Sixteen Sermons Volume 2, Sermon 2
SERMON II. Chriſt Jeſus, the only Mediator between God and Men. Preached at St. Peter's Cornhill, ON THE Feaſt of the Annunciation, 1691.
1 Tim. II. 5, 6.
For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Chriſt Jeſus; who gave himſelf a ranſom for all.
THESE Words contain in them theſe four Propoſitions, three of them expreſs, and the fourth of them ſufficiently implyed in the Text.
I. That there is one God.VOL. II.
II. That there is one Mediator between God and men; Chriſt Jeſus.
III. That he gave himſelf a ranſom for all.
IV. That the Mediation or Interceſſion of Jeſus Chriſt, is founded in the Redemption of Mankind. For this ſeems to be the Reaſon why it is added, that he gave himſelf a ranſom for all, to ſignifie to us, that becauſe he gave himſelf a ranſom for all, therefore he interceeds for all. In virtue of that Sacrifice which he offered to God for the Salvation of Men, he offers up our Prayers to God; and therefore it is acceptable to him, that we ſhould pray for all men. This ſeems to be the true connexion of the Apoſtle's Diſcourſe, and the force of his Reaſoning, about our putting up publick Prayers for all men.
I have in a former Diſcourſe handled the firſt of theſe.See a Sermon concerning the Unity of the Divine Nature, Printed in the year, 1693. I proceed now to the
II. That there is one Mediator between God and men, the man Chriſt Jeſus. One Mediator, that is, But one; for the expreſſion is the very ſame concerning one God, and one Mediator; and therefore if the Apoſtle when he ſays, there is one God, certainly means that there is but one God; it is equally certain, that when he ſays, there is one Mediator between God and men, he means, there is but one Mediator, viz. Chriſt Jeſus. He is the only Mediator between God and Men.
In the handling of this Argument, I ſhall proceed in this Method.
1. I ſhall endeavour to ſhew, That God hath appointed but one Mediator, or Advocate, or Interceſſor in Heaven for us; in whoſe Name, and by whoſe Mediation and Interceſſion, we are to offer up our Prayers and Services to God.
2. That this is moſt agreeable to one main End and Deſign of the Chriſtian Religion, and of our Saviour's coming into the World.
3. That it is likewiſe evident from the Nature and Reaſon of the thing it ſelf, That there is but one Mediator and Interceſſor in Heaven for us, to offer up our Prayers to God; and that there can be no more. And then,
4. and Laſtly, I ſhall endeavour to ſhew, how contrary to the Doctrine of the Chriſtian Religion, concerning one Mediator and Interceſſor in Heaven for us, the Doctrine and Practice of the Church of Rome in this matter is, in their Invocation of Angels, and the Bleſſed Virgin, and the Saints, and making uſe of their Mediation and Interceſſion with God for Sinners; as likewiſe how contrary it is to the Doctrine and Practice of the Primitive Chriſtian Church: And then I ſhall anſwer their ſeveral Pretences for this Doctrine and Practice; and ſhew that this Practice is not only needleſs, but uſeleſs and unprofitable; and not only ſo, but very dangerous and impious.
Firſt, I ſhall endeavour to ſhew, That God hath appointed but one Mediator, or Advocate, or Interceſſor in Heaven for us, in whoſe Name, and by whoſe Interceſſion we are to offer up all our Prayers and Services to God.
Beſides that it is expreſly ſaid here in the Text, there is but one Mediator between God and men, the man Chriſt Jeſus, and that the Scripture no where mentions any other: I ſay, beſides this, we are conſtantly directed to offer up our Prayers and Thankſgivings, and to perform all Acts of Worſhip in his Name, and no other; and with a Promiſe, that the Prayers and Services, which we offer in his Name, will be graciouſly anſwered and accepted: John 14.13, 14. Whatſoever ye ſhall ask in my name, that will I do; that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye ſhall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. And Ch. 16.23, 24. And in that day ye ſhall ask me nothing: verily, verily, I ſay unto you, whatſoever ye ſhall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name; ask and ye ſhall receive, that your joy may be be full. In that day; that is, when I have left the World, and am gone to my Father as he explains it at the 28th verſe, In that day ye ſhall ask me nothing; but whatſoever ye ſhall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. That is, You ſhall not need to addreſs your Prayers to me, but to my Father in my Name. And ver. 26, 27. At that day ye ſhall ask in my name; that is, from the time that I am aſcended into Heaven, ye ſhall put up all your Prayers and Requeſts to God, in my Name; and I ſay not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: for the Father, himſelf loveth you; that is, I need not tell you (though I ſhall certainly do it) that I will interceed with the Father for you; for he of himſelf is kindly diſpoſed and affected towards you, for my ſake; The Father himſelf loveth you, becauſe ye have loved we.
