The meaning of our Lord's declaration being ascer- tained, let us bring forth, II. The truths to be deduced from it —
Selecting such inferences only as are most promi- nent, we observe,
1. That there is a sure ground of hope for all who feel their need of mercy —
[" If persons of a desponding frame would state what they could wish God to do for them, in order to remove their fears; we are well persuaded, not only that every thing they can desire has been already done, but that infinitely more has been done for them than they could even ask or think. Would they have an atonement made for their sins, even such an atonement as shall perfectly satisfy Divine justice, and dis- charge the utmost farthing of their debt? We must say to them, 'It is done;' " It is finished." Would they have a perfect righteousness wrought out for them ? Would they be invited and commanded by God himself to clothe themselves with it as a robe, so that not even the piercing eye of God should be able to behold a spot or blemish in them? " It is finished." Would they have the gift of the Holy Spirit pur- chased for them, so that they may be assured of almighty aid in all their difficulties and conflicts? " It is finished." Let them
>» Phil. iii. 9.
state what they will, (provided it be really calculated to inspire confidence, and suited to the condition of the Church militant,) and we do not hesitate to say respecting it, " It is finished." Why then should any despond, as though their guilt were too great to be forgiven, or their corruptions too strong to be sub- dued? Let the humble and contrite only reflect on this dying declaration of our Lord, and they can never want encourage- ment to trust in him.]
2. That they in whom a good work is begun, have reason to hope that it shall be carried on and per- fected to the day of Christ —
[The work of bringing sinners to repentance, and of renewing them after the Divine image, is committed to Christ. " He is exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repent- ance and remission of sins." In him, according to the Father's appointment, all fulness dwells ; and out of his fulness all his people are to receive the grace that shall be needful and suf- ficient for them. Now if in the arduous work which Christ undertook to do for men, he persisted till he could say, " It is finished ;" why should he not do the same in the work that he has engaged to accomplish in them? If he stop short in this, it must be either from a want of power, or a want of inclination, to persist in it. But it cannot be from want of power ,* since it is surely an easier thing to preserve life than to give it ; and therefore if he have given it, he cannot want power to main- tain it. Nor can it be from a want of inclination ; for, if he had not been carried on by an irresistible inclination to save us, he would not have persisted in his former work ; he would have put away the bitter cup from his lips, instead of drinking it, as he did, to the very dregs. If therefore he drew not back in the former case, we may be sure he will not in this case: he will never cease from working effectually in us, till he can say, " It is finished." That this deduction is clear and scriptural, we have very abundant evidence. The prophet declares, that " He who has laid the foundation of the spiritual temple, will also finish it :" and that he will bring forth the top-stone thereof with shoutings, crying, " Grace, grace, unto it'." On this account the Apostle also calls him, " The Author and Finisher of our faith ;" and declares himself" confident of this very thing, that He who hath begun the good work, will perform it till the day of ChristV' Let believers then " cast their care on Him who careth for them," and know assuredly, that " he will keep the feet of his saints, and "perfect that which concerneth them."]