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leap Boolf anc v a^-Y I
ore^No 407 Mar^^et St, I
.nvP Eleventh, N. Side. |l

LIBRARY

OF THE

Theological Seminary

PRINCETON, N. J.
■^ Division.
Section.
No

Case,
SheJf,
Booky.

v. 2.

A DONATION

^ CHRIST CRUCIFIED AND GLORIFIED,

SERMONS

PREACHED AT MERCHANT'S-LECTURE,
IN PINNER'S^HALL.

BY THE EEVEREND AND LEARNED

MR. JOHN HURRION,

LATE DISSENTING MINISTER IN LONDON.
TO WHICH IS NOW PREFIXEt),

AN ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR'S LIFE.
^ ^eh) (JfUition.

God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lor<l
Jesus Christ. Gal. vi. 14.

IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOLUME II.

LONDON:

PUBLISHED BY OGLE, DUNCAN & CO. PATERNOSTER

ROW; DICK & CO. 3, PICARDY PLACE, EDINBURGH;

AND M. OGLE, GLASGOW.

1823.

•4Jj ^,f.

•^Mmm

PREF

Having formerly fnfigaehed ani^^^6^d some Ser-
mons on the knowledge of ■CifiHSt,' in his person, of-
fices, and sufferings, I was inclined to pursue the
same subject, tlie knowledge of Christ, in some dis-
courses, concerning his resurrection, ascension, sit-
ting at God's right hand, intercession, and judging
the world, in the great day ; that Christ might be
seen and admired, not only in tlje sorrows of life,
and agonies of death, but also in the glories of hii
exalted state, which must be pleasant and delightful
to all who love him in sincerity. The favourable re-
ception which the former compositions met with from
such, and the use whicli, through a divine blessing,
I have reason to hope, they have been of to some,
have encouraged me to permit these sermons to fol-
low the former from the press, as they did from the
pulpit ; and the rather, because they are designed,
and I hope, in some measure, suited to set forth, and
advance the knowledge of Christ, and his glorious
work of redemption, through the several periods of
time, to the consummation of all things. Being per-
suaded of tiie weight and importance of these doc-
trines of revelation, of the clear evidence vvhich they
offer of the deity and glory of our blessed Redeemej-,
andtof the influence which they have upon the Chris-
tian's acceptance v.ith God, his obedience, usefulness,
and comfort in this world, and his eternal happiness
in that to come, I was willing to recommend them
in the best and most public manner I could.

The resurrection from the dead is one of the princi-
ples of the doctrme of Christ (a), and a foundation-
truth which has great stress laid upon it in scripture
(bj, v/here we are told, that if we conjess with oiir

(a) Heb. vi. 1, 2.
(o) Rom. ix. lO.—l Cor. xv. 14. 17.— Rom. iv. 25.— 1 Pet. i. 21
P-Qin, i. 4.

9,3

H PREFACE.

moiilhs the Lord Jesus, and bclicie in our hearts, thai
God raised him from the dead, we shall be saved ; that if
Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and our
faith is also vain, we are yet in our sins ; for, as he was
delivered for our offenees^ so he was raised again for our
justification ; God raised him from the dead and gave
him giorj/, that our faith and hope might be in God, and
thereby declared him to he the Son of God : how they
\^'ill support, or where they v»iil place their faith and
Iiope, who either do not know, or do not receive this
truth, it highly concerns them to consider.

What I have said of the possibility (a) of a re-
surrection, and of the aids which reason aflords it,
does only shew, that the doctrine of the resurrection
being revealed, reason can yield some assent to it,
and can give some assistance to defend this point ;
])ut it does rot hence follow, that the light of nature,
or natural religion alone, can either find out, or re-
reive this truth. When Paul preached it to the A-
ihenians scv.ic mochcd (b) ; some not only of the Epi-
cureans, but even of the Stoics; these last, though
zealous for natural religion, yet did not believe the
doctrines of a resurrection, and future judgment.
Plutarch (c) thought it a ridiculous thing, to ima-
gine that the bodies of good men ascend, and to place
earth in iieaven. Eusebius has acquainted us (d),
that the primitive persecutors, in opposition to the
doctrine of the resurrection, used, after they had
burned the bodies of the martyrs, to scatter their
ashes, saying, * Now, let us see whether they v.iil

{a) P^ges 4, 5. (/') Acts xvii. Sf;.

{e : In Romulp. p. S5, 36. Ed. Franc.

{d) To. Sv Iduara tuv fAU^Tv^atv (jLiTi-TitTce. xa'ivrx xa.) utB-akc-vru x-an-
^aeuB-r/ ui roy 'ttctxu.cv- vv^fhufziv it iva.?-riirovTKi, Koti il o Qice tvvuroc

i^iX'is^Ki i» Tuiv x^icuv iifjiuv, Euseb. Hist. Eccles, I. 5. c. l.p. 134
Edit. Vales. Paris.* 1678.

j*/. £. — ^I'his was not done, when only an immoral prince, such
as was Lucius Verus, filled the throne, but when this mnn had for
his partner, or rather his superior, the demure, and precise Marcus
Aurelius Antoninus, that great admirer of natural reiigion.

PREFACE. lil

' rise af^ain, and whether their God can deliver thcra
' out of our hands.' This shews, that unassisted
reason couhl neither find out, nor receive this trutli,
and consequently, the need there is of viewing it in
that light, in which revelation hath placed it.

The ascension of Christ is a doctrine of great use
and comfort to believers ; for it not only answers the
types, fulfils the prophecies, and promises of it be-
fore hand, redounds to the honour and glory of God
and Christ, but also it may fill the Christian with
joy ; and to reflect upon these things, and to see his
dear Saviour, wdio had been brought to the dust of
death, now treading tlie sun and stars under his feet,
and mounting up in his glorious body, to his heaven-
ly throne, and that in a near relation, and with a
cordial affection to his people here below, and with
a joyful and glorious triumph over his and their ene-
mies. Christ, as was foretold of him (a), has as-
cended up on high, he led captivitij captive : our incar-
nate God is gone iip with a shout, the Lord with the
sound of a trumpet ; therefore we may address Chris-
tians in the Psalmist's words, Sing praises, to our God,
sing praises ; sing praises to our King, sing praises (h).
When Solomon was anointed king over Israel, so
great were the acclamations of the people, that it is
said the earth rent with the sound of them (cj ,• but what
joy could the crowning of Solomon with a crown of
gold alTord, conipared with what may result from
Christ's ascending to his throne, and being crGv>'ried
Vv'itli glory ?

Christ's sitting at the Father'' s right hand is a farther
illustration of his and his Father's glory ; and how
much it conduces to the faith and comfort of the re-
deemed, I have endeavoured to shew, in the ensuing
discourses on that subject.

The intercession of Christ is recommended to our
esteem in scripture, as that which renders him cijle to

(«) Psal. Ixviii. 18. (Z) Psal. xlvii. 5, 6. (.-) 1 KJng^ i. 40

IV PREFACE

save us to the utmost (a) : the security, comfort and
encouragement, which it may afFoid, even to the
^veakest true believer, I have, I hope, set in an use-
ful light, in the sermons upon that head.

Christ's jwf/^?';?"- the world, m the great day, is by
the apostle Paul spoken of (h), as one of the funda-
mental articles of the christian faith, and is made use
of in scripture (c), as a grand incentive to repen-
tance, and a diligent care, to be accepted of God our-
selves, and to persuade others to Jly from the wrath
io come, and to la^j hold on the hope set before them : it
is produced as a bright evidence of Christ's govern-
ment and glory, and a means of completing the
work of redemption, and bringing the redeemed to
their most consummate happiness. This point there-
fore, as well as the rest, cannot be insignificant and
useless articles of our faitli, but must be dear to all
such as have a due value for Christ, and their own
salvation.

What I have briefly hinted ff/^, of the insufhciency
of the law of nature, to save a sinner, might have^
been more largely explained and confirmed, had there
been time for it, and might be done here, were there
room for it. The light of nature, in its present state,
makes but very imperfect discoveries of God, of liis
perfections and will; of 'i\\Q way in which he may be
r;cceptably worshipped in this world, and enjoyed by
us, in that to come ; of the immortality of the soul,
and of the certainty, nature, and degrees of future
rewards and punishments : these matters are very
darkly and doubtfully represented, by the unassisted
light of nature, as might easily be made appear; and
it is no less certain, that the glory of God, which is,
and ought to be, the chief end of all who truly love
and enjoy him, has been not only overlooked, but
opposed by the ancient patrons of natural religion^

(a) Heb. vii. 25. {b) Heb. vi. 2.

PREFACE. V

which agrees to what the scripture has told us (a),
That when thei/ knew God, tkei/ glorified him not as
God, but waxed vain in their imaginations, and their
foolish hearts were darkened. An instance of this we
have in Seneca, who, in one place (b), says, that,

* the wise man beholds and contemns all the enjo}^-

* ments of other men with as calm a mind as God ;

* but upon this he values himself more than God,

* because God cannot use them, but he will not.' He
farther says (c), that ' the upright man cannot be

* overcome by external things, and is an admirer

* only of himself;' nay, he goes so far as to say (d),
that, ' there is something in which a wise man ex-

* cells God, in that God's wisdom is not by himselE
' acquired, but is owing to the kindness of nature.'
This is that principle of pride and self-love, which
the devil set up, when he made man a sinner ; and
which the spirit of God always pulls down, when he
makes a man a Christian ; as it is written (e), If
any man will come after me, let him deni/ himself; and
he that glories, let hitn glory in the Lord. It is worthy
of observation, that instead of glorying only in Christ,
natural religion, taken by itself, excludes him alto-
gether ; and when he is set upas suflicient for salva-
tion, instead of giving him glory, must cast the vilest
reflections on his wisdom, grace, and love, in becom-
ing incarnate, living a life of sorrow, and dying an
accursed death for men, and giving us an institution
of doctrines and precepts, which we might have done
very well without : but notwithstanding, as has been
lately well observed (/), some have shewed a great

(fl)Rom. i. 21.

(i) Sapiens tarn xquo animo omnia apud alios vldet, contemnit-
que, quam Jupiter; & lioc se magis suspicit, quod Jupiter uti illis
non potest, sapiens non vult. Senecs epist. 73. p. 21.

{J J Est aliquid quo sapiens antecedat Deum, ille nalurse bene-
l"cio, non suo, sapiens est. Id. Epist. 53. p. 13G.

(e) Mat. xvi, i?, 4.— 1 Cor. i. 31.

(/) See the Bishop of London's pastoral letter, p. 3.

zeal for natural religion, in opposition to revealed,
>vith no other views, as it seems, than to get rid of
the restraints of revealed religion, and to make way
for the unbounded enjoyments of their corrupt ap-
petites, and vicious inclmations. Those who write
on the side of revelation, have as good a right to do
it, and a much better cause to defend, than those
who write against it ; and if the friends of the latter
encourage them to repeat, and reprint what has been
often much better said before ; shall not the friends
of Christ and his gos[)el do what they can, in defence
of his truth and glory, especially at a time, when
men, by various arts, are endeavouring to undermine
and run them down ?

I was willing in this circumstance to comply with
the desire of my friends, in publishing the ensuing
discourses, concerning several great doctrines of the
gospel, and to put Christians in remembrance of
them, though they know them already, and are es-
tablished in the present truth. If what I have written
shall be found consonant to the scriptures, and ser-
viceable to the faith, holiness, and establishment of
any serious and humble Christian, or to make any
persons such, I shall rejoice in the success. I will
only add my request, that the serious and candid rea-
der would excuse the imperfections and mistakes ha
may find in this work, and that his prayers, that
God may be glorified by it, may be united with those
of the unworthy author.

JOHN HUERIQN.

Jan. 28. 1728-9.

I.
^ Page.
UN the resurrection of Christ from the dead, in two Ser-
mons, from 2 Tim. ii. 8. , . . , , 1

1. ShcA^ving the possibility of a resurrection, in general, and

of Christ's in particular, 3

2. The.necessity of it, .,.•..., 6

3. The certainty of it, 9

Objections against it answered, .... 23

4. Its nature and properties, ..#... SI

5. The reasons of it, 87

«. The application, . i21, 40

II.

UOn the ascension of Christ into Heaven, in two Sermons,

from Ephes. iv. 10. , . . . . . 47

1. Shewing the reality of Christ's ascension, and tire benefit

of knowing it, 50

2, The nature, circumstance, and manner of it, . , 55
"3. The difference between Christ's ascension and ours, 66

4. The reasons of it, . 68

5. Some of its fruits and consequents, . . 77

6. The application, 63, 80

III.

On Christ's sitting at the right hand of God, in two Ser-
mons, from Heb. xii. 2. .... • 88

J. Explaining what is meant by Christ's sitting at the right

hand of the throne of God, .... 89

2. Producing some evidences of It, , . , . 100

3. Enquiring in what relation and capacity Christ sits there, 108

4. Hinting the time and ends of Christ's sitting on God's

right hand, . 114

3. The application, ..,..,• lOS, 124

II COK TENTS,

IV. Pa^e.

On the Intercession of Christ for his people, at the right

hand of God, in two Sermons, from Heb. vii. 24. 129

1. Describing the persons for whom Christ intercedes, 130

2. Shewing the reality and certainty of Christ's intercession, 13J

3. Giving the character of the intercessor, . . 137

4. Explaining the nature and properties of Christ's inter-

cession, . . 148

5. Enquiring into the extent of it, . . . . 158

6. Representing the importance and prevalence of it, 161

7. Mentioning some of its fruits and effects, . . 166
«. The application, . * . -. . . . 146, 167

On Christ's second coming, to judge the world in righteous-
ness, in four Sermons, from 2 Tim. iv. 1. . , 174

1. Enquiring into the certainty, and time of the future

judgment, 178

2. Considering the person and character of the Judge, 185
S. Specifying the objects of this judgment, , . 193

4. Explaining the form and process of it, . . 202

5. Hinting some of its properties, . . . . 22
€. Assigning some reasons of this judgment, . . £32
7. Mentioning some of its consequents, and answering

some questions concerning it, ... 240

«. The appUcatiojJ, . . 190, 212, 226, 246

Rfi^UTlRE C T lON^^jl j;

CHRIST PfeM^rl|3&At>;

TWO SERMONS.

SERMON I.
Preached May 23, 1727.

Rememher, that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, tvas
raised from the dead, according to my gospel. — 2 Tim.
ii. 8.

1 HESE words are a part of the apostle Paul's second epistle
to his beloved Timothy ; and, as it is thought, of the last
he wrote, he being now a second time prisoner at Rome,
under the bloody Nero, ready to be offered, the time of his
departure being at hand. In this epistle he has given to
Timothy the evangehst his last instructions, as to what doc-
trines he should most insist on himself, and commit to other
able and faithful men, by them to be transmitted to posteri-
ty. In the head of these stands the doctrine of Christ'*
Resurrection, which he, in my text, has recommended
to be remembered, taught, and received, as a principal ar-
ticle of our faith aiid happiness. Remember, that Jesus
Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead, ac-
cording to my gospel ; which words contain an assertion, its
confirmation, and the use to be made of it.

VOL. If. A

2 OF chIiist's resurrection.

1. The words contain an assertion, that Jesus Christ, of
the seed of David, was raised J^rom the dead. The person
here spoken of is described, partly by his work and office,
Jesus Chiist; he who was anointed to save men from their
.sins, and partly by his lineage and descent, he was of the
se?d of David, as it was foretold the true Messiah was to be ;
for, has not the scripture said (a), that Christ comes of
the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem,
where David was born ? That flesh which was thus derived
from David was crucified and buried, and after that was
raised from the dead, and came forth out of the grave, having
its soul reunited to it, and entered into a state of happy life
and immortality, as Christ himself said, / am he that lives
and ivas dead, and behold I am alive for evermore (h).

2. We have the conjirmation of this truth, in those words,
according to my gospel, viz. according to that revelation
which I received from Christ, and which I have preached
to the people, having also myself seen Christ in the flesh i
for, last of all he xms seen of me also fcj. Christ's appear-
ing was to qualify Paul to testify this important truth to
others, according to the words of Ananias, The God of our
fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shoiddst knoiv his mil,
and see that just One, and hear the voice of his mouth : for
thou shalt be his tvitness to all men of 'vcJiat thou hast seen
and heard (d). Paul being thus qualified abundantly, pub-
lished the doctrine of Christ's resurrection ; he has asserted
it more than thirty times in his writings, and it was his man-
ner (e), In his preaching, to open the scriptures, and to
prove Christ's resurrection from them.

3. We have the use which is to be made of this truth in
tlie word remember, which is sometimes used to recollect
and call to mind ; so Peter remembered the words of Christ
(f) : and sometimes it is used to put others in mind of a

(a) Mic. V. 2. (b) Rev. i. IP. (c) I Cor. xv. 8.

{d: Acis xxil. 1 4, ] 5. (0 Acts xvii. 2, 9. (/) Mat, ixvi. 75.

OF Christ's resurrection. 3

thing ; so Joseph made mention of, or remembered, the de-
parting of the children of Israel ; thus Paul exhorted Timc-
thy to keep in mind, and put others in mind of Christ's re-
surrection. We are told, that the usual salutation among the
primitive Christians was, The Lord is risen ! This is a truth
never to be forgot or neglected, seeing the truth of the
Christian rehgion, and the hohness and comfort of Christi-
ans have such a dependence upon it. From the words this
doctrine may be drawn,

It is highly necessary to preserve the memory of Christ^s
assured resurrect ion from the dead.

In discoursing upon this point, I shall observe the follow
in^ method.

I. I shall consider the possibility of a resurrection in g ; ■'
iieral, and of Christ's in particular.

II. I shall shew the necessity of it,

III. I shall prove the certainty of it.

IV. I shall explain its nature and propei'ties,

V. I shall assign the reasons of it.

And I shall then shew the use and improvement whicli
is to be made of it.

I. I shall consider the jjOSsiHlity of a resurrection in gene-
ral, and of Christ's in particular.

The apostle Paul introduced a discourse on this doctrine
with that interrogation. Why should it he thought a thing
incredible tvith you, that God shoidd raise the dead f If in-
deed the dead rise not, then Christ is not risen (a). If the
resurrection is not possible, the doctrine of Christ's resur-
rection must be a mere fiction : The Sadducees (b) among
the Jews denied the resurrection ; some of the Athenians
(c) derided it, but without cause ; for reason suggests, that

G) Acts xxvi. 8. — 1 Cor. xv. .13. {h) Acts xxiii. 8,

(<r) Acts xvii. 32.

A 2

-^ OF Christ's resurrection.

he who could at first make all things out of nothing is ab'le
to re-collect our scattered dust, and re-build the body: — If
in nature the seed dies, and then is quickened, why should it
be thought impossible for the God of nature to re-unite a
soul and body which death had parted ? Why should it
seem impracticable for the same power that formed the body
of Adam out of the dust of the earth in the creation, to
frame it anew out of the earth in the resurrection ? There
is indeed no natural aptitude, or propensity, in a body once
dead to live again, yet there^ is not any insuperable repug-
nancy in it thereto ; it may, by a divine power, be quick-
ened again without destruction or change of its species, or
kind, or without supposing any thing contrary to the di-
vine perfections. Abraham believed (a)^ that God was
^ble not only to raise him up a son, but ' the same Isaac ;
and yet at that time there nevsr had been any instance or
example of a resurrection, i;.at we read of; Since that time
there have been many (b), as the son of the Shunamite,
the widow's son, Jairus's daughter, Lazarus, and others.
Hence appears the possibility of a resurrection ; for though
the argument will not hold from the possibiHty of the fact,
viz. a thing is possible, therefore it really is ; yet the ar-
gument from the fact to the possibility is good, that which
has been may be. The Sadducees (c) thought to have con-
futed the doctrine by a captious question, whose wife the
woman should be in the resurrection who had had seven hus-
bands ? but Christ removed the difRcuIty, by declaring, that
in the resurrection there is no marrying, or giving in mar-
riage : So that there is no need to question the resurrection,
because husbands and wives cannot stand in the same rela-
tion in that world as they do in this. The possibility and
certainty of the resurrection, Christ proved by scripture

{a) Heb. xi 19.

(h) 2 Kings iv. — Mark v.— Luke vi.— John x\

U) ^lat. xxii. 1:5.

OF Christ's resurrectio:,'. n

testimony fa J j God said, / am the God of Abraham, the
God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob ; God is not the God
of the dead, but of the living. He is the God of their whole
persons, the body is a constituent part of the man : Seeing
God is the God of the man Abraham, therefore the body
of Abraham, which is an essential part, shall live again ; for
God is the God of the living man.

The apostle Paul, in discoursing on the resurrection, has
asked this question, If the dead rise not, xvhat shall they do
that are baptised for the dead (b) ? Where it is evident
he had respect to some usage then known, which supposed
. a resurrection, and also to the great disappointment of some
Christians, in case there was none ; whether it was a being
baptised into \\\it faith of the resurrection upon the tombs of
the martyrs, or Christians exposing themselves to the bap-
tism oi sufferings, m hope of a better resurrection (as Christ
said, his disciples should be baptized with his baptism) or what-
ever custom he refers to, yet this I think is plain, that he
has respect to some usage of those times, which was a proof
not only of the possibility, but also of the certainty of a re-
surrection. God's infinite power renders a resurrection pos-
sible, and his revealed will confirms the certainty of it.

Christ is the person who shall change our vile bodies, ac-
cording to the power whereby he is able to subdue all thinrs
to himself (cj ; and all that are in their graves shall hear
his voice, and shall come forth.

If there is no resurrection, then Christ is not risen, and
if so, our faith is vain, and tve are yet in our sins, as the
apostle Paul has assured us (d) : But if the resurrection is
a thing possible, then there is a possibility of Christ's resur-
rection ; and we are not to reject the doctrine, though we
cannot solve all the objections that may be raised against it,
for tve knotv bid in part. Could we comprehend all thinga

(a) Exod, ill. 6. (J>) 1 Cor. xv, 29.

r) Pliil. iii. 21. {d) I Cor. XV. 13.

A 3

O Of CHRIST S RESURRECTION.

else, and were there inexplicable difficulties only in tais qcc-
trine, there would be more colour for calling its possibility
in question. But when we may be puzzled about the mean-
est of God's works, and when we know many things to be
certainly true, the reason of which we cannot assign, (for
God's ways are past our finding out) it is very absurd to
deny the possibility of 2 resurrection, because we cannot
account for all things belonging to it. No man has shewed
or can shew any thing in it contrary to the divine nature,
or that implies a contradiction : And of all men they have
the least reason to question the possibility of it, who, ac-
cording to their principles, must suppose, that men at first
sprung out of the dust as plants, by a natural productfon.
They who own an omnipotent power, and free agency of
God i . things created, have no room to doubt of his abihty
to effect this great work. To confess ourselves at a. loss as
to the modus of it, or the way and manner'^in which it shall
be accomplished, is but to allow God to be as much above
MS in understanding, as we own him to be in power. The
scripture has told us faj, that with God all things are pos-
sible, v/hich are not contrary to the divine perfections, or
inconsistent with themselves.

Seeing then, as hath been proved, a resurrection in ge-
neral is a thing possible ; hence it follows, that there is no
•impossibility that Christ should rise from the dead. The
Athenians therefore had no reason to mock at the hearing of
it, as we read they did fbj ; nor ought we to treat it as a
thing incredible. We have far greater reasons to give for
the possibility of it, than can be alledged against it. Hav-
ing thus made the possibiHty of it appear, my way is open-
ed to what will come next to be considered, even the neces-
sity and certainty of it ; to which I now proceed in their
order^

II. I shall shew the necessity of Christ's resurrection. —
It is fundamental to all our f?.ith and happiness ; This trie

(d) Matt. ilx. 26. (/') Acts xvii. SJ.

OF CIIRISl* s resuhrection. 7

scripture lias declared, If Christ is not risen^ then is our
preaching vain, and i/o?ir/aith is vain^ you are yet in your
sins, — they that are fallen asleep are perished (a) ; a num-
ber of dismal consequences follow, on supposition of Christ's
not ri'.jing from the dead. If Christ is not risen, then to
preach to the people, that he rose from the dead, must be
vain preaching, because false ; and so that faith which is the
effect of it must also be vain. If Christ is not risen, t]\e
whole gospel can be but a fable, and the happiness derived
from it must consequently be only delusive ; for if Christ
is not risen, then justice has not discharged him ; if justice
has not discharged him, then it is not satisfied ; if justice is
not satisfied, then God is not reconciled ; if God is not re-
conciled, then Christ's blood is not meritorious ; if Christ's
blood is not meritorious, then his intercession cannot be
prevalent ; and if his inttrrcession is not prevalent, then for
us there is no salvation: therefore if Christ did not rise.
Christians cannot be saved. If Christ is not risen, then
death is not destroyed ; if death is not destroyed, then Satan
is not vanquished ; if Satan is not vanquished, then sinners
cannot be delivered j therefore if Christ is not risen, his peo-
ple are not redeemed, but those that are dead in Christ are
perished. If the object of faith fails, then salvation, which
should be the consequent of it, must fail also ; So neces-
sary was Christ's resurrection to our salvation.

Christ having foretold his resurrection ^h), when he said.
Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up ;
if he had not risen, he had been a false prophet, and so not
fit to have been credited in other things ; but he has proved
himself to be the faithful witness, in his being the first be-
gotten from the dead.

(a) I Cor. XV. H, 15, 17, 18. {b) John ii. 18, 19,

(0 Rev. i. 5. id) Acii ii. 30.

he would not suffer his holy One to see corruption ; had not
Christ risen, God had rendered his truth suspected ; and if
he had failed in one point, the whole divine revelation had
been uncertain ; for if he had deceived us in this part, he
might in all the rest. And so Christ's not rising from the
dead would have at once sapped the foundations of all our
hopes of happiness.

