[To his atonement we owe all our hopes of salvation. If he had not expiated our guilt we could never have obtained mercy. If he had not purchased for us the gift of the Holy Ghost, we never could have mortified our inward corruptions. But through his death we are freed from the apprehensions of wrath ; and through his Spirit we are filled with righteousness, and peace, and joy f. Hence our song will ever be, To him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, be glory and honours]
2. As man, he intercedeth for us in heaven —
[As our peace was effected by the death of Christ, so is it maintained by his intercession. Now it is as man that he appears in the presence of God for us ; and liveth on purpose to carry on this part of his priestly office. By virtue of this, our persons and services find acceptance with God, pardon is given us for our renewed transgressions, and strength is imparted to surmount our manifold temptations. Hence is our salvation justly ascribed, and that in a very peculiar manner, to his inter- cession for ush.]
3. As man, he is our Head and Representative —
[Christ is the second Adam, the Lord from heaven5. Our life is now treasured up in him, that it may no longer be exposed to the assaults of our great adversary k. It has pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell ; and that out of his fulness all should receive, who shall ever be partakers of his grace, or of his glory1. Whether we want wisdom to guide us, righteousness to justify us, or sanctification to make us holy, we must look for all of it in and through Christ. As in Adam, our first covenant-head, all died, so in Christ, our new cove- nant-head, shall all be made alive m.]
4. As man, he shall judge the world in the last day — [All judgment is committed to him because he is the Son
of man n. And what can tend more to our security and com- fort than this ? Will He, who shed his blood for us, give up what he has so dearly purchased ? or He who both interceded for us, and supplied our wants, consign us over to perdition ? Will he not rather bear testimony in opposition to our fierce accuser, and own the work he had wrought both for us and in us? Doubtless, if we should feel a degree of security and comfort in having a very dear friend for our judge on earth, much more may we rejoice in having for our judge in the last day, him who bought us with his blood and renewed us by his Spirit.]
f Rom. xiv. 17. s Rev. i. 5. h Heb. vii. 25.
1 1 Cor. xv. 45, 47. k Col. iii. 3. l John i. 1G.
m 1 Cor. xv. 22. n John v. 27.