END OF Christ's death as actually accomplished 185
but a continuation of liis oblation in postulating, by remembrance and declaration of it, those things which by it were procured. How, then, is it possible that the one of these should be of larger compass and extent than the other? Can he be said to offer for them for whom he doth not intercede, when his intercession is nothing but a presenting of his oblation in the behalf of them for whom he suffered, and for thebestowingof those good things which by thatwere purchased. IV. Again: if the oblation and death of Christ procured and ob- tained that every good thing should be bestowed which is actually conferred by the intervening of his intercession, then they have both of them the same aim, and are both means tending to one and the same end. Now, for the proof of this supposal, we must remember that which we delivered before concerning the compact and agree- ment that was between the Father and the Son, upon his voluntary engaging of himself unto this great work of redemption; for upon that engagement, the Lord proposed unto him as the end of his sufferings, and promised unto him as the reward of his labours, the fruit of his deservings, every thing which he afterward intercedeth for. Many particulars I before instanced in, and therefore now, to avoid repetition, will wholly omit them, referring the reader to chapter iii. for satisfaction : only, I shall demand what is the ground and foundation of our Saviour's intercession, understanding it to be by the way of entreaty, either virtual or formal, as it may be con- ceived to be either real or oral, for the obtaining of any thing. Must it not rest upon some promise made unto him ? or is there any good bestowed that is not promised? Is it not apparent that the inter- cession of Christ doth rest on such a promise as Ps. ii. 8, " Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance,'' etc. ? Now, upon what consideration was this promise and engagement made unto our Saviour? Was it not for his undergoing of that about which "the kings set themselves, and the rulers took counsel together against him," verse 2 ? which the apostles interjDret of Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the people of the Jews, persecuting him to death, and doing to him " whatsoever the hand and counsel of God had be- fore determined to be done," Acts iv. 27, 28. The intercession of Clirist, then, being founded on promises made unto him, and these promises being nothing but an engagement to bestow and actually collate upon them for whom he suffered all those good things which his death and oblation did merit and purchase, it cannot be but that he intercedeth for all for whom he died, that his death procured all and every thing which upon his intercession is bestowed; and until they are bestowed, it hath not its full fruits and effects. For that Avhich some say, namely, that the death of Christ doth procure that Avhich is never granted, we shall see afterward whether it do not con- tradict Scripture, yea, and common sense.
186 THE DEATH OF DEATH. [BOOK L
V. Farther : what Christ hath put together let no man presume to put asunder; distinguish between them they may, but separate them they may not. Now, these things concerning which we treat (the oblation and intercession of Christ) are by himself conjoined, yea united, John xvii. ; for there and then he did both offer and intercede. He did then as perfectly offer himself, in respect of his own will and intention, verse 4, as on the cross; and as perfectly intercede as now in heaven: who, then, can divide these things, or put them asunder? especially considering that the Scripture affirmeth that the one of them without the other would have been unprofitable, 1 Cor. xv. 17; for complete remission and redemption could not be obtained for us without the entering of our high priest into the most holy place, Heb. ix. 12.
VI. Lastly, A separating and dividing of the death and intercession of Christ, in respect to the objects of them, cuts off all that consola- tion which any soul might hope to attain by an assurance that Christ died for him. That the doctrine of the general ransom is an un- comfortable doctrine, cutting all the nerves and sinews of that strong consolation which God is so abundantly willing that we should re- ceive, shall be afterward declared. For the present, I will only show how it trencheth upon our comfort in this particular. The main foun- dation of all the confidence and assurance whereof in this life we may be made partakers (which amounts to "joy unspeakable, and full of glory") ariseth from this strict connection of the ohlation and inter- cession of Jesus Christ; — that by the one he hath j^rocured all good things for us, and by the other he will procure them to be actually bestowed, whereby he doth never leave our sins, but follows them into every court, until they be fully pardoned and clearly expiated, Heb. ix. 26. He will never leave us until he hath saved to the ut- termost them that come unto God by him. His death without his resurrection would have profited us nothing ; all our faith in him had been in vain, 1 Cor. xv. 1 7. So that separated from it, with the inter- cession following, either in his own intention or in the several pro- curements of the one or the other, it will yield us but little consola- tion ; but in this connection it is a sure bottom for a soul to build upon, Heb. vii. 25. " What good will it do me to be persuaded that Christ died for my sins, if, notwithstanding that, my sins may appear against me for my condemnation, where and when Christ will not appear for my justification ?" If you will ask, with the apostle, " Who is he that condemneth \" " It is Christ that died," it may easily be answered, Rom. viii. 34. " Why, God by his law may condemn me, notwithstanding Christ died for me ! " Yea, but saith the apostle, " He is risen again, and sitteth at the right hand of God, making in- tercession for us." He rests not in his death, but he will certainly make intercession for them for whom he died: and this alone gives firm