The Saints spiritually enjoy Christ also in their externall cloaths and covering so that I say he rightly exalts Christ in his soul that sees Christ to be all and in all to him c. I shall now come to the exaltation of Christ in his offices in the dayes of the Gospel Priest Prophet and King in these is Christ to be exalted 1 He is the great High-Priest of his people Christ Priest and in this particular he is to be exalted in the dayes of the Gospel that is as the alone atonement and peace maker betwixt God and man The Leviticall High-Priests under the Law were a type of Christ our great High-Priest under the Gospel Therefore for my more cleer proceeding I shall indeavour to unfold unto you what was the Office of the High-Priest under the Law wherein Christ the Iewish High-Priests agree wherin they differ and wherein Christ our Gospel High-Priest and those High-Priests agree and wherein they differ What their office is and wherein they agree for those High-Priests in all their administrations typed forth Christ our High-Priest 1 The Office of the High-Priest it was to offer sacrifice for the sins of the people Exod 28.29 Levit. 9. from the 1 to the 7 ver this hath Christ done he hath offered sacrifice for sin and herein Christ doth not onely agree with those High Priests in offering sacrifice for sin but he differs also excelling those High-Priests for they offered sacrifice it is true but it was the flesh and bloud of creatures a lambe a ram goats buls c. Levit 9.3.4 Heb. 9.13 22. But Christ Jesus he offered not the bloud of goats and calves but his own bloud Heb. 9.12 14. his own body Heb. 10.10 Christ hath offered himselfe a sacrifice Ephes 5.2 Christ hath loved us and given himselfe for us an offering and a sacrifice to God c. so you see Christ exceeds in the very first in the offering in the Sacrifice he offers his own body his own bloud upon the crosse a sacrifice for sin and indeed those legall sacrifices were but a type of Christ our sacrifice and in themselves could not doe away sin but as they directed to Christ therefore Christ is called the lamb slain from the beginning or from the foundation of the World Rev. 13.8 1 Pet. 1.18 29. 2 The High-Priests by offering sacrifice were to make a tonement and peace for their own sins and for the sins of the people Levit. 19.7 Moses said unto Aaron goe to the Altar offer thy sin offering and thy burnt offering make an atonement for thy selfe and the people Chap. 15.30 The Priest for the unclean woman was to offer a sin offering and a burnt offering to make an atonement for her before the Lord This was the end wherefore he went into the holy place Cap. 16.3 To make an atonement for the children of Israel before the Lord ver 34. This Christ our High-Priest hath done harke you beloved Christ our High Priest hath offered sacrifice and by his sacrifice he hath put away sin made an attonement that is peace and reconciliation between God and man Rom. 5.10 12. Being enemies were reconciled to God by the death of his Son Nore here is Christ reconciling by his death Christ a sacrifice dying and so reconciling you shall see all along the Scripture that it is Christ a Sacrifice Christ dying that is our reconciliation our attonement and peace Ephes 2.13 They which were somtimes afar off are made night by the bloud of Christ ver 14. he is our peace ver 15. having abolished in his slesh the enmity c. ver 16. and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the Crosse c. You see Christ hath made peace by his bloud having abolished in his flesh the enmity of the Law made reconciliation by his crosse see Col. 1.20 and making peace how through the bloud of his crosse it is by the bloud of his crosse by his death wherein he offered himselfe a Sacrifice for sin that he hath made peace for all his people Note in this also that Christ our High-Priest exceeds those Jewish High-Priests Christ our High-Priest hath indeed made peace and reconciliation for sin he is our peace and that the Jewish High-Priest could not doe their Sacrifice could not make peace farther then the soule was lead unto Christ see Heb. 10.1 The Law having but a shadow of things to come can never with those sacrifices that they offer make the commers thereunto perfect and ver 4. For it is not possible that the bloud of buls and goats should take away sin Christ hath done that which the bloud of buls and goats could not doe that which never a High-Priest in the world could doe he hath taken away sin he hath made peace and every believer receives the atonement from his hands Rom. 5.11 By whom namely Christ we have now received the atonement O beloved What doe your soules say to this Christ hath wrought peace for every soul rightly receiving him he hath done that which the Priest could not do he hath done that thou thy selfe couldest never have done if the Load help thee rightly