Twenty-Four Sermons, Sermon 24
SERMON XXIV.
October 15. 1697.
HEBREWS VII. xxv.
Therefore 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.
II. AS to the Evidence which the Apoſtle brings to prove his Aſſertion by; The Eternal Life and Interceſſion of Jeſus Chriſt in Heaven. Here we are to conſider three Things, viz. The Life of Chriſt in Heaven; His Interceſſion there; And the Objects of it, or Perſons on whoſe behalf he lives and intercedes.
Firſt, The eternal Life of Chriſt in Heaven. In opening of this, we ſhould ſhew, That he lives, and that he lives for ever, and how the Concluſion of his being able to ſave, is built and founded hereupon.
1. That Chriſt lives; not only as he is the living God, Hebr. 3.12. and ſo eternal Life is eſſential to his Deity, 1 John 1.2, 15, 20. but he lives as Mediator, and that very Life which he laid down as Man, he hath taken up again, and poſſeſſes it now more advantagiouſly than before. This was the grand Controverſie in the Apoſtolical Times, between the Jews and Chriſtians; ſo Feſtus repreſents it to Agrippa, as a Quarrel about one Jeſus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive, Acts 25.19. The Jews would have him to be really in the State of the Dead ſtill, and that his Diſciples ſtole him out of the Grave, to give Reputation to their new Doctrine, but the Apoſtles were Witneſſes of his Reſurrection, and preached this where-ever they preach'd the Goſpel; for indeed the whole Goſpel would be but an empty Fable without it. If Chriſt were not alive, what's become of the Type of the Living Bird; in the cleanſing of the Leper, that was let looſe into the open Field? Lev. 14.7. What's become of the Type of the Scape Goat that was ſent away into the Wilderneſs? Chap. 16.21. How have theſe things received their Accompliſhment, but in the Life of Jeſus? It was as neceſſary for our Conſolation and Salvation that Chriſt ſhould live, as that he ſhould die. The meer Death of Chriſt would profit us nothing; could be no ſupport to us, if he had continued under the Power of Death. Therefore, as old Jacob was tranſported with Joy, when he heard that Joſeph was alive, Gen. 45.26, 28. So Job in the midſt of his Afflictions, triumph'd and glorifie in this, I know that my Redeemer liveth, Job 19.25.
2. That he ever lives. When our Lord ſpeaks of his Death, it was matter of ſtumbling to the Jews, becauſe (ſay they) we have heard out of the Law, that Chriſt abideth for ever, John 12.34. but they erred, not knowing the Scripture. This was not be underſtood in oppoſition to his dying, but as conſequent upon it; for after his Death, and notwithſtanding his Death, this was to be made good, that he ſhould abide for ever. So we find our Lord himſelf from Heaven expounding it to John, Rev. 1.18. I am he that liveth, and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore. The Life which Chriſt lived upon Earth, was a mortal, temporary, periſhing Life, as ours is, (for he took part of our Fleſh and Blood in the ſame poor and miſerable Circumſtances as we do) but the Life which he now lives in Heaven, is of another ſort, of a more permanent and durable Nature. So Rom. 6.9. Knowing that Chriſt being raiſed from the dead dieth no more; Death hath no more Dominion over him. He cannot die a ſecond time, as Lazarus did, who after his firſt Death was raiſed again, and died again; as the Body of his Humiliation, even when dead, ſaw no Corruption, ſo his glorified Body, with which he ſits at the Right Hand of God, can never ſee Death. His preſent Life is ſuch an one, as ſwallows up mortality.