St. Paul likewiſe commands Chriſtians to perform all Acts of Religious Worſhip in the Name of Chriſt; Col. 3.16, 17. Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord, and whatſoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. And this Precept of addreſſing all our Prayers and Thankſgivings to God, by Jeſus Chriſt, as the only Mediator between God and us, is the more remarkable, becauſe it is given in oppoſition to the Worſhipping of God by any other Mediators and Interceſſors in Heaven for us; and to that Superſtition which had begun ſo early to prevail among ſome Chriſtians at Caloſſe and Laodicea, of Worſhipping God by the Mediation and Interceſſion of Angels, againſt which he had cautioned in the former Chapter, Ver. 18, 19. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility, and worſhipping of Angels, not holding the head. Intimating, that for Chriſtians to addreſs themſelves to God, by any other Mediator, but Jeſus Chriſt only, was a defection from Chriſt the Head, and High Prieſt of our Profeſſion. And that this is the Apoſtle's meaning, Theodoret aſſures us, in his Comment upon this Place, where he tells us, That ſome who maintained an obſervance of the Law, together with the Goſpel, aſſerted alſo, That Angels were to be worſhipped; ſaying, That the Law was given by them. And this Cuſtom, he tells us, remained a long time in Phrygia and Piſidia, and that upon this account it was, that the Synod of Laodicea in Phrygia (about the middle of the 4th Century) forbad Chriſtians by a Law, to pray to Angels. And yet more expreſly in his Comment upon thoſe Words, Chap. 3. Ver. 17. Whatſoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. For becauſe, (ſays he) they (meaning thoſe of whom St. Paul warns the Coloſſians to beware) becauſe they did command men to worſhip Angels, he enjoins the contrary; that they ſhould adorn both their words and actions with the memory (or mention) of the name of Chriſt their Lord: And ſend ye up (ſaith he) thanksgiving to God and the Father by him, and not by the Angels. And then he makes mention of the Canon of the Synod of Laodicea, which, (ſays he) in purſuance of this Rule, and being deſirous to cure that old Diſeaſe, made it a Law, that none ſhould pray unto Angels, nor forſake the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. It ſeems then that ſome Reliques of that Impious Cuſtom, of praying to Angels, which Theodoret here calls, That old Diſeaſe, had continued from St. Paul's time, to the Council of Laodicea, which was the occaſion of that ſevere Canon then made about that matter; the very Words whereof I will ſet down, becauſe they are remarkable; viz. That Chriſtians ought not to forſake the Church of God, and go away from it, and to invocate Angels, and to make Conventicles, all which are forbidden. If any therefore be found giving himſelf to this ſecret Idolatry, let him be Anathema; becauſe he hath forſaken our Lord Jeſus Chriſt the Son of God, and is gone over to Idolatry. What ſhall be ſaid to them, who do not only ſecretly, and in their Private Devotions, but in the Publick Aſſemblies of Chriſtians, and in the moſt Publick Offices of their Church, invocate Angels, and pray to them? So that it was praying to Angels (or making uſe of them as Mediators and Interceſſors with God for us) which St Paul here reproves ſo ſeverely in the Coloſſians, as a Defection from Chriſt and the Chriſtian Religion.
