of remission and peace. As there is the grace and love of God for an efficient and impulsive cause, and the death of Christ our sacrifice, the meritorious cause ; so of necessity there must be faith, the in- strumental cause. And these con-causes do all sweetly meet in their influences, and activities, in our remission, and tranquillity of conscience ; and they are all (suo genare) in their kind and place absolutely necessary to the procuring and applying of it.
What is the need that the blood of Christ is shed, if I have no interest in it, no saving influences from it ? O be convinced, this is the end, the business of life. Faith is the Phoenix-grace, as Christ is the Phamix-mercy. He is the gift, John iv. 10. And this is " the work of God," John vi. 29. The death of Christ, the offers and tenders of Christ, never saved one soul in them- selves, without believeing application. But, wo is me ! how do I see sinners, either not at all touched with the sense of sin, and so being whole, need not the physician ; or if any be stung and wounded with guilt, how do they lick themselves whole with their own duties and reformations ! As physicians say of wounds, let them be kept clean, and nature will find balsam of its own to heal them : If it be so in spiritual wounds, what need Christ to have left the Father's bosom, and come down to die in the quality and nature of a sacrifice for us ? O if men can but have health, plea- sure, riches, honours, and any way make a shift to still a braw- ling conscience, that it may not check or interrupt them in these enjoyments, Christ may go where he will for them.
And I am assured, till God shew you the face of sin, in the glass of the law, make the scorpions and fiery serpents, that lurk in the law, and in your own consciences, to come hissing about you, and smiting you with their deadly stings, till you have had some sick nights, and sorrowful days for sin, you will never go up and dowi> seeking an interest in the blood of his sacrifice with tears.
But, reader, if ever this be thy condition, then wilt thou know the worth of a Christ ; then wilt thou have a value for the blood of sprinkling. As I remember it is storied of our crook-backed Richard, when he was put to a rout in a field-battle, and flying on foot from his pursuing enemies ; he cried out, O now saith he, a kingdom for a horse. So wilt thou cry, A kingdom for a Christ ; ten thousand worlds now, if I had them, for the blood pf sprint- ling.
Corollary 3. Is Christ your High-priest, and is his priesthood so indispensably necessary to our salvation ? Then freely acknowledge your utter impotency to reconcile yourselves to God by any thing you, can do, or suffer ; and let Christ have the whole glory of your re- covery ascribed to him. It is highly reasonable that he that laid
SERM. XI. THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 15S
down the whole price, should have the whole praise. If any man think, or say, he could have made an atonement for himself, he doth therein cast no light reproach upon that profound wisdom which laid the design of our redemption in the death of Christ. But of this I have spoken elsewhere. And therefore,
Corollary 4. In the last place, I rather chuse to persuade you to see your necessity of this priest, and his most excellent sacrifice ; and accordingly to make use of it. The best of you have polluted natures, poisoned in the womb with sin ; those natures have need of this sacrifice, they must have the benefit of this blood to pardon and cleanse them, or be eternally damned. Hear me, ye that never spent a tear for the sin of nature ; if the blood of Christ be not sprinkled upon your natures, it had been better for y u, that you had been the generation of beasts, the offspring of dragons or toads. They have a contemptible, but not a vitiated sinful nature, as you have.
Your actual sins have need of the priest, and his sacrifice, to procure remission for them. If he take them not away by the blood of his cross, they can never be taken away, they will lie down with you in the dust ; they will rise with you and follow you to the judgment seat, crying, We are thy works, and we will follow thee. All thy repentance and tears, couldst thou weep as many as there be drops in the ocean, can never take away sin. Thy duties, even the best of them, need this sacrifice. It is in the virtue thereof that they are accepted of God. And were it not that God had respect to Christ's offering, he would not re- gard, or look towards thee, or any of thy duties. Thou couldst no more come near to God, than thou couldst approach a de- vouring fire, or dwell with everlasting burnings.
Well then, say, I need such a price every way. Love him in all his offices. See the godness of God in providing such a sacri- fice for thee. Meat, drink, and air, are not more necessary to maintain thy natural life, than the death of Christ is to give and maintain thy spiritual life.
O then, let thy soul grow big whilst meditating of the useful- ness and excellency of Christ, which is thus displayed and unfold- ed in every branch of the gospel : And, with a deep sense upon thy heart, let thy lips say, Blessed be God for Jesus Christ
154 THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SEEM. XII.
Of the Excellency of our High-Priest's Oblation, being the first Act or Part of his Priestly Office.
For by one offering, he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified
.AFTER this more general view and consideration of the priest- hood of Christ, method requires that we come to a nearer and more particular consideration of the parts thereof; which are his oblation and intercession, answerable to the double office of the High-priest, offering the blood of the sacrifices without the holy place, which typed out Christ's oblation ; and then once a year bringing the blood before the Lord into the most holy place, pre- senting it before God, and with it sprinkling the mercy-seat, 'wherein the intercession of Christ (the other part or act of his priesthood) was in a lively manner typified to us.