiſher of our Faith, Heb. 12.2. Whereſoever he Deſigns to build, it ſhall not be ſaid, that he is not able to finiſh; he will give no occaſion for any ſuch Reproach to be caſt upon his Eternal Power. He is as able to bring forth the Head-Stone, as to lay the firſt Foundation. He carries on his Deſigns of Grace through all Hindrances and Oppoſitions, till he hath conquer'd and ſurmounted all; he never leaves off what he undertakes, and is engag'd in, before the thoughts of his heart are finally perform'd, and all fulfilled which he had contriv'd and purpoſed to do. He is the Omega as well as the Alpha; he ſhuts up, as well as opens, the great work of a Sinners Salvation and Recovery.
2. Chriſt's ſaving Power will not be exhauſted or diminiſhed to the end of the World. He will be as able to ſave then, as he was at the beginning; for if he was inveſted with ſuch a Power before he had actually paid the Price of our Redemption, we have no reaſon to doubt the continuation of that Power afterwards. If he had ſav'd ſo many for about Four Thouſand Years before he came and offer'd up himſelf, 'tis impoſſible that ſince this Sacrifice, any ſhould be born into the World too late for him to ſave. Every ſucceſſive Generation yet to come may have the ſame benefit, as all that are paſt have had. So long as the World ſtands, the Elect of God that are in it ſhall receive as freely from Chriſt's Fulneſs as ever any did. His Power is the ſame, without any Change or Variation in all Ages, Yeſterday, to day and to Morrow; Is my band ſhortned at all that it cannot redeem? Iſa. 50.2.
3. His Power is ſufficient for us in our greateſt Extremities, while we live in this World. In our ſoreſt Temptations, and longeſt Deſertions, when like Peter, we are ready to ſink, he is mighty to ſave ſtill. We cannot be brought ſo low by Helliſh Rage, and ſpiritual Darkneſs, by the Buffetings of Satan, and the Hidings of God, but that he can lift us up. As the Apoſtle ſpeaks of the Jews, who have been broken off by unbelief, and abode in that unbelief ſo many Hundred Years, God is able to graft them in again, Rom. 11.23. When we are apt to think, that there is no way to eſcape, that we muſt and ſhall, without remedy, periſh at the laſt, he hath his Almighty Succors at hand, and can in a moment reſcue and deliver us from all our fears. When the Waters are come into the Soul, he hath power to ſave from Drowning; or elſe that Prayer was vain, Pſalm 69.1.
4. His ſaving Power is our preſent help when we come to die and ſtand in Judgment. When we have paſt through the Changes, Hazards, and Tryals of this Life, the chiefeſt of all is that which puts a period to Life, and then Jeſus Chriſt is able to ſave us in Death, tho he do not ſave us from it; able not only to carry us to our hoary hairs, but to go with us farther, when theſe hoary hairs are brought down to the grave; able to ſupport us when fleſh and heart, when ſtrength and ſpirits fail; able to receive and defend our Spirits at their Departure out of the Body, and give them immediate poſſeſſion of the place prepared for them; able to anſwer for us before the Bar of God, and ſhield us under the covering of his perfect Righteouſneſs from all the Accuſations that can be brought againſt us; in ſhort, he is ſo well able to juſtifie us, that even in that day, we may boldly ſay, Who is he that condemneth?
5. The Salvation which Chriſt works and diſplays his power in, endures in its full force and vertue to Eternity it ſelf. Iſa. 45.17. Iſrael ſhall be ſaved in the Lord with an everlaſting ſalvation: You ſhall not be aſhamed nor confounded World without end. Again, chap. 57.6. The Heavens ſhall vaniſh away like ſmoak, and the Farth wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein die in like manner, but my ſalvation ſhall be for ever, &c. As our Confidence is not in a God who cannot ſave, or who can ſave only in part, ſo not in a God who can ſave only for a limited time, or reſtrained ſeaſon. Our God's Salvation laſts as long as himſelf, it runs parallel with his very Being. Titus 2.13. The great God and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. Thoſe Two Glorious Titles are chained together in Chriſt, and you may as well ſuppoſe the aboliſhing of the former, as the expiring of the latter: He is an eternal Saviour, as well as Eternal God. Thus he ſaves to the utternmoſt.
ƲSE.
1. Let us ſettle our hearts in the faith of this grand Point, againſt the aſſaults of Infidelity in general. Whatever vile, blaſphemous and diſhonourable Thoughts of Jeſus Chriſt other perſons in the World have, to them that are ſaved he is (and ought to be eſteemed as) the power of God, 1 Cor. 1.24. There are Children of Belial now, as there were in the days of Saul, and worſe than they, who cry, How ſhall this man ſave us? 1 Sam. 10.27. Making little more of him than a common, ordinary Son of Man; but to us he ſhould be no leſs than the Mighty God; we ſhould reſpect and honour him as ſuch, and thereby do what we can to ballance the contempt which is thrown upon him by a wretched Generation that know him not.