If Christ had not risen, he could not have executed any
of his offices after his death, the truth essential to his pro-
phetic office had been lost, the merit and intercession neces-
sary to his priesthood had been wanting, the power requisite
in him as a King had not been conferred upon him, for to
this end he rose again (a), that he might be Lord both of
the dead and of the living. With good reason then did the
apostle Paul lay the main stress of our salvation upon Christ's
resurrection. It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen
again (b). Faith is now the hardest thing in the world,
although the gospel sets \)efore us a faithful, living, all-suf-
tlcient Saviour : But if it had presented one false, dead, and
insufficient, faith had been impossible ; or if not impossible,
vet as foolish, as now it is hard ; for what reason could there
have been to expect that he should save us, who could not
save himself? Therefore God raised Christ from the dead^.
and gave him glory, that our faith and hope 7night be in
God fcj. His resurrection was absolutely necessary, and
it was not possible that he should be held of the cords of
death (dj ; for if he had, God's decrees had been disap-
pointedy his beloved Son and people had been lost, the
throne of grace had been demojished, and the mansions of
o-lory must have been left unpeopled. Hence we learu-the
necessity of Christ's resurrection, and the reason why Paul
taught it so carefully ; and, when dying, left it to Timothy,
to transmit it to posterity : hence also we learn how nece>

{a) Rom. xiv. 9. (^) Rona. vlii. 33. '34.

{c) I Pet. i. 21. (^) Acts ii. 24.

OF Christ's resurrection. "9

sary it is that we be well assured of the truth ©f it ; and this
leads me to the next head : therefore,

III. I shall prove the certainty of Christ's resurrection.
There is a natural prejudice against the doctrine of the re-
surrection in general ; When Christ had declared himself to
be the resurrection and the life, he said to Martha, believest
thou this fa J ? We need the best proof of this point, and
especially of Christ's resurrection, seeing the whole of our sal-
vation has such a dependence upon it ; God has been pleased
therefore to give us very clear and abundant evidence of this
trutJ), as may appear, if vire consider the circumstances and
effects of the thing itself, and the testimonies that have
been given of it.

1. The certainty of Christ's resurrection may appear from
the 'circumstances of it. These circumstances I now sup-
pose to be truly reported ; hereafter I shall shew that the
credibility of the witnesses is above exception.

The first circumstance vrhich I shall take notice of, is the
rolling away the stone from the sepulchre ; all the evange-
lists have taken notice of it. Matthew has told us (b),
that an angel descended from heaven, and rolled back the
stone from the door : Mark has observed (c), that the
stone was very great ; Christ enemies had sealed and made
it sure : The women that were going to embalm Christ's
body were solicitous how to get the stone rolled away (d) ;
but when they came to the sepulchre, they found it ready
done to their hands : this to be sure was not done by Christ's
enemies, for they had made the door sure ; nor could it be
done by his friends, for there was a guard set upon the tomb,
to prevent any attempt of the disciples to take away the
body : ^And if the stone was, as the evarigelist says, rolled
away by a good angel, certainly it was in order to Christ's
j" coming out of the sepulchre : God would not have sent a

(.2) John xi. 25, 26. (b) Mat. xxviii. 2.

• U) Mark xvi. 4. {d} Mat. xxvii. 6G.

or cHRrsT s resurrection".

messenger from heaven to open the prison door, if, accord-
ing to prophecy (a), Christ was not to be idkcii from pri-
son and fromjudgmeyit, or his body was not to be released
from the prison of the grave.

Matthew has told us, that the angel sat upon the stone,
that his countenance "was like liorhtninc^. and his raiment as
tvhite as snoiv) ; and that for fear of him the keepers shook
and became as dead men (h). The stone then was not rol-
led away without their knowledge ; they saw the angel, and
were so terrified with tlie sight, that they had no power to
prevent the opening of the sepulchre, or to roll back the
stone upon it again. It is very probable the centinels were
so affrighted with the appearance, that they forsook the se-
pulchre, as soon as they had a little recovered themselves,
for we have no account of their being there, when the wo-
men, and Peter, and John came to it. It is also hinted,
that some of the toatch tvent out into the city and told the
chief priests all that tvas done (c) : they were not so stu-
pified, but they knew how, and were able to relate what
had come to pass ; and it appears that they gave a right ac-
count of the matter, declaring no doubt Christ's resurrec-
tion, and the circumstances of it ; seeing the priests and el-
ders (d) invented quite another story, and put a lie into
their mouths, hiring the soldiers to tell it to the people, of
which farther notice shall be taken afterwards.

Another circumstance which shews the truth of Christ's re-
eurrection, is the order in which the grave clothes were found.
Those which had been wrapped about the body were lying
in one place, and the napkin which was about his head was
not lying with the linen clothes ; but was wrapped together,
and laid in a place by itself (e). If the body had been
stolen away, the grave clothes would not have been thus

(a) Isa. llii. 8. (b) Mat. xxviii. 2, 3. (t) Ma{. xxviii. 11.
(/) Mat. xxviii. 10. (<?) John xx. 6. 7.

OF Christ's resurrection. U

stripped off, and left behind in such order ; the fear ajid
haste of those who had come to take the body, would not
have admitted of such deliberation and order : It is not prob-
able, that if Christ's enemies had removed the body, they
would have given themselves so much trouble ; nor is it at
all likely, they who set a guard upoa the temb, to prevent
others from taking away the body, should take it away
themselves : It was undoubtedly their interest to have kept
it in the sepulchre, and to have shewed it there after the
third day, which would have confirmed the opinion that
Christ was a false prophet ?.nd a deceiver. Allowing that
Christ really rose from the dead, we may well account for
the grave clothes being taken off, and found lying in such
order.

Christ's body was laid in a new sepulchre, in tohich never
any yet was laid fa J, Providence wisely ordered it thus,
to prevent any suspicion that it was not the body of Christ,
but of some other person, that was raised. The tomb where
Christ's body had been deposited was found empty ; and it
must be the body of Christ which was departed out of it,
and no other, seeing there was no other body but his laid
in it.

To make it appear that it was a real resurrection, and not
a revival out of a swoon, it is related fl)J, that before the
burial of the body, a spear had been thrust into Christ's
side, which piercing the membrane that encompasses the
heart, and letting out the water contained in it, must neces-
sarily have killed him, if he had not been dead before.
There being then such evidence that he was really dead, be-
fore he was buried, it appears that his coming out of the se-
pulchre was a real resurrection. There was also a great
earthquake (c) at the time of Christ's resurrection, to shew
that death was subdued, and the grave conquered, by the

(,;) John xjx. 4!. {b) John xix. 34. {c) Mat. xxviii. 2.

12 OF Christ's resurrection.

Prince of Life, now rcturning from the bars of the pit, anal
many other dead bodies of saints arose, and appeared to
many. This might be to shew the possibility of a resur-
rcction, and to confirm the truth of Christ's rising, and to
do honour to him.

2. The certainty of Christ's resurrection appears from
the effects of it. Such was the effusion of the divine Spirit,
This Jesus hath God r-aised up ; therefore^ being hy the
right hand of God exalted'., and having received of the Fa-
ther the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth
this which you ?iotv see and hear fa J. Peter declared that
it was the Prince of Life, raised from the dead fbj, who
healed the lame man. It was Christ as risen that shewed
light to the Gentiles, and gave Paul a commission to preach
the gospel to them. This effusion of the Spirit, the work -
ing of miracles, the conversion of sinners, and the divers
gifts of the Holy Spirit, wliich men received, flowed not
from a dead, but a risen Jesus, who though he roas once
dead, yet is novo alive, and lives for evermore, and has the
Iceys of death and hell (c). How is it possible for the
dead to be raised — for the sick to be healed — for the un-
learned to speak with tongues — and for the most obstinate
sinners to be converted by Christ's power, if he himself
perished under the stroke of death, and never rose from the
grave, to fulfil his promise, and accomplish his work ? See-
ing, then, Christ's work has in fact been carried on, — see-
ing such fruits of his resurrection have actually been pro-
duced,— and seeing the gates of hell, neither have to this
day, nor ever shall prevail against the church, it appears,
that Christ is risen from the dead, and will die no more.
God poured out his Spirit upon the witnesses of Christ's re-
surrection (d), enabled them to do many miraculous vs^orks:

{a) Acts ii. 32, 33. G) Acts iii. 15, \G.

(r) Rev. i. 18. {d) Acts iv. S3.— Heb. ii.

o-F Christ's resurrection. l"

Muhitvides were converted by their ministry, which made il
appear, that God was with them, and owned them in their
report, which the God of truth and hohness could not have
done, had they obtruded a cheat, and a He upon the world,
in declaring Christ to be risen from the dead, as the case
would have been, if this had not been a real truth.

3. The certainty of Christ's resurrection appears from ies-
timony of all sorts, human, angelical, and divine.

(1.) Christ's disciples abundantly testified this truth ; and
they had the three great quaKfications of credible witnes-
ses, certain knowledge, clearness, and integrity in their re-
port.

£].] We must allow that they had certain hwjoiedge,
if we believe the scripture, which tells us, that Christ shew-
ed himself alive to the apostles, after his passion, by many
infallible proofs (a) ; being seen of them forty days, and
speaking to them of the things pertaining to the kingdom
of God : He ate, he drank (b)^ he talked, and walked
with them ; shewed them iiis very wounds, and permitted
them to touch them. Christ appeared lirst to Mary Magdalen,
when she had no expectation of it, and so could not be un-
der the power of fancy ; and she did not know him, until
by a powerful word he discovered himself to her. After
that, Christ appeared to the women, who were going to
carry the news of his resurrection to the apostles, as they
were directed by the angel (c). As they vocnt to the disciplest
behold Jesus met thenif snyiugy All hail ! and they came and
held him by the feet ^ and ivor shipped him (c) : which shews
that it was a real body, and not a spectre, or ghost which
they sav/ ; for a spirit has not flesh and bones, as they felt
Jiim to have. So he also appeared to the eleven apostles on
a hill in Gahlee (d)^ where he had appointed them to meet
him. The two disciples who were going to Emmaus (e)^

(a) Acts i. 3. (//) Matt, xxviii. 14, 16. {c) Ver. 3^ 9.

(</) Ver. 16, 17. (?) Luke xxiv. 13— 3 J.

Vol. II. B

14} OF CHRIST S RESURRECTION'.

had a long conversation with him, and felt his divine influ-
ences on their hearts, and he made himself known to them
in breaking of bread : The same evening he appeared to
the eleven apostles fa J, and the disciples who were with
them, and shewed, them his hands and his feet ; he also ate
before them, and opened their understandings to take in the
meaning of such scriptures as related to his sufferings and
resurrection ; all which shewed, that it was not only a true
body which appeared to them, but that the very same body
of Christ which had been crucified, was now raised from the
ilead, even the very individual body in which the Logos
tUvelt. Well then might one of the apostles say, JV/iat xve
have seen and handled of the tvord of life, declare tve unto
you (h). Christ convinced unbelieviug (c) Thomas of the
truth of his resurrection, by permitting him to thrust his
hand into the scar in his side. After this Christ shewed him-
self again to several disciples at the sea of Tiberias fdj, and
held a long conference with them. We are also assured that
Christ fej, after his resurrection, appeared to more than
five hundred brethren at once, the great part of whom were
living when Paul entered this upon record ; had not this
been true, it is not at all probable so many would have
agreed together to conceal the deceit ; certainly among such
a number some would have been found so weak, or so ho -
nest, as to have detected the falsehood : Nor is there any
room to suppose, that so great a number of men should be
all at once imposed upon by a strong imagination, that they
saw the risen body of Christ, if there had been no such thing.
Paul also has assured us, that last of all Christ was seen of
him ffj ; I suppose at the time of his conversion, when he
saw the just One, and heard the words of his mouth fgj.
Thus I hope the first branch of the argument is made good,

(a) Mark xvi. 1 1.— Luke xxlv. 40, 42. {!>) 1 John i. 1, i', :>.
(0 John XX. 26. {J) John xxi. (^ 1 Cor. xv. 6.

(/) Vcr. 8. (s) Act? xxii. 14.

OP Christ's resurrection. 15

that the witnesses of Christ's resurrection had certain and
full knowledge of the fact, that Christ really rose from the
dead.

[2.] The next branch of the argument is, that they de-
clared Christ's resurrection with all plainness and cicartiess.
Peter, in that famous sermon fajt whereby three thousand
were converted, more than once asserted it, and proved it
to be agreeable to ancient prophecy. And on another oc-
casion he thus declared, that this Jesiis hatli God raised up,
tv/iereof we are all xvitncsscs (b). And we are told (cjy
that with great power the apostles bore witness to the resur-
rection of the Lord Jesus ; an instance of this we have in
the answer which Peter, and the rest of the apostles gave
to the high-priest and council. The God of our fathers rais-
ed up Jesus f tvhoiHi/ou slexjo and hanged on a tree; him hath
God exalted with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Sa-
viour : — and ive are his witnesses of these things , and so al-
so is the Holij Ghost (dj, Paul in a sermon to the people
of Antioch declared, that God raised Christ from the deady
and that he tvas seen many days by such who came up with
him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who were his witnesses to the
people fej. A multitude of other testimonies might easily
be produced, but by these it appears how plainly and fully
the apostles declared Christ's resurrection, the truth of which
they had such certain knowledge of.

[3.] Another thing needful to render the argument in-
vincible, is to make it appear, not only that these witnesses
had sufficient means of knowing the truth of Christ's resur-
rection, and plainly asserted it, but that they were persons
of great fait J fulness and integrity. This appears in their
publishing and recording their own infirmities ; for instance,
Matthew has told us ffj, he had been a Publican, though
the other evangelists say nothing of it. And Paul has re-

(«) Acts ii. 24— 52. (^) Acts iii. 15. (c) Acts iv, 43.

r,'} Acts V. 30,31, 32. (r) Acts xiii, 30,31,32. (/) Matt. x. 3,
B 2

36 OF Christ's resurrection.

corded his black character of having been a blasphemer fa)i
and a persecutor before his conversion : Had they been in-
clined to dissemble or conceal the truth, surely they would
Isave spared themselves. The apostles did not act in confe-
deracy, and wink at each other's faults ; for we find Paul
sharply reproved Peter when he was to be blamed (b). —
They did not write encomiums upon one other, or satires
i}pon their enemies, but as became honest and impartial his-
torians, they plainly declared matters of fact, whether they
were for them, or against them, and that with all possible
freedom. They never expressed themselves in doubtful and
ambiguous terms, nor did they scruple to assert Christ's re-
surrection to the very faces of the m.ost subtle, knowing,
and powerful of his enemies, who could not confute them
any otherwise than by the absurd arguments of cruel mock-
ings, stripes, and imprisonnr;ent. They had no prospect of
worldly advantage by this tesliaiony : Peter declared he had
neither silver nor gold (c) : r.nd the same apostle, on ano-
ther occasion, with disdain refused it, when Simon, the
father of heresy offered it, saying, Thi/ vwney perish
tvith thee (d). Paul could appeal to the elders (e), that
he had coveted no man's silver, gold, or apparel ; and
that his hands had ministered to his necessities, and to them
who were with him : He was a person of extraordinary
learning and zeal, a man fit for business, in favour with the
rulers before his conversion, and he stood fair for prefer-
ment ; but he lost all by turning Christian, and becoming
so zealous a witness of Christ's resurrection. He has told us
(f), that he and the rest of the apostles Vvcre set forth as
lopointed to death ; that to the present hour of his writi
ihey bore hunger and tiiirst, were buffeted, and had
certain dwelling place; that they were forced to labour,
vvorkinT with their own hands ; and were besides made the

fa) 1 Tim. i. 13. (^) Gal.ii, 11, 14. fc) Acts iii. 6.

.i^ Acts viii. £0. (.; AC'S XX. 3", P-l. (/) 1 Cor. iv. 9, 11, 12, 1 3.

mg
no

OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION. 17

filth of the world, and the off-scouring of all things. There-
fore it could not be worldly riches, ease, or honours, that
could induce them to carry such a message through the
world : And if their doctrine could not make them happy
in this world, they had as little reason to expect it would
make them happy in another, if they published a known
falsehood, and Hved and died with a lie in their mouths.

It must require very clear evidence to convince a man of
Paul's parts and prejudices ; but being once convinced of
the truth of Christ's resurrection (a), he was ready to die
as a witness for it. Matthew left a gainful employment to
follow Christ ; and whatever he might do in a sudden heat,
yet when Christ was gone out of the world, and his interest
was so hated and persecuted, and he came calnnly to consi-
der the case, it is not at all probable he would have continu-
ed to act contrary to all his temporal interests, to assert and
maintain a delusion, which he could not but know would
make him more miserable in another world than it did in
this.

The apostles vi^ere not credulous and easily brought to be-
lieve the truth of Christ's resurrection, when it was report-
ed to them, by some of their own friends ; nay, their words
seemed to them as idle tales, and tkei/ believed them not ; so
incredulous -were they that Christ himself upbraided them
with their unbelief , and hardness of heart on that account
(b) ; persons so distrustful were not easily to be imposed
upon ; But Christ gave'them such convincing evidence of the
truth of his resurrection, that they could not withstand it ;
and when once they were convinced of the truth of it, they
always and unanimously asserted it, and sealed their testimo-
ny to it, at, last, with their blood ; though they were na-
turally timorous and low-spirited men. One of them had
denied Christ, the rest forsook him ar.d fled, at the time of

(a) Acts xxi. 13.— Philip, il. 17.
(6) Luke xxiv. 11. — Mark xvi. 14.
B 3

18 OF CI5RIST S TIE.9URRFCTI0N.

his crucifixion ; but when they were endowed with the ho!r
Spiril {'rjjj they boldly testified this truth to their bitterest
enemies, w^ho could not confute them, though their inclina-
tion and interest led them to have done it, had they been
able.

If all these things are laid together, it will, I think, ap-
pear, that the v.itnesses of Christ's resurrection were faith-
ful honest men, and that we have no reason to question the
truth of their testimony, but have the highest reason to be-
lieve that Christ certainly rose from the dead.

(2.) Thia truth is confirmed by the testimony of Christ's
enemies. Some of the watch who guarded the tomb told it
to the chief priests fbj. Pilate gave an account of Chrii>t'3
resurrection, and the miracles that attended it, to the em-
peror Tiberius, and the Roman Senate, in whose records
these things were entered. Tertullian (cj appealed to this
record in his apology for the Christians ; and Eusebius did
the same (dj, in his church history : now, had there been

(a) Acts I'v. 10, 14. {L) Mat. xxviil. 1 I.

(c) Die tenia concussa repente terra, et mole revoluta quse ob-
struxerat sepulchrum, et custodia pavore disjecta, nuUis apparentl-
bus discipulis, nihil in sepulchre repertum est, praeterquam exu-
viae sepulti — ^ea omnia super Christo Pllatus, et ipse jam pro sua
conscientia Christianus, Czesari tunc Tiberio nunciavit. Tertullian,
Apolog. cap. 21. p. 209, 210. Ed. Haverchamp.

^ipt Tr.s *£» isx/^uv avK^cttniu; rS "^onTYi^c^ r.y.uv Ir.crcv Xt'^oZ, 'us '^rd.yrce.s
P^Y, xa.^ oXr,i Yia.y.ce.i^'Avr.g Bifio'/.f^ivx, Ti.tXii,70i Tijin^ia) BoLfftXu xiovirxi, ci<ri
vu; Ti ak^.oii aurov 'Xv^'ofji.ivos ri^a. nias xut tug o ti ftiTU, S-d.yoirov \;c v-x^fCv
Kvu^ote ^i &ios tivai "Tfa^a, ro7s '^roX'kois 'iTtTii^iVTo. Eusebius Hist.
Eccl. Lib. 11. c. 2. pi 31, 32. Ed. Par.

See Justin Martyr appealing to t!ie acts of Pilate concerning
some other matters relating to Christ. Apol. 1. p. 56, 71. Ed-
Thirlby.

OF Christ's resurrection*. 19

110 such record remaining, how easily might such an appeal
iiave been confuted ? but, if there was any such record, it
shews that Pilate, Tiberius, and the Roman senate believed
Christ's resurrection to be a real thing. It is said, that the
emperor Tiberius so far believed the report, as to put forth
an edict for the burning such ahve as persecuted the Chris-
tians, if they could prove no other crime upon them but
their Christianity. Joscphus also, the historian, who was
KO Christian, testified that Christ rose the third day fa J^
and appeared to his disciples. Julian the apostate fbjy when
having received his death, took a handful of his blood, and
with rage threw it up into the air, crying out, * Thou hast
* at length overcome me, O Galilean ;' owned that Christ,
as man, was alive again, for as man only he was a Galilean.
Julian had been educated a Christian, and was a man of a
prying wit, and uncommon malice, and "had there been any
fraud in the doctrine of Christ's resurrection, he was as able

Vld. Euseb. Chronic. lib. 1. p. 78. lib. 11, p. ^03. Gr. p. 43,
73. Vers. Hieron. Ed. Scaliger.

There are remaining some spurious aets of Pilate called the Gos-
pel of Nicodemus, with two epistles from Pilate to Tiberius ;
which they who have a mind to see them, will find in M, Fabri-
cius's collection of Apoehryphal Pieces, VoL I. p. 212. 301. — as
likewise a pretended Greek rescript of Pilate to the emperor is to
be met with in the same work. Vol. II. p. 456, See.

(a) Tmrat xcitx tStov rr.v ^^ovov V/jffov; eo:^os Kvh^, uyi ocv^cx dvrov

kiyiiv ^^vi dvTov Ivou'^u tuv v^uruv ecvd^uv tx^' hy-^v ?av^S i<riTiriij.r,-

x,OTOi n<XaTS?, olx, iTuuffecvTo otyz 'Z'^urov bcItov dya-prriffavris, i^»r/tya.p

f/.voia. Buvf/.4ffia Ti^'i kvtS h^'/iKoruv. Josephus Axitiq. Jud. lib. xviii.
c. iii. n. 3. p. 798. Ed. Oxon.

(^) 'Exiivov oi yi ^oc,(A Oi^dfiivov Tr,v -TrXyiyrrj iv6vi 'rknffa.i r^v x^ipei toZ
u'lf^a.'ro;, xcc) rovro pl^poci h; tyiv ai^a. xec) ^uvat nv'ixiKxs TakiXxTi' xa.) xa.-
vu, ruuTo rnv ri nxriv of/,oXoyyi(rai xa) rhv (oXxir^rtfiiuv roXfA.na-xt ovTug ifj,-
fi^ovryiTos nv. Theodorit. Hist. Eccles. lib. iii. cap. 20. p. 147,
Ed Par.

Vid. et Sozomen. Hist. Eccles. l-ib. ii, cap. 2. p. 419.

20 OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.

and as willing as any of Christ's enemies, to have detected
and exposed it ; but he could find none. I would only far-
ther observe upon this head, that the testimony of an ene-
my for or in favour of a person, is reckoned of great weight
because it must be the mere force and conviction of truth
that draws it from them.

(3.) We have the testimony of the angels who said, He
is ?iot here, he is risen (a). Christ was now seen of angels
in his resurrection, as he had been attended by them in the
hour of his passion. Christ's resurrection is a doctrine
which destroys Satan's kingdom ; it was not therefore an
evil angel, but a good angel who testified it to the women.
He is called the angel of the Lord ; and is expressly said to
come from heaven. And there is no reason to question the
knowledge, or veracity of such a heavenly witness : But yet
we have a higher testimony than any of these ; for,

(4.) We have the testimony of God himself. God the
Father, who foretold and promised it ; for David speaking
by inspiration, said. The Lord said to my Lord, sit thou on
my right hand: — he shall drink of the brook in the voay,
therefore shall he lift up the head (b). And when the Fa-
ther brought again into the world the first-begotten (c), at
his resurrection, he saiid. Let all the angels of God xvorshijy
him. God the Son testified this truth fdj, in these words
/ a7n he thai lives, and tins dead ; and behold I am alive
for evermore. God the Spirit had borne witness to Christ's
resurrection ; for we are told (e), that the God of our fa-
thers raised up Jesus, whom the Jews slew and hanged on a
tree, of which things the apostles were witnesses ; and so
also was the Holy Ghost. Thus there are three that bear
record from heaven, the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit ; and f xve receive the luitness of men, the ijoitness
of God is greater (f). If two or three credible witnesses

(<?) Mat. xxviil. 2. {b) Psal. ex. 1, 7. (.-) Heb. i. 6.

ij) Rev. i. IP. {/) Acts v. 30, 32. (/; 1 John v. 7, 9.

OF CIIRISt's RESURRECTION. 21

among men are thought sufficient to confirm a thing, shall
not the testimony of the heavenly Three have the utmost
weight with us ?— Thus I have endeavoured to prove the
certainty of Christ's resurrection by the circumstances and.
fruits of it, and by testimonies of friends and enemies, of
God, angels, and men. All that remains, on this head, is
to answer two or three objections which may be made against
the reality of Christ's resurrection ; but these I must refer
to the next discourse, and shall conclude this, with some

APPLICATION.

1. Is Christ risen ? then how dangerous and miserable h
the conduct of his enemies. Christ lives to observe their
sins and to judge and punish them for them : Assurance is
given to all men, that he shall judge the world in righteous-
ness, by his resurrection from the dead (a). How hard
then is it for sinners to kick against the pricks, to degrade
and reject a risen Saviour, who is alive for evermore, and
has the keys of hell and death (hj^ who is as able to de-
stroy them that despise him, as he is to save them that be-
lieve in him ? Every knee shall bow to him, and every
tongue must confess him fc) : Such as do not bow to the
sceptre of his grace, must fall under the iron rod of his indig-
nation; and whatever they now think, they will hereafter
call to the rocks and the mountains to fall upon them, to
hide them from the wrath of the Lamb.

2. Is Christ risen from the dead (d) ? then how needful
is it to Jiiss the Sony and by faith to submit and resign to
him ? The gospel is no fable ; faith is not vain ; believers,
are not yet in their sins; Christ rose for their justification,
and so their salvation is in an able and immortal hand : He
lives for ever, but he lives not for himself alone Y^ J, but

{a) Acts xvii. 31. {hj Rev. i. 18. (0 P'oil. ii. H.