to look to him and this hee hath done in offering himselfe a Sacrifice for sinne dying upon the crosse How should this informe poor creatures where to look for their peace and atonement O doe not loook for it in duties in teats in professions it is not crying but dying that will take away sin it is not tears but bloud that will make peace Col. 1.20 Heb. 9.22 Without bloud there is no remission believe it if ever thou hast peace thou must have 〈◊〉 from a Christ dying Rom. S. 33 34. Who shall lay any things to the charge of Gods elect it is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed c. Hee dyed for our sins and rose again for our iustification Rom. 4.25 it is through him who hath given himselfe a Sacrifice for sin that you must come to see your sin pardoned if ever you see it pardoned O how doe poor ignorant blind creature deceive themselves seeking peace where it 〈◊〉 not to be found in duties tears c. The dig broken cisterns to themselves that will hold no water They that is the reason they are so empty compaesse themselves about with sparks of their own kindling Esay 50.11 that is the reason they ly down in sorrow they seek the living among the dead that is living consolations amongst dead works and that is the reason they finde it not believe it beloved if ever your soules enjoy true peace it must be let into your soules by a dying Christ if ever you are saved it must be by eying of and believing in the Lord Jesus Esay 45.22 3 The High-Priest was to bear the names of the children of Israel in two srones between their shoulders Exod. 28.12 so hath Christ born not onely the names but
excellencie and utility of his office And this was received always in the hearts of the Saints Christ our High-Priest Christ our peace Ephes 2.14 for he is our peace c. Now to speak more punctually to the Priestly office of Christ it consists in these two particulars partly in Reconciliation partly in Intercession 1 In Reconciliation that is in reconciling God to man and man to God Now it is true God was ever reconciled to his elect in his Son from all eternity for he loved them in his Son Ephes 1.4 from before the foundation of the world he never looked upon them but in his Son yet so as with relation to his death so working peace Beloved this was the great designe of God in sending Christ into the world to make peace and reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himselfe namely the elect amongst the Gentiles who were always counted for the world see Rom. 11.11 12 c. not imputing their sins c. This was the great work God had to doe in the world when he manifested that great mystery of godlines 1 Tim. 3.16 God manifested in the flesh c. And this Christ hath done beloved hee hath perfected it and finished it see 2 Cor. 5.18 and all things are of God who hath reconciled us to himselfe by Jesus Christ so also Rom. 5.10.11 Heb. 2.17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a mercifull and faithfull High-Priest in things pertaining to God why to make reconciliation for the sins of the people a blessed word for all believers God is reconciled to them in his Son God is at peace with them this was the end wherefore Christ came into the World to make peace for the Saints and to give life unto them hence it is Christ sayth John 10.10 I am come that ye might have life and that ye might have yet more abundantly hence it is that the Gospel of Christ is called the Gospel of peace Ephes 6.15 and the glad tidings of peace Esay 57.7 the Covenant of the Gospel is a Covenant of peace Esay 54.10 Ezek. 37.26 God is a God of peace and at peace with believers Rom. 5.1 1 Thes 5.23 and Christ is a Prince of peace Esay 9 6. Thus you see beloved Christians what peace and reconciliation here is wrought by Christ for all believers a God of peace a covenant of peace a Gospel of peace God hath reconciled us to himselfe through his Son for he is our peace who hath made both one and broken down the middle wall of partition and made us Gentils one with the Father through faith having abolished in his flesh the enmity to make to himselfe of two in one new man so working peace that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the crosse The second thing considerable is the manner how he makes this peace and that is first in bearing their sins 2 In laying down his life and bloud In bearing their sins beloved Christ bears all the iniquities of all his people Esay 53.4 5 6. surely he hath borne all our griefs and carryed our sorrows he was wounded for our iniquities and bruised for our transgressions the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes are we healed and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all Note First God laid sinne upon Christ Secondly Christ bare them Thirdly their God condemned them 1 God laid sin upon Christ All we like sheep have gone astray