Christ Crucified, Sermon 69
SERMON LXIX.
ISAIAH LIII.XII.
Verſ. 12. —And he made interceſſion for the tranſgreſſours.
ALthough this be a moſt neceſſary thing, and that whereof we have dayly and hourly uſe, even to be improving Chriſts Interceſſion; and although it be one of the moſt excellent, and moſt comfortable things that a Chriſtian hath to look to in his walk; there being no condition, but there is a ready help for it here; yet this is our ſinful miſery, that either through our blindneſſe, or our indifferency, we are much out of capacity, to improve aright ſo rare a priviledge: For as much as we have heard of it, are there many of us that can tell how Chriſts Interceſſion is to be improven? Sure we may know that if ever we do it, there is no th…nks to us for the doing of it; And indeed it is of ſuch a nature, that we even cannot well tell whether it be better to ſpeak of it or to be ſilent, being ſo little able to make any thing plain, of ſuch a miſterious, yet very concerning thing.
Ye may remember the Doctrine that we propoſed to ſpeak to was this; That our Lord Jeſus hath this for a part of his Office, to make Interceſſion for tranſgreſſours; Being a real Prieſt, he not only offers a Sacrifice, but goes in, and hath gone within the vail, with the vertue of his Sacrifice, to appear before God in heaven for us; as all the Offices of Chriſt are advantagious, and would be ſtudied by us, and we would ſtudy them well; this hath many advantages with it, and we would improve it, leaſt we fruſtrat our ſelves of the cluſter of priviledges that is in this one Doctrine, That Jeſus Chriſt makes interceſſion for tranſgreſſours, or ſinners.
We ſhew the laſt day wherein the improving of Chriſts Interceſſion doth conſiſt; we ſhall now inſtance ſome caſes wherein Believers, in a ſpecial manner are to make uſe of it. 2. We ſhall give ſome directions for clearing ſome queſtions, or for anſwering ſome doubts about it. And 3. We ſhall asſigne ſome Characters of ſuch as are rightly improving Chriſts Intercesſion.
For the Firſt, Chriſts Interceſſion ought to be made uſe of in as many caſes as are poſſibly incident to a Believer; and therefore we are not to reſtrict it to one caſe more then to another; although indeed there be ſome wherein more eſpecially we are called to improve it; Now to clear it, that there are ſome caſes wherein, in a ſpecial manner, the Believer is to make uſe of this Office of Chriſts interceeding for tranſgreſſours; It may be inſtanced in theſe, 1. A Believer hath either liberty, or he is in bonds; and there is a ſpecial watchfulneſs called for in both theſe caſes, that the Interceſſion of Chriſt be not ſlighted.
1. When he hath liberty, and his ſpiritual condition thryves, he prayes, and his heart melts in prayer, he hath what he would have, the exerciſes of Religion become pleaſant, and he hath no will to come from them: In this caſe the Believer is to beware, leaſt he be ſtollen off his feet, and miſken Chriſts Interceſſion; for then he is ready to think that he cannot but be well, and his prayers cannot but be heard; becauſe he gets liberty to put them up, and it's then often that there is hazard to lay leaſt weight on Chriſts Interceſſion: To improve Chriſts Interceſſion aright in ſuch caſes, theſe Two are to be adverted to. 1. That his Interceſſion be acknowledged as the fountain, and procuring cauſe of that liberty and livelineſs, and ſo we are to carry a ſtoped mouth before God, and not to boaſt of it; For (as we ſhew) the pouring out of the Spirit is a ſpecial fruit of Chriſts Interceſſion; It being by vertue thereof that gifts are given, and grace to worſhip God in a ſpiritual manner. 2. That we beware of thinking that our prayers are in a fitneſs, or that they put us in a fitneſs of acceſs to God, becauſe of that liberty, except by vertue of Chriſts Interceſſion, more then if we had not a word to ſay; There is in our unbelief, and preſumption, a ſecret inclination to lay the weight of our acceptance on our own liberty, Whereas, Revel. 