(d^ Ropi. iv. 2 J. {i) lleb. vii. '25,

-2 OF Christ's REbURRECTiON'.

to save to the uttermost, all who come to GoJ by him. — •
What encouragement is here to believe ! how great is the
happiness of believers ! Blessed then are all who put a fidu-
cial trust in the risen Jesus.

3. Is Christ risen ? then how may this raise the Chris-
uan^sjaii/t, /lopCy -dndjoi/ P God raised him from the deadt
that their faith and hope might be in God (a) : Such have
reason to bless God for begetting them to a lively hope, by
the resurrection of Christ from the dead (b). He who
rose for our justification will not leave the weakest true be-
liever under condemnation. He that conquered death and
the grave, and raised up his own body, is able to raise up
our dead hearts to himself, and to cut down our living ene-
mies, whether inward or outward. No blessings are too
good for his love to grant, or too great for his power to
confer upon his people, who are the travail of his soul. The
waters of death could not quench the flame of his love for
them ; he spent one life in bleeding and suffering for them
on earth, and he is now spending another in pleading for
them in heaven (c) ; Therefore in all distresses and wants
the believer may ha\ e recourse to Christ j* for he lives and
cares for him. With what satisfaction then may a Christian
leave all the dearest concerns of the church, of his friends,
and of his own soul, in the hands of a risen Redeemer ? —
God the Father has shewed himself to be at peace with the
sheep, in bringing again from the dead their great Shepherd,
What reason then have Christ's people to make God the
object of their faith, hope, and joy, through Jesus Christ
(d) ? Death itself could not conquer, nor the grave confine
their dear Saviour : what then is able to stand before him ?
Can any thing be too hard for him to do, who has broken
the cords of death, and the bars of the grave ? is he not

{n) 1 Pet. i. 21. (/.) 1 Per. i, 3. (r) 1 Pet. v. 7.

(i) Heb. xiii. 20,

OF Christ's resurrectiox. 2f5

able to save his people, and destroy their enemies to the ut-
termost. Let then all such as have received him by faith,
with joy and thankfulness ; remember, that Jesus Christ, of
the seed of David, was raised from the dead.

■'»iW(»*-

SERMON 11.
Pleached June 6, 1727.

Remcmhcr, thai Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, xva.^
raised from the dead, according to my gospel, — 2 Tim.
ii. 8. -

1 HE possibility, necessity, and certainty of Christ's resur-
rection were formerly discoursed of from this text. I pro-
ceed now to remove some objections which have been raised
against this truth.

1. It may be objected, that the Jews (a) afiirm Christ's
disciples to have stole away his body by night, whilst the
soldiers, who guarded the tomb, slept : Therefore from iiis
body not being found there, on the third day, his resurrec-
tion is not proved : But this objection is a lie, invented by
Christ's inveterate enemies, to secure their own reputation,
^nd cast a reproach upon the Christian religion. The story
will appear to carry little colour of truth in it, if the fol-
lowing things are considered.

(1.) It is not at all probable, that the disciples, who for-
sook Christ, and fled when he was apprehended, should
have courage enough to break through a guard of soldiers,
«ind carry away his dead body, especially when they doubted
of his being the true Messiah. That they did it not before

{a) Matt, xxviii. 1 J.

2i GF eriuisT's resurrectiox.

tlie watch was set, appears from the sealing the sionei and
j:la<:ing a guard about the tomb (a) ; for it cannot be
tiiought, that Christ's enemies would seal and guard an
empty sepulchre : doubtless they assured themselves, that
the body was there, before they took such pains to keep it ;
and if it was there when they set a guard about the tomb,
there is no reason to think that the disciples, who did not
attempt to take it away the first night, when there was none
to hinder them, should do it when a guard of soldiers was
-placed about it.

(2). The story carries its own confutation in it ; for if
the disciples took away the body, whilst the soldiers slept,
bow could they know it ? if some of them were awake, at
the time, how is it that they did not awake the rest, and
pfevent it? Or if they were told of it by others, who saw
it, had it not been easy for them to have pursued and over-
taken the disciples, loaded with the dead body, and to have
recovered it from them ? At least, why did they not pro-
duce the person or persons who saw the disciples take the
body away ? It is plain the soldiers never thought of tliis ex-
cuse, until it was put into their heads, nor is it to be supposed
they should all be so careless and negligent of their duty,
when they knew to what danger they should thereby ex-
pose themselves ; as is hinted in those words. If this comes
to the governor's ears, tve vcill persuade him, and secure
you (b).

(3.) If the disciples had stole Christ's body, whilst the
soJdiers slept, how is it that they did not carry it away,
with the grave clothes upon it ? Which being wrapped about
it with a large quantity of spices of about an hundred pound
weight (c)y could not be taken off so hastily, as their fear
and danger must require. Or supposing the disciples had
so hastily and irreverently stripped the dead body of their

(«) xMatt. xxvii. Q&, (l>) Matt, xxviii. 14, (6-) John xiv, 39, 40,

OF CHRIST S RESURRECTION. ti^)

Lord, yet how can we think that they would have left the
grave clothes in such order when they knew it would be as
much as their lives were worth, for the watch to awake and
apprehend them ?

(4.) It is not at all likely, that the Jews who were so
desirous to have kept Christ's body in the sepulchre, until
the third day was past (a), would have rewarded the negli-
gence of the soldiers with large sums of money, and have
undertaken to pacify their master, if he should resent it, had
the body been taken away whilst they had been asleep.

(5.) It is unhkely that the disciples should be able to roll
away a great stone, from the door of the sepulchre, and not
make noise enough to awake the watch, if they were asleep ;
iior is it probable, that the soldiers were far from the ent-
rance into the tomb, or from one another, seeing that was
the only place they had to guard ; besides we do not know
what methods the Jews might take to make the sepulchre
sure, seeing Pilate (b) gave them leave to make it as sure
as tliey could.

(G.) It is strange that the Jews did not endeavour to
support their story by some plausible corroborating circum-
stances, seeing the disciples gave them so much occasion to
do it, in th"*t they not only asserted the certainty of Christ's
resurrection, in opposition to the idle tale they told the peo-
ple, but also produced* so many witnesses and circumstances
of Christ's resurrection, and confirmed their doctrine »jy so
many miracles, and made so many proselytes, as would have
made it absolutely necessary for Christ's enemies to have
confirmed their account with more than the bare assertion of
the soldiers ; and especially if the disciples reported what
Matthew has recorded of the rise and falsehood of that re-
port of their having stolen the body of their Master ; all
these things put together may cause us to conclude, that
the objection has no truth or weight in it.

(a) Matt, xxviii. 12. {b) Matt, xxvii. 65,

VOL. II. C

OF CIIRI.'i.T S RESURRECTION'

2. It may be objected, if Christ really rose from the
dead he ought to have shewed himself openly to the people,
whereas his followers confess he was not seen of all the peo-
ple, but by ti-itnesses chosen before of God fa) : now his
more public appearance among the people, especially to those
that cruciiied him, and so knew him, and were satisfied that
iie was really dead, might wonderfully have convinced them,
and tnrned to the advantage of the Christian cause ; but the
keeping it a secret among Christ's friends made it look like
a trick and delusion imposed upon the world. To this it
may be replied in general, if the people would not believe
the evangelists and apostles, neither would they have been
persuaded, though they had seen one risen from the dead.
They might have said, what they saw was only a ghost in
liuman shape, or that they were im. posed upon by the
strength of imagination, but really saw nothing at all ; or
they might have thought the devil might have been permit-
ted to raise up, and actuate the body of Christ, for a time,
though it rose not to a blessed immortality. Whilst Christ
was living the Jews said fie liad a devil (b), and it would
have been no wonder if they had imputed the appearance of
his body, after he had been dead, to the same agent ; es-
pecially seeing he had not been dead long enough to putrify,
or be turned into dust : And if these or the like suspicions
had prevailed on them, of what advantage would Christ's
bodily appearance have been to them ? Christ had but a
little before experienced, in the instance of Lazarus, how
little a person's appearing to them from the dead would
work upon them ; for they sought to kill both Christ and
Lazarus (c), because many of the Jews, by reason of him,
believed on Jesus. How little reason then had Christ to ap-
pear after his resurrection to such obdurate wretches ?

Christ before his death had declared, that in a little time

(t; Acts X. 40, 41. {b) John vii. 20. (.-) John xii. 10.

OF Christ's resurrection*. *27

ifie fcorld shoidd see him no more (a) ; if after that he had
appeared to them, it is very likely they would have charged
him with being a false prophet, or at least his disciples miglit
have called his veracity in question ; besides the glory and
grandeur of Christ's risen state would not admit of such
iree and familiar converse with all sorts of men. It was
part of his humiliation and sufferings to be numbered with
transgressors, and to endure the contradiction of sinners :
but when he rose, his humiliation and sufferings were at an
end, and he was now entering upon his glorious exalted
state ; and therefore it did not seem ht tliat he should de-
base himself to hold conversation with the wicked, and sa-
tisfy their endless and unreasonable doubts and scruples. —
The high-priests were informed by some of the watch, of
Christ's resurrection, and the circumstances of it, but in-
stead of being wrought upon by it, they maliciously stifled
the evidence, and hired men to report a lie, in order to sup-
press the belief of it, when at the same time they could not
bat be convinced in their own consciences, that Ciu ist was
really risen. What reason then could there be for Christ
to manifest himself to such raahcious enemies ?

It is also to be considered, that Christ was to stay but a
short time upon earth, and had many important things con-
cerning his kingdom, to impart to his disciples, and as they
were to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth, it was lit
he should give them full instructions ; and therefore he spent
his time chiefly with them.

One principal reason why Christ did not, after his resur-
rection, shew himself in common to the people was, because
it was then, as it is now, the will of God, that men should
live by faith : Christ therefore appeared to a select number,
who were proper witnesses, holy men, owned of God, and
inspired by his Spirit, to preach and write the truth ; and
God was pleased to hear n:it)iess by divers signs and mire-

{a) Jolin xiv. 14.
c 2

■-^S OF Christ's resurrection'.

cles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost (a), that their doctrine
was true : and this way Christ's resurrection was as clearly
proved, as it could have been by his bodily appearance
among them ; BIes?,ed are Iheij that have not seen and yet
have believed (b). God could easily give men such evi-
dence and conviction of his being, as should render it im-
possible for any man to doubt of it ; but he has not seen fit
to do it ; he expects we should pay a deference and honour
to his veracity, and take his bare word, and depend upon it,
even when we have no other evidence of the truth of a thing ;
so h.e required the people to behevehis word, assuring them
of Christ's resurrection, by the ministry of the apostles
without his bodily appearance among them. It may indeed
be supposed, that such an appearance would have brought
many to have ov.-ncd him to be the true Messiah ; but what
would that have availed them, seeing they might believe that,
and yet not be saved ? The devils know and believe him to
be the true Messiah, and yet "remble at the thoughts of their
future doom and misery. God has fixed it as a standing
rule (c)i that in the mouths of two or three witnesses every
word shall be estabhshed ; and upon such evidence we ven.
tare our lives and estates : But in the case before us we h.ave
not only two or three, but a great many witnesses, far more
credible than the common people among the Jews would
have been, if Christ had shewed himself to them. It is not
the number of witnesses, but their knowledge, veracity, and
open declaration, which are chiefly to be regarded in matters
of this nature. If these things are seriously considered, I
hope they vv'iii be found to contain in them a suiScient an-
swer to the objection.

3.. There vet remains another objection to be answered,
which is this,— Christ, before he died, declared, that lie
should be three days and three nights in the heart of the

\jt) He!;, ii. 5, {h) John ix. ^9. (0 Dcut. xlx, IT.

OF Christ's REsunp.ECTiOK. 29

earth, and that he should rise again ike third daij (a) ;
whereas it is plain, that he died and was buried the latter
part of the day before the Jewish sabbath, and that he rose
early in the morning after it ; so that he lay but one whole
day in the sepulchre. Now, I would here observe, that this
is not an objection against tlie truth of Christ's resnrrecliou,
but against the truth of his predictions; and so I might dis-
miss it as foreign to my present subject : but because Christ's
resurrection is not worth contending about, if he were a false
prophet, (for then he could neither be the true Messiah, nor
the true God,) I shall endeavour to set this matter in the
clearest light I can. An inspired writer has told us, tiiat:
Christ rose the third day : / deliver to ^ou, said Paul, that
tvhich I also received, [viz. from Christ himself,] that he
tvas buried, and that he rose again the third duj (h).
Christ's body was in the grave part of the sixth day of the
week, all the seventh, and part of the first day of the week ;
so that it is evident it was on the third day that he rose, in-
cluding the day of his burial, and the day of his resurrec-
tion. If Christ had intended to have remained three whole
days in the grave, his resurrection must have been not or
the third, but on the fourth day. It is plain, then, that
Christ, by the three days, did not intend complete natural
days, consisting each of twenty-four hours, but part of three
such natural days. It is, as one has observed (c), a receiv-
ed rule among the Jews, that a part of a day is put for the
whole ; so that whatsoever is done in any part of the day, is
properly said to be done that day. According to this rule,
it might properly be said, that Christ was three days and
three nights in the earth, or part of three natural days, con-
sisting of night and day. According to the first division of
time (d), the evening and the morning were the first day ;

(a) Mat. xii. 40.— XX. 19. {b) 1 Cor. xv. 34.— Gal. i. 12.

(0 Dr. Whitby on Mat. xii. 40. {d) Gen. i. 5.

c 3

so OF Christ's resurrection.

accordingly, the evening or night before Christ suffered
must be reckoned to the first day ; the evening or night be-
fore the Jewish sabbath belongs to the second day ; and the
night before the first day of the week belongs to the third
day ; and, thus understood, it might be said, — * As Jonas
* was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so
' Christ was three days and three nights in the heart of tlie
'^ earth.'

4. It may be nsked, — If Christ really rose from the dead,
why did he say to Mary, Toiich me not (a) P If it was a
real body, why should he refuse such a means of conviction
that it was so ? To this I reply, — That Christ did not abso-
lutely forbid the touch ing ; for this and the other Mary
held him b^/ the Jeet. and rcorshipped him (b). But when
lie said, Touch me 7iot, for I am not yet ascended, but go
tell my disciples, — it is as m.uch as if he had said, Neither
you nor I can spare much time for this, I have other work
for you now to do ; go carry the good news of my resur-
rection to my poor disconsolate disciples, and inform them
where they may meet and converse with me; this is of more
importance than your touching me ; there may be time
enough hereafter to gratify you this way, Jbr I am not yet
ascended. But farther, — Mary Magdalene did not need
such a sensible conviction. Christ had made such a power-
ful impression on her mind, before she attempted to touch him,
as convinced her who he was (c). I will only add here, — ■
That Christ was not unwilling that his disciples should see
and touch his body after his resurrection. Thomas received
conviction in this way ; and he shewed the rest of them his
hands and his feet, saying. Handle me and see ; Jbr a spi-
rit has not flesh and bones as you see me have (d) : there-
fore, there is no weight in this any more than in the other
objections. These being removed, our way is clear to the
next general head.

(a) John XX. 17. (i) Mat. xxviii. 9.

{c) John xr. 16. (d) Luke xxiv, 39, 40,

OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION. 31

IV. I shall explain the naturey qualilf/, and properties
of Christ's resuiTection, and shew the agreement and dis-
agreement bet^'^een that and ours. Christ's resurrection
was the restoring life to his dead body, and the removal of
it out of the grave : It was not the forming another new
body out of the dust, for that had been a creation, not a
resurrection ; nor was it reuniting scattered particles of
dust, for his flesh saw no corruption ; his body was never
dissolved, though for a time it was dead, by a separation of
I.is human soul from it ; though even then neither soul nor
hody v^ere separated from his divine person ; as when a man
draws his sword out of his scabbard, holding the sword in
one hand, and the scabbard in the other, the sword and the
scabbard are really separated from each other, but neither
fv:om the man ; so Christ's soul and body remained united
to his divine person, whilst they were separated from each
other : and hence it follows, that in the resurrection of
Christ there was no reunion between his human nature aftd
his divine person, for that union had never been dissolved ;
but there was a reunion between his human body and soul,
which for a time had been parted from each other. Con-
cerning Christ's resurrection, it is said. That his soul tvas
not left in hell, and that God's Holy One did not see cor-
rupiioji (a) : his soul did not long remain in a state of se-
paration from his body, which was its state whilst the
bcdy lay dead ; but before the body could putrify it re-
entered, and animated the same body again, that had been
dead and buried ; and that it was so, appeared by the marks
of his sufferings upon it. Christ's resurrection is as-
cribed to his person ; for he said of himself, / am he
that tvas dead and am alive (b)y though strictly speaking,
it belonged only to his body, for that only lay in the grave,
and was raised out of it. Christ's coming out of the grave
was rather a manifestation than a proper part of his resur-

{a) Acts ii. 31. (J>) Rev. i. IS.

J^; or CHRIST'S resurrection.

rcctlou ; It was a triumph over the grave, as his living again
was a triumph over death. That which died was saved
from death, according to Christ's earnest prayers.

The efficient cause of Christ's resurrection was the infi-
nite power of God, which being common to all the persons
in the Blessed Trinity, the resurrection is sometimes ascrib-
ed to the Father (a) ; sometimes to the Son (b) ; in three
dayS) said Christ, / tr/// raise it up ; and sometimes to the
Holy Ghost (c) : For Christ was quickened by the Spirit.
Christ's being raised by the Father and Spirit, is not incon-
sistent with his raising himself ; for, ivhnt things soever the
Father does, these also does the Son (d) ; for they being
one in nature, they are also one in operation. The unity
of nature, and distinction of persons, is the ground of ascrib-
ing this work sometimes to the Father, sometimes to the
Son, and sometimes to the Holy Spirit.

There is, in some things, a resemblance between the re-
surrection of Christ and of Christians : Christ rose without
sin, so shall his people :" He had the same body which died,
so shall the Christian have : Christ rose to a glorious im-
mortality, so shall tlie redeemed. But there are other
things wherein Christ's resurrection and ours differ : Christ
rose by his own power, we by his : Our mouldered bodies
shall be rebuilt, Christ's body saw no corruption : Christ
rose soon after he was buried, some of the saints lie a long
time in the grave : Christ rose as the head and representa-
tive of his people, they rise as members of his mystical bo-
dy : Christ rose with a fulness of the Godhead in him, but
this belongs not to Christians : Christ rose to enter into his
own glory. Christians to behold his glory : He rose to sit
upon his Faher's throne, Christians rise to bow and adore
before it. Thus his and our resurrection differ.

(a) Eph. i. 20. {b) John ii. 19.

OF Christ's resurrection. 33

I p-oceed now to the other branch of this head, to shew
the properties and qualities of Christ's resurrection.

1. Christ rose in a public capacity : as he died for our
sins, so he rose again for our justijication ; hence the apos-
tle Paul said, IVho is he that condemneth P it is Christ that
died ; yea, rather xvho is risen again (a) : and believers
are raised up together zvilh him : we may say they are vdiis-
ed u-p in hiin (b ). It is in scripture supposed and taken
for granted, that Christians are risen with Christ ; he being
their head and representative, his pubhc acts are spoken of as
theirs. Christ was brought from the dead, as the great
shepherd of the sheep fcj, not as a private person ; for,
since by man came death, by man mitsi come the resurrec-
tion of the dead (dj. Adam, as a common root, died him-
self, and conveyed death to all its branches ; Christ, as a
common liead rose from the dead, and conveys life to all his
members ; therefore Christians are called children of the re-
surrection ( ejs and we are told, that as in Adam all die (f),
as their federal head, so in Christ shall all be made alive,
even all that are under him as their federal head.

2. Christ rose with great power, even with such power
as discovered him to be the Son of God (g). There was
not only power, but mighty poxver fhj that wrought in
Christ, when he rose from the dead. He rose from under
a curse so heavy as would have sunk all mankind into hell ;
and he ascended up to a glory above that of all creatures,
and all by his own power. To raise the dead is a work of
omnipotence ; Christ had power to lay doivn his life, and
to take it again (i) ; he therefore is the Lord God omni-
potent ; the strongest cords of death could not hold him ;
he had power enough not only to raise up his own body^

a Rom. iv. 25. — vlii. 31.

(r) Colos. iii. 1. (.) Heb. xlii. 20. {d) 1 Cor. xv. 21,

yf) Luke x^. ?.6. (/) 1 Cor. xr. 22. {g) Rem. i. ^.

-■i) Eph, i. 19, 20. IJ) John x. 18^.

34< OF Christ's resurrection.

but also to bring others out of their graves, when he rose,
as an evidence of that power, v»'hcrcby he is able to subdue
all things to himself fa J.

S. Christ rose with great 771 ag77ijic once and g^o)y ; his
state of humihation being now ended, he put off all the sor-
rows and infirmities of human nature ; and with brightness,
as the sun comes out of an eclipse, he rose out of dark-
ness into the most glorious light. In his converse with his
disciples, he was obliged to veil this glory, because they
could not bear the lustre of it. Paul was struck blind, and
John fell at his feet as dead, when he let out some rays of
it upon them. The angels that were sent to roll away the
stone, and proclaim his resurrection, appeared in shining
garments, as was lit on the glorious occasion of the return
of the Prince of life from the gloomy territories of death
and the grave. Now he saved himself indeed, and in com-
ing out of the grave, acquired more glory than he would
have done in coming down from the cross ; for it is a great-
er thing to recover life when lost, than to preserve it when
only in danger. The earthquake at his resurrection was a
token of his triumph over the grave, and all the regions of
darkness.

4. Christ rose to universal empire and dominion ; he suf-
fered in theybrm of a servant ; lie rose to be the Lord both
of the dead and living (b) : he has the keys of hell, and of
death (c) ; he was lately dcath*s prisoner, on his resurrec-
tion he now appears as death's Lord. When he was raised
from the dead, he became head over all thitigs (d) to the
church, that every knee should bow, and every tongue con-
fess to him.

5. Christ's resurrection is the jiattern and cause of his
people's resurrection ; their bodies are to be fashioned ac-
cording to his glorious body : Christians shall be raised, not

(a) PliU. ii'i. 21. (^) Rom. xiv. 9. (f) Rev. i. IB.

{J) Pliil. ii. 10, 11.

OF CIIlirST S RE^URTvECTION'. '35

by a mere word of power, but by that quickening Spirit
which dwells in Christ fa), at; the head, and in them as the
members ; Them that sleep in Jesus shall he bring tvith him :
he shall quicken the mortal bodies of the saints by his Spirit,
which dwells in them ; and he that believes in him, though
he were dead, yet shall he live.

6. Christ rose with a heart full of grace and love to his
people ; neither the sorrows which he had endured, nor the
glory to which he was now raised, could alienate his affections
from his people. Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast
seven devils, was first to see him fbjy and carry a most ten-
der and gracious message to his people ; for thus he said to
her. Go to my brethren^ and my to them, I ascend to my Fa-
ther, and your Father, to my (jod and your God (c). Men
often hate those by whom they are sufferers, and despise those
that are beneath them : but the risen Jesus still owns his dis-
ciples, and calls them brethren, a term of respect which he had
never used before. The bitter waters of death could not quench
Christ's love, nor the floods of God's wrath drov\'n it. He
stayed forty daye out of heaven to instruct, comfort, and
confirm the faith of his disciples : His expressions of love
and condescension to his people were not less^ but greater
after his resurrection, than they were before. Peter who
had shamefully denied him, was singled out by name to be
acquainted with the joyful news of his resurrection ; for his
gracious words were, Go tell 7vy disciples and Peter fd),
that so Peter might know, that Christ still loved him, how
ill soever he had used him. Unbelieving Thomas was con-
vinced by an act of astonishing love and goodness ; Christ
said to him, Feach hither thy finger, behol^ my hands, and
reach hither thy hand and ihruU it into my side, and be not
J'aithless but believing {e). He now carried the lambs in his

(a J 1 Thess. iv. 14. — Rom. viii. 1 I. — Jolin xl. 25.

(/^) Alark xvl. 9. (^) John xx. 17. (^Z) Mark xvi, 7,

[e) John XX. 27,

56 CF Christ's resurrection.

bosom, as the good shepherd ; and as the Pi'ince of peace,
he often spoke peace to his disciples when he entered their
assembhes [ajjiher his resurrection : in the same temper he
parted with them, for he was snatched from the earth as he
was blessing them (Z*).

7. Christ rose with all the essential parts of that body,
that had been crucified. Christ's risen body had flesh and
bones, he ate and drank. It was not an ubiquitarian body
^vhich rose, but one so confined to one certain place, as not
to be in another at the same time : he is not here^ he is ri-
sen (c), said the angel ; which had not been true, if Christ's
body had been every where at once. When he ascended he
was parted from his disciples (^d), and the heavens must re-
ceive him till the time of the restitution of all things (e).
Now, if his body was capable of being in many places at
once, as the Papists and Lutherans teach, what truth could
there be in the forementioned scriptures ? But let God be
true, though every man be found a liar.

8. Christ rose with the yiiarks zndprints of his death up-
on his body, which made it evident, that it was the same
body which had been crucified ; for this reason it is prob-
able they were continued, otherwise he that healed the young
man's ear with a touch {/)f before his humihation was over,
could easily have healed his own body, in as short a time,
when his slate of exaltation had commenced. Whether
these marks of his death still remain upon Christ's body, I
shall not determine, seeing the scripture has not done it, un-
less that text is to be thought to favour the affirmative (^),
which speaks of the Lamb in the midst of the throne, as it
had been slain : but this is a point which we need not know
at present, it will be time enough when Christ shall be seen
as he is.

(tf) John XX. 19, 21, 26. (l>) Luke xxiv. 51, (c) Mat. xxviii. 6.
(d) Luke xxiv. 51. (e) Acts iii, 'Jl. (/) Luke xxii. 51,

(a^ Rev, V. 6.

OF CHRIST S RESURRECTION. 3.