but he hath laid on him the iniquity of us all it is all laid upon Christ so that now the sin of all the elect becomes the sin of Christ they are laid upon Christ He is become sin for us that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 2 Christ bare the sinnes of his people God did not onely lay sin upon Christ but he bare it 1 Pet. 2.24 he bare our sins on his own body on the crosse and so hath born our grief and carryed our sorrows this is the way beloved by which Christ hath made peace for his people in bearing their sins there was no other way left for reconciliation between God and man but God must become man that so he might bear our sins and so our griefs and sorrows that he might be bruised for our iniquities and that the chastisement of our peace might be upon him 3 There God condemnes sin and Christ now bears not onely sin but justice for sin mansins justice is offended and that must bee satisfied Christ steps in he takes the blow he becomes surety for sinners stands in our room and payes the debt see Rom. 8.3 For what the Law could not doe in that it was weak through the flesh God sent his Son in the likenesse of sinfull flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh Note beloved God did not onely lay sin upon Christ but Christ bears it and there God condemnes it where God finds sin there he condemnes it God condemnes the sin of his people in the flesh of his Son O what doth thy soule say to this dear Christian before ever thou couldest be reconciled to thy God Christ Jesus must bear all thy sins and the condemnation of them in his own body O see see man what a burthen thy sins were to thy Saviour if thou hast any interest in him follow him to the mount of olives see him in his agony Luke 22.44 sweating drops of bloud great drops of bloud trickling down to the ground this was the weight of thy sins laid upon thy Saviour before ever thy peace was purchased see him upon the crosse bearing thy sins and my sins man woman if we have any interest in him and the condemnation of them crying out My God my God why hast thou for saken me beloved it went heavy with our Saviour Use Learn hence to take heed of sin doe not take delight in any sin truly beloved if you love the Lord Jesus you cannot love that which was such a heavie burthen unto him ô beloved how should justified saved persons take heed of sin of every sin the least sin that thou canst imagine tooke hold on Christ as well as the greatest ô therefore take heed of pride of anger foolishnesse vanity the least sin is much unbecomming Christians ô beloved how seasonable comes in that earnest exhortation of the Apostle Rom. 12.1 2. Christ having given up himselfe for your sins that you give up your selves your soules and bodies a holy living acceptable sacrifice to the Lord. 2 As Christ hath made peace in bearing the sins of his people so also in laying down his life and bloud for them beloved before ever there could be peace and reconciliation made Christ must dye for it give his life and bloud for it all those ceremoniall sacrifices under the Law were a type of a dying Christ hence it
is that he is called a Lamb slain from the beginning beloved Christ having undertaken to become a High-Priest a peace-maker between God and man nothing lesse then his bloud could doe it Heb. 9.22 Without bloud there is no remission no justification without bloud Christs dying is a Christians justification Rom. 5.9 being now justified by his bloud we shall be saved c. no purging of sin without bloud Heb. 9.14 how much more shall the bloud of Christ who through the eternall spirit offered himself purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God Rev. 1.5 who hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own bloud c. there is no pardon and so no peace without bloud Heb. 9.22 Thus beloved you see that all must be done by bloud and that by the bloud of Christ too the bloud of all the creatures in the world nay of all the men in the world was not able to redeem to make satisfaction for one soule nay for one sin nothing lesse then the bloud of Christ could doe it 1 Pet. 1.18 19. silver and gold could not doe it the bloud of creatures could not doe it Heb. 10.5 It is not possible that the bloud of buls and goats should take away sin Object But some may say that God had never any thing against his elect he ever loved them from eternity Jer. 31.3 I have loved thee with an everlasting love Ephes 1.4 he chose us in him from before the foundatien of the world Ans True God ever loved his elect and ever intended mercie and love unto them yet he so loved them as with relation to the death of his Son and from everlasting determined to satisfie his justice to take away sin and work peace by the death of his Son and the truth is that God had as really an eye to the death of his Son from all eternity and saw it as