3. In tliis solemn assembly before the throne of grace, the Lord
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258 THE PERSON OF CHRIST.
Jesus Christ — the great High Priest — doth represent and render ac- ceptable unto God the worship of the church here below. So it is expressed, Eev. viii. 3, 4, " And another 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. And the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand." It is a representation of the high priest burning incense on the golden altar on the day of atonement, when he entered into the most holy place; for that altar Avas placed just at the entrance of it, directly before the ark and mercy-seat, re- presenting the throne of God. This angel, therefore, is our High Priest ; none else could approach that altar, or offer incense on it, the smoke whereof was to enter into the holy place. And the " prayers of all saints " is a synecdochical expression of the whole worship of the church. And this is presented before the throne of God by this High Priest. And it is not said that their jjrayers came unto the throne of God, but the smoke of the incense out of the hand of the angel did so ; for it is the incense of the intercession of Christ alone that gives them their acceptance with God. Without this, none of our prayers, praises, or thanksgivings, would ever have access into the presence of God, or unto the throne of grace. Blessed be God for this relief, under the consideration of the weakness and imperfection of them ! Wherefore, in him and by him alone do we represent all our desires, and prayers, and whole worship to God. And herein, in all our wor- ship, do we ourselves " enter into the most holy place," Heb. x. 19. We do it not merely by faith, but by this especial exercise of it, in putting our prayers into the hand of this High Priest.
There are three things in all our worship that would hinder its ac- cess unto God, and acceptance with him, as also keep off comfort and peace from our consciences. The first is. The sin or iniquity that cleaves unto it; secondly, The weakness or imperfection that at best is in it; and, tliirdly. The unworthiness of the persons by whom it is performed. With reference unto these things the Law could never consummate or perfect the consciences of them that came unto God by the sacrifices of it. But there are three things in the sacerdotal ministration of Christ that remove and take them all away, whereon we have access with boldness unto God. And they are — (1.) The in- fluence of his oblation ; (2.) The eficacy of his intercession ; and, (3.) The dignity of his person. Through the first of these he bears and takes away all the iniquity of our holy things, as Aaron did typically of old, by virtue of the plate of gold with the name of God (a figure of Christ) on his forehead, Exod. xxviii. 36-38. He hath made atone- ment for them in the blood of his oblation, and they appear not in
HIS MEDIATORIAL OFFICE IN HEAVEN. 259
the presence of God. Through the second, or the efficacy of his in- tercession, he gives acceptance unto our prayers and holy worship, with power and prevalency before God. For this is that incense whose smoke or sweet perfume comes up with the prayers of all saints unto the throne of God. Through the third, or the dignity of his person, wherein he appears as the representative of his whole mystical body, he takes away from our consciences that sense of our own vile- ness and unworthiness which would not suffer us to approach with boldness unto the throne of grace. In these things consists the life of the worship of the church, — of all believers; without which, as it would not be acceptable unto God, so we could have neither peace nor consolation in it ourselves.
4. Herein hath the church that is triumphant communion with that which is yet militant. The assembly above have not lost their concernment in the church here below. As we rejoice in their glory, safety, and happiness, that having passed through the storms and tempests, the temptations, sufferings, and dangers, of this life and world, they are harboured in eternal glory, unto the praise of God in Christ ; so are they full of affections towards their brethren exercised with the same temptations, difficulties, and dangers, which they have passed through, with earnest desires for their deliverance and safety. Wherefore, when they behold the Lord Jesus Christ, as the gTeat high priest over the house of God, presenting their prayers, with all their holy worship unto him, rendering them acceptable by the in- cense of his own intercession, it fills them with satisfaction, and con- tinually excites them unto the assignation of praise, and glory, and honour unto him. This is the state of the saints above, with respect unto the church here below. This is all which may be herein ascribed unto them ; and this may safely be so. What some have fancied about then' own personal intercession, and that for particular persons, is de- rogatory unto the honour of Jesus Clnrist, and inconsistent with their present condition ; but in these things consists their communion with the church here below. A love they have unto it, from their union with it in the same mystical body, Eph. i. 10. A sense they have of its condition, from the experience they had of it in the days of their flesh. A great concernment they have for the gloiy of God in them, and a fervent desire of their eternal salvation. They know that with- out them they shall not be absolutely consummate, or made perfect in their whole persons, Rev. vi. 11. In this state of things they con- tinually behold the Lord Jesus Christ presenting their prayers before the throne of grace, — making intercession for them, — appearing to plead their cause against all their adversaries, — transacting all their affairs in the presence of God, — taking care of their salvation, that not one of them shall perish. This continually fills them with a holy