V. I proceed to assign some reasons of Christ's resurrec-
tion.

1. Christ rose from the dead to vindicate his dciij/y and
to manifest his glory, which had been hid and veiled in his
life and death. The Jews had insulted him upon the cross,
saying, If thou art the Son of God, come dovon : He trust-
ed in God, let him deliver him novo, if he tvill have him ;

for he said, I am the Son of God (a). Thus he died un-
der a cloud, and his enemies thought that by these sayings,
they sufficiently confuted his pretensions to deity and vera-
city ; But in his resurrection he was declared to be the Son
of God (h), the Father owning him as a God of peace; the
vile aspersions of his enemies were nov/ wiped off: In the day
of Christ's resurrection it appeared, that he was the only be-
gotten Son of God (c). The jiromise, said the apostle Paul,
xjohich was made to our fathers, God hath fulfilled the same
to us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again ;
as it is also written in the second Psalm j thou art my Son,
this day have I begotten thee (d). Thomas was no sooner
convinced of the truth of Christ's resurrection, but he own-
ed him as his Lord, and his God (e). The offence and re-
proach of the cross is ceased, in God's raising Christ from
the dead ; for God would never have raised from the dead a
false pretender to deity, or a false Christ.

2. The quality of Christ's person made his resurrection
necessary. A person so innocent, holy, and glorious, as
Christ was in himself, could not, after he had paid our debt,
be longer continued in the prison of the grave. Justice
made Christ's release as necessary on the account of his
payment and dignity, as it had made his confinement in the
grave necessary on the account of our guilt : Justice being
once satisfied, the God of peace soon brought him again

(a) Mat. xxvii. 42, 43. {h) Rom. i. 4. (c) Psal. Li. G.

(d) Acts xiii. 32, 33. {e) John xx, 28.

VOL. ir. X)

S8 OF Christ's resurrection. .

from the. dead; and, indeed, it was not fit that the body, ia
which the fuhiess of the Godhead dwelt, should he long in
a dark and gloomy grave.

3. Christ rose from the dead to confirm our faith and
hope in God (a). Christ resurrection is an evidence that
God was atoned by his death ; hence he is said to be raised
for our justification (h). Hereby we do, or may know, there
is pardon and eternal life for all true believers. The scrip-
tares speak of him as one whom God raised (c) ; and de-
clare, that through this man is preached the forgiveness of
sins ; and that by him all who believe are Justified. There
is good anchor-hold for faith in Christ risen, and gone with-
in the veil fdj ; whereas, if Christ had not risen, our faith
had been vain, because it would have appeared that he was a
false and insufficient Saviour.

4. If Christ had not risen, the propliecics and types of his
resurrection had not been fulfilled. We often read, that
such and such a thing was done, that the scripture might be
fulfilled. David prophesied of Christ^s resurrection in these
words, TIlou tviU not leave my soul in hell, nor suffer thy
Holy One to see corruption (e). Isaac and Jonah were
types of Christ's resurrection : It was at least implicitly
declared in those words, Sit thou at my right hand (f)-;
and promised in those, therefore shall he lift up the head.
Christ himself had foretold it (g) : On these accounts, it
was therefore necessary, that Christ should rise from the
dead.

5. The ijcorh which Christ had to do after his death, re-
quired his resurrection. The scripture has assured us fhj,
there is one Mediator , the man Christ Jesus ; but without
his body Christ had not been man : The world is to be
'^ndged in righteousness by the man Christ Jesus (i). The

(a) 1 Pet, il. 23. («) Rom. iv. 25. {c") Acts xiii. 37— :J9.

(«/; Heb. vi. 19. (0 Psa!. xvi. 10. (/) Psal. ex. 1, 7.

(^) John ii. 19, 21. (//) 1 Tim. ii, 5. {I) Acts ocvii. 31.

OF Christ's resurrection^. S9

bodies of the saints are to be fashioned according to Christ's
glorious body (aj ; they who had pierced him are to see
him and mourn fbj. These things require his resurrection
from the dead.

6. It was fit that that body which had bore its part in la-
hours and sriffcrings should also enjoy its part in the follow-.
i^ glory ; and for that end it must be raised from the dead.
It was always designed : Therefore Christ is represented,
saying, / have a goodlij heritage : Thou xt^ilt sliexv me the
jjaih of life ; at thy rigtit hand there are pleasures for
evermore (c).

7. Christ rose from the dead, in order to the effusion of
the Holy Spirit. It was said before Christ's death (dj,
that the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was
not glorified : If it was necessary that Christ should be
glorified, then it was necessary that Christ should' rise
from the dead, in order to the giving the Spirit ; and when
upon his exaItation> the Spirit was poured forth from on high,
Peter might well say, He being by the right hand of God
cxaltedi and having received of the Father the premise of
the Spirit, he hath shed Jbrlh this tvhich you norv see and
I car (e).

8. Christ rose from the dead, as a pledge and assuranc<^
of our resurrection ; because Jesus died and rose again (fj,
therefore such as sleep in Jesus shall God bring witli \\ivc\.
Because I live, said Christ, yon shall live also (g). It is
ia and through the risen Jesus, that believers have the vic-
tory over death and the grave (h) \ their life is hid witii
Christ in God ; and when Christ shall appear, they alro
shall appear with him in glor}\ Thus for many weight}'-
reasons it was necessary, that Christ should rise from llie
dead.

(a) Phil. iii. 01. C'^) Rev. i, 7. {c) Psal. xvi. f,, lu.

(i) John vii. .S9. {e) Acts ii. 33. (/) 1 Thess, iv. J 4.

(a) John xlv. 9. (//} Col. iii. 3, 4.

40 OF Christ's resurrection.

APPLICATION.

1. If Christ was raised from the dead, then it is unrea-
sonable for sinners to thrust him down from his excellency.
Did God exalt him, and shall we trample him under foot ? Let
us not degrade him in his person, or interest, to whom God
has given a name above every name ; so that at the name of
Jesus every knee must bow fa J, and every tongue must
confess him, to the glory of God the Father. If Christ
is risen from the dead, and crowned with glory and honour,
it is then at their peril that sinners load him with contempt
and disgrace. Christ deserves better treatment at their
hands ; they have little reason to expect a favourable sen-
tence from that Go^ who raised him from the dead, and
gave him glory, whilst they despise and reject him, indulge
their lusts, disobey his law, slight his righteous judgments,
and disregard the rewards which he gives, and the punish-
ment he inflicts in the great day. How great is their guilt,
a-nd how dreadful will tl:eir punishment be, who neglect and
refuse him, who is declared to be the Son of God fbjf by
his resurrection from the dead, and who now speaks to them
from heaven ?

2. We may take occasion to inquire what interest have
we in the risen Jesus, what benefit we have reason to expect
from his resurrection, and whether he was raised for our jug-
tification. To state and determine this important question,
I shall refer to the decision of it which the scripture has
given. There we are told. Blessed and holy is he xuho
hath part in the Jirst resurrection, on such the second death
shall have no power (c). I.ct us then thus examine our-
selves. Has God begotten us. again ? Are we born of God ?
Has the immortal seed quickened and sanctified us ? Then
we have part in the risen Jesus, and the blessedness pro-

(=0 riiilip. ii. 1 1. {h) Htb. X. 29.— xii. 25. (0 Rev. xx. ^;.

OF CHRISX'S RESURRECTION. 4l

nounced on such as believe in him. Are we planted in tlie
likeness of Christ's death ? If so (a), we shall be planteil
in the likeness of his resurrection ? Is sin mortifiedj has it
lost our love ? Then it has lost its dominion, and shall lose
its being. Do we heartily desire to be delivered from the
body of this death, and to be made completely holy ? JDo
we breathe a spirit of love and faith to God, desire of his
presence, and zeal for his glory I Are we brought to say,
as Christ, Not my will, but thine be done? Do we endea-
vour to make use of Christ's death, to the same end for
which he submitted (bj^ that we may die to sin and live to
righteousness ? If so, we have reason to think we are
planted in the likeness of Christ's death, and shall be plant-
ed in the likeness of his resurrectioii. Are our affections
set on things above ('c) ? Is our conversation in heaven ?
Do we love, and look, and long for the Saviour fcl) ? Then
we have reason to hope that he rose for out justification ;
and that in due time he shall change our vile bodies, and
make them like to his own glorious body ? Have we our
rest in, or dependence on, Christ ? Are we raised together
with him, and made to sit in heavenly places in him fe) ?
Do we go entirely out of ourselves, and place all our trust
upon the merit and righteousness of our Redeemer, for life
and salvation ? And do we find complacence and satisfac-
tion in the way and method of life and salvation by Christ,
revealed in the gospel, and acquiesce in it, without seeking
or desiring any other way of salvation, or any alteration in
this way ? If so, we have reason to hope ^q are of that
happy number who shall not die eternally, who now live in
Christ by faith, and shall hereafter live with him in body
and soul for ever. If the bent of our hearts, and the scope
of our actions be to do good, and to aspire after perfect

{a) Rom. vi, 5. {b) 1 P«t. ii. 24. („) Colos. iJi. I.

{d) Philip, iii. 20, 21. {e) Eph. ii. 6.
Ii3

P2 OF Christ's resurrection".

holiness, then we have reason to rejoice in Christ's resurrec-
tion, as designed for our justification. Paul aspired after
the resurrection of the dead faj ; not barely, that he might
rise again, but that he might attain the holy heavenly spirit,,
which the saints have at the day, when their corruptible shall
put on incorruption, and their mortal be swallowed of im*
mortality. We are told by Christ himself, that they who
have done good, shall come forth out of their graves to
the resurrection of life fbj : As the tree must first be good,
before the fruit can be so ; so the person must be renewed,
or created in Christ Jesus, before he can perform good
works ; the works themselves must be good, for their matter^
manner, and end ; th©-y must be what God commands, done
as he requires, and with a design to please and honour hintj
and to be beneficial to others : And this doing good is not
to be understood of a single act, but of a continued course ;
where the person is good and his principles and ends are good,
his life and course will be so in some measure : For the
fruits of the Spirit are in all goodness ("cj. Are we then
risen with Christ, born or begotten again ? Are we plant-
ed into the likeness qf his death I Are our affections set on
things above ? Is the bent of our hearts, and the scope of
our lives, to do good ? If so, we may take great comfort
in Christ's resurrection, as that on which we may build a
lively hope of the inheritance which is incorruptible, unde-
filed, and which fadeth not away ; which is reserved in hea-
ven for those who are kept by the power of God, through
faith to salvation fdj.

3. Is Christ raised from the dead ? then what encourage-
ment have we to commit ourselves to him, and to cast all
our care upon him, for he careth for us ? It is now evident,
that he is the Son of God, and that God is atoned by him.,

(a) Phil. ill. II. (^) John V. 29.

(0 Ephes. v., 9. {d) 1 Pet. i. 3—5.

OF Christ's resurrection'.- 4S

and is become a God of peace through his blood. Christ
therefore is able to keep what we commit to his trust ((i)j
and to save us to the uttermost : He suffered, that he might
bring us to God (b). After his sufferings he returned to
his Father, but not alone, and empty handed, he brings his
children with him : he doth not send them to God, and
stay behind himself ; but he goes to God as their forerunner,
and afterwards brings all his followers into the divine pre-
sence, and to the glory of heaven. We may safely trust
God on his word ; he that raised up Christ from the dead,
according to his promise (c), will not break his word with
us, or exclude us from the heavenly inheritance : Christ has
taken possession of it in the name and behalf of his people ;
he is for us entered, and we have his promise (d)y that he
will come again, and receive us to himself, that where he is
we may be also. A living exalted head will not finally
leave any of its members in a dying inglorious state ; Christ
is alive, and all the redeemed shall be saved by his life : He
who conquered Satan, death, and the grave, even when he
died, will not be conquered by them now he is alive ; he dies
no more, and such as believe in him shall never die (e)y or
shall not die eternally, because Christ lives ; he liveth in
them, and they shall live for ever with him. We then may
safely trust in the Lord ; his saints may trust in the Lord
for ever (f), for in the Lord Jehovah there is everlasting
strength. The true believer may trust, and not be afraid ;
that justice, which discharged our surety, will not condemn
our persons ; Christ's discharge is our's, his resurrection
and glory virtually contain ours in them (g) : He who rais-
ed up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up. Jesus Christ's in-
terest in our souls, or in the world, may be brought low
for a time, but he has promised, that the gates of hell shall

ia) 2 Tim. i. 12. {b) 1 Pet. iii. 18. {c) Heb. vi. 20.

(J) John xiv. 2. {e) John xi. 26. (/) Isa. xxvi. 4.

(g) 2 Cor. iv. 14,

44 OF Christ's iiESURRECTioy.

not prevail against that church which is built on the Son of
the Hving God (a). Our blessed Saviour is in a condition
to fulfil his promise ; for if men and devils, when they unit-
ed all their force against him, and brought him to the dust
of death, could not keep him under, or prevent his rising to
immortality and supreme dominion ; then surely they shall
not be able, now he is possessed of such a glorious empire,
to disappoint his designs, or crush his interest. If the
weakness of Christ was stronger than his enemies, what
will his strength be ? If the dying Jesus was an overmatch
for all the powers of darkness, surely the risen living Savi-
ouj is able entirely to subdue them ; especially considering,
that God has put all things under his feet, and has given
him to be head over all things to the church (h) ; what
deadness soever there is in our frames, and what seeming
death soever there may be upon our hopes and comforts, yet
let us consider, we have a risen living head, who is able to
give a resurrection to our faith, hope, and comfort ; and
also to his interest in the world. O then let us not sorrow
as others, who have no hope, who have no risen Saviour to
raise their hope and joy above their fears and sorrows : Let
us consider how low Christ was brought, and how high he
rose after that, lest we be wearied and faint in our minds (c) :
Let us take the apostle Paul for an example, who said. We
had the sentence of death in oiu'selves, that we shoidd not
trust in ourselves^ but in God, xvho raises the dead ; tvho
delivered us from so great a death, and still delivers, in
whom tve trust that he will yet deliver (d).

4. If Christ has risen from the dead, then what reason is
there for us all to take Christ's yoke upon us, and to yield
to him ? For this end he revived and rose again (e), that
he might be the Lord both of the dead and of the living ;

(^2) Mat. xvi. 16, 18. {h) Eph. i. 22. (<-) Heb. xli. 2, 3.

{d) 2 Cor. i. 9, 10. {e) Rom. xlv. Q.

OF Christ's REauRRECTiON. 4j

every knee shall bow to him, such as do it not in love and
obedience, shall do it in fear and torment. Kow hard will
it be for us to contradict and oppose the design both of
Christ's death and of his new life, which is that he may be
our Lord ? As we know this, can any say in their hearts
and practice, that he shall not reign over them ?

5. Is Christ risen, then what full assurance have we, that
Christ is no deceiver, but the very Christ, the true Messiah ?
God has owned him, raised him from the dead, and given
him glory ; he is therefore the real and great Shepherd of
his sheep. He returned to his people with the same spirit
of love and condescension, which had appeared in all his
life before ; he was full of grace and truth, as has been
hinted : his resurrection should cause us, with Thomas, to
own him as our Lord, and our God, as the true and only
Saviour, who was not only manifested in the flesh, but was
justified in the Spirit, when he was declared to be the Son
of God, by his resurrection from the dead.

6. Since Christ is risen, how necessary is it for them who
are married to him that is risen from the dead (a)y to bring
forth fruit to God ? Christians lie under the strongest obli-
gations, not to live to themselves (b), but to him that died
for them, and rose again. Does Christ live in heaven con-
tinually to intercede for us, and shall not we live on earth,
to serve and glorify him ? Is Christ never weary of doing
for us, and shall we ever grow weary of his service ? Could
neither the sorrows of death, nor the glories of the resur-
rection take off his heart or hand from the work of our sal-
vation ? and shall either the frowns or flatteries of the world,
cause us desert his ijiterest, or the work which he calls us
to ? If we are risen with Christ, we ought to set our af-
fections on things above (c)f and have our conversation in
heaven.

U) Rom, vii. 4. (/) 2 Cor. v. \5. {c) Colos. iii. 1, -?.

•i:b OF CillllST S RESURRECTIOK'.

7. Seeing Christ is risen, and the redeemed shall rise to
a glorious immortahty, let us be stedfast and unmoveable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as
we know, that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord fa J.
There is reason to labour for Christ, seeing he has done, is
doing, and will do such great and glorious things for us.
We are not called to serve a weak or hard master, but to
obey one who has a large heart, and a strong hand ; our la-
bour shall not be in vain in the Lord. Let us then labour
and not faint, remembering with faith, love, joy, and thank-
fulness, that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised
from the dead, according to the gospel.

GO i Cor. XV. 58.

CHRIST'S ASCENSION;

TWO SERMONS.

SERMON I.

Preached August 23, 1727.

He xvJio descended, is the same ivho also ascended 7<p far
above all heavens, that he might Jill all things. — Epii.
iv. 10.

Having formerly treated of Christ's resurrection, I come
now to consider his ascension. We are to follow the
Lamb, whithersoever he goes. In the words now to be
insisted on, we have the person ascending-described, his a-
scension affirmed, and the end of it declared.

1. We have a description of the person ascending. The
same person ascended who descended into the lower parts of
the earth ; first into the vvromb, afterwards into the gr
Thus one of the ancients has explained it (a) : — ' He wl

* descended, is plainly he v/ho when he was in the heavens,

* by the incarnation came down to the earth, and by death

< went into the grave; he is the same single person, not dl-

< vers persons.'

(i/) 'O ya.p KurecZa.;, l»Xo\ on aivu cov Ktm-iSi] mu <rafKyf/.ivss tls rh yr.-J,

Theopliylact. In loc.

ave.

48 OF CHRIST S ASCEKSIOX.

Christ's assuming our nature did not multiply his person'
or make him two persons ; nor did his death or burial alter
his person ; but amidst all these changes of the human na-
ture, his divine person remained the same. He who de-
scended and ascended was the eternal Son of God. Local
motion is not proper to his divine nature ; but he having al-
so another, that is, the human nature, with respect to that,
he is said to descend and ascend : He descended when he
assumed it ; he ascended when he carried it up to heaven.
Those acts are properly ascribed to his person, seeing they
telong to a nature which is united to, and subsists in, his
<ilivine person. On this account we find Christ saying, —
I came forth from the Fathert and came into the ivorld ;
J leave the tvorldt and go to the Father. A.nd elsewhere,
IVhat if you shatl see the Son of Man asceyid up, tvJiere he
'ivas before fa J. The apostle, in my text, has. very proper-
ly ascribed the descending and the ascending to the same
person, to distinguish our Saviour from all others : Saints
ascend, but they never descended; angels descend, but not in-
to the lowest parts of the earth, nor do they ascend to fll
all thi7igs as Christ did.

2. We have Christ's ascension affirmed. He ascended up
far above all heavens ; in his human nature he left the earth,
and went up far above all the visible heavens, to the third
heaven, where he sat down at the right hand of God : he
went far above the aetherial and starry heavens, into the
place of the blessed, called the third heaven, which must
receive him, till the time of Me restitution of all things fbj.
He went vcithin the veil (c), into the heavenly sanctuary,
to appear in the presence of God for us. We have, as the
apostle Paul has told us, a great high priest, who is pass-
ed into, or, as it might be rendered, through the hca-

(a) John xvi. 28.— John vl. G2. (A; Acts iii. 2L

{c) Heb. vi. 20.

OF Christ's ascexsion. 40

ve4is (a ) ; as the high priest of old passed through the first aud
second veil into the most holy place (bj, and was hid there,
from the sight of priests and people ; so Christ, our great
high priest, passed through the visible heavens intol;he third
heaven, the holiest of all, which hides him from our sight.

3. In the words we have the end of this ascension de-
clared^ it was that he might Jill all things. Soon after his
ascension (c), he filled his apostles, ministers, and people
with the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit. Thus fulfill-
ing the glorious work he had undertaken, he ascended (d)y
and gave some apostles^ some prophetSy some evangelists,
some pastors, and some teachers, for the perfecting of the
saints, till tve all come to a perfect man, to the measure of
the stature of the fulness of Christ. It is to be observed,
that the filling of all things, ascribed to Christ, in my text,
is subsequent to his ascension ; and therefore cannot be meant
of his omnipresejice as God, for so he filled all things, not
only after his ascension, but at all times before.

Some would interpret Christ's filing all things of the
ubiquity of his body ; but it is contrary to the nature of a
bodily substance to be infinitely extended : If Christ^s body
had been so, then he could not properly have ascended ; for
how could he leave one place to fill all places ? That which
is every where, cannot change place. If the union of Christ's
human nature with his divine person, rendered his body omni-
present, and so caused it to fill all things, then he should
have filled all things from the moment of his incarnation,
and not barely after his ascension. It is contrary to all the
principles of sense and reason, as well as of revelation, to
suppose a human body unmeasurably bigger than the earth ;
nay, the heavens, which, at such a vast distance from the
earth, surround it. One would think that the bare repre-

(a) Heb. iv. 14. — Owen in Loc, (^) Lev. xvi. 17.

Vol, 11. E

50 OF Christ's ascension'.

sentat'ion of this monstrous opinion should be enough to
confute it, and yet it has been, and still is warmly contend-
ed for by many. This is very far from being the thing in-
tended by the apostle. Christ having fulfilled his work on
earth, as Mediator, took his place in heaven, and took upon
him to influence and order all things, in the church and in
the world, on earth and in heaven, by his infinite wisdom,
power, presence, spirit, and grace. As a great King,
Christ resides in the chiefest place of his dominions, the
highest heavens, yet his influence reacheth all persons and
things. The earth is filled with his goodness, the heavens
with his glorious and delightful presence, hell with his power
and the fruits of his avenging justice, the church below with
his Spirit and grace, and the v/hole world with his provi-
dential care and government. He ascended for this end,
that he might thus fill all things. This being the nature
and design of Christ's ascension, we have a great deal of
reason to receive this useful truth, v;ith attention, and rais-
ed affections.

The doctrinal proposition which I shall insist on is this ;

Christ ascended into the highest heavens^ to Jill all tliingSy
and jinish the xvork of man^s redemption.

In handling this point, I shall essay the following parti-
culars,

I. I shall inquire into the reality/ of Christ's ascension ;
and the benefit of knowing it.

II. I shall consider the watz^rc, circumstancesj 2.u^ man-
ner of it.

III. I* shall shew the difference between Christ's ascen-
sion and ours.

IV. I shall assign some reasons of Christ's ascension.

V. I shall mention some of the Jruits and consequents
of it. And,

VI. I shall conclude with some practical improvement.

OF Christ's ascension. 51

1. I shall inquire into the realiiij of Christ's ascension,
and the benefit of knowing it.

1. The reahty of it appears from \\\2 tjipes ■dc^i^i jprojilie-
cies referring and relating to it. God would never have
raised such an expectation of it, if he had not designed to
answer it. Enoch and Elijah, as some think, were types
of Christ's ascension : The carrying the ark into the taber-
nacle and temple undoubtedly was so. Hence the Psalmist
has spoken of it (a)y in such magnificent language as this ;
Lift up your headsj 0 ye gates ; and be you lifted up^ you
everlasting doorsy and the King of glory shall come in. —
Elsewhere he has said, God is gone up tvith a shout ; the
Lord with .the sound of a trumpet (b) : Hereby was signi-
fied, according to some, Christ's ascending to his heavenly
palace (c), and his throne. He is the King of glory, the
Ijord strong and mighty in battle ; he conquered sin and
Satan, death and hell, and then ascended up on high, led cap-
tivity captive j and received gifts for men (dj. In whicli
words it appears, that the Psalmist spoke of Christ, from
the application of this passage to him, by the Ploly Spirit
(e) ; though they were used at first, at the removal of the
ark, which was a type of Christ : the high-priest's entrance
into the most holy place was figurative of Christ's ascension
into heaven. Christ entered not into the holy places^ made
luith hands, vohich are the figures of the true, but into

{a) Psal. xxIt. 8. {b) Psa!. xlvii. 5.

{c) The ark being the figure of Christ, as that mountain (Sion)
was of the heavens : The translation, or carrying back of ti)e arlc
thither, may be looked upon as a figure of Ciirist's ascension, (after
he had dwelt here a while, in a meaner place, and conquered
death) to the high and holy place, where he is now at God's rioht
hand, in the heavens. And with relation to this alone, tlie ancient
fathers expound the Psalm; which iriay easily be applied In the
mystical sense to that business. Bp. Patrick, argument of the
Psalm.

{d) Psal. Ixviii. 18. (?) Ephes. iv. 12.

•^2 OF CHRIST^S ASCEXSION".

Heaven itself, to appear in the presence of God for us fa) :
but this had been all a fallacy and delusion, if Christ had
FiOt ascended into heaven. That Christ should do so, is
foretold in the prophetic writings of the sweet Psalmist of
Israel ; Tet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion :
The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand (b).
From this testimony the apostle Peter proved Christ's as-
cension (c) ; for, said he, David is not ascended ; that is,
in his whole person, to sit at the Father's right liand, or ta
have his enemies made his footstool : whence he inferred,
that the Psalmist spoke of Christ, and his ascension. Some
think that these words, Open to me the gates of righteous-
nesSf and I vjill go into theyn (d), relate to Christ's ascend-
ing into heaven, and opening the gates of that blessed tem-
ple, both for himself and his followers. Daniel in a vision
saw the Son of man brought before the ancient of days (e)y
which could not relate to Christ's coming to judgment, for
then he does not come to be served by all nations, but to
reward them according to their works ; not to receive a king-
dom, but to deliver it up to the Father. He ascended up
in the clouds of heaven, and sat down at God's right hand>
in order to rule in the midst of his enemies, and be served
by a wiUing people. This is therefore what Daniel foresaw,
and foretold ; and it being thus revealed and declared ta be
certain, it must certainly come to pass ; and tliat it did so,
appears,

2. From express scripture testimony, Christ himself said,
/ ascend to my Father : I go to prepare a place for yoii
Cf). Of him it is said expressly, // came to pass that rvhilst
he blessed them, he mas parted from theyn, and carried up
into heaven (g). Paul has asserted peremptorily, that he

{a) Heb, ix. 24. {b) Psal. ii. 6.— Psal. ex. 1.

