2. The suitableness of those offices to produce them —
[The intercessions of sinful men have often availed for the benefit of those for whom they were offered : but Christ is a " righteous" advocate, who, having no sins of his own to obstruct his access to God, may come with boldness into his presence, and with a certainty of acceptance. Besides, he is ever " with the Father," ready to offer his intercessions the very moment that he sees any danger of a breach between him and us. Moreover he is the " Christ," whom the Father anointed to this very office. It was the duty of the high- priest, not only to offer sacrifice, but to carry the blood of the sacrifice within the vail, and to burn incense before the mercy-seat : thus the office of intercession belongs to Jesus no less than that of offering an oblation : and consequently we have in his appointment to this office a pledge that he shall not intercede in vain.
The consolations arising from this office are heightened and confirmed by the consideration of his atonement : for in his one offering of himself there is a sufficiency of merit to justify all that shall believe in him. His death was a propi- tiation, not for the sins of a few only, " but for the sins of the whole world ;" so that if all the sins that ever were committed from the foundation of the world, or ever shall be committed as long as the world shall stand, had been committed by any single individual, he would have no reason to despair ; since if only he believed in Jesus, they should all be blotted out even as a morning cloud.
What marvellous truths are these ! What a foundation for hope, and joy, and peace ! O that our meditations on them might be sweet, and that our souls might ever experience their refreshing influence !]
Address,
1. The self-righteous — [What ground is here afforded for looking to our own repentances or reformations, as though they could restore us to the Divine favour ? We deny not the necessity or import- ance of these things ; but we utterly deny their efficacy to save the soul. There is no Saviour but Christ : if any man
sin, ' Isai. Iv. 12. '■ Rom. xv. 13.
220 1 joiix, II, 6. [1179.
sin, however exemplary he may have been on the whole, he must trust in the atonement and intercession of Christ : there is no distinction between one sinner and another : all must equally depend on Christ : all must enter at that door': all must build on that foundation"': all must be saved by the name of Christ, and by that only".] 2. The contrite — [Let not the greatness of your guilt dismay you. Re- member Abraham's intercession for the cities of the plain", and that of Moses for the Israelites, when God forbad him, as it were, to pray for themf. Yet neither Abraham nor Moses had redeemed their souls. But Jesus is our propitiation, as well as our advocate; and shall not He prevail? See how he prevailed for Peter, who, if the Saviour had not interceded for him, would most probably have hanged himself in despair, as Judas did : but Christ said, " I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not :" and in answer to this prayer, he was re- stored both to his Apostleship and to the favour of his God. Thus effectual shall the Saviour's intercession be for you. Consider in iihat manner he intercedes for you : when he prayed for himself in his extremity, he said, " Father, not as I luill, but as thou wilt :" but in his intercession for you he says, " Father I will that they whom thou hast given me, may be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory." Doubt not then, but that he " will pray the Father for you ;" and that the Father, who has for so many thousands of years had respect to the bow in the clouds, and has forborne to deluge the earth again, will much more have respect to the Son of his love, and fulfil to your soul the promises of his grace.]