And indeed, conſidering how frequently the Scripture ſpeaks of Chriſt, as our only way to God, and by whom alone we have acceſs to the throne of grace, we cannot doubt, but that God hath conſtituted him our only Mediator and Interceſſor, by whom we are to addreſs all our Requeſts to God, John 14.6. Jeſus there ſaith unto Thomas, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father but by me. I am the way, the truth, and the life; that is, the true and living way to the Father (which the Apoſtle calls a new and living way, Heb. 10.19, 20. Having therefore boldnenſs to enter into the holieft by the blood of Jeſus, by a new and living way which he hath conſecrated for us.) No man cometh to the Father but by me; that is, we can have no acceſs to God by Prayer, or by any other Acts of Religious Worſhip, but by him. So St. Paul tells us, Eph. 2.18. For through him (ſpeaking of Chriſt) we both have an acceſs by one Spirit unto the Father. We both, that is, both Jews and Gentiles. Under the Law the Jews had acceſs to God by their High Prieſt, who interceeded with God, and offered up Prayers in behalf of the People. The Gentiles, they addreſſed themſelves to God by innumerable Mediators, by Angels, and the Souls of their departed Heroes, which were the Pagan Saints. Inſtead of all theſe, God hath appointed one Mediator and Interceſſor in Heaven for us, Jeſus the Son of God, and by him all mankind, both Jews and Gentiles, have acceſs by one Spirit unto the Father.
And we have no need of any other, as the Apoſtle to the Hebrews reaſons, Chap. 7.24, 25. But this perſon (ſpeaking of Chriſt) becauſe he continueth for ever, hath an unchangeable Prieſthood, foreign, a Prieſthood which doth not paſs from one to another, as the Prieſthood under the Law did, when upon the Death of one High Prieſt, another ſucceeded in his Place; but our High Prieſt under the Goſpel, ſince he abides for ever, is able to ſave to the utmoſt all thoſe that come to God by him, ſeeing he ever liveth to make interceſſion for us. So that Jeſus Chriſt is an All-ſufficient Mediator, and able to carry on and accompliſh the Work of our Salvation from firſt to laſt: And as we do not find, that God hath appointed any other; ſo we are ſure, that there needs no other, ſince he is able to ſave to the utmoſt all thoſe that come to God by him, and that he lives for ever to make interceſſion for us.
Secondly, I proceed now, in the Second place, to ſhew, That this Doctrine or Principle of one Mediator between God and men, is moſt agreeable to one main end and deſign of the Chriſtian Religion, and of our Saviour's coming into the World, which was to deſtroy Idolatry out of the World; which St. John calls the works of the Devil, 1 John 3.8. For this purpoſe the Son of God was manifeſted, that he might deſtroy, foreign, that he might diſſolve or demoliſh the works of the Devil; by which St. John does more eſpecially mean the idolatrous worſhip of the Heathen, which conſiſted in the multitude of their Gods, and the bloody and barbarous Rites and Sacrifices, whereby they Worſhipped them; and likewiſe in the multitude of their Mediators between the Gods and Men, who were alſo eſteemed by them an inferiour ſort of Deities. Both theſe kinds of Idolatry had ſtrangely prevailed, and over-run the World, before the appearance of our Lord and Saviour, who came on purpoſe to deliver Mankind from the horrible Superſtition and Slavery of the Worſhip of falſe Gods, to pull down this Kingdom of the Devil, and to demoliſh that Fabrick which he had been ſo long a rearing, and to beat him out of thoſe ſtrong holds, which he thought had been impregnable.
God indeed gave ſome check to theſe, many Ages before, and not long after their firſt appearance, by the Jewiſh Religion, which was on purpoſe introduced, and confirmed, and eſtabliſhed by ſo many and ſuch mighty Miracles, to preſerve and keep alive in the World the primitive Tradition and Belief of the One true God; and likewiſe to be (as it were) ſome Shadow and rude Draught of that more perfect Diſpenſation of the Chriſtian Religion, which by one Sacrifice once offered, and by one Mediator between God and men, was to put an end to the infinite Superſtitions of the Heathen Worſhip, and all the bloody and barbarous Rites of it, and likewiſe to the Idolatry they were guilty of, in the Worſhip of their inferior Deities, whom they look'd upon as a middle ſort of Powers between the Gods and Men, and therefore addreſt themſelves to them, as Mediators between the Superior and Heavenly Gods, and Men here on Earth. This was plainly one of the great deſigns of the Chriſtian Religion; and therefore it concerns Chriſtians to underſtand it, and to be very careful, that they do not ſuffer themſelves to be deluded by any ſpecious Pretences whatſoever, to bring theſe things back again into the Chriſtian Religion, for the ruin and extirpation whereof, it was purpoſely deſigned and intended.
