proof of our Lord's Deity. No the previous offering of sacrifices, mention is made by Moses of Mel- the blood of which he must sprinkle chizedec's "father, mother, pedi- before the ark, whilst the smoke of gree, beginning of life, or end of the incense perfumed the holy place. days;" but he is introduced to our The whole of this appointment was notice with mysterious abruptness, calculated to show in the most sigbeing," says the apostle, "made nificant manner, to how great a dislike unto the Son of God," (Heb. tance from their offended Creator vii. 3). But in what sense could sin had removed fallen men; and this render him "like to the Son how difficult it was to render their of God," or a proper type of him, return and readmission to his favour except as it was a shadow of his consistent with the honour of his external preexistence? As man, he justice and holiness.

had beginning of life, like "his Thus our great High Priest, laying brethren;" and if he, who taber- aside the robes of light and majesty, nacled in our nature, had been a appeared in the mean attire of our preexistent creature of the highest nature; and was made in all things order, he must nevertheless have like unto his brethren, except as he had " beginning of life;" and the was free from the least defilement emphatic silence of Moses respect- of sin: and having on earth offered ing the birth of Melchizedec could his one all-sufficient sacrifice, he not have represented him, in any ascended into heaven, to appear sense, as " like to the Son of God." before the mercy-seat, in the true The High Priesthood of Christ, sanctuary, in the immediate prein the sanctuary above, first requires sence of God, "for us ;" bearing our consideration. On the great our nature, and pleading in our beday of atonement (Lev. xvi.) the half the merits of his perfect obehigh priest (not arrayed in his dience, and inestimable atonement; robes of glory and beauty, but clad that we might be delivered from in linen garments like his brethren), going down into the pit, through having offered the sin-offerings for the ransom he hath paid for us, himself and for the people, entered (Job, xxxiii. 24). The apostle, the holy of holies, with the sprink-writing to the Hebrews, discusses ling of blood, and the burning of this subject very fully, and shows incense by fire taken from the altar in how many and important parof burnt-offering; and thus as Is- ticulars the antitype exceeded and rael's typical intercessor, he ap- consequently differed from the type. peared before the mercy-seat, as in With lively and joyful gratitude he the presence of God for them. Thus expatiates on the compassion, faithfrom the holy nation a holy tribe fulness, and power of our great was selected, from that tribe a holy High Priest; on his divine dignity, family, and from that family a holy and his condescension in assuming person (that is, typically, and by our nature, and owning us as his consecration:) yet even this indi- brethren; on his sympathy with us vidual, selected with such care and in our sorrows and temptations; on so many precautions from the whole the prevalency of his intercession, human race, was not allowed, on and the unchangeable nature of that pain of death, to enter within the office, which he ever liveth to per veil, or to approach Jehovah, even form. He shows us, that, by the on a mercy-seat, except on one day offering of his flesh, the way into in a year; nor on that day without the holiest is laid open, and that we

may now draw near with boldness, compassion of God; but wholly through the rent veil, to the mercy-from the person, work, and merits seat of our reconciled God: that, of Emmanuel; and that his pleas by the blood of the new covenant, in their behalf are wholly deduced the heavenly things themselves are from what he hath done and sufpurified, (that is, they are not pol-fered, in their nature and for their luted by the admission of sinners benefit. to them in this appointed way); It is not necessary for us to imaand that "such an high priest be- gine any outward transaction, which came us," or suited our case," who accords to a high-priest burning inwas holy, harmless, undefiled, and cense, or to an advocate pleading a separate from sinners." In like cause, &c. Heavenly things are manner, in another epistle, he prin- represented to our minds under such cipally grounds his defiance of all emblems, to give us true ideas of enemies on this doctrine, that Christ their nature, not to convey to us 'died, yea, rather, is risen again, adequate apprehensions of the manand is even at the right hand of ner of them. That Christ is repreGod, who also maketh intercession sented as appearing in heaven as a for us" (Rom. viii. 33-39); and lamb that had been slain, to instruct elsewhere he declares, that " by us in the reality and efficacy of his him both Jews and Gentiles have atonement: and his officiating as a access by one Spirit unto the Fa- priest, or pleading as an advocate, ther" (Eph. ii. 18). Even as John conveys similar instruction. Thence instructs us, that "if any man sin we may learn, that his interposition we have an advocate with the Fa-in our behalf, through the merits ther, Jesus Christ the righteous," of his obedience unto death, renders &c. (1 John, ii. 1, 2). Many other our sinful persons and services actestimonies to the same effect might cepted with the Father, and secures be adduced, but these may suffice to us deliverance from every enemy to our present purpose: except as and evil, the supply of every want, we advert to our Lord's own words, and the eternal enjoyment of all when he declares, that "he is the felicity. Farther than this we need door, and that whosoever enters in not determine: he and the Father by him shall be saved;" that "he are one in essence, counsel, and is the way, the truth, and the life, will; and his mediation cannot but and that no man cometh to the be effectual, in behalf of all who Father but by him" (John, x. 9; come to God through him. For xiv. 6) and to his prayer in be- it hath been repeatedly observed, half of his disciples, just before his (though opposers of these doctrines crucifixion, which may be consi- either wilfully or carelessly remain dered as the specimen and substance ignorant of it), that the atonement of his intercession (John, xvii). and intercession of Christ were not From these Scriptures we learn, intended to induce God to show that sinners are not admitted in mercy, but to render the exercise of their own name, even to a mercy-his love to sinners consistent with the seat to supplicate pardon, but in honour of his law, and the glory of the name, and through the interces- his name: for this single proposision of Christ; that their pleas must tion, well understood, suffices to not be drawn from their own cha- prove whole volumes that have been racter, situation, or services; nor published on the subject, to be an even from the general goodness and empty contest with an imaginary

