The Fountain of Life Opened Up

And being so infinitely precious a thing which was offered up to God, it must needs be, number two, a most complete and all-sufficient oblation, fully to expiate the sins of all for whom it was offered, in all ages of the world. The virtue of this sacrifice reacheth backward as far as Adam, and reacheth forward to the last person springing from him who shall ever believe. That the efficacy of it thus reaches back to Adam is plain, for on account thereof he is styled the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Romans 13 verse 8 And in the same sense Calvin understands those words of Christ, before Abraham was, I am. John 8 verse 58 It is therefore but a vain cavil that some make against the satisfaction of Christ, when they say many are saved without it, even as many as were saved before the death of Christ. For they say the effect cannot be before the cause, which is true of physical, but not of moral causes. And such was Christ's satisfaction. As for example, a captive is freed out of prison from the time that his surety undertakes for him, and promises his ransom. Here the captive is actually delivered, though the ransom that delivered him be not yet actually paid. So it was in this case, Christ had engaged to the Father to satisfy for them, and upon that security they were delivered. And the virtue of this oblation not only reaches those believers that lived and died before Christ's day, but it extends itself forward to the end of the world. Hence Christ is said to be the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Hebrews 13 verse 8 To the same sense of those words, Hebrews 11 verse 40 rightly paraphrased, God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. As if the apostle had said, God hath appointed the accomplishment of the promise of sending the Messiah to be in the last times, that they, namely that lived before Christ, should not be perfected, that is justified and saved by anything done in their time, but by looking to our time and Christ's satisfaction made therein, whereby they and we are perfected together. No length of time can wear out the virtue of this eternal sacrifice. It is as fresh, vigorous, and potent now as the first hour it was offered. And though he actually offer it no more, yet he virtually continues it by his intercession now in heaven, for there he is still a priest. And therefore about fifty years after his ascension, when he gave the revelation to John, he appears to him in his priestly garment, clothed in a garment down to the feet, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle, Revelation 1.13, in allusion to the priestly ephod and curious girdle. And as the virtue of this oblation reaches backward and forward to all ages and to all believers, so to all the sins of all believers, which are fully purged and expiated by it, this no other oblation could do. The legal sacrifices were no real expiations, but rather remembrances of sins, Hebrews 9 verse 9 and 12 and chapter 10 verse 3. And all the virtue they had consisted in their typical relation to this sacrifice, Galatians 3.23 and Hebrews 9.13. Separate from it, they were altogether weak, unprofitable, and insignificant, Hebrews 7.18. But this blood cleanses from all sins, 1 John 1.7. It expiates all fully, without exception, and finally without revocation, so that by his being made sin for us, we are not only righteous, but the righteousness of God in him, 2 Corinthians 5.21. Number 3. Being so precious in itself and so efficacious to expiate sin, it must needs be a most grateful oblation to the Lord, highly pleasing and delightful in his eyes. And so indeed it is. He gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor. Ephesians 5.2. Not that God took any delight in the bitter sufferings of Christ, simply and in themselves considered, but with relation to the end for which he was offered, even our redemption and salvation. Hence arose the delight and pleasure God had in it. This made him take pleasure in bruising him. Isaiah 53.10. His offering was a sweet-smelling savor unto God. The meaning is that as men are offended with a nauseous smell and on the contrary delighted with sweet odors and fragrance, so the blessed God, speaking after the manner of men, is offended and filled with loathing and abhorrence by our sins, but infinitely pleased and delighted in the offering of Christ for them, which came up as an odor of sweet-smelling savor to him, whereof the costly perfumes under the law were types and shadows. This was the oblation. Roman numeral 3. This oblation he brings before God and to him he offers it up. So speaks the apostle, through the eternal Spirit he offered up himself without spot to God. Hebrews 9.14. As Christ sustained the capacity of assurity, so God of a creditor, who exacted satisfaction from him, that is, he required from him, as assurity, the penalty due to us for our sins. Until Christ had to do immediately with God, yea, with a God infinitely wronged and incensed by sin against us. To this incensed majesty Christ our High Priest approached, as to a devouring fire, with his sacrifice. Roman numeral 4. The persons for whom and in whose stead he offered himself to God were the whole number given