2. He would render void all that he himself had
done —
[He has given up his own life a ransom for us, and has actually reconciled us to God by his own obedience unto death. Can we conceive, that, after he has done all this, he
h Eph. i. 4, 5, 11. 2 Thess. ii. 13. Rom. ii. 5.
1 John xvii. 2, G, 9, 11, 24. k Isai. liii. 10.
1 See the 17th Article. ra Rom. viii. 28 — 30. n John xvii. 12.
0 Matt. i. 21. Pi Pet. i. 2. <i Jude, ver. 24.
should become indifferent to those whom he has thus redeemed ? Will he be satisfied thus to shed his blood in vain ? If he has " bought us with a price," will he be content to lose what he has so dearly purchased? After he has actually "justified us by his blood," will he leave us to be condemned ? Will he, now that nothing is wanting on his part, but to supply us with his grace, and to uphold us in his arms, will he, I say, relax his care of us, and leave us to perish? Having done the greater for us, when enemies, will he forbear to do the less for us, as friends ? Having done the greater unsolicited, will he refuse to do the less when entreated night and day ? In the days of his flesh, notwithstanding all the obstacles in his way, he ceased not to go forward till he could say, " It is finished." And will he now leave his work unfinished ? Having been " the Author of faith" to us, will he decline to be " the Finisher1?" Justly does David argue, like the Apostle in our text : " Thou hast delivered my soul from death ; wilt not thou then deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living8?" In like manner, we also may be " confident of this very thing, that he who hath begun a good work in us, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ1." Our great " Zerubbabel hath laid the foundation of his house ; and his hands will finish it11."]
3. He would forget all the ends of his own exalta- tion—
[He is " exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour x," and to " put under his feet all his own, and his people's enemiesy :" and do we suppose that he will neglect this work? After 'f having spoiled principalities and powers, and triumphed over them openly upon the cross2," will he, now that he is invested "with all power in heaven and on earth" on purpose to complete his triumphs, give up the palm of victory, and suffer Satan to rescue from his hands those, whom with such stupendous efforts he has delivered? It is not as a private person that Jesus has ascended, but as the " Forerunner" of his people a. Will he then forget those whom he has left behind ? Will the Head be unmindful of his members b ? And shall the first-fruits be waved, and no harvest follow0? " Living, as he does, on purpose to make intercession for us," will he forget to intercede*1? and having all fulness treasured up in him for his Church e, will he forget to impart of it to those for whom
r Heb. xii. 2. s Ps. lvi. 13. * Phil. i. G.
u Zech. iv. 9. x Acts v. 31. v 1 Cor. xv. 25.
z Col. ii. 15. a Heb. vi. 20. b Eph. v. 30.
c 1 Cor. xv. 20. with Lev. xxiii. 10, 11. »> Heb. vii. 25.
" Col. i. 19.
1841.1 THE believer's SECURITY IN CHRIST. 125
he has expressly received itf? As our High Priest, he must not only enter with his own blood within the vail, and there make continual intercession for us, but must come forth to bless his people g: and, having fulfilled his office thus far, will he now abandon it? The Apostle had certainly no such appre- hension, when he laid so great a stress on the resurrection of our Lord, as to make it more efficacious for the salvation of men, that even the whole of Christ's obedience unto death11. We may be sure, therefore, that as he, in his risen state, " is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him," so he will do it, and " will bring Satan himself shortly under their feet1."]