lays the sinner low as the dust in point of humiliation and self-abasement, fills him at the same time with a hope full of glory, which, with respect to its foundation, cannot be shaken; and with respect to its object, can be satisfied with nothing less than all the fulness of God. There are favoured seasons in which the believer, having a lively impression of the authority and love of the Intercessor, can address the great Jehovah as his Father, with no less confidence than if he was holy and spotless as the angels before the throne, at the very moment that he has abundant cause to say, "Behold I am vile! I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes!" Job xl. 4; xlii. 6. 3. This powerful and prevalent intercession abundantly compensates for the poverty and narrowness of our prayers. Experience confirms what the scripture declares of our insufficiency to order our own cause before the Lord, to specify our various wants, and to fill our mouths with such arguments, as may engage the attention, and enliven the affections of our hearts. "We know not how to pray as we ought," Rom. viii. 26. And though the Holy Spirit teaches believers to form petitions, which, in the main, are agreeable to the will of God, yet we often mistake and ask amiss; we often forget what we ought to ask, and we are too often cold, negligent, weary, distracted, and formal in prayer. How prone are we to enter by prayer into the Lord's presence, as the thoughtless horse rushes into the battle! (Jer. viii. 6.) to speak to God as if we were only speaking into the air, and to have our thoughts dissipated and wandering to the ends of the earth, while his holy name is upon our polluted lips! It is well for us, that God is both able and gracious to do more than we can ask or think; but that he actually does so, for such unworthy creatures, is owing to our Intercessor. He knows all our wants, and pleads and provides accordingly. He is not negligent, though we too frequently are. He prayed for Peter's safety (Luke xxii. 31, 32,) before Peter himself was aware of his danger. Have we not sometimes been as it were surprised and shamed by the Lord's goodness, when he has condescended to bestow special and needful mercies upon us, before we thought of asking for them? These are affecting proofs of our Intercessor's attention and care, and that he is always mindful of us. But, fulness of wisdom, grace, and consolation, out of which they are invited to receive, resides in him. And therefore he says, "If ye ask any thing in my name, I will do it," John xiv. 14. Not merely, I will present your petitions, but I will fulfil them myself. For all things are committed into his hands, and it is he with whom we have to do, Heb. iv. 13. He therefore enjoins us, if we believe or trust in God, to believe also in him, John xiv. 1. His invitations, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink;" (John vii. 37;)— "Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely;" (Rev. xxii. 17;) equally express his sovereignty and his munificence. On him the eyes of all who know him wait from age to age, and are not disappointed. He opens his hand, and satisfies them with good, Psal. cxlv. 17. Nor is the store of his bounty diminished by all that he has distributed, for it is unsearchable and inexhaustible, like the light of the sun, which gladdens the eyes of millions at once, has done so from the beginning, and will continue to do so to the end of time. 2. He appoints and adjusts their various dispensations, with an unerring suitableness to their several states, capacities, and circumstances. If a skilful gardener had the command of the weather, he would not treat all his plants, nor the same plant at all times, exactly alike. Continual rain, or continual sunshine, would be equally unfavourable to their growth and fruitfulness. In his kingdom of providence, he so proportions the rain and the sunshine to each other, that the corn is usually brought forward from the seed to the blade, the ear, and the full ripe ear. And I believe. it would be always so, were it not for the prevalence of sin, which sometimes makes the heavens over our head brass, the earth under our feet iron, (Deut. xxviii. 23,) and turns a fruitful land into barrenness. So, in his kingdom of grace, he trains his people up by various exercises. He delights in their pros perity, and does not willingly grieve them. But afflictions in their present state are necessary, and his blessing makes them saluta, tary. But this is their great privilege, that their comforts and their crosses are equally from his hand, are equally tokens of his love, and alike directed to work together for their good. He appoints the bounds of their habitations, numbers the hairs of their heads, and is their guide and guard, their sun and shield, even unto death. Here they meet with many changes, but none that are unnoticed by him, none that can separate them from his love, and they all concur in leading them on to a state of unchangeable and endless joy, II. Jesus the High Priest is upon a throne, -He is a King, King of saints, and King of nations. He is not only a righteous advocate, but he possesses all authority and power. And it belongs to his office as King, effectually to manage for those in whose behalf he inter-2 Cor. iv. 17. cedes. I have already observed that the original word includes this sense. 