8. the prayers of all Saints muſt come up before God, having the ſmoak of his incenſe to make them acceptable; In which reſpect, in a caſe of liberty, Chriſts Interceſſion is made uſe of, and improven, when we are denyed to our own liberty, and it is not made the ground of our confident application to God, but Chriſts Interceſſion on…y: Again 2. when the Believer is in bonds, in ſome eminent manner, ſo that he cannot pray, he ſcarce hath a word to ſpeak to God; he goes, it's true about the duty, but he comes not ſpeed; his prayer reliſhes not to himſelf, he is like one ſpeaking, but not praying, his heart is not warmed, neither is there, at leaſt to his own apprehenſion, any connexion betwixt his words, whereupon he is ready to think that his prayer is as good as no prayer, becauſe of that inclination that is in all of us, to reſt on our own praying without making uſe of th… Interceſſion of Chriſt; The reaſons why, in this caſe we would preſſe the uſe-making of his Interceſſion, are theſe. 1. L…a…t we faint, and grow wear in prayer, which cannot but befal us, if his Interceſſion be not made uſe of. 2. Leaſt we loſs the eſtimation of the excellent worth of Chriſts Interceſſion; which is exceeding derogatory to him that is mighty to ſave, and on whom help is laid: and it is eſpecially for ſuch a time and caſe, that he is holden forth for an Interceſſour: Now there is a twofold improvement of Chriſts Interceſſion called for in this caſe; when the Believer is in bonds, and cannot ſo much as ſigh; but it's called in queſtion whether it be accepted; though yet the man is ſerious. 1. There is an improving of it for obtaining of that which we have been aiming at, though we cannot tell our own teal (to ſpeak ſo) nor open our cauſe, nor make known our requeſts to God; yet to expect what we have been aiming at, and ſeeking after, by vertue of Chriſts Interceſſion, for as ill ſet together, as our prayer hath been, becauſe it is founded upon the Interceſſion of the Mediator; and we expect a hearing on that account ala…erly, it being his Interceſſion, that makes our prayers acceptable, it can make ſuch a poor prayer acceptable alſo; whereupon the Soul reſts quiet, and expects a hearing on this ground; becauſe, as was ſaid, the prayers of all Saints go up from his Cenſer, and with his Incenſe, and none are caſt back, that are put up through him, and by vertue of his Interceſſion; Hence ſometimes looks, ſometimes thoughts, ſometimes broken words, and groans come up before God, are acceptable, and get a return; The reaſon is, becauſe, through the Interceſſion of the Mediator, the prayers of all Saints are acceptable: This is even as if a man ſhould credit his able Advocat with the managing of his Cauſe, although he cannot, (to ſpeak ſo) …outh-band his own teal, nor expreſſe himſelf ſatisfyingly to himſelf in it; H…nce, we have theſe words often, John 14. and 16. Whatever ye ask in my name, believing, ye ſhall receive; and whatever ye ask in my name, I will do it; that is, when ye ground the expectation of your hearing, and ſpeed-coming in prayer on me, and my mediation: when folks, becauſe of their ſhort-comings in prayer give over the expectation of a hearing, and a return; they give over, in ſo far, the laying of due weight on his Interceſſion: only ye would remember the terms on which a perſon is warranted to make uſe of his Interceſſion; for when we follow not his way, in the improving of it, we cannot expect to come ſpeed, or get good by it. 2. A Believer in his bonds, would expect a louſing, through the vertue of his Interceſſion; And this is another way, how we would improve it in this caſe, when we are bound up, and (to ſpeak ſo) langled, that we cannot ſtir in prayer, then we would have an eye to the efficacy of Chriſts Interceſſion, (that is of continual vigour and efficacy, even when we are very dead, indiſpoſed, and lifeleſſe,) for the attaining of liberty and livelineſs; This is indeed to caſt a look to him, and ſingly to improve the efficacy of his mediation; when we cannot ſpeak on word to work up our ſelves to a diſpoſition for that work: And theſe two go well together, to be improving his Interceſſion, for obtaining what we need for the time preſent, and for the time to come; and when we are in bonds, to be improving it for liberty and freedom.
