[2.] More particularly, two terms must be explained — (1.) 'Blessed;' (2.) ' Of my Father.^
First, ' Blessed.' This term is —
(1.) Opposed to the world's judgment of them. The world de- spiseth them, and counteth them execrable, vile, and cursed. There- fore it is said, Mat. v. 44, ' Bless them that curse you ; ' and Mat. v. 11, ' Blessed are ye when men shall say all manner of evil of you for my name's sake.' He is blessed whom Christ blesseth. The world rails at us as cursed miscreants, unfit to live in human societies. The world saith, Ahite mcdedicti; ' Away, ye cursed ;' it is not fit for such a one to live. But Christ saith, Venite henedicti, ' Come, ye blessed.' We should set one against the other. The least thing intended in this compellation is an absolution from the reproaches of the world and their censures, whether rashly vented, or pronounced under a colour of law and church power. They are not so ready to curse and fulminate dreadful censures on the true worshippers of Christ as he is to acquit and absolve them. Their Eedeemer in judgment will call them blessed, and publish to the world that all the censures of wicked men were preposterous and perverse.
(2.) The term is opposed to the sentence of the law. The world's obloquy is the less to be stood upon, as being the product of wrath, bitterness, and hatred. But the law of God, that containeth in it the highest reason in the world, pronounceth them accursed : Gal. iii. 10, ' Cursed is every one that continueth not in all that is written in the law to do them.' And to this sentence we were once subject, and were so to look upon ourselves, Eph. ii. 3. Whatever we were in the purpose of God, our duty is to look upon what we are in the sentence of the law of God ; and so we were all of us condemned to a curse. And the wicked, that never changed copy and tenure, lie still under that curse ; as Christ himself showeth in his sentence on them, ver. 41, ' Depart, ye cursed.' The curse of the law taketh them by the throat, and casteth them into eternal torments. The devil would
48 SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. [SeR. XXI.
liave that sentence executed upon us now, according to our deserts ; but the judge on the throne pronounceth us blessed, as having taken hold of the privilege of the new covenant, and so escaped the curse of the law. In this term our justification is implied, Acts iii. 19, Christ dotli in effect say. These my friends and servants deserved in them- selves to be accursed and miserable for ever, but I have made satisfac- tion to God for them, and pronounce them blessed, and free from all sin and misery.
(3.) The term is opposed to their own fears. Not only doth the vs^orld condemn us, and Satan urge the curse of the law against us, as having transgressed the bonds and rules of our duty in many cases, but our own trembling hearts are ever and anon casting up many a fearful thought : What shall become of us to all eternity ? This fear is so strong, and rooted in the hearts of the godly, that it is a long time ere the promises of the gospel can vanquish and quell it ; though the messengers of Christ come and tell them of the tender mercies of God, that there is enough in the merits of Christ, of the privileges and immunities offered by the new covenant, and beseech them that they would not obstinately lift up their fears against the whole design of Christ in the gospel, yet all will not do : if they can get a little peace and rest from accusations of conscience, it is almost all they can attain unto in the world : ' Perfect love casteth out fear,' 1 John iv. 10. But then the supreme judge, before whom all must stand or fall, will assure them with his own mouth that they are blessed ; and therefore they shall fully get rid of all disquieting and tormenting fears. He shall say. Tremble no more ; ' Come, ye blessed of my Eather.'
(4.) It noteth what God liath done for them to bring them to this estate of blessedness : Eph. i. .3, * Blessed be God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who liath blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.' He hath loved them, and enriched them with grace, heaped many spiritual favours upon them, which now they are to receive the consummation and accomplishment of. Dei henedi- cere est henefacere — when we bless God, we declare him blessed ; when God blesseth us, he maketh us blessed; his saying is doing. Since ye are elected, called, justified, sanctified, at the will of my Father, come and freely possess yourselves of all that you have hoped, longed, and waited for.
Secondly, ' Of my Father.'
(1.) In this expression he pointeth at the fountain cause of all our happiness ; the beginning of our salvation was from a higher cause than our own holiness, yea, than Christ's merit, from the favour and blessing of God the Father. He was the princijxd efficient cause and ultimate end of the work of our redemption and the saints' blessed- ness. Christ as mediator is but the way to the Father, John xiv. 6. It is the Father appointed Christ, gave him to us, John iii. 16, gave them to Christ, John xvii. 6, and in time brought them to close with his grace, John vi. 44. It is the Father that prepared this kingdom for them before the foundation of the world ; they are the Father's chosen ones, those whom the Father lovetb.