him of the Father, all who should believe in him. He laid down his life for the sheep. John 10.15. For the church. Acts 20.28. For the children of God. John 11. Verses 50-52. It is confessed there is sufficiency of virtue in this sacrifice to redeem the whole world, and on that account some divines affirm he is called the Savior of the world. John 4. Verse 42. Etc. But that the efficacy and saving virtue of this all sufficient sacrifice is applied only to believers is too clear in the scriptures to be denied. Ephesians 5.23. John 17. Verses 2, 9, 19 and 20. And chapter 10. Verses 26-28. And 1 Timothy 4. Verse 10. Roman numeral 5. The design and end of this oblation was to render to God a full satisfaction for our sins. So speaks the apostle, and having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself. By him I say, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven. Colossians 1.20. So God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. 2 Corinthians 5.19. Reconciliation is the making up of that breach caused by sin between us and God, and restoring us again to his favor and friendship. For this end Christ offered up himself to God. Inference number 1. Hence it follows that actual believers are fully freed from the guilt of their sins and shall never more come under condemnation. The debt of sin is perfectly abolished by the virtue of this sacrifice. When Christ became our sacrifice, he both bore and bore away our sins. They were laid upon him and then expiated by him. So much is implied in the words, Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. Hebrews 9.28. To bear is a full and emphatical word signifying not only to bear, but to bear away. So John 1.29. Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world. Not only declarative, or by way of manifestation to the conscience, but really by himself purging our sins. Hebrews 1.3. Now how great a mercy is this, that by him all that believe should be justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13.39. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psalm 32. Who can express the mercy, comfort, happiness of such a state as this? Reader, let me beg thee, if thou be one of this pardoned number, to look over the cancelled bonds, and see what vast sums are remitted to thee. Remember what thou wast in thy natural state, probably thou wast in that black list. 1 Corinthians 6.9.10. What, and yet pardoned, fully and finally pardoned, and that freely, as to any hand that thou hast in the procurement of it? What can thou do less than fall down at the feet of free grace, and kiss those feet that move so freely towards so vile a sinner? It is not long since thy iniquities were upon thee, and thou pined away in them. Their guilt could by no creature power be separated from thy soul. Now they are removed from thee as far as the east from the west. Psalm 103 verse 12. Number 2. From this oblation Christ made himself to God for our sins, we infer the inflexible severity of divine justice, which could be no other way diverted from us and appeased, but by the blood of Christ. If Christ had not presented himself to God for us, justice would not have spared us. And if he do appear before God as our surety, it will not spare him. He spared not his own son, but delivered him up to death for us all. Romans 8.32. If forbearance might have been expected from any, surely it might from God, who is very pitiful and full of tender mercy. James 5.11. Yet God in this case spared not. If one might have expected sparing mercy from any, surely Christ might most of all expect it from his own Father. Yet you read, God spared not his own son. Sparing mercy is the lowest degree of mercy, yet it was denied to Christ. Though in the garden Christ fell upon the ground, and sweat great drops of blood, and in that unparalleled agony cried, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass. And though he broke out upon the cross, in that heart-rending complaint, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Yet there is no abatement. Justice will not bend, but having to do with him on this account, resolves upon satisfaction from his blood. If this be so, what is the case of thy soul, reader, if thou hast no interest in this sacrifice? For if these things be done in the green tree, Christ, what will be done to the dry tree, thee? Luke 23.31. Thus Theophiac beautifully paraphrases that passage, that is, if God so deal with me, that am not only innocent, but like a green and fruitful tree, full of all delectable fruits of holiness, yet if the fire of his indignation thus cease upon me, what will be your condition, that are both barren and guilty, void of all good fruit and full of all unrighteousness, and so like dry, sheer wood, fitted as fuel to the fire? Consider with thyself, how can thou imagine thou canst support that infinite wrath that God bore in the room of his people? He had the strength of Deity to support him. Behold my servant, whom I uphold. Isaiah 42.1 He had the fullness of Spirit to prepare him. Isaiah 51.1 He had the ministry of an angel who came down from heaven to relieve him in his agony. Luke 22.43 He had the ear of his father to hear him, for he cried, and was heard in that he feared. Hebrews 5.7 