2. Let us improve this for the ſtrengthening of our adherence to Chriſt, and dependance on him, notwithſtanding all that tends to deter and beat us off. Never give up this Cauſe, never caſt away thy Confidence, but hold faſt the beginnings of it ſteady to the end, ſeeing that Jeſus Chriſt can ſave to the uttermoſt. There can be no Lion in any part of the way, between thee and Heaven, but what he hath a ſufficiency of Power to deliver and reſcue thee from. Look as far as thou canst (ſays one well) take the largeſt proſpect that's poſſible, of all thy Sins, Miſeries and Difficulties of Salvation, ſtill the Power of Christ does extend infinitely beyond all theſe. We may ſafely ſay, If Christ be not able to ſuccour and help us, we are content to periſh; if we reſt there, we are out of danger.
3. Let us oppoſe the ſaving ſtrength of Christ to all the united force of Hell. The Perſecutors of our Souls are indeed ſtronger than we, but they are weaker than he. We have a Friend in Heaven that can do more for us, than all our enemies from beneath can do againſt us. Thoſe Horns are not ſo able to ſcatter God's Iſrael, as this Horn of Salvation is to defend them. If evil Angels be greater in power than the beſt of Men left to themſelves, they are not ſo great in power as our great High-Prieſt, Jeſus the Son of God. When they have done their utmoſt to ſeparate a Believer from the love of God, 'tis not ſo much as our bleſſed Lord hath done to keep us in it. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on Serpents and Scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, &c. Luke 10.19.
4. Let this comfort us under the ſenſe of our own impotency. When we conſider how weak and feeble we are, it is cauſe of deep abaſement; when we conſider how powerful Chriſt is, it is on the other hand matter of ſtrong conſolation. There is a kind of Omnipotency communicated from Chriſt to thoſe that are in him: I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me, Phil. 4.13. Though we are but as reeds ſhaken with the wind, he can make us Pillars in the Temple of his God, Rev. 3.12. All that are built upon this ſure Foundation, receive ſtability from it. Therefore as Abraham conſidered not the deadneſs of his own Body, or Sarah's Womb, being fully perſwaded of God's being able to perform his Promiſe, Rom. 4.19, 21. So the belief of Chriſt's Almightineſs ſhould be mixt with the thoughts of our own infirmities.
5. Let this relieve and fortifie our ſpirits againſt the dejecting fears of our future Apoſtacy. How little Grace ſoever we yet have, we ſhall have as much as we need, if we belong to Chriſt; for he is able to make all Grace abound towards us, nd in us. How defective ſoever our Sanctification yet be, Chriſt hath a Stock enough in his own hands to fill up what is behind, that there ſhall be nothing lacking at the laſt. We ſtagger and reel, and ſtumble ſo often, that we are afraid perhaps, we ſhall never hold on, and hold out, till we come to our Journeys end: But ought not this to bear up our hopes, that we are intereſted in one who is able to keep us from falling? Jude 24. able to prevent every Fall, or able to recover and raiſe us up when fallen?
6. When we come to the Throne of Grace, this Doctrine will furniſh us with a good plea to urge to God, viz. That the Glory of Christ's Power is embarqu'd with our Salvation. It was ſuch a ſort of Argument which Moſes went to God with, when God threatned to deſtroy Iſrael, he tells him what the Nations would be apt to ſay, Numb. 14.16. Becauſe the Lord was not able to bring this People into the Land, which he ſware unto them, therefore he hath ſlain them in the Wilderneſs. So may we ſay, Lord it will teach the Devil to blaſpheme thy Son, if we ſhould come ſhort of the Reſt which thou haſt promiſed us; the Powers of Darkneſs which have heard his Fame, and felt his hand, will be ready to vilifie him, and cry, Becauſe he was not able to ſave them he hath ſuffer'd them to periſh.
7. This may encourage thoſe that are yet without Christ, to come to him; You are not, you cannot be ſo great Sinners, but that he is ſtill a greater Saviour. Do not miſtake it for your Duty, to aggravate your own Sin, to the leſſening of Chriſt.
Objection. Though Chriſt is able to ſave me, he may not be willing, and then what am I the better? He is certainly able to do many things which he never does; and ſo I may be loſt, notwithſtanding his ſaving Power.
Anſwer. 1. It will do well, if thou art throughly got over this Block of ſuſpecting and diſtruſting the Power of Chriſt: We are naturally prone to ſtick here, as the Father of the Child, Mark 9.22. If thou canst do any thing, have compaſſion on us and help us. Therefore our Lord was wont to put the Queſtion, as to the Blind Man, Mat. 9.21. Believe you that I am able to do this?
2. There is no more doubt of the willingneſs of Chriſt to ſave, than of his power, where he makes the Soul willing to accept of Salvation by him. When ſuch a conſenting Will is wrought in us, 'tis an infallible evidence of his ſaving Good Will towards us. What was he given of God for, what did he give himſelf for, but that whoſoever believeth on him ſhould not periſh? How then canſt thou think that Salvation is his ſtrange work, or that he is unwilling to it?
3. Thou canſt not die in thy Sins, if thou wilt come to Chriſt to ſave thee from them. 'Tis impoſſible that any thing ſhould hinder him from doing this mighty Work upon thee; if thy unbelief do not, nothing will tie his Hands, but only that; He never is as a mighty Man that cannot ſave, but where his mighty Salvation is call'd in Queſtion. Therefore imitate their Faith, who were threatned with the burning Furnace, Dan. 3.17. Our God is able to deliver us, and he will deliver us. Be ſatisfied that he who is able to ſave, will actually ſave thoſe that caſt themſelves upon him.