{c) Actsii. 33, 34. {d) Psal. cxviii. \9. {e) Dan.vll. 13, 14,

(/) John XX. 17.— xiv. 2, {s) Luke isiv. 5!.

OF Christ's ascension. 53

was received up into glory, and that as our fore-runner, he
has for us entered into heaven fa J.

3. There were many ej/e-xvitnesses of Christ's ascension,
which shews its reahty ; It was not done in a corner. — -
Whilst the apostles beheld (bj, he was taken up, and they
looked stedfastly towards heaven, as he went up ; the an-
gels at the same time assured them, he would come in like
manner as they had seen him go into heaven. The persons
who saw him ascend were his apostles and brethren, who had
conversed with him forty days after his resurrection, and
therefore were able to distinguish him from another person,
and they had a clear view of him : They looked stedfastly
towards heaven, as he went up leisurely, and as it were, step
by step, that they might the longer see him, and be the bet-
ter assured of his ascension. A cloud is said to receive him
out of their sight ; but that, I conceive, was not from the
darkness of the cloud, but from the great distance of his
body from them, ascending higher and higher, till the flesh-
ly eye could no longer discern him. Mark and Luke fcj,
v/ho were eye-witnesses of the fact, have attested it in their
gospels ; the holy angels also beheld it, and bore witness of
it : The martyr Stephen before he died fdj^ had a sight
of Christ in heaven, which is a farther evidence that he is^
ascended.

4. The reality of Christ's ascension might be largely
proved from the consequents and effects of it : Such as the
extraordinary effusion of the Spirit, at the day of Pentecost?
and afterwards. But of this and other consequents of
Christ's ascension I must speak hereafter ; and shall there-
fore only add here, that the apostle Paul has plainly declar-
ed these gifts to be the effect and fruit of Christ's ascension :
When he ascended up on high, he gave gifts to men (ej,

(a) 1 Tim, iii. 16.— Heb. vi. 20. {b) Acts i. 9, 10, II,

{c) Mark xvi. 19. — Luke xxiv. 51. {d) Acts vii. 56.
(e) Eph. iv. 8.

E 3

i^4 OF Christ's ascension.

Christ declared (a), he who believed in him, should da
greater works than he had done, for extent, because he was
to go to his Father. When we see these works done we
may conclude, that Christ is indeed gone to the Father.

What remains on this head, is to consider the benefit that
may attend the knowledge of Christ's ascension. It is very
observable, that the very same morning en which Christ rose,
in his first speech to Mary (b), and in his firet message to
his disciples, he spoke of it ; / am not yet ascended^ bid go
to my brethren, and say to them, I ascere^. Such an infoi-
iriarion might rectify the disciples' thoughts as to a temporal
kingdom, and personal reign of Christ upon the earth, which
they were very full and fond of. Christ foretold his ascen-
sion fcjf that when it came to pass they might believe ; or
that they might not think it to be a sudden and unexpected
transport, such as Philip's was afterwards fdj, when he
was taken from the eunuch, but not out of the world ; but
might, when they saw Christ taken up, believe, that he
was going to his Father, as he had told them before-hand.
Christ might also take this method, to prepare them for
their parting with him, that they might not set their hearts
on his bodily presence. It is good to have our affections
on earthly enjoyments, even the best of them, curbed by
the thoughts of their short continuance with us. Christ
might farther intend by this message, to stir them up to
prize and improve his company during the httle time they
were to enjoy it ; and by telling them of his ascension, they
might be put in mind of his work and glory in heaven, and
have their hearts and affections raised up more to the things
above. The news of Christ's ascension might convince
them, that though Christ had, on the cross, complained of
his Father's forsaking him, yet he had not discarded him,
but was now glorifying him with his own self. Christ would

(fl) John xlv. 12. (^; John XX. 17.

(0 John xiv. 29, (</) Acts viii. 39.

OF Christ's ascknsjon'. 55

let them know, that though he was going from them, yet
]t was not in anger, or with a design to forsake them, as
tliey had forsaken him ; nay, he owned them us brethren,
and sent this gracious message to them, / ascend to my Fa-
ther and your Father^ to my God and your God. The
poor disciples were, no doubt, greatly dejected and con-
founded in themselves ; with what face could they see him,
whom they had deserted in his sufferings, and thought ill
of afterwards ? for they said, We thought that it had beeti
he tvho should ha-v-e redeemed Israel (a). Notwithstand-
ing all this, when Christ's hour was come, that he should
depart out of the world to the Father fb), having loved
his own, he loved them to the end, and indeed without mea-
sure, and without end ; and therefore he let them know,
that he was going to heaven to transact the affairs of that
covenant in which God was his God and their God, through
hrm, as one has explained it (c). Many benefits we also
might receive from the knowledge of Christ's ascension, if
we were not wanting to ourselves ; therein we may see much
of the wisdom, truth, and love of God, of the honour and
glory of Christ, the stability of the church, and might find
great support for our faith and hope, and encouragement
to obedience, as will more fully appear afterwards. I now
proceed ;

II. I shall consider the nature j circumstances ^ and man-
7ier of Christ's ascension.

Christ's ascension was his real visible going up from
earth to heaven, as man, and Mediator, to possess his own
glory, and perfect his people's salvation. Concerning this
ascension we may observe, that there was a real visible
change of placCy with respect to Christ's human nature ;
that nature passed from earth to heaven ; the man Christ

(a) Luke xxiv. 21. ib) John xiii. I,

(f) Dr. Owen on Christ's, person, p. 172.

ob or CHRIST SASCENSIO>r.

Jesus was seen moving upwards, as far as the eye could fol-
low him. He left the world fa J, and went to the Father
nay, he so left the world, as to be no more in it, as to his
bodily presence : But this doth not exclude his spiritual gra-
cious presence; in this respect, he is with his people always,
even to the end of the world fhj ; he makes his abode with
them that love him, and keep his commandments ; nor doth
this local and visible ascending of Christ's body hinder his
omnipresence as God, as such, he fills earth and heaven with
his presence, and is in both at once ; for he himself says fcj,
that he was in heaven, at the same time when he was speak-
ing on earth. We may next consider the potver by which
Christ ascended. Sometimes we read, that the Father ex-
alted him, sometimes Christ's ascension is spoken of as his
own act, and herein there is no inconsistency ; for Father
and Son being one in nature, are also one in power and ope-
ration. Christ's ascension, though it raised up his soul and
body to heaven, yet it did not change any of their essential
properties ; his body did not thereby become invisible and
unlimited. We may also consider the capacity in which
Christ ascended : It was, as Mediator, and his people's
fore-runner (d). Christ's ascension was extraordinary, not
only as to his person, but also as to his office, and the work
he went about. He entered heaven by his own blood (e),
as the great high-priest of his people, to appear in the pre-
sence of God for them. Let none then say. What is
Christ's ascension to us ? Our great concern is to get to
heaverf ourselves. Such should remember, that if Christ
had not ascended, we never could ; if he had not passed into
heaven, as our high-priest, we could never have come to the
throne of grace with freedom, much less could we have gone
to the throne of glory, if Christ had not gone to prepare a

(«) John XVI. 28.— xvii. 11. {b) Matt, xxviii. 20. — John xiv. 2S.
(0 John ili. 13. {d) Heb. vi. 20.— iv, \4.

{e) Heb. ix. 12.

OF CHRISt's ASCEXSIOJT. 57

place for us. Is then Christ's ascension nothing to us ? IF
it be not, it must be because we have no part in tlie heavenly
glory. We are also to consider the end of Christ's ascen-
sion, which was his own and our glory. According to
agreement, he was first to suffer^ and then to e)iter into his
gi07-j/; and he went to heaven to save liis people to the ut-
termost, or to perfect their salvation, as will appear under
another head.

Having thus given a general description of Christ's ascen-
sion, it may be useful next to consider the circumstances and
manner of it.

1. As to the time ; it was forty days after his resurrec-
tion fa J. Christ denied himself the glory of heaven so long
after his sufferings WTre finished, to confirm his people in
the behef of his resurrection, to instruct them into the things
of his kingdom, and to give them new proofs of his love and
afl^ction to them, which should make us wiUing to do much
and suffer long for Christ, and willing to stay out of hea-
ven, if we m.ay do Christ and his interest any service on
earth — if Christ preferred our good to his glory, should we
not prefer his glory to our own ?

2. We may consider the ^;/«ce whence Christ ascended,
the mount of Olives ; which was, as some say, about a mile
in height, having three tops, of which that in the middle is
the highest, and from that, as it is thought, Christ ascend-
ed ; so that there was a fair open prospect, this mountain
over-topping all the neighbouring ones ; and Christ's ascen-
sion being from such a high place, so near to Jerusalem,
might have been seen from most streets in Jerusalem, and
the spectators might easily see he was not carried over it,
and dropt on the other side, but that he went up straight
to heaven. This mountain, from whence Christ ascended,
bad been the place of his agony and sore conflict fbj ;
%yherc he rolled in blood, thence he rose to glory : the samQ

(a) Acts i. 3. (I) Luke xxiij 39, 40,

^o CF CHRIST s AscE^:sIO^^.

mountain giving hirr. a passage both to his cross, and to Lis
crown. Places as well as things are what God makes them
to be to us J that which, at one time, is a place of weeping,
may, at another time, be a place of joy and triumph.

S. Christ's ascension was in the 'perfection of the human
iiature ; as he never took the sinful, so now he dropped the
sinless infirmities of our nature, and went up in all the glory
of which the humanity was capable. The glory in which
the bodies of the saints shall be raised, shall be but a lower
resemblance of the glory in which Christ was received up
into heaven.

4. Christ's ascension was with great magnificence and
triumph. He went up with a shouty and the sound of ct
trumpet : * The cherubs continually singing, Hol^, holy,

* holi/, Lord God of sabaoth ; the arch-angel proclaiming

* beforehand the coming of the Lord, and the Holy Spirit

* crying to the heavenly powers, with a commanding voicC;^

* Lift up your heads, 0 ye gates; be ye lifted uj), ye ever-
' lasting doors, that the King of glory may enter in : But

* the heavenly powers said, IVho is this King of glory P
' To whom, the Spirit replied. The Lord stro?2g and mighty ;

* the Lord mighty in battle: For he has overcome the ene-

* my ; he armed himself with a human body against the ty-

* ranny of the devil ; he quenched his fiery darts — he nailed
' him to the cross ; and tasting death, when he was immor-
< tal. he overcame death, and came forth a conqueror, and

* taking the lost sheep upon his shoulders, he carried it to

* the heavenly fold,' as Chrysostom has elegantly expressed
this matter (a). Christ did not go up to heaven alone ;

(a.) 'Avste>j 0 Qzog IV a.Xa.y^a.yfJku, K\jfioi Xt ^uvn ffaX'Tiyyos iv u>.a,ka,y/u.ui
fih en iv uxara'^au^M <puv^, rou rpitreiyiov vf^vov uvecrif^Tiiffi r&i Qico, sv
<Pvvv ^£ TiiX.viyyes uf^ecyyiXiKrii ^«X«^« •z'faff'/iy.a.tvucns aurS tov iv &pxvo7t
icvioov uXkos. x-cc) <ro crvivfxx to ayiot rou; eivu dvyd/asiri, t^ t^o'S'xxtik^ uv^
avixr.p'jTTiv, "Apan ttuXck; oi up^ovTis vficiJv, koc) \Tap^-r,Tl •XvXa.t cctuviott

OF Christ's ascessiox. 59

lie was attended with mynads of angels : Therefore, the
Psahnist, speaking of Christ's ascension, cried out, 77/6"
chariots of God are Ivocnty thousand ; God is among them.
Thou hast ascended on high; thou hast led captivity cap^
live fa). Christ carried the human nature up to the throne
ofglorj', with the names of an innumerable company, that
should follow him. This was a glorious triumph over Sa-
tan, and all the powers of darkness. This was such an
event as was never seen before. What shouts of the blessed
angels may we suppose ! How was the whole city moved
at his coming ! as one speaks (b). How honourable a re-
ception did the Father give him ! Christ did not intrude,
but was received up into glory : And the Father said to
him, Sit thou at my right hand. If the members of Christ
shall be received with joy and gladness, with what marks of
esteem did God receive Christ, their Head and Saviour ?
This was a day of joy and triumph — of honour and glory ;
— a bright and shining day.

5. Christ ascended, as he descended, full of grace and
truth. He held his love to his people to the very last, and
was expressing it that every moment he was parted from
them : for, 'widlst he blessed them, he tvas parted from
them^ and xvas carried up into heave?! (e). He would let
them know what a gracious heart he carried up with him
into heaven, and what blessings they might expect he would
pour down from thence upon them. As Jacob blessed his
sons before he died ; so Christ in a solemn manner, shewed

duva.ro; £v ^oyAftrti ivixniTi yaf rov cfoXiuiov &'r/./(ra:r3 furx rrii r5 oixZoXa
rvfxn'tho;, \v tm ocT/^^uTtvM ffa/uoiTi, 'ttrStinv auTii to, ^i'!rufUf4,iva Sikn xcci
Tu Txvpou <Tfoa-r,Xaj^u;, xx) ^kvoth ytva-dfAivog, ocS-uvares ii-rdp^uv iffKuXivtrt
<rov ahnv, xx) vtXTirr,; a*o^^;;^S^i};, xvi^n Ix ruv vixpuv xxi to -s-Xuiuuivav
vpotxTov lTi?-f'i^l/x;, <ci u,ysp;^irxi ix' vf/.uv, eurev <pipetv <;rpo; tx hnvKe*T»
ivvix rx u.vXxiin, tx Iv rp)f op;(ri, tstss*/ Iv ovaxvoT; vi^'of/,i)ix. — ChrysOSt*
cie ascensione Domini, ser, 5. p. 390.

(.2) Psal. Ixviii. 17, 18. G) FUv, fountain of life, p. 187,

*) Luke xxiv. 51.

€0 OF Christ's ascension,

his grace and condescension, in blessing his people, before
he ascended.

6. Christ ascended to a glorious place, tvork, and cohz-
20(iny. It is very affecting to consider, what a glorious
change Christ's ascension made in his condition, how diffe-
rent his state in heaven is, from what it had been on earth;
formerly he lodged in a stable, now he is ia the heavenly
palace ; on earth he lay in a manger, near to beasts, in heaven
he sits upon a glorious throne, attended by myriads of an-
gels, and the spirits of just men made perfect: in this world he
was crowned with thorns, but when he ascended he was
crowned with glory ; here his visage was more marred than
any man's, there his countenance is as the sun shining in his
strength ; he passed from the assaults of evil angels to the
adorations of good ones ; here below he was despised and
2-ejected of men, as not fit for their society, but in the upper
world he was received into glory, and placed at God's right
hand, to be a delight lo that honourable assembly, and to
enjoy the most intimate fellowship and communion with God
for ever ; on earth he was buffeted and spit upon, in heaven
he is worshipped with the most profound reverence, by all
who attend the throne of God and of the Lamb ; in his suf-
ferings he had been forsaken by all his disciples, in his as-
cension he was attended with a great retinue of glorious an-
gels ; and as it is very probable, by those saints who rose,
and went into the holy city after his resurrection, and ap-
peared to many (a) : And that, according to Beza (b)y not
as persons who should live among men, and die again, as

{a) Matt, xxvii 52, 53.
{b) Declarat autem iiaec apparitio istos oon resurexisse, ut iterum
inter homines versarentur, rursus morituri, sicut I^azarus et alii,
sed potius ut in titam seternam Christum, cujus virtute resurrexe-
rant, comitarentur; idque ut vivificai Christi virtutis certa tes-
timonia exstarent, ut in hunc locum scribcns, recte, meo jndicio,
sentit Hieronymus. — Beza in loc.

OF CHRIST S ASCENSION.

Lazarus and others did ; but rather as persous who, being
raised by Christ's power, were to accompany him into the
other world, as hving witnesses of his power : This also was
Jerom's opinion (a). Many others I find favour the same
opinion : Theophylact (bj has mentioned it as the opinio:!
of some in his time ; but whether to be received or no he
did not determine : Paroeus has suggested it to be the
most probable opinion (c). Another celebrated expositor
(d) has taken notice of it, as said by some, that they were
raised to live in Paradise with Enoch and Elias. If this
opinion be true, it must give us a pleasing idea of Christ's
ascension : It must be mjst agreeable to view him who had
poured out his soul to death, to redeem men from sin, Sa-
tan, death, and the grave,' giving such a glorious specimen
of the success of his undertaking, in carrying up with him a
number of redeemed men, raised from the dead, perfect,
holy, and glorious in body and spirit, into the celestial
court, where he is for ever admired and praised by them ;
especially considering, how great a number of redeemed spi-
rits they were there associated with, and the rule and domi-
nion which Christ was to exercise to the end of time, yet so
as not to forget, effectually to intercede for all who come to
God by him. Viewing Christ's ascension in this light,
what comfort may it yield us, what high thoughts may we
have of it ? This may greatly invite us to contemplate, love,
and honour the ascending Redeemer, attended with such a

(«) Vide Hieron. in loc.

ill) llvis oi Xiyntriv on ftira. to kvarriffiti tov Xf'^^''' ^vis-tiffccv ku) oSraij
>cu) ^K in uTi^ocvcy rovTO oe »x ol^a, u "^il vafct^i'^iff^Kt. Theophylact*
in loc.

{c) De his mortuis suscltatis inovet quzestionem Justinus Martyr.
Qu. S. 5. Quasritur num resurrexerint immortales, potest hoc ig-
norari, probabilius non denuo mortuos fuisse, sed cum Christo re-
surgente conversatos ac tandem cum ascendeute triumphum egisse.
— Paiseus in loc.

{a) Whiiby on the place.

Vol. it. f

62 OF Christ's asceksion.

glorious retinue, and exchanging the labours and sorrows of
a humbled hfe, and bitter death, for the rest and glory of a
blessed immortality, in the most desirable assembly that ever
was. Such who love Christ cannot but rejoice v/hen they
by faith see him, in these circumstances, going to the Fa-
ther, and crowned with glory and honour.

7. When Christ ascended, he had not only an adherent^
but an inherent glory ; not only the glory of his hum.anity,
but .the glory of his divinity, shining through it : this was
veiled and hid during his abode on earth, whilst he was
among sinners, and in a state of humiliation and suffering.
His sufferings, as a cloud, intercepted the rays and beams
of his uncreated glory ; but the veil being taken away, at
his ascension, how did they irradiate his human nature ! The
angels told the spectators, that Christ should come again,
in like manner as they saw him go into heaven. When he
comes again, it shall be iu poxver and great glory^ in his oxen
and his Father''s glory ; with such glory therefore he as-
cended to heaven. We have no account of his appearing
in this glory to his disciples, during his forty days converse
with them, after his resurrection ; nor indeed were they in
a condition to bear it : Paul v.-as struck blind, and John fell
at Christ's feet as dead, upon that sight of it which they had
after his ascension ; those who ascended with him were qua-
lified to behold it, and those who on earth were the specta-
tors of his ascension, were better able to bear it at a distance,
and as ht. was going from, them, than they could have done,
liad he remained with them.. Christ could in a moment, as
he did in his transfiguration, appear in his glory, and when
he pleased could cast a veil upon it ; but when he v/as taken
up into the air, and was going from weak sinful mortal
creatures, there was no farther occasion to hide it ; nay, the

disc

overy of it might be a greater torment to the devil.

8. Christ ascended to continue long in that glorious con-
dition. Some men are suddenly raised very highj and as

OF Christ's ascen^sion-. 63

quickly degraded ; for man being in honour abides not : but
Christ has been now near seventeen hundred years, in the
high station to which he ascended, and will hold it, till he
comes to judge the world in righteousness.

9. When Christ ascended, he led captivili/ captive. As
great princes, in former times, after some great victory,
used to lead their conquered enemies in triumph, in view of
the people, when they returned to their capital city ; so
Christ led Satan captive, in his return to heaven. Some
have thought, that the fall of the devil was owing to the
early notice in heaven, of Christ^s taking human nature,
and therein being set over all creatures, angels, and men :
it is supposed, that those high spirits could not brook it,
that such an inferior nature should be advanced above them,
and have the government of the \yhole world ; and so they
left their first habitation, and hasted down to earlh, to op-
pose, and, if possible, to prevent that design ; and for that
end,^ first tempted and ruined the human nature in Adam,
and afterwards sought to destroy it in Christ. Our Irama-
r.uel having by death destroyed the devil, led him captive,
and triumphed over him, in a glorious manner, by carrying
up the human nature, united to his own person, as glorious
as it was possible to be raised, not only above devils, but
above the highest angels, in dominion and glory, and pla-
ced it upon a throne next to his all-raighty Father: this must
make Christ's ascension such a victory and triumph over
Satan, as was as much the devil's torment as it will be the
saints' dehght and honour for ever.

APPLICATIOy,

Reserving the particular improvement of the doctr'ne to
the next discourse, I shall conclude this with a ge.ieral ex-
hortation to have our conversation in heaven (a), wh'tutr

{a) Phil. iil. 20.
F 2

64 cv Christ's assensiok.

Christ is gone ; and to loolifory and hasten io the coming
ofih-c day rf Christ (a). Is he ascended, and shall we not
follow him in our thoughts, desires, and affections ? Can
vve expect to rest on earth, when our Saviour has left it ?
Should we not, with the blessed apostle Paul (b), leave the
ihings that are behind, and press forward to those before ?
If by any means we might attain to be with Christ, which
is far better ? If the disciples were for dying with Laza-
rus, shall not we much rather be for ascending with, or
after Christ ? "We have seen men who never enjoyed them-
selves, or any thing in the world, after some dear friend or
relation was gone out of it : and shall not the Christian be
crucified to the world, now his Saviour lias left it, and is as-
cended up into heaven r Though wicked men call it folly
and fancy for us to place our desires and hopes upon heaven-
ly things ? surely the Christian can give a good reason for
it ; his Redeemer, and consequently his treasure is in heaven ;
and where the treasure is, the heart should be (c). Let us
often think whivhe-r Chri&i is gone, and for what end ; it is
to prepare a place for his people (d), and therefore they
had need prepare to ascend thither, and to live with Christ
there (e). Faith is a sort of ascension, it carries up the
aoul to Christ, in spiritual desires and contemplations ; and
such views of his glory are a means of changing the soul in-
to his image (fj^ and of fitting it to follow him into heaven,
to be with him for ever.

We are to look to the ascended Jesus for repentance and
remission of sins (g). He who was able to raise up himself
iron) the grave, and to ascend to a throne of glory, is able
to quicken our souls, at present, and our bodies hereafter,
and to bring us to God, according to his own word, which
was ; /, if I am lifted ?//?, lull draw all men to me fhj»

(fl) 2 Pet. iii. 12. {b) Phil. iii. 13, &c. (c) I.uke xii. 34,

{d) John xiv. 2. U) Colos. ii. 12. (/; 2 Cor, iiir 18.

{g) Acis xy. Gh {h) John iii. 32.

OF Christ's ascension". 6.!)

He has a power whereby he is able to subtluc all things to
himself faj : what reason then have we to commit our souls
to him, and to cast our care upon him ? Can he, or will he
ever be unmindful of the end of his ascension, which was to'
fill all things ; to bring all the saints to a perfect man ?
What encouragement then have we to beg of him, to work in
us, to will and to do, of his own good pleasure, that we may-
work out our salvation with fear and trembling ? Let those
whose hearts and affections are set upon the earth remember,
that they will never find a Saviour or salvation there : Christ,
in whom alone is salvation> is gone to heaven, and they who
do not follow him with their love and affections now, will
never follow him in their persons to that glory unto which
he went, when he ascended up far above all heavens to fill
all thinsrs.

SERMON II.

Preached August 29, 1727.

He tvho descended, is the same also who ascended up Jar
above all heavens, that he might Jill all things. — Ephes.
iv. 10.

JtlAViNG, in a former discourse upon these words, inquired
into tlie reahty of Christ's ascension, and the benefit which
may attend the knowledge of it ; in the next place I endea-
voured to describe the nature, circumstances, and manner
of Christ's ascension. I now proceed j and therefore,

(«) Phil. lii. 20, 21.

66 OF Christ's ascensio"^'.

III. I shall shew the agreement and difference between
Christ's ascension and ours. This may help us to conceive
more clearly of the thing itself, and may cause us more high-
ly to esteem and value the ascended Redeemer.

There are some things wherein Christ's ascension, and
that of his people agree : Christ left the earth and v/ent up
to heaven, and so shall his people, that where he is, there
they may be (a) : Christ was received up into glory ; and"
■when he appears, believers shall appear with him in glory
fb) : Christ at his ascension was attended by the holy an-
gels ; Christians, when they die, are carried by angels into
Abraham's bosom (c) : Christ ascended in the entire hu-
iv.an nature, haviiig put off all natural infirmities ; and so
shall the saints, at the great day, be caught up to meet the
Lord in the air (d) : Christ ascended to his God and Father,
and so shall the Christian : God is the God and Father of
Christ's human nature, both by creation and covenant ; and
in the same respect is he to whom the saints ascend, their
God and Father : Christ at his ascension entered into his
rest, and so shall the Christian ; for there remnms a rest for
the people of God (c) : as Christ had done with labour and
sorrow, when he exchanged earth for heaven ; so Christians,
in their souls, at death, and in their whole- persons at the
resurrection, rest from their labours, and enter into the
realms of peace, where sorrow and sighing fly away ; for to
such as are troubled here below (f)^ rest remains, when the
Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty
angels.

Though in the aforesaid respects Christ's ascension and
that of Christians agree, yet there are other things wherein
they differ ; Christ ascended by his own power, but Chris-
tians only by his, for he receives them to himself ; and it is

[a) John xiv. 3. (^) Col. ill. 4. (t) Luke xvi. 26.

{d) 1 Thess. iv. 16, 17. (0 Heb. iv. 10. (/) 2 Thess, i. 7.