He was assured of the victory before the combat. He knew he should be justified. Isaiah 50.8 And yet for all this he was sore amazed and sorrowful even unto death, and his heart was melted like wax. If Christ thus sunk under the wrath of God, how dost thou think, a poor worm is thou art, to dwell with everlasting burnings or contend with devouring fire? Luther saw ground enough for what he said when he cried out, I will have nothing to do with an absolute God, that is, with a God out of Christ, for it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Woe and alas forevermore to that man who meets a just and righteous God without a mediator. Whoever thou art that readest these lines, I beseech thee by the mercies of God, by all the regard and love thou hast to thy own soul, lose no time, but make quick and sure work of it. Get an interest in this sacrifice quickly. What else will be thy state when vast eternity opens to swallow thee up? What wilt thou do when thy heartstrings are breaking? Oh, what a fearful shriek will thy conscience utter when thou art presented before the dreadful God and know Christ to screen thee from his indignation. Happy is that man who can say in a dying hour, as William Lyford did, who being desired a little before his dissolution, to give his friends a little taste of his present hope. And on the grounds of them, cheerfully answered, I will let you know how it is with me. Then stretching forth his hand, said, Here is the grave, the wrath of God, and the devouring flame, the just punishment of sin, on the one side. And here am I, poor sinful soul, on the other side. But this is my comfort, the covenant of grace, which is established upon so many sure promises, hath saved all. There is an act of oblivion passed in heaven. I will forgive their iniquities, and their sins will I remember no more. This is the blessed privilege of all within the covenant, among whom I am one. Oh, it is sweet at all times, especially at such a time, to see the reconciled face of God through Jesus Christ and hear the voice of peace through the blood of the cross. 3. Has Christ offered up himself a sacrifice to God for us? Then let us improve in every condition this sacrifice, and labor to get our hearts duly affected with such a sight of it as faith can give. Whatever the condition or complaint of any Christian is, a beholding the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world may give him strong support and sweet relief. Do you complain of the hardness of your heart and want of love to Christ? Behold him as offered up to God for you, and such a sight, if any in the world will do it, will melt your hard hearts. They shall look upon me, whom they have pierced, and shall mourn. Zechariah 12, verse 10 It is reported of Jonas Mileus that he was never observed to speak of Christ and his sufferings, but his eyes would drop tears. Art thou too little touched and unaffected with the evil of sin? Is it thy complaint, Christian, that thou canst not make sin bear so hard upon thy heart as thou wouldst? Consider but what thou hast now read. Realize this sacrifice by faith, and try what efficacy there is in it to make sin forever bitter as death to thy soul. Suppose thine own father had been stabbed to the heart with a certain knife, and his blood were upon it. Wouldst thou delight to see or endure to use that knife any more? Sin is the knife that stabbed Christ to the heart. This shed his blood. Surely you can never make light of that which lay so heavy upon the soul and body of Jesus Christ. Or is your heart pressed down even to despondency under the guilt of sin, so that you cry, How can such a sinner as I be pardoned? My sin is greater than can be forgiven. Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Remember that no sin can stand before the efficacy of His blood. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin. 1 John 1.7 This sacrifice makes full satisfaction to God. Are you at any time staggering through unbelief, filled with unbelieving suspicion of the promises? Look hither, and you shall see them all ratified and established in the blood of the cross, so that hills and mountains shall sooner start from their own bases and foundations than one tittle of the promise fail. Hebrews 6.17-19 Do you at any time find your heart fretting, disquieted, and impatient under every petty cross and trial? See how quietly Christ your sacrifice came to the altar, how meekly and patiently He endured all the wrath of God and men together. This will silence and convince and shame you. In a word, here you will see so much of the grace of God in providing and the love of Christ in becoming a sacrifice for you, God taking vengeance against sin but sparing the sinner, Christ standing as the body of sin alone, for He was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that whatever corrupt burdens this in the believing application will support, whatever grace is defective, this will revive it. Blessed be God for Jesus Christ. Chapter 13, page 151 Intercession of Christ, the second part of His priestly office. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7.25 Having considered the first part or act of Christ's priesthood consisting in His oblation, we come to the other branch of it consisting in His intercession, which is but the virtual continuation of His offering once made on earth. The second part or branch of His priesthood was typified by the high priest entering with the blood of the sacrifice and sweet incense into the holy place. And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and His hands full of sweet incense, beaten small, and bring it within the veil. And He shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that He die not. And He shall take of the blood of the bullock and sprinkle it with His finger upon the mercy seat, etc. Leviticus 16, verses 12-14 Christ, offering Himself on earth, answered to the killing of the sacrifice without, and His entering into heaven, there to intercede, answered to the priest going with blood and His hands full of incense within the veil. So that this is a part, yea, a special part of Christ's priesthood, and so necessary to it, that if He had not done this, all His work on earth had been ineffectual. Nor had He been a priest, that is, a complete and perfect priest, if He had remained on earth. Hebrews 8, verse 4 Because the very design and end of shedding His blood on earth had been frustrated, which was to present it before the Lord in heaven. So that this is the perfective part of the priesthood, He acted the first part on earth in a state of deep abasement in the form of a servant. But He acts this in glory, whereto He is taken up, that He may fulfill His design in dying and give the work of our salvation its last completing act. So much is contained in this scripture, which tells us that by reasons hereof He is able to save to the uttermost. These words contain an encouragement to believers to come to God by faith, drawn from the intercession of Christ in heaven for them. In which notice, number one, the character of the persons here encouraged, who are described as going to God by faith, conscious of great unworthiness in themselves. Number two, the encouragement to such believers drawn from the ability of Jesus Christ in whose name they go to the Father to save them to the uttermost, that is fully, perfectly, completely. Number three, the ground or reason of this His ability to save, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession, that is, He has not only offered up His blood to God upon the cross as a full price to purchase pardon and grace for believers, but lives in heaven, and that forever to apply unto us in the way of intercession all the fruits, blessings, and benefits that this precious blood hath procured. Hence among other instructions we learn that Jesus, our High Priest, lives forever in the capacity of a potent intercessor in heaven for believers. Here we will inquire what it is for Christ to be an intercessor, by what acts He performs that work in heaven, and in what consists the potency and prevalency of His intercession. Number one, what it is for Christ to be an intercessor for us. To intercede in general is to go between two parties, to entreat, argue, and plead with one for the other. There is the intercession whereby one Christian prays and pleads with God for another, 1 Timothy 2 verse 1, and that whereby Christ, as an act of office, presents Himself before God to plead for us. Between these two is this difference, that the former is performed not in our own, but in another's name. We contender no request to God immediately, or for our own sake, either for ourselves or for others. Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name, He will give it you. John 16, 23. But the latter, which is peculiar to Christ, is an intercession with God for us, in His own name, on account of His own merit. The one is a private act of charity, the other a public act of office. And so He is our advocate, or court friend, as Satan is our accuser, or court adversary. Satan is one that charges us before God, 1 Peter 5, 8, and continually endeavors to make breaches between us and God. Christ is our advocate, that pleads for us, and continues peace and friendship between God and us. If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. 1 John 2 verse 1. Thus to make intercession is the peculiar and incommunicable prerogative of Jesus Christ. None but He can go in His own name to God. And in this sense we may understand the passage, Then said the Lord unto me, This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it. Because the Lord God of Israel hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut. It is for the prince, the prince he shall set in it to eat bread before the Lord, etc. Ezekiel 44 verses 2 and 3. The great broad gate, called here the prince's gate, signifies the abundant and direct entrance of Christ into heaven by His own merits and in His own name. This saith the Lord shall be shut, no man shall enter in by it. All other men must come thither, as it were, by side doors, which looked all towards the altar, namely by virtue of the mediator, and through the benefit of his death imputed to them. And yet though God hath forever shut up and barred this way to all the children of men, telling us that no man shall ever have access to Him in His own name, as Christ the prince had, how do some, notwithstanding, strive to force open the prince's gate? They do so who found the intercession of saints upon their own works and merits, thereby robbing Christ of His peculiar glory. But all that so approach God approach a consuming fire. Christ only, in the virtue of His own blood, thus comes before Him to make intercession for us. Roman numeral 2 We will inquire wherein the intercession of Christ in heaven consists, or by what acts He performs His glorious office there. And the Scriptures place it in three things. 