THE StTFFICIENCY OF CHRIST TO SAVE.
Ps. Ixxxix. 19. Thou spakest in visioji to thy Holy One, and saidst, I have laid help vpon one that is mighty.
HOW joyful must these tidings be, to whomsoever they may have respect! Suppose them to refer to an oppressed nation, the raising up to them a mighty deliverer must be a rich, inestimable blessing: and such were David and Solomon, who were raised up to govern Israel, and to put all their enemies under their feet. But a greater than David or Solomon is here. The words spoken by God to Samuel did certainly, in
their
their primary sense, relate to David''; as those spoken afterwards to Nathan did to Solomon ^. But their ultimate reference was to Christ '', who is the true David ^ and the Son of David \ On him was laid all the help that the Israel of God required ; and God the Father declared beforehand, to his holy- Prophets, the sufficiency of Christ to discharge the office committed to him.
Two things are here obviously presented to us for our consideration :
I. The office committed unto Christ —
What this was, may be known from the necessities of fallen man ; because it was to supply them that he was sent into the world. It was then,
1. To make reconciliation for man—
[This was a work which no man could accomplish for him- self; a work which all the angels in heaven were unequal to perform. Satisfaction must be made for sin ; made too in the nature that had sinned. The curse due to sin must be borne, even the wrath of Almighty God. Who could afford us this help ? who could sustain this weight? It would crush in an instant the highest archangel. None could endure it, but God's co-equal Son. He cheerfully undertaking to bear it for us, the Father made him our substitute; that divine justice being sa- tisfied, and the law magnified by his obedience unto death, mercy might be extended unto us, and reconciliation be made between God and his offending creatures.]
2. To effect their complete salvation — -
[It was not enough to die for them : they were wanderijig afar off, and they must be searched out; they were in rebellion, and must be subdued : when brought home to their Father's house, they are weak, and must be upheld ; tempted, and must be strengthened; beset with enemies, and must be protected: they must never be left to themselves one moment : they must have every thing done for them, and in them : the whole care of preserving them, from first to last, must be devolved on him who undertakes for them : they must be " carried in the arms," " dandled on the knees," fed at the breast, and be watched over exactly like new-born infants. Nothing less than this will suffice for them. Though there be millions of them spread over the face of the whole globe, they must all be attended to as much
as
* 1 Sam, xvL 1. "2 Sam. vii. 12—16.
' Compare 2 Sam. vii. 14. with Heb. i. 5.
^ Ezek. xxxiv. 23, 24. & Hos. iii. 5. * Malt. xxii. 42.
'§^.J] SUFFlCr^N<;Y OF CHRIST TO SAVE. 305
ks if there vi-ere only one. What a work was this to undertake 1 Yet was this " the help which God laid upon" his dear 8on.]
But weighty as this office is, we have no reason to doubt,
II. His sufficiency to discharge it —
To be convinced of" this, we need only to consider,
1. His essential perfections —
[He is said to be " mighty." But the angels are also called tnighty ; yet are they not therefore able to execute such an office as this. But Jesus is almighty : he is expressly called " The mighty God V' even " God over all blessed for ever^." In him therefore are all the perfections of the Deity. He is omnipresent, to behold the states of men ; omniscient, to discern the things that will be most expedient for their relief; and omnipotent, to effect whatever shall be most conducive to their good. Diffi- culties can be no difficulties with him. He who spake the uni- verse into existence, can be at no loss to accomplish, every where, and at the same instant, whatsoever the necessities of his creatures may require.]