3d. Because of his community of nature with his people, and his personal experience of the same sorrows and temptations which now afflict them he sympathizes with them, and watches
320 THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST.
and succors them in all their varying circumstances, and adapts his ceaseless intercessions to the entire current of their experiences, Heb ii., 17, 18 ; iv., 15, 16 ; Matt, xxviii., 20 ; xviii., 20.
4th. He presents, and through his merits gains acceptance for the persons and services of his people, 1 Pet. ii., 5 ; Eph. i., 6 ; Kev. viii., 3, 4 ; Heb. iv., 14-16.
4. For whom does he intercede ?
Not for the world, but for his own people of every fold, and of all times, John x., 16 ; xvii., 9, 20.
5. Show that his intercession is an essential part of his priestly work.
It is absolutely essential, Heb. vii., 25, because it is necessary for him as mediator not merely to open up a way of possible sal- vation, but actually to accomplish the salvation of each of those given to him by the Father, and to furnish each with an " intro- duction" (ngoaaycjyrj) to the Father, John xvii., 12 ; Eph. ii., 18 ; iii., 12. The communion of his people with the Father will ever be sustained through him as mediatorial priest, Ps. ex., 4 ; Kev. vii., 17.
6. What relation does the work of the Holy Ghost sustain to the intercession of Christ ?
Christ is a royal priest, Zech. vi., 13. From the same throne, as king, he dispenses his Spirit to all the objects of his care, while as priest he intercedes for them. The Spirit acts for him, taking only of his things. They both act with one consent, Christ as principal, the Spirit as his agent. Chris fc intercedes for us, with- out us, as our advocate in heaven, according to the provisions of the eternal covenant. The Holy Grhost works upon our minds and hearts, enlightening and quickening, and thus determining our desires " according to the will of God," as our advocate within us. The work of the one is complementary to that of the other, and together they form a complete whole, Eom. viii., 26, 27 ; John xiv., 26.
CHAPTER XXIV.
MEDIATORIAL KINGSHIP OF CHRIST.
1. How does the sovereignty of Christ as Mediator differ from his sovereignty as God ?
His sovereignty as God is essential to his nature, underived, absolute, eternal and unchangeable.
His sovereignty as mediatorial King is derived, given to him by his Father as the reward of his obedience and suffering ; it is special, having respect to the salvation of his own people and the administration of the provisions of the covenant of grace ; and it attaches, not to his divine nature as such, but to his person as God-man, occupying the office of Mediator.
2. What is the extent of Christ's mediatorial kingdom, and what are the different aspects ivhich it presents ?
Christ's mediatorial authority embraces the universe, Matt, xxviii., 18 ; Phil, ii., 9-11 ; Eph. i., 17-23. It presents two great aspects. 1st. In its general administration as embracing the universe as a whole. 2d. In its special administration as embracing the church.
3. What are the objects of his mediatorial authority over the universe, and how is it administered $
Its object is to accomplish the salvation of his church in the execution of all the provisions of the covenant of grace, which de- volves upon him as Mediator, Eph. i., 23. As the universe con- stitutes one physical and moral system, it was necessary that his headship as Mediator should extend to the whole, in order to cause all things to work together for good to his people, Kom.. viii., 28 ; to establish a kingdom for them, Luke xxii.; 29 ; John
21
322 CHRIST MEDIATORIAL KING.
xiv., 2 ; to reduce to subjection all his enemies, 1 Cor. xv., 25 ; Heb. x., 13 ; and in order that all should worship him, Heb. i., 6 ; Kev. v., 9-13. His general mediatorial government of the universe is administered, 1st, providentially ; 2d, judicially, John v., 22, 27 ; ix., 39 ; 2 Cor. v., 10.
4. How was the kingship of Christ foretold in the Old Testa- ment ?
1st. Typically in the persons of the theocratic princes, Jer. xxiii., 5 ; Is. ix., 7. 2d. By explicit prediction, Dan. ii., 44 ; Ps. ii., 6 ; Is. ix., 6.
5. What are the various senses in which the phrases " king- dom of God" and " kingdom of heaven" are used in the New Testament ?
They signify the different aspects of that one spiritual reign, also called the " Kingdom of Christ." 1st. For true religion, or the reign of Christ in the heart, Luke xii., 31 ; xvii., 21 ; Mark x., 15 ; Eom. xiv., 17. 2d. For the visible church under the new dispensation see parables of the Sower, Tares, etc., Matt. xiii. ; iv., 17 ; Mark i., 15. 3d. The perfected church in glory, Luke, xiii., 29 ; 2 Pet. i., 11.
6. What is the nature of Christ's kingly administration of the affairs of his own people, i. e., of his kingdom as distinct from the universe ?