3. How is the Inference of Chriſt's being able to ſave, grounded here upon his Living for ever? Anſwer, Very ſtrongly; for the ſaving Power of Jeſus Chriſt ſhines forth moſt illuſtriouſly in him as living. Rom. 5.10. Being reconciled by his Death, we ſhall be much more ſaved by his Life. So Chap. 8. 34. Who is he that condemneth? it is Chriſt that died, yea rather that is raiſed again, &c. If Chriſt had been held by the Bands of Death, or if it had been poſſible for him ſo to be held, it had been impoſſible for him to be the Author of Salvation to any; our Faith in him had been vain, and our hope as a Spiders Web; whereas now 'tis firm and eſtabliſh'd, ſtedfaſt and unmoveable, conſidering that Jeſus Chriſt ſince his ignominious accurſed Death, is raiſed up to ſuch a Bleſſed and Glorious Life. This gives us mighty encouragement in ſeveral reſpects. For,
1. If Chriſt had not been able to ſave, he could not have conquer'd Death, as he hath done. This one Victory which he hath obtained over that Enemy, is a ſignal demonſtration of his Power; The Grave would have detained him, and muſt kept him as the legal Executioner of Juſtice, if he had not finiſh'd the Work of our Salvation (as to the purchaſing part) and done all in dying once. He could not be diſcharged, till he had anſwer'd all Demands, and when they were anſwer'd, he could be under Arreſt no longer, but the Proſecution muſt ceaſe. When the Debt was paid, it would have been falſe Impriſonment, for Jeſus Chriſt to remain in the Cuſtody of Death; on the other hand, his reviving and breaking looſe from thoſe Reſtraints, ſhews, that all the Obſtacles of our Salvation are taken out of the way. Therefore, if we ſuſpect his Ability to ſave, we muſt, with the Jews, diſbelieve his riſing again, and look upon him no otherwiſe than as a dead Man to this very day.
2. Our eternal Life is inſeperably connected with the Life of Chriſt. 'Tis as certain that he is our Life, as that he himſelf lives, Col. 3.4. he will not Live and Reign without us, but we ſhall Reign in Life by him. He does not live meerly for himſelf, but for us, as he did not die for himſelf, but only for us. He lives as a publick Perſon, a ſecond Adam, in whom all that belong to him ſhall be made alive; as a quickning Head to his whole Body, and to every Member in particular, John 14.19. Becauſe I live, you ſhall live alſo. He aſſerts our Life in conjunction with his own; for his Life and the Life of thoſe that are united with him, cannot be divided. 2 Cor. 13.4. He though Crucified through weakneſs, lives by the Power of God; ſo we likewiſe, though weak, ſhall live with him by vertue of the ſame Power. Hence it is that the Apoſtle makes the great Doctrine of Chriſt's; Reſurrection to ſtand or fall, with the Reſurrection of Believers. 1 Cor. 15.15, 16. Whom God raiſed not up, if ſo be that the dead riſe not; for if the dead riſe not, then is not Chriſt raiſed. Either he that quickned our Lord's natural Body, will quicken our mortal Bodies alſo, or we muſt renounce the Faith of both together.
Secondly, The Interceſſion of Chriſt in Heaven. In handling this, we ſhould enquire what is meant by this Interceſſion; How he lives to this end; how he ever lives in order to it; and wherein his infinite Ability to ſave is evidenc'd hereby.
1. What is meant by the Interceſſion which Chriſt makesin Heaven. That it differs from the Prayers and Supplications which he offer'd up in the days of his Fleſh, upon the account of the differing Circumſtances of his now Glorious State, which we muſt underſtand it ſuitably to, is (I think) without all Controverſie; That all Interceſſion carries in it in general ſomething of the true nature of Prayer, ſeems alſo clear, whether it be managed with or without the uſe of words, is a diſputed Point. And therefore I ſhall ſum up all that needs to be ſpoken to it, in theſe three things.
1. He appears in the Preſence of God for us, Hebr. 9.24. He repreſents our Perſons there, preſents himelf in our ſtead, and on our behalf, As Aaron bore the Names of the Children of Iſrael in the breaſt-plate of Judgment upon his Heart, when he went into the Holy Place, Exod, 28.29. And perhaps in Alluſion to this, Chriſt's ſpeaks of confeſſing the names of thoſe that overcome, before his Father, Rev. 3.5. When no one could undertake ſuch a deſperate Cauſe as ours was, he interpoſes and ſtands forth to be our Advocate; when we did not dare to ſhew our ſelves before the Throne God, he acts in the place of poor and miſerable Clients, and makes it his Buſineſs to ſue and ſollicite for them in that awful Court of Heaven.
