208 THE TWELFTH SERMON. [JOB XIX. 25.
lie speaks of the Redeemer's life without any distinction of time — l)ast, present, or to come ; so that lie is altogether, ^vith the Father and the Spirit, from everlasting to everlasting, one living God. (2.) As man after his resurrection: Rev. i. 18, ' I am he that liveth, and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore. Amen. And have the keys of hell and of death.' Now in this sense I take it for his life in lieaven after his resurrection from the dead ; and that is of great coml'ort to us ; for the apostle telletli us, that ' if we were reconciled by the death of Christ, much more shall we be saved by his life.' The comfort is great that arises from the life of the Redeemer,
[1.] It is a visible demonstration of the truth of the gospel in general, and in particular of the article of eternal life. The truth of the gospel in general: Acts xvii. 31, ' Hath given assurance,' that is, a sufficient evidence to induce a belief of the gospel, ' in that he hath raised him from the dead.' Christ came from heaven as a faithful witness to beget faith as well as to give us knowledge, sealing his testimony with unquestionable proofs, to make it the more sure and credible to us, for he hath confirmed it by a life of miracles, and chiefly by rising from the dead himself, and ascending visibly to heaven. His resurrection from the dead is proof enough to justify his doctrine, and to evidence the certainty of his testimony ; for God by his divine power would not countenance a deceiver, and raise him from the dead, and receive him into glory with himself. Particularly it proves the state of unseen glory; life and immortality are more fully brought to light in the gospel than by any other means, 2 Tim. i. 10. By the resurrection of Jesus Christ there is not only a clear revelation of it, but a full confirmation, because Christ is entered into the glory that he spake of, and promised to his disciples. He is gone before us into the other world, that he may receive us unto himself, and that we might, with a more steady confidence, wait for it in the midst of fears and uncertainties of the present life.
[2.] His living after death. It was the solemn acquittance of our surety from the sins imputed to him, and a token of the acceptation of his i)urchase ; when Christ rose again from the dead, our surety was let out of prison, Isa. liii. 8. And it is a ground of confidence to us, for when the debtor sees the surety walk abroad, he inay be sure the debt is satisfied. Therefore it is said, Rom. iv.'2r), ' Who was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification.' Christ is some- times said to rise from the dead, and sometimes to be raised from the dead. His taking up his life again argued his divine ])Owcr ; but as man, he was raised. So it is said, Heb. xiii. 20, ' The God of peace, %vho brought agiiin from tlie dead our Lord Jesus Christ.' God the Father brought him again from the dead, as an evidence of full satis- faction. Our surety did not break prison, but was solemnly brought forth. The disciples said, Acts xvi. o7-39, ' Let them come them- selves and fetch us.' An angel was sent from heaven to roll away the fitone, to show that Christ had a solenm release and discharge.
[^3.] His living inqjlies his capacity to intercede for us, and to relieve us in all our necessities : Heb. vii. 24, 25, 'Rut this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood ; therefore he is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him, seeing he ever
Job XIX. 25.] the twelfth sermon. 299
liveth to make intercession for them.' Christ is there compared with the Leviticnl priesthood. They were many that succeeded one after another, and being hindered by death, could never bring their work to perfection ; but this priest ever liveth to plead the church's cause with God, presenting his human nature in his sight, and appearing con- tinually before his Father's throne, and this for all that come to God by him. They are his clients, and he is their advocate. It is against the rules of that court to ])lead for others that continue in their unbelief and impenitency. After the beast was slain without the camp, the Levitical high priest did enter into the sanctuary with blood ; so Clirist after his sacrifice did enter into the heavenly sanctuary with the names of the twelve tribes of all the saints on his breast and shoulders, there to appear before God for us, Heb. ix. 14. He ever liveth to accom- plish the fruits of his purchase for those that are reconciled to God by him as a high priest, to answer the accusations of Satan as our advo- cate, to stop the breaking out of wrath. As Jonathan in Saul's court did mitigate his father's anger against David, so Christ doth interpose night and day to prevent breaches, and to preserve a mutual correspon- dence between God and us, as our lieger-agent ; to sue out grace suit- able to our conflicts, difficulties, and temptations, as our friend in court ; to procure the acceptance of our prayers, as our mediator and intercessor, Heb, viii. 2.