OF CHRIST'S ASCENSION". 61

a work of infin te power to raise a creature, and much more
cuie that had been a sinner, to glory ; therefore it is Christ's
work, and not man's : Christ first descended, and then as-
cended ; but the Christian did not first come down from
heaven, and then go up again : Christ was in heaven in one
nature,' before he ascended thither in the other ; but the
Christian cannot be in heaven and on earth at once, as he
has not two natures, much less one that is infinite and omni-
present : With respect to Christ, it was God manifested in
thejlesh, that was received up into glory ; but this is too
high for Christians ; they have no claim to deity : Christ
ascended in a public capacity, Christians in a private one ;
he as fore-runner, his people as followers ; he as head, they
as members ; he as the Lord of glory, they only as the sub-
jects of it ; he as great high -priest, his people as those that
receive the atonement j he as advocate, they as his clients :
Christ entered heaven by his own blood, we only by his ;
for no man goes to the Father but by him (a) : Christ as-
cended to sit down on the right hand of God ; Christians to
worship before his throne ; they sit down with him on his
throne, with respect to his victory over their enemies, but
they fall down before the throne (b), with respect to their
subjection to the ascended Redeemer : Christ ascended to fill
all things ; Christians to fill up the place in his mystical bo-
dy : Christ ascended to give eternal life ; believers go to hea-
ven to receive and enjoy it : Christ ascended to give gifts to
men ; Christians ascend to praise him for what they have re-
ceived : Christ ascended to govern the world, to be a Prince
and a Saviour ; but departed saints have no more to do un-
der the sun, their places know them no more, nor have they
any more an influence upon human affairs : the ascended Je-
sus is head over all things to the church ; but the ascended
saints are fully satisfied with being members of that glorified

(a) John xiv, 6. {b) Rev. v. 11, 12, IS,

6S OF Christ's ascein'siox.

body, of which Christ is the head ; Christ ascended to dis-
pense grace as well as gifts to men ; but the glorified saints
are no commissioners of the heavenly treasury : when Christ
ascended, he established and confirmed a certain union and
communion between himself and the church militant ; he car-
ried up our flesh to heaven, and sent down his spirit to ani-
mate, rule, and govern his church below ; thus he Jills all
things. But no such thing as this can be said of the as-
cending Christian : Christ, when he ascended, carried up our
nature, as a pledge of our future glory : but Christians when
they ascend are only examples, not pledges of that glory to
their fellow Christians in this world : Christ when he ascend-
ed, entered into a glory peculiarly his own ; Christians, when
they go to heaven enter into the joy of their Lord : Christ
ascended to descend again ; but when the saints ascend, in
the great day, they descend no more, but are for ever with
the Lord.

Thus we see wherein Christ's ascension and that of his-
people agree, and wherein they differ : and we may learn
from the whole, how much Christ has the pre-eminence ; he
is highly exalted, and has a name above every name.
IV. I shall assign some I'casons of Christ's ascension.
The disciples knew not how to bear the thoughts of
Christ's departure (a) ; when he had told them of it, sor-
roxKi filled their hearts. They were fond of his bodily pre-
sence ; and who would not have desired the company of one
so holy, harm.less, and undefiled ; so wise, gracious, and
able to defend and help them, as they knew him to be ? for
whilst he had been with them, in the world, he had kept
them from the evil (b) : But when he was gone, they knew
they should be as sheep among wolves, killed all the day
long, and counted fit for nothing but the slaughter. Christ's
prayers, sermons, and miracles must have been very delight-
ful and useful to them : "how then could they bear the

{a)}Qhnxv\.€. (-^} John xvii, 1?,

OF Christ's ascexsion. 69

thoughts of parting with him, whom they had seen as the
onhj begotten of the Father^ full of grace and truth (a) F
With what pecuHar endearing tenderness and condescension
had he treated them since his resurrection ? How did their
hearts burn within them whilst he talked with them, and
opened to them the scriptures ? How had his presence
calmed their fears, subdued their unbelief, and given them
peace and joy ? How then could they be willing he should
go away from them ? Many reasons we may suppose them
to have against his departure, had it been lawful to have al-
ledged them ; they miglit have said, that Christ's leaving^
the earth, no more to be seen upon it, would confirm the re-
port which the Jews so confidently spread, that he v/as not
risen, and that his disciples had stole away his body, and
it was no where to be found; whereas his continuance, and
open appearance in the world, his working miracles, and
shewing himself in his God-ilke majesty, might have con-
vinced, or at least, have confounded his enemies, and have
been a comfort and encouragemxent to his disciples and fol-
lowers ; but to leave them to the insults of enemies, after
all the expectations he had given them, of defending and
enlarging his kingdom in the world, must seem a deserting
it, either through difiidence or anger : It might be taken as
if he had more regard to his own rest and glory in heaven,
than to their peace and welfare on earth. His appearance
to them after his resurrection had caused them to worship
him ; and might they not apprehend, that his presence
might have h?A the same good effect upon others, as they
had found it to have upon themselves. These and other rea-
sons raight they have urged against Christ's ascension ; but
as Christ had told them, it was expedient for them fbj, that
he should go away, how plausible or strong soever their aU
legHtions might seem to be ; there were superior reasons fof

(rt),John i, J 4, (l)) John -xvi. 17.

iO OF Christ's ascension"-.

his leaving this world, and going to the Father ; such jn
follow :

1. The Father's love to him required it. He, as God-
man mediator, was the person in whom God was pecuharly
dehghted ; and was It convenient that the chief favourite
should live in exile from the heavenly court ? that he who
was always the Father's dehght, should never see his face,
or be admitted into his immediate presence ? It had been
necessary fur him for a time, to abide in this world, that he
might finish the work which the Father had given him to
do here ; but when that was accomplished, why should he
stay any longer ? Would not his affectionate Father insist
upon his being present in the court of heaven ? Christ had
neither forfeited nor lost his Father's love ; for he said, /
abide in his love (a) : Therefore it was fit he should abide
in his presence. God loved him before the foundations of
the world, and therefore gave him a glory, wl^ich is pecu-
liarly his own (b). If Christ's love to the redeemed will
not be satisfied, without their being where he is, surely the
Father's love to our Redeemer would as strongly insist upoa
his being with hivn in glory. It was necessary therefore not
only, that Christ should rise from the dead, but that he
should ascend up to the Father.

2. It was necessary because it was decreed, Jorctold, and
promised ; therefore it must come to pass. God has decreed
and declared the decree, that his King should be placed
upon his holy hill of Sion (c) ; that Christ should be exalted
to be a Prince and a Saviour, to be Lord of all, who must
sit at the Father's right hand, till all his enemies are made
liis footstool (d). Christ expected eternal pleasures at the
Father's right hand, because he had promised it. The
decree, the types, the prophecies, the promises all set this
joy before Christ ; and therefore he depended upon it : and

{a) John XV. 10. {b) John xvli, 24.

(r) Psal. ii. G, 7.— Acts v. 31.— Psal. ex. I. (</} PsaK xvi il

OF Christ's ascensiox. 71

wjien the time drew nigh, he thus prayed for it ; Fathcry
ihc hour is cortie, S^^^^i/l/ ^^'^ ^^^^' ^ Father, glorify thou
Tiie with thine otcn self (a). Therefore it must be, seeing
God had not only promised it, but had declared that his
covenant should stand fast with Christ (f).^ and that his
throne should be as the days of heaven, that he should be
exalted and extolled, and be very high ; and the scriptures
cannot be broken. Christ upbraided his disciples with folly
for not apprehending a necessity of his entering into glory
(h), because it was so plainly revealed in the old testament :
The prophets spoke not only of the sufferings of Christ,
but also of the glory that should follow. It was therefore
necessary that Christ should ascend to the tlirone of his
glory. As Joseph was taken from the prison, not to Ifad
an obscure life, but to sit upon Pharaoh's throne, and to
feed and rule the kingdom ; so Christ was raised from the
dead, not to live an inglorious life on earth, but to ascend,
and sit down with his Father upon his throne in heaven, and
to rule and , govern both the church and the world.

3. Christ's ascension was necessary with respect to his
person and circumstances. Ke was too great and too good
to live any longer in our world, than was absolutely neces-
sary : He had endured the contradiction of sinners long
enough in his state of humiliation, and so ought not to suf-
fer, by being with them, when his suffering state v/as at an
end ; it was fit, that when he had done his work on earth,
lie should go to his rest in heaven : he was fully ripe for
glory ; who should ascend into God's holy hill, if he did
not : who had hands so clean, and heart so pure, as Christ
had ? If we consider him as God manifest in the flesh, we
carmot think it proper for him always to abide on the earth,
who IS so near allied to heaven. It would have been a hard-
chip upon our Saviour always to have veiled his glory, and

{a) John xvii. I. (i) PsaL Ixxxix, 25, 27, 'J8.~Isa. iii. 13.

(f Luke XXIV. 25, 2G.

7'J OF CHRIST S ASCENSION.

the eyes of mortal creatures could not have bore the full
display of it. Earth then was no fit place for the residence
of the risen Jesus : Heaven is a place u'here they know bet-
ter how to bear the brightness of his glory, and to value
and iniprove his blessed presence. His ascension to his
throne, as God-man mediator, was a new glory in heaven,
as delightful to the blessed there, as it would have been ter-
rible to the wicked, and insupportable to the saints in this
world. It VA^as therefore proper for him, who is the bright-
ness of the Father's glory, to sit down on the right hand
cf the Majesty on high (a).

4. Christ ascended to fulfil the office he had undertaken.
He continues under the character of a mediator, and to
take care of his people. He was to be their advocate, and
therefore must appear in the celestial court. As a prophet^
he was to shed down the Spirit of vv'isdoni and revelation,
which was not to be given till he was glorified : For thus
he said. If I go not axvay, the Co?)iforter iviil not corae (b).
As a priest, he entered the heavenly sanctuary (cj, with
his own blood : on earth there was no room for him to ex-
ercise his priestly function ; for he had neither such a sacri-
fice or incense to present, as were appointed by the law : nor
was there any need for him to offer up himself again, having
by one oflering perfected for ever all them that are sanctified
fd). His work lay not on earth, but in heaven ; and there-
fore it was necessary for him to ascend thither : as he is a
priest of a higher order than Aaron, and offered a more ex-
cellent sacrifice than those under the law ; so it Vv^vS fit that
he should be made higher than the heavens, to plead the
virtue and merit of it in the heavenly sanctuary : as he was
the most holy priest, it was fit that he should ofliciate in an
undefiled sanctuary ; as he was the great high priest, it was
proper he should have the highest sanctuary ; as he was call-
ed) Keb. i, 2, 3, {I) John xvi, 7. (i) Ilcb. vlii. 4.
{dj Heb. X. 14.

OF CHRIST S ASCENSIONo ( h

I'id immediately by God, it was necessary that he should
officiate immediately before him. As Christ, after his re-
surrection, bore the character of a King, it was requisite
he should ascend the throne of his kingdom, and be crown-
ed, as we are told he was ; this was done, when God set
■him at his own right hand (a), m the heavenly places, far
above all principality and power, nright and dominion. —
Christ, by the parable of a Nobleman going into a far coun-
try to receive a kingdom (b), signified his ascending up far
above* all heavens ; his being brought before the ancient of
days, Daniel's vision signified, that to him was to be given
a kingdom (c). At Christ's ascension, the heavenly gates
were opened, and the King -of glory entered in (d). It
was not decent, that he who was raised above princes and
angels in power, should be below them in place ; that the
King should dwell more meanly than some of his subjects ;
or that he should be degraded at the foot-stool, whilst some
of them are admitted so near the throne : this would not
have been consistent with his royal dignity and honour. It
was necessary then, that Christ should ascend to the throne
of his universal kingdom.

5. It was necessary that he should ascend, that the Fa-
ther might be glorified. Father, (said he), glorifu thy
Son, that thy Son may glorify thee (e). He had glorified
him on earth ; but the Father was to be farther glorified,
by his high exaltation, in heaven, and the subjection of all
things to him : when every knee bows, and every tono-ue
confesses to him, it is to the glory of God the Father (f)^
God is glorified in the excellencies which Christ displays,
^and the honours which he receives in his exalted station :—
Hence it was necessary that he should enter into his glory.

6. It was necessary that he should ascend, that he might

{a) Eph. i. 20, £1. {h) Luke xix. 12. {c) Dan. vii. 13, 14,

{d) Psal. xxiv. 7. (f) John xvii. 1. (/) Phil. ii. 9— 1 1.

VOL. II. G

/ 1< OF CHRIST S ASCEN^SIOy.

accomplish the great things which he had to do for his peo-
ple. He must go to prepare a place Jor them (a). As
the ark of old went before the people (b), to search out a
resting-place for Israel ; so Christ went first to Mount Cal-
vary," and after that to Mount Sion, to prepare a place for his
people. The kingdom, i^ndeed, was prepared from the
foundation of ike xi^orld (c), as to God's purpose and ap-
pointment : But yet Christ went to prepare it (d) ; partly,
by taking possession of it for his people, for, as their fore-
runner, he entered upon the inheritance for th^m fe). The
accuser of the brethren shall never make void their claim,
while Christ keeps possession for them ; and Satan can no
more turn him out, than he could keep him out. Christ
prepares a place for his people, by keeping open the way
mt-o the holiest of all : They who come to God by him, at-
tain perfect salvation, because Christ ascended to heaven,
and ever lives there, to make intercession for them (f)- It
is true, the elect who died before Christ's incarnation, found
a place prepared for thera : But then, it was for the sake,
and upon the credit, of Christ's death, resurrection, ascen-
sion, and intercession. When Christ ascended, it was for
them as well as for us that he made liis public entry : As
Joseph, by his sufferings and glory in Egypt, made way for
the entertainment of his father's family there, both elder and
vounger ; so Christ, by his sufferings, and ascension to the
throne of his gh->ry, makes way for all his people to come
to God, and enjoy him for ever. Whenever, or whereso-
ever believers die, heaven is ready for them ; for Christ
ascended to prepare it for them. The acceptance of their
prayers and services at j>lTsent, is owing to what Christ
doth for them, in his ascended state: He went up to appear
before the throne of God, with his golden censer, and much
incense (<^)i to offer it with the prayers of all saints ; he

(a) John xiv. 2. {b) Numb. x. 3S. {c) Mat. xxv. 34.

{d) John x'lv. 2. {e) Heb. vi. 20. (/; Heb. vii. 25.

{g) Rev. viii. 4.

OF CHIIIST'S ASCE>JSIO>r. i iJ

bears our petitions to his Father : And what should the
behevers on earth do, without such a friend in heaven ? As
Satan accuses the brethren day and night Cct)-, it was ne-
cessary they should have one to speak and plead for them
before God : And who is so lit, or who could do it so well
as Christ ? Who knows all the depths of Satan, all God's
counsels, all his people's sins and wants, and is able to shew
a sacrifice that made atonement for their highest offences,
and purchased an exceeding weight of glory for them •?
Christ is the only fit person to implead, and cast down the
accuser of the brethren, and maintain the cause of his poor
people : And for this end it was necessary, that he should
appear before God, that the answer may be made where
the indictment is laid. And thus we see what Christ was
to do in heaven ; for his people on earth required his pre-
fence there. It was necessary on the account of tlie saints
in heaven : many lived and died with hopes of seeing and en-
joying him there. Job, a long time before Chriiit's incar-
nation, comforted himself, under great aiHictionf, with the
expectation of seeing God in the flesh (b). Now, had not
Christ ascended, what a disappointment would it have been
to them ? How strange must it have been to them, for the
Saviour not to have appeared in heaven, when he had done
his work on earth I They who had never seen him in the
flesh, though they had much desired it, could not but long
to see him in heaven, v/ho had died for them on earth ; to
see him in their own nature, who is over all, God blessed
for ever. This must, to the patriarchs, prophets, and
righteous men of ancient time, who were gone to heaven be*
fore him, be very desirable : And had he not ascended,
might it not have created a jealousy in the inhabitants of
heaven, if jealousy had any place there, that the Saviour
had miscarried in his work, and missed his way to his throne;
that he was detained a prisoner in the hands of justice, and'

(rf) Rev, xii. 10. {b) Job xix. 25,

''^ OF CIIRIST^S ASCENSION".

that all the prophecies of his glory were mere delusions. Ii
•was necessary, therefore, that Christ should ascend, to se-
cure the joy and comfort of the glorified saints, as well as
to provide for the safety and salvation of those who yet re-
main in the warfare here below.

7. It was necessary for Christ to ascend, that Christians
:-n:ght live by faith. God gave him glory (a), that our
faith and hope might be in God ; for, blessed are they, that
have not seen and yet have believed fbj. Men are much
tor sensitive evidence, and for knowing Christ after the flesh ;
they are ready to suppose that his fleshly presence would
do great things ; but how was he treated when he dwelt
among men ? and should he appear again in the form of a
servant, would he meet with any better usage ? When
good old Simeon had seen Christ in the flesh fcj, he desir-
ed to see nothing more in this world ; which was a sign he
did not place his happiness in Christ's fleshly presence on
earih. Christ saw it necessary to withdraw his bodily pre-
sence, lest his people should grow carnal ; He would not
have them trust to his flesh, but to his promise, merit, grace,
intercession and power. When the disciples had his bodily
presence, they were slow of heart to believe ; but after his,
ascension, their faith was more clear and strong, A sight
x>t Christ by faitln, in his ascended state, is far better than
a sight of him in his humihation, in the flesh ; faith now can
see him, not in the conflict, as he then was, but in the coH"
quest and triumph. Christ ascended, that our faith and
love might follow him : therefore we are thus advised in
scripture fdj ; Set your affections on the things above, xvhere
Christ is at the right hand cf God ; run tvith patience the
race set before you, looking to Jesus. Though he is gone
to heaven, yet faith is to look up to him there ; and the
Christian is to have his coi.versatiou %\iQ\-Q, where his Savi,

(fl)l Pet. i. £1. {b) J(,hn xx. 29. (c) Lul.e ii. 29, 30.

(s) Col. iii. 1.— Heb. xii. f.

OF Christ's ASCENSION", 77

our is (a). It is a noble and delightful life, to live by
faith (b) ; to love, and believingly to rejoice in that Saviour
(c), whom we never saw in the flesh ; for thus we honour
God's truth, at the same time that we get a glimpse of
Christ's glory, and nourish a lively hope of seeing him, as he
is, immediately and for ever in glory.

8. It was necessary that Christ should ascend on his ovon
account, that he might possess and enjoy that glory (dj,
which he was to enter into. The prophets (e) spoke of the
glories (f), that should follow Christ's sufferings. There
were many glories that Christ enjoyed ; when he ascended-
he filled both worlds with his glory : He ascended up into
glory in heaven, and sent down his Spirit- to glorify him on
earth (g,) by a manifestation of hie glory. The glory .of
his person, providence, righteousness, gi ace, and love ; the
glory of his human nature, of his victory over sin, Satan,
death, and hell : This has raised a new triumph in heaven,
and the sound of it has gone to the ends of the world ; on
which account the Psalmist said, Lti the ivhole earth heJiU
led xuith his glory (h). It was necessary therefore that
Christ should ascend to heaven, to possess his mediatorial
gloi-y, both in the upper and lower world.

V. I shall mention some of the consequents and effects of
Christ's ascension. ""

I. Christ being ascended, poured out his Spirit, The
Psalmist said. He received gifts for men (i) ; the apostle
Paul, that he gave gifts to men fkj, which are not incon-
sistent ; for he received them, in order to bestow them on
men : Therefore, as the apostle Peter said, being hy ike
right hand of God exalted, and having received of the fa-^

(<z) Phil. iii. 20. (f) Gal. ii. 20. (0 I Pet. i. 1.

{d) Luke xxiv. 29, {e) 1 Pet. i. 1 1. (/) Iks lo^as.

{g) John xvi. 14. (A) Psai. Ixxii. 19. (/) P«al. jiviii, 11
{i) Eph.iv. 8.

OF CHRIST S ASCENSION.

ilier the promise of the Holy Ghost y he hath shed him forth
fa). The spirit was a glorious and comprehensive gift, in-
clusive of many ethers, the fountain of all the ordinary and
extraordinary gifts conferred upon men in the primitive times,
or sincj. When Christ ascended, he sent^the Spirit to sup-
ply his place, according to this promise, If I depart, I mill
send him to you (h). This sending doth not argue an in-
feriority of nature in the person sent, but only an order ot
working : The Spirit had been dispensed by Christ in all
ages, for it was the Spirit of Christ (c), which was in the
prophets ; but the miraculous, and more abundant pouring
out of the Spirit, on all flesh. Gentiles as v»-ell as Jews, was
a glory reserved for Christ's ascension : This was the glory
of the apostles and primitive Christians ; hence sprung their
courage and comfort, their patience and unwearied diligence,
in the work of the Lord ; this effusion of the Spirit gave
being to the gospel church ; she derives her support and
continuance to the end of the world, from the Spirit given
by Christ, at and since his ascension. As great princes, up-
on their accession to the crov/n, scatter their gifts and
bounty among the people ; so Christ, being crowned vs'ith
spiritual glory and honour, according to the nature of his
kingdom, which is not of this world, bestowed his royal
gifts, and shed his spirit abundantly on the apostles and pri-
mitive Christians.

2. Another effect or consequent of Christ's ascension is
his i'litercession : He went up to heaven (d), to appear in
the presence- of God for his people ; he ever lives in heaven
to make intercession for them. But designing to handle
this by itself hereafter, I shall not enlarge upon it at present.

3. A conviction of righteousness, is a consequent of
Christ's going to the Father, as Christ himself foretold it
should be ; Be, (the Spirit) shall convince the tvorld

(a) Acts ii. 33. (I) John xvi. 7.

CO 1 Pet i. 11. (./} H^b. ix. i:4.

OF Christ's ascension". 79

ofiigJdeoiimcsSi because I go to the Father fa J. Christ's as-
cension and admission into the presence and glory of his Fa-
ther, made it appear, that he was God*s righteous servant,
and no deceiver ; and that he had fulfilled all the righteous-
ness required of the redeemer. His holy and righteous Fa-
ther would never have received hifli up into glory, if there
had been any imperfection in his obedience : The Father
did not send him back from heaven to do his work over
again, or to supply any thing that was wanting, which made
it evident, that he is the perfecting end of the law for righ-
teousness fbj.

4. Our encGuragement to approach the throne of grace
is another consequent of Christ's ascension : We have a great
high priest that is passed into the heavens for us ; Let us
th'erejorcy come boldly to the throne of grace (c), Christ
is ascended, and presents the prayers of all saints, with much
incense. All the acceptance which the prayers of the saints
(d), in all ages, have met with, has been for the sake of
Christ's merits and intercession ; when we know that he
appears before the throne, and pleads actual payment of the
price of redemption, it is a great encouragement to faith and
prayer. The very name of the ascending Jesus gives a prc-
valency to believing prayer ; for vv^hatsoever we ask the Fa-
ther in his name he will give to us (e).

5. Christ's ascension assures us of the conquest of our spi-
ritual enemies : He led Satan captive, when he ascended ;
and having overcome him, what can stand before him ? He
that has defeated the grand enemy, will subdue all the rest ;
seeing they have begun to fall before him, tkey shall surely
fall before him.

6. Christ's ascension is dL pledge and assurance of his peo-
ple's being received into glory. Christ said, If I go atvay
I 'will come again, and receive you to myself that v:here I

{a) John xvi. 8. (i) Rom. s. 4.

{c) Heb. iv. 14, 16. (/) Rev. viii. 4,

(.-) John xvi. 23, 24.

so OF '-'-—»- .^^.— -

afn, tliereyou may he also (a). Christ carried our nature
up to heaven, to take livery and seisin of it for us ; and he
sent his Spirit down, to be in his people an earnest of their
future glory, o*- of their following him into the heavenly
rest : where should the members be but with their head, the
followers but with their forerunner ? Is Christ gone to pre-
pare a place for his people, and shall they never inhabit it ?
shall those mansions be left empty, which Christ has pro-
vided for them ? Christ, in carrying our nature into heaven,
has made it evident, that it is capable of celestial glory.
When Christ ascended, he went into heaven, as his people's
representative, on which account believers are said (bj, to
sit together in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus. They sit
there in Christ now, and therefore they shall' be v^ith him
hereafter. There is no such trifling in heaven, as first to
admit them, in their fore-runner, and then shut them out in
person : Whec the time of possession is come, Christ, who
reconciled them by his death, saves them by his heavenly
life, he keeps them by his power, on earth, and reserves
every one his place, by his presence in heaven, and will cause
him to fill it up. Thus we taste another fruit (cj^ which
grows on the tree of life, in the midst of the paradise of
God, even an assurance of eternal life, by Christ^s entrance
into it, in his people's name and nature.

I shall conclude this discourse and subject, with the use
and improvement, which may be made of the doctrine.

APPLICATION.

1. I3 Christ ascended ? then how pleasing to God is
man's redemption ? The honour which he has done our
Saviour, is a clear evidence of the delight he has in our sal-
vation. Can we entertain a thought to the contrary, when
we see our dear Saviour so well received in the celestial court,

{a) John xvi. S. {i) Eph. ii. 6, (c) Rev. xxii. ?,

OF CHRISt's ASCENSION. ^l

and crowrted with glory and honour there (a) ? Christ's
ascension shews how well pleased God is in his servant, and
in his service. Christ ascended to his Father and our Fav
ther, to his God and our God : He must never have taken
one step towards heaven, if God had not been pleased with
his work on earth : If God had not smelt a swei^t savour in
his offerings here below, Christ had never been admitted to
shew and plead it above. His going to the Father is a con-
vincing proof, that he allowed and delighted in the righte-
ousness which he fulfilled in this world (b) : When v/e see
him ascending, we may then as it were hear the Father
saying, Behold the servant fchom I uphold ; mine elect in
ivhovi m}j soul ddigJds (c) ; herein we see the pleasure of
the Lord, prospering in the hands of Christ.