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opponent, and a triumph for an our behalf; having never been apideal victory. Whilst our Lord pointed to, and never having thought therefore directed his disciples to of intruding into that office. So ask in his name, and promised that that to worship saints and angels, he would pray the Father for them, even as intercessors, is an ascriphe also subjoins in another place, tion to servants and creatures of "I say not, that I will pray the that honour, which belongs to the Father for you," &c. (John, xiv. only begotten Son alone; and they 13-17; xvi. 26, 27): for his ge- who thus dishonour the Son, do not neral plea in behalf of all "who honour the Father that sent him. come to God through him," suffices; But though the intercession of nor is it necessary for the well-be- Christ is presented in behalf of all loved Son of the Father to be par- "who come to God through him," ticular, or to use importunity with or "who pray in his name:" and him, to induce him to grant all all men are invited to return in covenanted blessings to his beloved this way to the Lord from whom children. they have departed, and are assured

now

The intercession of Christ is to- that Christ will not refuse to maintally distinct from the supplications tain the cause of any man, whatwhich we make for one another. ever he hath been or is, who seeks When we pray, according to our the benefit of his advocacy: yet duty, for our brethren and fellow- there is a sense in which it is not sinners; our requests are only ad- general, but particular. If he inmissible and acceptable through his tercede for those who are mediation. We do not come in our living without faith and prayer, or own name, or ground our interces- in the practice of sin, it will shortly sion on our own services, or make appear by their repentance and any claim to the mercy we ask, or conversion; for he never pleaded approach with an absolute certainty in behalf of those who continued to of succeeding. If our prayers for the last unbelieving and ungodly others be properly presented, they (John, xvii. 9-20). The interwill be accepted; and if they be cession of Christ is therefore innot granted, in the sense we meant tended to give us "this confidence, them, they will return into our own that if we ask any thing according bosom. But the intercession of to the will of God, he heareth us," Christ for his disciples is made in (1 John, v. 14, 15): but it can form his own name, on the ground of his no just ground of encouragement to own merits and dignity, according those who do not pray at all; who to the covenant ratified with and come not before God in the name by him, and with the absolute cer- of Jesus, but with other pleas; who tainty of success. This shows the ask such things as God hath not sin and idolatry of worshiping, or promised, or whose prayers are coming to God through other me- mere lip-labour and hypocrisy. diators for either these were sin- We are then instructed to come ners that were brought to heaven to the Father, through the mediathrough the merits and intercession tion of the Son, for the forgiveness of Christ, though they are thus ad- of our sins, the acceptance of our dressed as his competitors: or they persons and services, and all things are created angels, not at all re-immediately connected with eterlated to us, and utterly destitute of nal salvation, and for all temporal every plea which they may urge in benefits, as far as Infinite Wisdom

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sees them conducive to our real | put all things under his feet, and good. But especially we are en- gave him to be head over all things couraged in his name to pray for to the church, which is his body, the Holy Spirit to illuminate, renew, the fulness of him that filleth all in purify, comfort, and strengthen our all" (Eph. i. 20-23; Phil. ii. souls; to furnish us with that mea- 9-11). "He hath also committed sure of spiritual gifts which our all judgment unto him, that all men situations require; and support us might honour him, even as they under the trials to which we may honour the Father" (John, v. 21 be exposed. We also expect, that -27; Rom. xiv. 10-12; 2 Thess. through this heavenly advocate, our i. 7-10). The expressions given prayers for our friends or enemies, and committed, &c., evidently relate our brethren, or the church at large, to him as Man and Mediator, and will be accepted and answered in in no respect deduct from the energy the most desirable manner, notwith- of this language of the Holy Spirit: standing our unworthiness, and the but who must He be originally, who imperfection of our duties; that our can receive in his delegated character praises and thanksgivings will as- such authority, and exercise such cend as a sacrifice well pleasing to powers? What creature could susGod; and that our feeble endea- tain the weight of that dominion vours to serve and honour him, which rests on the shoulders of him, though in strict justice they merit who was a "child born, and a son condemnation, will receive a large given unto us?" (Isaiah, ix. 6, 7). and gracious reward. No doubt he, of whom such things