1. he is the source and fountain of their supplies. All their springs are in him. The 3. He is the Captain of their salvation, Heb. ii. 10. They are his soldiers, and fight under his eye; yet the battle is not theirs but his. Israel of old were to muster their 1. How precious is this Saviour! How justly is he entitled to the chief place in the hearts of those who know him! În the work of salvation, from the first step to the last, he is all in all. If he had not died and risen again, we must have died for ever. If he had not ascended into heaven, there to appear in the presence of God for us, we must have been thrust down into the lowest hell. If he did not plead for us, we would not, we durst not offer a word in our own behalf. If he was not, on our part, engaged to keep us night and day,our enemies would soon be too hard for us. May we therefore give him the glory due to his name and cleave to him,and trust in him alone. 2. How safe are the people of whom he undertakes the care! While his eye is upon them, his ear open to their prayer, and his arm of power stretched out for their protection; while he remembers that word of promise upon which he himself has caused them to hope; while he retains that faithfulness which encouraged them to commit their souls to him, it is impossible that any weapon or stratagem formed against them can prevail. There are many, it is true, who will rise up against them; but God is for them, and with them a very present help in trouble, Ps. xlvi. 1. They are full of wants and fears, and in themselves liable to many charges; but since Jesus is their head, their security, their intercessor, no needful good shall be withheld from them, no charge admitted against them, none shall condemn them, for it is God himself who justifies the believer in Jesus. forces, to range themselves for the fight, to | ble, when we are speaking of the power and use every precaution and endeavour, as grace of Messiah. though success depended entirely upon themselves. Yet they obtained not the victory by their own sword, but it was the Lord who fought for them, and trod down their enemies before them; and they had little more to do than to pursue the vanquished, and to divide the spoil. And thus it is in the warfare which true christians maintain, not against flesh and blood only, but against principalities and powers, (Eph. vi. 12,) against the spirit of the world, and against Satan and his legions. They fight in his cause, but he upholds them and conquers for them. Their enemies are too many and too mighty for them to grapple with in their own strength; but he rebukes them, and pleads the cause of his people. His gracious interposition in their favour is beautifully set forth, together with its effects, in the vision, which the prophet saw, when he was sent to encourage the rulers and people of the Jews against the difficulties they met with when rebuilding the temple, He saw Joshua the high priest, who, in that character, represented the collective body of the people, standing before the Lord, clothed in filthy garments, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him, Zech. iii. 1-4. Such is our attire as sinners, all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and such are the attempts of our enemy, to deter us from approaching to him who alone can relieve us, or to distress us when we appear before him. But when Joshua could not speak for, himself, the Lord spake for him, claimed him for his own, as a brand plucked out of the fire, silenced his adversary, clothed him with change of raiment, and set a fair 3. If these things be so, how much are they mitre upon his head. Thus David acknow- to be pitied, who hear of them without being ledged the Lord's goodness in providing him affected or influenced by them? Will you ala table in the midst of his enemies, (Psal. ways be content with hearing? "Oh, taste xxiii. 5,) who saw with envy his privileges, and see that the Lord is good!" Ps. xxxiv. 8. but were not able to prevent his enjoyment Should you at last be separated from those of them. Many a time the Lord thus com- with whom you now join in public worship; forts and feeds his people, while waiting on should you see them admitted into the kinghim in secret, or attending his public ordi-dom of God, and you yourselves be thrust out; nances; and were our eyes opened, like the your present advantages would then prove an eyes of Elisha's servant, to behold what is aggravation of your guilt and misery. As very near, though unseen, we should feel the yet there is room. Strive to enter while the force of the psalmist's observation. The gate of mercy remains open. Think of the powers of darkness surround us; their malice solemnities of that great day. Many will against us is heightened by the favour of our then be condemned, though they who believe good Shepherd toward us; they rage, but in in the Son of God will be justified. Consivain; for though they could presently de-der who will condemn them, God himself, Ps. prive us of peace, and fill us with anguish, 1. 6. From his inquisition there can be no if we were left exposed to their assaults, they retreat; from his sentence there can be no are under a, restraint, and can do nothing appeal. And consider what the condemnawithout his permission. When he is pleased tion will be; a final exclusion from his fato give quietness, who then can make trou-vour; a never-ceasing sense of his awful ble? Job xxxiv. 