1 . The importance of Christ's mediation —
On this every thing depends : without this, there never had been a gleam of hope for any, whether rich or poor. Satan would have retained his power over us, and would have been to all of us, as it were, the jailer, to carry us to prison, and the executioner to inflict upon us the judgments we deserve. But because Christ poured out his soul unto death, our souls shall live for ever : because he was numbered
1 Rom. viii. 34. m 1 Cor. xv. 17, 18.
n Heb. vii. 25. ° Exod. xxxii.
with transgressors, we shall be numbered with the saints : because he bore our sins, we shall never have one sin laid to our charge : because he liveth to make intercession for us, we shall receive all the blessings of grace and glory. Let us then make his work our trust, our confidence, and our plea. Let us urge it with the Father on our behalf, that we may be given to Christ as his portion, and enjoyed by him as his spoil. Nor let us be discouraged by the thought that we are trans- gressors, as though the greatness of our transgressions were any bar to our acceptance ; for, it is for trans- gressors that he intercedes ; and, if we feel ourselves to be of that number (provided we hate and turn from our transgressions) we may be well assured, that our iniquity shall not be our ruin. " Be wise therefore, O ye kings, be instructed, ye judges of the earth : kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the wayp."
This subject may yet further shew us,
2. The security of those who are interested in Christ's mediation —
The believer's security depends not on the perfec- tion of his own work, or the fidelity of his own promises, (for who does not see continual reason to lament his own imperfections and unfaithfulness ?) but rather on the perfection of Christ's work, and the faithfulness of God. And who can find a flaw in either ? What is there that Christ has not done for the complete redemption of our souls ? Or who ever trusted in God and was confounded ? Let us not fear then though earth and hell conspire against us. Let us rather adopt the triumphant language of the Apostle, " Who is he that shall lay any thing to our charge ? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth ? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who also maketh intercession for us." We may rest satisfied that he is faithful, who hath promised ; and that, as the heroes of old hung up their trophies in
p Ps. ii. 12.