IV. be more for our Advantage and Comfort, SERM. And how gracious this Conftitution was, will more plainly appear, if we briefly review the Nature and Defign of the Office itself, and the Qualifications of him, who was appointed to it. The great End and Defign of this Office (I have already obferved) was, not only to fecure to us the Bleffings of the Covenant promised on GoD's part, but to prepare and qualify us for the reception of them, by enabling us to comply with the Conditions required on ours. So that the weakness of our natures and the Mifery of our apoftate State made it neceffary, that our Mediator fhould be alfo our Redeemer. And our redemption could not be compleat till our Souls were fanctified as well as juftified. But as our Mediator and Redeemer he hath undertaken for both; viz. to fanctify us by his Spirit, and juftify us by his Blood; and thereby deliver us from the Dominion and Condemnation of Sin; or at once to fecure to us the Bleffings of the Covenant, and to engage and enable us to comply with the Conditions of it, upon which those Bleffings are fufpended. And was not this now a most gracious and merciful Appointment of GOD? What SERM. What could we, as apoftate and depraved IV. Creatures, have defired more to render our Redemption compleat ? But the Grace and Mercy of this Conftitution will further appear, by confidering the wonderful Qualifications of the Mediator himself, as before mentioned. For had he been only GoD, he could not have died for us, or purchased us with his Blood. He might, indeed, have interceded for us: and his Divinity would have left us no room to doubt of his Intereft with the Father. But then might we not be apt to fufpect his Tenderness and Compaffion for us? having never felt our Infirmities or endured our Temptations. And had he been only Man, though he might have died for us, yet there had been no price or value in his Suffering, adequate to the Debt of Guilt we had contracted. And though his Interceffions might be full of Importunity and Tenderness, we might juftly doubt whether they would have Intereft enough to prevail, by reafon of the Infinite Difparity between him and his Maker. And had an Angel been appointed to this Office, we might have reafon to fufpect both: i. e. his Tenderness for us, being of another Species; and his Inte reft reft with God, being but a Creature him- SERM. felf. It was therefore infinitely kind and IV. merciful in GOD, in order to preclude all our Sufpicions and Doubts, to appoint his own Son to be our Mediator in our own nature, whereby he was at once capable of dying for us, and of giving an infinite value to his own Sufferings: and at the fame time hath given us the utmost Affurance of the Compaffion and Prevalence of his Interceffions. But Secondly, This Appointment is no less wife than it is gracious. For whilft it affords all poffible Hope to guilty, felf-condemned, and perifhing Creatures, it abundantly fecures the Rights of Divine Government, provides for the Honour of God's Law and Justice, and magnifies all its Attributes. By vertue of this wife and gracious Appointment, not only guilty Creatures may be faved, and GoD glorified, but in nothing is he more glorified than in their Salvation. So that Glory to GOD in the highest, and Peace on Earth, and Salvation to men, were equally the ef fects thereof. 5. Let us now confider what regards are due to the Lord Jefus Chrift, under this Character SERM. Character of our Mediator. A Character, to us the most valuable and indearing that can be! For to his Mediation we owe all our present Peace and Hopes of future Blifs. And } 1. Does he not deserve, and most justly claim, all our Love, our fuperlative and most ardent Esteem? What mighty things hath he done for us, to purchase our Salyation! and what great things hath he wrought in us, to fit us for it! How freely did he undertake this important, mediatorial Charge! when there was not a Being in the whole Univerfe fit for it but himself. How infinite the Condefcention, to affume our nature, that he might be capable of fuffering in our ftead! to fubmit to the most unworthy Treatment, and bear the cruelleft Indignities from the very perfons he came to fave! and all out of pure Compaffion to our Misery, of which he was more fenfible, than we were; and pitied us more, than we did ourfelves. What fufficient Returns of Gratitude and Love can we make for all this Condefcention and Goodness! He that cannot find in his Heart a difpofition of Gratitude and Love to the Lord Jefus Chrift, after going over these things seriously in his mind, muft either not believe them to be fact (in oppofition to the fulleft Teftimony of facred Hiftory) or else be a very ftupid, hardened Creature indeed. 2. What exalted Honour, Adoration and Praise are due from us to Him, who was fo wonderfully qualified for this high Office, by the bypoftatical, or perfonal Union of the Divine and Human natures. With what reverence and ardor fhould our Praifes afcend to him who is the GOD-Man Mediator ! whose Divine Glories are softened by the Humanity; whofe Human Excellencies are brightened by the Divinity! whilst the God shines lovely through the Man; and the Man fhines glorious through the GOD! If his amazing Compaffion to us calls for all our Love, his heavenly and unutterable Excellencies call for all our Praife. Worthy is the Lamb that was flain to receive Blessing, and Honour and Power; Bleffing and Honour and Power then be to him that fitteth on the Throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever. 3. As Mediator of the new Covenant, let us readily trust him with all our spiritual and everlasting Interests. For he is a faithful VOL. IV. H Mediator, SERM. IV. |