leap Boolf anc v a^-Y I ore^No 407 Mar^^et St, I .nvP Eleventh, N. Side. |l T? LIBRARY OF THE Theological Seminary PRINCETON, N. J. ■^ Division. Section. No Case, SheJf, Booky. v. 2. A DONATION ^ CHRIST CRUCIFIED AND GLORIFIED, SERMONS PREACHED AT MERCHANT'S-LECTURE, IN PINNER'S^HALL. BY THE EEVEREND AND LEARNED MR. JOHN HURRION, LATE DISSENTING MINISTER IN LONDON. TO WHICH IS NOW PREFIXEt), AN ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR'S LIFE. ^ ^eh) (JfUition. God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lor'ried Vv'itli glory ? Christ's sitting at the Father'' s right hand is a farther illustration of his and his Father's glory ; and how much it conduces to the faith and comfort of the re- deemed, I have endeavoured to shew, in the ensuing discourses on that subject. The intercession of Christ is recommended to our esteem in scripture, as that which renders him cijle to («) Psal. Ixviii. 18. (Z) Psal. xlvii. 5, 6. (.-) 1 KJng^ i. 40 IV PREFACE save us to the utmost (a) : the security, comfort and encouragement, which it may afFoid, even to the ^veakest true believer, I have, I hope, set in an use- ful light, in the sermons upon that head. Christ's jwf/^?';?"- the world, m the great day, is by the apostle Paul spoken of (h), as one of the funda- mental articles of the christian faith, and is made use of in scripture (c), as a grand incentive to repen- tance, and a diligent care, to be accepted of God our- selves, and to persuade others to Jly from the wrath io come, and to la^j hold on the hope set before them : it is produced as a bright evidence of Christ's govern- ment and glory, and a means of completing the work of redemption, and bringing the redeemed to their most consummate happiness. This point there- fore, as well as the rest, cannot be insignificant and useless articles of our faitli, but must be dear to all such as have a due value for Christ, and their own salvation. What I have briefly hinted ff/^, of the insufhciency of the law of nature, to save a sinner, might have^ been more largely explained and confirmed, had there been time for it, and might be done here, were there room for it. The light of nature, in its present state, makes but very imperfect discoveries of God, of liis perfections and will; of 'i\\Q way in which he may be r;cceptably worshipped in this world, and enjoyed by us, in that to come ; of the immortality of the soul, and of the certainty, nature, and degrees of future rewards and punishments : these matters are very darkly and doubtfully represented, by the unassisted light of nature, as might easily be made appear; and it is no less certain, that the glory of God, which is, and ought to be, the chief end of all who truly love and enjoy him, has been not only overlooked, but opposed by the ancient patrons of natural religion^ (a) Heb. vii. 25. {b) Heb. vi. 2. (c) Act3 xvii. 30, 31.~2 Cor. v. 9. 1 1. {^) f ages 214. If: PREFACE. V which agrees to what the scripture has told us (a), That when thei/ knew God, tkei/ glorified him not as God, but waxed vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were darkened. An instance of this we have in Seneca, who, in one place (b), says, that, * the wise man beholds and contemns all the enjo}^- * ments of other men with as calm a mind as God ; * but upon this he values himself more than God, * because God cannot use them, but he will not.' He farther says (c), that ' the upright man cannot be * overcome by external things, and is an admirer * only of himself;' nay, he goes so far as to say (d), that, ' there is something in which a wise man ex- * cells God, in that God's wisdom is not by himselE ' acquired, but is owing to the kindness of nature.' This is that principle of pride and self-love, which the devil set up, when he made man a sinner ; and which the spirit of God always pulls down, when he makes a man a Christian ; as it is written (e), If any man will come after me, let him deni/ himself; and he that glories, let hitn glory in the Lord. It is worthy of observation, that instead of glorying only in Christ, natural religion, taken by itself, excludes him alto- gether ; and when he is set upas suflicient for salva- tion, instead of giving him glory, must cast the vilest reflections on his wisdom, grace, and love, in becom- ing incarnate, living a life of sorrow, and dying an accursed death for men, and giving us an institution of doctrines and precepts, which we might have done very well without : but notwithstanding, as has been lately well observed (/), some have shewed a great (fl)Rom. i. 21. (i) Sapiens tarn xquo animo omnia apud alios vldet, contemnit- que, quam Jupiter; & lioc se magis suspicit, quod Jupiter uti illis non potest, sapiens non vult. Senecs epist. 73. p. 21. (c) Incorruptus vir sit externus est insuperabilis, miratorque taiitum sui. Id. de vita c. 8. {J J Est aliquid quo sapiens antecedat Deum, ille nalurse bene- l"cio, non suo, sapiens est. Id. Epist. 53. p. 13G. (e) Mat. xvi, i?, 4.— 1 Cor. i. 31. (/) See the Bishop of London's pastoral letter, p. 3. zeal for natural religion, in opposition to revealed, >vith no other views, as it seems, than to get rid of the restraints of revealed religion, and to make way for the unbounded enjoyments of their corrupt ap- petites, and vicious inclmations. Those who write on the side of revelation, have as good a right to do it, and a much better cause to defend, than those who write against it ; and if the friends of the latter encourage them to repeat, and reprint what has been often much better said before ; shall not the friends of Christ and his gos[)el do what they can, in defence of his truth and glory, especially at a time, when men, by various arts, are endeavouring to undermine and run them down ? I was willing in this circumstance to comply with the desire of my friends, in publishing the ensuing discourses, concerning several great doctrines of the gospel, and to put Christians in remembrance of them, though they know them already, and are es- tablished in the present truth. If what I have written shall be found consonant to the scriptures, and ser- viceable to the faith, holiness, and establishment of any serious and humble Christian, or to make any persons such, I shall rejoice in the success. I will only add my request, that the serious and candid rea- der would excuse the imperfections and mistakes ha may find in this work, and that his prayers, that God may be glorified by it, may be united with those of the unworthy author. JOHN HUERIQN. Jan. 28. 1728-9. I. ^ Page. UN the resurrection of Christ from the dead, in two Ser- mons, from 2 Tim. ii. 8. , . . , , 1 1. ShcA^ving the possibility of a resurrection, in general, and of Christ's in particular, 3 2. The.necessity of it, .,.•..., 6 3. The certainty of it, 9 Objections against it answered, .... 23 4. Its nature and properties, ..#... SI 5. The reasons of it, 87 «. The application, . i21, 40 II. UOn the ascension of Christ into Heaven, in two Sermons, from Ephes. iv. 10. , . . . . . 47 1. Shewing the reality of Christ's ascension, and tire benefit of knowing it, 50 2, The nature, circumstance, and manner of it, . , 55 "3. The difference between Christ's ascension and ours, 66 4. The reasons of it, . 68 5. Some of its fruits and consequents, . . 77 6. The application, 63, 80 III. On Christ's sitting at the right hand of God, in two Ser- mons, from Heb. xii. 2. .... • 88 J. Explaining what is meant by Christ's sitting at the right hand of the throne of God, .... 89 2. Producing some evidences of It, , . , . 100 3. Enquiring in what relation and capacity Christ sits there, 108 4. Hinting the time and ends of Christ's sitting on God's right hand, . 114 3. The application, ..,..,• lOS, 124 II COK TENTS, IV. Pa^e. On the Intercession of Christ for his people, at the right hand of God, in two Sermons, from Heb. vii. 24. 129 1. Describing the persons for whom Christ intercedes, 130 2. Shewing the reality and certainty of Christ's intercession, 13J 3. Giving the character of the intercessor, . . 137 4. Explaining the nature and properties of Christ's inter- cession, . . 148 5. Enquiring into the extent of it, . . . . 158 6. Representing the importance and prevalence of it, 161 7. Mentioning some of its fruits and effects, . . 166 «. The application, . * . -. . . . 146, 167 T. On Christ's second coming, to judge the world in righteous- ness, in four Sermons, from 2 Tim. iv. 1. . , 174 1. Enquiring into the certainty, and time of the future judgment, 178 2. Considering the person and character of the Judge, 185 S. Specifying the objects of this judgment, , . 193 4. Explaining the form and process of it, . . 202 5. Hinting some of its properties, . . . . 22 €. Assigning some reasons of this judgment, . . £32 7. Mentioning some of its consequents, and answering some questions concerning it, ... 240 «. The appUcatiojJ, . . 190, 212, 226, 246 Rfi^UTlRE C T lON^^jl j; CHRIST PfeM^rl|3&At>; IN TWO SERMONS. SERMON I. Preached May 23, 1727. Rememher, that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, tvas raised from the dead, according to my gospel. — 2 Tim. ii. 8. 1 HESE words are a part of the apostle Paul's second epistle to his beloved Timothy ; and, as it is thought, of the last he wrote, he being now a second time prisoner at Rome, under the bloody Nero, ready to be offered, the time of his departure being at hand. In this epistle he has given to Timothy the evangehst his last instructions, as to what doc- trines he should most insist on himself, and commit to other able and faithful men, by them to be transmitted to posteri- ty. In the head of these stands the doctrine of Christ'* Resurrection, which he, in my text, has recommended to be remembered, taught, and received, as a principal ar- ticle of our faith aiid happiness. Remember, that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead, ac- cording to my gospel ; which words contain an assertion, its confirmation, and the use to be made of it. VOL. If. A 2 OF chIiist's resurrection. 1. The words contain an assertion, that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised J^rom the dead. The person here spoken of is described, partly by his work and office, Jesus Chiist; he who was anointed to save men from their .sins, and partly by his lineage and descent, he was of the se?d of David, as it was foretold the true Messiah was to be ; for, has not the scripture said (a), that Christ comes of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was born ? That flesh which was thus derived from David was crucified and buried, and after that was raised from the dead, and came forth out of the grave, having its soul reunited to it, and entered into a state of happy life and immortality, as Christ himself said, / am he that lives and ivas dead, and behold I am alive for evermore (h). 2. We have the conjirmation of this truth, in those words, according to my gospel, viz. according to that revelation which I received from Christ, and which I have preached to the people, having also myself seen Christ in the flesh i for, last of all he xms seen of me also fcj. Christ's appear- ing was to qualify Paul to testify this important truth to others, according to the words of Ananias, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shoiddst knoiv his mil, and see that just One, and hear the voice of his mouth : for thou shalt be his tvitness to all men of 'vcJiat thou hast seen and heard (d). Paul being thus qualified abundantly, pub- lished the doctrine of Christ's resurrection ; he has asserted it more than thirty times in his writings, and it was his man- ner (e), In his preaching, to open the scriptures, and to prove Christ's resurrection from them. 3. We have the use which is to be made of this truth in tlie word remember, which is sometimes used to recollect and call to mind ; so Peter remembered the words of Christ (f) : and sometimes it is used to put others in mind of a (a) Mic. V. 2. (b) Rev. i. IP. (c) I Cor. xv. 8. {d: Acis xxil. 1 4, ] 5. (0 Acts xvii. 2, 9. (/) Mat, ixvi. 75. OF Christ's resurrection. 3 thing ; so Joseph made mention of, or remembered, the de- parting of the children of Israel ; thus Paul exhorted Timc- thy to keep in mind, and put others in mind of Christ's re- surrection. We are told, that the usual salutation among the primitive Christians was, The Lord is risen ! This is a truth never to be forgot or neglected, seeing the truth of the Christian rehgion, and the hohness and comfort of Christi- ans have such a dependence upon it. From the words this doctrine may be drawn, It is highly necessary to preserve the memory of Christ^s assured resurrect ion from the dead. In discoursing upon this point, I shall observe the follow in^ method. I. I shall consider the possibility of a resurrection in g ; ■' iieral, and of Christ's in particular. II. I shall shew the necessity of it, III. I shall prove the certainty of it. IV. I shall explain its nature and propei'ties, V. I shall assign the reasons of it. And I shall then shew the use and improvement whicli is to be made of it. I. I shall consider the jjOSsiHlity of a resurrection in gene- ral, and of Christ's in particular. The apostle Paul introduced a discourse on this doctrine with that interrogation. Why should it he thought a thing incredible tvith you, that God shoidd raise the dead f If in- deed the dead rise not, then Christ is not risen (a). If the resurrection is not possible, the doctrine of Christ's resur- rection must be a mere fiction : The Sadducees (b) among the Jews denied the resurrection ; some of the Athenians (c) derided it, but without cause ; for reason suggests, that G) Acts xxvi. 8. — 1 Cor. xv. .13. {h) Acts xxiii. 8, () 1 Cor. xv, 29. r) Pliil. iii. 21. {d) I Cor. XV. 13. A 3 O Of CHRIST S RESURRECTION. else, and were there inexplicable difficulties only in tais qcc- trine, there would be more colour for calling its possibility in question. But when we may be puzzled about the mean- est of God's works, and when we know many things to be certainly true, the reason of which we cannot assign, (for God's ways are past our finding out) it is very absurd to deny the possibility of 2 resurrection, because we cannot account for all things belonging to it. No man has shewed or can shew any thing in it contrary to the divine nature, or that implies a contradiction : And of all men they have the least reason to question the possibility of it, who, ac- cording to their principles, must suppose, that men at first sprung out of the dust as plants, by a natural productfon. They who own an omnipotent power, and free agency of God i . things created, have no room to doubt of his abihty to effect this great work. To confess ourselves at a. loss as to the modus of it, or the way and manner'^in which it shall be accomplished, is but to allow God to be as much above MS in understanding, as we own him to be in power. The scripture has told us faj, that with God all things are pos- sible, v/hich are not contrary to the divine perfections, or inconsistent with themselves. Seeing then, as hath been proved, a resurrection in ge- neral is a thing possible ; hence it follows, that there is no •impossibility that Christ should rise from the dead. The Athenians therefore had no reason to mock at the hearing of it, as we read they did fbj ; nor ought we to treat it as a thing incredible. We have far greater reasons to give for the possibility of it, than can be alledged against it. Hav- ing thus made the possibiHty of it appear, my way is open- ed to what will come next to be considered, even the neces- sity and certainty of it ; to which I now proceed in their order^ II. I shall shew the necessity of Christ's resurrection. — It is fundamental to all our f?.ith and happiness ; This trie (d) Matt. ilx. 26. (/') Acts xvii. SJ. OF CIIRISl* s resuhrection. 7 scripture lias declared, If Christ is not risen^ then is our preaching vain, and i/o?ir/aith is vain^ you are yet in your sins, — they that are fallen asleep are perished (a) ; a num- ber of dismal consequences follow, on supposition of Christ's not ri'.jing from the dead. If Christ is not risen, then to preach to the people, that he rose from the dead, must be vain preaching, because false ; and so that faith which is the effect of it must also be vain. If Christ is not risen, t]\e whole gospel can be but a fable, and the happiness derived from it must consequently be only delusive ; for if Christ is not risen, then justice has not discharged him ; if justice has not discharged him, then it is not satisfied ; if justice is not satisfied, then God is not reconciled ; if God is not re- conciled, then Christ's blood is not meritorious ; if Christ's blood is not meritorious, then his intercession cannot be prevalent ; and if his inttrrcession is not prevalent, then for us there is no salvation: therefore if Christ did not rise. Christians cannot be saved. If Christ is not risen, then death is not destroyed ; if death is not destroyed, then Satan is not vanquished ; if Satan is not vanquished, then sinners cannot be delivered j therefore if Christ is not risen, his peo- ple are not redeemed, but those that are dead in Christ are perished. If the object of faith fails, then salvation, which should be the consequent of it, must fail also ; So neces- sary was Christ's resurrection to our salvation. Christ having foretold his resurrection ^h), when he said. Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up ; if he had not risen, he had been a false prophet, and so not fit to have been credited in other things ; but he has proved himself to be the faithful witness, in his being the first be- gotten from the dead. (c) God had sworn with an oath that he would raise up Christ, and had declared it by the prophetic spirit (d)y that (a) I Cor. XV. H, 15, 17, 18. {b) John ii. 18, 19, (0 Rev. i. 5. id) Acii ii. 30. he would not suffer his holy One to see corruption ; had not Christ risen, God had rendered his truth suspected ; and if he had failed in one point, the whole divine revelation had been uncertain ; for if he had deceived us in this part, he might in all the rest. And so Christ's not rising from the dead would have at once sapped the foundations of all our hopes of happiness. If Christ had not risen, he could not have executed any of his offices after his death, the truth essential to his pro- phetic office had been lost, the merit and intercession neces- sary to his priesthood had been wanting, the power requisite in him as a King had not been conferred upon him, for to this end he rose again (a), that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. With good reason then did the apostle Paul lay the main stress of our salvation upon Christ's resurrection. It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again (b). Faith is now the hardest thing in the world, although the gospel sets \)efore us a faithful, living, all-suf- tlcient Saviour : But if it had presented one false, dead, and insufficient, faith had been impossible ; or if not impossible, vet as foolish, as now it is hard ; for what reason could there have been to expect that he should save us, who could not save himself? Therefore God raised Christ from the dead^. and gave him glory, that our faith and hope 7night be in God fcj. His resurrection was absolutely necessary, and it was not possible that he should be held of the cords of death (dj ; for if he had, God's decrees had been disap- pointedy his beloved Son and people had been lost, the throne of grace had been demojished, and the mansions of o-lory must have been left unpeopled. Hence we learu-the necessity of Christ's resurrection, and the reason why Paul taught it so carefully ; and, when dying, left it to Timothy, to transmit it to posterity : hence also we learn how nece> {a) Rom. xiv. 9. (^) Rona. vlii. 33. '34. {c) I Pet. i. 21. (^) Acts ii. 24. OF Christ's resurrection. "9 sary it is that we be well assured of the truth ©f it ; and this leads me to the next head : therefore, III. I shall prove the certainty of Christ's resurrection. There is a natural prejudice against the doctrine of the re- surrection in general ; When Christ had declared himself to be the resurrection and the life, he said to Martha, believest thou this fa J ? We need the best proof of this point, and especially of Christ's resurrection, seeing the whole of our sal- vation has such a dependence upon it ; God has been pleased therefore to give us very clear and abundant evidence of this trutJ), as may appear, if vire consider the circumstances and effects of the thing itself, and the testimonies that have been given of it. 1. The certainty of Christ's resurrection may appear from the 'circumstances of it. These circumstances I now sup- pose to be truly reported ; hereafter I shall shew that the credibility of the witnesses is above exception. The first circumstance vrhich I shall take notice of, is the rolling away the stone from the sepulchre ; all the evange- lists have taken notice of it. Matthew has told us (b), that an angel descended from heaven, and rolled back the stone from the door : Mark has observed (c), that the stone was very great ; Christ enemies had sealed and made it sure : The women that were going to embalm Christ's body were solicitous how to get the stone rolled away (d) ; but when they came to the sepulchre, they found it ready done to their hands : this to be sure was not done by Christ's enemies, for they had made the door sure ; nor could it be done by his friends, for there was a guard set upon the tomb, to prevent any attempt of the disciples to take away the body : ^And if the stone was, as the evarigelist says, rolled away by a good angel, certainly it was in order to Christ's j" coming out of the sepulchre : God would not have sent a (.2) John xi. 25, 26. (b) Mat. xxviii. 2. • U) Mark xvi. 4. {d} Mat. xxvii. 6G. 10 or cHRrsT s resurrection". messenger from heaven to open the prison door, if, accord- ing to prophecy (a), Christ was not to be idkcii from pri- son and fromjudgmeyit, or his body was not to be released from the prison of the grave. Matthew has told us, that the angel sat upon the stone, that his countenance "was like liorhtninc^. and his raiment as tvhite as snoiv) ; and that for fear of him the keepers shook and became as dead men (h). The stone then was not rol- led away without their knowledge ; they saw the angel, and were so terrified with tlie sight, that they had no power to prevent the opening of the sepulchre, or to roll back the stone upon it again. It is very probable the centinels were so affrighted with the appearance, that they forsook the se- pulchre, as soon as they had a little recovered themselves, for we have no account of their being there, when the wo- men, and Peter, and John came to it. It is also hinted, that some of the toatch tvent out into the city and told the chief priests all that tvas done (c) : they were not so stu- pified, but they knew how, and were able to relate what had come to pass ; and it appears that they gave a right ac- count of the matter, declaring no doubt Christ's resurrec- tion, and the circumstances of it ; seeing the priests and el- ders (d) invented quite another story, and put a lie into their mouths, hiring the soldiers to tell it to the people, of which farther notice shall be taken afterwards. Another circumstance which shews the truth of Christ's re- eurrection, is the order in which the grave clothes were found. Those which had been wrapped about the body were lying in one place, and the napkin which was about his head was not lying with the linen clothes ; but was wrapped together, and laid in a place by itself (e). If the body had been stolen away, the grave clothes would not have been thus (a) Isa. llii. 8. (b) Mat. xxviii. 2, 3. (t) Ma{. xxviii. 11. (/) Mat. xxviii. 10. () 1 John i. 1, i', :>. (0 John XX. 26. {J) John xxi. (^ 1 Cor. xv. 6. (/) Vcr. 8. (s) Act? xxii. 14. OP Christ's resurrection. 15 that the witnesses of Christ's resurrection had certain and full knowledge of the fact, that Christ really rose from the dead. [2.] The next branch of the argument is, that they de- clared Christ's resurrection with all plainness and cicartiess. Peter, in that famous sermon fajt whereby three thousand were converted, more than once asserted it, and proved it to be agreeable to ancient prophecy. And on another oc- casion he thus declared, that this Jesiis hatli God raised up, tv/iereof we are all xvitncsscs (b). And we are told (cjy that with great power the apostles bore witness to the resur- rection of the Lord Jesus ; an instance of this we have in the answer which Peter, and the rest of the apostles gave to the high-priest and council. The God of our fathers rais- ed up Jesus f tvhoiHi/ou slexjo and hanged on a tree; him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Sa- viour : — and ive are his witnesses of these things , and so al- so is the Holij Ghost (dj, Paul in a sermon to the people of Antioch declared, that God raised Christ from the deady and that he tvas seen many days by such who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who were his witnesses to the people fej. A multitude of other testimonies might easily be produced, but by these it appears how plainly and fully the apostles declared Christ's resurrection, the truth of which they had such certain knowledge of. [3.] Another thing needful to render the argument in- vincible, is to make it appear, not only that these witnesses had sufficient means of knowing the truth of Christ's resur- rection, and plainly asserted it, but that they were persons of great fait J fulness and integrity. This appears in their publishing and recording their own infirmities ; for instance, Matthew has told us ffj, he had been a Publican, though the other evangelists say nothing of it. And Paul has re- («) Acts ii. 24— 52. (^) Acts iii. 15. (c) Acts iv, 43. r,'} Acts V. 30,31, 32. (r) Acts xiii, 30,31,32. (/) Matt. x. 3, B 2 36 OF Christ's resurrection. corded his black character of having been a blasphemer fa)i and a persecutor before his conversion : Had they been in- clined to dissemble or conceal the truth, surely they would Isave spared themselves. The apostles did not act in confe- deracy, and wink at each other's faults ; for we find Paul sharply reproved Peter when he was to be blamed (b). — They did not write encomiums upon one other, or satires i}pon their enemies, but as became honest and impartial his- torians, they plainly declared matters of fact, whether they were for them, or against them, and that with all possible freedom. They never expressed themselves in doubtful and ambiguous terms, nor did they scruple to assert Christ's re- surrection to the very faces of the m.ost subtle, knowing, and powerful of his enemies, who could not confute them any otherwise than by the absurd arguments of cruel mock- ings, stripes, and imprisonnr;ent. They had no prospect of worldly advantage by this tesliaiony : Peter declared he had neither silver nor gold (c) : r.nd the same apostle, on ano- ther occasion, with disdain refused it, when Simon, the father of heresy offered it, saying, Thi/ vwney perish tvith thee (d). Paul could appeal to the elders (e), that he had coveted no man's silver, gold, or apparel ; and that his hands had ministered to his necessities, and to them who were with him : He was a person of extraordinary learning and zeal, a man fit for business, in favour with the rulers before his conversion, and he stood fair for prefer- ment ; but he lost all by turning Christian, and becoming so zealous a witness of Christ's resurrection. He has told us (f), that he and the rest of the apostles Vvcre set forth as lopointed to death ; that to the present hour of his writi ihey bore hunger and tiiirst, were buffeted, and had certain dwelling place; that they were forced to labour, vvorkinT with their own hands ; and were besides made the fa) 1 Tim. i. 13. (^) Gal.ii, 11, 14. fc) Acts iii. 6. .i^ Acts viii. £0. (.; AC'S XX. 3", P-l. (/) 1 Cor. iv. 9, 11, 12, 1 3. mg no OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION. 17 filth of the world, and the off-scouring of all things. There- fore it could not be worldly riches, ease, or honours, that could induce them to carry such a message through the world : And if their doctrine could not make them happy in this world, they had as little reason to expect it would make them happy in another, if they published a known falsehood, and Hved and died with a lie in their mouths. It must require very clear evidence to convince a man of Paul's parts and prejudices ; but being once convinced of the truth of Christ's resurrection (a), he was ready to die as a witness for it. Matthew left a gainful employment to follow Christ ; and whatever he might do in a sudden heat, yet when Christ was gone out of the world, and his interest was so hated and persecuted, and he came calnnly to consi- der the case, it is not at all probable he would have continu- ed to act contrary to all his temporal interests, to assert and maintain a delusion, which he could not but know would make him more miserable in another world than it did in this. The apostles vi^ere not credulous and easily brought to be- lieve the truth of Christ's resurrection, when it was report- ed to them, by some of their own friends ; nay, their words seemed to them as idle tales, and tkei/ believed them not ; so incredulous -were they that Christ himself upbraided them with their unbelief , and hardness of heart on that account (b) ; persons so distrustful were not easily to be imposed upon ; But Christ gave'them such convincing evidence of the truth of his resurrection, that they could not withstand it ; and when once they were convinced of the truth of it, they always and unanimously asserted it, and sealed their testimo- ny to it, at, last, with their blood ; though they were na- turally timorous and low-spirited men. One of them had denied Christ, the rest forsook him ar.d fled, at the time of (a) Acts xxi. 13.— Philip, il. 17. (6) Luke xxiv. 11. — Mark xvi. 14. B 3 18 OF CI5RIST S TIE.9URRFCTI0N. his crucifixion ; but when they were endowed with the ho!r Spiril {'rjjj they boldly testified this truth to their bitterest enemies, w^ho could not confute them, though their inclina- tion and interest led them to have done it, had they been able. If all these things are laid together, it will, I think, ap- pear, that the v.itnesses of Christ's resurrection were faith- ful honest men, and that we have no reason to question the truth of their testimony, but have the highest reason to be- lieve that Christ certainly rose from the dead. (2.) Thia truth is confirmed by the testimony of Christ's enemies. Some of the watch who guarded the tomb told it to the chief priests fbj. Pilate gave an account of Chrii>t'3 resurrection, and the miracles that attended it, to the em- peror Tiberius, and the Roman Senate, in whose records these things were entered. Tertullian (cj appealed to this record in his apology for the Christians ; and Eusebius did the same (dj, in his church history : now, had there been (a) Acts I'v. 10, 14. {L) Mat. xxviil. 1 I. (c) Die tenia concussa repente terra, et mole revoluta quse ob- struxerat sepulchrum, et custodia pavore disjecta, nuUis apparentl- bus discipulis, nihil in sepulchre repertum est, praeterquam exu- viae sepulti — ^ea omnia super Christo Pllatus, et ipse jam pro sua conscientia Christianus, Czesari tunc Tiberio nunciavit. Tertullian, Apolog. cap. 21. p. 209, 210. Ed. Haverchamp. ^ipt Tr.s *£» isx/^uv avK^cttniu; rS "^onTYi^c^ r.y.uv Ir.crcv Xt'^oZ, 'us '^rd.yrce.s P^Y, xa.^ oXr,i Yia.y.ce.i^'Avr.g Bifio'/.f^ivx, Ti.tXii,70i Tijin^ia) BoLfftXu xiovirxi, ci) Matt, xxviii. 14, (6-) John xiv, 39, 40, OF CHRIST S RESURRECTION. ti^) Lord, yet how can we think that they would have left the grave clothes in such order when they knew it would be as much as their lives were worth, for the watch to awake and apprehend them ? (4.) It is not at all likely, that the Jews who were so desirous to have kept Christ's body in the sepulchre, until the third day was past (a), would have rewarded the negli- gence of the soldiers with large sums of money, and have undertaken to pacify their master, if he should resent it, had the body been taken away whilst they had been asleep. (5.) It is unhkely that the disciples should be able to roll away a great stone, from the door of the sepulchre, and not make noise enough to awake the watch, if they were asleep ; iior is it probable, that the soldiers were far from the ent- rance into the tomb, or from one another, seeing that was the only place they had to guard ; besides we do not know what methods the Jews might take to make the sepulchre sure, seeing Pilate (b) gave them leave to make it as sure as tliey could. (G.) It is strange that the Jews did not endeavour to support their story by some plausible corroborating circum- stances, seeing the disciples gave them so much occasion to do it, in th"*t they not only asserted the certainty of Christ's resurrection, in opposition to the idle tale they told the peo- ple, but also produced* so many witnesses and circumstances of Christ's resurrection, and confirmed their doctrine »jy so many miracles, and made so many proselytes, as would have made it absolutely necessary for Christ's enemies to have confirmed their account with more than the bare assertion of the soldiers ; and especially if the disciples reported what Matthew has recorded of the rise and falsehood of that re- port of their having stolen the body of their Master ; all these things put together may cause us to conclude, that the objection has no truth or weight in it. (a) Matt, xxviii. 12. {b) Matt, xxvii. 65, VOL. II. C 26 OF CIIRI.'i.T S RESURRECTION' 2. It may be objected, if Christ really rose from the dead he ought to have shewed himself openly to the people, whereas his followers confess he was not seen of all the peo- ple, but by ti-itnesses chosen before of God fa) : now his more public appearance among the people, especially to those that cruciiied him, and so knew him, and were satisfied that iie was really dead, might wonderfully have convinced them, and tnrned to the advantage of the Christian cause ; but the keeping it a secret among Christ's friends made it look like a trick and delusion imposed upon the world. To this it may be replied in general, if the people would not believe the evangelists and apostles, neither would they have been persuaded, though they had seen one risen from the dead. They might have said, what they saw was only a ghost in liuman shape, or that they were im. posed upon by the strength of imagination, but really saw nothing at all ; or they might have thought the devil might have been permit- ted to raise up, and actuate the body of Christ, for a time, though it rose not to a blessed immortality. Whilst Christ was living the Jews said fie liad a devil (b), and it would have been no wonder if they had imputed the appearance of his body, after he had been dead, to the same agent ; es- pecially seeing he had not been dead long enough to putrify, or be turned into dust : And if these or the like suspicions had prevailed on them, of what advantage would Christ's bodily appearance have been to them ? Christ had but a little before experienced, in the instance of Lazarus, how little a person's appearing to them from the dead would work upon them ; for they sought to kill both Christ and Lazarus (c), because many of the Jews, by reason of him, believed on Jesus. How little reason then had Christ to ap- pear after his resurrection to such obdurate wretches ? Christ before his death had declared, that in a little time (t; Acts X. 40, 41. {b) John vii. 20. (.