actually then as if Christ had then suffered see Ephes 1.4 He chose us in him from before the foundation of the werld in him with relation to his death to his making satisfaction for sin not that God could not have made the Saints at once and have saved them presently and never have suffered them to sin but this is the way God in his wisdome appointed to manifest his mercie on the vessels of mercie and his justice on his enemies so that now beloved God having appointed this to be the means to bring sons to glory there could never have been any remission any peace but by a dying Christ therfore he is called a Lamb slain from the foundation of the World Rev. 13.8 and indeed Christ was as a lamb ever slain in Gods account and he beheld all things as present and saw both the work of creation redemption and glory of his Saints from all eternitie The second part of Christs priestly office consists in his intercession at the right hand of the glory of his Father Rom. 8.34 Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed year ather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Heb. 7.25 Hee ever liveth to make intercession Beloved this is one part of Christs Priestly office to intercede for the Saints Note beloved Christ intercedes 1 In the Saints 2 For them 1 In them Rom. 8.26 27. The Spirit it selfe to wit of Christ Gal. 4.6 Maketh intercession for us or in us according to the will of God that is God by his Spirit helpeth us to ask things according to the will of God for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit helpeth us c. 2 He maketh intercession For us also hee ever liveth to make intercession O blessed word for the Saints hee maketh intercession for every particular Saint hee maketh intercession for his Churches for us saith the Apostle and through him it is wee have accesse with boldnesse unto the Father c. Object But some may object did not Christ make satisfaction peace and reconciliation when hee dyed upon the crosse when he sayd It is finished Ans It is true that Christ in his death and resurrection finished the work of mans justification Rom. 5.9 being justified by his bloud and he made peace and reconciliation Col. 1.20 having made peace by the bloud of his crosse but wee are not to understand by Christs interceding any new act of Christ done eyther in way of satisfaction or justification neyther are wee to understand that Christ sits in Heaven pleading with the Father in words as a counfellour pleads a cause before the judge but Christ is in Heaven with the Father at his right hand that is in glory with him presenting our persons and in presenting our persens all our services in his owne person not by any new act of doing but by the worth of his merits the excellency of his person the neer relation of the Saints to himself viz. members of his body so that now God cannot look upon the Son but he must behold the Saints in him he having so neer a relation to his Father both by his personall presence and the excellent worth of his merits whose bloud spake better things then the bloud of Abel Heb. 12.24 he continually makes intercession to God for the Saints Esay 53.12 He hath poured out his soule to the death and he was numbred among the transgressors he bare the sins of many and made intercession for the transgressors here you have the whol priestly office of Christ 1 Bearing sin and so working peace 2 Making intercession by that means for transgressors Use If so that Christ Jesus is to be exalted and lifted up as the alone High-Priest in the dayes of the Gospel hence will properly arise foure words of application 1 A word of Admiration 2 A word of Information 3 A word of Exhortatiō 4 A word of Consolatiō Use First a word of Admiration O what cause have the Saints to admire God who hath manifested himselfe in his Son I say to admire him 1 His Wisdom 2 His Love and his Mercie 3 His Iustice 4 His Power all manifested in his Son to and for the good of sinners whom he maketh Saints 1 How should the Saints admire his wisdom truly beloved the wisdom of God as in other things so in this particular making peace by the bloud of his Son is very admirable the wisdom of God wonderfully appeared in the whole work of God with relation to the creation Iob 37.14 15 16. Chap. 38.4 c. and this the Saints should be acquainted with that their hearts might admire him But the redemption of the Saints is much more admirable for beloved this was Gods end in making a world that he might set forth his wisdom in the redemption of the Saints Esay 40. The Lord speaking as it seems with relation to the comming of his Son a Saviour ver 11. he shall feed his flock like a sheepherd
