Communicatious of Light and Grace as long as we are in the World that our Faith may grow and that what is lacking in it may be perfected According as the Spirit enriches us in the Progress of our Sanctification the Testimony of Christ is confirmed in us 1 Cor. 1.6 He grounds and settles us and makes us unmoveable from the Hope of the Gospel he fortifies and establishes us against various contrary Temptations whereby the Devil is frequently endeavouring to loosen our hold of Christ and beat us off from him We are poor wavering unsteady Creatures when we are left to our selves rejoycing one Moment and drooping the next confidently assured of that at one Time which we are ready to call in Question at another The best Believers in the World will most humbly own this the strongest Faith would certainly fail if the Cause of Christ in the Soul were not often pleaded over again by the Spirit as an Antidote for the Motions to Infidelity IV. Vse There are several Things which from hence we may be informed of and exhorted to 1. There are several Things which we may be informed of As 1. Jesus Christ never will nor can be left without a Witness because the Eternal Spirit is his Witness who will never with-dram his Testimony This Spirit of Christ is given to all that obey him and he testifies of Christ to them and by them to others but if we could suppose this whole Generation of the righteous to be extinct which yet shall never be as long as the Earth remains if all these Humane Witnesses were slain and not one left to stand up on the behalf of Christ in the World yet while the Holy Ghost survives as a faithful Witness in Heaven 't is impossible that Christ should be destitute Let the Rage and Malice of the World against Christ go as far as it can in stopping the Mouths or shedding the Blood of all that receive or bear the Record which God hath given of his Son the Spirit cannot be prevented from doing constant Honour to Jesus Christ 2. The Word of Christ hath a better Foundation than any Tesitimony from Man or from any Church or Party of Men whatever As Christ said He had a greater Witnrss than that of John John 5-36 Concerning thy Testimonies I have knowu of Old says David that thou hast founded them for ever Psalm 119.152 But if mortal Witnesses were their only Supporters they would be as liable to fade and perish to be subverted and destroyed as other Inferiour Things To build the Credit of the Gospel upon Humane Tradition is like putting the Ark of the Testimony into a wooden Cart which will be apt to shake and reel if not to tumble The Church of God is the Pillar and Ground of the Truth 1 Tim. 3.15 To hold it forth indeed not to hold it up not such a Pillar as Houses stand upon but as Writings hang upon for Publick Notice 3. The unrighteous Judgment of Satan and the World against Christ is and will be perfectly reversed Now is the Judgment of this World says Christ John 12.31 So Chap. 16.11 When the Sprit is come he will Reprove or Convince the World of Judgment because the Prince of this World is judged I take these Two Texts to refer to one and the same Thing for the Prince of this World and the World it self pass the same Judgment on Jesus Christ and the Judgment of both is very unjust the World and its Prince make up as it were but one Person the Head and the Body and they exactly Agree and Joyn in the same Sentence to condemn our Lord Jesus But here is a Witness that nuls this Sentence and plainly proves the Iniquity and Falshood of it and indeed none of the Devil's Devices can stand when God himself comes forth to withstand and oppose them 4. It must needs be a lying Spirit that speaks a Word against Christ or that derogates any Thing from him 1 Cor. 12.3 I give you to nderstand that no Man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed Whatever is spoken by any to the dishonour of our Lord Jesus cannot proceed from the Spirit of God This is most certain because the Spirit of God cannot contradict himself he cannot testifie for him and against him too The Holy Ghost is Christ's Witness the unclean Spirit is his Adversary and too many Tongues are duided by this unclean and wicked Spirit that pretend to Prophesie in Christ's Name and whereas a true Witness delivereth Souls Prov. 14.25 These do lay snares for their Ruine and Destruction 5. They that have the Spirit of God cannot err in what is essential to the Faith of Christ and necessary to Salvation They are undoubtedly taught to hold the Substance of Divine Testimony though they may be mistaken in lesser Particulars This is hinted by what our Lord says Mat. 24.24 There shall arise false Christ's and false Prophets and shall shew great Signs and Wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect. That Parenthesis is the most material Part of the Proposition there is no possibility of any of God's chosen and called ones miscarrying by a fundamental