-) John xii. 10. OF Christ's resurrection*. *27 ifie fcorld shoidd see him no more (a) ; if after that he had appeared to them, it is very likely they would have charged him with being a false prophet, or at least his disciples miglit have called his veracity in question ; besides the glory and grandeur of Christ's risen state would not admit of such iree and familiar converse with all sorts of men. It was part of his humiliation and sufferings to be numbered with transgressors, and to endure the contradiction of sinners : but when he rose, his humiliation and sufferings were at an end, and he was now entering upon his glorious exalted state ; and therefore it did not seem ht tliat he should de- base himself to hold conversation with the wicked, and sa- tisfy their endless and unreasonable doubts and scruples. — The high-priests were informed by some of the watch, of Christ's resurrection, and the circumstances of it, but in- stead of being wrought upon by it, they maliciously stifled the evidence, and hired men to report a lie, in order to sup- press the belief of it, when at the same time they could not bat be convinced in their own consciences, that Ciu ist was really risen. What reason then could there be for Christ to manifest himself to such raahcious enemies ? It is also to be considered, that Christ was to stay but a short time upon earth, and had many important things con- cerning his kingdom, to impart to his disciples, and as they were to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth, it was lit he should give them full instructions ; and therefore he spent his time chiefly with them. One principal reason why Christ did not, after his resur- rection, shew himself in common to the people was, because it was then, as it is now, the will of God, that men should live by faith : Christ therefore appeared to a select number, who were proper witnesses, holy men, owned of God, and inspired by his Spirit, to preach and write the truth ; and God was pleased to hear n:it)iess by divers signs and mire- {a) Jolin xiv. 14. c 2 ■-^S OF Christ's resurrection'. cles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost (a), that their doctrine was true : and this way Christ's resurrection was as clearly proved, as it could have been by his bodily appearance among them ; BIes?,ed are Iheij that have not seen and yet have believed (b). God could easily give men such evi- dence and conviction of his being, as should render it im- possible for any man to doubt of it ; but he has not seen fit to do it ; he expects we should pay a deference and honour to his veracity, and take his bare word, and depend upon it, even when we have no other evidence of the truth of a thing ; so h.e required the people to behevehis word, assuring them of Christ's resurrection, by the ministry of the apostles without his bodily appearance among them. It may indeed be supposed, that such an appearance would have brought many to have ov.-ncd him to be the true Messiah ; but what would that have availed them, seeing they might believe that, and yet not be saved ? The devils know and believe him to be the true Messiah, and yet "remble at the thoughts of their future doom and misery. God has fixed it as a standing rule (c)i that in the mouths of two or three witnesses every word shall be estabhshed ; and upon such evidence we ven. tare our lives and estates : But in the case before us we h.ave not only two or three, but a great many witnesses, far more credible than the common people among the Jews would have been, if Christ had shewed himself to them. It is not the number of witnesses, but their knowledge, veracity, and open declaration, which are chiefly to be regarded in matters of this nature. If these things are seriously considered, I hope they vv'iii be found to contain in them a suiScient an- swer to the objection. 3.. There vet remains another objection to be answered, which is this,— Christ, before he died, declared, that lie should be three days and three nights in the heart of the \jt) He!;, ii. 5, {h) John ix. ^9. (0 Dcut. xlx, IT. OF Christ's REsunp.ECTiOK. 29 earth, and that he should rise again ike third daij (a) ; whereas it is plain, that he died and was buried the latter part of the day before the Jewish sabbath, and that he rose early in the morning after it ; so that he lay but one whole day in the sepulchre. Now, I would here observe, that this is not an objection against tlie truth of Christ's resnrrecliou, but against the truth of his predictions; and so I might dis- miss it as foreign to my present subject : but because Christ's resurrection is not worth contending about, if he were a false prophet, (for then he could neither be the true Messiah, nor the true God,) I shall endeavour to set this matter in the clearest light I can. An inspired writer has told us, tiiat: Christ rose the third day : / deliver to ^ou, said Paul, that tvhich I also received, [viz. from Christ himself,] that he tvas buried, and that he rose again the third duj (h). Christ's body was in the grave part of the sixth day of the week, all the seventh, and part of the first day of the week ; so that it is evident it was on the third day that he rose, in- cluding the day of his burial, and the day of his resurrec- tion. If Christ had intended to have remained three whole days in the grave, his resurrection must have been not or the third, but on the fourth day. It is plain, then, that Christ, by the three days, did not intend complete natural days, consisting each of twenty-four hours, but part of three such natural days. It is, as one has observed (c), a receiv- ed rule among the Jews, that a part of a day is put for the whole ; so that whatsoever is done in any part of the day, is properly said to be done that day. According to this rule, it might properly be said, that Christ was three days and three nights in the earth, or part of three natural days, con- sisting of night and day. According to the first division of time (d), the evening and the morning were the first day ; (a) Mat. xii. 40.— XX. 19. {b) 1 Cor. xv. 34.— Gal. i. 12. (0 Dr. Whitby on Mat. xii. 40. {d) Gen. i. 5. c 3 so OF Christ's resurrection. accordingly, the evening or night before Christ suffered must be reckoned to the first day ; the evening or night be- fore the Jewish sabbath belongs to the second day ; and the night before the first day of the week belongs to the third day ; and, thus understood, it might be said, — * As Jonas * was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so ' Christ was three days and three nights in the heart of tlie '^ earth.' 4. It may be nsked, — If Christ really rose from the dead, why did he say to Mary, Toiich me not (a) P If it was a real body, why should he refuse such a means of conviction that it was so ? To this I reply, — That Christ did not abso- lutely forbid the touch ing ; for this and the other Mary held him b^/ the Jeet. and rcorshipped him (b). But when lie said, Touch me 7iot, for I am not yet ascended, but go tell my disciples, — it is as m.uch as if he had said, Neither you nor I can spare much time for this, I have other work for you now to do ; go carry the good news of my resur- rection to my poor disconsolate disciples, and inform them where they may meet and converse with me; this is of more importance than your touching me ; there may be time enough hereafter to gratify you this way, Jbr I am not yet ascended. But farther, — Mary Magdalene did not need such a sensible conviction. Christ had made such a power- ful impression on her mind, before she attempted to touch him, as convinced her who he was (c). I will only add here, — ■ That Christ was not unwilling that his disciples should see and touch his body after his resurrection. Thomas received conviction in this way ; and he shewed the rest of them his hands and his feet, saying. Handle me and see ; Jbr a spi- rit has not flesh and bones as you see me have (d) : there- fore, there is no weight in this any more than in the other objections. These being removed, our way is clear to the next general head. (a) John XX. 17. (i) Mat. xxviii. 9. {c) John xr. 16. (d) Luke xxiv, 39, 40, OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION. 31 IV. I shall explain the naturey qualilf/, and properties of Christ's resuiTection, and shew the agreement and dis- agreement bet^'^een that and ours. Christ's resurrection was the restoring life to his dead body, and the removal of it out of the grave : It was not the forming another new body out of the dust, for that had been a creation, not a resurrection ; nor was it reuniting scattered particles of dust, for his flesh saw no corruption ; his body was never dissolved, though for a time it was dead, by a separation of I.is human soul from it ; though even then neither soul nor hody v^ere separated from his divine person ; as when a man draws his sword out of his scabbard, holding the sword in one hand, and the scabbard in the other, the sword and the scabbard are really separated from each other, but neither fv:om the man ; so Christ's soul and body remained united to his divine person, whilst they were separated from each other : and hence it follows, that in the resurrection of Christ there was no reunion between his human nature aftd his divine person, for that union had never been dissolved ; but there was a reunion between his human body and soul, which for a time had been parted from each other. Con- cerning Christ's resurrection, it is said. That his soul tvas not left in hell, and that God's Holy One did not see cor- rupiioji (a) : his soul did not long remain in a state of se- paration from his body, which was its state whilst the bcdy lay dead ; but before the body could putrify it re- entered, and animated the same body again, that had been dead and buried ; and that it was so, appeared by the marks of his sufferings upon it. Christ's resurrection is as- cribed to his person ; for he said of himself, / am he that tvas dead and am alive (b)y though strictly speaking, it belonged only to his body, for that only lay in the grave, and was raised out of it. Christ's coming out of the grave was rather a manifestation than a proper part of his resur- {a) Acts ii. 31. (J>) Rev. i. IS. J^; or CHRIST'S resurrection. rcctlou ; It was a triumph over the grave, as his living again was a triumph over death. That which died was saved from death, according to Christ's earnest prayers. The efficient cause of Christ's resurrection was the infi- nite power of God, which being common to all the persons in the Blessed Trinity, the resurrection is sometimes ascrib- ed to the Father (a) ; sometimes to the Son (b) ; in three dayS) said Christ, / tr/// raise it up ; and sometimes to the Holy Ghost (c) : For Christ was quickened by the Spirit. Christ's being raised by the Father and Spirit, is not incon- sistent with his raising himself ; for, ivhnt things soever the Father does, these also does the Son (d) ; for they being one in nature, they are also one in operation. The unity of nature, and distinction of persons, is the ground of ascrib- ing this work sometimes to the Father, sometimes to the Son, and sometimes to the Holy Spirit. There is, in some things, a resemblance between the re- surrection of Christ and of Christians : Christ rose without sin, so shall his people :" He had the same body which died, so shall the Christian have : Christ rose to a glorious im- mortality, so shall tlie redeemed. But there are other things wherein Christ's resurrection and ours differ : Christ rose by his own power, we by his : Our mouldered bodies shall be rebuilt, Christ's body saw no corruption : Christ rose soon after he was buried, some of the saints lie a long time in the grave : Christ rose as the head and representa- tive of his people, they rise as members of his mystical bo- dy : Christ rose with a fulness of the Godhead in him, but this belongs not to Christians : Christ rose to enter into his own glory. Christians to behold his glory : He rose to sit upon his Faher's throne, Christians rise to bow and adore before it. Thus his and our resurrection differ. (a) Eph. i. 20. {b) John ii. 19. (c) 1 Pet. iii. 18. {d) John xv. 19. OF Christ's resurrection. 33 I p-oceed now to the other branch of this head, to shew the properties and qualities of Christ's resurrection. 1. Christ rose in a public capacity : as he died for our sins, so he rose again for our justijication ; hence the apos- tle Paul said, IVho is he that condemneth P it is Christ that died ; yea, rather xvho is risen again (a) : and believers are raised up together zvilh him : we may say they are vdiis- ed u-p in hiin (b ). It is in scripture supposed and taken for granted, that Christians are risen with Christ ; he being their head and representative, his pubhc acts are spoken of as theirs. Christ was brought from the dead, as the great shepherd of the sheep fcj, not as a private person ; for, since by man came death, by man mitsi come the resurrec- tion of the dead (dj. Adam, as a common root, died him- self, and conveyed death to all its branches ; Christ, as a common liead rose from the dead, and conveys life to all his members ; therefore Christians are called children of the re- surrection ( ejs and we are told, that as in Adam all die (f), as their federal head, so in Christ shall all be made alive, even all that are under him as their federal head. 2. Christ rose with great power, even with such power as discovered him to be the Son of God (g). There was not only power, but mighty poxver fhj that wrought in Christ, when he rose from the dead. He rose from under a curse so heavy as would have sunk all mankind into hell ; and he ascended up to a glory above that of all creatures, and all by his own power. To raise the dead is a work of omnipotence ; Christ had power to lay doivn his life, and to take it again (i) ; he therefore is the Lord God omni- potent ; the strongest cords of death could not hold him ; he had power enough not only to raise up his own body^ a Rom. iv. 25. — vlii. 31. (r) Colos. iii. 1. (.) Heb. xlii. 20. {d) 1 Cor. xv. 21, yf) Luke x^. ?.6. (/) 1 Cor. xr. 22. {g) Rem. i. ^. -■i) Eph, i. 19, 20. IJ) John x. 18^. 34< OF Christ's resurrection. but also to bring others out of their graves, when he rose, as an evidence of that power, v»'hcrcby he is able to subdue all things to himself fa J. S. Christ rose with great 771 ag77ijic once and g^o)y ; his state of humihation being now ended, he put off all the sor- rows and infirmities of human nature ; and with brightness, as the sun comes out of an eclipse, he rose out of dark- ness into the most glorious light. In his converse with his disciples, he was obliged to veil this glory, because they could not bear the lustre of it. Paul was struck blind, and John fell at his feet as dead, when he let out some rays of it upon them. The angels that were sent to roll away the stone, and proclaim his resurrection, appeared in shining garments, as was lit on the glorious occasion of the return of the Prince of life from the gloomy territories of death and the grave. Now he saved himself indeed, and in com- ing out of the grave, acquired more glory than he would have done in coming down from the cross ; for it is a great- er thing to recover life when lost, than to preserve it when only in danger. The earthquake at his resurrection was a token of his triumph over the grave, and all the regions of darkness. 4. Christ rose to universal empire and dominion ; he suf- fered in theybrm of a servant ; lie rose to be the Lord both of the dead and living (b) : he has the keys of hell, and of death (c) ; he was lately dcath*s prisoner, on his resurrec- tion he now appears as death's Lord. When he was raised from the dead, he became head over all thitigs (d) to the church, that every knee should bow, and every tongue con- fess to him. 5. Christ's resurrection is the jiattern and cause of his people's resurrection ; their bodies are to be fashioned ac- cording to his glorious body : Christians shall be raised, not (a) PliU. ii'i. 21. (^) Rom. xiv. 9. (f) Rev. i. IB. {J) Pliil. ii. 10, 11. OF CIIlirST S RE^URTvECTION'. '35 by a mere word of power, but by that quickening Spirit which dwells in Christ fa), at; the head, and in them as the members ; Them that sleep in Jesus shall he bring tvith him : he shall quicken the mortal bodies of the saints by his Spirit, which dwells in them ; and he that believes in him, though he were dead, yet shall he live. 6. Christ rose with a heart full of grace and love to his people ; neither the sorrows which he had endured, nor the glory to which he was now raised, could alienate his affections from his people. Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils, was first to see him fbjy and carry a most ten- der and gracious message to his people ; for thus he said to her. Go to my brethren^ and my to them, I ascend to my Fa- ther, and your Father, to my (jod and your God (c). Men often hate those by whom they are sufferers, and despise those that are beneath them : but the risen Jesus still owns his dis- ciples, and calls them brethren, a term of respect which he had never used before. The bitter waters of death could not quench Christ's love, nor the floods of God's wrath drov\'n it. He stayed forty daye out of heaven to instruct, comfort, and confirm the faith of his disciples : His expressions of love and condescension to his people were not less^ but greater after his resurrection, than they were before. Peter who had shamefully denied him, was singled out by name to be acquainted with the joyful news of his resurrection ; for his gracious words were, Go tell 7vy disciples and Peter fd), that so Peter might know, that Christ still loved him, how ill soever he had used him. Unbelieving Thomas was con- vinced by an act of astonishing love and goodness ; Christ said to him, Feach hither thy finger, behol^ my hands, and reach hither thy hand and ihruU it into my side, and be not J'aithless but believing {e). He now carried the lambs in his (a J 1 Thess. iv. 14. — Rom. viii. 1 I. — Jolin xl. 25. (/^) Alark xvl. 9. (^) John xx. 17. (^Z) Mark xvi, 7, [e) John XX. 27, 56 CF Christ's resurrection. bosom, as the good shepherd ; and as the Pi'ince of peace, he often spoke peace to his disciples when he entered their assembhes [ajjiher his resurrection : in the same temper he parted with them, for he was snatched from the earth as he was blessing them (Z*). 7. Christ rose with all the essential parts of that body, that had been crucified. Christ's risen body had flesh and bones, he ate and drank. It was not an ubiquitarian body ^vhich rose, but one so confined to one certain place, as not to be in another at the same time : he is not here^ he is ri- sen (c), said the angel ; which had not been true, if Christ's body had been every where at once. When he ascended he was parted from his disciples (^d), and the heavens must re- ceive him till the time of the restitution of all things (e). Now, if his body was capable of being in many places at once, as the Papists and Lutherans teach, what truth could there be in the forementioned scriptures ? But let God be true, though every man be found a liar. 8. Christ rose with the yiiarks zndprints of his death up- on his body, which made it evident, that it was the same body which had been crucified ; for this reason it is prob- able they were continued, otherwise he that healed the young man's ear with a touch {/)f before his humihation was over, could easily have healed his own body, in as short a time, when his slate of exaltation had commenced. Whether these marks of his death still remain upon Christ's body, I shall not determine, seeing the scripture has not done it, un- less that text is to be thought to favour the affirmative (^), which speaks of the Lamb in the midst of the throne, as it had been slain : but this is a point which we need not know at present, it will be time enough when Christ shall be seen as he is. (tf) John XX. 19, 21, 26. (l>) Luke xxiv. 51, (c) Mat. xxviii. 6. (d) Luke xxiv. 51. (e) Acts iii, 'Jl. (/) Luke xxii. 51, (a^ Rev, V. 6. OF CHRIST S RESURRECTION. 3. V. I proceed to assign some reasons of Christ's resurrec- tion. 1. Christ rose from the dead to vindicate his dciij/y and to manifest his glory, which had been hid and veiled in his life and death. The Jews had insulted him upon the cross, saying, If thou art the Son of God, come dovon : He trust- ed in God, let him deliver him novo, if he tvill have him ; for he said, I am the Son of God (a). Thus he died un- der a cloud, and his enemies thought that by these sayings, they sufficiently confuted his pretensions to deity and vera- city ; But in his resurrection he was declared to be the Son of God (h), the Father owning him as a God of peace; the vile aspersions of his enemies were nov/ wiped off: In the day of Christ's resurrection it appeared, that he was the only be- gotten Son of God (c). The jiromise, said the apostle Paul, xjohich was made to our fathers, God hath fulfilled the same to us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again ; as it is also written in the second Psalm j thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee (d). Thomas was no sooner convinced of the truth of Christ's resurrection, but he own- ed him as his Lord, and his God (e). The offence and re- proach of the cross is ceased, in God's raising Christ from the dead ; for God would never have raised from the dead a false pretender to deity, or a false Christ. 2. The quality of Christ's person made his resurrection necessary. A person so innocent, holy, and glorious, as Christ was in himself, could not, after he had paid our debt, be longer continued in the prison of the grave. Justice made Christ's release as necessary on the account of his payment and dignity, as it had made his confinement in the grave necessary on the account of our guilt : Justice being once satisfied, the God of peace soon brought him again (a) Mat. xxvii. 42, 43. {h) Rom. i. 4. (c) Psal. Li. G. (d) Acts xiii. 32, 33. {e) John xx, 28. VOL. ir. X) S8 OF Christ's resurrection. . from the. dead; and, indeed, it was not fit that the body, ia which the fuhiess of the Godhead dwelt, should he long in a dark and gloomy grave. 3. Christ rose from the dead to confirm our faith and hope in God (a). Christ resurrection is an evidence that God was atoned by his death ; hence he is said to be raised for our justification (h). Hereby we do, or may know, there is pardon and eternal life for all true believers. The scrip- tares speak of him as one whom God raised (c) ; and de- clare, that through this man is preached the forgiveness of sins ; and that by him all who believe are Justified. There is good anchor-hold for faith in Christ risen, and gone with- in the veil fdj ; whereas, if Christ had not risen, our faith had been vain, because it would have appeared that he was a false and insufficient Saviour. 4. If Christ had not risen, the propliecics and types of his resurrection had not been fulfilled. We often read, that such and such a thing was done, that the scripture might be fulfilled. David prophesied of Christ^s resurrection in these words, TIlou tviU not leave my soul in hell, nor suffer thy Holy One to see corruption (e). Isaac and Jonah were types of Christ's resurrection : It was at least implicitly declared in those words, Sit thou at my right hand (f)-; and promised in those, therefore shall he lift up the head. Christ himself had foretold it (g) : On these accounts, it was therefore necessary, that Christ should rise from the dead. 5. The ijcorh which Christ had to do after his death, re- quired his resurrection. The scripture has assured us fhj, there is one Mediator , the man Christ Jesus ; but without his body Christ had not been man : The world is to be '^ndged in righteousness by the man Christ Jesus (i). The (a) 1 Pet, il. 23. («) Rom. iv. 25. {c") Acts xiii. 37— :J9. («/; Heb. vi. 19. (0 Psa!. xvi. 10. (/) Psal. ex. 1, 7. (^) John ii. 19, 21. (//) 1 Tim. ii, 5. {I) Acts ocvii. 31. OF Christ's resurrection^. S9 bodies of the saints are to be fashioned according to Christ's glorious body (aj ; they who had pierced him are to see him and mourn fbj. These things require his resurrection from the dead. 6. It was fit that that body which had bore its part in la- hours and sriffcrings should also enjoy its part in the follow-. i^ glory ; and for that end it must be raised from the dead. It was always designed : Therefore Christ is represented, saying, / have a goodlij heritage : Thou xt^ilt sliexv me the jjaih of life ; at thy rigtit hand there are pleasures for evermore (c). 7. Christ rose from the dead, in order to the effusion of the Holy Spirit. It was said before Christ's death (dj, that the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not glorified : If it was necessary that Christ should be glorified, then it was necessary that Christ should' rise from the dead, in order to the giving the Spirit ; and when upon his exaItation> the Spirit was poured forth from on high, Peter might well say, He being by the right hand of God cxaltedi and having received of the Father the premise of the Spirit, he hath shed Jbrlh this tvhich you norv see and I car (e). 8. Christ rose from the dead, as a pledge and assuranc<^ of our resurrection ; because Jesus died and rose again (fj, therefore such as sleep in Jesus shall God bring witli \\ivc\. Because I live, said Christ, yon shall live also (g). It is ia and through the risen Jesus, that believers have the vic- tory over death and the grave (h) \ their life is hid witii Christ in God ; and when Christ shall appear, they alro shall appear with him in glor}\ Thus for many weight}'- reasons it was necessary, that Christ should rise from llie dead. (a) Phil. iii. 01. C'^) Rev. i, 7. {c) Psal. xvi. f,, lu. (i) John vii. .S9. {e) Acts ii. 33. (/) 1 Thess, iv. J 4. (a) John xlv. 9. (//} Col. iii. 3, 4. 40 OF Christ's resurrection. APPLICATION. 1. If Christ was raised from the dead, then it is unrea- sonable for sinners to thrust him down from his excellency. Did God exalt him, and shall we trample him under foot ? Let us not degrade him in his person, or interest, to whom God has given a name above every name ; so that at the name of Jesus every knee must bow fa J, and every tongue must confess him, to the glory of God the Father. If Christ is risen from the dead, and crowned with glory and honour, it is then at their peril that sinners load him with contempt and disgrace. Christ deserves better treatment at their hands ; they have little reason to expect a favourable sen- tence from that Go^ who raised him from the dead, and gave him glory, whilst they despise and reject him, indulge their lusts, disobey his law, slight his righteous judgments, and disregard the rewards which he gives, and the punish- ment he inflicts in the great day. How great is their guilt, a-nd how dreadful will tl:eir punishment be, who neglect and refuse him, who is declared to be the Son of God fbjf by his resurrection from the dead, and who now speaks to them from heaven ? 2. We may take occasion to inquire what interest have we in the risen Jesus, what benefit we have reason to expect from his resurrection, and whether he was raised for our jug- tification. To state and determine this important question, I shall refer to the decision of it which the scripture has given. There we are told. Blessed and holy is he xuho hath part in the Jirst resurrection, on such the second death shall have no power (c). I.ct us then thus examine our- selves. Has God begotten us. again ? Are we born of God ? Has the immortal seed quickened and sanctified us ? Then we have part in the risen Jesus, and the blessedness pro- (=0 riiilip. ii. 1 1. {h) Htb. X. 29.— xii. 25. (0 Rev. xx. ^;. OF CHRISX'S RESURRECTION. 4l nounced on such as believe in him. Are we planted in tlie likeness of Christ's death ? If so (a), we shall be planteil in the likeness of his resurrection ? Is sin mortifiedj has it lost our love ? Then it has lost its dominion, and shall lose its being. Do we heartily desire to be delivered from the body of this death, and to be made completely holy ? JDo we breathe a spirit of love and faith to God, desire of his presence, and zeal for his glory I Are we brought to say, as Christ, Not my will, but thine be done? Do we endea- vour to make use of Christ's death, to the same end for which he submitted (bj^ that we may die to sin and live to righteousness ? If so, we have reason to think we are planted in the likeness of Christ's death, and shall be plant- ed in the likeness of his resurrectioii. Are our affections set on things above ('c) ? Is our conversation in heaven ? Do we love, and look, and long for the Saviour fcl) ? Then we have reason to hope that he rose for out justification ; and that in due time he shall change our vile bodies, and make them like to his own glorious body ? Have we our rest in, or dependence on, Christ ? Are we raised together with him, and made to sit in heavenly places in him fe) ? Do we go entirely out of ourselves, and place all our trust upon the merit and righteousness of our Redeemer, for life and salvation ? And do we find complacence and satisfac- tion in the way and method of life and salvation by Christ, revealed in the gospel, and acquiesce in it, without seeking or desiring any other way of salvation, or any alteration in this way ? If so, we have reason to hope ^q are of that happy number who shall not die eternally, who now live in Christ by faith, and shall hereafter live with him in body and soul for ever. If the bent of our hearts, and the scope of our actions be to do good, and to aspire after perfect {a) Rom. vi, 5. {b) 1 P«t. ii. 24. („) Colos. iJi. I. {d) Philip, iii. 20, 21. {e) Eph. ii. 6. Ii3 P2 OF Christ's resurrection". holiness, then we have reason to rejoice in Christ's resurrec- tion, as designed for our justification. Paul aspired after the resurrection of the dead faj ; not barely, that he might rise again, but that he might attain the holy heavenly spirit,, which the saints have at the day, when their corruptible shall put on incorruption, and their mortal be swallowed of im* mortality. We are told by Christ himself, that they who have done good, shall come forth out of their graves to the resurrection of life fbj : As the tree must first be good, before the fruit can be so ; so the person must be renewed, or created in Christ Jesus, before he can perform good works ; the works themselves must be good, for their matter^ manner, and end ; th©-y must be what God commands, done as he requires, and with a design to please and honour hintj and to be beneficial to others : And this doing good is not to be understood of a single act, but of a continued course ; where the person is good and his principles and ends are good, his life and course will be so in some measure : For the fruits of the Spirit are in all goodness ("cj. Are we then risen with Christ, born or begotten again ? Are we plant- ed into the likeness qf his death I Are our affections set on things above ? Is the bent of our hearts, and the scope of our lives, to do good ? If so, we may take great comfort in Christ's resurrection, as that on which we may build a lively hope of the inheritance which is incorruptible, unde- filed, and which fadeth not away ; which is reserved in hea- ven for those who are kept by the power of God, through faith to salvation fdj. 3. Is Christ raised from the dead ? then what encourage- ment have we to commit ourselves to him, and to cast all our care upon him, for he careth for us ? It is now evident, that he is the Son of God, and that God is atoned by him., (a) Phil. ill. II. (^) John V. 29. (0 Ephes. v., 9. {d) 1 Pet. i. 3—5. OF Christ's resurrection'.- 4S and is become a God of peace through his blood. Christ therefore is able to keep what we commit to his trust ((i)j and to save us to the uttermost : He suffered, that he might bring us to God (b). After his sufferings he returned to his Father, but not alone, and empty handed, he brings his children with him : he doth not send them to God, and stay behind himself ; but he goes to God as their forerunner, and afterwards brings all his followers into the divine pre- sence, and to the glory of heaven. We may safely trust God on his word ; he that raised up Christ from the dead, according to his promise (c), will not break his word with us, or exclude us from the heavenly inheritance : Christ has taken possession of it in the name and behalf of his people ; he is for us entered, and we have his promise (d)y that he will come again, and receive us to himself, that where he is we may be also. A living exalted head will not finally leave any of its members in a dying inglorious state ; Christ is alive, and all the redeemed shall be saved by his life : He who conquered Satan, death, and the grave, even when he died, will not be conquered by them now he is alive ; he dies no more, and such as believe in him shall never die (e)y or shall not die eternally, because Christ lives ; he liveth in them, and they shall live for ever with him. We then may safely trust in the Lord ; his saints may trust in the Lord for ever (f), for in the Lord Jehovah there is everlasting strength. The true believer may trust, and not be afraid ; that justice, which discharged our surety, will not condemn our persons ; Christ's discharge is our's, his resurrection and glory virtually contain ours in them (g) : He who rais- ed up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up. Jesus Christ's in- terest in our souls, or in the world, may be brought low for a time, but he has promised, that the gates of hell shall ia) 2 Tim. i. 12. {b) 1 Pet. iii. 18. {c) Heb. vi. 20. (J) John xiv. 2. {e) John xi. 26. (/) Isa. xxvi. 4. (g) 2 Cor. iv. 14, 44 OF Christ's iiESURRECTioy. not prevail against that church which is built on the Son of the Hving God (a). Our blessed Saviour is in a condition to fulfil his promise ; for if men and devils, when they unit- ed all their force against him, and brought him to the dust of death, could not keep him under, or prevent his rising to immortality and supreme dominion ; then surely they shall not be able, now he is possessed of such a glorious empire, to disappoint his designs, or crush his interest. If the weakness of Christ was stronger than his enemies, what will his strength be ? If the dying Jesus was an overmatch for all the powers of darkness, surely the risen living Savi- ouj is able entirely to subdue them ; especially considering, that God has put all things under his feet, and has given him to be head over all things to the church (h) ; what deadness soever there is in our frames, and what seeming death soever there may be upon our hopes and comforts, yet let us consider, we have a risen living head, who is able to give a resurrection to our faith, hope, and comfort ; and also to his interest in the world. O then let us not sorrow as others, who have no hope, who have no risen Saviour to raise their hope and joy above their fears and sorrows : Let us consider how low Christ was brought, and how high he rose after that, lest we be wearied and faint in our minds (c) : Let us take the apostle Paul for an example, who said. We had the sentence of death in oiu'selves, that we shoidd not trust in ourselves^ but in God, xvho raises the dead ; tvho delivered us from so great a death, and still delivers, in whom tve trust that he will yet deliver (d). 4. If Christ has risen from the dead, then what reason is there for us all to take Christ's yoke upon us, and to yield to him ? For this end he revived and rose again (e), that he might be the Lord both of the dead and of the living ; (^2) Mat. xvi. 16, 18. {h) Eph. i. 22. (<-) Heb. xli. 2, 3. {d) 2 Cor. i. 9, 10. {e) Rom. xlv. Q. OF Christ's REauRRECTiON. 4j every knee shall bow to him, such as do it not in love and obedience, shall do it in fear and torment. Kow hard will it be for us to contradict and oppose the design both of Christ's death and of his new life, which is that he may be our Lord ? As we know this, can any say in their hearts and practice, that he shall not reign over them ? 5. Is Christ risen, then what full assurance have we, that Christ is no deceiver, but the very Christ, the true Messiah ? God has owned him, raised him from the dead, and given him glory ; he is therefore the real and great Shepherd of his sheep. He returned to his people with the same spirit of love and condescension, which had appeared in all his life before ; he was full of grace and truth, as has been hinted : his resurrection should cause us, with Thomas, to own him as our Lord, and our God, as the true and only Saviour, who was not only manifested in the flesh, but was justified in the Spirit, when he was declared to be the Son of God, by his resurrection from the dead. 6. Since Christ is risen, how necessary is it for them who are married to him that is risen from the dead (a)y to bring forth fruit to God ? Christians lie under the strongest obli- gations, not to live to themselves (b), but to him that died for them, and rose again. Does Christ live in heaven con- tinually to intercede for us, and shall not we live on earth, to serve and glorify him ? Is Christ never weary of doing for us, and shall we ever grow weary of his service ? Could neither the sorrows of death, nor the glories of the resur- rection take off his heart or hand from the work of our sal- vation ? and shall either the frowns or flatteries of the world, cause us desert his ijiterest, or the work which he calls us to ? If we are risen with Christ, we ought to set our af- fections on things above (c)f and have our conversation in heaven. U) Rom, vii. 4. (/) 2 Cor. v. \5. {c) Colos. iii. 1, -?. •i:b OF CillllST S RESURRECTIOK'. 7. Seeing Christ is risen, and the redeemed shall rise to a glorious immortahty, let us be stedfast and unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as we know, that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord fa J. There is reason to labour for Christ, seeing he has done, is doing, and will do such great and glorious things for us. We are not called to serve a weak or hard master, but to obey one who has a large heart, and a strong hand ; our la- bour shall not be in vain in the Lord. Let us then labour and not faint, remembering with faith, love, joy, and thank- fulness, that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead, according to the gospel. GO i Cor. XV. 58. OF CHRIST'S ASCENSION; IN TWO SERMONS. SERMON I. Preached August 23, 1727. He xvJio descended, is the same ivho also ascended 7