And this ſeems plainly to be the meaning of that Caution, wherewith St. John concludes his Catholick or General Epiſtle, namely, That Chriſtians ſhould be very careful, that they were not carryed back again into the Heathen Idolatry, by the confident Pretences of the Gnoſtick, Hereticks to higher Degrees of Knowledge and. Illumination, than other Chriſtians had; that is, by their pretending to be the Infallible Church, and the only true and genuine Chriſtians. For it is againſt this Sect, that this Epiſtle is plainer deſigned, which St. John thus concludes, Chap. 5. from Ver. 18. to the end; We know that whoſoever is born of God ſinneth not; meaning that he doth not commit the Sin unto death, which he had ſpoken of juſt before, viz. Apoſtacy from Chriſtianity to the Heathen Idolatry, or that which was very like it) whoſoever is born of God doth not commit this ſin, but he that is begotten of God, keepeth himſelf, and that wicked one toucheth him not; that is, he preſerveth himſelf from the Contagion of Idolatry, into which the Devil was ſo buſie to ſeduce Mankind. And we know that we are of God; that is, do belong to the true God, and are Worſhippers of him: And the whole world lieth in Wickedneſs, foreign, is in the power, or under the dominion of that wicked One; that is, the greateſt part of Mankind was ſunk into Idolatry, and the Worſhip of the Devil. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an underſtanding, that we may know him that is true. We know, that is, we Chriſtians are better Taught by the Chriſtian Religion, to acknowledge and worſhip the only true God: And we are in him that is true, in or by his Son Jeſus Chriſt; that is, we Worſhip the only true God, by his Son Jeſus Chriſt. And then he concludes, Little Children, keep your ſelves from Idols; Intimating hereby, that the Worſhipping of any other, beſides this only true God, and by any other Mediator than Jeſus Chriſt, is Idolatry.
There were indeed two very ancient and common Notions, both amongſt Jews and Gentiles, of the Original whereof it is hard to give any certain account; only this is certain, that they did prevail very early, and did very generally poſſeſs Mankind; And they were theſe; Firſt, That God was not to be appeaſed towards Sinners, meerly upon their Repentance, without the Death and Suffering of ſome other in their ſtead; and that God would accept of this vicarious Puniſhment and Suffering, inſtead of the Death of the Sinner himſelf. And this ſeems to have given the Original to the Sacrifices of Living Creatures, to appeaſe the Wrath of God towards Sinners, which in proceſs of time, as the Worſhip of falſe Gods prevailed in the World, did proceed to that Degree of Superſtition and barbarous Inhumanity, that by the inſtigation of the Devil, Men offered up the Blood of their Children, and Sacrificed their Sons and Daughters to their Idols and falſe Gods. Secondly, Another common Notion, which had likewiſe poſſeſt Mankind, was, That God was not to be immediately approached by ſinful Men; but that their Prayers were to be offered up to the Deity, by certain Mediators and Interceſſors, that were to procure for them the Favour of the Gods, and the gracious Anſwer and Acceptance of their Prayers. And this was the Original of that other ſort of Heathen Idolatry, which conſiſted in the Worſhip of their Demons and Heroes, that is of Angels and Souls departed, viz. of ſuch eminent Perſons, as had been great Benefactors to Mankind, and for their worthy Deeds upon Earth were Canonized and tranſlated into the number of their Inferior Gods. By theſe, as the chief Courtiers and Favourites of Heaven, they addreſs'd their Prayers and Supplications to the Superiour Gods.