But our exalted Redeemer not are spoken, is the mighty God, the only appears in the presence of Lord from heaven, God manifest in God for us as a merciful High the flesh! That one who is truly Priest, but also as a glorious King, man, should exercise absolute aufor he is a priest after the order of thority over all angels, who serve Melchizedec, a king of peace, and him as ministering spirits to his reof righteousness. As a king, he deemed people; that he should confers blessings and affords pro- have the keys of death and the untection; he enacts laws, demands seen world (Rev. i. 18); and that obedience, obtains victories, and the universal kingdom of nature and exercises authority, and he will at providence should be administered length administer justice to the ra- by him, is a most surprising mystional creation. "All power," says tery; but that all this should subhe," is given unto me, in heaven serve the good of such worthless and in earth" (Matt. xxviii. 18). creatures as we are, is most stuThe angels that excel in strength pendous and inconceivable love! are" his mighty angels." "He is And they must have very high gone into heaven, and is at the right thoughts of human nature, or very hand of God, angels, authorities, low apprehensions of the infinite and powers being made subject to God, who can suppose a mere man him" (1 Pet. iii. 22). "God hath to be capable of such preeminent set him at his own right hand in dignity and authority. heavenly places, far above all prin- Yet he who is our Brother and cipality and power, and might, and Friend, thus rules all worlds with dominion, and every name that is absolute sway, is King of kings, named, not only in this world, but and Lord of lords; the rise, fall, in that which is to come; and hath and revolutions of empires are or

dered by him; he hath all hearts | pon formed against them shall prosin his hand, and turneth them as per: nothing shall separate them he pleaseth. The Father hath from the love of God:" Jehovah is set his king upon his holy hill their " shepherd, they shall not of Zion," in defiance and contempt want:" tribulations, temptations, of the opposition of all those that persecutions, conflicts, yea, death say, "Let us break his bonds asun- itself, are instruments in the hands der, and cast away his cords from of Christ, to prepare them for "an us:" and "with his iron rod he will exceeding and eternal weight of dash them in pieces like a potter's glory." And "in all things they vessel. Be wise, therefore, O ye will be made more than conquerors," kings; be instructed, ye judges of until they be enriched with everthe earth; kiss the Son, lest he be lasting felicity. But this power is angry, and ye perish" (Psalm ii.). equally formidable to obstinate unThe duration, prosperity, and ter- believers: all who will not have mination of every man's life are Christ to reign over them, will be appointed by him; and the doom destroyed as his enemies; no refuge of every soul. Storms and tempests, can be found from his intolerable pestilences and earthquakes, are his indignation, no resistance made to servants; all nature obeys his word his omnipotent word. This kingof judgment or of mercy. Tyrants dom shall endure through all ages, and persecutors accomplish his se- to the end; then his power will cret purposes, "howbeit they mean raise the dead; he will judge "the not so: nor can deceivers, by their world in righteousness," and decide unwearied efforts, exceed the limits the eternal state of all mankind: assigned them. Even apostate spi- and thus the design of his delegated rits know his power, and reluctantly authority being completely answerobey his mandate: when he was ed, he will, as Mediator, deliver up "in the form of a servant," a legion "the kingdom to God, even the of them could not so much as pos- Father;" the absolute dominion of sess a herd of swine, without his the Creator will be reestablished; permission; nor can any of them and "God will be all in all." defeat his counsels, escape his de- It scarce need be observed, that tection, or avert his omnipotent ven- the authority, protection, and mugeance. "His riches are unsearch-nificence of our glorious King, deable; in him are hid all the treasures mand of us implicit and unreserved of wisdom and knowledge;” "all obedience. The faith that welcomes the fulness of the Godhead dwells in his salvation, worketh by love and him bodily;" yea the fulness of the ensures a cheerful attention to his Spirit of wisdom, truth, power, and commands: all the precepts of holiness; and "from his fulness do Scripture either are the mandates all his people receive” (Isaiah xi. of Christ our King, to all that share 2-5; John i. 16; iii. 34; Col. ii. the blessings of his peaceful rule; 3-9). So that he governs all events or they constitute that law which in that manner, which may best is the ministration of death and promote the safety and happiness condemnation. Though his comof his church, and of true believers. mands coincide with the moral law, "All things," therefore, "work to- yet they are modified differently, gether for good to them;""none as addressed to sinners who seek can pluck any of them out of his salvation by him. The commands hands” (John x. 27-30), “no wea- to repent, to believe, to pray, to