in order to rule in the midst of his enemies, and be served by a wiUing people. This is therefore what Daniel foresaw, and foretold ; and it being thus revealed and declared ta be certain, it must certainly come to pass ; and tliat it did so, appears, 2. From express scripture testimony, Christ himself said, / ascend to my Father : I go to prepare a place for yoii Cf). Of him it is said expressly, // came to pass that rvhilst he blessed them, he mas parted from theyn, and carried up into heaven (g). Paul has asserted peremptorily, that he {a) Heb, ix. 24. {b) Psal. ii. 6.— Psal. ex. 1. {c) Actsii. 33, 34. {d) Psal. cxviii. \9. {e) Dan.vll. 13, 14, (/) John XX. 17.— xiv. 2, {s) Luke isiv. 5!. OF Christ's ascension. 53 was received up into glory, and that as our fore-runner, he has for us entered into heaven fa J. 3. There were many ej/e-xvitnesses of Christ's ascension, which shews its reahty ; It was not done in a corner. — - Whilst the apostles beheld (bj, he was taken up, and they looked stedfastly towards heaven, as he went up ; the an- gels at the same time assured them, he would come in like manner as they had seen him go into heaven. The persons who saw him ascend were his apostles and brethren, who had conversed with him forty days after his resurrection, and therefore were able to distinguish him from another person, and they had a clear view of him : They looked stedfastly towards heaven, as he went up leisurely, and as it were, step by step, that they might the longer see him, and be the bet- ter assured of his ascension. A cloud is said to receive him out of their sight ; but that, I conceive, was not from the darkness of the cloud, but from the great distance of his body from them, ascending higher and higher, till the flesh- ly eye could no longer discern him. Mark and Luke fcj, v/ho were eye-witnesses of the fact, have attested it in their gospels ; the holy angels also beheld it, and bore witness of it : The martyr Stephen before he died fdj^ had a sight of Christ in heaven, which is a farther evidence that he is^ ascended. 4. The reality of Christ's ascension might be largely proved from the consequents and effects of it : Such as the extraordinary effusion of the Spirit, at the day of Pentecost? and afterwards. But of this and other consequents of Christ's ascension I must speak hereafter ; and shall there- fore only add here, that the apostle Paul has plainly declar- ed these gifts to be the effect and fruit of Christ's ascension : When he ascended up on high, he gave gifts to men (ej, (a) 1 Tim, iii. 16.— Heb. vi. 20. {b) Acts i. 9, 10, II, {c) Mark xvi. 19. — Luke xxiv. 51. {d) Acts vii. 56. (e) Eph. iv. 8. E 3 i^4 OF Christ's ascension. Christ declared (a), he who believed in him, should da greater works than he had done, for extent, because he was to go to his Father. When we see these works done we may conclude, that Christ is indeed gone to the Father. What remains on this head, is to consider the benefit that may attend the knowledge of Christ's ascension. It is very observable, that the very same morning en which Christ rose, in his first speech to Mary (b), and in his firet message to his disciples, he spoke of it ; / am not yet ascended^ bid go to my brethren, and say to them, I ascere^. Such an infoi- iriarion might rectify the disciples' thoughts as to a temporal kingdom, and personal reign of Christ upon the earth, which they were very full and fond of. Christ foretold his ascen- sion fcjf that when it came to pass they might believe ; or that they might not think it to be a sudden and unexpected transport, such as Philip's was afterwards fdj, when he was taken from the eunuch, but not out of the world ; but might, when they saw Christ taken up, believe, that he was going to his Father, as he had told them before-hand. Christ might also take this method, to prepare them for their parting with him, that they might not set their hearts on his bodily presence. It is good to have our affections on earthly enjoyments, even the best of them, curbed by the thoughts of their short continuance with us. Christ might farther intend by this message, to stir them up to prize and improve his company during the httle time they were to enjoy it ; and by telling them of his ascension, they might be put in mind of his work and glory in heaven, and have their hearts and affections raised up more to the things above. The news of Christ's ascension might convince them, that though Christ had, on the cross, complained of his Father's forsaking him, yet he had not discarded him, but was now glorifying him with his own self. Christ would (fl) John xlv. 12. (^; John XX. 17. (0 John xiv. 29, (r. Jesus was seen moving upwards, as far as the eye could fol- low him. He left the world fa J, and went to the Father nay, he so left the world, as to be no more in it, as to his bodily presence : But this doth not exclude his spiritual gra- cious presence; in this respect, he is with his people always, even to the end of the world fhj ; he makes his abode with them that love him, and keep his commandments ; nor doth this local and visible ascending of Christ's body hinder his omnipresence as God, as such, he fills earth and heaven with his presence, and is in both at once ; for he himself says fcj, that he was in heaven, at the same time when he was speak- ing on earth. We may next consider the potver by which Christ ascended. Sometimes we read, that the Father ex- alted him, sometimes Christ's ascension is spoken of as his own act, and herein there is no inconsistency ; for Father and Son being one in nature, are also one in power and ope- ration. Christ's ascension, though it raised up his soul and body to heaven, yet it did not change any of their essential properties ; his body did not thereby become invisible and unlimited. We may also consider the capacity in which Christ ascended : It was, as Mediator, and his people's fore-runner (d). Christ's ascension was extraordinary, not only as to his person, but also as to his office, and the work he went about. He entered heaven by his own blood (e), as the great high-priest of his people, to appear in the pre- sence of God for them. Let none then say. What is Christ's ascension to us ? Our great concern is to get to heaverf ourselves. Such should remember, that if Christ had not ascended, we never could ; if he had not passed into heaven, as our high-priest, we could never have come to the throne of grace with freedom, much less could we have gone to the throne of glory, if Christ had not gone to prepare a («) John XVI. 28.— xvii. 11. {b) Matt, xxviii. 20. — John xiv. 2S. (0 John ili. 13. {d) Heb. vi. 20.— iv, \4. {e) Heb. ix. 12. OF CHRISt's ASCEXSIOJT. 57 place for us. Is then Christ's ascension nothing to us ? IF it be not, it must be because we have no part in tlie heavenly glory. We are also to consider the end of Christ's ascen- sion, which was his own and our glory. According to agreement, he was first to suffer^ and then to e)iter into his gi07-j/; and he went to heaven to save liis people to the ut- termost, or to perfect their salvation, as will appear under another head. Having thus given a general description of Christ's ascen- sion, it may be useful next to consider the circumstances and manner of it. 1. As to the time ; it was forty days after his resurrec- tion fa J. Christ denied himself the glory of heaven so long after his sufferings WTre finished, to confirm his people in the behef of his resurrection, to instruct them into the things of his kingdom, and to give them new proofs of his love and afl^ction to them, which should make us wiUing to do much and suffer long for Christ, and willing to stay out of hea- ven, if we m.ay do Christ and his interest any service on earth — if Christ preferred our good to his glory, should we not prefer his glory to our own ? 2. We may consider the ^;/«ce whence Christ ascended, the mount of Olives ; which was, as some say, about a mile in height, having three tops, of which that in the middle is the highest, and from that, as it is thought, Christ ascend- ed ; so that there was a fair open prospect, this mountain over-topping all the neighbouring ones ; and Christ's ascen- sion being from such a high place, so near to Jerusalem, might have been seen from most streets in Jerusalem, and the spectators might easily see he was not carried over it, and dropt on the other side, but that he went up straight to heaven. This mountain, from whence Christ ascended, bad been the place of his agony and sore conflict fbj ; %yherc he rolled in blood, thence he rose to glory : the samQ (a) Acts i. 3. (I) Luke xxiij 39, 40, ^o CF CHRIST s AscE^:sIO^^. mountain giving hirr. a passage both to his cross, and to Lis crown. Places as well as things are what God makes them to be to us J that which, at one time, is a place of weeping, may, at another time, be a place of joy and triumph. S. Christ's ascension was in the 'perfection of the human iiature ; as he never took the sinful, so now he dropped the sinless infirmities of our nature, and went up in all the glory of which the humanity was capable. The glory in which the bodies of the saints shall be raised, shall be but a lower resemblance of the glory in which Christ was received up into heaven. 4. Christ's ascension was with great magnificence and triumph. He went up with a shouty and the sound of ct trumpet : * The cherubs continually singing, Hol^, holy, * holi/, Lord God of sabaoth ; the arch-angel proclaiming * beforehand the coming of the Lord, and the Holy Spirit * crying to the heavenly powers, with a commanding voicC;^ * Lift up your heads, ye gates; be ye lifted uj), ye ever- ' lasting doors, that the King of glory may enter in : But * the heavenly powers said, IVho is this King of glory P ' To whom, the Spirit replied. The Lord stro?2g and mighty ; * the Lord mighty in battle: For he has overcome the ene- * my ; he armed himself with a human body against the ty- * ranny of the devil ; he quenched his fiery darts — he nailed ' him to the cross ; and tasting death, when he was immor- < tal. he overcame death, and came forth a conqueror, and * taking the lost sheep upon his shoulders, he carried it to * the heavenly fold,' as Chrysostom has elegantly expressed this matter (a). Christ did not go up to heaven alone ; (a.) 'Avste>j Qzog IV a.Xa.y^a.yfJku, K\jfioi Xt ^uvn ffaX'Tiyyos iv u>.a,ka,y/u.ui fih en iv uxara'^au^M cu) ^K in uTi^ocvcy rovTO oe »x ol^a, u "^il vafct^i'^iff^Kt. Theophylact* in loc. {c) De his mortuis suscltatis inovet quzestionem Justinus Martyr. Qu. S. 5. Quasritur num resurrexerint immortales, potest hoc ig- norari, probabilius non denuo mortuos fuisse, sed cum Christo re- surgente conversatos ac tandem cum ascendeute triumphum egisse. — Paiseus in loc. {a) Whiiby on the place. Vol. it. f 62 OF Christ's asceksion. glorious retinue, and exchanging the labours and sorrows of a humbled hfe, and bitter death, for the rest and glory of a blessed immortality, in the most desirable assembly that ever was. Such who love Christ cannot but rejoice v/hen they by faith see him, in these circumstances, going to the Fa- ther, and crowned with glory and honour. 7. When Christ ascended, he had not only an adherent^ but an inherent glory ; not only the glory of his hum.anity, but .the glory of his divinity, shining through it : this was veiled and hid during his abode on earth, whilst he was among sinners, and in a state of humiliation and suffering. His sufferings, as a cloud, intercepted the rays and beams of his uncreated glory ; but the veil being taken away, at his ascension, how did they irradiate his human nature ! The angels told the spectators, that Christ should come again, in like manner as they saw him go into heaven. When he comes again, it shall be iu poxver and great glory^ in his oxen and his Father''s glory ; with such glory therefore he as- cended to heaven. We have no account of his appearing in this glory to his disciples, during his forty days converse with them, after his resurrection ; nor indeed were they in a condition to bear it : Paul v.-as struck blind, and John fell at Christ's feet as dead, upon that sight of it which they had after his ascension ; those who ascended with him were qua- lified to behold it, and those who on earth were the specta- tors of his ascension, were better able to bear it at a distance, and as ht. was going from, them, than they could have done, liad he remained with them.. Christ could in a moment, as he did in his transfiguration, appear in his glory, and when he pleased could cast a veil upon it ; but when he v/as taken up into the air, and was going from weak sinful mortal creatures, there was no farther occasion to hide it ; nay, the disc overy of it might be a greater torment to the devil. 8. Christ ascended to continue long in that glorious con- dition. Some men are suddenly raised very highj and as OF Christ's ascen^sion-. 63 quickly degraded ; for man being in honour abides not : but Christ has been now near seventeen hundred years, in the high station to which he ascended, and will hold it, till he comes to judge the world in righteousness. 9. When Christ ascended, he led captivili/ captive. As great princes, in former times, after some great victory, used to lead their conquered enemies in triumph, in view of the people, when they returned to their capital city ; so Christ led Satan captive, in his return to heaven. Some have thought, that the fall of the devil was owing to the early notice in heaven, of Christ^s taking human nature, and therein being set over all creatures, angels, and men : it is supposed, that those high spirits could not brook it, that such an inferior nature should be advanced above them, and have the government of the \yhole world ; and so they left their first habitation, and hasted down to earlh, to op- pose, and, if possible, to prevent that design ; and for that end,^ first tempted and ruined the human nature in Adam, and afterwards sought to destroy it in Christ. Our Irama- r.uel having by death destroyed the devil, led him captive, and triumphed over him, in a glorious manner, by carrying up the human nature, united to his own person, as glorious as it was possible to be raised, not only above devils, but above the highest angels, in dominion and glory, and pla- ced it upon a throne next to his all-raighty Father: this must make Christ's ascension such a victory and triumph over Satan, as was as much the devil's torment as it will be the saints' dehght and honour for ever. APPLICATIOy, Reserving the particular improvement of the doctr'ne to the next discourse, I shall conclude this with a ge.ieral ex- hortation to have our conversation in heaven (a), wh'tutr {a) Phil. iil. 20. F 2 64 cv Christ's assensiok. Christ is gone ; and to loolifory and hasten io the coming ofih-c day rf Christ (a). Is he ascended, and shall we not follow him in our thoughts, desires, and affections ? Can vve expect to rest on earth, when our Saviour has left it ? Should we not, with the blessed apostle Paul (b), leave the ihings that are behind, and press forward to those before ? If by any means we might attain to be with Christ, which is far better ? If the disciples were for dying with Laza- rus, shall not we much rather be for ascending with, or after Christ ? "We have seen men who never enjoyed them- selves, or any thing in the world, after some dear friend or relation was gone out of it : and shall not the Christian be crucified to the world, now his Saviour lias left it, and is as- cended up into heaven r Though wicked men call it folly and fancy for us to place our desires and hopes upon heaven- ly things ? surely the Christian can give a good reason for it ; his Redeemer, and consequently his treasure is in heaven ; and where the treasure is, the heart should be (c). Let us often think whivhe-r Chri&i is gone, and for what end ; it is to prepare a place for his people (d), and therefore they had need prepare to ascend thither, and to live with Christ there (e). Faith is a sort of ascension, it carries up the aoul to Christ, in spiritual desires and contemplations ; and such views of his glory are a means of changing the soul in- to his image (fj^ and of fitting it to follow him into heaven, to be with him for ever. We are to look to the ascended Jesus for repentance and remission of sins (g). He who was able to raise up himself iron) the grave, and to ascend to a throne of glory, is able to quicken our souls, at present, and our bodies hereafter, and to bring us to God, according to his own word, which was ; /, if I am lifted ?//?, lull draw all men to me fhj» (fl) 2 Pet. iii. 12. {b) Phil. iii. 13, &c. (c) I.uke xii. 34, {d) John xiv. 2. U) Colos. ii. 12. (/; 2 Cor, iiir 18. {g) Acis xy. Gh {h) John iii. 32. OF Christ's ascension". 6.!) He has a power whereby he is able to subtluc all things to himself faj : what reason then have we to commit our souls to him, and to cast our care upon him ? Can he, or will he ever be unmindful of the end of his ascension, which was to' fill all things ; to bring all the saints to a perfect man ? What encouragement then have we to beg of him, to work in us, to will and to do, of his own good pleasure, that we may- work out our salvation with fear and trembling ? Let those whose hearts and affections are set upon the earth remember, that they will never find a Saviour or salvation there : Christ, in whom alone is salvation> is gone to heaven, and they who do not follow him with their love and affections now, will never follow him in their persons to that glory unto which he went, when he ascended up far above all heavens to fill all thinsrs. SERMON II. Preached August 29, 1727. He tvho descended, is the same also who ascended up Jar above all heavens, that he might Jill all things. — Ephes. iv. 10. JtlAViNG, in a former discourse upon these words, inquired into tlie reahty of Christ's ascension, and the benefit which may attend the knowledge of it ; in the next place I endea- voured to describe the nature, circumstances, and manner of Christ's ascension. I now proceed j and therefore, («) Phil. lii. 20, 21. 66 OF Christ's ascensio"^'. III. I shall shew the agreement and difference between Christ's ascension and ours. This may help us to conceive more clearly of the thing itself, and may cause us more high- ly to esteem and value the ascended Redeemer. There are some things wherein Christ's ascension, and that of his people agree : Christ left the earth and v/ent up to heaven, and so shall his people, that where he is, there they may be (a) : Christ was received up into glory ; and" ■when he appears, believers shall appear with him in glory fb) : Christ at his ascension was attended by the holy an- gels ; Christians, when they die, are carried by angels into Abraham's bosom (c) : Christ ascended in the entire hu- iv.an nature, haviiig put off all natural infirmities ; and so shall the saints, at the great day, be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (d) : Christ ascended to his God and Father, and so shall the Christian : God is the God and Father of Christ's human nature, both by creation and covenant ; and in the same respect is he to whom the saints ascend, their God and Father : Christ at his ascension entered into his rest, and so shall the Christian ; for there remnms a rest for the people of God (c) : as Christ had done with labour and sorrow, when he exchanged earth for heaven ; so Christians, in their souls, at death, and in their whole- persons at the resurrection, rest from their labours, and enter into the realms of peace, where sorrow and sighing fly away ; for to such as are troubled here below (f)^ rest remains, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels. Though in the aforesaid respects Christ's ascension and that of Christians agree, yet there are other things wherein they differ ; Christ ascended by his own power, but Chris- tians only by his, for he receives them to himself ; and it is [a) John xiv. 3. (^) Col. ill. 4. (t) Luke xvi. 26. {d) 1 Thess. iv. 16, 17. (0 Heb. iv. 10. (/) 2 Thess, i. 7. OF CHRIST'S ASCENSION". 61 a work of infin te power to raise a creature, and much more cuie that had been a sinner, to glory ; therefore it is Christ's work, and not man's : Christ first descended, and then as- cended ; but the Christian did not first come down from heaven, and then go up again : Christ was in heaven in one nature,' before he ascended thither in the other ; but the Christian cannot be in heaven and on earth at once, as he has not two natures, much less one that is infinite and omni- present : With respect to Christ, it was God manifested in thejlesh, that was received up into glory ; but this is too high for Christians ; they have no claim to deity : Christ ascended in a public capacity, Christians in a private one ; he as fore-runner, his people as followers ; he as head, they as members ; he as the Lord of glory, they only as the sub- jects of it ; he as great high -priest, his people as those that receive the atonement j he as advocate, they as his clients : Christ entered heaven by his own blood, we only by his ; for no man goes to the Father but by him (a) : Christ as- cended to sit down on the right hand of God ; Christians to worship before his throne ; they sit down with him on his throne, with respect to his victory over their enemies, but they fall down before the throne (b), with respect to their subjection to the ascended Redeemer : Christ ascended to fill all things ; Christians to fill up the place in his mystical bo- dy : Christ ascended to give eternal life ; believers go to hea- ven to receive and enjoy it : Christ ascended to give gifts to men ; Christians ascend to praise him for what they have re- ceived : Christ ascended to govern the world, to be a Prince and a Saviour ; but departed saints have no more to do un- der the sun, their places know them no more, nor have they any more an influence upon human affairs : the ascended Je- sus is head over all things to the church ; but the ascended saints are fully satisfied with being members of that glorified (a) John xiv, 6. {b) Rev. v. 11, 12, IS, 6S OF Christ's ascein'siox. body, of which Christ is the head ; Christ ascended to dis- pense grace as well as gifts to men ; but the glorified saints are no commissioners of the heavenly treasury : when Christ ascended, he established and confirmed a certain union and communion between himself and the church militant ; he car- ried up our flesh to heaven, and sent down his spirit to ani- mate, rule, and govern his church below ; thus he Jills all things. But no such thing as this can be said of the as- cending Christian : Christ, when he ascended, carried up our nature, as a pledge of our future glory : but Christians when they ascend are only examples, not pledges of that glory to their fellow Christians in this world : Christ when he ascend- ed, entered into a glory peculiarly his own ; Christians, when they go to heaven enter into the joy of their Lord : Christ ascended to descend again ; but when the saints ascend, in the great day, they descend no more, but are for ever with the Lord. Thus we see wherein Christ's ascension and that of his- people agree, and wherein they differ : and we may learn from the whole, how much Christ has the pre-eminence ; he is highly exalted, and has a name above every name. IV. I shall assign some I'casons of Christ's ascension. The disciples knew not how to bear the thoughts of Christ's departure (a) ; when he had told them of it, sor- roxKi filled their hearts. They were fond of his bodily pre- sence ; and who would not have desired the company of one so holy, harm.less, and undefiled ; so wise, gracious, and able to defend and help them, as they knew him to be ? for whilst he had been with them, in the world, he had kept them from the evil (b) : But when he was gone, they knew they should be as sheep among wolves, killed all the day long, and counted fit for nothing but the slaughter. Christ's prayers, sermons, and miracles must have been very delight- ful and useful to them : "how then could they bear the {a)}Qhnxv\.€. (-^} John xvii, 1?, OF Christ's ascexsion. 69 thoughts of parting with him, whom they had seen as the onhj begotten of the Father^ full of grace and truth (a) F With what pecuHar endearing tenderness and condescension had he treated them since his resurrection ? How did their hearts burn within them whilst he talked with them, and opened to them the scriptures ? How had his presence calmed their fears, subdued their unbelief, and given them peace and joy ? How then could they be willing he should go away from them ? Many reasons we may suppose them to have against his departure, had it been lawful to have al- ledged them ; they miglit have said, that Christ's leaving^ the earth, no more to be seen upon it, would confirm the re- port which the Jews so confidently spread, that he v/as not risen, and that his disciples had stole away his body, and it was no where to be found; whereas his continuance, and open appearance in the world, his working miracles, and shewing himself in his God-ilke majesty, might have con- vinced, or at least, have confounded his enemies, and have been a comfort and encouragemxent to his disciples and fol- lowers ; but to leave them to the insults of enemies, after all the expectations he had given them, of defending and enlarging his kingdom in the world, must seem a deserting it, either through difiidence or anger : It might be taken as if he had more regard to his own rest and glory in heaven, than to their peace and welfare on earth. His appearance to them after his resurrection had caused them to worship him ; and might they not apprehend, that his presence might have h?A the same good effect upon others, as they had found it to have upon themselves. These and other rea- sons raight they have urged against Christ's ascension ; but as Christ had told them, it was expedient for them fbj, that he should go away, how plausible or strong soever their aU legHtions might seem to be ; there were superior reasons fof (rt),John i, J 4, (l)) John -xvi. 17. iO OF Christ's ascension"-. his leaving this world, and going to the Father ; such jn follow : 1. The Father's love to him required it. He, as God- man mediator, was the person in whom God was pecuharly dehghted ; and was It convenient that the chief favourite should live in exile from the heavenly court ? that he who was always the Father's dehght, should never see his face, or be admitted into his immediate presence ? It had been necessary fur him for a time, to abide in this world, that he might finish the work which the Father had given him to do here ; but when that was accomplished, why should he stay any longer ? Would not his affectionate Father insist upon his being present in the court of heaven ? Christ had neither forfeited nor lost his Father's love ; for he said, / abide in his love (a) : Therefore it was fit he should abide in his presence. God loved him before the foundations of the world, and therefore gave him a glory, wl^ich is pecu- liarly his own (b). If Christ's love to the redeemed will not be satisfied, without their being where he is, surely the Father's love to our Redeemer would as strongly insist upoa his being with hivn in glory. It was necessary therefore not only, that Christ should rise from the dead, but that he should ascend up to the Father. 2. It was necessary because it was decreed, Jorctold, and promised ; therefore it must come to pass. God has decreed and declared the decree, that his King should be placed upon his holy hill of Sion (c) ; that Christ should be exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to be Lord of all, who must sit at the Father's right hand, till all his enemies are made liis footstool (d). Christ expected eternal pleasures at the Father's right hand, because he had promised it. The decree, the types, the prophecies, the promises all set this joy before Christ ; and therefore he depended upon it : and {a) John XV. 10. {b) John xvli, 24. (r) Psal. ii. G, 7.— Acts v. 31.— Psal. ex. I. (ry, makes way for all his people to come to God, and enjoy him for ever. Whenever, or whereso- ever believers die, heaven is ready for them ; for Christ ascended to prepare it for them. The acceptance of their prayers and services at j>lTsent, is owing to what Christ doth for them, in his ascended state: He went up to appear before the throne of God, with his golden censer, and much incense (<^)i to offer it with the prayers of all saints ; he (a) John xiv. 2. {b) Numb. x. 3S. {c) Mat. xxv. 34. {d) John x'lv. 2. {e) Heb. vi. 20. (/; Heb. vii. 25. {g) Rev. viii. 4. OF CHIIIST'S ASCE>JSIO>r. i iJ bears our petitions to his Father : And what should the behevers on earth do, without such a friend in heaven ? As Satan accuses the brethren day and night Cct)-, it was ne- cessary they should have one to speak and plead for them before God : And who is so lit, or who could do it so well as Christ ? Who knows all the depths of Satan, all God's counsels, all his people's sins and wants, and is able to shew a sacrifice that made atonement for their highest offences, and purchased an exceeding weight of glory for them •? Christ is the only fit person to implead, and cast down the accuser of the brethren, and maintain the cause of his poor people : And for this end it was necessary, that he should appear before God, that the answer may be made where the indictment is laid. And thus we see what Christ was to do in heaven ; for his people on earth required his pre- fence there. It was necessary on the account of tlie saints in heaven : many lived and died with hopes of seeing and en- joying him there. Job, a long time before Chriiit's incar- nation, comforted himself, under great aiHictionf, with the expectation of seeing God in the flesh (b). Now, had not Christ ascended, what a disappointment would it have been to them ? How strange must it have been to them, for the Saviour not to have appeared in heaven, when he had done his work on earth I They who had never seen him in the flesh, though they had much desired it, could not but long to see him in heaven, v/ho had died for them on earth ; to see him in their own nature, who is over all, God blessed for ever. This must, to the patriarchs, prophets, and righteous men of ancient time, who were gone to heaven be* fore him, be very desirable : And had he not ascended, might it not have created a jealousy in the inhabitants of heaven, if jealousy had any place there, that the Saviour had miscarried in his work, and missed his way to his throne; that he was detained a prisoner in the hands of justice, and' (rf) Rev, xii. 10. {b) Job xix. 25, g2 ''^ OF CIIRIST^S ASCENSION". that all the prophecies of his glory were mere delusions. Ii •was necessary, therefore, that Christ should ascend, to se- cure the joy and comfort of the glorified saints, as well as to provide for the safety and salvation of those who yet re- main in the warfare here below. 7. It was necessary for Christ to ascend, that Christians :-n:ght live by faith. God gave him glory (a), that our faith and hope might be in God ; for, blessed are they, that have not seen and yet have believed fbj. Men are much tor sensitive evidence, and for knowing Christ after the flesh ; they are ready to suppose that his fleshly presence would do great things ; but how was he treated when he dwelt among men ? and should he appear again in the form of a servant, would he meet with any better usage ? When good old Simeon had seen Christ in the flesh fcj, he desir- ed to see nothing more in this world ; which was a sign he did not place his happiness in Christ's fleshly presence on earih. Christ saw it necessary to withdraw his bodily pre- sence, lest his people should grow carnal ; He would not have them trust to his flesh, but to his promise, merit, grace, intercession and power. When the disciples had his bodily presence, they were slow of heart to believe ; but after his, ascension, their faith was more clear and strong, A sight x>t Christ by faitln, in his ascended state, is far better than a sight of him in his humihation, in the flesh ; faith now can see him, not in the conflict, as he then was, but in the coH" quest and triumph. Christ ascended, that our faith and love might follow him : therefore we are thus advised in scripture fdj ; Set your affections on the things above, xvhere Christ is at the right hand cf God ; run tvith patience the race set before you, looking to Jesus. Though he is gone to heaven, yet faith is to look up to him there ; and the Christian is to have his coi.versatiou %\iQ\-Q, where his Savi, (fl)l Pet. i. £1. {b) J(,hn xx. 29. (c) Lul.e ii. 29, 30. (s) Col. iii. 1.