2dly. There is an uſe-making of Chriſts Interceſſion called for; both when we aim to obtain any thing; and when we have obtained that which we would be at. 1. In our aiming to have, or obtain; we would improve it, that our addreſſes to God may be in his name, and our Faith of obtaining may be founded on Chriſts Interceſſion, and not on our own, and that our Faith may be ſtayed, and fixed in expectation of the thing: The improving of Chriſts Interceſſion in his reſpect, leads us, 1. To the right way of proſecuting our ſuits to God, and 2. It quiets and fix…s us in expecting of an anſwer; and when this is wanting, Chriſtians are either diſcouraged, and know not how to purſue their cauſe, or elſe they are carnally ſecure, and preſumptuous, which is very ordinary; for either, as I have ſaid, we are under an anxious fear, ſo that we know not how to go about dutie with any hope of ſucceſs; or elſe we grow ſecure and ſlack, and careleſs in dutie.
2ly. There is an uſe-making of Chriſts Interceſſion, when we have obtained any benefit, which keeps the Soul in his common and debt, and in acknowledging it ſelf to be his Debtor; This makes Chriſtians, when they have gotten any thing, to be humble, and helps them to a ſanctified uſe of the thing received; whereas, when this is forgotten, though Perſons may be ſeemingly humble when they are praying for a thing in his name, yet when they have gotten it, they grow carnal, and ſome way wanton, and he is forgotten, as if the benefit had never come from him; But on the other hand, when there is an acknowledgement of Chriſts Interceſſion, when any thing is obtained; it keeps, as I ſaid, the Perſon humble, and holily afra…d, when it hath gotten, as well as when it was ſeeking; and it makes warrie in uſing, and fearful to abuſe any benefit received; leaſt it be found a wrong and indignity done to Chriſt and his Interceſſion.
3dly. We may inſtance the improving of Chriſts Interceſſion, both in a moſt ſad, and in a moſt cheerful condition; In reference to both which we ſhould make uſe of Chriſts Interceſſion, and it being readily one of theſe conditions that we are in, either a more ſad, or more cheerful one; we would think our ſelves defective and faulty as to our duty, when we ſuit and conform not our way to our condition.
1. If it be a more ſad condition, whether we be ſpiritually ſad, the Soul being heavy, and refuſing to be comforted, or whether we be under a temporal outward di…conſolat condition; there is an uſe-making of Chriſts Interceſſion called for in both; For a Believer cannot be in any ſo diſconſolat a condition; but he may draw refreſhing from this Fountain, in reference thereto; and when we make not uſe of his Interceſſion in each, as it occurs; either anxiety, and diſcouragement grows, or we turn to ſome unwarrantable, and crooked mean, or way for an out-gate from ſuch a diſconſolat condition.
Now to make uſe of, and to improve Chriſts Interceſſion aright, in ſuch a diſconſolat condition, and caſe. 1. The Soul would gather, and compoſe it ſelf, to ſearch and ſee what is uſeful in Chriſts Interceſſion for it's caſe; ſeing that ſad caſe cannot be imagined, but Chriſts Interceſſion is a cordial for it, upon which, as a ſolid ground, the Soul may be quiet, that it cannot miſcarry in that for which it is now in ſo much bitterneſs; ſeing Chriſt Jeſus hath the managing of it's caſe and cauſe: Hence it may reaſon thus, although I was unwatchful, and this condition came on me unawars, and I was ſurpriſed with it, yet it's not any ſurpriſe to him; He was not ſleeping, though I was, he knew what was coming, though I knew not; therefore this will not hurt, nor prejudge my main cauſe, becauſe it comes through his hand. 2. There is an improvement of his Interceſſion in this caſe, when the out-gate, though deſperat, as to us; is yet hopeful by vertue thereof; and when this is made the only, or main ground of our hope, to wit, That there is a friend at the court of heaven, who can order our cauſe, and make ſuch a thing work for our good; It puts ſpirits in us to pray, and actively to go about the uſe of the means; whereas, when we uſe not the means, or uſe them without due reſpect to Chriſts Interceſſion, the buſineſſe becomes heartleſſe, hopleſſe and deſperat.
