But what shall we say of the appointment of the Lord Jesus Christ to be a second Covenant-Head, to deliver us by his obedience from the fatal effects of Adam's disobedience? Here we are perfectly lost in wonder and amazement. For con- sider, Who Jesus was? He was the co-equal, co-eternal Son
of God Consider, What he undertook to do ? He
undertook to suffer in our place and stead all that was due to us, and to confer on us his righteousness with all the glory
that was due to him Consider farther, On what terms
he confers this blessing upon us ? He requires only, that we believe in him : " Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth " Consider yet farther, What pro- vision he has made for the final happiness of those who thus believe in him ? He does not restore them to the state of trial in which Adam was originally placed, but to a state of com- parative security, inasmuch as he himself undertakes to " per- fect that which concerneth them," and to be " the Finisher of faith" to those in whom he has been " the Author of ite." What an inscrutable mystery is here ! that such a person should be given ; and such a righteousness be wrought out by him ! that an interest in this righteousness should be conferred on such easy terms! and lastly, that such security should be pro- vided for all his believing people ! Well might the Apostle say, " Great is the mystery of godliness :" and well may all the angels in heaven occupy themselves, as they do continually, in searching into it with the profoundest adoration f. Let us then contemplate these wonders with holy awe. Let us not make them a theme for disputation, but a subject of incessant admi- ration, gratitude, and praise g.]
2. How obvious and urgent is the duty of man !
[Here we are in the situation of fellow-creatures, wholly incapable of saving ourselves, and shut up to the way of salva- tion provided for us in the Gospel. God does not consult us, or ask our approbation of his plans. He calls us, not to give our opinion, but to accept his proffered mercy. To dispute, or sit in judgment on his dispensations, is vain. We are like shipwrecked persons, ready to perish in the great deep. When the ship is just on the point of sinking, it is no time to com- plain, that our lives, by the laws of navigation, were made to
e Heb. xii. 2. f 1 Tim. iii. 16.
£ With respect to children, we believe that, as they die in Adam, before they have incurred any personal guilt, so they will be saved in Christ, though they have not personally believed in him, or obeyed his commandments. And we think that this is strongly implied in ver. 15 — 17. But it is not necessary to enter into that part of the subject.