— Heb. xii. f. OF Christ's ASCENSION", 77 our is (a). It is a noble and delightful life, to live by faith (b) ; to love, and believingly to rejoice in that Saviour (c), whom we never saw in the flesh ; for thus we honour God's truth, at the same time that we get a glimpse of Christ's glory, and nourish a lively hope of seeing him, as he is, immediately and for ever in glory. 8. It was necessary that Christ should ascend on his ovon account, that he might possess and enjoy that glory (dj, which he was to enter into. The prophets (e) spoke of the glories (f), that should follow Christ's sufferings. There were many glories that Christ enjoyed ; when he ascended- he filled both worlds with his glory : He ascended up into glory in heaven, and sent down his Spirit- to glorify him on earth (g,) by a manifestation of hie glory. The glory .of his person, providence, righteousness, gi ace, and love ; the glory of his human nature, of his victory over sin, Satan, death, and hell : This has raised a new triumph in heaven, and the sound of it has gone to the ends of the world ; on which account the Psalmist said, Lti the ivhole earth heJiU led xuith his glory (h). It was necessary therefore that Christ should ascend to heaven, to possess his mediatorial gloi-y, both in the upper and lower world. V. I shall mention some of the consequents and effects of Christ's ascension. "" I. Christ being ascended, poured out his Spirit, The Psalmist said. He received gifts for men (i) ; the apostle Paul, that he gave gifts to men fkj, which are not incon- sistent ; for he received them, in order to bestow them on men : Therefore, as the apostle Peter said, being hy ike right hand of God exalted, and having received of the fa-^ (^hich was' greatly advanced and honoured by the ascension fej: this thouglit should cause all who love Christ, greatly to re- joice. {a) Heb. xiv. 15. {b) Psal. xlvii. 6. (c) Luke xxiv. 52, 5S, (J) John xvi. 20. (f) 'Etutk iiT^xTuerav cl a-ipiTiKo), accra, t) i-z'tpviro "^rpoi rov ^arifa o X^i?-os, KvB^ 0MJ, ij xaS-' aii>^ft»5ra? ; tuvtu; x.u^' o eivS-pwre?' In) tia^' Gsfls ail IV isp%voii Jjv, kcli a^Mpi<^ot Th'^i'xrpe$ xxrei to »v3-pu^tjsv §v Xiytrui, f^u'Cxv xvrS zhcct -rarhp. The Heretics may then say, How did 84' OF Christ's ascension'. S. Is Christ ascended ? then how dangerous is it for sin = jiers to disobey and degrade him ? May it not priek them at the heart, as it did some formerly faj, to think, how ill they have used him, v/hom God hath made both Lord and Christ ? If it doth not strike them with conviction, in this world, it will fill them \rith. confusion, in the world to come. How can sinners justify the contempt and reproach they cast upon Christ, when God has raised him, not only from the dead, but also to a heavenly throne I The Jews had a fair- er pretence to slight Christ, when he was brought down to the dust of death, than any can now have, seeing he is as- cended up on high, and has led captivity captive. Christ's enemies will find it hard to kick against the pricks (bj. He who sits on the holy hill of Sion is too high, and too great, for sinners to contend with ; when his wrath is kindled but a httle, blessed are all they that put their trust in him fcj. 4. From Christ's ascension we should learn to value and improve the gospel and a gospel ministry. Those are the ascension-gifts of Christ {dj^ the fruits of the exalted Savi- our, designed for the good of even the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell among them (e) ; but he will wound the heads of such as still go on in their trespasses. The Holy Spirit is grieved and withdraws himself when the gifts and labours of ministers are treated with contempt ; they are by many looked upon as trifles, and placed but as cyphers in their account ; but God values them at a gVeat sum, as the fruits of Christ's deep abasement, and glorious ascen- sion ; and therefore, though many make a little account of them, they will have a great and a sad account to give for Christ go to tiie Father; as God, or as man ? ajtogether as man; for, as God, he always vv.^s in heaven, and inseparable from the Father : and tlierefore it ir in respect of his humanity, that the Father is said to he greater than him. Thcophylac. in Joan xiv. 28. {a) Acts ii, 37. (Z) Acts ix. 5. {c) Psah ii. 6 — 12 {J) Eph. Iv. IG,— 12. (0 Psal. Ixviii. IF, 21. OF CHRIST'^) ASCENSION. 85 them. We should see that we refuse not him that speaks from heaven, for then tliere will be no escaping (a). 5. Is Christ ascended? then how highly is our nature dig- nified and honoured ? Adam had rendered it more vile than the beasts that perish ; but Christ has raised it above the highest angels : After the fall it was thought to be unwor- thy of the earthly Paradise ; but in Christ it is exalted at God's right hand, and fills the highest and most honourable seat, next his throne. Sin had made human nature the de- rision of devils, but Christ has made it the delight of angels (bj, and the joy and glory of the redeemed for ever. The vmion of our nature to Christ's divine person, gives it a glo- ry infinitely above all conception ; the continuance of that union is such an honour done to it, as is far above our high- est admiration ; and should make us cry out, Lord, tv/iat is man tJuit thou art mindful of 1dm I 6. Is Christ ascended in^our nature ? hov/ much shouldr- we honour his person, and advance his interest in the world I Has Christ done so much for our honour and happiness, and sliall we do nothing for him ? Has he dignified our nature, and shall we debase him ? Has he spent one life in labour and sorrows for us, on earth, and is gone up to employ ano- ther life for us, in heaven, and shall we not live to him ? — What ! shall we do nothing for one who has done, and is doing, so much for us ? Is it not amazing that Christians should be so unwilling to labour, or suffer for Christ, who did both so freely for them ? Who having shed his blood for them'on earth, entered into the holy place, with it hav- ing obtained eternal redemption for them (cj ? What un- (a) Heb. xii. 25. (^) K«< tx,^iie-ii avx^tx, to Tponpov vofJUff^iiffK ; uvTi] ykf t5 olfavoZ rhv Tpaiopuxv uvstX'/j^i, xoci n tuv ^xiy,ovi6JV yivofiivyi ^oiiyviov, ffn//,ipov v^o ayyiXcuv, xui tuv kvu o'jvxfiiuy TJ'floirniJvuTOH. — Chrysost de ascensione, p. 378. (c) Heb. ix. 12. Vol. ii. H S3 OF CHRIST'S ASCLNSION. grateful disingenuous creatures then must we be, if we think we can ever do too much, bear too much, or part with too much, to honour or promote his interest in the world ? 7. From Christ's ascension we may learn the security of his interest in this world, and of every believer*s salvation in that to come. The church can never sink so long as her head is not only above water, but above the skies, sufficient- ly quahfied with wisdom, love, and power, to support his interest in the world. The Spirit and grace derived from the ascended Saviour, shall preserve the church's inward spiritual life, and his providence provides for her outward defence and safety. The believer having such a friend in heaven needs not to fear any foes on earth, or fiends of helL The gates of hell shall never prevail against the church ; it is Christ's trust, and it is in his power to give eternal life to as many as were given him (a). 8. 1 3 Christ ascended ? tlien how tvillingly may the be- liever leave this world, and follow his Saviour to heaven : — Whilst we are present in the body fdj, we are absent from the Lord : how confident and willing then may the sincere Christian be, rather to be absent from the body, and present with the I^ord ? Heaven has a new attractive in it now, the man Christ Jesus is there in all his glory. Christ's ministry, in the heavenly temple, is infinitely preferable to the mini- stry and ordinances of the church on earth. The believer js an infinite gainer by exchanging the sight of Christ, through a glass darkly, for a sight of him, as he is, and face to face. Christ thought our sight of his heavenly glory worth his praying for, and the Christian should think it worth the dying for. \Ye have been attempting to get a glimpse of this glory, through the glass of the gospe], and that is refreshing : But, O what is it, to behold it v,-ith open face ! when there shall be no veil, either upon the eye, or upon the object ; to see the glory of the Deity shining («} John xvi!. 2. (^) 2 Cor. v. 6. 8. OF Christ's ascension-. 87 ihrougii the man Christ Jesus must be most desirable. How- then can the Christian refrain from earnestly longing to de- part, and to be with Christ, which is far better ? Did the q^ueen of Sheba come from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and shall not the believer be wiUing to go from earth to heaven, to see the glory of Christ ? Has he paved the way, and prepared the place, by his own ascension, and shall we be unwilling to follow him ? Is he in heaven to receive the dear purchase of his blood, and conduct us into the King's palace, and shall we be afraid to trust our souls in his hands (a) ? Do we not know that he is able to keep them, and present them in glory with exceeding joy ? Stephen resigned his soul free- ly when he had seen Jesus at God's right hand (b) ; then he could say, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit : he well knew that it would be safe in his hands, and that the rage of bis enemies could not hurt it there. May the Lord enable us to make these good improvements of this comfortable truth, that Christ has ascended far above all heavens to fill all things* (a) 2 Tim. i. 12.— Jude 24. {h) Acts vii. 56. 59. h2 OF CHRIST^S SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. IN TWO SERMONS. SERMON I. Preached Novemeer 7, 1727. Jesus endured the cross, cmd sat doxvn on the ri^ht hand of the throne cf God.^^llEB. sii. 2. Having formerly explained, and applied Christ's glorious ascension, I come now to consider what immediately follow- ed upon his sitting down at the right hand of God. This is proposed by the author of this epistle, for the support and encouragement of suffering Christians. Christ's cross was the Vvay to the crown ; his trials ended in a triumph, his toils on earth in a glorious rest in heaven. What needs ex- plication in the words, will be attempted in handling the fol- lowing doctrinal proposition : Christ having endured the cross sat doxvn on the right ha fid of the throne of God. In cpeaking on this point, I shall attempt the following things. I. I shall explain w-hat is mearit by Christ's sitting or, the right hand of the throne of God. II. I shiill produce some evidences of it. III. I shall inquire in v/hat relation and caipacily Christ ^its there. OF Christ's sitting, 3cc. 89 IV. I shall consider the time and ends of Christ's sitting; on God's right hand. And, V. By way of conclusion, I shall shew what improve- ment is to be made of these things. Before I enter upon these heads, I would beg leave to hint, that we ought not to be wise above what is written, or boldly intrude into things which we have not seen. Many curious questions may be started upon this head, to which no regard is to be had : we ought to rest satisfied in what the Scripture reveals concerning it, as sufficient for us to know in our present state. So much is revealed, as may raise high and honourable thoughts of Christ : and for this end, let us consider the truth before us, in the method pro- posed. I. I shall explain what is meant by Christ'-^ sitting on the right hand of the throne of God. By God's throne, and by his 7-ighf hand, we are not to understand things m^aterial ; God has not bodily parts, as m^an has, nor does he sit upon a material throne, as princes do. It was the stupid error of some ancient heretics, that God hath a fleshly body with such members as ours have ; but we know that God is a Spirit, and a spirit has not flesh and bones* God is said to have tmigs fa J, as well as hands: and if the expression were to be taken literally, we must suppose him to have the body of some flying creature ; which shews that the terms are figurative. In condescension to our weakness, God is. pleased to speak of himself after the manner of men. As the word hand is often used to signify, either intimacy, ho- nour, or pcrtver ; therefore God is pleased to express his power, intimacy, and the honour he confers on his Son, by his being on his right hand : And a throne is the seat of sovereign power, majesty, and glory. When Christ is said- (a) Psal. xvii. 8, H 3 90 OF Christ's sitting to be on the rigid hand of the throne of God, it signifies, that he has sovereign power, niajesty> dominion, and glory. In my text, Christ is said to be on the right hand of God's throne: elsewhere he is spoken oi^ fa), as sitting doimi on the Father^ s throne, and being in the riiidst of the throne. — Christ being in his Father^s throne, signifies his participa- tion with the Father in power and glory ; and his being on the right hand of the throne, may denote the honour which the Father has done Christ, as Mediator, and his nearness to and intinnacy with him. Viewing the expressions in this lijrht, there -will be no shadow of an inconsistence between them. The Psalmist (h), in one place, has spoken of Christ's sitting at the Father's right hand ; and a little after (^c^, he has spoken of the Father 2^^ being at Christ's right hand : both indeed could not be true, if the expressions were to be taken literally, or locally ; but being understood of the dig- nity and power which Christ bas with the Father ; and of the aid and assistance which the Father gives to the Son^ and of his intimacy with him, there is a very good agree- ment between the seemingly opposite expressions. Having offered .these genera] observations, it maybe ne cessary, 1st, More particularly to shew, what is not included and imuhed, in Christ's sitting on the' right hand of the throne of God ; which will pj-epare my way to shew what is in- cluded in it. (1.) It does not imply, that Christ is e.^alted ahovQ the Father. In these parts of the world, to place a person at the right hand, is to give him the upper hand, or to place him above one's self: But when all things are said to be put binder Christ, it is manifest that he is excepted who put all things under him (d). The Son is to be honoured as the {a) Rev. lii. 2.1.— V. 6.— vii. 17. {b) Psal. ex. 1. (^) Psal. xc. 5. (d) i Cor. xv. 27. AT god's RIGPIT HAND. 91 Father (a), but not above him ; he is said to be equal with God (b), but not superior to him. (2.) It does not imply, that the Iniman nature in Christ is equal with God. The most dignified creature cannot be equal with God, in perfection or glory; there must be a vast difference between a goodness and greatness, which are jIn finite and eternal, and such as are limited, and begin in time. Christ's humanity, in its most Exalted condition, must be infinitely below Deity ; for God has said, / am God, and there is none else : I am God, and there is none like 'ine (c). To suppose Christ's humanity to be immense, almiglity, and all- sufficient, would be not to exalt its nature, but to destroy it. It would be to suppose it to be God, and not a creature. (3.) Christ's sitting at God's right hand does not imply, that his body is immoveahly fixed in a certain place. The heavens indeed must receive it, till the time of the restitu- tion of all things (d) j but in what posture, or particular place Christ's body is, is not for us to say : however, this we may. say, that though Christ's humanity may change place, yet it changes not its state. The union of Christ's humanity with his divinity, and the glory resulting thence, appears, wherever his body is ; and as the deity is every where present, it never can remove from it, and especially seeing in Christ dwells all thefidness af the Godhead bo- dily (e). (^.j Christ's sitting at God's right hand, doea not sig- nify, that he is degraded by the Father. Some have con- tended, that the left hand is, in the eastern parts, deemed the more honourable place ; and therefore, that Christ's sitting at the right hand, must denote a lower degree of honour : but it is the constant language of scripture, that God hath highly exalted Christ ; he has given him a (a) John V. 22. [b) Phil. ii. 6. {c) Isa. xlvi. 9. (rf) Acts iii.2I. (f)Col. ii.9. 92 OF CHRIST S SITTING name above evoy name : the placing the sheep on Christ'^s right hand (a), and the goats on the left, in the great day, sufficiently confutes the opinion, that the left hand was, in the scripture times, the place of the greater honour. When the church is spoken of, as standing at the King's right hand (b), it is so represented not to degrade, but to honour her : For the same reason, Solomon is said to have placed, his mother 07i the 7-ight hand of his th'one (c). From all which it appears, that, from ancient times, the right band has been thought the most honourable place. I will only add here, it is not in the least probable, that when the Fa- tlier will have all mea to honour the Son, even as himself {d)y he himself should degrade him, or set him in a less ho- nourable place. Having thus hinted some things that are not implied in Christ's sitting at God's right hand ; I come, 2dlyi To shev*', what things are implied or included in Christ's sitting on the right hand of the throne of God. (1.) It denotes the great dignity of Christ, in his exalt- ed state : his divine nature was not capable of any real" ad- vancement, he being, essentially, over all^ God blessed for ever (e). With respect to that nature therefore, Christ's exaltation can only signify the manifestation of his essential dignity and glory. Tlie veil of his humiliation being taken- off, he shined forth in all the brightness of his glory, as God, when he sat down upen his heavenly throne : but with respect to his manhood and office, as Mediator, he was real- ly dignified and exalted, when he sat down at the Father's right hand. It was a great honour to the man Christ Jesus, to be admitted so near to God ; and for the Mediator and high Priest, to be placed upon such a glorious throne : his humanity appears there, filled ith all the excellencies wnere- (a) See Dr. Owen's Expos. Heb. i. S. — Rivet on Psal. ex. 1. ih) Psal. xlv. 9, (0 1 Kings ii. 19. {d) John v. 22. {e) Rom. iz. 5. AT god's right hand. 93 of it is capable, and in all the splendour which a finite be* ing can enjoy. As Aaron (aj^ the type, so Christ, the antitype, put on his garments of glory, when he went into the holy place, or when he sat down on the right hand of God. The praises and adorations of the heavenly assembly were a new honour done to Christ, upon his ascending his p;lorious throne. That nature, which had been the object uf so much scorn and contempt on earth, is highly admired in heaven, and occasions nev/ songs of praise to God ; for they sing not only the song of Moses, but of the Lamb : they are represented saying, IVorilvj is the Lamb that tuas slain, to 7-eceive pozver, and riches, a7id tvisdom, and sti'ength, and honour, and glorij, and blessing (b). If this should be supposed to refer to the church militant, yet w^e must al- low, that the church triumphant has greater reason, inclina- tion, and' ability, to do it ; and therefore it is not to be supposed, that the saints above neglect giving those honours to Christ, which are paid to him by his saints here below. It is a high and honourable work, which Christ is engaged in there, to dispense the Spirit, govern the world, intercede for the saints on earth, and for ever feast the joyful eyes of those in heaven, who behold his glory ; this must be another part of that dignity and honour to wliich Christ was raised, when he sat down at God's right hand. (2.) It denotes the joy and satisjcislion which Christ has in his heavenly state ; jit thy right hand, said he to the Fa- ther, there are pleasures for evermore fcj. Ke was a man of sorrows on earth, but he is full of joy in he'aven : He that ivipes atvay all tears from the eyes of his people fdj, surely has none in his own. There was ^Joy set before him (e ), before he suffered ; and doubtless it was given him, when he sat down at God's right liand. We may take tha (a) Exod. XX v;;. 2.— Lev. xvi. -i. {h) Rev. v. 12. (0 I'sa!, xvi. 11. (./j Rev, vii. 17. 9i OF CHRIST S SITTIXG latter to be an actual donation of the lorrxier ; the joy he had in prospect when he suffered, he had in possession whei* he came to his throne. This is the time of his receiving the Father's public approbation, and the tokens of his love, be- fore the whole heavenly assembly ; v.'hich must be matter of great joy to him who so much valued and delighted in hi* Father's love. (3.) Christ's sitting at God's right hand, signifies his dO' minion and potver over all creatures. When God set him at his own right hand, in heavenly places, it was far above all principality faj and power, might and dominion, in both worlds. * Can any words, saith Chrysostom C^Jy ^e- * clare this ? He that was of the earth, see how he is exalt - * ed ; the greatness of his power is truly super-eminent : See ' whither he has raised him ; he has made him higher than * any creature in heaven, above all principality and power* * We tru'y need the Spirit, and a mind filled with wisdom * in the knowledge of him. Think how great a distance * there is between the nature of God and the nature of man ; * and yet from our meanness and abasement, he has raised it * to that honour, not to the first, second, or third degree, * but above all : All created power is made subject to the * man, on the account of God, the Word, who dwells * therein.' (4.) Christ's sitting at God's right hand, implies his nearness to, and intimacy with the Father. The prophet (a) Eph. I. 20, 21. (3) "Affa r); Xoyss ans TK^u^tltrxt omr,so3 was going to him that sent himy and that ivhiiher he tvent they coutd not come : which was, as if he had said thus ; « I shall be secure in my Father's presence ; you cannot ' come at me there, nor so much as touch my body then.' Wicked men may arrogantly talk of breaking his bands, and may foolishly fancy they can ruin Christ's kingdom ; but they imagine a vain thing : Fie who sits in the heavens laughs at them ; Christ, upon the holy hill of Sion, has iheni in derision ; he can dash them in pieces with his iron rod ; but they cannot dethrone him ; he is at the Father's right hand, and shall sit there till all his jfoes are made his footstool (^cj. Indeed they are not presently brought under, the work is go- a) 1 Pet. iii. 22. (^) See Dr, Owen's expos. Heb. i. 3. p. 70. (c) Psal. ex. I. I 2 100 OF Christ's sitting ing on, tliougli not yet perfected : as the apostle Paul sauI in his time C^Jt so may we now say, xvs see not yet atl things jmt under him ; but, by faith, we may see him fixed in a glorious station, in which he shall abide till they actually arc subjected to him. 3. Christ's sitting at God's right hand may signify his duration and continuance in this glorious state. He is not like earthly kings, who ascend their thrones, and sit on them a little time, and then lie down in the dust, as v/ell as the meanest of their subjects : our heavenly King lives for ever ; and the Father has said to him. Thy throne^ God, is for ever and ever (h). The high priests under the law, when they entered into the holy place, soon came out again, they stayed there but a little time ; but Christ continues in the heavenly sanctuary till he comes to judge the world in iigtchousness. Having thus endeavoured to shew, what is meant by Christ's sitting at the right hand of the throne of God, I proceed to the next general head ; and therefore, II. I shall produce some evidences of this comfortable truth. If indeed we had no other evidence of it, but the assertion in m.y text, we ought firmly to believe it ; but see- ing God has given us many others in the scriptures, we may, for the exercise of faith, love, and joy, collect and im- prove them. 1. That Christ actually sits at the right hand of the ^•Jiron^ of God, appears from scripture prophecy. The Holy Spirit, who spoke in and by the prophets, could not foretell what would never be ; for he is trutli, and is no liar ; he leads into all tridh : but it is impossible that he should ce'ude or deceive us. He has represented Christ saying thus {cj ; Thoio tvilt shen' me the path cfUfe : in « Heb. 11. 8. {h) Keb. i. 8, (.) PsaJ. xvl, II. AT god's right hand. iOl thy fre&encc is fulness of joy ; at thy right hand there ar^ pleasures for evermore ; or, thou wilt raise me Ironi the dead, bring me into thy glorious presence, and place me on thy own right hand, where I shall have everlasting joy and pleasure. The Holy Spirit, by David's pen (a), ha 5 re- presented the Father saying to the Son, Sit thou on my right hand : When this was spoken, is not declared ; possi- bly it might be in the eternal transactions between the Fa- ther and the Son, when the whole platform of salvation was agreed upon, when the purpose was declared, and the grace was given in Christ Jesus [b) ; If it was so, the etern Spirit well knew there was a joy set before Christ, and a obligation which made it necessary that Christ, when h had suffered|^c^, should enter into his glory. Christ mention- ed it before his ascension j and therefore proved it from the prophetic writings, among which that in the hundred and tenth Psalm has ever been looked upon as very full and clear. Had we but Christ's own exposition of it, which we may justly think he gave the disciples, how might it en- hghten our understandings, and cause our hearts, as well as theirs, to burn within us ? Those words, D'le Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine ene- mies thyfootstooli seem to be not barely a prophetic decb- ration, but also a promise ; As if the Father had said, * Son, * thou shah sit at my right hand after thou hast suffered, « and continue there till all thine enemies are subdued : thou * art an eternal priest, and shall sit and rule upon thy throne.* The ancient Jewish doctors generally understood that pas- sage in the hundred and tenth psalm of the Messiah : and if the Jews, in Christ's time, had not so understood it, they might easily have answered Christ, when he put them to silence, by alledging this text, and raising that question upon it (d). How David could call his Son his Lord ; for it had been only (a) Psal. ex. 1. (^) 2 Tim. i. 9. (0 Luke xxiv. 26, 27, 32. id) Math. xxii. 42, 43, &c, I 3 102 OF Christ's sittixg replying, that tlie Me3:iah is rot there spoke, of; but tl.ey knew it belonged to him ; and tlie last verse seems to me to be a prophetic promise of Christ's exaltation, and sitting at God's right hand ; He shall drink of the brooJc in the ivj^, thereof shall lie lift up the head (a). From all these prophetic representations it appears, that Christ, after his death and sufferings, was to sit at the Father's right hand : iJeeing therefore his death and sufferings are past, it follows, cither that Christ sits there, or else that the prophetic writ- ings have deceived us ; but far be it from us to charge the Spirit of truth with falsehood : we conclude, therefore, that Christ actually sits at the Father's right hand. 2. It appears that he does so from express scrijUurc as- sertions. The evangelist Mark has told us, that when Christ ascended he sat doxvn on the right hand of God (h) : Paul said, that God set him at his own right hand (c). Christ himself, after his ascension said to John, and by him to us [d)i I overcame and sal dotvn xvith my Father on his throne : in which expressions there may be an allusion to what was done by Solomon his type, who sat on the throne with David his Father in his life time. S. V/e have the testimony of that holy man and martyr, Stephen, under the influence of the Spirit of God, and go- ing to appear before his judge, who said, he saw Jesus o?i the right hand of God (e). He could have no selfish ends to serve, by uttering a falsehood ; and he might have well expected, that not Christ, but the devil would have taken his Spirit, had he died with a lie in his mouth. From these things it appears, that when Christ ascended, be sat down on the right hand of God. His enemies have no reason to reproach us for following and believing in a crucified God : he is a risen ascended Saviour ; he is not lost, though gone from us ; he sits in glory above, and (fl) Psal. ex. 7. {b) Mark xvi. 19. {c) Ephes. i. 21, {f} Rev. iii. 21. {e) Acts vii. 5Q, AT god's right hand. 103 Will conic again the se^rond time, without sin, to complete the sal'vation of his people (a). Without spending farther time In the proof of Christ's sitting at God's right hand, I ^liall leave what remains, In the doctrinal part, to my next discourse, and conclude for this time, with some APPLICATION. 1. What regard ought to be paid to Christ's speaking to us froyn heaven ? When he was on earth we were com- manded to hear him (b) ; and he had then the same divine perfections to oblige us to it, as now he has ; and yet there* Is an emphasis laid upon his speaking to us from heaven(c) : as \\e came from heaven, and knew all the mind and will of God ; so he now Is seated In heaven. In the highest au- thority and honour, executing all his offices In the most glorious manner. To refuse him whom God has thus au- thorised, and owned. Is a sin of a high aggravation. It struck some of his enemies to the heart when Peter told them (d)i that God had made Jesus loth Lord and Christ : though they had crucified him, God had exalted him, and raised him from the grave to a throne. When we neglect any duty or ordinance, which Christ has appointed, or dis- trust any gospel prom^Ise, which he has set before us, we should think what and where Christ is, whom we disregard : Is he not one who sits at God's right hand, crowned with glory and honour ? and may not this prick us to the heart here- after, if now we slight his person, his presence, or any of his appointments ? Is it not very evident from the station which Christ Is now in, that God the Father loves and ho- nours him ? And may we not from thence infer, that he will be incensed against such as shght and disregard him ? This sin will appear still more black and odious, if we coiv (a) Heb. ix. 28. (h) Mark ix. 7. (0 Heb. xii. 25, (^) Acts ii, 36, . 104? 0F Christ's sitting sider not only in what dignity and favour Christ now is, but also who he is, and what he is doing for us, in his present glo- rious state. Is he not our near kinsman, bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh ? Has he not carried up our nature with him into heaven, and raised it to the highest honour and glory, whereof it is capable ? and shall we despise and dishonour him who has shewed such regard to us ? Surely that would be most ungrateful, and a vile thing, which ought to be abhorred by all Christians. They who tram- ple under foot the Son of God, and put him afresh to an open shame, will be confounded when he shall appear in a glorified human nature to judge them ; and they at the same time will have visible evidence of his love to their na- ture, and of the honour he has put upon it. If we consider what Christ is now doing in heaven, it will appear reasonable, that we should pay him our highest re- gards : He doth not sit idle in his glorious seat ; he is still saving poor sinners, and carrying on the designs of his mercy both in heaven and on earth. So much is signified to us in those wards (a) ; Wherefore he is able to save to the utter- most^ all that come to God by him, seeing he ever lives in heaven to make intercession for them. Christ sits at God's right hand, to save his people to the uttermost ; and if he lives there to save us to the uttermost, should we not live here to serve him, to the uttermost ? The rest and glory of heaven do not make him neglect our salvation ; therefore shall any thing in this worH make us neglect his honour and interest ? Surely, if we were duly under the influence of these considerations, we should love Christ more, and serve him better, and pay a greater deference to his person, and a more ready obedience to his commands : We should then make it more our study tq honour him whom God has so honoured, in placing him at his right hand ; when he has not only by (a) Heb. vii. 25. AT god's right hand. 105 his works, but also by his word told us (a)y that he will have every knee to bow, and every tongue to confess to his Son, whom he has so highly exalted ; and what regard then ought we to pay to our enthroned Lord and Saviour ? Let us resolve, by the help of his Spirit and grace, to endeavour to exalt, honour, and serve him more : Let us often, by an eye of faith, look up to him upon his throne, as a most glorious person, God-man, engaged in a most glorious work, even our salvation, honoured by his Father, and adored by all th.e other inhabitants of heaven ; and let us say to our- selves, and to one another, shall we do nothing to shew our respects to such a Saviour ? Shall we not do more than ever we did ? Alas ! how little has it been ! It can never be too much, never so mucli as our glorious Lord is worthy of. 2. What encouragement have we to come to the throne of grace by prayer ? Seeing Christ is for ever sat down al God's right hand, we may go into the /lo/Zes^ of cdl(b}y having such a friend and advocate there. This argument is a very good one ; the Holy Ghost has laid it before us for our encouragement (c) ; Christ is touclied xvith a feeling of our infirmities ; our great high priest Jesus the Son of God,, is passed into the heavens for us : we may therefore come boldly to the throne of grace. The glory of Christ's throne has not made him insensible of our infirmities, he feels tliem still ; he pities and will help his poor distressed servants : we should not then be discouraged ; we have a good friend at court ; Christ at the Father's right hand, to pity and plead for us, and to dispense ^11 needful supplies to us : now he sits at God's right hand he is moved with as tender com- passion to the meanest of his members, as ever he was on earth. He is not only man, but the Son of God ; therefore prevalent with the Father, and infinitely powerful and able to relieve his people. Our earthly friends often pity us, but (a) F3al. ii. 9, 10, 11. {h) Heb. x. 19, 20. (0 Heb. iv. 14, 15, 16. 106 DF Christ's sitting cannot help us ; but Christ is able to save us to the utter- most. He is our great high priest : he did not quit his office when he sat down upon his throne ; he took his seat there on our account, and not only on his own : he passed into the heavens for us, to appear in the presence of God, on our account, and not only on his own ; he is there as an ad- vocate for his people, to present their prayers with much incense. Christians then ought not to be anxiously careful for any thing, but with chcarfulness and freedom they should go to the throne of grace for all needful mercy, whatever their difficulties and wants are. 3. If Christ h^s sat down at the right hand of the throne of God, then let us labour to enter into his rest, not by aspiring to an equal dignity or power with him, for that were wicked to desire, but by believing that he is there, and by making a right improvement of this comfortable truth. It is the work of faith to look within the veil, and to converse with Christ there, iiow^ freed from all the labours, sorrows, and sufferings which he endured here below, resting from all works of that kind, and crowned with glory and honour. — With what inward rest, joy, and satisfaction may such a bight of Christ fill a believer I How may it animate and en- courage us more in our Christian race and warfare ! Fcr which end it is proposed to us to look to Jesus the author andjinisker of our faith, tvho for the joy that xvas set before hiniy endured the cross, and despised the shame; and has sat doxon on the light hand of the throne of God (a J. A view of Christ's sitting at the. right hand of God, as head of the church, and Saviour of the body, would be an excel- lent means to expel our guilty fears. God, who was mani- fested in our flesh, is gone up ivith a shout ; let iis theji sing praises to God our King (h) : Let us behold him on bis heavenly throne, above temptation and death, and in the {a) Heb. xii, 2, &c. ; {b) Psal Ixvii. 