2. The efficacy of them for the end proposed — [Death was arrested in its career, and could proceed no further. And to what is it owing that our rebellious world has not long since been consigned over to destruction ? " Not unto us, O Lord Jesu Christ, not unto us, but unto thy name be the praise :" thou by thine atoning blood hast made recon- ciliation between God and us ; and by thy prevailing inter- cession hast procured for us the mercies we so greatly need. Can we doubt whether this statement be true ? St. Paul ex- pressly tells us that Christ is " our Peace :" and, in that view of him, exultingly exclaims, " Who is he that condemneth ? it is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who also maketh intercession for us1 :" and he tells us further, that " Christ is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for usm."
Here then again let us view the history in its proper light : and let us learn, Whither to look, and, In whom to hope, whensoever our sins have raised the divine displeasure against us. Let us learn too the force of that apostolic argument, so weak in logic, but so sound in theology, " If the censer in
h Isai. liii. 12. » 1 John ii. 1,2. k Isai. liii. 10.
1 Rom. viii. 34. m Heb. vii. 25.
Aaron's hand prevailed for the preservation of one rebellious people from temporal death, how much more shall the atone- ment and intercession of Christ prevail for the everlasting sal- vation of our souls, yea, for the souls of the whole world" !"]
From the whole of this subject let us learn the duties,
1. Of faith—
[In the case before us, the benefit was conferred on ac- count of Aaron's faith, just as our Lord afterwards healed the paralytic on account of the faith of those who brought him : but in the great concerns of our souls, nothing can be obtained but through the exercise of our own faith. Notwithstanding our great High-Priest has performed the whole of his office, no benefit will accrue to us, unless we believe in him. In this respect we are to resemble the Israelites when bitten by the fiery serpents ; we must look unto the brasen serpent in order to be healed ; or, in other words, we must regard the Lord Jesus Christ as our Advocate and propitiation : we must re- nounce every other hope, and " flee for refuge to him as to the hope set before us." On the one hand, we must not construe the forbearance of God as an approbation of our ways, as though we had no ground for fear : nor, on the other hand, should the greatness of our guilt or the multitude of our provocations make us despair, as though there were no ground for hope : but, viewing Christ as the appointed Mediator between God and us, we should " go to God through him," trusting to his promise, that " he will in no wise cast us out."]
2. Of love—
[We see not men struck dead around us under any visible marks of the divine displeasure : but we know that " God is angry with the wicked every day," and is summoning multi- tudes to his tribunal under the weight and guilt of all their sins. What are we then about? How can we behold these things with such indifference ? Why do we loiter ? Why do we not run, as it were, into the midst of the congregation, in order, if possible, to awaken them from their stupor, and to save their precious souls ? Why do we not at all events betake ourselves to prayer ? We have, at least, our censers nigh at hand, if only we would take fire from the altar of burnt-offering, and burn incense oh them. Let it not be said, " This is the work of ministers :" doubtless it is so ; but not of them exclusively : they should lead the way, it is true, and be examples to the flock ; but others should imitate their example, and " be fol- lowers of them, as they are of Christ ;" or rather, should follow Christ, whether they will follow him or not. I call you then,