2. If our condition be, or ſeem to be more ſolacious, and cheerful, there would be an improving of Chriſts Interceſſion, leaſt our cheerfulneſſe; grow carnal, which it cannot otherwayes be; but when he is acknowledged to be the author of our ſolace, and cheerfulneſſe; when he is depended upon for the continuance of it, and when the praiſe of it is returned to him, it bounds the heart, that there is no acce… to grow carnal; in which reſpect, theſe things wherein others grow carnal, ſuch as health, ſtrength, meat, drink, apparel, commodious dwelling, the recovery of themſelves, of their children, or of other neer relations, or dear friends from ſickneſs, &c. A…e thus ſpiritual…zed, and made ſpiritually refreſhing to the peop…e of God; becauſe there is an up taking of them, as coming through Chriſts Interceſſion, and a returning of thanks to him for for them; Hence, Heb. 13.15. It's ſaid, By him therefore let us offer the ſacrifices of praiſe to God; There being the ſame acceſs to praiſe in our ſpiritual cheerfulneſſe, that there is to pray in our heavineſſe, and difficulties; He that is the ground on which we ought to found our prayers; is alſo the ground on which we ought to bui…d our praiſe; And it's he that puts life in, and value upon, the one and the other.
4ly, We may inſtance it in this caſe, when the Believer is under challenges; it's then a ſpecial ſeaſon to make uſe of Chriſts Interceſſion, and to put the Lybel in his hand to anſwer it; which is done by Faith's reſting on him as a Prieſt, for the obtaining of an abſolution from that charge, although we cannot anſwer it our ſelves, yet expecting an anſwer through him, according to that famous place, Rom. 8.34. Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? Who will lybel them? among other reaſons of the interrogation, which hath the force of a negation; this is one; It is Chriſt who died, yea rather who is riſen again, who is at the right hand of God making interceſſion for us: This furniſheth an Anſwer to the Charge put in their hand: Or, when the Believer is under calmneſſe, and tranquility, his Interceſſion would be improven; for there cannot be a ſanctified calmneſſe without depending on him, by vertue of whoſe Satis…action, and Procurement we have it, and by vertue of whoſe Interceſſion it's continued.
The Reaſo…s, why we have hinted at theſe things, are. 1. To hold out to you the concernment of Chriſts Interceſſion; for we canno… be in that caſe; but the Believer hath therein to do with it. 2. To ſhew our great obligation to God, who hath given us ſuch an Interc…ſſour for all theſe caſes; In this one word, there is ſtored up a treaſure of conſolation, for all caſes that a Chriſtian can be in. 3. That we may be helped to our duty of improving, and making uſe of him according to the ſeveral caſes we are, or may be in; For though his Interceſſion be mainly to be made uſe of, when we come to pray; yet not only then but at other times, and in other caſes, as when we fear any hazard, when we need any good thing; when we expect it, or would be cheerful on the receipt of it; and when we are in any difficulty, and know not what to do, we will find ſomething called for from us, in reference to his Offices; and to this in particu…ar. 4. Becauſe this uſe making of Chriſts Interceſſion commends Chriſt, and makes him lovely to us; And indeed that which makes Believers think ſo little of him, is in part at leaſt, the little improving of …is Interceſſion, which ſh…uld be made uſe of in the leaſt things, if it were when we need any thing, in our thought to look up to God through him, and to found the hope of our getting it on this ground; bebecauſe there is an Interceſſour; If this were the practice of Believers dayly, they would ſee a neceſſi…y of thinking much of him; O! when will we be ſerious and conſtant in the uſe-making of this part of his Office? 5. Becauſe it may ſerve alſo for ground of conviction to many that are called Chriſtians; and who go through many caſes and d ffi…ulties, and yet know not what it is to acknowledge him, in his interceſſion: O! It's a ſad thing for folk to bear the name of Chriſtians, and yet if they want any good thing, and can get it another way they neglect and miſken him; And if it be well with them, and if they obtain what they would have, they ſacrifice to their own net, and he is ſl…ghted. The next thing in order, is to remove ſome Objections, and to anſwer ſome Queſtions, con…er…ing this improvement of Chriſt interceſſion, in the manner that we have ſpoken of; And there will readily be ſtore of them in our carnal minds; Now for the removing of theſe Obj…ctions, or Doubts, I ſhall lay down ſome grounds for direction, that may anſwer any Doubt of that kind, which may ariſe partly from the Doctrinal, partly from the practical part of this Doct…. It being a puzling piece of exerciſe to …om…, that they think they know not how to improve Chriſts I…terceſſion; or that they never did it aright; or poſſibly both theſe ma… …e their exe…ciſe.