2. He expreſſes his Will and Deſire, that we ſhould partake of all that he hath procured for us. So far his Interceſſion above agrees with that Prayer which he made, while he was here below; John 17.24. Father, I will that they whom thou haſt given me, be with me, where I am, that they may behold my Glory, &c. And he who knows what is the mind of the Spirit, interceding in us, does very well know the mind of Chriſt, in his making Interceſſion for us. The Father knows not only what we want, but what his Son would have for us. In what way or manner Jeſus Chriſt ſignifies his Deſires to any ſuch purpoſe, we cannot be eaſily ſatisifed, but that the Deſires of Jeſus Chriſt are all really before God, and regarded by him, we may be very ſure.
3. He inſiſts upon his own Blood as a moving Plea. As the High-Prieſt under the Law was to carry the Blood of the Sacrifice within the Vail, and ſprinkle it upon and before the Mercy Seat, Lev. 16.14, 15. So the Blood of Chriſt, does not like the Blood of Abel, cry from the Ground, but ſpeaks in Heaven, Hebr. 12.24. And 'tis ſtiled the Blood of ſprinkling there, as being effectually pleaded by him that ſhed it, and the Fruits of it demanded to be beſtow'd upon thoſe whom it was ſhed for. Whatſoever needs to be requeſted for us, our Lord Jeſus does juſtly require as due to himſelf. Our Neceſſities cannot go ſo far, but that his Merits extend ſtill further; and upon all occaſions it may be perfectly and fitly urg'd by him (though by none elſe) Father, I am worthy for whom thou ſhouldſt do this.
2dly, How Chriſt lives to this End.
1. Ʋltimately; Chriſt lives to God, Rom. 6.10. His Exaltation iſſues and centers in the Glory of God the Father, Phil. 2.9, 10, 11. This was the chief hope and aim of the Life of Chriſt, while he dwelt among us here below, and ſo it is of the Life which he now lives in the World above. And therefore it muſt ſtill be ſuppoſed, that whatever other Deſigns he is engaged in the purſuit of, they are all ſubordinate to this. The honouring of the Father is more to Chriſt, than the Happineſs of any Creature whatſoever, tho' they may very conſiſtently be carried on both at once.
2. 'Tis undeniable that Jeſus Chriſt does not live for this end only, in Subordination to the Glory of God; but for other purpoſes beſides, which have all a reference and tendency to that laſt end. He lives to execute his Prophetical Office ſtill; for by his Spirit whom he ſheds forth, he leads both his Miniſters and all Believers into all Truth, and ſo declares and manifeſts the Counſel of God moſt effectually to this very day. He lives to execute his Kingly Office ſtill, in the Holy Government of his Church, and further ſubduing of his Enemies; for he muſt reign, till he hath put all under his Feet, 1 Cor. 15.25. And he is to ſit upon his Throne of his Glory, as Univerſal Judge at the Great Day, when all Nations ſhall be gathered before him, and Sentenc'd by him, Matth. 25.31, 32.
3. The making of Interceſſion is a very eminent and conſiderable Act, which Chriſt lives in order to, though it be not his ultimate or only end of living. I ſay, a very eminent and conſiderable Act; for Interceſſion is a ſpecial part of Chriſt's Prieſtly Office; the Prieſthood of Jeſus Chriſt did not expire at his Death, but after Death, when he lived again, he was to tranſact and negotiate our Affairs with God. This is the true meaning of that Text, which is abuſed and perverted by the Socinians, to countenance their falſe Principles, that Jeſus Chriſt was not a Prieſt, till he came to Heaven, Hebr. 8.4. If he were on Earth he ſhould be a Prieſt. The plain ſenſe and import of which Paſſage is this, That if Jeſus Chriſt had remain'd on Earth, he could not have been a perfect and compleat High-Prieſt; if all his Work as a Prieſt had ended in what he did on Earth, his Office had not been conſummated; for it was neceſſary that he ſhould go into Heaven, as the High-Prieſt under the Law did into the Holy of Holies. When he had obtained eternal Redemption for us here, it was requiſite that he ſhould enter there, in order to the applying of what he had obtained.
3. How is it, that Chriſt ever lives to make Interceſſion. So he is affirmed to be a Prieſt for ever; to be made after the power of an endleſs Life, Verſe 16. of this Chapter. As Melchiſedech, as Type of him, in a much inferior Senſe, is ſaid to abide a Priest continually, ver. 3.