tells them that he is their life and their light their justification reconciliation and peace and hee tells them in the dark in secret that there is no light or life to be attained in any creature or thing beneath the Lord Jesus and Christ having called them to it this they are to speak in the light and to preach it upon the house tops that is publikely to make it known to all that men through the blessing of God may come to the sight of it This was the commission Christ gave to his Disciples to lift up Christ for justification and life in the preaching of the Gospel see Luke 24.47 compared with Mar. 16.16 17 In Luke the Text sayes And that repent once and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all Nations And in Marke Goe preach the Gospel to every creature hee that believeth and is baptized shall be saved c. Note In the first remission of sins is to be preached in the second salvation through believing and both these in Christ remission of sins in the name of Christ salvation and life through believing in Christ who is the alone justification of believers so that justification remission of sins c. through Christ is to be held forth to the view of the soule that the soule who is a sinner may by the power of God come to see the Sonne that is to see that remission of sins that justification that is held forth in Christ and so come to be made partakers of it This you shall see farther confirmed by a second word from heaven Act. 5.20 Goe stand speak in the Temple all the words of this life that is all the words of the Gospel of Christ the means God hath appointed by the workings of his Spirit to discover life unto the soules of men And secondly as Christ thus requires it so likewise the Apostles practice it you shal ever finde them exalting Christ so the Apostle Peter Act. 4.12 exalts Christ to the heavens above all Neither is there salvation in any others for there is none other name given under heaven among men whereby we may be saved but by the name of Jesus Harke you beloved friends here is Christ exalted his name above every name for the remission of sins salvation and thus is Christ to be exalted above all duties creatures every thing Act. 5.42 and daily in the Temple and every house they ceased not to preach and teach Iesus What did they teach and preach of Jesus they preach justification by Jesus in opposition to all legall righteousnesse Act. 13.39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things from which yee could not be justified by the law of Moses This is the Sermon beloved the Apostles preached Iesus Christ dying and rising again 1 Cor. 15.3 4. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures And that he was buried and rose againe the third day according to the Scriptures this the Apostle Paul preached first of all unto them justification and life by Christ Rom. 4.25 Who was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification that he dyed for sin and was raised again for justification this is the first Sermon you see the Apostle preaches and it is that he is ever indeavouring to make it more abundantly clear to the soules of the Saints Rom. 10.4 He is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to all them that believe Rom. 3.20 And that by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified Gal. 2.16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the faith of Iesus for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified Thus beloved you see the Disciples of Christ they cease not to teach and preach Iesus that Christ is indeed the Mesiah promised Act. 9.22 the very Christ that he died and rose again for our justification that the Saints participate of this justification and life by faith in his bloud thus the Apostle Peter came preaching and exalting Christ for remission of sins Act. 5.31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance and remission of sins according to Christs commission Luke 24 47. so is the Apostles practice preaching peace by Jesus Christ Act. 10.36 Who is Lord of all Note And this they preached as the command of Christ beloved and not as the idle fancie of their own brain as the servants of Christ are now charged by those ignorant of the righteousnesse of God going about to establish a righteousnesse of their own Rom. 10.3 but beloved they and so we that are the Ministers of Christ thus exalt Christ preach justification and peace by Christ by the command of God so Act. 10.42 43. And he commanded us to preach unto the people and to testifie that it was he which was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead and to him all the Prophets give witnesse that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall have remission of sins Note beloved this is the command of God where is it commanded why Mar. 16.16 17. he that believeth shall be saved that is shall have his sins pardoned his person justified and so be everlastingly saved that is by faith the soule comes to eye it and apply it to see it and to hand it for beloved the word saved implies all