(1) The intercession of Christ consists in His appearing in the presence of God for us, and presenting the memorials of His sufferings on our behalf. The Jewish high priest went of old on the Day of Atonement into the most holy place, to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice before the mercy-seat. No human being was permitted to accompany him. The worshippers remained without; but bells of gold were placed upon the hem of his robe round about, that their sound might announce to them the safety of the high priest, and the acceptance of the sacrifice. Our great High Priest is not entered into the holy places made with hands, but into heaven itself. He is gone there, not with the blood of goats or of calves, but with His own blood. The fragrance of His sacrifice fills the land of glory; and the merits of His cross are mingled with all the » E. A. Thomson. ' C. J. Vaughan.
ROMANS VIII. ZZ^ 34 i35
splendours of His throne. Not one pang whicii He suffered, and not one effort which He made for our salvation, can be forgotten. The traces of the blood of the Lamb are to be seen on every garment, and on every blessing there. And the Gospel v?hich we hear is a joyful sound from the great High Priest, who is passed into the heavens, announcing to us that His offering and sacrifice were to God of a sweet-smelling savour, and that because He lives, we shall live also.
(2) The intercession of Christ consists also in His declaring it to be His will that the blessings He has purchased should be bestowed on the objects of His mercy. He prays, " Lord, let it alone this year also," and the sentence on the barren fig-tree is suspended. He prays, "Father, forgive them," and the sins of the guilty are blotted out. He prays for the consolation of the good, and the Comforter descends to save the afflicted who lie low in grief. He prays for their protection, and the Almighty's hand is stretched down to shield the feeble and the defenceless. He prays for their sanctification, and the grace of God makes them perfect in every good work and word. He prays, " Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am," and the commandment is issued, " Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation that keepeth the truth may enter in."
(3) The intercession of Christ consists in His answering all the accusations which Satan advances against Plis people. Satan is the accuser of the brethren, who accuses them before God day and night ; but no charge can he urge against them which their Advocate is not qualified to answer. Their imperfect services He is able to beautify, and there is expiation for their sins in His atoning blood. He is perfectly aware of all that Satan intends to advance. There are no unguarded moments with Him, in which He may be taken by surprise. The subtlety of their accuser cannot perplex their Advocate, nor his audacity confound Him, nor his pertinacity exhaust His patience.
(4) The intercession of Christ consists in His presenting the services of His people to the Father. " An angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer ; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne." Their tears of penitence, their labours of faith and love, their songs of
136 NO CASE
gratitude, their gifts of charity, and their vows of obedience He lays before His Father, as purified by His gracious influence, and solicits for them His acceptance.
My Eedeemer and my Lord,
I beseech thee, I entreat thee,
Guide me in each act and word,
That hereafter I may meet thee.
Watching, waiting, hoping, yearning.
With my lamp well trimmed and burning!
Interceding
With these bleeding
Wounds upon thy hands and side,
For all who have lived and erred
Thou hast suffered, thou hast died.
Scourged, and mocked, and crucified,
And in the grave hast thou been buried!
If my feeble prayer can reach thee, 0 my Saviour, I beseech thee, Even as thou hast died for me, More sincerely
Let me follow where thou leadesfc. Let me, bleeding as thou bleedest, Die, if dying I may give Life to one who asks to live, And more nearly, Dying thus, resemble thee.* * Longfellow,
An Inseparable Love.
i»
Literature.
Burder (H. F.), Sermons, 462.
Campbell (D.), The Boll-Gail of Faith, 11.
Cox (S.), Expository Essays, 189.
„ Expositions, i. 91. Garratt (S.), A Pastor's Farewell, 194. Greenhough (J. G.), The Mind of Glirist in St. Paiih 47, Hunter (J.), De Profundis Glamavi, 171. Iverach (J.), The Other Side of Greatness, 170. Kelman (J.), Ephemera Eternitatis, 319. Maclaren (A.), The Secret of Power, 145. Mills (B. F.), God's World, 51. Moinet (C), Tlie " Good Cheer" of Jesus Christ, 19. New (C), Sermons Preached in Hastings, 234. Paget (F.), The Redemption of War, 65, Parker (J.), Studies in Texts, i. 149. Smellie (A.), In the Secret Place, 165. Smith (D.), Man's Need of God, 257.
Spurgeon (C. H.), Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, xlii. (1896), No. 2492. Temple (F.), Sermons in Rugby, i. 12. Thomas (J.), Concerning the King, 217. Watkinson (W. L.), The Supreme Conquest, 1. Cambridge Review, i. No. 4 (Hessey). Christian World Pulpit, Ivii. 388 (Kelman). Church Pulpit Year Booh, iii. 153.