[Christ, like Moses, has immediate access to that Divine Being who is wholly inaccessible to use; and it is owing to his entrance within the tabernacle to " appear in the presence of God for us," that the wrath of the Almighty has not burst forth upon us on numberless occasions, and consumed us utterly f. It is not only at our first return to God that we must seek the mediation of Jesus Christ; we must apply to him continually as our advocate with the Father, expecting nothing but through his prevailing intercession. This is the way pointed out for us by the beloved disciple, especially in seasons, when fresh- contracted guilt has excited just apprehensions of the divine displeasure ; " If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous g." Whether therefore we desire grace or glory, let us seek it through Christ, as the pur- chase of his blood, and the consequence of his intercession.]
2. Through our own importunate supplications — [While the Israelites put off their ornaments in token of their unfeigned humiliation, Moses, as their representative, importuned God for mercy, and urged his requests with the most forcible and appropriate pleas h. In this manner should we also cry unto our God for pardon and acceptance, not enduring the thought of being left by him, lest we come short of that rest to which he has undertaken to lead us1. Nor should we cease to plead, till we have an assured hope that he is reconciled towards us, and a renewed prospect of his con- tinued presence with us to the end of life. It is in this way that his people have prevailed with him in every agek; and he has pledged himself to us, that, when our uncircumcised hearts are humbled, he will remember his holy covenant, and return in mercy to us1.] Infer,
1. How greatly are we indebted to Jesus Christ! [Where shall we find one who has not made to himself
some idol, and " provoked the Lord to jealousy?" And how justly might God have sworn in his wrath that we should not enter into his rest! But our adorable Saviour has sprinkled the mercy-seat with his precious blood, and offered up the incense of his own prevailing intercession on our behalf. Surely he is well called " Our peacem," since he alone procures it, maintains it, perfects it. Let us bear in mind then our obligations to him, and ascribe to him the glory due unto his name.]
2. How earnest ought we to be in intercession for each other!
e 1 Tim. vi. 16. f Heb. ix. 24. s l John ii. 1.
h ver. 12, 13. J Heb. iv. 1. k Dan. ix. 7, 8, 17, 18, 19.
1 Lev. xxvi. 40 — 42. m Eph. ii. 14.