[1.] By him, for Christ is the heir of all things ; and we can have no title but by and through him. He hath the whole inheritance in his power, and the absolute disposing of all the good things which belong to it : John xvii. 2, ' Thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given to him.' He hath power of condemning and absolving ; unless we sincerely and ■cordially come to him, and accept him upon God's offer, and obey him, we have no right.
[2.] We enjoy it with him. Christ as mediator hath a double inheritance. (1.) Of life and glor}'. (2) Of dominion and power.
(1.) Of life and glory. For we read, 1 Tim. iii. 16, that he is ' received up into glory,' and there he liveth for ever at the right hand of God. Now Christ will not be there alone ; he cannot satisfy himself
13G SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. XXV.
unless he have his people with him ; for we do with Christ enjoy God, and live with him for evermore. Christ will have his people sharers in the same life and glory : Jolm xii.'26, ' If any man will serve me, let him follow me, and where I am, there shall my servant be : if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.' His people shall fare as he doth, if they will serve him and follow him ; that is, not take it ill to be no better used than he was. He will be witli them in trouble, and they shall be with him in glory ; in their eternal estate they shall have constant, intimate, and nearer fellowship with him.
(2.) An inheritance of dominion and power: Eph. i. 21, 'God raised him far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but in that which is to come.' Christ as mediator was exalted to the highest degree of glory, next to God in heaven ; lar above that fading power of rulers and potentates by whom he was put to death ; yea, above the highest degree of angelical power. But doth any of this fall to onr share ? See what Christ saith : Rev. iii. 21, 'To him that overcometh, I will grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I also overcame, and am sat down with my Father in his throne.' He that pensevereth in spite of all temptations, shall partake of that honour to which my Father hath exalted me unto, after my sufferings. He shall reign with Christ, and sit down with Christ on the right hand of the majesty of God ; not the same methods used towards him, to bring him to a. glorious eternity ; but invested in tlie same power as Christ the head : Ps. xlix. 14, 'The upright shall have dominion in the morning.'
Use 1 . Is information of several truths.
1. That our heavenly inheritance cometh to us not by our own purchase and procurement, or merit ; but by virtue of our sonship. For so the apostle reasoneth, ' If sons, then heirs.' It is given by the mercy of God, or the bounty of our Father : Luke xii. 32, 'Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you a kingdom.' ,It is purchased by Christ ; indeed the Scripture doth not expressly say in terminis, that Christ purchased it for us, but the merit of his death reached that effect ; the immediate end of Christ's death was to exf)iate our transgressions ; Heb. ix. 15, ' For this caiise is Christ the mediator of the new covenant, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, they which are called migiit receive the promise of eternal inheritance.' His death removed sin, and the eternal penalties due to it ; and the new covenant, which is so full of heavenly promises, is thereby introduced ; none but such who.se sins are expiated, can be heirs ; and yours could not be expiated without the death of the mediator. Therefore take away this death, and there can be no new covenant, no inheritance ; this death satisfied the justice of God, and merited his favour. Again, we are purchased ; tliough it be not said heaven is purchased, Eph. ii. 14. Once more, it is said he gave himself, Eph. v. 25, 26, 27; all the benefits depend on the blood of Christ ; and 1 Thes. v. 9, 10. ' For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.' The price of this purchase then is Christ, is Christ's death and blood. Christ having purchased it, hath left it in legacy : Jolm xvii. 24,
VeU. 17.J SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIll. 137
' Father, I will that those thou hast given me may be where I am ; ' Luke xxii. 2^, ' This is the new testament in my hlood, which is shed for yon.' What are the legacies ? Paixlon and life, Mat. xxvi. 28, 29 ; and Christ liveth for ever to he executor of his own testament, Heb. vii. 25. We then adopted believers, are designed heirs of salvation and eternal glory, out of mere grace, not out of any merit of ours.