Now with theſe Notions which had generally poſſeſs'd Mankind (how imperfect ſoever) God was pleaſed to comply ſo far, as in the Frame of the Jewiſh Religion (which was deſigned for a Type of the more perfect Inſtitution of the Chriſtian Religion, and a Preparation for it) I ſay, God was pleaſed to comply ſo far with theſe Notions, as to appoint Sacrifices to be ſlain and offered up for the Sinner; and likewiſe an High Prieſt, that once a year ſhould enter into the Holy of Holies, with the Blood of Sacrifices that were offered up for the People, to make Expiation for them, and in vertue of that Blood, ſhould interceed for the People, as the Apoſtle to the Hebrews does declare at large, And when God ſent his Son in the fullneſs of time, he was pleaſed likewiſe, in the diſpenſation of the Goſpel, (that perfect inſtitution which was never to be altered) to have ſo much regard to theſe common Notions, and Apprehenſions of Mankind, as to provide for the ſupply of thoſe two great Wants, which they ſeem'd always to have laboured under, and concerning which they were at ſo great a loſs, viz. an effectual expiatory Sacrifice for Sins upon Earth, and a powerful Mediator and Interceſſor with God in Heaven: And both theſe by the ſame Perſon, Jeſus Chriſt, who appeared in the end of the World, to take away ſin by the ſacrifice of himſelf; and in the Merit and Vertue of that Sacrifice, appearing in Heaven in the Preſence of God for us, is become a perpetual Advocate, and a moſt powerful Interceſſor with God in Heaven for us. So that inſtead of the endleſs Sacrifices of the Jewiſh Religion, which were ineffectual to the real Expiation of Sin, and only Types and Shadows of the true expiatory Sacrifice; and inſtead of the bloody and inhumane Sacrifices of the Heathen Idolatry; the Son of God hath by one Sacrifice for Sin once offered, perfected for ever them that are ſanctified, and obtained eternal Redemption for us. And inſtead of the Mediation of Angels, and the Souls of their departed Heroes, which the Heathen made uſe of to offer up their Prayers to the Gods; We have one Mediator between God and Men, appointed by God himſelf, Jeſus the Son of God, who in our Nature is aſcended into Heaven, to appear in the preſence of God for us. And who ſo fit to be our Patron and Advocate, as he who was our Sacrifice and Propitiation?
Thus the Method of our Redemption, as it was by the Wiſdom of God admirably ſuited to the common Apprehenſions of Mankind, concerning the neceſſity of a Sacrifice to make Expiation of Sin, and of a Mediator to intercede with God for Sinners; ſo was it likewiſe excellently fitted, not only to put an end to the Jewiſh Sacrifices, but likewiſe to aboliſh the barbarous Sacrifices and Rites of the Heathen Idolatry, and to caſhier that infinite number of Mediators and Interceſſors, by whom they addreſs'd their Prayers to the Deity; and inſtead of all this, to introduce a more reaſonable and ſpiritual Worſhip, more agreeable to the Nature and Perfections of God, and the Reaſon of Mankind; which was one of the main and principal Deſigns of the Chriſtian Religion: And therefore to bring in any other Mediators, to intercede in Heaven for us (whether Angels or Saints) and by them to offer up our Prayers to God, is directly contrary to the Deſign of the Chriſtian Religion.
Thirdly, It is likewiſe evident from the Nature and Reaſon of the thing it ſelf, that there is but one Mediator and Interceſſor in Heaven, who offers up our Prayers to God, and that there can be no more. Becauſe under the Goſpel there being but one High Prieſt, and but one Sacrifice once offered for Sin, and Interceſſion for Sinners being founded in the Merit and Virtue of the Sacrifice, by which Expiation for Sin is made, there can be no other Mediator of Interceſſion, but he who hath made Expiation of Sin, by a Sacrifice offered to God for that purpoſe; and this Jeſus Chriſt only hath done. He is both our High Prieſt, and our Sacrifice; and therefore he only, in the Merit and Virtue of that Sacrifice, which he offered upon Earth, can intercede in Heaven for us, and offer up our Prayers to God. Others may pray to God for us; as our Brethren upon Earth do, and perhaps the Angels and Saints in Heaven; but none of theſe can offer up our Prayers to God, and procure the acceptance of them; for that can only be done in Virtue of a Sacrifice firſt offered, and by him that offered it; this being the peculiar Office and Qualification of a Mediator or Interceſſor, properly ſo called.