The 1. groun… I would lay down, is this; That ye would remember that there is an unſearchableneſſe in this myſtery of the God head, in the myſtery of Gods becoming man, and in the myſtery of the Mediator his taki…g on of theſe Offi…es, to exerciſe them in our nature; and in ſpeaking, or thinking of them, there is a neceſſity to ſilence that which our curioſity would propoſe for Satisfaction about them, as namely, how there are, or can be three Perſons in the God head, and yet but one God? how one of theſe Perſons can be man? and how it is, that by him we have acceſs to God the Father, Son and holy Ghoſt? There is ſilence required in the how of theſe things; which leads to the next derection. 2. We would ſtudy Satisfaction in the matter of the truth it ſelf, rather then to be poring into the m nner, or how of profound Myſteries, eſpecially ſuch as concern the bleſſed God-head; Which is higher then the heavens, broader then the earth, and deeper then the ſea: That is, (as we hinted before) we would ſtudy rather to know that there is ſuch a thing, then how it is; as in this particular, we know that the Son of God became man, took on our nature, and in our nature died; roſe again, aſcended to heaven, ſat down on the right hand of God, and makes Interc…ſſion for us; Theſe are clear; But if we aſk how theſe things can be? That God can be man, and that two natures can be in one perſon, and how God can interceed? they are things much above our reach, and not to properly the object of our Faith, (I ſay, as to the how of them) …d our conſolation lyes not ſo much in knowing how ſuch a thing is, as in knowing that it is; and I make no queſtion, but there are many who pray in Faith, becauſe there is an Interceſſour, who, if the queſtion were aſked, how he performs that work? They could not tell well, if at all; Theſe that can tell moſt of it, are very ignorant of it, and can tell but little: The Lord in his goodneſſe hath ſo ord…red the matter, that he hath given grounds for the Faith of his people, to walk on in their duty; but will not ſatisfy their curioſity; and truly if we will ſeriouſly reflect, we will find that theſe things which moſt read…ly vex us, are queſtions about the manner, and not abou… the matter of things; we do not doubt that the Son of God is God, that the holy Ghoſt is God, and that he proc…e…s from the Father and the Son; that the ſecond Perſon of the Trinity became Man, &c. But the perplexing queſtion is, how theſe things are or can be? The Lord hath made it neceſſary to be believed, that there is one God, and three Perſons in the God head; but to be in reaſon ſatisfied, as to the how, or manner of their ſubſiſtance, and operations that is not required as neceſſary; So is it here in this matter of Chriſt's Interceſſion; And therefore this ſecond direction is, that ye would ſtudy clearneſs in the grounds that ye are to go upon, in the uſe-making of his Interceſſion; but ye would not be curious in ſeeking ſatisfaction about the how, or manner of it.
3. In our addreſſes to God, and in our improving of Chriſt's Interceſſion, we would beware of imagining, or framing in our imagination repreſentations to our ſelves of him, who is the object of our worſhip, or of the manner of the Mediators Interceſſion; as if we had ſeen him, or heard him with our bodily eyes, or ears; a thing that ſometimes is faſhions and troubleſome, as well as it is ſinful; and which we are not called to; yea, if it were poſſible to attain to any repreſentation of this kind; yet it's but a repreſentation of our own forming, and ſo a breach of the ſecond Command: And therefore in going to God through the Mediator, never repreſent to your ſelves one party ſtanding beſide, or by another; For that is but a diverting of the Soul from the exerciſe of Faith on a purely ſpiritual, and ſimple object; and derogatory to the majeſty of God; and when ever ſuch repreſentations are made, or riſe in the imagination, or in the mind, God would be looked to, for cruſhing of them; It's from this that many of our doubts, and queſtions ariſe; and there is no looſing of them, but by …he abandoning of them; If there were a-poſſibility to conceive ſomething like God; yet the Lord abhorreth that and; Deut. 4.15. and 12.30. All Similituds and Repreſentations of God are diſcharged.