1. Christ Interecedes conſtantly, without intermiſſion. He does not, as the High Prieſt did it, once a Year, but always. He ſpent whole Nights ſometimes in Prayer, while he was in this World, but yet it was not his perpetual Work, as now it is. He intercedes Year after Year, and is never ſilent on our behalf, ſo much as for a moment. As he does not ceaſe to live at any time, ſo he does not ceaſe to Mediate with God for us. There never is any demurr or ſtop put to it; he never tires or faulters in it.
2. It is not probable that the Interceſſion of Chriſt ſhould totally end, at the end of the World, but rather that it will continue to all Eternity. In ſome reſpects indeed, there will be no occaſion or neceſſity for Chriſt's interceding after the laſt Judgment, to need of interceding for the effectual Calling of any of the Elect, nor for the pardon of Sin, nor Progreſs in Sanctification, nor for the bringing of God's Sons and Daughters to Glory; all thoſe things will be then actually done, and fully brought to paſs; but the Interceſſion of Chriſt will be ſtill needful for the everlaſting continuance of the Glorified in their Holy and Happy State. If the Vertue of the Blood of Chriſt could ever be ſpent, or its Voice drown'd, throughout Eternal Ages, what Security would Saints have for their Abode in Heaven?
4. Wherein is Chriſt's infinite Ability to Save evidenc'd hereby? Anſw. Abundantly; becauſe,
1. He perfectly underſtands every Caſe which be takes upon him to manage. He is not ignorant of any of our Matters, but is acquainted with them all, and does not need our poor defective Repreſentations of them to him. He knows what the Condition of our Souls requires, much better than we do our ſelves; ſo that we may hope for a Supply of our unmentioned Wants, as well as others. His infinite Knowledge of our needy miſerable State, is an encouraging Token of his ſaving Power; for ſuch Perfections always go together.
2. He hath a great Intereſt in the Father, and intercedes with him according to his Will. He is God's Beloved Son, and they whom he intercedes for, are beloved by the Father alſo. He is one that God rejoyced and delighted in, before the World, one that is as dear to the Father as himſelf; one that cannot ask, that God can refuſe or deny; for his Interceſſions are always agreeable to the Divine Purpoſes, and he never craves any thing but what God hath certainly determined to grant. Every one would think himſelf ſafe and ſure enough of what he ſeeketh after, if he had ſuch a Favourite to be his Friend in any Earthly Court.
3. Chriſt's Interceſſion does clearly evince the Validity and Entireneſs of his Satisfaction. God would not have admitted him to intercede, if he had not fully ſatisfied. His Interceſſion is indeed the virtual Continuation of his Offering which he once made; and we cannot imagine that God ſhould ever give way to this, if that had not been a Sacrifice of a ſweet ſmelling Savour to him. It is becauſe he paid our Debt as our Surety, that he is accepted to plead the Payment as our Attorney (Charnock.) It is becauſe he is our Propitations, that he is alſo our Advocate. He failed not in the firſt of his Attempts, and therefore with God's Approbation entred upon the ſecond.
4. Christ is always heard in his Interceſſion, and carries every Cauſe hie Pleads. His Heart's deſire is always given him, and the request of his Lips is not with-held from him, Pſalm 21.2. Never was any Supplicant ſo univerſally Succeſsful, as this mediator is. He, as a Prince indeed, hath Power with God, and prevails, without exception one Miſcarriage would be enough to damp us; but when all that he does, proſpers, what ſhould we fear? The Altar of Incenſe, which ſignified the Interceſſion of Chriſt, as well as the Altar of Burnt-Offering, which was a ſhadow of his Sacrifice, had Horns by God's appointment at the four Corners, Exod. 30.2. with 27.2. to note that ſtrength of Salvation which Sinners have to flee to, and take hold of.
3. The Objects of Chriſts Interceſſion, or Perſons for whom he lives to intercede. Who are they? The Text directs to the Anſwer; For them that come unto God by him. Here we ſhould ſhew, What it is to come unto God by Chriſt, and how we are to underſtand that Chriſt makes Interceſſion for ſuch.
1ſt. What it is to come to God by Chriſt? Coming to God in the New Teſtament, is put eſpecially for two things.