1. In His presenting Himself before the Lord in our names and upon our account. So we read Hebrews 9.24 Christ is entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. The apostle manifestly alludes to the high priests appearing in the Holy of Holies, which was the figure of heaven, presenting to the Lord the name of the twelve tribes of Israel, which were on His breast and shoulders. Exodus 28.9,12,28,29 To which the church is supposed to allude in that request, Set me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thine arm. Canticles 8.6 Now the very sight of Christ our high priest in heaven prevails exceedingly with God and turns away His displeasure from us. As when God looks upon the rainbow, which is the sign of the covenant, He remembers the earth in mercy. So when He looks on Christ, He remembers us upon His account. 2. Christ performs His intercession work in heaven, not only by appearing in the presence of God, but also by presenting His blood and all His sufferings to God as a moving plea on our account. Whether He makes any proper oral intercession there as He did on earth is not so clear. But sure I am, an interceding voice is by a figure attributed to His blood, which in Hebrews 12.24 is said to speak better things than that of Abel. Now Abel's blood, and so Christ's, do cry unto God as the hire of the laborers unjustly detained. James 5.4 Or as the whole creation, which is in bondage through our sins, is said to cry and groan in the ears of the Lord. Romans 8.22 Not vocally, but efficaciously. A rare illustration of this efficacious intercession of Christ in heaven we have in the story of Ametist, who appeared as an advocate for his brother Achelias, who was accused and likely to be condemned to die. Ametist, having performed great services and merited highly of the commonwealth, in whose service one of his hands was cut off in the field, came into the court in his brother's behalf and said nothing but only lifted up the stump of his arm, the sight of which so moved them, that without a word said, they freed his brother immediately. Thus in Revelation 5.6 Christ is represented as standing between God and us. I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne, and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a lamb, as it had been slain, that is, bearing in his glorified body the mark of death and sacrifice. The wounds he received for our sins on earth are, as it were, still flesh bleeding in heaven, a moving and prevailing argument with the Father to give us the mercies for which he pleads. And he presents the prayers of his saints to God with his merits and desires that they may for his sake be granted. He causes a cloud of incense to ascend before God with them. Revelation 8.3 All these were excellently typified by the going in of the high priest before the Lord, with the names of the children of Israel on his breast, with the blood of the sacrifice, and his hands full of incense, as the apostle explains them in Hebrews 7 and chapter 9. Roman numeral 3 That this intercession of Christ is most potent, successful, and prevalent with God will be evinced from the qualification of this our advocate from his great interest in the Father, from the nature of the place he uses with God, and from the relation and interest believers have, both in the Father to whom, and the Son by whom, this intercession is made. Our intercessor in the heavens is every way able and fit for the work he is engaged in there. Whatever is desirable in an advocate is in him eminently. It is necessary that he who undertakes to plead the cause of another, especially if it be weighty and intricate, should be wise, faithful, tenderhearted, and resolved on success. Our advocate Christ wants no wisdom to conduct his work. He is the wisdom of God, yea, only wise. Jude 25 And he is no less faithful than wise. Therefore he is called a faithful high priest in things pertaining to God. Hebrews 2 verse 17 He assures us we may safely trust our concerns with him. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. John 14 verse 2 As if he had said, Do you think I would deceive you? Men may deceive you, your own hearts may, and daily do deceive you, but so will not I. And for tenderheartedness and sympathy with your condition there is none like him. For we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4 verse 15 But he might the better sympathize with us. He came as near to our condition as the holiness of his nature could permit. He suffered himself to be in all points tempted like as we are, sin only accepted. And after his interest in the success of his suit, he has really made it his own interest, for by reason of our union with him all our wants and troubles are his. Ephesians 1 verse 23 Yea, his own glory as mediator is deeply interested in it, and therefore we need not doubt, but he will use all care and diligence in that work. But further, number 2 Consider the great interest he hath in the Father, with whom he intercedes. Christ is his dear Son. Colossians 1 verse 13 The beloved of his soul. Ephesians 1 verse 6 Between him and the Father there is a unity not only of nature, but of will. And so he always hears him. John 11 verse 42 Yea, he said to his own dear Son, Ask of me, and I will give thee. Psalm 2 verse 8 Moreover, number 3 Consider the nature of his intercession, which is just and reasonable, and likewise urgent and continual. What he desires, it is becoming the holiness and righteousness of God to grant. And so the justice of God not only does not oppose, but furthers and pleads for the granting and fulfilling of his requests. Here you must remember that the Father is under a covenant to do what he asks. For Christ having fully performed the work on his part, the mercies he intercedes for are as due as the hire of the laborer when the work is faithfully done. And as the matter is just, so the manner of his intercession is urgent and continual. How infortunate a suitor he is may be gathered from that specimen given of his intercession in John 17. And for the constancy of it, my text tells us he ever lived to make intercession. And to close all, number 4 Consider who they are for whom he makes intercession, the friends of God, the children of God, those that the Father himself loves and to whom his heart is inclined and ready enough to grant the best and greatest of mercies, which is the meaning of John 16 verse 27 The Father himself loveth you. The first cornerstone of all these mercies was laid by the Father himself in his own purposes of grace. He also delivered his Son for us, and how shall he not with him freely give us all things? Romans 8 32 So then there can remain no doubt but that Christ is a prevalent and successful intercessor in heaven. Inference number 1 Doth Christ live forever in heaven to present his blood to God in the way of intercession for believers? How sad then is the case of those that have no interest in Christ's blood, but instead of pleading for them, it cries to God against them, as its despisers and abusers. Every unbeliever despises it, the apostate treads it underfoot. To be guilty of a man's blood is sad, but to have the blood of Jesus accusing and crying to God against a soul is unspeakably terrible. Surely when he shall make inquisition for blood, when the day of his vengeance is come, he will make it appear by the judgments he will execute that this is a sin to be expiated, but vengeance shall pursue the sinner to the lowest hell. Ah, what do men do in rejecting the gracious offer of Christ? Alas for that man against whom this blood cries in heaven. Number 2 Doth Christ live forever to make intercession? Hence let believers draw relief and encouragement against all the causes and grounds of their fears and troubles, for surely this answers them all. Let them be encouraged against all their sinful infirmities and lamented weaknesses. It is confessed these are sore evils. They grieve the Spirit of God, sadden your own hearts, cloud your evidences. But having such a high priest in heaven, you must never despair. My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2 verses 1 and 2 Children, when first beginning to walk, are apt to stumble at every straw. So are young and inexperienced Christians. But though it must be far from them to take encouragement so to do from Christ in his intercession, yet if by surprisal they do sin, let them not be utterly discouraged. For we have an advocate. He stops whatever plea may be brought in against us by the devil or the law, and answers all by his satisfaction. He gets out fresh pardons for all new sins. And this advocate is with the Father. He does not say with his Father, though that had been a singular support in itself, nor yet with our Father, which is a sweet encouragement singly considered, but with the Father, which takes in both to make the encouragement full. Remember, you that are cast down under the sense of sin, that Jesus, your friend in the court above, is able to save to the other most, which is, as one calls it, a reaching word, and extends itself so far that thou canst not look beyond it. Let thy soul be set on the highest mount that any creature ever attained, and enlarge to take into view the most spacious prospect both of sin and misery, and the difficulties of being saved, that ever yet oppressed any poor humble soul. Yea, join to these all the hindrances and objections that the heart of man can invent against itself in salvation. Lift up thine eyes, and look to the utmost thou canst see, and Christ, by his intercession, is able to save thee beyond the horizon and largest compass of thy thoughts, even to the uttermost. Good ones triumph. Hence draw abundant encouragement against deadness of spirit in prayer. Thou complainest thy heart is dead, wandering and contracted in duty. O, but remember Christ's blood speaks when thou canst not. It can plead for thee when thou art not able to speak a word for thyself. Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant? Canticles 3 verse 6 The prayers of Christians often go up before God sullied with their offensive corruptions. But remember Christ perfumes them with myrrh. By his intercession he gives them a sweet perfume. Christ's intercession is a singular relief to all that come unto God by him against all sinful and slavish fears from the justice of God. Nothing more promotes the fear of reverence, nothing more suppresses unbelieving despondence and destroys the spirit of bondage. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiness by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, and having a high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. Hebrews 10 verses 19 through 21 The intercession of Christ gives admirable satisfaction and encouragement to all that come to God against the fears of deserting him by apostasy. This, my friends, this is your principal security. With this he relieved Peter. Simon saith Christ, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not. Luke 22 verses 31 and 32 As if he had said, Satan will fan thee not to get out thy chaff, but both out thy flour. His temptations are leveled against thy faith, but fear not, my prayer shall break his designs and secure thy faith against all his attempts upon it. Upon this powerful intercession of Christ, the apostle builds his triumph against all that threatens to bring him or any of the saints again into a state of condemnation. And see how he urges on that triumph from the resurrection and session of Christ at the Father's right hand, and especially from the work of intercession which he lives there to perform. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died. Yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Romans 8 verse 34 It gives sweet relief when we are conscious of being sanctified, but in part. We want a great deal of faith, love, and heavenly-mindedness, mortification, knowledge. We are short in wanting in all. These are deficiencies, or things wanting, as the apostle calls them. 1 Thessalonians 3 verse 10 Well, if grace be but yet in its weak beginnings and infancy in thy soul, this may encourage you, that by reason of Christ's intercession it shall live, grow, and increase in thy heart. He is not only the author, but the finisher of it. Hebrews 12 verse 2 He is ever begging new and fresh mercies for you in heaven, and will never cease till all your wants be supplied. He saves to the uttermost, to the last, perfective, completing act of salvation. Number 3 Does Christ live forever to make intercession? Then let those who reap on earth the fruits of His work in heaven draw instruction thence about the following duties. Do not forget Christ in His exalted state. You see, though He be in glory above at God's right hand, and enthroned King, He does not forget you. He, like Joseph, remembers His brethren in all His glory. But alas, how oft does advancement make us forget Him. As the Lord complains, I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. But when they came into Canaan, according to their pasture, so were they filled. They were filled, and their heart was exalted. Therefore have they forgotten me. Hosea 13 verses 5 and 6 This Reformation audio track is a production of Stillwater's Revival Books. SWRB makes thousands of classic Reformation resources available free and for sale in audio, video, and printed formats. Our many free resources, as well as our complete mail-order catalog containing thousands of classic and contemporary Puritan and Reform books, tapes, and videos at great discounts is on the web at www.swrb.com We can also be reached by email at swrb.com by phone at 780-450-3730 by fax at 780-468-1096 or by mail at 4710-37A Edmonton, Alberta Abbreviated Capital A, Capital B, Canada T6L3T5 You may also request a free printed catalog. And remember that John Calvin, in defending the Reformation's regulative principle of worship, or what is sometimes called the scriptural law of worship, commenting on the words of God, which I commanded them not, neither came into my heart. From his commentary on Jeremiah 731, writes, God here cuts off from men every occasion for making evasions, since he condemns by this one phrase, I have not commanded them, whatever the Jews devised. There is then no other argument needed to condemn superstitions than that they are not commanded by God. For when men allow themselves to worship God according to their own fancies, and attend not to His commands, they pervert true religion. And if this principle was adopted by the papists, all those fictitious modes of worship in which they absurdly exercise themselves would fall to the ground. It is indeed a horrible thing for the papists to seek to discharge their duties towards God by performing their own superstitions. There is an immense number of them, as it is well known, and as it manifestly appears. Were they to admit this principle, that we cannot rightly worship God except by obeying His word, they would be delivered from their deep abyss of error. The prophet's words, then, are very important, when he says that God had commanded no such thing, and that it never came to his mind. As though he had said that men assume too much wisdom when they devise what he never required, nay, what he never knew.