5, 6\ AT god's right hand. 107 highest favour with his Father. Shall not the tongue of the dumb siiig for joy (cijy to see the Saviour accepted of God, and exalted to be Sovereign over men and devils, silting in a royal seat, and making all his foes his footstool ? What guilt can stand before that blood fbj which delivered hin; who shed it from the jaws of death, and raised him to his glorious throne, where he will draw all his people after him ? 4. What reason have we to believe, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against iJie church ? Is not Christ placed in the highest dignity and authority at God's right hand, far above all principality and power ? How doth he there deride all the policy and power of his enemies ? It is settled, by a firm agreement between Him and his Father, the highest powers in heaven and earth, before whom all creatures are as nothing, that Christ shall reign till he hath jmt all enemies under his feet (c) ; that he shall sit at God*s right hand till he makes his foes his footstool. Let us then commit our souls, our friends, his whole church and interest, into his hands, by faith, persuaded that he is able to Jceep what tve commit to his trust (d). As he was never con- quered, he never can be : the lower he was depressed, the higher he rose ; from the cross and the grave he mounted up to the throne, and sat down on the right hand of God. (a) Isa. XXXV. 5. {h) Heb, ix. 12. — Johij xii. .'32. (c) 1 Cor. XV, 25.— Psa!. ex. x. {d) 2 Tim. i. 12, 108 05" Christ's siTxfKG SERMON 11. Preached November 21, 1727. Jesus endured the cross, aiid sat dotvn on the rhhi hand oj the throne of God, — Heb. xii. 2. JtlAViNG formerly explained Christ's sitting at God's right hand, and proved the reality and certainty of it, I now pro- ceed ; and therefore, III. I shall shew in what relatiofi, or capacity , Christ sits at God's right hand. We must regulate our con- ceptions of this by Scripture, where we find many cha- racters applied to Christ in his ascended state, or belonging to it, which teach us in what relation, or capacity, he re- sides there. I think we may very well conclude, that he sits there in the same relation, or capacity, in which he went thither ; and he himself has declared, that he abcended to his Father and his God (a). The first person in the sa- cred Trinity is the God and Father of cur Lord Jesus Christ (h) ; and he is so with respect to Christ's mission and cfiice. Of this the Psalmist, in the name of the Fa- ther, has spoken thus. He shall cry to me. Thou art ray Fa- ther, my God, and the Rock of my salvation. I mil make him my first-born, higher than the kings of the earth (c). Which Christ himself thus explained : Say you of him rvhom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world. Thou blasphemest, because I said, I am the So7i of God (d) P God is Christ's Father, as he sanctified and sent him into the world : when Christ said he was to ascend to his Father and his God (e), he spoke of the dispensation, as Chry- (a) John XX. 17. {b) 2 Cor. xi. 31. (c) Psal. Ixxxix. 26, 27^ (^y; John X. 36. (<•) John x, 17. ubi vid. Chrysostom. AT god's right hand. iOi^ sostoni says. To ascend belongs to the fleeh ; but he spoke that concerning it \vhich they did not imagine. Is God any otherwise our God, than the God of our ilesh ? Yes, truly ; for, if in a different way he is the God of /the righteou? and of the wfcked, with much greater difference is he the God of his people, and the God of his Son : he was to sit upon the throne, they to stand before it ; and his glory ii far greater than theirs is. We may then look on Christ as sitting at the Father's riglit hand, in a covenant relation to him, as his Father, and his God, by office ; of which great i^se may be made, both in defence of the Christian faith, and to increase the Christian's comfort. ' Christy's calling God his God, does not argue that he is, as God, inferior to the Father ; but only that, by covenant and office, he has taken the Father to be his God, whose works he performed, and whose reward he receives. When we see Chi-ist sitting at the Father's right hand, as his covenant God, we may just- ly infer, that the covenant shall be fulfilled. The blessing, promised to Christ, are the sure mercies of David ; for God spoke thus : / tvill maha vcith ycni an everlasting covenant, even the sure mercies of David : Behold, I have given him to be a xjcitness to the pcoi'le, a commander and leader of the people (a). Christ sits in heaven in a special- relation to his people.— He sat down at the right hand of God not only as his Fa- ther, but also as our Father ; for as Christ and his people are one in covenant, so God is our God and Father, as well as his God and Father. Hence the redeemed are said now to sit together in Christ, in heavenly places ; for the Father has raised its up together, nnd made us sit together in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus (h). Th?. head sitting, the body sits with him ; therefore, to use the words of Chry- sostom, * O think where Christ sits, above all principality ' and power ! And we sit v/ith him ; ttv, who were dead, (a) Isa. Iv. Z. 4. {b) Eph. ii. 6. VOL. II. K 110 OF Christ's sitting * and the children of wrath by nature, who have done no- * thing right. O the depth of the riches, and wisdom, * and knowledge of God ; for, by grace we are saved faj !' Another of Christ's relative characters, as he sits at God's right hand, is Mediator and Minister of the heavenly sanc- tuary. Thus Re is several times spoken of in scripture, since liis ascension ; There is one God, and one Mediator, he- tzveen God and man, the man Christ Jesus (b). He is the Mediator of a better covenant. Not he mas, but he now 2-^. Since he is gone up to his throne, he interposes at pre- sent, as a medium of communion between God apd his peo- ple ; they come to God by him, and are made accepted in the Beloved (c). Christ is a minister of the heavenly sanc- tuary, and that as sitting at God's right hand (d) : * In ' the height of his heavenly glory, he condescends to dis- * charge the ofiice of a public m.inister for the church,' as one has expressed it (e) ; ' and in the discharge of that * ministry, he executes all his offices of prophet, .priest, and The testimony of Jesu?, or that revelation of the will of God which he gives from heaven, is the Spirit of prophecy : and as he externally reveals the truth, so he internally en- lightens the minds of men ; upon this depends the continu- ance of the church in the v\'orld. Were it not for the ema- nations of light from the Sun of Righteousness, the 'church would be as dark a dungeon as the world. It was since Christ sat down at God's right hand, that we were told, that no man hath seen God at any time, but that the onlij begotten Son, tvlio is in the bosom of the Father, he hath (^a) Kt(pa,Xy,s x,tt.6i^of/.ir/ii, xa) ro ac!>f.ta. evyy.ai'Arai- })ik t5t« W-ziyayiv iKUvy t); oji viXBdf ^virex rixvov 6^-/>;j, kh) r) xard'^^anrets, sob— » — u (idCo? crXsrs x,ou irc<)(piK? xcc) yvutfiu-: Qini, T'/j yao- ^x^irt i?i aitruiru-ivoi ^'/icrr/. Chrysost. in loc. {I,) 1 Tim. ii. 5. (c) John xiv. 6.— Epb. i. 6. () Eph. iii. 15.— Col, ii. 10.— Keb. xVi. 22. ^) Vide Dr. Owen's mcdit.r.. on Clirht's glory, p. 2'1. 120 OF Christ's sitting junction, all having one heavenly necessary bond of union, as one of the ancient writers has expressed it (a). That what I am now upon may not be thought foreign to my subject, I desire it may be observed, that Chrisfs silting at God's right handy and being head over all thiyigs to the church (h), are joined together in scripture ; and certainly there is a very close connection between them. It is said of the heavenly Jerusalem, that the Lamb is the light thereof ( c ) ; this may respect that unction from Christ, the holy One, the emanations of light from the Holy Spirit, derived from Christ, the eternal head of the glorified church j and if so, then Christ for ever sits at the Father's right hand, not only as king and priest, but also as prophet ; from whom, by his Spirit, light is continually communicated to that blessed assem.bly. — From what has been said, I hope the truth of the proposition last laid down m.ay appear, that Christ sits for ever at God's right hand as kingj priest, and prophet, and head of the church. The substance of what I have advanced upon this point I take to be the sense of a very learned and judicious writer (d), who, speaking of Christ's sitting down for ever, at the right hand of God, says, < it was in an unalterable state < and condition :' and in another place (e), upon a review of what he had said, concerning Christ's delivering up the kingdom to the Father, he has observed, ' That the person * of Christ, in and by the human nature, shall be for e\^r < the immediate head of the whole glorified creation ; for < we shall never lose our relation to him, nor lie to us. That * he shall be the way and means of communication between < God and the glorified saints for ever ; that our adherence (a) Ourco; ecv yivoiro aK^itr,$ (Tvv^.) Psa!. ex. I, 2, 3. (f) Mat. xxviii. 19. AT GOD S RIGHT HAND. 125 Tng, till the church militant is incorporated with the church triumphant. 3. Christ sits at God's right hand to complete the joy zn<\ glory oi xX\Q church triumphant y or the saints in glory. To the old-testament saints, who had never seen Christ in the flesh, it must be a wonderful joy, to see their incarnate Saviour, crowned with glory and honour, at the Father's right hand. If Abraham rejoiced to see the day of Christ's incarnation, what was his joy when he saw him ascend the throne of his glory ? Such as had seen him a man of sor- rows on earth, must be filled with joy unspeakable, to be- hold him in possession of those pleasures and honours which he has at the Father's right hand for evermore. John the Baptist, the converted thief, the apostles, and others, who saw him debased on earth, must be wonderfully pleased to behold him in his glorious throne, next to God the Father. Those who lived and died since Christ's ascension, and so never savsr him in the flesh, till they saw him in glory, must be filled with joy unspeakable by the sight, especially if we consider Christ's part in the temple service above ; how en- tertaining must this be to the blessed beholders on earth, !- They used, it may be, many prayers and sermons, and other duties and ordinances, to get one glimpse of Christ ; but in heaven he dwelis amongst them continually, aud is never out of their sight. Christ had prayed that they might be with him (a) ; and so they shall be for ever before him,^ to behold his glory (h). It must be to them a peculiar pleasure to see what Christ is doing for the Church iieie be- low ; how he intercedes for them, how he presents thjir prayers and worship to God, and their souls when they leave their bodies. These things, with many ocher-s, of which we are now ignorant, we may suppose to be no. small part of the happiness of the saints in heaven. And I would beg leave to add, that Christ's glory, after the day of judge- (a) John xvii. 24. (^) Rev. vli. 15^, ^24 OF Christ's sitting mer.t, as sitting at God's right hand, and exercising all his offices, in a glorious manner there, will be the entertainment of all the redeemed, who shall then meet in one glorious as- sembly, and that the most glorious one that ever was ; and the joy, adoration, and praises of the holy angels will be no small accession to the happiness and glory of heaven. They desired to look into the gloiy foretold by the prophets (a) ; with joy they saw God manifest in the flesh, and sungglori/ io God in the highest (h)y when he first appeared on earth. With what fresh delight then may we suppose they beheld him ascending up on high, and with how much plea- sure do they attend his throne (^f^, with the ascriptions of glory and honour to him, as sitting there I * Heaven itself < (as one speaks d) was not what it is, since the entrance * of Christ into the heavenly sanctuary for the administra- * tion of his cHice ; neither the saints departed, nor the an- * gels themselves were participant of that glory which now * ^hey are partakers of.' — It was therefore necessary that Christ should take his glorious seat in heaven, that so he might glorify the Father, take care of the church below, and make the church above happy and joyful in his presence: And at the restitution of all things the blessed angels, and all the redeemed will join in ascribing glory, and honour, and praise, to him that sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb at his rifrht hand, and that for ever and ever. I come now to the APPLICATION. ]. If Christ sits at the right hand of the throne or God, then the Christian should be willing to be absent from the ucd^, ztA io he present iiith the Lord. When Paul had once been in the third heavens, he ever after desired to be dismissed from this world. Havingy said he, a desire to de- part, and to be ivith Christ, ivhich is far better (c). Who (fl) 1 Pet. i. 12. (i) lAike ii, 14. (0 Rev. v. 1 1. 12. [a) Dr. Owen on Christ's person, p. 184. {c) Phi!, i, 23, AT god's niGHT HAND." ii5 could be a better judge of the desirableness of heaven, ami the glory of that place, where Christ is, than one who had been admitted to such knowledge of it, as, I suppose, no mere creature in this mortal state ever had, either before or since. — -The believer's affections should now be in heaven,. where his Saviour is ; his heart ought to be with his gloriouti head. Did Jacob, when he heard of all the glory of Joseph in Egypt, say, I "will go doiun and see him before I die fa) ; and should not the believer, who has heard of Christ's glory in heaven, say. If the Lord please, I would die, that I may go thither, and see my dear enthroned Redeemer, and live with him for ever ? I am persuaded, that if v/e had a clear view of Chrit's glory there, and of our interest in him, v/e should need as many arguments to make us willing to live, as some Christians now do to make them wilHng to die. 2. If Christ sits at God's right hand, then what reverenc& is due, in all our approaches to him, and in our whole con- duct and conversation ? Though \\t are in a low condition, yet we worship one who sits upon a glorious throne, on the right hand of the Majesty on high ; the holy angels cover their faces before him, as sitting upon his glorious throne, high and hfted up. Did the prophet Isaiah cry out. Woe is me,Jbr I am undone, (or cut off,) because my eyes have seen the King (b) P Did the holy apostle, who had once leaned on his bosom, afterwards^// at his feet as dead (c]^ when he had a view of his glory ; and shall we draw nigh to him with an irreverent boldness ? Must Moses put (ffhis^ shoes fdj in point of reverence, when he called to him out of the bush ; and shall we indulge a light and unconcerned spirit, when he speaks to us from heaven ; or when we ap- proach him upon his glorious throne ? Is he to be had in reverence by all who attend him in heaven ? and shall wCj in a lower station, have no awe upon our spir.ts, when we (a) Gen. xlv. 28. (^;Isa. vi. 1. Cc)Rev. i. 17. (^) Exod. iii. 5. l3 ^-^ OF CHRIST'S SITTING have to do with him ? Are not all things naked and open to his eyes, though he is at God's right hand ; how then will they answer it another day, who profane, or take his name in vain ? ^ 3. If Christ is at God's right hand, next to him in dig- nity, power, andglory, thenthereis.no reason for Christians to be ashamed of their Master, or his scrxice in this world. It is a greater honour to be a servant of Christ, than to be next in dignity to the greatest prince on earth ; for Christ is Lord of lords, and King of kings : Christians serve an honourable Lord, who sits enthroned, at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens : but sinners, however they flatter themselves, liave reason to be ashamed, both of their master and of his work ; they serve an inglorious spirit, who is himself a victim in chains, dreading his final doom and misery. Whilst wicked men, therefore applaud them.- selves and one another, they do but glory in their shame ; and when the Christian either labours, or suffers for Christ, shall he be ashamed of his glory ? When we look to Christ sitting at the Father's right hand, how reasonable may the apostle Paul's exhortation appear to be, which is. Be thou not ashamed of the testimony of the Lord, nor of me his pri- soner (a) P Christians should esteem the reproach of Christ, as greater riches than the world can give. 4. How dangerous is it for sinners to oppose Christ, who is at the right hand of God, possessed of all power in heaven and earth ? Is he not able and resolved to make. his enemies his footstool ? Every hnee shall hovo to him, and every tongue must confess him (b) : Such as refuse his yoke, shall not escape his iron rod. How will they bear to hear him say, Bring those my enemies that ivould not that I should reign oxer them, and slay them before me (c) ? 5. How thankful should we be for the honour which Christ has done our nature ? When man had made it more ia) 2 Tim, i. 8« U) Phil. ii. 10. {c) Luke xix. 27. AT god's UIGIIT HAND. 127 vile than the beasts that perish, Christ raised it not only above them, but above the angels, even the highest order of them, whether they be thrones or dominions, or princi- palities or powers ; to none of these was it ever said by God, Sil on my right hand : Bat our blessed Redeemer did the human nature an infinite honour, first in taking it into union with himself, and then in rai*iing it to a throne of unspeak- able glory : He has not only filled it with grace, but which is astonishing, with \.\iQ fulness of the Godhead fa J, which dwells in him bodily, and the glory of it shines in his face. Now, ivhat is inan, that both God the Father, and the Son bhould be thus tnindfid of him (h) ? Christ did not lay aside our nature, because he was treated with such indigni- ties in it, buffeted, spit upon, crowned with thorns, and cru- cified ; but he still retained his respect to it, and after all this ascended in it, to be crowned with glory and honour, at tlie right hand of God : This is such a high favour and honour, as we could never have expected, nor have believed, were it not so clearly revealed in scripture. How much should this be in our thoughts, and how frequently should it be the matter of our admiration and thankfulness ? G. If Christ has sat down at the right of the throne of God, then what encouragement and comfort may this afford the weak and dejected Christian ? Doth the Saviour find such fa- vour with God ; and will he reject any of his people ? Is Christ in so high a station, exercising all his power and grace for the good of his labouring, afflicted servants, in this world ; and shall not their weak hands be lifted up, and their feeble knees be strengthened ? Do Christ's merits appear infinite, and prevalent, in-as-much as he is goyie to the Father fcj, and we see him no more ; and 'shall not this encourage the feeble Christian to commend his soul to him, and cast all his care upon him, expecting the comfortable issue of it ? Is (a) Coll. ii. 9, C^) Psal. viii. 4, 5. (c) John xvi. 8. 128 OP Christ's sitting, Arc. not the Redeemer gone to appear in the presence of God for all his people ? Does he bear all their names and cases on his heart, so near to the Father ; and shall the believer re- fuse to be comforted ? What reason has the Christian, who is of z fearful hearty to he strong ? Are all the redeemed raised up with their exalted head, and set together with him in the heavenly places ; and shall not Our faith and hope be raised up, and fixed upon him ? Have we no anchor to enter into what is within the veil ? Why should the Christian's heart fail when he has an enthroned Saviour, who cannot fail or be discouraged ? Let us the more diligently attend to this, because it is what the apostle Paul has so strenuously urged upon the afflicted believing Hebrews, in the text and context. Let us run xiith patience the race set before u&, looh'iug to JesuSf the author and finisher of our faith, tjoho for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, and despised the shame : Let us consider him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest we be wearied and flint in our minds. And let us take encouragement from this consideration, that he who was brought very low, is now exalted, and has taken his seat at the right hand of God. THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST FOR HIS PEOPLE. AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. IN TWO SERMONS. SERMON I. Preached February 6, 1727-8. }Ie is able to save to the uttermost^ all that come io God through him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them, — Heb. vii. 25. Having formerly discoursed of Christ's ascension and 5//- ting at God's right hand, I come now to consider that great and blessed vcork which he is doing there for his people. The loss of Christ's bodily presence from the earth was attended with a double advantage, his sending the Spirit to dwell in, sanctify, and comfort his people on earth, and his own in- terceding for them in heaven. The Holy Ghost introduces Chrisfs intercession with a high encomium, in assigning it as a reason and evidence oF his beino- able io save his people to the uttermost. It appears that his sacrifice was accepted of God on earth, seeing he admits him to plead the merit of it in heaven ; and doing this, ia discharge of his office, the Father, according to previous agreement, is obliged to grant those saving blessings, for which he prays : for thus the Father said to him, /Jsk of me, and I xmll give thee tho ISO OF CHRIST^S INTERCESSION. heathen Jbr thy inheritance, a7ul the uttermost parts of th^ earth for thy possession fa J. The words of my text are introduced as a reason of Christ's being able to save to the uttermost all such as come to God by him, because he ever lives to make intercession for them. At first view, it appears from this connexion of the words, how much, our perfect and eternal salvation de- pends upon Christ's perpetual and prevalent intercession. The apostle does not lay the stress of our salvation only upon Christ's dying for us, but ascends step by step till he comes at his intercession ; and centers and rests there, that being what fully secures it. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect P It is God that justifies, tvho is he that condemns P It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again (b) : But as if that were not enough, he ascends two steps higher, xjoho is even at the right hand of God s and to crown all, he adds, ivho also maheth interceS' sionfor us. The doctrine which the words afford is this, Christ ever lives to make intercession for believers. In speaking to this, I shall pursue the following method, I. I shall describe the persons for whom Christ intercedes. IL I shall shew the reality and certainty of his inter- cession. ' III. I shall consider the character of the intercessor. IV. I shall endeavour to explain the nature and ^;rojo^r- ties of Christ's intercession. V. I shall inquire into the extent of it, w^hether it is li- mited or universal. VI. I shall represent the imjoortance and j^^cvalence of it. VII . I shall mention some of its fruits and ejects. And,. VIII. By way of conclusion, I shall shew some of the uses which are to be made of this doctrine. I. I shall describe the persons for whom Christ inter- cedes : They are such as come to God by him. (^) Psal. ii. §. {I)) Rom. viii. 33, 3'4. OF CIlRfST's INTERCESSION. I3i The expressions are comprehensive of a great many things, which I cannot now insist on : As for example, that men naturally are at a distance from God ; though as to his es- sence, he is not far from them, yet as to affection and com- munion, they are alienated from him, and are afar off, and naturally live without God in the world ; so that if ever they enjoy him, they must first be made nigh, and then they will draw nigh and come to God. Another thing impHed in the words is, that God is the true center and rest of the soul ; as all rivers run into the sea, so all happy souls take up their rest in God, as the Psalmist speaks, Return to thy rest, my soul (a) I — The expression also denotes, a sense of tlie person's unfitness and unworthiness to come to God alone, or immediately, by himself, by reason of gm'it, pollution, darkness, and weakness ; and therefore he comes to God by Christ, the one and only Mediator, betwixt God and sin- ners. There is one thing more included in the expression, which is the person's desire and willingness to come to, and enjoy God, in what way he prescribes and thinks fit. See- ing God has appointed that no man shall come to him but by Christ, those who come to him wilHngly and gladly take this way, they hke it well and make use of it ; the bent and earnest breathings of their souls are to come to God, and they agree to any method which he appoints, in order to their access to him, and erijoyment of him. I might farther remark, that the words speak not of a single act, but of a series and continued course of actions, [_7r^o(ri^^f4,ivyg2 ^^^ Corners, as the word is rendered else- where (b) ; I may compare the expression with that of Peter, To tvhom corning as to a living stone fcj. As de- parting from God is the continued course, and the reiterat- ed action of an unbeliever, so coining to him through Christ, is the repeated daily work of a true Christian. Such there- fore are very properly described as coming to God ; persons (a) Psal. cxvl. 7, (A) Heb. x. 1. {c) I Pet. ii. 4. 132 OF Christ's intercession". who do it not' only once, but often ; it is the employment, the business of their lives. All these things, with others, are implied and included in the description of the persons, for whom Christ makes intercession. But to sum up the whole, in as narrow a compass as may be, there are these two principal things sig- nified by the apostle's words, true faith in Christ, and in God through him, and the exercise of that faith, in the way of God's own appointment. 1. Faith in Christ is represented as a coming to Christ, in these words of his, He that comes to me shall never hun- ger, and he that believes in me shall never thirst : Come to me all ye that labour^ and are heavy laden, and I vcill give you rest (a). Faith is also represented as a coming to God, by Christ, by whom ive have access, by one Spirit to the Father (b). This faith in Christ terminates upon his person, has an eye to all his offices, but especially hi^ priest- ly office : It looks to the sacrifice of atonement which Christ offered, and the interest which he makes in the virtue of it. Such as come to God by Christ, renouncing all trust in their own righteousness, their best duties and services, de- pend entirely on the merits and righteousness of Christ, for pardon and eternal life, and can wish Vv^ith the apostle Paul, that they may be found in him, not having on their oxim righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith (c) ; and being reconciled to God by the death of his ■Son (d), they trust, that they shall much more be saved by his life. _ 2. Coming to God often signifies religious worshij) : Thus especially in the old testament is the phrase made use of for that purpose ; accordingly the apostle Paul speaking of the legal sacrifices, said, D'tat they coidd not make the {a) John vi. 05.— Ivlatt. xi. C8. {h) Eph. ii. J 8. (r) Phil. ill. 9. {J} Rom. v. JO. OF CHRIST y INTERCESSION. 133 vomers thereto perfect, (a) viz. those who in that way came to God. Such as Christ intercedes for, and saves to the uttermost, are those who beheving in Christ, give up them- selves in holy obedience to worship God in Christ, as one has observed fdj. Obedience to Christ's authority, affi- ance in his mediation, and faith in his person, are all includ- ed in the expression of coming to God by him ; as is very ' well observed by the same person. We run into a gross mistake, if vve think that Christ intercedes for all, who come to the religious worship of God by Christ : The text speaks no such thing ; they who really come to God in faith and love, -and have acceptance and communion with him, are the persons for whom Christ intercedesj and who are by him saved to tlie uttermost. A due <:onsideration of this is necessary to our taking comfort in what remains to bespoken concerning Christ's intercession : Our joy may be full, if it appears tiiat the high-priest bears our names on his breast, and that cur cause is upon his heart, and in his pleas, as advocate with the Father. As the high-priest of old bore the names of the children of Israel upon his shoul- ders, and on his breastplate, which was fastened to liis glorious ephod ; so Christ, our great higii-priest, appears before God, in the glorious garm.ent of his own righte- ousness, and in a glorious conjunction of power and love, bears the names and causes of his people, as a memorial he- fore the Lord continually (c). This is the happiness of all true believers who come to Go4 by him ; for them he intercedes, and them he saves to the uttermost, perfectly and for ever. Having thus described the persons for whom Christ in- tercedes, it will be necessary, in the next place, to shew- that Christ's intercession is no fiction oxfancij. Therefore, n. I shall shew the reality and certainty of Christ's in- tercession. (a) Heb. X. ]. (^) Dr, Owen in Lcc. (■^) Exod. xxviii. J?, 29, VOI^ II. M i 54? OF Christ's intercession'. Christ, as the angel of God's presence, (or one who ap- peared in the presence of God for them,) saved his people all the days of eld (a). As Aaron, the high-priest (b), carried the names of tlie twelve tribes upon his breast-plate and heart, when he went in to intercede for them before the I^ord ; so Christ, in all ages, has sustained the character of an advocate, as well as of a propitiation. God admitted of the salvation of old-testament saints, by virtue of a sacrifice that should afterwards be offered ; and consequently he ad- mitted of a plea, arising from the virtue and merit of that future sacrifice : Christ then could as well be an intercessor, as a propitiation from the foundation of the world. Ke is always living to make intercession (c). Before he came in the flesh lie uas engaged in tlu_3 work, for thus he is introduced by the prophet Zechariah, the angel said, Hoxv -'ong^ Lordi vdll ii be ere thou hast mercy on Jerusa- lem ? And the Lord ansivered the amy el tvith good ivords and comfortable ivords (d). The angel here praying is Christ interceding with the Father for his people (e). God the Father answered the Son with good and comfortable vrords, heard and graciously answered his prayers, and ful- i:l!ed his petitions., < Christ exercised the office of Media- * tor and Intercessor for his people, making the price to be * paid forthcoming in all ages, even before his incarnation ; * for here, at tliis time, he is interceding for the church of * the Jews,' as one observes upon the place (f . Before Christ's incarnation, it was an intercession upon credit ; since his death it is upon a price paid, not upon promise, but upon performance, or upon value received. Christ's intercession was not only typified, declared, and exercised, before his incarnation, but it is affirmed in the 'plainest and strongest terms in the new testament ; it is he, {a) Isa, Ixiii. 9. {b) Exod. viii. £9. (c) Ylavrcn ^Zv. (ilh the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, his mother and others, who are in peculiar favour with him ; but of that the scripture is wholly silent : and indeed what need could there be of any other intercessors besides Christ, when we are assured in my text, that he is able to save to the idler- most, for ever, and to perfection, such as come to God hy ■him P What room then could there be for others to inter- pose ? This singular honour is reserved for Christ ; he alone is Eufiicient to plead and defend the cause of his people ; it is nonsense and blasphemy to set up any other intercessors *with God. Besides, how should any mere creatures be able to know the cases, and attend to the numerous peti- tions presented to them, from various parts of the world at once ? It is very injurious to the condescension and love of Christ, to suppose, that any of them should be more inchn- ed to hear, and favour the Christian's cause, than he who (^) S Tim. ii. 5. (i) Heb. vii. 24, 25. (c) 1 John ii, :. OF Christ's intercession. 145 kad so loved them, as to die for them ; or that any of them should be more able to manage the plea with God, than he who is the everlasting Father, the tmnderful counsellor, and the mighty God. 7. Christ is 7\. party with those for whom he intercedes. Those who plead at the bar in our earthly courts, many times, are strangers to their clients, and have no farther to do with them, than to take their fees, and make the best of their hr'i^h they can ; and it is no matter to many of them, whether they gain or lose the cause they plead : But with retpectio Christ, it is far otherwise ;, those for whom he pleads, were the objects of his eternal love : The persons for whom he travailed in death, to bring them forth to God, they are joined to him, and one in spirit with him ; it is given in charge to Christy not to lose any of his sheep [a) i his honour and comfort depend upon his presenting them all perfect in glory ; they are all members of his mystical body, and it could not be complete without them : his in- terest is therefore deeply interwoven with theirs ; his hon- our inseparably connected with their salvation. We must then look upon him as the fittest person, to plead the cause of his people. It is strange to see, with what coldness and indifference, many Christians plead with God for them- selves ; but we have reason to conclude, that Christ is in earnest : the zeal of God's house ate iiim up in this world ; and we have no ground to think it is less, now he is in heaven : by all the discoveries he has made of himself from thence, it appears, that he is yesterday, to-day, and for ever the same {b). Christ was very sensible hov/ much his and his people's interest are complicated and united, when he said, / ascend to my Father, and your Father j to my God, and your G od ( c. Sometimes when he prayed for himself, it was, not as I xvill, but as thou xvilt (d) ; but when he pleaded (a) John vi. 39. {b) Heb. xiii. 8. {c) John xx. 17. {d) Luke xxii. 42. VOL. ir. N liG OF Christ's intercession. for his people, it was peremptorily, and as one that would take no denial ; Father, I will, that those xvhom tnou hast given, me, may he mth me xvhere I am, that they may be- hold my glory i^a). His thoughts run upon the Father's gift, and his own undertaking ; and therefore he is very so- licitous to bring them safe to glory. May I not say, his life, his joy, his Sflory, are bound up with theirs ? It is one of the glories of our salvation, that Christ, both by af- fection and interest, is so nearly concerned in it : hence he said, I pray not for the ivorld, hut for those xjchom thou has given me out of the x-corld, for they are thine : and all thine are mine, and mine are thine, and I am glorified in ihem (h). God the Father, Christ,- and believers have a mutual interest and concern in each other ; and particularly, Christ's glory is much concerned in his people's salvation, therefore he so earnestly prayed for them. APPLICATION. 