that free and full salvation held forth in Christ to believers which is a salvation from all their enemies Luke 1.71 That wee should be saved from our enemies and from the hands of all that hate us but especially and in the first place that wee shall be saved from sin that we might through faith in his bloud receive remission of sins be saved from sin for this Jesus signifies a Saviour see a blessed word Mat. 1.21 Thou shalt call his name Iesus for he shall save his people from their sins and this salvation God hath commanded to be preached this remission and salvation the Prophet witnesseth Ier. 31.34 speaking of the Covenant of grace the Gospel Covenant he sayth For I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sins no more c. and this remission of sin is to be preached among all Nations beginning at Ierusalem and Luke 4.47 and in some measure this hath and shal be performed Act. 13.46 47 48 2 Christ is to be exalted and lifted as in the preaching of the Gospel so in the hearts of believers which I shall indeavour to speak a word unto before I come to speak of Christs exaltation in his offices I say he is highly exalted and lifted up in the hearts of all that rightly believe in him so the Apostle Paul desires to know nothing but Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2.2 and indeed beloved hee that rightly knows Christ crucified knows enough therefore the same
prayers much incense the incense of his own merit Sixthly The High-Priest was to goe once a year into the most holy place within the vail Exod. 30.10 Levit. 16.2 34. compared with Heb. 9.7 So is Christ our great High-Priest Heb. 4.14 passed into the heavens within the vail into the Holy of Holies chap. 9.12 Neither with the bloud of goats and calves but by his own bloud hee entered once into the holy place having obtained eternall redemption for us What doth Christ there why beloved as he hath made peace and reconciliation for his people so he is entered in within the vaile to make intercession for them Heb. 7.25 The second particular is wherein Christ and those High-Priests differ Christ excels the Iewish High-Priests wherein Christ exceeds them It is true that in all these Christ excels them for they were but the Type Christ the substance 1 Christ exceeds those High-Priests as he was the Son of God Heb. 4.14 Seeing then that we have such a great High-Priest Iesus the Son of God let us hold fast our profession Chap. 5.5 The Jewish High-Priests were Aaron and his sons Exod. 28.16 Numb 18.1 but Christ our High-Priest is the Son of God He was declared to be the Son of God with power by his resurrection from the dead Rom. 4. 2 They offered the bloud of buls and goats of lambs and rams as you heard Heb 9.12 13. but Christ offered his own body and his own bloud ver 14. Chap. 10.10 He offereth a better Sacrifice having obtained a more excellent Ministry by how much also he is a Mediator of a better covenant established upon better promises Heb. 8 6. 3 They first offered for their own sins and then for the sins of the people Levit. 9.7 But Christ our High-priest offered himself a sacrifice for the sins of his people only for he had no sin of his own there was no sinne found in his mouth he was the innocent holy harmlesse lambe of God slaine without spot or blemish Heb. 9.14 He offered himself without spot or without fault to God Herein Christ wonderfully exceeded the High-priests they it is true had holy garments made them Exod. 28.2 typing forth what holinesse it was meet a High-priest a Peace-maker should have likewise typing forth what perfection of holinesse which was in Christ hee was the perfection of that type see Heb. 7.26 For such an High-priest became us holy harmlesse undefiled separate from sinners made higher then the Heaven the High-priest had holy garments Christ is holinesse it self Beloved here was a meet Sacrifice to be offered for poore sinners had he not been such a one hee could not have taken away sin therefore such a one became us 4 The High-priests they offered many sacrifices once every yeere they went into the holy place Exod. 30.10 Heb. 10.3 But Christ our High-priest offered himself once for all Heb. 10.10 By which will wee are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all and after hee sate down on the right hand of God a wonderfull Gospell mystery under the Jewish Priests and there was a remembrance of sin in the consciences of the sinners though holy and godly for that ministration could never take away sin Heb. 10.11 that is never take away the everlasting guilt of sin they held under those sacrifices but present pardon and so present peace every new sacrifice being a new remembrance of sin But by Christ our High-priest who hath offered himself once for all and by that one sacrifice wee have obtained eternall redemption Heb. 9.11 Object Had not the believing Jews