1. 'Tis expreſſive of believing; John 6.35. He that cometh to me ſhall never hunger, and he that believeth on me, &c. The latter Clauſe does without all Controverſy, expound and interpret the former. Unbelief is ſet forth by the contrary; Chap. 5. 40. You will not come to me, &c. In this ſenſe there is no coming to God, but by Chriſt, i. e. no believing in him but by Chriſt. The Sinner muſt go out of himſelf, as having nothing of his own to recommend him, or bring along with him, expecting Salvation from God meerly and ſolely on the behalf of Chriſt.
2. 'Tis expreſſive of all the ſolemn Acts of Religious Worſhip: Hebr. 11.6. He that cometh to God, muſt believe, &c. The whole Service of God is to be perform'd under the influence of Faith, and this Faith muſt have a reſpect to Chriſt, and be exerciſed upon him. God is not acceſſible in any Duty, any other way. Whatſoever we do, is to be done in his Name, and to have its acceptance with God upon his account. There is no Spiritual Sacrifice pleaſing to God, but what is offer'd up by Believers, through the hands of Chriſt; and there is none ſo offer'd up, but what muſt needs be pleaſing.
2. How are we to underſtand, that Chriſt makes Interceſſion for ſuch?
1. He intercedes for them excluſively: For them and no others, they that are final Deſpiſers and Rejecters of Chriſt, and pretend to go to God in the Old Way of the Firſt Covenant, or any New Invented Ways of their own (which uſually have a ſtrong Tincture of that in them) are ſuch as Jeſus Chriſt hath nothing to do with, and is not concerned about. All that he lives in Heaven to make Interceſſion for, are taught in due time, to make application to God by him; renouncing all other Grounds of Hope and Confidence whatſoever. His Interceſſion is limited and reſtrained to ſuch.
2. He intercedes for them, and every one of them particularly. He calleth his own Sheep by Name, John 10.3. and diſtinctly remembers 'em all, with their ſeveral reſpective Caſes, of which no two in the World are ſtrictly and abſolutely alike; tho they do agree in many things, yet in other things they vary. Now Jeſus Chriſt does not remember one, and forget another; nor does his Interceſſion run upon Generals only, as if he did no more than commend his whole Myſtical Body to God, but he takes notice of every part. I have prayed for thee Peter, Luke 22.32. So he does now for you and me, and all that commit themſelves to him; not only Sheep, but Lambs, not only ſtrong but weak Believers; not only thoſe that are worthy of greateſt Honour, but ſuch as are leaſt eſteemed in the Church.
ƲSE.
1. What a woful condition are legal Worſhippers in, who ſtill adhere to Rites and Ceremonies which cannot ſave them? The Law having a Shadow of good things to come, and not the very Image (or Subſtance) of the things, can never with thoſe Sacrifices which they offered year by year continually, make the comers thereunto perfect, Hebr. 10.1. When their Conſtitution was moſt flouriſhing, and all thoſe external Appointments were kept up to their very height, they had not an High-Prieſt that ever lived to intercede for them, but were obliged to the Mediation of Chriſt; and now they have no Sacrifices, nor Holy of Holies to carry the Blood of the Sacrifice into, thoſe weak and feeble Grounds of Carnal Confidence are quite taken away: Moſes, in whom they truſt, and whoſe Rules they pretend to follow, will be their Accuſer, inſtead of being their Advocate, as Elias made Interceſſion againſt Iſrael, not for them.
2. What a vile Reproach do they cast upon Christ, that employ and make uſe of other Interceſſors beſides him! The Apoſtle argues Chriſt's Power to ſave, from his living to Intercede; they who advance and prefer others to this Work, do really charge him with Inſufficiency. Hath he trode the Wine-Preſs alone, and is he not able to perform this buſineſs of Advocacy alone? Did he redeem us by himſelf, and muſt he have Partners in his Pleading Work? The firſt was rather more difficult than this laſt, and therefore if he muſt be aſſiſted in this, we may with more reaſon ſuſpect his needing of help as to the other; and conſequently we may doubt, whether he himſelf can be the Author of Eternal Salvation to us. So that the Antichriſtian Doctrine, of multiplied Mediators between God and us, tends to ſubvert our Faith, and opens the door to Infidelity.