1. What encouragement have we to come to God, by Christ, seeing he ever livcth in heaven, to make intercession for them that do so ? A sight of our advocate at the Fa- ther's right hand, may cause us to come cheerfully to the throne of grace. When the Christian comes to God, in the exercise of faith and prayer, he has a friend in the heavenly court, to introduce him, to bring him into the presence of God, and to make him partaker of his favour. Surely then we forget our great intercessor at the Father's right hraid, Vvhen we either neglect our addresse*s to God, or grow faint and dispirited in them. Does Christ's intercession never fiag ; why then should our hands hang down, and our cries to God grow faint ? Do we not, or rather should we not, go boldly in such a worthy name, and to look to his prevaihng intercession ? What force and energy may our poor prayers have with God, when we are washed in the blood of the (.7) John xvii. 24. (^) John xvli. 9, JO. OF Christ's intercession. Hi Lamb, and they are presented to God perfumed v/Ith the eweet incense of his merits ? How should it enlarge our hearts to God, to consider how the heart of Christ is en- larged for us ? all that come to God by him he receives, and effectually pleads their cause with the Father, and saves them to the uttermost. What then, shall we be strangers to the throne of grace, and seldom appear there ? Shall we 'say in our hearts, It is in vain _^to serve the Lord ; vs'hat profit can there be in praying to him ? 2. What constant convincing evidence have believers of the love of Christ ? He came dov»^n from heaven, lived a life of sorrow and labour for us on earth, and closed it with an accursed and bitter death ; by this one would have thought, he had given sufficient evidence of his love to men, and that here it might have stopped and have gone no farther ; but well might he say, that /lavmg loved his otvn, he loved them to the end (a) ; nay, rather without end, ^v.d/br ever ; for so it appears, in his living for ever, to make intercession for them. S. What ohligations has Christ laid his people under, to love him, and live to him. Does Christ continually plead his people's cause in heaven ; and shall they not plead his cause, and promote his interest all they can, in this world ? Does Christ, even now in glory, live a life of con- tinual service to his people ; and shall not his love constrahi thevi to live to him (h), and to vindicate his honour, his truth, and his ways ? Is it not a reasonable service for Chris- tians to do all they can for Christ on earth, seeing be is do- ing such great things for them in heaven ? 4. From Christ's living for ever to intercede for his peo- ple, we may learn the perpetuity of the church, and the reason of the Christian's perseverance : Christ ever lives, therefore his people shall never die j consequently they {a) John xiii. 1. {b) 2 Car. v. 5, H. N 2 548 OF Christ's ixtercession. should always abound in his service : Christ ever intercedes, therefore vie are, or shall be, saved to the uttermost, even perfectly and for ever. That faith cannot fail for the con- tinuance of which he has prayed ; nor can such come short of complete and endless happiness, v.*ho though they are in the storm and heat of battle, yet are under the protection of a glorious Leader, who will bring all his children to glory, seeing he ever liveth in heaven, to make intercession for them. — *>K -*' SERMON II. Preajched February 20, 1727-8. A He is ahle to save to the iii'termosty all that come to God through him, seeing he ever lives lo f)iaJ:& intercession jor thsvii.'-^Yk^^. vii. 2>5. llAViKCr formerly shewed for whom Christ intercedes, the the certainty of his intercession, and the character of the in- tercessor, I now proceed : And therefore, IV. I shall explain the nature and properties of Christ's intercession. Before I enter on this, I would premise, that the variation of some circumstances does not alter the nature of Christ's intercession, or nullify and destroy it. We must allow some difference between Christ's intercession for his people, before their conversion, and after it ; before his incarnation, dur- 'ing his abode on earth, and now in heaven ; and yet the in- tercession itself is for substance th^ S'ame* Let it also be ob- seVved, that Christ's' intercession iru heaven is performed in a way agreeable to his present glorified stAte, aa sitting on th« OF Christ's intercessiox. 119 right hand of God ; and therefore he does not new pros- trate himself, nor present his requests with strong cries and tears (a), as he did in the days of his humihation : This is not consistent with his present exalted triumphant state ; and whatever is contrary thereto must be excluded from our idea of Christ's intercession in heaven. Christ's own words may, perhaps, be the best pattern and represen- tation of it ; Father, I tvill, that those tinhorn thou hast giv- en 7ne, may he luith me luhere I am, that they may behold tny glory (b). Which words may inform us in what way and manner Christ manages the work ; it is by expressing his desire and will to the Father, for the grant of the bless- ings prayed for. We may further note, that the circun:- stances of Christ's intercession, which the scripture has leh unrevealed, we may, and should, leave undetermined ; as for instance, whether it is vocal, or only mefiial ; whether it is hj plea and argument drawn out at length, or in a snorter way ; these, with other things concerning it, we should be content not to know, because God has seen fit to conceal them : It is enough for us, that Christ intercedes in a way known to the Fatther, and which is sufficient and successful for our salvation. \st. If we consider the nature of Christ's intercession in heaven, it may be said to be * his continual appearance, be- ' fore the Father, as our great high priest, presenting his * sacrifices and desires, in his own nam^e, as the ground and * reason of the perfect and perpetual salvation of all true * believers.' The following things are comprized in Christ's' intercession, as nov.' described. 1. '}i\!\'i> continual appearing \w \^Q presence of God, as our great high-priest and advocate. Under the law, the high-priest, in a solemn manner, once a year, presented him- self before the Lord, witli the blood of the sacrifices, and {d) Heb. V, 7. . {I) John xvii. 24, V N 3 150 OF Christ's Hn-tercession. with sweet incense, in his holy vestments, sprinkling the blood, and burning the incense in the most holy place (fl) : In like manner we read (b), that Christ is ejitered into the heavenli/ temjjle, to appear in the j^resence of God for us ; which compared with the type, is justly to be interpreted of his entering into heaven, as our great high-priest, and act- ing there as our advocate and intercessor. The legal inter- cessor appeared before the ark, v^^hich, by reason of the cherubs and mercy-seat, was composed into the form of a throne (c). Christ has entered into the real presence of God, appearing in his sight, snd standing before his face. This Christ does, not barely as a friend, but as our great high-priest, who has taken our names on his breast, and in- to his heart ; and is engaged, by of&ce, to transact and se- cure our salvation. Kence Christ has said, that he xvill con- fess their iiames bifore his Father [dj. His appearance before the Father, under this character, is the more effec- tual, as it was the Father who called him to, and by a solemn unction and oath invested him in; the office fej ; and there- fore, by his own act, is the more obliged to regard and own him in this sacred work : herein, as in many other things, Christ's intercession differs from that of any other person. Christ acts by special office, pleads inhis own name, aijfd pleads his own merits ; whereas, when one Christian prays for anotber, it is in Christ's name, and for Christ's sake, not his own ; and it is performed as an act of Christian love and duty, and not by virtue of special office. WhaUoe'oer you shall ask the Father in mij name, he tvill give it youy said Christ (f)» It is farther to be observed, that though Christ's intercession, as well as his passion, belongs to and derives virtue from his divine person, yet they both are performed, in and by his human, nature ; as his divine (a) Lev. xvi. {h) Heb. ii. 24. {c) See Dr. Owen on Ioc= (i) Rev. iii. 5. (<) Heb. v. 5, 6. (/; John xvi. 233 OF Christ's ixteucessio>j» 151 nature did not, in itr^^if suffer, so neither dees it properly intercede. The human nature was the sacrifice, and pre- sents the requests, and Christ's divine person renders them prevalent. 2. In Christ's intercession is included, \\\s presenting his sa- ciffice and merits before God, as the ^-ound of his audience, and of our complete salvation. He entered the holij place, by his oxv/i blood ; and appears in the inidst of the throne, as the Lamb that had been slain fa J. He soleiTinly pre- sciits his sacrifice before the Father, as judge of the perfec- tion of the offering on earth, and of the right it gives him to plead and prevail in heaven, For all the blessinga purchased by it : This is, as it were, his shewing his creden- tials, or full powers, which he has to intercede and save to the uttermost, all that come to God by him. Christ pre- sents that body before God, which had been crucified, and was shut up in the prison of the grave, which God deliver- ed from prison and judgment ^ and receivfdiip into glory (b) ^ and hereby he makes it evident, that he has paid our debt, purchased our inheritance, and has a very good plea to make use of, for his people's being saved to the uttermost, Christ speaks by his blood, and his blood speaks by its me- rit : if he had not a mouth, to speak, yet his blood has a pi-e- vailing voice in the ears of God. As AbcPs blood is said to cry from the ground against Cain (c), who shed it j so Christ's blood, by which he entered heaven, cries effectually for those for whom it was shed ; and God can no more for- get, or neglect to bless them, when he sees the Lamb that had been slain, appearing before him, than he can forget his covenant with the earth, when he sees his bow in the clouds. 3. Christ voills and desires, that all the evil from which he redeemed his people may be averted, and that all the good which he purchased for them, may be enjoyed by them. In what way he signifies his mind and will to the Father, (a^ Heb. ix. 12.— Rev, v. 5. (h) Isa. liii. 8. (c) Gen. iv. 10. 152 OF Christ's intercession:. whether with words or without, we need nof, as I said be- fore, determine ; it is enough for us to know, that it is done in such a way, as that God hears and anstvers him, and gives Jiim his heart's desire (a), Christ informed his disciples^ before he went to heaven, that he should not cease praying for them there ; / voill, said he, pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter (h) ; which is as if he had said, when I am ascended, I will plead the Father's promise of pouring out the Spirit, for your assistance and comfort. * It is, as one has observed (c)^ no ways unbecoming the ' human nature of Christ, in its glorious exaltation, to pray * to God : hence Christ is directed by the Father, to ask of * him, in his exalted state, the heathen for his inheritance < (d).^ The union of Christ's divine nature with his hu- manity, does not set it above prayer, now in heaven, any more than it did whilst it was on earth. Christ's wilHng and de- siring our salvation is a petition of right, founded on his merits and God's promises : it is not a mere supplication for mercy, that may be received or rejected ; but it is a plea that is peremptory, that cannot in justice be denied. It runs thus. Father, I "will, that those tvhom thou hast give?i me may be tvith tcilh me fej. Christ has authority to demand his people's salvation, and every thing that shall promote it : for, though it is all free grace to us, it is all a due debt to him ; it is the purchase of his blood, the travail of his soul (f), and the satisfaction which the Father promised he should have. He desires that the promises may be fulfilled, and that the purchase of his death may be granted, which carries in it the nature of the strongest intercession ; for, as the Spirit makes intercession for the saints, ixiith groanings tchich cannot be uttered fgj, and the Lord knows the mind of the spirit ; so Christ may, by strong desires, though not (fl) Psal. xxi. 2. (t) John xiv. 16. (c) Dr. Owen on Heb, vii. 25. p. 246. (d) Psal. il. 8. (e) John xvii. 24. (/) Isa. liii. II. (g) Rom. vii:, 26. OF Christ's intercession. 153 uttered in words, make intercession for his people, and the Father knows and fulfils his desires. Job, in those early days, is thought to have had his eye upon Christ's interces- sion, in these wovdi fa Jy that one might plead fur a math, tvith Godf as a man pleadeth Jbr his neighbour (b) I 4. Christ presents the prayers of the saints, with much incense (cj ; or, he presents their persons and services, that they may be acceptable to the Father, through his interces- sion, vvhich is a desire of their being accepted, on the ac- count of his own merits : for all his intercession is in the vir- tue of his sacrifice, and is a plea founded on a sacrifice. When Christ is represented as an advocate v.'ith the Father, we are led to think, not only that he defends his people against all the charges brought against them, and maintains their cause ; but also, that he sohcits for all those blessings, which are proper for his people, in their divers seasons and circumstances. This is strongly implied in the apostle Paul's encouragement to us to c'jtne Loldh/ to the throne of' grace, for grace and mercy to help in the time of need, because ri"^ have a great high priest, Jesus the Son of God^ tvho is 2)assed into the heavens for usfdj : or, we have an able com- passionate advocate and intercessor there, who is aKvays pleading for that grace and mercy, which suits the case and necessities of every one of his clients, which are his covenant children. As Christ presents all the prayers of his people, that are agreeable to God's will ; so he pleads for the com- (a) Job xvi. 21. (i) In the Annotations published by tlie Westminster assembly, the words are thus rendered, He ivill plead for a man iv'ith Cod^ and the son of man for his friend. To which this sense is given, " Christ, " who is God and man, will plead my cause with iiis Father ; he " will prevail, because he is God equal with the Father ; he will " undertake it, because he will be man like to me." Mr. Curyt aud some ot'iers fall in with tliis interpretation. ic) Rev. viii. 4. (/) Heb, Iv. 15^ 16* ^54- OF Christ's interce3sion\ jnunication of all those blessings, which are agreeable to hie death, and which he purchased and procured thereby. Some of Christ's adversaries would confound his oblation and intercession, and make them the same thing ; but they are evidently distinct, in many things, though closely unit- ed in some respects. Christ's oblation is the payment, his intercession is the plea founded upon it ; the former was made on earth, the latter is done in heaven ; the one consist- ed in his death, the other is the product cf his new life ; the sacrifice was offered but once, the intercession is perpe- tual. Our justification before God, and acceptance with him, ie a matter of great importance and comfort ; herein God is considered as a Judge, man as a criminal, Satan as the ac- cuser, the law as the indictment, conscience as the evidence, Christ as the believer's advocate, pleading his own obedi- ence and sufferings, as a ground of our forgiveness and eternal Hfe. It is also owing to Christ's intercession, that believers are kept in a state of peace with God ; Such are the daily provocations of the best of saints, in this world, that their persons and services would soon become odious to God, did not Christ present the memorial cf his sacrifice, and continually plead the m.erit of his death, as the ground of their acceptance, and peace with Godt. (a). Our spirit- ual sacrifices are acceptable to God only by Jesus Chns\.(bjy through the much incense of our great high-priest ; Th is is the coyifidence that tee have in himfcji (the Son of God) (^dj that if XKe ask any thing, according to his ixiilly he hears us ; and if he hear us, we have the petitions that we ask of him. If our prayers, for the substance of them, are ap- proved of by him, his incense renders them acceptable to the Father, and so we have the petitions which we ask of him. Christ prayed for Peter, that his faith might not fail fej^ (a) Epl). i. 1. (^) 1 Pet, 5i. 5. {c) 1 John v. 14. f /) 1 John V. 13. {e} Luke xxii. 32. OF ciihiot's intercession. }Sij and directed him after hia recovery to strengthen his breth- ren, by that prayer ; implying, that it was not only for his perseverance, but for his' apostles also, and for all Christians, under their sore conflicts : He saves to the utiei'mosti every one that comes to God hy him. 'Idly, I shall consider ihc properties of Christ's interccG- sion ; several were hinted when I spoke of his character ; others I shall have occasion to speak of in the process of this discourse ; and therefore shall only briefly mention these few following. 1. It is constant, or continual ; He ever lives to make intercession. Other advocates cannot always attend the af- fairs of their clients, but Christ does so continually : There is no interruption or end of this service ; and how comfort- able may this be to the believer ! 2. It is complete and/uU ; there is nothing wanting in it : he did all things well on earth, so he does in heaven ; He never fails nor is discouraged (a) : he makes every m.otioi:, urges every request, refutes every accusation, solicits every grace and mercy, in proper time, order, and measure. All this and more is signified in the words of the tc^vt ; He is able w save to the uttermost, all that come to God hy him, seeirig he ever lives to make intercession Jbr them. 3. It is a v.'ork of great bcnejit and comfort to believers. It is their defence against apostacy, and a spring of con- solation at all times, could they make use of it, as may more fully appear afterwards. In all wants, fears, and dangers, this is our relief, we have a throne of grace, to which vi'e may have recourse, and the prevailing intercession of our great high-priest: therein our eternal salvation, and conse- quently all our comfort is wrapped up and secured. 4. It is a most honourable and glorious v,-ork for Christ. It shews the glory of his love to his people, that he not on- ly cared and died for them on earth, but still cares as much (.7) Isa. xlii. 4. 156 OF Christ's intercession. for tnem in heaven ; as appears in bis continual intercession on their behalf. It is for Christ's honour, that the Father ever continues him in his office, and takes pleasure in him, and in his nnanagement of it : It is for Christ's honour that his oblation and sacrifice has such infinite and lasting virtue in it, as to support so many pleas as are built upon it : it continues for ever ; what a wonderful sacrifice must that be, which purchased all that grace and glory, which Christ prays for, and applies to all that come to God by him. It is also to the honour *of Christ's faithfulness, that he ever holds out in this \vork, and manages it, now he is higher than the heavens, with undenled integrity, and that for ever. The Son is consecrated for evermore j not after the law of a car- nal commandment, but after the jjoxver of aii endless life fa J . Some hereticks of old, and others of late, have endea- voured to turn Christ's intercession to his disgrace ; and would infer from it, that he is not God, but a creature, in an inferior, indigent, and dependent state. Their pretence is, that if he has all-sufficiency in himself, all the fulness of the Godhead, what need has he to pray to the Father, for what he has in himself, and can communicate at his pleasure ! The objection may appear plausible to some, at first sight, yet it is capable of an answer, which may be satisfactory to the judicious and impartial. It must indeed be allowed on all hands, that all the fulness of the Godhead, dwells bodily in Clirist, and yet that he makes intercession (h) ; these two therefore are not so inconsistent, or absurd, as our ad- versaries suppose, unless they will charge Christ with incon- sistency and absurdity in his conduct. The matters of fact are too plain to be denied ; and therefore either there is no absurdity for one, who has the fulness of the Godhead, to make intercession, or else Christ is guilty of that absurdity ; but there is no absurdity for him, who is true and real God, in one nature, to pray to the Father, in another nature, or (ff) Heb. vii, 28. (^) Ccl. ii. 9. OP Christ's intercession. 15T ill iiis human nature, which subsists in his divine peroon, fjr those blessings, which, according to the divine economy, and his office, as Mediator, were agreed to be that way- given and dispensed to men. It is not absurd for one to ask of another, what he was able to do of himself, when, by mutual agreement, it has been fixed and determined to proceed in this w^ay of petition and answer faj, as agree- able to the office the petitioner bears, and as it is for the good of those whose cause iie has undertaken ; now, this is the real state of the case 'before us: A certain order of proceeding was agreed upon, among the persons in the ever- blessed Trinity ; the Father acts as Judge, and Lord su- preme ; the Son, as Mediator, and High-priest, to whom it belonged, under that character, to pray for the people for whom he acted, having taken their nature, to qualiiS* Kim to die, and intercede for them. Christ's love to the Fa- ther, his desire to advance his honour, his agreement with him as to the method of salvation, the office in which he acted, and the good of the persons for whom he acted, all required, that he should not only die, but intercede for his people ; and yet he was and is God, of the same nature, and all-sufficiency, with the Father. When it is said, that Christ C7'ied to him thai was able to save him from dealh^ and was heard (b), it does not imply, that Christ was not able to raise himself; for he said, / have power to lay doiai my Ufey and I have povcer to tahe it again (c) ; but his office, as high-priest, required his application to the Father, that he might receive his life from him, to whom, as judge, he offered it, as a testimony that he was well pleased with his sacrifice : on which account, God the Father, as bring- ing again from the dead our Lord Jesus, is called the God of peace (d), Christ presents his prayers to the Father on our account, and as our high-priest : In the days of his (a) Vide Bisterfold. contra Crellium, p. 20O. (i) Heb. V. 7. (f) John x. 18. {£) Heb^xiii, 20. Vol. II. o 158 OF Christ's ixtercessiont. flesh, and that others might know the Father's approbation of hiin, when a thing was done with his consent first had and obtained, he thus spoke in a solemn address to him. Father, I thank thee that thou hearest me ; I knetv that thou hearest me akvai/s, hut for the sake of the peojde that stand h!j, I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me (a). It is then neither inconsistent with Christ's power, nor deity, that he intercedes with the Father. V. I shall inquire into the extent of Christ's intercession, whether it be Hmlted, or universal. Christ himself has sa- tisfied this inquiry, in a few words which are full and very plain; I pray not for the ivorld, (said he) but for those ivhom thou hast given me out of the norld (b). The friends of universal redemption have not, as far as I know, had the boldness to affirm, that Christ intercedes for all, though they would have us believe, that he died for all men ; for, indeed, such an affirmation would be a direct giving Christ the lie, or contradicting what he has openly declared : My text also signifies the persons for whom Christ intercedes, those that come to God byjiim ; by which words we are to understand all, and only such, as come to God by true faith in Christ ; or true believers, exclusive of others. 1. Christ intercedes only for those who are given him out of the xvorld, and not for the tvorld. This is plain, from Christ's own words ; I pray not for the tvorld, but for those ivhoni thou hast given 7nc cut of the XKorld ; for they are thine. Hence Christ is brought in saying, My goodness cxtendcth not to thee, but to the saints, and to the excellent in the earth, in ivhom is all my delight (c). As for the rest he said, / tmll not take up their names into my lips ; or, I will not intercede for them. Here we are carefully to observe, that though Christ's intercession extends oply to such as come to God by him, yet they have an interest in it, before they actually come ; / pray, said Christ, for them (a) John xi. 12. (^) Joh:i xvii. 9. 0) Paal. xvi. r?, ^. OF Christ's intercession. 159 ivho shall believe in me, through their xvord (a). Ke in- tercedes for the first grace, as well as for all future graces ; there was a stock of prayers laid up in heaven for his peo- ple, before they were born. As Abraham said, that Ismael might live in iliy sighi ; so Christ is deeply concern- ed to bring home all the chosen seed : Having spoken of the Jews fbjf he has added these words with relation to the Gentiles, Other sheep I have, ivhich are not of this old; those also I must bring : they need his prayers before con- version, as well as afterwards j and, blessed be God, they aie not excluded ! What a comfort and encouragement is this, with respect to our unconverted hearers, relations, or friends, for whom we travail in birth, till Christ is formed ia them ! that they not only have an interest in our prayers, but also (if they belong to the election of grace) in Christ's prayers ! and how far off soever they are at present fcj, yet, if Christ has prayed for them, they shall come. He did nof say barely, it ma7/ be, but it certainly shall be. Christ's prayer and merit are of equal extent ; he prays for all that shall beheve, and only for such : He died not for the world, but for those that were given him out of the world, who either then did, or hereafter should believe. 2. Christ intercedes for, everi/ ijidividual member in par- ticular ; not only for all in the gross, or comprehensively taken in a body, as the ekct or church of God fdj ; but he calls his own sheep by name, and has a particular regard for every single Christian. As Peter was persoirally prayed for in the hour of his danger, according to what Christ told him, I have prayed for thee, (for thee, Peter) that thy faith fail not (e) ; so Christ prays for every other behever, particulaily. If any man sin tve' have an yldvocate tvilh the Father (f) ; if any child, any one of the httle children sins, he has ah Advocate with the Father. Some poor do- (a) John xvii. 20. (J?) John x. 16. G) John vi. 81. id) John X. S. ie) Luke xxii. S2, (/). 1 John ii,,l. o3 ^^0 OF cfirist's IXTERCHSSION. jected believers are prone to ihink, they are so weak, sinfulj, and unworthy, as that Christ will take no notice of them, cr they must be shut out of his prayers ; but, on the con- trary, the scripture has assured us, that if any man among the little children sins, he has an Advocate with the Father. Christ offers the ipr?iYers o( a/l saints fa); and therefore of every, saint, upon every occasion. How hard is it then, Christian, to contradict the word, and to wound thyself : Christ carries his lambs in his bosom fdj ; and wilt thou leap out and run away from him ? He will not break the braised reed fcj ; and shall the poor Christian do it him- self? Christ doth not despise the day of small things fdjy why then should we ? Can he have compassion on the igno- rant, and them that are out of the way ; and shall such who so much need his compassion reject it, and make that a rea- son of their being excluded, v%-h;ch Christ makes a reason of h:3 8pecihl care ai;u cor.cern f^r ihem ? He ccirries home the lost sheep rejoicing ; of ail given him he loses nothing, but gives eternal life to as many as are given him fej : Every one therefore, who comes to God by him, even the weakest true believer, is hound to believe, that Christ intercedes for iiim ; and how v\-eak, distracted, and unworthy soever his own prayers may be, how long soever he has cried, and can- not perceive that he is heard, yet this is certain, that Christ prays and prevails for him, for the Father always hears hini (fj. He that secured a tempted Peter's faith from failing, will do, and does the same for every other believer, how small soever his faith is, or how great soever his sins, temp- tation?, and fears may be. Let but this one thing be made clear, that Christ is chosen, received, and relied upon, by a gospel faith, and the believer may, with the apostle, bid /^) Rev. vili, 3. - (0 I^a. xl. 11. (c) Matt. xli. 20. (d) Heb. V. 2. {e) Lv.kc xv. 5, 6.— John xvii. 2. (/) John x5. 42. OF Christ's iNTERCESsfiox. I'Gi defiance to all his enemies ; and may say, who is he th^l condemns, since Christ makes intercession for me ? he is my Advocate with the Father, I shall be saved to the utter- most, seeing he ever lives in heaven, to make intercession for me fa J. VI. I shall represent the importancet and prevalence of Christ's intercession. 1. The importance of Christ's intercession is sigailied in my text, as the perfection of our happiness ; and his ability to perfect our salvation, are both represented as depending thereupon. Why is Christ able to save to the uttermost ? because he ever lives to ?nake intercession ; implying, that he would not be able to save to the uttermost, were it not for his intercession ; did he not intercede, the perfection of his priesthood would be wanting ; one thing which he had engaged, as our surety to "do, would be neglected, and so the work of redemption would have been incomplete ; and an^insufiicient saviour, is no saviour at all. The life of the legal high-priest depended upon his covering the ark and the mercy-seat, with the cloud of the smoke of the incense (b) ; in like manner the residence and glory of Christ in heaven, and his ability to save his people, depend upon his life of intercession for them in heaven. What confidenee could we have had to come to God, or what acceptance could our prayers have met with, if Christ were not our Advocate, and Intercessor, at God's right hand ? It is un- becoming the wisdom of God, to appoint a needless, or an useless employment for Christ in heaven ; and it is incon- sistent with his veracity^ to lay the stress of our perfect sal- vation upon Christ's intercession, if we could have been perfectly saved without it. The honour of God's justice is preserved, in Christ's pleading his merit and satisfaction as a ground of our salvation, and the honour of his grace is promoted, by its being solicited for us, in the prayers of (a) Rom. viii. 34. — Heb. vii. 25. {b) I^evit. xvi. 13, o 3 J 62 OF Christ's intercession. so great a person, as Christ is. His intercession then is of great importance, both to God and himself, and also to us, on the accounts now mentioned. 2. The next thing to be considered, is the prevalency of Christ's intercession : This is a very useful and comfortable truth, clearly revealed in scripture. As it was formerly said of Jacob, (a type of Christ,) As a prince tlioii hast poiver x^itli God, and hast prevailed (a) ; so may it much more be said of Christ, and indeed is so prophesied of him, in these words of the twenty-first Psalm ? Thou hast given him his hcarfs desire, and hast not -withheld the requests of his lips (b). This Psalm is allowed, by many ancient and modern writers, to speak of Christ (c) ; and the cited pas- sage, as well as others, is eminently fulfilled in him : what ancient prophecy foretold, Christ declared to be fulfiUedj and to be universally true, when he said, / hnoifi thou hear- est me alvcr.ys fdj. (1.) If this was true, when he had not as yet paid the price of redemption, shall it fail, when he presents and pleads his perfect oblation P Did God hear him when he pleaded on the credit of it ; and will he deny him when he pleads actual and full payment ? His sacrifice must lose its virtue before his intercession can want its prevalency ; for his intercession being founded on his death, the former must be as acceptable to God as the latter was. God was at li- berty to have accepted of a sacrifice, in our stead, or not ; but when he has accepted it, as satisfactory and sufficient, there is no longer room to deny the blessings purchased by it, when demanded by the purchaser. As grace and mercy admitted Christ to be a sacrifice in our room, so justice re- quires that his plea be admitted, when he claims that for which he has given a valuable consideration : The Father (a) Gen. xxxii. 28. (l) Psal. xxi. 2. (c) SeePatric. in loc. Charnock Intercess p, 1131. Pool,Annot. {d) John xi. 42, OF CIIiUST*'s INTERCESSION. 163 cannot deny him bis requests, without disowning the merit of his oblation ; but that he can never do, having smelt a sweet savour in it, and openly owned its perfection (a). The argument is short and full : If his sacrifice is perfect, his plea upon it must be prevalent ; if that obtained eternal redemption for us, this must succeed in soliciting the grant and application of every .part of it : If Abel's blood pre- vailed for vengeance upon him that shed it, Christ's blood must prevail for the salvation of those for whom it was shed. The Judge of all the earth zvill do right ; and Christ's blood speaks better things than that of Abel fbj. (2.) God is under the obhgation of a solemn promise,. that Christ shall see the travail of his soul and be satisfied fcj : but this promise could never be fulfilled if any blessing he has purchased for the redeemed were withheld when he has not only paid, but prayed for it. God has declared, that his covenant shall standfast tvith Christ, and his faith-' fulness shall not fail (d). Christ must then be heard, see- ing he prays for what the Father has promised. (S.) T\\Q end pursued by Christ in his intercession, is agreeable to the Father ; and therefore his intercession must needs be prevalent. The whole design of it may be express- ed in those words of Christ, and the Father. Father, glori- fif thy name : Then there came a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and imll glorify it again (e). All Christ's prayers are for such things as glorify God the Fa- ther, Himself, and the Spirit. Therefore, as God regards his own glory, he will regard Christ's intercession. When Christ prayed to be in heaven, to be at this work of inter- cession there, it was that he might glorify the Father : Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven, saying, Father, the hour is come, glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify (a) Eph. V. 2. (^) Heb. xii. 24. {c) Isa. liii. 11. {d) Psah Ixxxix. 