eternall redemption by Jesus Christ under the legall Priesthood Answ It is true they had but by that Priesthood they had it not so sealed to their souls at once but had their peace comming in by new sacrifices there was ever conscience of sin a remembrance of sin if they had had everlasting pardon come in at one sacrifice there need not to have been an offering for sin again Heb. 10.1 2. but wee under the Gospell who believe have obtained everlasting redemption that is see all our sins past present and to come done away by one sacrifice so that now there remaynes no more conscience of sin Heb. 10.1 that is sin doth not lye uppon the conscience of believers unpardoned but they see all done away in Christ Use This may inform you of the reason why so many poore creatures goe without comfort they have their comfort by fits as we use to say namely when they can pray well and their comfort comes in from their duties an argument of a legall spirit They pray to get peace from hence these things will never make you perfect that is bring you perfect and true peace but Iesus Christ who is the same yesterday to day and the same for ever brings in true and perfect peace eternall redemption to the souls of his people 5 The Legall High-priests were but for a time till Christ but Christ our High-priest is an everlasting High-priest a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck Heb. 11.5 6. vers 20. Melchisedeck was without beginning that is known without end so is Christ without beginning without end Heb. 7.3 Hence it is that all that ever Christ as hee is a High-priest hath purchased for his people is like himself everlasting everlasting reconciliation everlasting life c. 6 Lastly the High-priest entred into the holy place within the vaile once a yeere namely into a worldly Sanctuary indeed-type of Heaven Heb. 9.1 3 4. but Christ as he hath obtained a more excellent ministry Heb. 8.6 so he is not entred into the holy place made with hands which are the figures of the true but into heaven it selfe now to appear in the presence of God for us Heb. 9.24 O blessed word for believers Christ our High-Priest is entred into the very heavens to appear for his people as he undertook to bear their sins and pay their debts so he now ever apppears personally for his people and thus you see beloved that Christ is our great High-Priest and wherein he not onely answers the Legall High-Priests but also exceeds them The second particular to be considered is that Christ Jesus as he is Priest is to be exalted and lifted up in the dayes of the Gospel and that both in the preaching of the Gospel and in the hearts of his people 1 In the preaching of the Gospel Christ is to be exalted as the alone High-priest the atonement peacemaker and reconciliation between God and man and that in opposition to all legall righteousnesse or peace sought for in a legall way beloved thus Christ was exalted in the days of the Apostles Acts 10.36 Peter came preaching peace by Jesus Christ and in the Epistle to the Hebrews it is the main drift of the Spirit of God to discover yea to exalt to lift up Christ the alone High-Priest holding forth the dignity the
a God able to save after this manner 2 It appears to be a mighty work exceeding the work of the creation or any of the rest of the works of God if we consider the severall circumstances or concomitants thereunto appertaining Beloved the Lord made the world with his word he spake the word and it was done but it was not a word that could save man being falne no no beloved there is more to be done first God must take upon him the nature of man that is the seed of David Rom. 1.3 of Abraham Heb. 2.16 he must bear the sins of sinners 1 Pet. 2.24 and their curse being made a curse for them Gal. 3.13 and their condemnation Rom. 8.3 And to effect this great work of mans salvation He that was in the forme of God and thought it no robbery to be equall with God was found in the forme of a servant became obedient to the death even the death of the Crosse Phil. 2.6 7. here is a great work before mans salvation is accomplished was there ever the like work wrought by God greater then the creation there a word doth it here must be bloud not of an ordinary man but of the Son of God greater then the destroying or building of Nations or Kingdoms here a word doth it Jer. 18.7 8. here must be bloud Heb. 9.22 Thus you see beloved the admirable power of God manifested in this work of reconciliation 2 Use If Christ be the alone High-Priest the alone reconciler and peace-maker betwixt God and man as you have heard he is 1 Tim. 2.5 There is one God and one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus Then here is a word of information to informe us of the vanity and folly of those that create to themselves other grounds of peace and comfort besides Christ Note first that there are