6. The entire human nature of Chrift was the facrifice which he offered up for the fins of the world. He not only gave his soul or life an offering for fin, but bore our fins in his own body on the tree :-And this facrifice received its dignity and value from his divine nature, which offered the human: For he, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself up without spot unto GOD.*

7. By this facrifice has Chrift made an atonement for fin; fatisfied the demands of divine juftice; confirmed and illustrated the truth, holinefs and juftice of GoD, and made his law exceeding honorable; purchafed our forfeited bleffings and loft happinefs; opened a way for the mercy of Gop to all the finful race of Adam; and procur ed the pardon of fin, the divine favor, the gift of the Spirit, and eternal life for every foul of man who will fall in with his faving defign, and take him as their prophet and king.t

8. The interceffory part of the priest's office, was to offer up the prayers of the people and to intercede for them. The high-priest entered into the holieft of all on the great day of atonement or expiation, and bleffed the people in the name of the

Heb. ii4:

↑† 1 John i. 7. 1 Tim, ii, 5. Gal i. 4. Heb. ix. 12)—15, 1 John ii. 1. 2. Numb. vi. 23. Deut. xxi. 5« !...

Lord; fprinkling the blood of their facrifices before the mercy-feat. Chrift, in like manner, having offered himself a facrifice of atonement for our fins, hath entered into heaven, in the virtue of his most precious blood, to offer up the prayers of his people,

and make interceffion for them.*

49. As Chrift was of the tribe of Judah, not of Levi, from whom the Aaronical priesthood, defcended, fo he is faid to be a "Prieft for ever after the order of Melchif edec." The refemblance between the priesthood of Chrift and that of Melchisedec is remarkable in feveral cafes: 1. Intheancientnefs ofthat order,and Abraham's paying tithes to Melchisedec, and being bleffed by him, although the father of the Aaronical priesthood. 2. Melchisedec was a priest upon a throne, or a king as well as a priest; fo was Chrift. 3. The original and defcent of Melchisedec was peculiar ;† fo was Chrift's For, who can declare his genera4.The priesthood of Melchisedec was not encumbered with fuch a ritual, and fo many ceremonies and carnal commandments and ordinances, as that of Aaron; but was more fimple and catholic; fo is Chrift's.

tion?

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10. There are several things in the priesthood of Chrift peculiar to itfelf; as, 1. He Heb. ix. 11, 21. Rom. viii. 34. Heb, vii. 25. Heb. vil, 3.

was perfectly finless, although he tranfacted with GOD for finners. 2. Other priests offered brutal sacrifices, but Chrift offered. pimself. He was both the priest and the sacrifice. His divine nature was the altar on which he offered up the humanity. 3. Other priests offered many sacrifices, even daily; whereas he offered but one sacrifice of infinite value and virtue. 4. Other priests and facrifices, were ineffectual for expiating or taking away moral guilt: They made not him who did the fervice, or for whom it was done, perfect as pertaining to the conscience: They only took away the guilt of ceremonial pollutions or omiffions: But the facrifice of Chrift takes away the guilt of all fin. This is the Lamb of Gor which taketh away the fin of the world.”

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11. The priesthood of Chrift, and his moft expenfive facrifice, fhould put us in mind of our guilty state, and of the malignant nature of fin; feeing there could have been no remiffion of the very fmalleft fin, without the fhedding of the blood of Chrift.

12. Hence we fee the wonderful love of GOD in preparing such a Priest and sacri fice, for our guilty race, and not sparing him, but freely giving him up for us all → As alfo the amazing condefcenfion and philanthrophy of Chrift, in becoming a facri fice and victim for the ungodly; for sin. ners; for enemies.

13. How freely, cheerfully, and assuredly fhould we depend on the merit of fuch a facrifice as this? And how entire ly give ourselves over to the guidance of fuch an high-prieft? How fhould we reverence him? And with what humble confidence enter into, and approach the holieft, in the new and living way which he hath confecrated by his blood? How compassionate and faithful is he? How fenfible of our infirmities, and how ready to pity them, and able to help them or re move them?

14. What encouragement have we tol faith and prayer, having fuch an interceffor? Our prayers are poor and imperfect things, but if offered up by him, they will prevail and be accepted. How hap py. alfo are all thofe, for whom he inter-> cedes? They must be fafe and happy; for GOD ever hears his beloved Son: But "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail "not." Happy Peter! and equally happy and fafe all for whom Chrift intercedes !*

ALESSAY XLVII.

The KINGLY or REGAL OFFICE of CHRIST,

1.

•KING is a relative term, and supposes subjects and a kingdom. Chrift

Heb. x. 19,-26.

kingdom is two-fold; either natural, founded in his eternal DEITY and GOD HEAD; es mediatorial, given to him of the Father by commiffion.*>

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2. The fubjects of king Jesus are, either his friends or his enemies. All were indeed, at firft his enemies; but many are made willing fubjects in the day of his power; and those that continue enemies, fhall be broken to pieces with a rod of iron.

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3. In confidering thofe whom he fubdues, and the 'kingly power he exercises over them both in fubduing and ruling them, the following things may be obferved: 1. All are at first of satan's kingdom; children of wrath; they serve divers lusts, and walk according to the course of this world, often indeed, they meet with checks of confcience; make refolutions; feem inclinable to fubmit to his government, and fay, "I go, fir-but go not ;" the love of fin ftill prevailing and rendering them children of difobedience.2. Chrift gives them to understand, that they are rebels, and that if they perfift they muft inevitably perish.t-3. He makes a proclamation of mercy and pardon to them if they return and fubmit; both by his word and Spirit.t. 4. He fhews them by his word and by his