4 In our addreſſes to God through the Mediator; we would reſt our Faith on what is revealed in the Word, ſeeking rather to take up God, and Chriſt …s they are revealed in it, then without the Word, to ſeek Satisfaction to our curioſity; we would from the Word ſtudy to take up the attributs of God, his omniſcience, omnipotency, omni preſence, wiſdom, grace, and mercy, purity, and holineſſe, ſoveraignity, and abſolute dominion, in guiding all; and as being at ſuch an infinit diſtance from and infinitly above all creatures; that thereby a right impreſſion of God may be wrought in the heart; we would likewiſe ſtudy clearneſs in the promiſes; and concerning Chriſt and his Offices; And in applications to God, we would fix our Faith on theſe known grounds; believing we ſhall be heard, and being quiet on that: Moſes Exod. 33. Is under a vehement longing to ſee God, I beſeech thee, ſaith he, ſhew me thy glory: The Lord tells him, that he cannot ſee it, and live; but he will make his goodneſs paſs before him: He will let him ſee as much as is meet; and Chap. 34. When he gives him his anſwer; It is not any glorious viſible brightneſs he lets him ſee, but he proclaims his name to him; The Lord, the Lord gracious, merciful, &c. And comparing the words with the ſcope, It ſayes that there can be no ſaving uptaking of God, but as he is revealed in the word; and that way we are to be fixed in the Faith of the excellency that is in him; and in going to him by prayer, through the Mediator, we would guard againſt any repreſentation; and fix our Faith on clear Promiſes, and attributs as Scripture holds him forth.
5. We would endeavour rather to have a compoſed frame of Spirit, with holy reverence in the exerciſe of fear, faith, and love, and of other ſpiritual graces; then to fill our underſtanding with things meerly ſpeculative; and leſſe practical and profitable: And ſuppoſing that we are in ſome meaſure clear, in what is revealed of God; and of his attributs, and promiſes in the Word, in as far as may found our Faith, and warrand us to put up ſuch and ſuch ſuits to God through the Mediator, and that we come to him in holy reverence; we are rather to exerciſe our graces and have an …ve downward, in reflecting on our ſelves, …eking to be clear, in what is called for in a worſhipper of God, then to be curiouſly poring, and prying into the Object of our worſhip himſelf; And therefore let this be well ſtudied; even to be up at that wherein we are clear, and which we do not queſtion, not make any doubt of; as namely, that we ſhould be in a compoſed frame of Spirit; in holy reverence, and under the due impreſſion of the M…jeſty of God; and then there will be the leſs hazard, if any at all, of going wrong; whereas, if we divert from this, and ſeek to ſatisfie our ſelves in the how, or manner of up-taking of God; we will but myre our ſelves, and ma… the frame of our own Spirits, and bring our ſelves under an incapacity of going about duty rightly.
This much we have ſpoken on the Third part of the Uſe of Exhortation; wherein we allow a ſober and ſolid up-taking of the things of God; and in as far as may be profitable for founding of our Faith, and for guiding of our practice; but not to ſatisfie curioſity; For if we once go to chaſe, and follow queſtion upon queſtion, in what concerns the Doctrinal, and ſpeculative part of this Doctrine, we will run our ſelves a ground; and therefore, God having made theſe things wherein our duty neceſſarily lyes, clear, that there is no hazard to go wrong in ſingle following of it; we would ſtudy theſe things that are clear; (which might be another direction) and hold us with, and at what we are clear in; and not ſuffer our minds to run out on either groundleſs, or unprofitable ſpeculations; God himſelf help to the ſuitable practice of theſe things; and to him be ….