28. (^) John xi. 28. i 6i^ OF CHRIST*S INTERCESSION'. thee fa J. This prayer in the seventeenth chapter of John's gospel is thought to be a specimen or model of Christ's in- tercession ; and if so, it comes up fully to my purpose, that Christ's intercession has God's glory for the end of it ; and therefore is always prevalent. To be well assured of this, will be of excellent use against our unbelief and dis- couragements ; and therefore 1 will proceed a little further upon it. (4<.) Christ's intercession is prevalent with the Father, because it is always agreeable to the Father's tviil. In the time of his agonies, the haman will in Christ inclined to that exemption from suffering, which was not agreeable to the will of God ; but then it was only conditionally, and may properly be called a wish or desire. If it be j^ossibie 'iyiay this cup pass from me; nevertheless thy tvill be done fb)y said our Lord, when prostrated in the garden : But now, in glory, as there is no such occasion, so Christ's human will is so absolutely under the power of his divine w^ill as God, and under the influence of the Spirit of grace, that there is no room to suppose that he is capable of putting up one request to the Father, but what is entirely agreeable to his will : Ke delighted to do Iiis Father's v.'ill on earth ; and no less doth he delight to comply with it in heaven. Now, seeing the will of Christ, whereby he intercedes, is the same with the will of the Father, with whom he inter- cedes, the Father cannot reject the will of the Intercessor, without offering violence to his own ; and he must deny himself, at the same time that he denies his Son. If it holds true, that when we ask any thing, according to the will of God, he hears us, and we have the petitions we ask of him (c) : It cannot be less certain, that Christ asking only what is according to the will of God, is heard in every thingp and has all the petitions that he puts up granted to him. (fl) John xvii, 1. {!>) Matt. xxvi. 39. {c) I John v, 14. OP Christ's intercession. 165 (5.) Christ's intercession is performed by virtue of a com- inissio?i, or an office^ which he has received from the Fa- ther. Will he authorise him to plead, and then refuse his plea when it is every way agreeable to his will as to matter, manner, end, and right to use it ? This cannot be ; he that made Christ a priest for ever, and gave him power to plead, and admitted him into the most holy place, in order there- unto, will not reject his plea vv-hen he makes it : He pleads with authority, and therefore with success. Christ inter- cedes with one who has a great love to the person interced- ing, and the persons for whom he intercedes ; the Advocate and tlie clients are aU dear to him ; and therefore Christ's intercession must needs be prevalent, seeing there is nothing in law or equity against it ; if indeed there were, the righte- ous Judge could not, by his affection to the parties, be en- gaged to do an unjust thing : but seeing what Christ prays for is just and right ; aud seeing the Father has such a love, both to Christ, and to those for whom he intercedes, there is no room to doubt his success. Thou art my Sony said God ; ask of me and I mil give ihee the heathen for thine inheritance (a). Such a Son shall be denied in nothing that he asks. (6.) Nor should we forget the love which God bears to the clients, as well as to the Advocate : He loved them, and chose them from eternity ; he sent his Son to die for them, in time, and his Spirit to convert them ; and he has receiv- ed Christ up into glory, in quaiity of a high- priest, to in- tetcede for them ; and shall he, after ail these marks of af- fection to them, turn a deaf ear to the requests that are made for them, either for grace or glory ? Can he love them so dearly, and yet deny them any thing that should rnakg them happy, or do them good ? It is unreasonable to think 5^ : Therefore let us conclude, that Christ is a prevaihng Tntercessjpr ; he himself thus declared ; / say not that I tjill (a) Psal. ii. 7, 8. ^6^ OP Christ's iNTERCEssiOxV. pray the Father for you, for the Father himself loves you fa) : That is, I will not now insist on the interest / Lave with the Father, but that which you have with him ; his love to yau disposeth him to do all that is needful for your good. (7.) There is an infinite dignity derived from Christ's ]}€rson to his intercession as well as to his sacrifice ; and therefore it is prevalent. Though the intercession is made in and by his human nature, yet it is the act of his divine per- son, or belongs to him : and being the work of such a per- son, it must be of great value. * The intercession of such * a divijie person is as powerful as his sufferings were meri- * torious,' as one speaks (b). — The other characters of the Intercessor, as being infinitely wise, holy, faithful, and dear to God, were hinted before ; and therefore I shall not insist on them here. (8.) We may conclude the prevalency of Christ's inter- cession, from the instances which we have of its success, Christ prayed for Peter that his faith might not fail ; and lie lived and died a glorious believer : Ke prayed for the apostles that they m^ight be kept from the evil of the world, or from moral evil ; and the purity of their lives was an an- swer of Christ's prayers : He no sooner ascended, but he prayed the Father for the efTusion of the Spirit, which was granted in a wonderful manner ; and in granting this, God virtually granted all spiritual blessings ; at least we may use the apostle's way of reasoning, he who withheld not the Spi- rit, but gave him freely, when Christ interceded for him, will doubtless with him, also freely give us ail things he shall de- sire ; for having granted the greater, there is no reason to think he will withhold the less. VII. I shall mention some of the fruits and effects of Christ's intercession. In the general, our complete and en- tire salvation is ascribed to Christ's intercession ; and there- (ir) 1 John xvi. 27. (i) Charnock on Intercess. p. 1133. OF CHRIST^S INTERCESSION-. 167 fore all the parts of It are the fruits thereof. He saves to the uttermost^ seeing he ever lives to make intercession Jcr lis. But more pv^rticularly, 1. The preservation and welfare of the church is the ef- fect of it. Lord of hosts, said Christ, hoio long xvilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem ? And the Lord ansiKcred the angel xvith good and comfortable rvoj'ds (a). At Christ's intercession the Father turns the captivity of Zion. As Christ promised, that the gates of hell should not prevail against his church, so his intercession secures her safety ; and when she is brought low restores her. This teaches us to whom we sliould look under the most discouraging pros- pects. In the vision which John had (hjt Christ from heaven is represented in his priestly garments, in the midst of the churches, holding the ministers in his right hand, and his voice is said to be as the aoiind of many tcaters ; his in- tercession for his church is most powerful, and effectual. 2. The mission, or pouring out of the Spirit, aher Christ's ascension, was a fruit of his intercession : Before his death he declared (cj, he would pray the Father to send the Com- forter ; when he ascendt;d up on high he received and gave this gift to his church fdj, the most comprehensive, and the m.ost glorious gift next to hhnself, which he could bestow ; for hereby the conversion,, edification, and eternal glory of all the chosen seed are secured. A gospel ministry, and all ministerial gifts and success are to be looked upon as the fruits of Christ's intercession, procuring the mission of the Spirit for these ends; and therein for the edifying his body, till me all come to the stature of a perfect man in Christ Jesus (c). 3. Security from co?2;'/(?wn2(7.''/o?2 is another effect of Christ's lintercession. None- can condemn so long as Christ makes intercession for us. Satan, as an adversary, accuses ; but {a) Zech. i. 12, IS. G) Rev. \. 13. \5. {c) John xiv. 16. {(l) Acts. ii. 33. (-'-) £ph. iv. 11, 12. 16S OF Christ's ixtercessiox. Christ, as an Advocate, silences and rebukes hiai, vindicates his people, and keeps open their way of access to God, and of their communion with him. Sin and Satan would soon find a way to debar us of this privilege, were it not for Christ's intercession : Through his blood, which pleads for us, we have boldness to draw nigh to God. This is what we can never enough value, or bless God for ; all our spi- ritual comfort and eternal safety depend upon it, and flow from it. 4. Another fruit of it is God's hearing and ansiverhig his people's prayers. As they come from us, they are polluted, defiled, and attended with many infirmities ; for we know not what to pray for as we ought faj ; but they ascend ac- ceptably to God, as they are perfumed with Christ's much incense fbj, Christ is represented saying. Let 7iot them that ti-ait on thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my sahe ; let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake God of Israel, because fotr thy sake I have bore reproach (c). This is the ground of our acceptance at the throne of grace, the intercession of our great high-priest, who is pas- sed into the heavens for us fdj. 5. The numerous conversions of souls to God, since Christ's ascension, have been the fruits of his intercession. All who have believed through the word of the gospel, have felt and enjoyed the power and fruit of that prayer of Christ begun on earth, and no doubt continued in heaven, I pray not for these alone, but for them also that shall believe on me through iheir xvord (e) ; which is, as if he had said, Holy Father, 1 desire, that those who are yet to be brought home to me may taste and feel the power of thy love and grace, in the o-ospel, so as to rest on me by faith, and may have all the privileges and blessings of believers. 6. Preservation and perseverance in \.\\q faith, is the fruit la) Rom. \\\\. 2G. (b) Rev. vii. 4. (.) Psal Ixlx. 6, 7. {i:) Ileb. iv. 15, 16. (0 John xvii. 20, OF Christ's intercession-. 169 of Christ's intercession. All the believers, as well as Peter, owe the security of their faith, and their recovery from backslidings, to Christ's prayer for them : they are preserv- ed in Christ Jesus ; he restores the believer, and makes him t-o walk in the paths of righteousness for his prayer's sake. 7. All supplies of grace are the fruit of Christ's interces- sion. The attendance of our great high-priest, at the throna ef grace, and his prevailhig pleas there, are the causes oT our Jinding grace to help in time of need (a). For this rea- son, it may be, among others, it is called the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ ; and we "re said to j-eceive grace, accor- ding to the measure of the gift of Chris/. 8. Eternal life is the fruit of Christ's intercession. This is being sax'ed to the uttermost ; and thus Christ ^aves be- lievers, because he ever lives in heaven to make intercession for them. Thus we see something of l!ie nature, properties, extent, prevalency, and fruits of Christ's intercession, and may ga- ther what reason tbe apostle had to lay a stress upon -it, as ke did in my text. What remains is to hint some heads of jipplication. APPLICATION. 1. This doctrine informs us of the injury the Papists do Christ, in joining other intercessors with him ; The scrip- tures speak of but 0}ie advocate and intercessor in heaven ; but the Romanists tells us there are majii/ others. None but Christ has merit or authority to plead there : their doc- trine Is therefore a vile indignity put upon Christ, as if he was not able ^o save to the uttermost all that come to God by him. Is there any other, that has more knowledge of our cause, more compassion to move him to, espouse it, more wisdom to manage it, more favour with God, or a better plea to use than he ? Or, in a word, is there asy other au- thorised of God to intercede with him, in heaven, for his (a) Heb. iv. 15, 16. Vol. II. p 170 oir Christ's intercession. people on earth ? We know that God has appointed Clirlst, admitted him into his presence, and heard his prayers.: But as for all the rabble of popish intercessors, we know not whence tliey are : however, this we know, that they are not of God; and that they are, and must be, injurious to the office and honour of our one and only Mediator, between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 2. From Christ's intercession let us learn that he is inte Godi and inie man. If he was not man, he could not pro- perly pray ; if he is not God, he cannot prevail, know all our wants, supply them, and Bave us to the uttermost. A mere creature cannot know all things, search all hearts, know all the distant groanings of millions of labouring minds at once, see all their wants, difficulties, and dangers, and pro- vide a suitable supply and rem.edy : he that can do this, as our Intercessor does, must have in himself omniscience, om- nipotence, and all-sufficiency ; and he that is possessed of these is, and must be God. 3. What comfort and ejhcpiiragcmetit may believers draw from Christ's intercession ? "W-^at a mighty encouragement is it to go to God, and be much in prayer, seeing we have an Intercessor at his right hand to present our prayers ? We liave a friend in the heavenly court, to plead our cause, whose intercession never fails ; shall then our prayers flag or our spirits faint ? Has he power as a prince, and prevails ? and shall we give over all for lost, and say, it is in vain to pray to him ? There must be great force an^ energy in our prayers, when we are washed in the blood of the Lamb, and our requests are enforced by his intercession. Some poor dejected Christians are apt to think, they are miserable and destroyed almost to the utmost ; such should remember, that the great Intercessor is able to s:ive to the utmost, all that come to God by him, whatever their sins and miseries have been, or are ; -and what can they desire more ? What salva- tion c'dn be greater ? — It m^ay be, Christian, tliy darkness. OF CHRISt's INTERCESSION". 171 deafness, unbelief, slavish fears, straitaess of heart in pray- er, and other sins have abounded ; but still the saving ability of the intercessor much more abounds : his merit, vi'isdom, compassion, and prevalence with God, are far greater t9 «ave the believer, than all his sins and temptations can be to destroy him. If f^'^y "^'^^^ -^i^^ ^t^t? Jia-ce an advocnie mth the Father (a) ; yet still we must be careful to avoid sin as far as we can ; and for that end v^'e should go to God, and plead hard with him for his Spirit and grace, to keep us from it ; remembering that Christ is praying that his people may be sanctified and kept from evil. With reference to that, in the model of his intercession, or his prayer recorded in the seventeenth chapter of John's gospel, Christ said. These things speak I in the tvorldf that the?/ might have my joy JiilfiUed in themselves (b). Christ's blood can and does speak for the Christian, when he cannot plead for liimself : Kow may this encourage the poor believer, to go to God with full assurance of faith, as a ship under full sail to the habour, carried in by the sweet gales of Christ's interces- sion I If the Spirit has been making intercession in a CI ristian with labouring and unutterable desires after God, it is a sign Christ is interceding for him ; for, * the Spirit's inteixession * in the heart is but the echo of Christ's intercession in hea- < ven,' as one speaks (c) : what comfort is there in this, for such as thus come to God by Christ ? Christ goes to Qod for them, and never leaves the suit till he has saved his. client to the uttermost, brought him to the King's palace, with joy and gladness, and has set him above all dangers and miseries. O how safe and happy is the believer, in such an Advocate witli the Father, whose love never grows cold, whose merit is never exhausted, and whose pica never grov/s weak or fruitless ? If it is a comfort to have a share in ih:* (a) 1 John. ii. 1. {b) John xvii. 13. [c) Goodwia of Christ's intercession, p. 1"^.%, J 72 OF Christ's iNTERCEssiox. prayers of our gracious friends ? what joy may it afford the Christian, that he has an interest in Christ's prevaihng in- tercession for ever continued in heaven. Noah, Job, and Daniel may be denied, but Christ never can : Satan often baffles us, but he cannot stand before Christ ; he easily finds a way to distract our prayers, but he can never obstruct Christ's requests, or render them ineffectual. If the effec- tual fervent prayers of a righteous man avail nuich, shall not Christ's much more ? How may these considerations streng- then our faith, encourage our prayers, and kicrease our com- fort and joy in coming to God by Christ ? 4. If Christ ever lives to intercede for his people, then great and affecting is his love to them : he lived a sorrowful life, he died a bitter death for them on earth, and employs his glorious life in interceding for them in heaven. What manner of love is this ? C.in he never do too much for us ? Is he never weary of his work, how painful or endless so- ever it be .'* How much then does his love pass our know- ledge, our highest admiration ? The glory of his throne, the adoration of angels, the Hosannahs of the saved, the delights he has with his Father cannot divert him from a care and concern for his poor people in this world, or cause him to interi3iit his pica* for them ? It is the constant business of his heavenly ViiQ, to make intercession for them ; behold then hovv he loves them ! 5. What a xvoeful condition are th.ey in, who, tliough they pretend to come to God, yet do not come by Christ ? The Jews, though they have lost their temple, qrk, priests, and sacrifice, yet will not com^ to God by Christ ; they neither value his sacrifice nor intcj-c^ssion ; AVhen the law cannot save them, they reject the gospel salvation ; whilst they have Moses and the prophets pleading against them, they refuse to have Christ to plead for them : they cannot save themselves by their own pleas ; what then remains but that destruction should coxe uocn them to the utmost ; and OF CHRIST'S rNTERCESSiON-. iio not on them only, but on all others who come not to God by Christ, and have no part in his intercession ? Such may hear him pleading against them, in these terrible words, Four out tliine indignation upon them, and let thy xvrathfal anger take hold of them (a) I 6. How safe is the church under xki^ ■patronage of suci* an Intercessor ? He ever lives to intercede and save it to the utmost ; therefore Christ's church can never die, be lost, or miserable. Christ cannot fail of his end, and therefore Christians cannot be disapppinted of their salvation. If Christ ever lives to intercede for them, then there will be some who fear his name to the end of the world, who shall come to God by him, for whom he always intercedes. This is a good evidence, that the gates of hell shall never prevail against the church, or extirpate Christ's interest out of the world. That faith cannot fail* which he preserves bv his intercession, nor can those in whom it dwells, fail from among men, till there is either an end of the world, or an end of Christ's prevailing, (may I not say) almighty intercession. 7. How valuable are the souls of believers and their sal- vation ? The men of the world despise 'them, as they do indeed their own souls, and their salvation. How impossi- ble is it to shun multitudes in the open streets, whose tongues are set on fire of hell, who are calling upon God for that dam- nation to Vv'hich they are hasting \ These wretches have surely no sense of the worth of souls, and of the value of salvation ; no belief that Christ is in heaven interceding for salvation, whilst they, on earth, are soliciting damnation to seize upon themselves and others. However, the worth of souls, the importance and excellence of their salvation may be clearly seen from Christ's intercession : He v/ho is infi- nitely wise and good, would not spend his glorious life in heaven in pleading for things that are only fancies or trifles things of no reality, or of no importance. Let us then be- (a) Psalm Ixix. 24. p3 1/4? OfiT CIIPJST's n:. lieve the reality and excellence cf the Saint's future eternal . blessedness. 8. Does Christ io>2 believers in heaven ? Does he live and plead for them there ? Then how much are they bound to love him, to live to Idm, and to jjlcad for him on earth? Since he will be ashamed of such as are ashamed of him be- fore men, \vhen he appears in glory, shall we be ashamed of him and. his cause ? Does he always include our interests in his prayers, and shall we exclude his interest out of our prayers ? Is he so much concerned for our happiness and shall vre have no concern for his honour, or but little \ Does he always plead our cause with his Father, against our eiiemies, and shall we never plead his cause, either with his friends to encourage them, or with his enemies to silence and convince them ? Did he not only die, but does he always live for us, and shall we always live to ourselves and not to him ? How disingenuous and ungrateful v/ould this be ! Let ys then remember our obhgations, and follow after, and abound in that faith, love, and obedience to Christ, which become all such, who come to God by him, and shall by him be saved to the utmost, seeing he ever lives in heaven tc niake intercession for them. OP CHRIST'S SECOND COMING TO JUPGE THE AVORLD IN RIGHTEOUS^ NESS, OPENED AND APPLIED j IN FOUR SERMONS. SERMON I. Preached April 23, 1728. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead, at his aj)pearing, and his kingdom. — 2 Tim. iv. 1. xIaving formerly inquired, what Christ is doing at the Father's right hand, I now come to shew what he will do, when he descends from heaven again ; then he wiW judge the quick and the dead. This future judgment is brought in as a reason of that solemn charge which the apostle Paul gav€ to Timothy, to j)reach the word in season, and out of season ; to reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine, without being soon weary of it, or desisting from it, to avoid trouble, or for want of desired success. Christ will come again to judge all men ; therefore Timothy was under his eye, and account- able to him for his ministry ; what care therefore ought he to take to fulfil it ? We must all appear before the 176 OF CHRIST*S COMING TO JUDGMENT. judgment-ssat of Christ (said the same apostle, on ano- ther occasion :) therefore toe labour, "wJiether present or absenty that loe. may be accepted of him ; and knowing the terror of the Lord, lue persuade men (a). It will be very dreadful for any unbeliever, especially for wicked and slothful ministers, to appear before Christ's judgment-seat : and even the best ministers, such as Timothy was, have need to be warned and excited by the thoughts of the fu- ture judgment, to a due discharge of their work. The time of this judgment is, in my text, said to be at his appearing, and his Jdngdom : From these words some have inferred, that the day of judgment should last a thou- sand years ; and that the dead in Christ, being raised and absolved at his first appearance, shall reign a thousand years with him on the earth, before the wicked shall be raised and receive their judgment : for this reason, as they think, Christ's appearance, judgment, and kingdom are joined to- gether. But from the connection between Christ's appear- ing and his judging the quick and dead, it rather appears, that the saints and sinners shall be assembled at once beibre the judgment-seat of Christ : and though the saints shall be raised first, and first receive their sentence, yet both righte- ous and wicked shall, at the same time, meet in judgment, the sheep being placed on Christ's right hand, and the goats on his left (b). Though the saints shall first receive their sentence, yet the execution of the sentence first begins upon the wicked, according to the scriptures (c). How tliis order of proceeding can consist with the before-mentioned scheme, I see not : As to the apostle's connecting Christ's judging, and his kingdom together, that might be only to shew, that the judgment of the great day will be a glorious exercise and discovery of Christ's kingly power, and sove- reign dominion over all. * Christ's second coming shall not (a) 2 Cor. v. 9—11. {b) Matt. xxv. 31. {c) Malt. xxY. 46.-2 Thess. i. 8—10. OF Christ's coming to judgment. 177 * be like the former, in meanness and abasement, but v/ith * power and great glory, with an open discovery of his do- * minion and greatness,' as a judicious ancient commentator has explained the text '(^0' When Christ comes to judg- ment, the earth, the sea, heaven, and hell shall give up all that have been dead, at Christ's command ; which will make it evident, that his kingdom rideth over all. The words quick and dead signify all persons that ever were, now are, or shall be ; all who die before Christ's se- cond coming, and all who shall then be found alive. It is not said that Christ shall judge some of the quick and dead, ■at his appearing, and the rest ^ long time after ; but my text joins ihem all together, in the same judgment, quick and dead of all sortSy both good and bad. The day of judgment is spoken of as one, and as unknown before-hand ; but it could neither be one, nor unknown, if the saints should be judged at the beginning of the thousand years, and the wicked at the end of them ; for then, at least when Christ was once come, the time when the wicked shall be judged must needs be known before-hand. I must confess, I can- not see how Christ's being personally a thousand years on earth can consist with his ever living in heaven^ to intercede for his joeojyle, which requires liis bodily presence there : and to say that earth itself will be heaven, when Christ comes to dwell here, is to mix and confound all things, and to suppose that the wicked shall appear in heaven, where nothing that defiles can enter, in order to be judged. But without allowing this personal reign, which some are so fond of, we may and ought to believe a happy and flourishing state of the church militant, before the end of time ; con- cerning which glorious things are'spoken in scripture : but it is besides my subject and intention to enter upon that point now. What needs farther explication in the text will be 'A 'r*;":-j »r;; K'.yn on ^-^ oCt'^; r.'rii m$ vZv, ChrysOSt. ill loc, 178 or Christ's coming to judgment. attempted in the management of the following doctrine from it : Christ shall come again, and in the great da?/ shall judge the "whole "world, both quick and dead. In discoursing upon this point, I shall cast my thoughts into the following method. I. I shall inquire into the certainty and time of a future judgment, and the need of insisting on this doctrine. IX. I shall consider \}i\Q iperson and character of the Judge. III. I shall specify the objects of this judgnient ; or shew who, and what shall be judged. IV. I shall explain th^ Jbrm and ^5rocc55 of it. V. I shall hint some of its properties. VI. I shall assign some reasons of this judgment. VII. I shall mention some of its consequents, an6 an- swer some questions concerning it. And, VIII. By way of conclusion, I shall make some appli- cr:tion of this subject. I. I shall inquire into the certainty and time of the fu- ture judgment, and the need o^ insisting upon it. I shall begin with the last branch of this head, as open- ing the way to the others. The fitness of this doctrine, to be a part of the evangelical ministry, appears from Christ's command to the apostles, after his resurrection, as recited by Peter, in these words, //e commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it xvas he that tons ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead (a). — Accord- ing to their instructions the apostles abundantly insisted on this doctrine ; some received it with pleasure, looking and longing for Christ's appearance, others trembled at the hear- ing of it ; but whether it is liked or disliked, it ought to be preached, and was so very early. — Enoch, the seventh from Adam, preached it, saying, Behold the Lord comes (a) Acts X. 42. OF Christ's coming to judgment. 179 to execute judgment (a). Tlie wicked would not believe it, but uttered many hard speeches, not only against the doctrine, but also against the Lord himself, who was to judge them ; but yet it was published and insisted on from time to time. — We are told by a good judge (h), that tliis doctrine was the eleventh article of the Jewish creed : It is plain that the apostle (c) reckoned it among the first prin- ciples and func'amental truths.-*— Solomon, the wisest preach- er among mere men, taught this truth, as a relief against the injustice practised in human courts, when he said, God shall judge the righteous and the winked (d) : and to curb the voluptuous appetite, when he thus addressed himself to such as are guilty on this head, Knoxv thou, that for all these things, God will bi'ing thee into judgment (e). — Loiig before this, Abraham spoke of God as a Judge (J^J. — And the Psalmist has represented it in very lofty language. He comes to judge the earth fgj. — Job, aviio lived very early, put his friends in mind, that there is a judgment fhj. — And to shew the necessity and usefulness of this doctrine under the new-testament dispensation, near the end of the sacred canon, this matter is thus related by the apostle John fij; I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God ; and the booh were opened : and another book was opened, which is the book of life ; and the dead were judged according to the thins^s that were written in those books, according; to their works. Of which I shall have occasion to apeak at large hereafter. — Paul told the Athenians of a day in whicli Christ shall judge the world fkj ; and assured the Corin- thians, that we must all appear before'the judgment-seat (f Christ (I). — Our blessed Lord spoke ol the end of the tvorld, when he instituted baptism, to put us in mind of the (a) Jude 14, 15. (u) Dr. Owen's expos. — Heh. vi. ], 2. (c) Heb. vi. 1, 2. (d) Eccl. iii. 16, 17. ( ^) Eccl. xl. 9. (/) Gen. xviii. 25. (g) Psalm xcvi. 13. (h) Job. xix. 29, ('•) Rev. XX. 13. {k) Acts xvlf. 31. (/; 2 Cor. v. 10. 180 OF Christ's coming to juegment. general judgment which then will be : and when the apostle Paul spoke of the Lord's supper, he likewise mentioned the Lord's coming (a) : and the dreadful curse he uttered against the haters of Christ, is //// the Lord comes (b) ; and so the persons who are cast out of the church, and die impe- nitent, pass from the lower judgment to the judgment of the great day : Thus a memento of the final judgment is annex- ed to these ordinances, that when they are celebrated, this av/ful and important doctrine may be presented to our thoughts. — If these things are well considered, it will ap- pear that this is no improper or unprofitable doctrine, see-. ing it is so much insisted on in scripture. This likewise, in part, shews us the cerlalnty of a future judgment, which is the next thing to be spoken to. We are told, that in the last days there shall come scoffers, tvalking after their otvn lusts, saying, tvhere is the promise of his coming fcj : These words imply, that this denial of a future judgment had neither been general nor perpetual, but the apinion of some notorious wicked men, who were will- ing to persuade themselves, that there would be no future judgment, because it was their interest that there should be none. The heathens had some glimmering apprehensions of this judgment, conscience suggesting it to them : heUce Fehx trembled whilst Paul reasoned conQerning it ; hence also sprung their fiction of the infernal judges, the Ely.siau fields, and the Stygian lake. Conscience was in them the echo of the law, and the harbinger of this judgment, their thoughts accused, or excused them, in reference to that fu- ture judgment fdj. The poet spoke the common sense of mankind, when he said, * no guilty person shall be acquitted, * his own conscience being judge.' It is also to be observ- ed, that the future judgment is agreeable to the divine per- fections. When we rightly conceive of God, we apprehend (a) 1 Cor. xi. 26. {I) 1 Cor. xvi, 22. (0 2 Pet. iii. 3,' «. (i) Rom. ii. 15. OF Christ's coming to judgment. ISl Inm to be the highest and best of beings, of sovereign power and dominion, of infinite holiness, goodness, and truth ; with- out these perfections he would be no God, and if they belong to him, thence we may infer the certainty of a future judg- ment. If God is the highest and best of beings, then he governs the world, and will punish the disobedient ; and will, in order thereto, try and judge them : for the supreme Go- vernor to leave all men to do as they will, v/ithout ever call- ing them to an account, would be at once to quit the govern- ment over them. Nor would it be consistent with his infinite wisdom, to threaten the rebellious with punishment, ajid yet never inflict it : if the punishment was not necessary, equal, and just, why was it ever threatened ? may some say ; and if it was, then not to execute the threatening must be unjust, and the omission of what was equal and necessary, which must be a high reflection on the wisdom, and other perfections of the great Governor of the world. If the .omission of the judgment should be owing to a better in- sight into the nature of things, what becomes of God's omniscience ? if it is • supposed to arise from an inability to do as he had threatened, his omnipotency is destroyed ; if it should be imputed to more favourable thoughts of the ^vil committed, can we defend his holiness ? and if a change of will in God should be the cause of it, surely his veracity and immutability must be denied ; Now, as this would be to deny the God that is above, by divesting him of the per- fections of his nature, we may conclude, that God will not neglect a work which is so necessary to ths stability and- ^lory of his own throne, nor give any one room to say, the Governor of the world doth not what is right and agreeable to the declared excellencies of his nature ; he cannot give men occasion by his keeping silence, always to say, he is al** together such a one as themselves. God's faithfulness and goodness to his own people, prove -the certainty of this judgment ; how many of God's dear VOL. ir. q 182 eF Christ's coming to judgment. servants suffer hard and unjust things from their enemies in this world ? and at God's command his servants have left it to him to avenge their cause (a) ; they denied themselves, and taking up their cross, followed Christ, not loving their lives to the death, in hope of that crown of righteousness Avhich the Lord hath promised them : But should there be no future judgment, rewards, or punishments, wherein would the faithfulness and goodness of Go'd to his people appear ? How could they be preserved ? How could we acquit him from acting the most unkind and deceitful part towards them ? But let God be true, though every man be a liar. Christ therefore shall certainly judge the quick and dead. God's faithfulness, righteousness, and love to his Son render this judgment necessary. Christ, more than any man, had endured the contradiction of sinners against him- self ; many of his implacable enemies went out of this world without receiving a just retribution for their evil deeds. God himself had engaged that they should be punished, and that the judgment should be put into Christ's own hands ; and this is to be no small part of Christ's mediatorial ho- nour and glory, to judge the whole world : But on supposi- tion that there never should be such a judgment, how would God be faithful and just to his Son ? How would he shew his love to him, or a regard to liis glory as Mediator, and as a sufferer for righteousness sake ? It may be said in the particular judgment after death, the sinner receives a sentence and reward accoi ding to his works ; so Christ is avenged of his enemies, and his glory is provid- ed for. To this it m.ay be replied, that in the particular judgment only one part of the sinner, his soul, comes into judgment, and why should his body, which had been a part- ner in the sin, be exem.pted from the condemnation ? Be- sides, this particular judgment is neither so public, nor uni^ {a) James v. 6— 8.