29. He preserves and provides for his sheep in the midst of wolves. We may close this part of our subject with two or three reflections, which, though as to the substance of them I may have offered you before, are always seasonable and suita displeasure; a state of eternal horror and despair, without mitigation, without the smallest ray of hope! Can you deliberately give up all claim to happiness, and determine to rush upon the thick bosses of God's buckler, (Job xy, 26,) to dery his power, and ta dare his threatenings, rather than forego the transitory and delusive pleasures of sin! And can you do this with the gospel sounding in your ears! May the Lord prevent it! However, observe you are once more warned, once more invited. If now at last, after so many delays, so much perverseness on your port, you will honestly and earnestly seek him, he will be found of you. But if you persist in your obstinacy, your condemnation will be inevitable and sure. SERMON XLVIII. THE SONG OF THE REDEEMED. the redeemed before the throne, in which the angels cannot share, though from their love to redeemed sinners, and from their views of the manifold wisdom and glory of God in visiting such sinners with such a salvation, they cheerfully take a part in the general chorus. The redemption spoken of, is suited to the various cases of sinners of every nation, people, and language. And many sinners of divers descriptions, and from distant situations, scattered abroad into all lands, through a long succession of ages, will, by the efficacy of this redemption, be gathered together into one, John xi. 52. They will constitute one family, united in one great Head, Eph. iii. 14, 15. When they shall fully attain the end of their hope, and encircle the throne, day without night, rejoicing, their remembrance of what they once were, their sense of the happiness they are raised to, and of the great consideration to which they owe their deliverance and their exaltation, will excite a percre-petual joyful acknowledgment to this purport. They were once lost, but could contribute nothing to their own recovery. Therefore they ascribe all the glory to their Saviour. They strike their golden harps, and sing in strains, loud as from numbers without number, sweet as from blest voices, "Thou art worthy-for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” -Thou hast redeemed us to God, by thy blood (out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.) REV. v. 9. THE extent, variety, and order of the ation, proclaim the glory of God. He is likewise maximus in minimis. The smallest of his works that we are capable of examining, such for instance as the eye or the wing of a little insect, the creature of a day, are stamped with an inimitable impression of his wisdom and power. Thus in his written word there is a greatness, considering it as a whole, and a beauty and accuracy in the smaller parts, analogous to what we observe in the visible creation, and answerable to what an enlightened and humble mind may expect in a book which bears the character of a divine revelation. A single verse, a single clause, when viewed (if I may so speak) in the microscope of close meditation, is often found to contain a fulness, a world of wonders. And though a connected and comprehensive acquaintance with the whole scripture be desirable and useful, and is no less the privilege than the duty of those who have capacity and time at their disposal to acquire it; yet there is a gracious accommodation to the weakness of some persons, and the circumstances of others. So that in many parts of scripture, whatever is immediately necessary to confirm our faith, to animate or regulate our practice, is condensed into a small compass, and comprised in a few verses; yea, sometimes a single sentence, when unfolded and examined, will be found to contain all the great principles of duty and comfort. Such is the sentence which I have now read to you. In the Messiah it is inserted in the grand chorus taken from the 12th and 13th verses of this chapter. And as it may lead us to a compendious recapitulation of the whole subject, and by the Lord's blessing, may prepare us to join in the following ascription of praise to him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb; I propose to consider it in its proper connection as a part of the leading song of But though this song, and this joy, will only be consuminated in heaven, the commencement takes place upon earth. Believ ers, during their present state of warfare, are taught to sing it; in feebler strains indeed, but the subject of their joy, and the object of their praise, are the same which inspire the harps and songs in the world of light. May I not say that this life is the time of their rehearsal! They are now learning their song, and advancing in meetness to join in the chorus on high, which, as death successively removes them, is continually increasing by the accession of fresh voices. All that they know, or desire to know, all they possess or hope for, is included in this ascription. I take the last clause of the verse into the subject. The words suggest three principal points to our consideration: I. The benefit,-Redemption to God. II. The redemption price,-By thy blood. III. The extent of the benefit,-To a peo ple out of every kindred, and tongue, and nation. I. Thou hast redeemed us to God.