Delusion they have a Resident Witness for Christ in their own Bosoms who secures them from it 6. Vnbelief is a special Sin against the Holy Ghost all unbelief is so though all unbelief and perhaps no meer unbelief is not the Sin against the Holy Ghost It is the Spirit that beareth Witness because the Spirit is Truth 1 John 5.6 But he that believeth not makes him a Lyar ver 10. Hypocrisie is a lying to the Lord as Ananias and Sapphira lyed to the Holy Ghost but infidelity is a belying of him Jer. 5.12 'T is a painting of the Spirit of God like the Sons of Men who are Lyars upon Record Rom. 3.4 Yea like the Devil who is the Father of Lyes John 8.44 This black aggravated Evil is included in the not receiving of the Spirit 's witness 2. There are some Things which we may hence be exhorted to 1. Set your Seal to the Truth of the Spirits Testimony unto Christ by Believing in him and reject it not against your selves Embrace him with all your Hearts upon the high and honourable Commendation which the Holy Ghost gives of him How readily do we repose a Confidence in Creatures when we have receiv'd a worthy Character of them from Persons of known Integrity And shall we be influenc'd more by the Witness of Man than by the Witness of God God forbid How much greater Encouragements have we to Divine than humane Faith There are infallible Grounds for Divine Faith to rest upon which for humane cannot be 2. Grieve not the Spirit of God by Sin that he may not deliver you up nor leave you alone to be led away by Error The Holy Ghost is often provok'd by Men's loose Conversations to give them over to some unsound Opinions Practical
signifie a reputed uncleanness though there was none really inherent One of the Ancients Augustine applies the Words following the Text ver 5. to Christ in this very Sense they were his Sins as he bore them though he did not commit them 3. This serves to clear and vindicate the Righteousness of God in his severe dealing with Christ His engaging to restore made the Case the same with respect to the Equity of the Divine Dispensation as if he had taken away He undertook as our Surety and so the Debt was lookt upon as his own though if you abstract from the Consideration of his Suretiship he owed nothing As Judah said to Jacob when he intreated that his Brother Benjamin might be sent with them to Egypt I will be Surety for him of my Hand shalt thou require him if I bring him not to thee let me bear the blame for ever Gen. 43.9 So Christ undertook for the Sinner to God at my Hand shalt thou require all that is due from him let my Life go for his Life let my Blood be taken in the Room of his and accepted as a Ransom for him Now the Case being so though God spared not his own Son he was not unjustly rigorous His Son acquits and justifies him in all that he inflicted on him Psalm 22.1 2 3. My God my God why hast thou forsaken me why art thou so far from helping me c. But thou art Holy So John 17.25 He gives him the Title of righteous Father 4. This shews the Reason of Christ's Silence when he was upon his Trial at the Bar of Men. Mark 15.3 4 5. The Chief Priests accused him of many Things but he answered nothing And Pilate asked him again saying Answerest thou nothing Behold how many Things they witness against thee But Jesus yet answered nothing so that Pilate marvelled It was strange and astonishing to him who knew not the Cause and might well be so There are various Reasons assign'd for it it was foretold that he should be oppressed and afflicted and yet be Dumb and not open his Mouth like a Lamb brought to the slaughter Isa 53.7 He would do nothing to hinder his own Death when his Hour was come but I conceive the main Reason to be that he stood in our Place who were truly guilty tho' he was Innocent our Months were stopped Rom. 3.19 And therefore he would not open his as he could have done our Cause was such as could not be pleaded it was capable of no Defence we had nothing to say why Sentence should not pass upon us and therefore he as representing us silently submitted to Condemnation 5. This also intimates the Reason of the unshaken Confidence of Christ in the worst part of all his Sufferings and Desertions He knew that he had not personally deserv'd them and could not be always put to undergo them If he had taken away what he came to restore it would have struck a fearful damp upon his Spirit when he enter'd into those Clouds and was drinking of the bitter Cup. Guilt breeds a great deal of Terror and Diffidence in the Mind so that a Man knows not how to bear up under his Troubles nor yet to expect an aescape out of them But our Lord Jesus having only the Chastisement of our Peace upon him and being to make Expiation for no faults but ours had no Fears or Doubts to make him stagger his Faith never faulter'd but held on in the most vigorous Exercise to the very Last He could boldly make those