the members with the head.* The sanctification of a believer is imperfect and gradual; but his justification, in this sense, from the moment when he begins to live a life of faith in the Son of God, is perfect, and incapable of increase. The principle of life in a new-born infant, and the privileges dependent upon his birth (if he be the heir of a great family), are the same from the first hour, as at any future time. He is stronger as he grows up to the stature of a man, but is not more alive ; he grows up likewise more into the knowledge and enjoyment of his privileges, but his right to them admits of no augmentation; for he derives it, not from his years, or his stature, or his powers, but from the relation in which he stands as a child to his father. Thus it is with those who are born from above; they are immediately the children and heirs of God, though for a time, like minors while under age, they may seem to "differ but 'little from servants ;" and it doth not yet appear what they shall be. 66 But, though justification in the sight of God be connected with the reality of faith, the comfortable perception of it in our own consciences is proportionable to the degree of faith. In young converts, therefore, it is usually weak. They are well satisfied that Jesus is the only Saviour, and they have no doubt of his ability and sufficiency in that character, in favour of those who put their trust in him; but they are suspicious and jealous of themselves; they are apprehensive of something singular in their own case, which may justly exclude them from his mercy, or they fear that they do not believe aright. But the weakest believer is a child of God; and true faith, though at first like a grain of mustard-seed, is interested in all the promises of the Gospel. If it be true, it will grow, it will attain to a more simple dependence upon its great object, and will work its way through a thousand doubts and fears (which, for a season, are not without their use), till at length the weak Christian becomes strong in faith, strong in the Lord," and is enabled to say, "I know whom I have believed!" Who shall lay any thing to my charge? Who shall condemn? It is God who justifieth. It is Christ who died for me and rose again. But especially at the great day, the Lord the Judge shall ratify their justification publicly before assembled worlds. Then "every tongue that "riseth in judgement against them" shall be put to silence. Then Satan will be utterly confounded, and many who despised them on earth, will be astonished, and say-"These are they "whose lives we accounted madness, and their "end to be without honour! How are they num"bered among the children of God!"§ The right knowledge of this doctrine is a source of abiding joy; it likewise animates love, zeal, gratitude, and all the noblest powers of the soul, and produces a habit of cheerful and successful obedience to the whole will of God. But it may be, and too often is, misunderstood and abused. If you receive it by divine teaching, it will fill you "with those fruits of righteousness, which are by "Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God."|| But if you learn it only from men and books, if you are content with the notion of it in your head, instead of the powerful experience of it in your heart, it will have a contrary effect. Such a life * Mark, iv. 26. + 2 Tim. i. 12. | Phil, i. 11, Isa. liv. 17, less form even of the truth itself, will probably make you heady and high-minded, censorious of others, trifling in your spirit, and unsettled in your conduct. Oh! be afraid of resembling the foolish virgins,* of having the lamp of your profession expire in darkness for want of the oil of grace; lest when the Bridegroom cometh, you should find the door shut against you. SERMON XLVII. THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST. ROMANS, viii. 34. "Fools 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. THE redemption of the soul is precious. "make a mock of sin." But they will not think lightly of it who duly consider the majesty, authority, and goodness of him against whom it is committed; and who are taught by what God actually has done, what sin rendered necessary to be done, before a sinner could have a wellgrounded hope of forgiveness. For wisdom does nothing in vain. The death of the Son of God would have been in vain, if the great design, in favour of sinful men, could have been effected by inferior means. But as he, in the office of Mediator, was the hope of mankind from the beginning; so the great work he has accomplished, and the characters he sustains, when made known to the con Matt. xxv. 1—12. + Prov. xiv. 9. ↑ Gal. ii. 21. science, are, in fact, sufficient to relieve in every case, to answer every charge, and to satisfy the believer in Jesus that there is now no condemnation to fear. There are many (as we have observed) ready to accuse, but it is in vain; the charge may be true, but it is overruled. Who shall dare to condemn, if things be as the apostle states them in this passage? Whoever would impeach the hope of a true believer, must prove (if he can) that Christ did not die; or that he did not rise from the dead; or that he was not admitted into the presence of God on our behalf; or that he is unmindful of his promise to make intercession for all who come unto God by him. For if these points are indubitable and sure, it is impossible that the soul which has trusted in Jesus, and put its cause into his hands, can miscarry. The death and resurrection of our Lord, his appearance in our nature, clothed with glory, seated on the right hand of the Majesty on high, as the High Priest of our profession, can scarcely be considered too often. These old truths are always new to those who love him, and are the food by which their souls live. Yet I shall not at present repeat what I have offered upon them from former passages, but shall chiefly confine myself to the subject of his intercession, which has not, until now, expressly occurred to our meditations. 86 The word the apostle uses here, and in Heb. vii. 25. "seeing he ever liveth to make intercession," occurs likewise Acts, xxv. 24. where Festus speaks of the process managed by the Jews against Paul; and also Rom. xi. 2. of Elijah's making intercession to God against Israel. From these passages compared together, we may observe that the word is to be taken in a large sense. He pleads our cause, he manages our concerns, he answers our enemies. Who, then, shall condemn those for whom the Lord Jesus thus employs his power and his love? He is our "Ad"vocate."* He takes upon him our whole concern. He pleads as a priest, and manages as a king, for those who come unto God by him. I. He pleads as a priest. His office of intercession has a plain reference to his great instituted type, the high priest under the Levitical dispensation; who, according to the appointment of God, entered within the vail, to present the blood of the sacrifice before the mercy seat. We have a clear and infallible explanation of the design of this institution. "Now when these things were thus or"dained, the priests went always into the first ta"bernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But "into the second went the high priest alone once "every year, not without blood, which he offered "for himself, and for the errors of the people. "The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way "into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, "while the first tabernacle was yet standing. "Which was a figure for the time then present, "in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, "that could not make him that did the service 'perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; which "stood only in meats and drinks, and divers wash ings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them "until the time of reformation. But Christ being 4& come an High Priest of good things to come, by "a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made "with hands, that is to say, not of this building; "neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by "his own blood, he entered in once into the holy 66 66 * 1 John, ii. 1. VOL. IV. + Lev.xvi. 2, M M |