-Redemption or ransom is applicable to a state of imprisonment for debt, and to a state of bondage or slavery. From these ideas taken together, we may form some estimate of the misery of our fallen state; a theme, which, if I cannot insist upon at large in every dis course, I would never wholly omit. can neither understand the grace, nor enjoy For we the comfort of the gospel, but in proportion | gality for pride. The strong one armed will as we have a heart-felt and abiding conviction maintain his dominion, till the stronger than of our wretched condition as sinners without it. They who think themselves whole, know not their need of a physician, (Matt. ix. 12,) but to the sick he is welcome. If a man, shut up in prison for a heavy debt, which he is utterly incapable of discharging, should obtain his liberty, in consideration of payment made for him by another, he might be properly said to be redeemed from imprisonment. This supposition will apply to our subject. The law and justice of God have demands upon us which we cannot answer. We are therefore shut up, under the law, in unbelief, helpless, and hopeless, till we know and can plead the engagement of a surety for us. For a time, like Peter, we are sleeping in our prison (Acts xii. 6—10,) regardless of danger. The first sensible effect of the grace of God, is to awaken us from this insensibility. Then we begin to feel the horrors of our dungeon, and the strength of our chains, and to tremble under the apprehension of an impending doom. But grace proceeds to reveal the Saviour and friend of sinners, and to encourage our application to him. In a good hour the chains fall off, the bars of iron and brass are broken asunder, and the prison doors fly open. The prisoner understands that all his great debt is forgiven, blesses his deliverer, obtains his liberty, and departs in peace. he interposes and says, Loose him, and let him go, for I have found a ransom. Then, by virtue of the redemption-price, the prey is taken from the mighty, and the captive is delivered, Is. xlix. 24, 25. Then the enslaved sinner, like the man out of whom the legion was cast, sits at the feet of Jesus, in peace, and in his right mind, Mark v. 15. He becomes the Lord's freed-man. For he is not only delivered from guilt and thrall, he is redeemed to God. He is now restored to his original state, as an obedient and dependent creature, devoted to his Creator, conformed to his will and image, and admitted to communion with him in love. These are blessings which alone can satisfy the soul, and without which it is impossible for man to be happy. While he is ignorant of his proper good, and seeks it in creatures, he is and must be wretched. Madness is in his heart, a deceived, disordered imagination turns him aside, and he feeds upon ashes, and upon the wind, Is. xlv. 20. But by grace he is renewed to a sound judgment, his mind receives a right direction, and he is turned from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, Acts xvi. 18. II. What unspeakably, and beyond conception enhances the value of this deliverance, is the consideration of the means by which it is effected. For it is not merely a deliverance, but a redemption. It is not an act of mere mercy, but of mercy harmonizing with justice. It is not an act of power only, but of unexampled and expensive love.-"Thou has redeemed us by thy blood!" We are likewise in bondage, the servants, the slaves of a harder task-master than Pharaoh was to Israel. Satan, though not by right. yet by a righteous permission, tyrannizes over us, till Jesus makes us free, John viii. 34, 36. The way of transgressors is The sentence denounced by the law against hard, Prov. xiii. 15. Though the solicitations transgressors, was death. And therefore when and commands of that enemy who worketh in Messiah became our surety, to satisfy the law the children of disobedience (Eph. ii. 2,) are for us, he must die. The expression of his in some respects suited to our depraved incli- blood, is often used figuratively for his death, nations, yet the consequences are grievous. perhaps to remind us how he died. His was A burdened conscience, a wasted constitution, a bloody death. When he was in his agony a ruined fortune and character, swiftly and in Gethsemane, his sweat was as great drops closely follow the habits of intemperance and of blood, falling down to the ground, Luke lewdness; and they who seem to walk in a xxii. 44. His blood flowed when he gave smoother path, are deceived, mortified, and his back to the smiters, under the painful disappointed daily. If persons who live open-strokes of the scourging he endured previous ly and habitually in a course that is contrary to his crucifixion. It flowed from his head, to the rule of God's word, speak swelling when the soldiers, having mocked his characwords of vanity (2 Pet. ii. 18, 19,) and boast ter of King by crowning him with thorns, by of their liberty, believe them not. We are their rude blows forced the thorns into his sure they carry that in their bosom which temples. His blood streamed from the hourly contradicts their assertions. Yea, some- wounds made by the spikes, which pierced times their slavery is so galling, that they at- his hands and his feet, when they fastened tempt to escape, but in vain. They are soon him to the cross. When he hung upon the retaken, and their bonds made stronger. The cross, his body was full of wounds, and coverissue of their short-lived reformations, which ed with blood. And, after his death, another they defer as long as possible, and at last set large wound was made in his side, from about with reluctance, usually is, that their which issued blood and water. Such was latter end proves worse than their beginning. the redemption-price he paid for sinners, his At most, they only exchange one sinful habit blood, the blood of his heart. Without shedfor another, sensuality for avarice, or prodi-ding of blood there could be no remission. VOL. II. 3 B Nor could any blood answer