2. Is Christ ascended ? then v/hat encouragement \s\.\iQTQ
for faith and prayer, love and praise ? Faith may depend up-
on the perfection of his merit, and the prevalence of his in-
tercession, and the accomphshment of all his promises : See-
ing Christ is made higher than the heavens, love may find
enough in the ascended Saviour, to feed all its flames ; in
him there is the most dehghtful union of greatness and good-
ness, grace and glory. The exaltation of his state, and the
condescension of his behaviour, is very engaging, and may
cause the believer to say, he is altogether lovely, and the
chiefest of ten thousand. Has Christ then ascended, and
do our hearts descend ? To have our head in heaven and our
hearts in the earth, is a very unbe<;oming separation. Did
Christ leave the world, and shall we cleave faster to it ? Did
he ascend above it, and are we buried in the cares or plea-
sures of it ? How dishonourable and displeasing to Christ
must this be ? How serene and calm should we be, were our
affections where our Saviour is ? How then should we look
down upon worldly joys and sorrov/s, as little things, whicU.

{a) Hob. ii. 9. [b) JoliU xvi. 8, (t) Isa. !ili. 1. !lii, !?,

OF CHRIST'S ASCENSION*.

ought not much to move us ? and how should we wonder
to see men spending their strength and life, in pursuit of
despicable vanities ; and in the mean time neglecting an ex-
alted Saviour, in whom there is every thing that can make
us great and good, joyful and happy ? "Where can we find
so suitable an object for a Christian to place his affections
upon as our Immanuel, raised above the earth, and crowned
with glory and honour in heaven ? [t should be so far from
damping our love, that it should inflame it the more towards
him ; that he is taken up cut of our sight, as too great and
too good to remain on earth. Have we not the same rea-
son as others before us had, though we have not seen him,
yet to love him faj ; and though now we see him not, yet
believing, to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory ?
O then let the Christian's affections be set above, where his
Saviour is (hj !

With what life and vigour may we send up our prayers
to the throne of grace, seeing cur Saviour is gone thither,
to present them with much incense ? When he left the
earth, he did not quit his office, he is yet a Minister of the
heavenly sanctuary fc) ; when he was upon leaving the earth
he said, I go to the Father ^ and whatever you ask in mxf
name, I mil do it fd) ; and for the confirmation and en-
couragement of our faith, he repeated it again. If you ask
any thing in my name, I loill do it. Surely we forget
where Christ is, arid vVliat he is doing, when we are back-
ward to prayer, or fiat and cold in it. Is Christ ascended
to give such gifts to men, even to the rebellious, and has
he shewed such a v^illingness and resolution to do it ; and
yet have we no hearts to ask, nor hands to receive them,
no eyes to look up to him, nor resolution to wait for him ?
Christ's love and readiness to help us never fail, and shall
our faith and prayers fail ? Shall our spirits sink and fia^,

(«) 1 Pet. i. 2. (ijCoI. iii. 2^. (^) Heb. viil 1, 2.

{d) John xiv. 12,— H.

OF Christ's ascension. 83

when Christ is ascended so high to serve us ? He is not
above the reach of prayer (a), nor above the impressions of
pity ; though he is passed into the heavens, yet he is still
touched with a feeling of aur infirmities : what comfort and
encouragement in prayer may this consideration give the
Christian ? Though Christ is taken up out of our sight,
we are not out of his : though we may not be duly affected
with his glory, yet he is deeply affected with our infirmi-
ties, and is as much disposed as ever to hear and help us.

Christ's ascension may also raise our joy and thankful-
ness. He is gone up vi'ith a shout ; let us sing praises
to God ; let us sing praises to our King (b) : Though
the procession is at an end, yet the praises arc not, nor
evjr shall be ; the object and grounds of them are the
same, as W'hen Christ first ascended ; and therefore why
should not our rejoicing be the same ? After Christ's as-
cension (cjj the disciples returned to Jerusalem with great
joy, and were continually blessing and praising God : when
Christ told them before-hand of Ins departure, sorrow filled
their hearts ; but now they had seeu the glory of it, and
felt the power of his blessing, and his promise of the spirit
upon their hearts, their sorrow was turned into joy, as Chnst
foretold it should be (d). Should not the members rejoice
in the exaltation of their Head ? L,ove to Christ v/ill cause
the Christian to rejoice in his going to the Father, because the
Father is greater than he; that is, tlian Christ, in that nature,
in which he went to him, namely, the hyman nature, v>^hich
was' greatly advanced and honoured by the ascension fej:
this thouglit should cause all who love Christ, greatly to re-
joice.

{a) Heb. xiv. 15. {b) Psal. xlvii. 6. (c) Luke xxiv. 52, 5S,

(J) John xvi. 20.

(f) 'Etutk iiT^xTuerav cl a-ipiTiKo), accra, t) i-z'tpviro "^rpoi rov ^arifa o
X^i?-os, KvB^ 0 0MJ, ij xaS-' 0 aii>^ft»5ra? ; tuvtu; x.u^' o eivS-pwre?' In) tia^'
0 Gsfls ail IV isp%voii Jjv, kcli a^Mpi<^ot Th'^i'xrpe$ xxrei to »v3-pu^tjsv §v Xiytrui,
f^u'Cxv xvrS zhcct 0 -rarhp. The Heretics may then say, How did

84' OF Christ's ascension'.

S. Is Christ ascended ? then how dangerous is it for sin =
jiers to disobey and degrade him ? May it not priek them at
the heart, as it did some formerly faj, to think, how ill
they have used him, v/hom God hath made both Lord and
Christ ? If it doth not strike them with conviction, in this
world, it will fill them \rith. confusion, in the world to come.
How can sinners justify the contempt and reproach they cast
upon Christ, when God has raised him, not only from the
dead, but also to a heavenly throne I The Jews had a fair-
er pretence to slight Christ, when he was brought down to
the dust of death, than any can now have, seeing he is as-
cended up on high, and has led captivity captive. Christ's
enemies will find it hard to kick against the pricks (bj. He
who sits on the holy hill of Sion is too high, and too great,
for sinners to contend with ; when his wrath is kindled but
a httle, blessed are all they that put their trust in him fcj.

4. From Christ's ascension we should learn to value and
improve the gospel and a gospel ministry. Those are the
ascension-gifts of Christ {dj^ the fruits of the exalted Savi-
our, designed for the good of even the rebellious, that the
Lord God may dwell among them (e) ; but he will wound
the heads of such as still go on in their trespasses. The
Holy Spirit is grieved and withdraws himself when the gifts
and labours of ministers are treated with contempt ; they are
by many looked upon as trifles, and placed but as cyphers
in their account ; but God values them at a gVeat sum, as
the fruits of Christ's deep abasement, and glorious ascen-
sion ; and therefore, though many make a little account of
them, they will have a great and a sad account to give for

Christ go to tiie Father; as God, or as man ? ajtogether as man;
for, as God, he always vv.^s in heaven, and inseparable from the
Father : and tlierefore it ir in respect of his humanity, that the
Father is said to he greater than him. Thcophylac. in Joan xiv. 28.
{a) Acts ii, 37. (Z) Acts ix. 5. {c) Psah ii. 6 — 12

{J) Eph. Iv. IG,— 12. (0 Psal. Ixviii. IF, 21.

OF CHRIST'^) ASCENSION. 85

them. We should see that we refuse not him that speaks
from heaven, for then tliere will be no escaping (a).

5. Is Christ ascended? then how highly is our nature dig-
nified and honoured ? Adam had rendered it more vile than
the beasts that perish ; but Christ has raised it above the
highest angels : After the fall it was thought to be unwor-
thy of the earthly Paradise ; but in Christ it is exalted at
God's right hand, and fills the highest and most honourable
seat, next his throne. Sin had made human nature the de-
rision of devils, but Christ has made it the delight of angels
(bj, and the joy and glory of the redeemed for ever. The
vmion of our nature to Christ's divine person, gives it a glo-
ry infinitely above all conception ; the continuance of that
union is such an honour done to it, as is far above our high-
est admiration ; and should make us cry out, Lord, tv/iat is
man tJuit thou art mindful of 1dm I

6. Is Christ ascended in^our nature ? hov/ much shouldr-
we honour his person, and advance his interest in the world I
Has Christ done so much for our honour and happiness, and
sliall we do nothing for him ? Has he dignified our nature,
and shall we debase him ? Has he spent one life in labour
and sorrows for us, on earth, and is gone up to employ ano-
ther life for us, in heaven, and shall we not live to him ? —
What ! shall we do nothing for one who has done, and is
doing, so much for us ? Is it not amazing that Christians
should be so unwilling to labour, or suffer for Christ, who
did both so freely for them ? Who having shed his blood
for them'on earth, entered into the holy place, with it hav-
ing obtained eternal redemption for them (cj ? What un-

(a) Heb. xii. 25.

(^) K«< <prci/; yiUiTs oi rjjj Q/!?f xvu^tot (px-Avrti, ffr,f/,tpov h; rov ieacvcv
ti'A;^B^'/lfiiv, xa) h hf^iTifo. (plffi;, h xa.) rov <z-aj>tx,^iie-ii avx^tx, to Tponpov
vofJUff^iiffK ; uvTi] ykf t5 olfavoZ rhv Tpaiopuxv uvstX'/j^i, xoci n tuv ^xiy,ovi6JV
yivofiivyi ^oiiyviov, ffn//,ipov v^o ayyiXcuv, xui tuv kvu o'jvxfiiuy TJ'floirniJvuTOH.
— Chrysost de ascensione, p. 378.

Vol. ii. H

S3 OF CHRIST'S ASCLNSION.

grateful disingenuous creatures then must we be, if we think
we can ever do too much, bear too much, or part with too
much, to honour or promote his interest in the world ?

7. From Christ's ascension we may learn the security of
his interest in this world, and of every believer*s salvation
in that to come. The church can never sink so long as her
head is not only above water, but above the skies, sufficient-
ly quahfied with wisdom, love, and power, to support his
interest in the world. The Spirit and grace derived from
the ascended Saviour, shall preserve the church's inward
spiritual life, and his providence provides for her outward
defence and safety. The believer having such a friend in
heaven needs not to fear any foes on earth, or fiends of helL
The gates of hell shall never prevail against the church ; it
is Christ's trust, and it is in his power to give eternal life to
as many as were given him (a).

8. 1 3 Christ ascended ? tlien how tvillingly may the be-
liever leave this world, and follow his Saviour to heaven : —
Whilst we are present in the body fdj, we are absent from
the Lord : how confident and willing then may the sincere
Christian be, rather to be absent from the body, and present
with the I^ord ? Heaven has a new attractive in it now, the
man Christ Jesus is there in all his glory. Christ's ministry,
in the heavenly temple, is infinitely preferable to the mini-
stry and ordinances of the church on earth. The believer
js an infinite gainer by exchanging the sight of Christ,
through a glass darkly, for a sight of him, as he is, and
face to face. Christ thought our sight of his heavenly glory
worth his praying for, and the Christian should think it
worth the dying for. \Ye have been attempting to get a
glimpse of this glory, through the glass of the gospe], and
that is refreshing : But, O what is it, to behold it v,-ith
open face ! when there shall be no veil, either upon the eye,
or upon the object ; to see the glory of the Deity shining

(«} John xvi!. 2. (^) 2 Cor. v. 6. 8.

OF Christ's ascension-. 87

ihrougii the man Christ Jesus must be most desirable. How-
then can the Christian refrain from earnestly longing to de-
part, and to be with Christ, which is far better ? Did the
q^ueen of Sheba come from the uttermost parts of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and shall not the believer
be wiUing to go from earth to heaven, to see the glory of
Christ ? Has he paved the way, and prepared the place,
by his own ascension, and shall we be unwilling to follow
him ? Is he in heaven to receive the dear purchase of his
blood, and conduct us into the King's palace, and shall we
be afraid to trust our souls in his hands (a) ? Do we not
know that he is able to keep them, and present them in
glory with exceeding joy ? Stephen resigned his soul free-
ly when he had seen Jesus at God's right hand (b) ; then
he could say, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit : he well knew
that it would be safe in his hands, and that the rage of bis
enemies could not hurt it there. May the Lord enable us
to make these good improvements of this comfortable truth,
that Christ has ascended far above all heavens to fill all things*

(a) 2 Tim. i. 12.— Jude 24. {h) Acts vii. 56. 59.

CHRIST^S SITTING

AT THE

RIGHT HAND OF GOD.

TWO SERMONS.

SERMON I.

Preached Novemeer 7, 1727.

Jesus endured the cross, cmd sat doxvn on the ri^ht hand
of the throne cf God.^^llEB. sii. 2.

Having formerly explained, and applied Christ's glorious
ascension, I come now to consider what immediately follow-
ed upon his sitting down at the right hand of God. This
is proposed by the author of this epistle, for the support and
encouragement of suffering Christians. Christ's cross was
the Vvay to the crown ; his trials ended in a triumph, his
toils on earth in a glorious rest in heaven. What needs ex-
plication in the words, will be attempted in handling the fol-
lowing doctrinal proposition :

Christ having endured the cross sat doxvn on the right
ha fid of the throne of God.

In cpeaking on this point, I shall attempt the following
things.

I. I shall explain w-hat is mearit by Christ's sitting or,
the right hand of the throne of God.

II. I shiill produce some evidences of it.

III. I shall inquire in v/hat relation and caipacily Christ
^its there.

OF Christ's sitting, 3cc. 89

IV. I shall consider the time and ends of Christ's sitting;
on God's right hand. And,

V. By way of conclusion, I shall shew what improve-
ment is to be made of these things.

Before I enter upon these heads, I would beg leave to
hint, that we ought not to be wise above what is written,
or boldly intrude into things which we have not seen. Many
curious questions may be started upon this head, to which
no regard is to be had : we ought to rest satisfied in what
the Scripture reveals concerning it, as sufficient for us to
know in our present state. So much is revealed, as may
raise high and honourable thoughts of Christ : and for this
end, let us consider the truth before us, in the method pro-
posed.

I. I shall explain what is meant by Christ'-^ sitting on the
right hand of the throne of God. By God's throne, and by
his 7-ighf hand, we are not to understand things m^aterial ;
God has not bodily parts, as m^an has, nor does he sit upon
a material throne, as princes do. It was the stupid error of
some ancient heretics, that God hath a fleshly body with
such members as ours have ; but we know that God is a
Spirit, and a spirit has not flesh and bones* God is said
to have tmigs fa J, as well as hands: and if the expression
were to be taken literally, we must suppose him to have the
body of some flying creature ; which shews that the terms
are figurative. In condescension to our weakness, God is.
pleased to speak of himself after the manner of men. As
the word hand is often used to signify, either intimacy, ho-
nour, or pcrtver ; therefore God is pleased to express his
power, intimacy, and the honour he confers on his Son, by
his being on his right hand : And a throne is the seat of
sovereign power, majesty, and glory. When Christ is said-

(a) Psal. xvii. 8,
H 3

90 OF Christ's sitting

to be on the rigid hand of the throne of God, it signifies,
that he has sovereign power, niajesty> dominion, and glory.
In my text, Christ is said to be on the right hand of God's
throne: elsewhere he is spoken oi^ fa), as sitting doimi on
the Father^ s throne, and being in the riiidst of the throne. —
Christ being in his Father^s throne, signifies his participa-
tion with the Father in power and glory ; and his being on
the right hand of the throne, may denote the honour which
the Father has done Christ, as Mediator, and his nearness to
and intinnacy with him. Viewing the expressions in this
lijrht, there -will be no shadow of an inconsistence between
them. The Psalmist (h), in one place, has spoken of Christ's
sitting at the Father's right hand ; and a little after (^c^,
he has spoken of the Father 2^^ being at Christ's right hand :
both indeed could not be true, if the expressions were to be
taken literally, or locally ; but being understood of the dig-
nity and power which Christ bas with the Father ; and of
the aid and assistance which the Father gives to the Son^
and of his intimacy with him, there is a very good agree-
ment between the seemingly opposite expressions.

Having offered .these genera] observations, it maybe ne
cessary,

1st, More particularly to shew, what is not included and
imuhed, in Christ's sitting on the' right hand of the throne
of God ; which will pj-epare my way to shew what is in-
cluded in it.

(1.) It does not imply, that Christ is e.^alted ahovQ the
Father. In these parts of the world, to place a person at
the right hand, is to give him the upper hand, or to place
him above one's self: But when all things are said to be put
binder Christ, it is manifest that he is excepted who put all
things under him (d). The Son is to be honoured as the

{a) Rev. lii. 2.1.— V. 6.— vii. 17. {b) Psal. ex. 1.

(^) Psal. xc. 5. (d) i Cor. xv. 27.

AT god's RIGPIT HAND. 91

Father (a), but not above him ; he is said to be equal with
God (b), but not superior to him.

(2.) It does not imply, that the Iniman nature in Christ
is equal with God. The most dignified creature cannot be
equal with God, in perfection or glory; there must be a
vast difference between a goodness and greatness, which are
jIn finite and eternal, and such as are limited, and begin in
time. Christ's humanity, in its most Exalted condition,
must be infinitely below Deity ; for God has said, / am
God, and there is none else : I am God, and there is none
like 'ine (c). To suppose Christ's humanity to be immense,
almiglity, and all- sufficient, would be not to exalt its nature,
but to destroy it. It would be to suppose it to be God,
and not a creature.

(3.) Christ's sitting at God's right hand does not imply,
that his body is immoveahly fixed in a certain place. The
heavens indeed must receive it, till the time of the restitu-
tion of all things (d) j but in what posture, or particular
place Christ's body is, is not for us to say : however, this
we may. say, that though Christ's humanity may change
place, yet it changes not its state. The union of Christ's
humanity with his divinity, and the glory resulting thence,
appears, wherever his body is ; and as the deity is every
where present, it never can remove from it, and especially
seeing in Christ dwells all thefidness af the Godhead bo-
dily (e).

(^.j Christ's sitting at God's right hand, doea not sig-
nify, that he is degraded by the Father. Some have con-
tended, that the left hand is, in the eastern parts, deemed
the more honourable place ; and therefore, that Christ's
sitting at the right hand, must denote a lower degree
of honour : but it is the constant language of scripture,
that God hath highly exalted Christ ; he has given him a

(a) John V. 22. [b) Phil. ii. 6. {c) Isa. xlvi. 9.

(rf) Acts iii.2I. (f)Col. ii.9.

92 OF CHRIST S SITTING

name above evoy name : the placing the sheep on Christ'^s
right hand (a), and the goats on the left, in the great day,
sufficiently confutes the opinion, that the left hand was, in
the scripture times, the place of the greater honour. When
the church is spoken of, as standing at the King's right
hand (b), it is so represented not to degrade, but to honour
her : For the same reason, Solomon is said to have placed,
his mother 07i the 7-ight hand of his th'one (c). From all
which it appears, that, from ancient times, the right band
has been thought the most honourable place. I will only
add here, it is not in the least probable, that when the Fa-
tlier will have all mea to honour the Son, even as himself
{d)y he himself should degrade him, or set him in a less ho-
nourable place. Having thus hinted some things that are
not implied in Christ's sitting at God's right hand ; I come,

2dlyi To shev*', what things are implied or included in
Christ's sitting on the right hand of the throne of God.

(1.) It denotes the great dignity of Christ, in his exalt-
ed state : his divine nature was not capable of any real" ad-
vancement, he being, essentially, over all^ God blessed for
ever (e). With respect to that nature therefore, Christ's
exaltation can only signify the manifestation of his essential
dignity and glory. Tlie veil of his humiliation being taken-
off, he shined forth in all the brightness of his glory, as
God, when he sat down upen his heavenly throne : but with
respect to his manhood and office, as Mediator, he was real-
ly dignified and exalted, when he sat down at the Father's
right hand. It was a great honour to the man Christ Jesus,
to be admitted so near to God ; and for the Mediator and
high Priest, to be placed upon such a glorious throne : his
humanity appears there, filled ith all the excellencies wnere-

(a) See Dr. Owen's Expos. Heb. i. S. — Rivet on Psal. ex. 1.
ih) Psal. xlv. 9, (0 1 Kings ii. 19. {d) John v. 22.

{e) Rom. iz. 5.

AT god's right hand. 93

of it is capable, and in all the splendour which a finite be*
ing can enjoy. As Aaron (aj^ the type, so Christ, the
antitype, put on his garments of glory, when he went into
the holy place, or when he sat down on the right hand of
God. The praises and adorations of the heavenly assembly
were a new honour done to Christ, upon his ascending his
p;lorious throne. That nature, which had been the object
uf so much scorn and contempt on earth, is highly admired
in heaven, and occasions nev/ songs of praise to God ; for
they sing not only the song of Moses, but of the Lamb :
they are represented saying, IVorilvj is the Lamb that tuas
slain, to 7-eceive pozver, and riches, a7id tvisdom, and sti'ength,
and honour, and glorij, and blessing (b). If this should
be supposed to refer to the church militant, yet w^e must al-
low, that the church triumphant has greater reason, inclina-
tion, and' ability, to do it ; and therefore it is not to be
supposed, that the saints above neglect giving those honours
to Christ, which are paid to him by his saints here below.
It is a high and honourable work, which Christ is engaged
in there, to dispense the Spirit, govern the world, intercede
for the saints on earth, and for ever feast the joyful eyes of
those in heaven, who behold his glory ; this must be another
part of that dignity and honour to wliich Christ was raised,
when he sat down at God's right hand.

(2.) It denotes the joy and satisjcislion which Christ has
in his heavenly state ; jit thy right hand, said he to the Fa-
ther, there are pleasures for evermore fcj. Ke was a
man of sorrows on earth, but he is full of joy in he'aven :
He that ivipes atvay all tears from the eyes of his people fdj,
surely has none in his own. There was ^Joy set before him
(e ), before he suffered ; and doubtless it was given him,
when he sat down at God's right liand. We may take tha

(a) Exod. XX v;;. 2.— Lev. xvi. -i. {h) Rev. v. 12.

(0 I'sa!, xvi. 11. (./j Rev, vii. 17.

OF CHRIST S SITTIXG

latter to be an actual donation of the lorrxier ; the joy he
had in prospect when he suffered, he had in possession whei*
he came to his throne. This is the time of his receiving the
Father's public approbation, and the tokens of his love, be-
fore the whole heavenly assembly ; v.'hich must be matter of
great joy to him who so much valued and delighted in hi*
Father's love.

(3.) Christ's sitting at God's right hand, signifies his dO'
minion and potver over all creatures. When God set him
at his own right hand, in heavenly places, it was far above
all principality faj and power, might and dominion, in
both worlds. * Can any words, saith Chrysostom C^Jy ^e-

* clare this ? He that was of the earth, see how he is exalt -

* ed ; the greatness of his power is truly super-eminent : See
' whither he has raised him ; he has made him higher than

* any creature in heaven, above all principality and power*

* We tru'y need the Spirit, and a mind filled with wisdom

* in the knowledge of him. Think how great a distance

* there is between the nature of God and the nature of man ;

* and yet from our meanness and abasement, he has raised it

* to that honour, not to the first, second, or third degree,

* but above all : All created power is made subject to the

* man, on the account of God, the Word, who dwells

* therein.'

(4.) Christ's sitting at God's right hand, implies his
nearness to, and intimacy with the Father. The prophet

(a) Eph. I. 20, 21.
(3) "Affa r); Xoyss ans TK^u^tltrxt omr,<f%<rv.i' rev u^o rra 'yvSf fov ruv
axtfAMVuv Taiyviov yivof/.tvav, lis il'-f^j luB-'iv; avhya-yvr evTu; v^ipSaXXav
fziyi&as ffi; 'hvya.f/.iui avrS, xxt d-'ice. ?ra« uviiyayiv to7; iTou^aviots vdffr,;
KTiffUcos (ptuneof oivia/Ti^ov iTroi'/iffiv, vTi^uva/ Teiirrii a^Ktjs xki i^avfias' ovt&is
TviC/iCKTo; Xi-'^"'* ^'a""'*' '''' <ro<P^ii 5" '^'n I'^fiyvcoffei kvTvn- hvor,(rov otrav W)v
Scv^pu'^rn Kou QioZ ^vffico; to fjiiffov avo TaurriS' fyi? IvriXuas hi Ikhv/iv uurov
Kv/iyxyi rm rifx-hv suk 'iva, (ix^/u,ov v7n^iS'/i »«< liunpov kcc) t^itov ^xSat

1 Av$i>so<TH yiyovi ^iXn, TTxffx r, KTii'r, ^vvkui; ^<« rav iviiKovvroi @-s»

?Jyev, Chrysosr, in Joe.

AT god's right hand. 95

Daniel, in his vision concerning Christ's ascension, and sit-
ting at God's right hand, has told us (ajy that he saw one
like the Son of Man, who came with the clouds of heaven,
and came to the ancient of days, and they brought him near
before him ; which may denote his intim.acy with the Father :
He received him vvi:h the greatest friendship and familiarity,
saying, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine eke-
mies thy footstool (b). Which words seem to carry in
them the Father's congratulating the Son, upon his accom-
plishment of his difficult work on earth. As if he had said,

* I was pleased with thy entrance on this work, and much

* more with the finishing of it. I love thee for laying down

< thy life for my chosen ; and it is highly pleasing to me,

* that thou hast overcome sin, Satan, death, and hell. Be-

* hold all the joy, rest, and gloi-y in heaven, and universal

* dom.inion over the world, are thine ; thou shalt sit on my

< right hand, and possess all the honour and power foretold

* and promised thee : I place thee far above the whole ere-

* ation, next to myself, on the throne ; and thou shalt be
' my eternal delight, as from eternity I took pleasure in the

< foresight of this happy hour.' Christ's intercession, of
which he gave us a specimen a little before he died, shews
what intimate converse he has with the Father, in his pre-
sent state : this will appear by a careful perusal of Christ'r.
famous prayei- (c), before he suffered ; wherein he address-
ed the Father, as one who was indeed in his bosom, and
knew his heart, and had liberty to speak his mind to him.
Ke who had dwelt in his bosom from eternity, I'rjst not be
thought to be estranged from him, when he sat down at his
right hand. The Psalmist joined together his being made
•most blessed Jor ever (d), and being made exceeding glad
t'jilh his Father's countenance. With what pleasure did the
Father look upon the Son, when he received him to sit at

{a) Dan. vii. If^. {i) Psai. ex. 1.