challenges which the Prophet does in writing of him Who will contend with me Let us stand together who is my Adversary Let him come near to me Isa 50.8 He knows what Grounds he suffer'd upon and what would be the Issue of his Sufferings that the Prince of the World had nothing in him and Death could not have long Dominion over him 6. If Christ hath made Restitution then Remission is unquestionably sure Sin hath been Condemned in the Flesh of Christ therefore the Believer must be certainly absolved God is as righteous now in forgiving as he would have been otherwise in punishing He can do it now without any Impeachment of his Justice Violation of his Truth or Reflection on his Holiness yea all these Attributes sway him to forgive because there is full Satisfaction made all his Demands are answer'd and he can exact no more Payment is accepted the Surety is discharg'd and taken from Prison and so your Indempnity infallibly obtain'd on the most honourable Terms The Believer's Sins are therefore as surely blotted out as the Unbelievers are written down 'T is observ'd by some That the Trumpet of the Jubilee was order'd to begin to sound on the Day of Atonement and then every Man had his Liberty and return'd to his Possession Lev. 25.9 10. So hath Christ by his atoning Sacrifice proclaim'd our Release The Scape-goat sent into the Wilderness never came back but as some say thrown off from a steep Rock and notice given by blowing of Horns throughout the Land The Gospel gives the like comfortable Notice to us that Christ hath absolutely procur'd our Pardon and Sin once pardon'd shall never be remember'd against us II. Exhortation 1. Let none rest contented without Christ They that can be satisfied in the want of him never consider what he came about and of what Concernment that is When God calls for his Dues and proceeds in a legal Manner against you as he will do for you are under the I aw if not under Grace How will you render them to him Or where will you borrow Who can lend you so vast a summ as is requifite to be laid down Whither can you fly for help above or below in Heaven or Earth To which of the Saints will you turn Who among them all can by any means redeem his Brother They will tell you that they have not enough for themselves they must have perisht without relief from Christ as well as you what a dreadful reckoning will it be when the Books are open'd the whole score cast up and all your Arrears strictly enquir'd into When instead of appeasing God by sufficient Restitution you must look to be repaid by him with implacable Fury Bethink your selves of your Condition all you that are far from Righteousness Think what it is For your Iniquities to be before the Lord continually Psalm 109.15 Whereas by coming to Christ They would be all removed in one Day Zech. 3.9 2. Take heed of detracting from Christ who does so much for you He that repairs all our Losses for us will not give the Glory of it to us and woe be to us if we assume the least Part of that Glory to our selves 'T is Honour enough to us to be free Receivers but 't is a disparagement to Christ if we presume in any Respect to be rightful Purchasers This is to commit a piece of unpardonable Theft to add to all our other Violences When
or stop put to it he never tires or faulters in it 2. It is not probable that the Intercession of Christ should totally end at the end of the World but rather that it will continue to all Eternity In some respects indeed there will be no occasion or necessity for Christ's interceding after the last Judgment to need of interceding for the effectual Calling of any of the Elect nor for the pardon of Sin nor Progress in Sanctification nor for the bringing of God's Sons and Daughters to Glory all those things will be then actually done and fully brought to pass but the Intercession of Christ will be still needful for the everlasting continuance of the Glorified in their Holy and Happy State If the Vertue of the Blood of Christ could ever be spent or its Voice drown'd throughout Eternal Ages what Security would Saints have for their Abode in Heaven 4. Wherein is Christ's infinite Ability to Save evidenc'd hereby Answ Abundantly because 1. He perfectly understands every Case which be takes upon him to manage He is not ignorant of any of our Matters but is acquainted with them all and does not need our poor defective Representations of them to him He knows what the Condition of our Souls requires much better than we do our selves so that we may hope for a Supply of our unmentioned Wants as well as others His infinite Knowledge of our needy miserable State is an encouraging Token of his saving Power for such Perfections always go together 2. He hath a great Interest in the Father and intercedes with him according to his Will He is God's Beloved Son and they whom he intercedes for are beloved by the Father also He is one that God rejoyced