the great design, | tion for hope, and that, unless you love the but his. Not any, not all the bloody sacrifices Lord Jesus Christ, you must perish, some of appointed by the law of Moses could take our hearers account us bigoted, uncharitable, away sin, as it respects the conscience, nor and bitter. But if you could see what passes afford a plea, with which a sinner could in secret, how faithful ministers mourn over venture to come before the most high God, those who reject their message, how their disMicah vi. 6. But the blood of Messiah, in obedience cuts them to the heart, and abates whom were united the perfections of the di- the comfort they would otherwise find in your vine nature, and the real properties of hu- service; if you could believe us when we manity, and which the apostle therefore styles say (I trust truly) that we are ready to imthe blood of God, (Acts xx. 28,) this precious part unto you, not the gospel of God only, blood cleanses from all sin. It is exhibited as but our own souls also, because you are dear a propitiation of perpetual efficacy, by which to us, (1 Thess. ii. 8,) and we long for your God declares his righteousness, no less than salvation; then you would think more fahis mercy, in forgiving iniquities, (Rom. iii. vourably of us. But after all we cannot, we 24, 26,) and shows himself just to the de- dare not, soften our message to please men. mands of his holiness, and the honour of his What we find in the word of God, we must government, when he accepts and justifies declare. It would be at the peril of our souls, the sinner who believes in Jesus. to speak smooth things, to prophesy deceits (Is. xxx. 10,) to you; and, so far as we preach the truth, it will be at the peril of your souls, if we are disregarded. If these things were understood and attended to, would it be thought wonderful that this Saviour is very precious to those who believe in him, and who obtain redemption by III. The benefits of this redemption extend his blood? How can it possibly be otherwise? to a numerous people, who are said to be reGrace like this, when known, must captivate deemed out of every kindred, tongue, and naand fix the heart! Not only to save, but to tion. I have, upon a former occasion,* ofdie, and to die for his enemies! Such costly fered you my sentiments concerning the exlove, productive of such glorious conse- tent of the virtue of that blood which taketh quences, and to such unworthy creatures! away the sin of the world. But the clause Surely the apostle's mind was filled and fired now before us invites me to make a few adwith these considerations, when authenti- ditional observations upon a subject which, I cating an epistle with his own hand, he sub-conceive, it much concerns us rightly to unjoined this emphatical close, "If any man derstand. love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha!" 1 Cor. xvi. 22. Do you think, my brethren, that the apostle took pleasure in denouncing so severe a sentence against all those who did not see (as we say) with his eyes? Had he so little affection for sinners, that he could thus consign them to destruction by multitudes, for differing from him in what some persons only deer an opinion? Rather consider him, not as breathing out his own wishes, but as speaking in the name and on the behalf of God. He knew it must be, and he declared it would be so. It was no pleasure to him to see them determined to perish. On the contrary, he had great grief and sorrow of heart for them, even for the Jews, who had treated him with the greatest cruelty. Even for their sakes, he could have been content to be made an anathema himself (Rom. ix. 3,) that they might be saved. But upon the whole, he acquiesced in the will of God, and acknowledged it to be just, right, and equal, that if any man would not love the Lord Jesus Christ, after all that he had done and suffered for sinners, he should be accursed. By this comparison of the apostle's severe language with his compassionate temper, I am led to digress a little farther. It suggests an apology for ministers of the gospel in general. When we declare the terrors of the Lord, when we assure you that there is but one solid founda The redeemed of the Lord are those who actually experience the power of his redemption, who are delivered from the dominion of sin and Satan, and brought into a state of liberty, peace, and holiness. That the people of every kindred, nation, and tongue, are not redeemed in this sense universally, is as certain as evidence of facts, and express declarations of scripture can make it. "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." Multitudes, thus disqualified, will be found trembling, on the left hand of the Judge, at the great day. But a remnant will be saved, according to the election of grace. For they who differ, who are redeemed to the service of God, while others live and die in the love and service of sin, do not make themselves to differ, 1 Cor. iv. 7. It becomes the potsherds of the earth to ascribe to their Maker the glory of his sovereignty, and to acknowledge, that, if they have a good hope, it is because it pleased the Lord to make them his people who were once not his people, Hos. ii. 23. Yet a way of conceiving of the doctrines of the divine sovereignty, and of a personal election unto life, has often obtained, which seems to have a tendency to render the mind narrow, selfish, and partial, and to straiten the exercise of that philanthropy which the genius and spirit of the gospel powerfully inculcate. • Sermon xvi. |