many that doe thus create to themselves other grounds of comfort other Saviours besides Christ notwithstanding the Lord hath sayd there is no other name given under heaven whereby you may be saved yet believe it many there are that rest upon duties and performances and make that the ground of their consolation Jer. 2.12 13. They have forsaken me the fountain of living water and have digged unto themselves cisterns broken cisterns that will hold no water my people that is not onely mine by creation but by profession yet they forsake me and digg'd cisterns to themselves how doe men love to draw water out of their own cisterns to create comforts to themselves to kindle sparks of their own fire untill the Lord bring them off from it Mat. 25.1 there were five wise virgins five foolish the foolish have lamps a profession and in that they rest without oyle that is Christ his grace and mercie and note Christ sayth the Kingdome of heaven is like ten virgins and it may be the state of the Church for all that I know men shall content themselves that they are members and boast themselves and comfort themselves in it with a name of Christians a name that they are alive and yet are dead therefore it neerly concerns you beloved to look to it it is not enough that you hear profess pray or be members of Churches unlesse Christ bee yours there is nothing else can make peace but the bloud of the Covenant and many there are that shall deceive themselves 2 See the sin the evill of trusting upon any thing beneath Christ 1 It is a vaine and foolish thing therefore the five Virgins Mat. 25. are called foolish Virgins and well might they be called foolish they content themselves with Lamps without oile how long is that Lampe likely to burn that wants oile think you so that professour that wants Christ It is a foolish thing for a man to be content with the shell without the kernell the shadow without the substance Beloved all things without Christ is but a shadow it will prove nothing hee is the substance of all Ordinances and professions farther then you have Christ in them they are dead O how foolish would you count that man that woman that should strive to catch the shadow leaving the substance It is a vain thing without profit the vanity of it is this they deceive themselves they thinke they have something when they have nothing Revel 3.19 Because thou sayest thou art rich and increased with goods and hast need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miser able and poor and blinde and naked this is thy folly this is thy vanity thou thinkest that thou hast much to say for thy self because thon hast gotten a forme of godlinesse when the truth is that all without Christ is nothing nay lesse then nothing vanity they cannot helpe thee certainly Christ died in vaine if any thing beneath himselfe can save thee Galath 2.21 But secondly to create comforts to thy selfe beneath Christ is an evill and a bitter thing certainly beloved it will prove very evill and bitter one day eyther here when discovered to thy soul or else hereafter when too late See Jer. 2.19 Know therefore and see that it is an evill thing and a bitter that thouhast forsaken the Lord thy God An evill end bitter thing to forsake the Lord Jesus the fountain and to rest upon any other thing beneath himselfe Object What is the evill of it perhaps you will say Ans The best end of it is sorrow certainly sorrow must needs follow it Esay 50.11 Behold all you that kindle a fire that compasse your selves about with sparks walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks that yee have kindled this shall yee have of mine hand yee shall ly down in sorrow Question What is the reason poor souls walk so sadly and so sorrowfully Answer Is it not because they forsake the Lord the fountain and dig eisternes to themselves kindle a fire of their own and then sit down and thinke to comfort themselves and hence it comes to passe that so many poor souls ly down in sorrow it is not thy case poor soule thou settest up this duty and that duty this prayer and that ordinance and expectest comfort in them and thou wouldest fain compasse thy selfe about with those sparks of prayers and duties c. and this makes thee ly down in sorrow and all because thy soule is not carryed through these to Christ who is the substanee of all Ordinances 3 It is a shamefull thing to rest upon any thing beneath Christ certainly beloved it will make you ashamed one day either here or hereafter see Rom. 6.21 What fruit had you then in those things whereof yee are now ashamed the end of those things is death What were those things deeds of darknesse and certainly to rest upon any thing beneath CHRIST is a deed of darknesse and will cause shame see Ier. 17.13 O Lord the hope of Israel all that forsake thee shall be ashamed And they that depart from me shall be written in