and delighted in before the World one that is as dear to the Father as himself one that cannot ask that God can refuse or deny for his Intercessions are always agreeable to the Divine Purposes and he never craves any thing but what God hath certainly determined to grant Every one would think himself safe and sure enough of what he seeketh after if he had such a Favourite to be his Friend in any Earthly Court 3. Christ's Intercession does clearly evince the Validity and Entireness of his Satisfaction God would not have admitted him to intercede if he had not fully satisfied His Intercession is indeed the virtual Continuation of his Offering which he once made and we cannot imagine that God should ever give way to this if that had not been a Sacrifice of a sweet smelling Savour to him It is because he paid our Debt as our Surety that he is accepted to plead the Payment as our Attorney Charnock It is because he is our Propitations that he is also our Advocate He failed not in the first of his Attempts and therefore with God's Approbation entred upon the second 4. Christ is always heard in his Intercession and carries every Cause hie Pleads His Heart's desire is always given him and the request of his Lips is not with-held from him Psalm 21.2 Never was any Supplicant so universally Successful as this mediator is He as a Prince indeed hath Power with God and prevails without exception one Miscarriage would be enough to damp us but when all that he does prospers what should we fear The Altar of Incense which signified the Intercession of Christ as well as the Altar of Burnt-Offering which was a shadow of his Sacrifice had Horns by God's appointment at the four Corners Exod. 30.2 with 27.2 to note that strength of Salvation which Sinners have to flee to and take hold of 3. The Objects of Christs Intercession or Persons for whom he lives to intercede Who are they The Text directs to the Answer For them that come unto God by him Here we should shew What it is to come unto God by Christ and how we are to understand that Christ makes Intercession for such 1st What it is to come to God by Christ Coming to God in the New Testament is put especially for two things 1. 'T is expressive of believing John 6.35 He that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me c. The latter Clause does without all Controversy expound and interpret the former Unbelief is set forth by the contrary Chap. 5. 40. You will not come to me c. In this sense there is no coming to God but by Christ i. e. no believing in him but by Christ The Sinner must go out of himself as having nothing of his own to recommend him or bring along with him expecting Salvation from God meerly and solely on the behalf of Christ 2. 'T is expressive of all the solemn Acts of Religious Worship Hebr. 11.6 He that cometh to God must believe c. The whole Service of God is to be perform'd under the influence of Faith and this Faith must have a respect to Christ and be exercised upon him God is not accessible in any Duty any other way Whatsoever we do is to be done in his Name and to have its acceptance with God upon his account There is no Spiritual Sacrifice pleasing to God but what is offer'd up by Believers through the hands of Christ and there is none so offer'd up but what must needs be pleasing 2. How are we to understand that Christ makes Intercession for such 1. He intercedes for them exclusively For them and no others they that are final Despisers and Rejecters of Christ and pretend to go to God in the Old Way of the First Covenant or any New Invented Ways of their own which usually have a strong Tincture of that in them are such as Jesus Christ hath nothing to do with and is not concerned about All that he lives in Heaven to make Intercession for are taught in due time to make application to God by him renouncing all other Grounds of Hope and Confidence whatsoever His Intercession is limited and restrained to such 2. He intercedes for them and every one of them particularly He calleth his own Sheep by Name John 10.3 and distinctly remembers 'em all with their several respective Cases of which no two in the World are strictly and absolutely alike tho they do agree in many things yet in other things they vary Now Jesus Christ does not remember one and forget another nor does his Intercession run upon Generals only as if he did no more than commend his whole Mystical Body to God but he takes notice of every part I have prayed for thee Peter Luke 22.32 So he does now for you and me and all that commit themselves to him not only Sheep but Lambs not only strong but weak Believers not only those that are worthy of greatest Honour but such as are least esteemed in the Church VSE 1. What a woful condition are legal Worshippers in who still adhere to Rites and Ceremonies which cannot save them The Law having a Shadow of good things to come and not the very Image or