3. We may learn hence, that Jeſus Christ, tho' taken from us, and made higher than the Heavens, is not the leſs mindful of us, or leſs compaſſionate towards us. When the chief Butler was reſtor'd to his Place, he forgat poor Joſeph in Priſon, Gen. 40. ult. but Chriſt's Care and Affection is not leſſened by his Exaltation. He hath a more tender regard to our Infirmities, than any of our Fellow Creatures that are ſtill in Fleſh, can have; as the Brain (where all the Nerves, which are the Inſtruments of Sence, are terminated) is the chief Seat of all Perception, ſo the Myſtical Body, though one Member may feel the Wrong done to another, yet the Head is moſt apprehenſive of it. He hath left the World indeed, but is as ſollicitous as ever for them that are left behind. John 17.11. Now I am no more in the World, but theſe are in the World, &c.
4. Our daily renewed Guilt, though Ground of humble Walking, ought not to deſtroy our Comfort, or be matter of Diſcouragement. Chriſt's Interceſſion would not be continued, if there were not continual need of it. Some Men weary the Kindneſs of their Friends, by plunging themſelves over and over in freſh Diſſiculties; and ſo they muſt be delivered again and again; as Prov. 19.19. This is not irkſom or uneaſy to Chriſt; for though we are every moment Offending one way or other, he does not leave off Interceding; For if any man ſin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt, &c. 1 John 2.1.
5. The Preſervation of thoſe that are in Chriſt, is very much owing to the Interceſſion of Christ for them. If we receive any Advantage by the Prayers of one another, how much more by his? What a helpleſs and hopeleſs Condition ſhould we ſoon be in, if our Lord Jeſus did not confirm his Love towards us, by praying the Father for us! Our ſtanding in the Grace of God, is a Fruit of his ſitting at the right Hand of God. So ſome interpret, the Life of Jeſus being made manifest in our mortal Body, 2 Cor. 4.10, 11. q. d. We are ſupported to go through ſuch Exerciſes and Tryals by the mighty Influence of our Living Saviour.
6. Let this embolden us to ask in Faith, and quicken us to Pray with greater aſſurance: Having ſuch an High-Prieſt, to introduce us to God, we may comfortably plead the Cauſes of our Souls before him. The Prayers of Saints go up as a Memorial and ſweet Perfume, by reaſon of the Incenſe that Chriſt offers with them. Ask of me, and I will give thee, is the Father's Language to the Son, Pſalm 2.8. as if he were to fetch out the Grace and Bleſſing of the Promiſe by Prayer. And the ſame terms are propoſed to us, Ask and it ſhall be given you, Matth. 7.7. What can we have more? Yea, Chriſt himſelf will ſee it done, whatever is ask'd in his Name; he hath ſaid it twice, I will ſee it done, Matth. 14.13, 14.
7. Let this be a Motive to us to live to Chriſt, and plead for him as we can, while we are here in the World.
1. Let us live to Chriſt; who thought it not enough (as Mr. Clarkſon ſays) to loſe one Life for us on Earth, but he alſo improves another in Heaven for us. What can we do leſs, then take Paul's Motto, and make it our daily Rule, To me to live is Christ? Phil. 1.21.
2. Let us plead for Christ; with God and with Men.
1. With God. While he intercedes for us, let us pray for him, i. e. for the Proſperity of his Concerns here in his lower Kingdom. This is to be done-continually, and without ceaſing, Pſalm 72.15. as the Prophet is our Example, For Zion's ſake I will not hold my peace, and for Jeruſalem's ſake I will not reſt, &c. Iſa. 62.1.
2. With Men. Chriſt's Interceſſion on our behalf in Glory, will ſhamefully upbraid our ungrateful Silence, if we can quietly ſuffer his Name to be Blaſphemed, and his Goſpel ſcoffed out of the World. Their Confeſſion of Chriſt is no better than a Denial, that have nothing to ſay for him in ſuch a Caſe. The Spirit of Chriſt is his great Advocate here in the World; and therefore if we walk in that Spirit, Chriſt's Honour and Intereſt will be duly regarded by us.
FINIS.