— Rom. xli. 19. OF Christ's coming to judgments 183 versal, as Christ's ill usage and honour require. Those ahve at the end of time would escape judgment, if the general judgment should never be : should not every knee be brought to bow to Christ, and every tongue be made to confess to him, after he had humbled himself to death for his people, how would the Father's engagements to Christ be per- formed ? The righteousness of God proves the certainty of this judgment : the apostle thus confirms it (a). It is a righte- ous thing xvith God to render tribidation U) them that trouble you ; and to you that are troubled rest tvith us, ivhen the Lord shall ie revealed Jrom heaven ivith his mighty angels. The dispensations of providence are very mysterious ; There is a Just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and their is a wicked man that prolongs his life in his xmckedness (b) ; It is necessary therefore that there be a future judgment, whereia the saint sliail be re- warded, and the sinner punished. It was the belief of this that set the Psalmist Asaph right (c), when his feet were almost gone. If no sins were punished in this life, men would be apt to deny a providence ; and if all sins were punished here, they would be ready to thick there would be no future judgment ; but seeing some are, and some are not punished in this world, there is reason to be- lieve both a providence, and a judgment to come : Wrath brings the punishment of the sword, that ice may knoiv there is a judgment (d). There is yet a clearer and more convincing argument of a future judgment to be drawn from the judgment and suf- ferings of Christ ; that God, who did not spare the sins of his own people, will not spare the sins of others. He that judged and condemned his own Son, for sins only imputed- to him, will certainly judge and condemn impenitent sinners (a) 2 Thes. i. 6, 7. (^) Eccles. vii. 15. () Isa. xHi. 1. (c) John xxi. 17.— ii. 25. IBS OF Christ's coming to judgment. outward appearance, but ivith righteous judgment (a). He is infallible ; and therefore there lies no appeal from his judgment. Solomon in a much lower case, says, Who is able to judge so great a people (b). But Christ, in whom dwells the fulness of the God-head bodily, has sufficient abiUties to judge the whole world. 3. He is an impartial Judge ; he will be no respecter of persons : he may say as the Psalmist Asaph did (cjy When I receive the cojigregation, I rvill judge uprightly. — In this world he is merciful ; but yet he will by no means clear the guilty : He will not pervert judgment, nor lay on any man more than is meet. Every one shall receive the thincrs done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it hath been good or bad (d) : not only open ene- mies, but pretended friends, who had not been sincere, shall be rejected and condemned in the judgment of the great day. Though they call Christ Lord, and claim favour on the ac- count of former services and acquaintance, yet the impar- tial Judge will say to them. Depart from me I know you not : you are xvorkers of iniquity fej. 4. He is a powerful and glorious Judge : he shall come \y\\\\ j^oxcer and great glory (f ) . There wnll be no room to question his power, when he re-collects the scattered dust of men's bodies, and rebuilds them, replaces their souls in them, and brings them and all the world to his bar, devils not excepted. Those who derided him on earth will feel the power and weight of his last sentence and judgment. 5. He is a righteous Judge : Because he loved righteous- ness, he was annointed with the oil of gladness ; and as he loved it, so he will exercise it : He shall judge the world iti righteousness (g). It is impossible that one so righteous (a) Isa. xi. 2 — 5. {b) 1 Kings ill. 9. (0 1 Pet. i. 17.— Psal. Ixxv. 2.— Exod. xxxiv. 7. {d) 2 Cor. V. 20. (f) Mat. vii. 22. (/) Mat. xxiv. 30, {g) Acts xvii. 31. OF Christ's comixg to judgment. 189 as Christ is, in both natures, should pass an unrighteous Sentence : this righteousness is essentially requisite in the Judge of the world. The Judge of all the earth xvill do right ; were it otherwise, what multitudes would be eternal sufferers by him? Is God un righteous ? said the apostle Paul, hotv then shall hepidge the tvorld (a) P but Christ is the righteous Judge : Therefore this is not the case. 6. He will be to many a terrible Judge. The apostle V^vXi Joreseeing the terror of the Lord persuaded men (h) : There will be no room to call this in question, when he aj)- pears injlamingjirey taking vengeance on them that hiow not God, and have not obei/ed the gospel fcj. This will be the great and terrible day of the Lord : x'\ll the kindred? of the earth shall wall because of him ; for destruction from the Lord may justly be a terror to them. 7. He will be a peremptory iri/lexible Judge. There will be no revoking or changing his sentence when it is once pass- ed : It is eternal judgment, as the event of it is eternal hap- piness or misery. Christ's sentence is final and decisive $ there is no higher court to appeal to. All power in heaven and on earth is given to him ; and when once he has passed sentence, he will never alter the thing that is gone out of his lips ; and this makes the judgment very awful : to be con- demned then, is to be lost forever without remedy. 8. This Judge is strong and mightij. He is the mighty God v/ho made and upholds all things, who raised the dead, and can subdue all things to himself (d). He has the devils in chains already ; they were subject to his contronl, in the days of his infirmity, much more in the day of his glorious power : As it was said of Babylon, so may it be said of the world , Strong is the Lord God that judges it. 9. To the saints and holy angels, he will be most gracious and delightful. He has found out a v/ay to unite mercy and (a) 2 Tim. iv. 8, C^)2Cor. V. 11, ic) SThes. i. 7, 8., {d) Phil ill. H, 190 OF Christ's coming to judgment. truth, rigliteousness and peace ; and to be just and yet gra- cious to his people. The sentence of hfe will be just, because he Jiad purchased the hfe for his people, and yet it will be gracious, because he freely gives the salvation to them. Well then may the saints be said to love the appearance of this Judge ; for, He tvill come icT be glorified in the saints, afld to be admired in all them that believe. And thus we see ihat Christ is well qualified to be the Judge of quick and dead. — What remains in the doctrinal part, rriust be defer- red till another time ; and, with some apphcation, I shall, close this discourse. APPLICATION. 1. From what has been said, we may learn the viiseri^ v»'hich they will be in, when the Judge comes, who have net obeyed the gospel : How shall these lift up their heads in judgment, or be able to stand before the tribunal of an in- jured, slighted, rejected Saviour, who is then their Judge ? In vain will they cry to him for mercy, who had so long of- fered them mercy, but all in vain ; There is no escaping for them that neglect such great salvation fa J, and turn away from him that speaks to them from heaven, and will come from thence in flaming fire, to judge and destroy them. 2. What strong motives have ministers to be earnest with sinners, and to exhort them lojly from the vorath to come ? Some would have us treat them as mere machines ; but God draws them with the bands of a man, and works upon the faculties he has given them. It was Paul's practice, in the views of the awful judgment, to i^ersuade men : Knoxuing the terror of the Lord he persuaded men (b) ; that is, as one has explained it (c), * Duly considering what will be * the state of things, with all men in that day, how dread-. * ful the Lord Christ will be therein to impenitent sinners, « and what a dreadful thing it is to fail into the hands (d) 2 Thess. J. 8, 9. (')) 2 Cor. v. 1 1 . {j:) Dr. Owen's expos, Heb. vi, p. 31. OF Christ's coming to judgment. 191 * of the living God ! wc use all diligence to prevail with men * to get such an interest in the peace and reconciliation ten- * dered in the gospel, that they may be accounted worthy * to stand on that day ; for, if the judgment seat of Christ * is not continually in our eye, whatever other motives we * may have to diligence, in our work, we shall have little * regard to the souls of men, whether they live or die in * their sins or no/ 3. From this doctrine we may learn t!ie greatness and glorT/ oi Christ : he 'is now Lord of all, and hereafter he will be Judge of all ; all the great ones of the earth shall stand at his bar, and have him for their Judge. Our Re- deemer is great, and greatly to be praised. God has given him a name above every name, made him a Prince and a Sa- viour, the supreme Judge of quick and dead. Christians have no reason to be ashamed of their Lord and Master, but a great deal of reason to be displeased with them who would degrade and lessen their exalted Savioyr, whose nature and office set him far above the highest. creatures. 4. What comfort may true believers take in this doctrine ? When the apostle had given the Thessalonians an accomit of this judgment, as a practical use to be made of it by the saints, he said, IVhereJorey comfort yoii one another with these xvords fa J. A believer that knows his interest in Christ, may be delighted to think, how his dear Saviour will be openly seen, admired, and honoured, in the great day ; and t4iat the redeemed shall then be fully and for ever acquitted from every charge and condemnation, and openly owned and proclaimed heirs of the heavenly glory. Hov%r comfortable it is to think in what shining robes of glory the saints shall attend the judge, and appear at his right jiand, even such as were not thought fit to live in this world, and could hardly find a den or cave of the earth to hide their persons in, whilst they lived, or when they died. O happy change fc? {a) 1 Thess. iv. IS. 192 OF Christ's coming to judgment. the believers ! when Christ comes to judgment, and calls for -their bodies out of their dusty beds, and brings their souls from heaven with him, and re-unites them with their bodies, He will plead their cause against all their enemies, and will allot them a place in the heavenly mansions : Happy are the people that are in such a case ; blessed are they who have Christ for their I^ord : Such as are now subject to his go- vernment shall be hereafter exempted from his condemning sentence ; for, There is no condemnatmi to them that are in Christ Jesus (a). 5. With what zeal and diligence should ministers preach the word, in season, and out of season ? How should they reprove, rebuke, and exhort men, seeing they must all ap- pear before such a righteous, holy, impartial Judge, whose sentence is for eternity ; and who is able and resolved to exe- cute it upon all (b) ? And with what seriousness and at- tention should men hear the word, and use all other means to prepare themselves for the great day ; being firmly per- suaded, that the Lord Jesus Christ shall judge the quici i'^nd dead, at his appearing, and his kingdom ? M^ff^ SERMON II. Preached May 7, 1728. I charge thee before Gcd, and the Lord Jesus Christy tvho shall judge the quid' and the dead, at his ajopearing, and his kingdom, — 2 Tim. iv. I. The apostle her? presses Timothy to preach the word w^ith all diligence, as he would answer it to Christ, who shall judge all men at the great day. The consideration of that ■a) Rom. viii. I. (Z) Jude 14, 15. OF CHRIST S COMING TO JUDGMENT. 195 awful judgment, should have a great influence upon all of us, ministers and people, in our whole conduct. One of the ancients thought he ever heard those words sounding in his ears, Arise you dead, and corns to judgment. — In a former discourse, on these words, I have shewed the certaintij of this judgment, and the .'wces-itij and use of this doctrine ; after vviiich, I proceeded to consider t\\Q person and character of the Judge in several particulars. I now proceed. III. I shall specify the o<5;ec^<> of this judgment ; or shevv 'wko, or xjchat shall be judged. The scriptures speak of it in general and unW.ersal terms : Christ shall judge the world, all nations, small and great, quick and dead, the righteous and the wicked ; we must all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, and every one must give an account to God : All mankind that ever were, now are, or ever shall be, without exception of any age, sex, or quality, m.ust be judged in the great day. In this Vvorld some are too high to be called to an account, others are thought too low to be taken notice of; but there are none too great to stand at Christ's bar, nor too mean to ap- pear there ; civil distinctions will then cease ; the prince and the peasant will appear before the Judge, as creatures and criminals to be tried and judged, without respect of persons. Those who would never come to the throne of grace, shall be forced to appear before the bar of justice. Death shall be no hinderance ; for death and the grave shall give up their dead, when Christ comes to judgment. It is said, indeed, that the vciched shall not stand in judg- ment (a) ; from whence some of old, very absurdly infer- red, that the wicked should not be judged : but it is one thing not to he judged, and another thing not to stand in judgm.ent ; this is to be cast and condemned in judgment, which supposes a judgment to come. It is said, that he that believes shall 7iot come into condemnation (h) j and (a) Psalm iit 5. {b) John v. 24. VOL. If. K i94j OF Christ's coming to judgment. therefore, as some think, shall not be judged : and thus be- tween these two opinions, the objects of the future judg- ment are almost wholly lost, and the judgment itself is in a manner denied. It has been pleaded by some of the ancients, such as Hi- lary and others (nj^ that judgment takes place only in doubt- ful cases ; and therefore the openly wicked, and those evi- dently good, shall not be judged, but only such concerning whom the matter is not plain : but it is very surprising that such men could speak so contrary to plain texts of scripture, which tells us, that God mil judge both the righteous and the idclced (b) : this is spoken without restriction ; and what warrant have men to make exceptions, where God has made r.one ? We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christy that every one may receive the things done in the body, according to tvhat he has done, ivhether it be good or bad fcjj It is a question among some, whether such as die in in- fancy shall be judged in the great day ; the scripture says, that small and great shall stand before God and be judged fdj. If infants have rational souls, and are subject to eter- nal rewards and punishments, sure then they must be liable to be judged in the great day : And it seems contrary to reason, and the end of creation, to suppose that God should put an immortal soul into a body, only to sleep here a few days on earth, or for ever in the world to come, which would seem to be a making them in vain and to no purpose. Some are very confident, that the good angels shall be judged ; but, as th« scriptures speak nothing of it, I shall pay no regard to that opinion : but as to the evil angds it is very plain (e), that they are reserved to the judgment of {a) In Psalm i. 5. p. 651. Vide Gerli. T. 9. p. 82, 83. (J?) Ecd. Hi. 17. (0 2 Cor. v. 10. {d) Rev. xx. 12. ■j The ministries and offices of the former, (/. e. of the good an. nrels) sliatl come under examination, that they m^y receive due OF Christ's coming to judgment. 195 ■ the great day (a) ; then they must answer not only for their first apostacy, but for all their sins since. The de- vil sins from the beginning ; and therefore shall be judged for all he hath done from the beginning. Thus it appears who or what persons shall be judged. There is one thing more to be considered under this head, that is, whether all the actions of all men shall be discovered and tried, in the day of judgment. Divines are divided in their sentiments on this point : that the saints shall not come into the judgment of cdndemnation is generally agreed ; but yet many (bj think that their evil, as well as their good commendation ; for those fore-mentioned words, in 1 Cor. vi. 3. seem to include these. Dr. Edwards Theolog. Refor. vol. I. page 454. I need not say much more of the absolution which appertains to the good angels; that these shall be judged hath been shewn al- ready ; and it is most undeniable, because we have it from the pen of the infallible apostle, (as we have heard before) that holy men at the last day shall judge angels: he speaks in general, and therefore both good and evil ones must be judged. Id. 456. (fl) 2 Pet. ii. 4.— Jude 5, 6. {b) I know it is doubted by some, whether at the last judgment the sins of the saints shall come into the judgment of discussion and discovery : Scripture seems to many most to favour the afHr- mative; but that they shall escape the judgment of condemnation, it is not doubted. Jenkyn on Jude, p. 244. Ad Judicii illius objectum pertinent etiam omnes omnium, tarn bonorum, quam malorum, hominum actus, turn boni, turn mali. Non excipiuntur peccata piorum, quorum remissionem per Christum adepti fuerint, quae tunc etiam manifestabuntur ; ita ta- men ut ipsis nullam confusionem afFerant, sed potius gaudium im- mensum, ex eo quod propter tot peccata remissa, tanta erga eos apparebit dementias divins magnitudo. Synops, puriorisTlieologia:, p. 799. I cannot say absolutely, that their (/. e. the saints) sins shall not be mentioned at all, for Acts iii. 19. it is said, Repent ye therefor? and be converted^ that your sins may be blotted outy ivhen the times of refresh- ing [shall come from the presence cf the Lord. Certainly not to their trouble and confusion, possibly not"particuIarly. Mantf>n on Mat. sxv. p. 17C. B.2 J 96 OF Christ's comixg to judgment. actions, shall be made manifest in that day ; and several scriptures seem to favour the opinion (a). It is said, that God shall bring every tvor/c into Judgment, tvith evert/ secret i/iing, tchet/ier it be goody or tvhether it be evil. That nie.>i 'A all give an account of every idle word in the day of judg- ment : that God shall Judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christy and manifest the counsels of the heart : But when the scripture says, that God mil biing every xvoj'Jc into Jifdg- menty "whether it is good or evil ; this may be taken distri- hutively, or collectively, for every good v\^ork of the saints, or every evil work of the sinner. This sense will preserve the truth of the general or universal terms, without suppos- ing that all the sins of all the saints shall be laid open in the day of judgment. In Christ's account of the future judg- ment (b)y not the least notice is taken of the sins of be- lievers, but only those good works which evidence the truth of their faith ; and Christ's representation of the process of the final judgment, may go a great way, in determinino- our thoughts as to this matter. All particular passages relating to the future account must be interpreted, in a consistency with Christ's own declaration concerning it. * The sins of * the faithful shall not be brought into judgment, says a * learned and judicious writer (c) ; for being in this \\it * covered, and taken away, by a sentence of justification, * and seeing the last judgment' ehall be a confirmation and * manifestation of the same sentence, it is not at all likely < that they should then be brought to light,' As to unbelievers, they ere, in the great day, lo rece'.vp {a) Eccles. xtl, 14. — Matth. xii. SG.— Rom. ii, \Q.~~\ Cor. iv. 5. (^) r^atth. XXV. () John v, 22. (0 Mat. xsiv. 30. OF Christ's coming to judgment. 203 ihc Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven, iiilh ponder and great glory. The sign of the Son of man , and the com" ing of the Son of many are spoken of as two distinct things ; the sign goes before Christ's appearance, and therefore can- not be that appearance itself, for then the thing must be before itself. Some take the sign to be some glorious stan- dard and ensign of the approaching Judge, and of his host that shall come with him : Whether it shall be any shining brightness in the heavens, or any particular figure or form cf the approaching Judge and judgment, we need not, as we cannot determine ; this, I think, is enough for us to know, that it will be something visible to all, and a convincing evidence of the Judge's near approach. Hence one of the evangelists, having spoken of this sign («), immediately has added, that all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, being struck with an apprehension of the Judge's near approach, and with their own guiltiness. This universal mourning, at the sight of the sign of the Son of man, shews that it re- lates not to the destruction of Jerusalem, which did not oc- casion such universal grief, but it is the forerunner of the general judgment : in order whereto, the next thing will be the appearance of Christ himself, and his coming in the clouds of heaven, in power and great glory ; of v/hich more hereafter. Other preparatives, for the passing sentence, will be the setting the judgment, the resurrection of the dead, and the gathering of all those who had been dead, and of all those who died not, but shall be changed, together with the fallen angels, before Christ's judgment-seat : The next thing in order to the judgment, will be the separation of the sheep from the goats, and the placing the former at Christ's right hand fbj, and the latter at his left hand. And seeing the devils are reserved in chains, to the judgment of this great (rt) Mat. xxlv. 30. (i) Mat. xxv. 32, 33. 204 OF Christ's coming to judgment. day, there is no room to question their being compelled to attend the tribunal of Christ ; for, at the name of Jesus everi/ knee shall uoxv, and every tongue shall conjess to him ; of things in heaven, or all the blessed above ; and of things in the earth, or all that shall be living on the earth, when Christ comes ; and of things under the earth (a), of devils, and all the miserable departed spirits, that then shall be found in the infernal prison of hell : That is, as some of the ancients explain it, the whole world, angels, men, and devils, shall be brought to own, that Christ is Lord an(i God. This shall be done in the great day, according to the apostle Paul, who has said. We shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ : for it was written, as I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God fbj. Having thus hinted some of the pre- parations for this judgment, the next thing will be, 2. To consider the manner of the Judge's appearing, as a thing that will be very remarkable and extraordinary ; and so it will be on many accounts : It will be a real local visible descent from heaven, as the angels declared. The same Jesus, which is taken f-om you, into heaven, shall so come, is like manner as you have seen him go nj) into hearen (c). He shall come in that glorious body in which he ascended, sitting upon a cloud, when he descends, as he did when he ascended. As he visibly ascended, so he shall visibly de- scend ; and, as one of the ancients notes fdj, he shall come Avith greater glory, than he ascended with ; and it will be much more wonderful, to see him descend, than it was to see liim ascend, from earth to heaven ; for his descent will be with a numerous and honourable retinue, becoming the dignity of his person, and of his office as Lord and Judge C«)Phll. ii. U. (^) Rom. xiv. 10, 11. (<:) Acts i. 1 1. (d) MsTa ya^ •rXiiovo; nscu oo^r,;, Tkhv euro/ faro. viell in the dust (h). It will be a day of gladness and triumph to the saints ; the Judge is their friend ; he comes to receive them to himself, that they may be for ever with him in glory : The terrors and misery ©f (^a) Tioio: a^a T^ofjbcs '/i%it, Vo7o; tpoSss S""' '^st''; ^^' t^S y^i? u.'XofJi.'ivmrtx,^ ; . 'oroLv TYiv ym avuppyiyvufiiv'/iv '/oeofiiv otuv tmv ffaX^rlyycav axoCffoifjLiv, orav TTii (^uvvs; t5 A^^xyyO.a •ru.a'yis ffocX'^iyyo; Xce.fjb';r^o7i^a,$ oSffnt, orav Tov 0VPKV6V ffvvce.viXxo/u.ivav, o rav uvrev Ta^ayivef/,svov rev a-^avruv QuffiXioe, ©£ov, T/j a,^a, '/i,u7v 'i?a,i h -^^vpf^h ; f^tn Ton raug ecrayo/^.ivas tov itl B^avecrav, •zrotxv vofjLtZ,iTi alrois 'htviti rhv ^pvpf^hv ; " h roivcv troffiuTtKo; Quvaros ovru s^aj l^o^u, otcv kiuvios •xa.^a.yiviTO.t, ti TUtrofAsS-et ; oi/x, £?«, ovx 'if, Tifiiiffari TK^a.^moct Xoyu to TciB-s;. Chrysost, in 1 Thes. iv. 16. {i) Isa. xxvi. 19. OF CHRIST^S COMING TO JUDGMENT. 213 tliat day will be great to many, but to them it will be a good day j they are to be persuaded that Christ is able to keep what they have committed to his trust, and that they shall find the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life : This is the blessed hope they are to look for ; they may trust and not be afraid, even in the prospect of Christ's judging the quick and dead, at his appearance, and his kingdom. SERMON III. Preached July 16, 172S. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, tjoh^ shall judge the quick and the dead, at his appearing, and his kingdom. — 2 Tim. iv. 1. The glorious displays of Christ*s perfections, which will attend his judging the world in righteousness* made the? fiptjstk miist gQ ttiuch upQfl thii dotnrlng j and hv the ftatne reason, which at the Qhm of th© gacred esnen, Christ laid, Surely J come quiokty / thi ehurch answerg, Jmcn, €ven so corns Lord Jesus, The day of Christ's kingly glory will be the day of the sainti transcendent joy \ therefore they love and long for his appearing ; On theee accounts, as well as with regard to the practical use which is to be made of it, this subject may be very grateful to us. I have for- merly inquired into the certainty of this judgment, the cha" racier of the Judge, the ohjects of this judgment, and have, in part, explained tha form and process of it. On this head I hinted the preparations for it, the manner of Christ** appearing, and the great solemniti/ of that day and work. I now proceed, 4'. To consider the ride and lavi by which men shall be -i4< OF CliniSX's COMING TO JUDGMENT. tried and judged. We are informed, that as many as si/i' Jied tvithciit laiv, shall j^erish tvithoiit law ; but as many as have sinned in the larv, sJiall be judged by tJte laiv (a). — Those vAio are said to sin xvil/iGut latv, are such as lived not under the ceremonial law, or the Gentiles. The Jews had this law, and sinned in and under it, and shall be judg- ed by it, together with that revelation of Christ, which they enjoyed ; therefore our Lord told them, T/tcre is one thai acciiscth you, even Moses in tvJwm you trust : Fo?', had you believed Moses yon ivould have believed me, for he 'Unvote cfmz (b). The rule whereby all men shall be judg- ed, is the law of their obedience made known to them. The Gentiles, who lived before the com.ing of Christ, shall be judged by the law of nature, which all of them have open- ly transgressed (c) : The Jews of the same time must be judged by the law, and the light into redemption from sin super-added thereunto ; or by the rule, doctrine, promises, and precepts of the law and the prophets. The gospel will be that by which all men, to whom it has been offered and preached, will be judged (d). * The rule of judgment at ' the last day neither is, nor shall be any other but Vv'hat is < preached every day in the dispensation of the gospel,' says a learned writer (e). When the scripture speaks of man's perishing voiihout latv, it says not a word of his being saved tvithout laxv : It has not distinguished between some that more grossly sinned against the light of nature, and so perish- ed ; and others walking up to tliat light, who should be saved : but the apostle affirms of them universally, that as many as sinned xvithoid laiv, shall perish without laxv. If indeed any could be found, who had exactly fulfilled the law of nature, they might be saved, notwithstanding any thing affirmed here, by the apostle : But if his words are true, no sinner can be saved by the law, or light of nature> (a) Rom, ii. 12. (b) John ^7, 45, 4G. (c) Rom. ii. 12—14. (f/) Rem. ii. IG, (e) Dr. Owen's eipof. en Heb, vi. G. p, 27. OF CIlRIct's COMING TO JUDGMENT. 215 which he calls the law written in their hearts. It is upon this supposition that the law of nature condemns every one that continues not in all things written therein, to do them ; that the apostle affirms, that as mnnij as sinned xmthout law, shall perish mthout laiv : As for those who enjoy the gos- pel, the rule is, He that believes shall be saved ; he that be- lieves not shall be damned (a). According to these rules we find Christ conducting himself, in the judgment of the great day ; he comes in Jiamingfire, to take vengeance on them that knoiv not God ; or tvho did not like to retain God in their knovdcdge, nor glorified him as God (b) : when in the visible things of the creation, he had discovered his eternal power and Godhead to them, they were not thank- ful to him, but tvorshipped and served the creature more than the Creator ; so that by the law they were under they will be found to be without excuse : The passage I now re- fer to plainly shevv's the case of the Gentile world, and gives us light into the other passage, which speaks of Christ's com- ing v^jlamingjire, to take vengeance on them thai knoiv not God (c). — Another sort that will fall under -his vengeance, in that day, are such as had enjoyed, but not obeyed tlie gospel ; sucli as had despised and rejected Christ, therein exhibited to them ; these Christ has told us, shall he Judged in the great dat/, bi) tJie tvord tduch he hatJi spoke. This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil (d), John in his Revelation tells us (e), that lie sato the dead, both small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened ; and another book tvas opened, ivhich was the book of lije ; and the dead were judged out of those things W'hi>:h were x'critten in the books, according to their works. We have here a description of the last judgment, according (a) Mark xvi. IG. (5) 2 Thes. i. 7.—Rom. i. li^— 2), 25. (^c) John iii. IS. {J) John iii. 19. (r) R.ev. xx. 12. 216 OF CHRIST S COMIXG TO JUDGMENT. to the manner of proceeding in human courts of judicature : not, as I suppose, to signify that the former shall exactly resemble the latter ; but to teach us, that all things in the future judgment shall be managed with order, knowledge, and righteousness, according to the laws, which the persons judged had lived under, and according to the works they had done, in conformity, or contradiction to those laws. The books which shall be opened, and made use of, in the judgment of the great day, we may suppose to be the book of God's remembrance, the book of conscience, the book of the law, the book of the gospel, and the book of life : The books of the law, natural and written, and of the gos- pel, are the rule by which men shall be judged ; the books of God's remembrance and of conscience will be the evi- dence of the state and actions of men. The judgment is said to pass according to men's works, not according to their faith or belief; the reason of which may be, because their works are the certain evidences, or fruits of their faith or belief to others. Though the omniscient Judge does not need such discoveries, yet by-standers are this v/ay to be made sensible of the justice and equity of the sentence that shall be passed (a) : And for this reason ministers also must give an account of their people ; and it may be the good angels shall sfive an account of ministers : wherefore Paul charged Timothy before the elect angels fbjy to do his duty. It is the opinion of some, that the wicked, though convicted in conscience, will deny the charge, or endeavour to evade it, saying, Lord, n:Jien saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, and did not minister to thee (c) P And that they will plead their good deeds, IVe have pro hesied and cast out devils in thy name ; thou hast taught in our streets (dj : we have entertained, or at least permitted the gospel to be preached. If such allegations should be made in that day, {a) Heb. xlii. 17. - {b) 1 Tim. v. 21. {c) Mat. xxT. 44. {d) Mat. vii. 21. OF Christ's coming to judgment, 217 it will appear reasonable that they should be answered, and witnesses cf fact should be produced, for the sake of those present. — The last book mentioned by John, as opened in that day, is the book of life, which is distinguished from the other books. The book of life, I apprehend, is the book of God's election, containing the names of those writ- ten in heaven ; not that God needs or uses a book properly speaking, but he knows them that are his, as exactly as if all their names were registered in a book. This book of life is also called the Lamb^s book of life (a), as it was a list or register of those given hiai to bring to glory. It is necessary that this book should be opened, bexiause as he who best knew, has told us, it voas the mil of him thai sent him, that of all that he had given him he should lose no- thing (h). The opening this book will make it evident, that Christ hath faithfully discharged his trust, and that he gives eternal lije to as many as the Father liad given him fcj. This will make an exact discovery of God's elect, and will silence all the proud and envious cavils of men against it. They would not believe it, they could not en- dure it ; they studied all the shifts and evasions possible to run it down, and to rob God of this jewel of his crown ; but by opening this book he will vindicate his truth, and ' make it known to all the world, that he tvill have mercy on whom he ivill have mercy, and will shew them this grace at the revelation of Jesus Christ fdj. How will the elect rejoice when it appears that their names were enrolled in the book of life, before the foundations of the world were laidf I come now, 5. To consider the nature B-»Xfii>7f uuroZ' tk, Iv XoyM, ret \i 'ipytf, rat iv ^ixvoiai,- t'^ruTo, rov ^ora/n-ov rov Tv^o;, v trKyJiTrixos ret loSiXv, riiv it^f. ^«v Us/v99v rriv oSvvyiooiv /u.h ro7e afia^ruXoTi . Chrysost. in secundum Da« znini adventum, p. 545, ubi et csetera vide?.?. OF Christ's coming to judgment. 227 God a liar ? How did he deal with Dives, with the foolisli virgins, with the old worlJ, with Sodom and Gomorrah, with Corah, Dathan, and Abiram ? How was Jerusalem destroyed for rejecting Christ ? How were Ananias and Sap- phirah punished ? If God is too merciful to punish sinners, why were not these spared ? Why did Clirist say, Except you repent