SERMON UPON HEBREWS XIII. 20, 21, 379
Eom. iv. 25, as having perfectly done his work. As the Father delivered him to death, so he brought him back again from the dead. The apostle lays a great weight upon this : Eom. viii. 34, ' Tea, rather, that is risen from the dead.' There is some special thing in Christ's resurrection comparatively above his death, which hath influence on our justification. Was not Christ's death enough to free us from sin? Yes ; but the visible evidence was by his resurrection. It is as it were an acquittance from those debts of ours which he undertook to pay ; as Simeon was dismissed when the conditions were performed, and Joseph satisfied with the sight of his brother : Gen. xliii. 23, ' He brought Simeon out unto them.'
2. Christ's office is allowed, so that he is ' the great shepherd of the sheep ; ' that is, the blessed Saviour into whose hands God hath put his flock, to be justified, sanctified, and saved, and from whom we may expect all that comfort which a flock hath from a good and faithful pastor. We are put into his hands as he is Mediator, not by way oi alienation, for they are in the Father's hands still : John x. 29, ' My Father which gave them me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand ; ' but an oppignoration laid at pledge in his hands. A shepherd is not lord of the flock, but as a servant to take care of them. They are not his as Mediator by way of original interest and dominion, but in point of trust and charge. He hath an office about them, and giveth an account of them at the last day. He is sometimes called simply, without any addition, * The shepherd,' 1 Peter ii. 2.5, 'Ye are retiu*ned unto the shepherd and bishop of our souls.' Sometimes Troifirjv 6 /ca\o9, The ' good shepherd,' as John x. 11 ; and here, ' The great shepherd ; ' and ' The chief shep- herd,' 1 Peter v. 4, because of the dignity of his person and office. And surely if we put ourselves into the hands of this shepherd we can lack nothing : Ps. xxiii. 1, ' The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.' We may look for all manner of supplies from Christ.
3. God is so far appeased that there is a new covenant procured and constituted, called here ' the everlasting covenant ; ' partly because it shall never be repealed, and continueth unalterable, and the called obtain by it the title and possession of an eternal inheritance : Heb. ix. 15, ' They which are called may receive the promise of eternal inherit- ance/ And partly because Christ's blood is the foundation of this covenant, and the virtue of it never ceaseth ; therefore this covenant is everlasting also, and made eftectual and able to obtain its ends, which is the eternal salvation of sinful man once converted and reconciled to God. This covenant also is called the covenant of God's peace, because it is a pubUc demonstration that God is pacified : Isa. liv. 10, ' But my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed ; ' Ezek. xxxvii. 26, ' I will make a covenant of peace with them.' Partly because in this covenant this peace and reconciliation is published, and offered to us, that man may not stand aloof from God as a condemning God. So it is said, Eph. ii. 17, * Christ came to preach peace to those that are near, and to those that are afar ofl" ; ' Acts x. 36, ' The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Christ ; he is Lord of all.' Partly because in this covenant the terms of this peace between us and God are stated.
380 SERMON UPON HEBREWS XIII. 20, 21.
God bindetli himself to sinful man to give him remission of sins, and eternal life begun by the Spirit, and perfected in heaven upon the con- ditions of faith . Rom. v, 1, 'Being justified by faith, we have peace with God ; ' and repentance : Acts iii. 19, 'Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ; ' at our entrance and new obedience as to continuance . Heb. v, 9, ' He became the author of eternal salva- tion to all that obey him.'
lY, How we come to be interested in this peace and reconciliation, or the conveyance of it to us ; for this peace may be considered as ta the impetration and application of it.
1. As to the impetration and laying down of the price ; that was done by Christ on the cross. Therefore it is said, 2 Cor. v. 19, ' God was in Christ reconcilmg the world to himself Then was God pro- pitiated, and the merit and ransom interposed, by virtue of which we are pardoned and reconciled.
2. As to application, when God is actually reconciled with us, and we enter into his peace, and are restored unto his favour. This may be considered either as to the fij'st gift. God is never actually recon- ciled to us, nor we to him, till he give us the regenerating Spirit ; that is our 'receiving the atonement,' Rom. v. 11. It was made on the cross, but received at our conversion and regeneration. Or else it may be considered as to the further measure of his sanctifying grace, called here, ' Perfecting us for every good work, and working in us that which is pleasing in his sight.' This is given with respect to our reconciled estate, as we are actually at peace and in covenant with God : 2 Cor. V. 17, 18, ' Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature : old things are passed away, behold all things are become new ; and all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ.' The sum is this : at the death of Christ there was such a foundation laid that we need no other ransom nor propitiation. He hath so far satisfied divine justice that he hath obtained the new covenant. The first grace is given us merely with respect to the merit of his sacrifice ; for Christ purchased the mercies promised, and power to perform the conditions. Further grace is given us because we are already recon- ciled unto God, which is a ground of the greater joy and confidence ; for our actual reconciliation giveth us a title to all consequent acts of friendship which can be expected or received, for in God's way we shall have further sanctification, and after that salvation.