It is the plain Deſign of the Author of the Epiſtle to the Hebrews, to prove that Chriſt is our only Mediator in Heaven, in Vertue of that Sacrifice for Sin, which he offered upon Earth; and that he alone appears in the Preſence of God for us, to preſent our Requeſts to him, and obtain a gracious Anſwer of them; and he ſhews at large, how this was particularly typified by the Jewiſh High Prieſt, who upon the great day of Expiation, after the Sacrifice was ſlain without, enter'd alone into the Holy of Holies, with the Blood of the Sacrifices, in Vertue whereof he made Interceſſion for the People. Anſwerable to this, Jeſus the High Prieſt of our Profeſſion, offered himſelf a Sacrifice for the Sins of Men, and in vertue of that Sacrifice is enter'd into the High Place not made with Hands, that is, into Heaven it ſelf, there to appear in the Preſence of God for us, where he lives for ever to make interceſſion for us, in Vertue of that Eternal Redemption, which he hath obtained for us, by the Price of his Blood, as the Apoſtle declares in ſeveral Chapters of that Epiſtle. So that this Interceſſion being founded in the Merit of a Sacrifice, which he alone offered, he is of neceſſity, the only Mediator between God and Men.
And for this Reaſon it is, that the Mediation and Interceſſion of Chriſt, is ſo frequently in Scripture mentioned together with the Expiation which he made for the Sins of Men, or, (which is the ſame,) with the price which he paid for the Redemption of Mankind; becauſe the one is founded in the other, and depends upon it. So we find, 1 John 2.1, 2. If any Man ſin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the Righteous, and he is the Propitiation for our Sins; and not for ours only, but alſo for the Sins of the whole World. And here likewiſe in the Text, There is one Mediator between God and men, the man Chriſt Jeſus, who gave himſelf a Ranſom for all; therefore the only Mediator between God and men; becauſe he only gave himſelf a Ranſom for all men. The Efficacy and Prevalency of his Mediation, being founded in the Merit and Vertue of the Ranſom of his Blood.
And the force of theſe Texts, and the reaſoning from them, is not to be avoided and turned off, by diſtinguiſhing between a Mediator of Redemption and of Interceſſion, and by ſaying, that it is true, that Chriſt is the only Mediator of Redemption, but there may be many Mediators of Interceſſion; For if the Force of his being Advocate or Interceſſor be founded in the Virtue of his Ranſom and Propitiation (as I have plainly ſhewn, to the Conviction of any that are not ſtrongly prejudiced, and that will read and conſider what the Scripture ſays in this matter without Prepoſſeſſion,) then it is plain, that none can be a proper Mediator of Interceſſion, but he that paid the Price of our Redemption: So that the Mediator of our Redemption, and our Mediator of interceſſion, muſt of neceſſity be one and the ſame Perſon; and none can appear in the Quality of our Advocate with the Father, but he only who is the Propitiation for the ſins of the whole World.
I ſhould now have proceeded to
The Fourth thing I propoſed in the handling of this Argument, namely, To ſhew how contrary to this Doctrine of the Chriſtian Religion, concerning one only Mediator and Interceſſor in Heaven for us, the Doctrine and Practice of the Church of Rome is in this matter; namely, in their Invocation of Angels, and the Bleſſed Virgin, and the Saints, and flying to their Help and making uſe of their Mediation and Interceſſion with God for Sinners: As likewiſe how contrary all this is to the Doctrine and Pratice of the Chriſtian Church, for ſeveral of the firſt Ages of it. And then I ſhould have anſwered their chief Pretences and Excuſes for theſe things, and ſhew'd that this Practice of theirs is not only needleſs (being no where commanded by God) but uſeleſs alſo, and unprofitable; and not only ſo, but very dangerous and impious, being contrary to the Chriſtian Religion, and highly derogating from the Virtue and Merit of Chriſt's Sacrifice, and from the Honour of the only Mediator between God and Men. But of this another time.