(f) John xv;i. (./) Psal. ixi. 9,

9G OF Christ's sitting

his right hand ! This was a wonderful evidence how mvca
he was in God's favour, above all the patriarchs, prophets,
apostles, martyrs, saints, or angels ; To ivliich of the angeh
said Godf at anij time. Sit thou at my right hand (a) P
Though thev ahvays behold the face of God, yet they are
not admitted into such intimate converse with him, as he
who sits at his right hand. It is said, that he appears in
the presence of God for us (h), or before his face, in his
immediate presence : As he- is cur advocate he has the Fa-
Cher's ear, eye, and heart ; for he who always lieard him en
earth will not turn a deaf ear to him, now he has admitted
him so near himself in heaven.

(5 ) Christ's sitting at the Father's right hand, signifies
his administ?'alion of his mediatorial kingdom. By dis-
pensation the Father has committed all Judgment to the
Sou (c) J and, in that sense, the Father Judges no man.
Christ, as Godman mediator, acting ceconomically, or ac-
cording to the order agreed upon, has the administration
both of the kingdom of grace and of providence put into
his hands ; and is said to sit next to the Father, though in
nature equal with him, and to receive power, and authority
from him. As It is the Father's province to appoint, and
the Son's to execute, the Son acts in the Father's uame, as
the Spirit acts in the Son's name. Christ sits at the Fa-
ther's right hand, not absolutely as God, nor absolutely
as man, but as God-man mediator ; and therefore is in a
station proper for it : He sits next to the Father, because
above all roere creatures, in the dignity of his person ; and
yet below the Father, though in nature equal with him, on
the account of his office, which he has voluntarily under-
taken. The not truly considering these things has bred
confusion in the thoughts of many, and at length run them,
into a denial of Christ's deity. The power and glory sig-
nified by Christ's silting at the Father's right hand, cannot

(.;) He J. ;. \3, {h) Heb. \x. 24. {c) John v. 19,

AT god's right hand. 97

be intended of that power and glory, which he has as God,
for then the Holy Ghost might be said to sit there, as well
as the Son, he having the same divine perfections ; but the
power snd glory denoted by the expressions, being dispen-
satory, and belonging to Christ's office, as God-man media-
tor, it belongs to the Son of God, and to him only, seeing
he is the one and only Mediator bctioeen God and men (a).
The Holy Ghost not being in this office, cannot have the
mediatory power and glory, or properly be said to sit at the
right hand of the throne of God. Christ is a priest and a
King upon the throne, and he has a glory which belongs to
him, as hidlding the temple of the Lord (b) ; not only the
glory which is in, or results from the work itself, but also a
glory and honour which he is crowned with for doing it.
Some indeed will not allow this ; but, I think, Christ him-
self asserts, or at least supposes it in those words, / have
glorified thee on earth ; novo therefore glorify thou me (c).
In which words Christ makes his performance of the work
of a Mediator on earth, the ground of his m.ediatory glory
in heaven : So the prophet Zechariah, in the text before re-
ferred to, said, He shaU build the templet and he shall bear
the glory : there is a connexion between the one and the
other ; because he poured out his soul to death, therefore
the Father said he would divide him a portion tvith the
great, and that Christ should divide the spoil tvit/i the
strong (d). The apostle Paul has expressly told us (ejy
that as a high priest Christ sits on the right hand of the
throne of the Majesty in the heavens, — From these things
it plainly appears, that it is not Christ's essential glory, as
God, but his mediatorial power and glory, which are denot-
ed by his sitting at God's right hand.

(6.) Christ sitting at God's right hand denotes the ex-
cellence of his mediatorial kingdom. The apostle Paul ha-

{a) 2 Tim. ii. 5. (h) Zech. v?. 12, 13. (^ John xvii. 4. r.
(i) Isa. Hii. 12. (0 Heb. viii. 1.

Vol. ji. I

98 OF Christ's sitting

ving introduced Christ (a), sitting at the right hand of the
Majesty in the heavens, as high-priest, a httle after has told
us, that he hath obtained a more excellent ministrij ; which
is first of all, with respect to the person ministering, which
is not Moses, or Aaron, or the priests under the law, men
that had infirmities and could not continue by reason cf
death ; but it is God manifested in the flesh, who, though
he died once, yet soon revived again, and now liv^s for ever-
more ; and in his person is possessed of all human and divine
excellencies and perfections. He is Son over his own house ;
and is counted worthy of more glory than Moses, as he that
builds a house has more honour than the house, as the scrip-
ture speaks (b). His ministry is more excellent, as he is
the Mediator of a better covenant, estabhshed upon better
promises : Christ has greater blessings to dispense, and there
is a greater certainty of our receiving them, than the legal
priests of old either had, or could give. Besides, Christ's
administration has more excellency and glory in it, with re-
gard to the place and manner of it : The legal high priest
went into a worldly sanctuary ; Christ appears i;i the heavenly
one : the former stood before the typical mercy- seat ; the
latter is next to the Father of mercies himself: The legal
high-priests had figurative garments of glory ; Christ is
clothed vi'ith real substantial glory : the former attended
God's symbolical presence for a time on earth ; Christ ap-
pears before the face, or in the immediate presence of God
in heaven : Aaron and his followers had some respect and
honour from sinful creatures like themselves ; but Christ is
adored and honoured by all the holy angels, and the spirits
of just men made perfect : Aaron and his followers m.inistered
the shadow of good things to come ; but Christ gives the
substance, the spirit, righteousness, pardon, grace, apd eter-
nal life : Moses and the Levitical priests were under a cloud ;

(fl) Heb. viii. 6, {b) Heb. ill. 3, 4.

AT god's IllLiilT HAND. 99

but Christ, at the Father's right hand, is in the clearest light
and brightest glory : The wisdom, power, and majesty of
the ancient prophets and kings had but a very faint resemb-
lance of those glorious qualities in our Mediator. On the
account therefore of the excellence of his administration he
may be said to sit on the right hand of the throne of God :
and this may be more clearly seen, if \vc take a view of the
things signified by his sitting there.

1. The exaltation of his human nature in heaven, above
all other creatures : they stand and bow before the throne ;
Christ sits upon it : he is exalted far above them, and has a
name above every^ name (a) ; angels, authorities, and powers
being made subject to him. But. of this I had occasion to
speak before, and therefore shall not enlarge upon it here.

2. Christ's sitting there may signify his saftty and secu-
rity from all attempts of his enemies : When he was on earth,
they crucified him j now he is out of their reach, all their
malice and rage is but kicking against the pricks (b) ;
wounding themselves instead of hurting him. Christ, it may
be, had an eye to this, when he had told his enemies, that:
1>3 was going to him that sent himy and that ivhiiher he tvent
they coutd not come : which was, as if he had said thus ;
« I shall be secure in my Father's presence ; you cannot
' come at me there, nor so much as touch my body then.'
Wicked men may arrogantly talk of breaking his bands, and
may foolishly fancy they can ruin Christ's kingdom ; but
they imagine a vain thing : Fie who sits in the heavens
laughs at them ; Christ, upon the holy hill of Sion, has iheni
in derision ; he can dash them in pieces with his iron rod ; but
they cannot dethrone him ; he is at the Father's right hand,
and shall sit there till all his jfoes are made his footstool (^cj.
Indeed they are not presently brought under, the work is go-

a) 1 Pet. iii. 22. (^) See Dr, Owen's expos. Heb. i. 3. p. 70.
(c) Psal. ex. I.
I 2

100 OF Christ's sitting

ing on, tliougli not yet perfected : as the apostle Paul sauI
in his time C^Jt so may we now say, xvs see not yet atl things
jmt under him ; but, by faith, we may see him fixed in a
glorious station, in which he shall abide till they actually
arc subjected to him.

3. Christ's sitting at God's right hand may signify his
duration and continuance in this glorious state. He is not
like earthly kings, who ascend their thrones, and sit on
them a little time, and then lie down in the dust, as v/ell as
the meanest of their subjects : our heavenly King lives for
ever ; and the Father has said to him. Thy throne^ 0 God, is
for ever and ever (h). The high priests under the law,
when they entered into the holy place, soon came out again,
they stayed there but a little time ; but Christ continues in
the heavenly sanctuary till he comes to judge the world in
iigtchousness.

Having thus endeavoured to shew, what is meant by
Christ's sitting at the right hand of the throne of God, I
proceed to the next general head ; and therefore,

II. I shall produce some evidences of this comfortable
truth. If indeed we had no other evidence of it, but the
assertion in m.y text, we ought firmly to believe it ; but see-
ing God has given us many others in the scriptures, we
may, for the exercise of faith, love, and joy, collect and im-
prove them.

1. That Christ actually sits at the right hand of the
^•Jiron^ of God, appears from scripture prophecy. The
Holy Spirit, who spoke in and by the prophets, could not
foretell what would never be ; for he is trutli, and is no
liar ; he leads into all tridh : but it is impossible that he
should ce'ude or deceive us. He has represented Christ
saying thus {cj ; Thoio tvilt shen' me the path cfUfe : in

« Heb. 11. 8. {h) Keb. i. 8, (.) PsaJ. xvl, II.

AT god's right hand. iOl

thy fre&encc is fulness of joy ; at thy right hand there ar^
pleasures for evermore ; or, thou wilt raise me Ironi the
dead, bring me into thy glorious presence, and place me on
thy own right hand, where I shall have everlasting joy and
pleasure. The Holy Spirit, by David's pen (a), ha 5 re-
presented the Father saying to the Son, Sit thou on my
right hand : When this was spoken, is not declared ; possi-
bly it might be in the eternal transactions between the Fa-
ther and the Son, when the whole platform of salvation was
agreed upon, when the purpose was declared, and the grace
was given in Christ Jesus [b) ; If it was so, the etern
Spirit well knew there was a joy set before Christ, and a
obligation which made it necessary that Christ, when h
had suffered|^c^, should enter into his glory. Christ mention-
ed it before his ascension j and therefore proved it from the
prophetic writings, among which that in the hundred and
tenth Psalm has ever been looked upon as very full and
clear. Had we but Christ's own exposition of it, which
we may justly think he gave the disciples, how might it en-
hghten our understandings, and cause our hearts, as well as
theirs, to burn within us ? Those words, D'le Lord said to
my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine ene-
mies thyfootstooli seem to be not barely a prophetic decb-
ration, but also a promise ; As if the Father had said, * Son,

* thou shah sit at my right hand after thou hast suffered,
« and continue there till all thine enemies are subdued : thou

* art an eternal priest, and shall sit and rule upon thy throne.*

The ancient Jewish doctors generally understood that pas-
sage in the hundred and tenth psalm of the Messiah : and if the
Jews, in Christ's time, had not so understood it, they might
easily have answered Christ, when he put them to silence,
by alledging this text, and raising that question upon it (d).
How David could call his Son his Lord ; for it had been only

(a) Psal. ex. 1. (^) 2 Tim. i. 9.

(0 Luke xxiv. 26, 27, 32. id) Math. xxii. 42, 43, &c,

I 3

102 OF Christ's sittixg

replying, that tlie Me3:iah is rot there spoke, of; but tl.ey
knew it belonged to him ; and tlie last verse seems to me
to be a prophetic promise of Christ's exaltation, and sitting
at God's right hand ; He shall drink of the brooJc in the
ivj^, thereof shall lie lift up the head (a). From all these
prophetic representations it appears, that Christ, after his
death and sufferings, was to sit at the Father's right hand :
iJeeing therefore his death and sufferings are past, it follows,
cither that Christ sits there, or else that the prophetic writ-
ings have deceived us ; but far be it from us to charge the
Spirit of truth with falsehood : we conclude, therefore, that
Christ actually sits at the Father's right hand.

2. It appears that he does so from express scrijUurc as-
sertions. The evangelist Mark has told us, that when
Christ ascended he sat doxvn on the right hand of God (h) :
Paul said, that God set him at his own right hand (c).
Christ himself, after his ascension said to John, and by him
to us [d)i I overcame and sal dotvn xvith my Father on his
throne : in which expressions there may be an allusion to
what was done by Solomon his type, who sat on the throne
with David his Father in his life time.

S. V/e have the testimony of that holy man and martyr,
Stephen, under the influence of the Spirit of God, and go-
ing to appear before his judge, who said, he saw Jesus o?i
the right hand of God (e). He could have no selfish ends
to serve, by uttering a falsehood ; and he might have well
expected, that not Christ, but the devil would have taken
his Spirit, had he died with a lie in his mouth.

From these things it appears, that when Christ ascended,
be sat down on the right hand of God. His enemies have
no reason to reproach us for following and believing in a
crucified God : he is a risen ascended Saviour ; he is not
lost, though gone from us ; he sits in glory above, and

(fl) Psal. ex. 7. {b) Mark xvi. 19. {c) Ephes. i. 21,

{f} Rev. iii. 21. {e) Acts vii. 5Q,

AT god's right hand. 103

Will conic again the se^rond time, without sin, to complete
the sal'vation of his people (a). Without spending farther
time In the proof of Christ's sitting at God's right hand, I
^liall leave what remains, In the doctrinal part, to my next
discourse, and conclude for this time, with some

APPLICATION.

1. What regard ought to be paid to Christ's speaking to
us froyn heaven ? When he was on earth we were com-
manded to hear him (b) ; and he had then the same divine
perfections to oblige us to it, as now he has ; and yet there*
Is an emphasis laid upon his speaking to us from heaven(c) :
as \\e came from heaven, and knew all the mind and will of
God ; so he now Is seated In heaven. In the highest au-
thority and honour, executing all his offices In the most
glorious manner. To refuse him whom God has thus au-
thorised, and owned. Is a sin of a high aggravation. It
struck some of his enemies to the heart when Peter told
them (d)i that God had made Jesus loth Lord and Christ :
though they had crucified him, God had exalted him, and
raised him from the grave to a throne. When we neglect
any duty or ordinance, which Christ has appointed, or dis-
trust any gospel prom^Ise, which he has set before us, we should
think what and where Christ is, whom we disregard : Is he
not one who sits at God's right hand, crowned with glory
and honour ? and may not this prick us to the heart here-
after, if now we slight his person, his presence, or any of
his appointments ? Is it not very evident from the station
which Christ Is now in, that God the Father loves and ho-
nours him ? And may we not from thence infer, that he
will be incensed against such as shght and disregard him ?
This sin will appear still more black and odious, if we coiv

(a) Heb. ix. 28. (h) Mark ix. 7.

(0 Heb. xii. 25, (^) Acts ii, 36, .

104? 0F Christ's sitting

sider not only in what dignity and favour Christ now is, but
also who he is, and what he is doing for us, in his present glo-
rious state. Is he not our near kinsman, bone of our bone,
and flesh of our flesh ? Has he not carried up our nature
with him into heaven, and raised it to the highest honour
and glory, whereof it is capable ? and shall we despise and
dishonour him who has shewed such regard to us ? Surely
that would be most ungrateful, and a vile thing, which
ought to be abhorred by all Christians. They who tram-
ple under foot the Son of God, and put him afresh to an
open shame, will be confounded when he shall appear in a
glorified human nature to judge them ; and they at the
same time will have visible evidence of his love to their na-
ture, and of the honour he has put upon it.

If we consider what Christ is now doing in heaven, it will
appear reasonable, that we should pay him our highest re-
gards : He doth not sit idle in his glorious seat ; he is still
saving poor sinners, and carrying on the designs of his mercy
both in heaven and on earth. So much is signified to us in
those wards (a) ; Wherefore he is able to save to the utter-
most^ all that come to God by him, seeing he ever lives in
heaven to make intercession for them. Christ sits at God's
right hand, to save his people to the uttermost ; and if he
lives there to save us to the uttermost, should we not live
here to serve him, to the uttermost ? The rest and glory of
heaven do not make him neglect our salvation ; therefore
shall any thing in this worH make us neglect his honour and
interest ? Surely, if we were duly under the influence of these
considerations, we should love Christ more, and serve him
better, and pay a greater deference to his person, and a more
ready obedience to his commands : We should then make it
more our study tq honour him whom God has so honoured,
in placing him at his right hand ; when he has not only by

(a) Heb. vii. 25.

AT god's right hand. 105

his works, but also by his word told us (a)y that he will
have every knee to bow, and every tongue to confess to his
Son, whom he has so highly exalted ; and what regard then
ought we to pay to our enthroned Lord and Saviour ? Let
us resolve, by the help of his Spirit and grace, to endeavour
to exalt, honour, and serve him more : Let us often, by
an eye of faith, look up to him upon his throne, as a most
glorious person, God-man, engaged in a most glorious work,
even our salvation, honoured by his Father, and adored by
all th.e other inhabitants of heaven ; and let us say to our-
selves, and to one another, shall we do nothing to shew our
respects to such a Saviour ? Shall we not do more than ever
we did ? Alas ! how little has it been ! It can never be too
much, never so mucli as our glorious Lord is worthy of.

2. What encouragement have we to come to the throne
of grace by prayer ? Seeing Christ is for ever sat down al
God's right hand, we may go into the /lo/Zes^ of cdl(b}y
having such a friend and advocate there. This argument is
a very good one ; the Holy Ghost has laid it before us for
our encouragement (c) ; Christ is touclied xvith a feeling of
our infirmities ; our great high priest Jesus the Son of God,,
is passed into the heavens for us : we may therefore come
boldly to the throne of grace. The glory of Christ's throne
has not made him insensible of our infirmities, he feels tliem
still ; he pities and will help his poor distressed servants :
we should not then be discouraged ; we have a good friend
at court ; Christ at the Father's right hand, to pity and
plead for us, and to dispense ^11 needful supplies to us : now
he sits at God's right hand he is moved with as tender com-
passion to the meanest of his members, as ever he was on
earth. He is not only man, but the Son of God ; therefore
prevalent with the Father, and infinitely powerful and able
to relieve his people. Our earthly friends often pity us, but

(a) F3al. ii. 9, 10, 11. {h) Heb. x. 19, 20.

(0 Heb. iv. 14, 15, 16.

106 DF Christ's sitting

cannot help us ; but Christ is able to save us to the utter-
most. He is our great high priest : he did not quit his
office when he sat down upon his throne ; he took his seat
there on our account, and not only on his own : he passed
into the heavens for us, to appear in the presence of God, on
our account, and not only on his own ; he is there as an ad-
vocate for his people, to present their prayers with much
incense. Christians then ought not to be anxiously careful
for any thing, but with chcarfulness and freedom they should
go to the throne of grace for all needful mercy, whatever
their difficulties and wants are.

3. If Christ h^s sat down at the right hand of the throne
of God, then let us labour to enter into his rest, not by
aspiring to an equal dignity or power with him, for that were
wicked to desire, but by believing that he is there, and by
making a right improvement of this comfortable truth. It
is the work of faith to look within the veil, and to converse
with Christ there, iiow^ freed from all the labours, sorrows,
and sufferings which he endured here below, resting from all
works of that kind, and crowned with glory and honour. —
With what inward rest, joy, and satisfaction may such a
bight of Christ fill a believer I How may it animate and en-
courage us more in our Christian race and warfare ! Fcr
which end it is proposed to us to look to Jesus the author
andjinisker of our faith, tvho for the joy that xvas set before
hiniy endured the cross, and despised the shame; and has
sat doxon on the light hand of the throne of God (a J. A
view of Christ's sitting at the. right hand of God, as head
of the church, and Saviour of the body, would be an excel-
lent means to expel our guilty fears. God, who was mani-
fested in our flesh, is gone up ivith a shout ; let iis theji
sing praises to God our King (h) : Let us behold him on
bis heavenly throne, above temptation and death, and in the

{a) Heb. xii, 2, &c. ; {b) Psal Ixvii. 5, 6\

AT god's right hand. 107

highest favour with his Father. Shall not the tongue of the
dumb siiig for joy (cijy to see the Saviour accepted of God,
and exalted to be Sovereign over men and devils, silting in
a royal seat, and making all his foes his footstool ? What
guilt can stand before that blood fbj which delivered hin;
who shed it from the jaws of death, and raised him to his
glorious throne, where he will draw all his people after him ?
4. What reason have we to believe, that the gates of
hell shall not prevail against iJie church ? Is not Christ
placed in the highest dignity and authority at God's right
hand, far above all principality and power ? How doth he
there deride all the policy and power of his enemies ? It is
settled, by a firm agreement between Him and his Father,
the highest powers in heaven and earth, before whom all
creatures are as nothing, that Christ shall reign till he hath
jmt all enemies under his feet (c) ; that he shall sit at God*s
right hand till he makes his foes his footstool. Let us then
commit our souls, our friends, his whole church and interest,
into his hands, by faith, persuaded that he is able to Jceep
what tve commit to his trust (d). As he was never con-
quered, he never can be : the lower he was depressed, the
higher he rose ; from the cross and the grave he mounted
up to the throne, and sat down on the right hand of God.

(a) Isa. XXXV. 5. {h) Heb, ix. 12. — Johij xii. .'32.

108 05" Christ's siTxfKG

SERMON 11.
Preached November 21, 1727.

Jesus endured the cross, aiid sat dotvn on the rhhi hand
oj the throne of God, — Heb. xii. 2.

JtlAViNG formerly explained Christ's sitting at God's right
hand, and proved the reality and certainty of it, I now pro-
ceed ; and therefore,

III. I shall shew in what relatiofi, or capacity , Christ
sits at God's right hand. We must regulate our con-
ceptions of this by Scripture, where we find many cha-
racters applied to Christ in his ascended state, or belonging
to it, which teach us in what relation, or capacity, he re-
sides there. I think we may very well conclude, that he sits
there in the same relation, or capacity, in which he went
thither ; and he himself has declared, that he abcended to
his Father and his God (a). The first person in the sa-
cred Trinity is the God and Father of cur Lord Jesus
Christ (h) ; and he is so with respect to Christ's mission
and cfiice. Of this the Psalmist, in the name of the Fa-
ther, has spoken thus. He shall cry to me. Thou art ray Fa-
ther, my God, and the Rock of my salvation. I mil make
him my first-born, higher than the kings of the earth (c).
Which Christ himself thus explained : Say you of him
rvhom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world.
Thou blasphemest, because I said, I am the So7i of God (d) P
God is Christ's Father, as he sanctified and sent him into
the world : when Christ said he was to ascend to his Father
and his God (e), he spoke of the dispensation, as Chry-

(a) John XX. 17. {b) 2 Cor. xi. 31. (c) Psal. Ixxxix. 26, 27^

(^y; John X. 36. (<•) John x, 17. ubi vid. Chrysostom.

AT god's right hand. iOi^

sostoni says. To ascend belongs to the fleeh ; but he spoke
that concerning it \vhich they did not imagine. Is God any
otherwise our God, than the God of our ilesh ? Yes, truly ;
for, if in a different way he is the God of /the righteou?
and of the wfcked, with much greater difference is he the
God of his people, and the God of his Son : he was to sit
upon the throne, they to stand before it ; and his glory ii
far greater than theirs is. We may then look on Christ as
sitting at the Father's riglit hand, in a covenant relation to
him, as his Father, and his God, by office ; of which great
i^se may be made, both in defence of the Christian faith, and
to increase the Christian's comfort. ' Christy's calling God
his God, does not argue that he is, as God, inferior to the
Father ; but only that, by covenant and office, he has taken
the Father to be his God, whose works he performed, and
whose reward he receives. When we see Chi-ist sitting at
the Father's right hand, as his covenant God, we may just-
ly infer, that the covenant shall be fulfilled. The blessing,
promised to Christ, are the sure mercies of David ; for God
spoke thus : / tvill maha vcith ycni an everlasting covenant,
even the sure mercies of David : Behold, I have given him
to be a xjcitness to the pcoi'le, a commander and leader of
the people (a).

Christ sits in heaven in a special- relation to his people.—
He sat down at the right hand of God not only as his Fa-
ther, but also as our Father ; for as Christ and his people
are one in covenant, so God is our God and Father, as well
as his God and Father. Hence the redeemed are said now
to sit together in Christ, in heavenly places ; for the Father
has raised its up together, nnd made us sit together in
heavenly places, in Christ Jesus (h). Th?. head sitting,
the body sits with him ; therefore, to use the words of Chry-
sostom, * O think where Christ sits, above all principality
' and power ! And we sit v/ith him ; ttv, who were dead,

(a) Isa. Iv. Z. 4. {b) Eph. ii. 6.

VOL. II. K

110 OF Christ's sitting

* and the children of wrath by nature, who have done no-

* thing right. O the depth of the riches, and wisdom,

* and knowledge of God ; for, by grace we are saved faj !'

Another of Christ's relative characters, as he sits at God's
right hand, is Mediator and Minister of the heavenly sanc-
tuary. Thus Re is several times spoken of in scripture, since
liis ascension ; There is one God, and one Mediator, he-
tzveen God and man, the man Christ Jesus (b). He is the
Mediator of a better covenant. Not he mas, but he now
2-^. Since he is gone up to his throne, he interposes at pre-
sent, as a medium of communion between God apd his peo-
ple ; they come to God by him, and are made accepted in
the Beloved (c). Christ is a minister of the heavenly sanc-
tuary, and that as sitting at God's right hand (d) : * In
' the height of his heavenly glory, he condescends to dis-

* charge the ofiice of a public m.inister for the church,' as
one has expressed it (e) ; ' and in the discharge of that

* ministry, he executes all his offices of prophet, .priest, and

The testimony of Jesu?, or that revelation of the will of
God which he gives from heaven, is the Spirit of prophecy :
and as he externally reveals the truth, so he internally en-
lightens the minds of men ; upon this depends the continu-
ance of the church in the v\'orld. Were it not for the ema-
nations of light from the Sun of Righteousness, the 'church
would be as dark a dungeon as the world. It was since
Christ sat down at God's right hand, that we were told,
that no man hath seen God at any time, but that the onlij
begotten Son, tvlio is in the bosom of the Father, he hath

(^a) Kt(pa,Xy,s x,tt.6i^of/.ir/ii, xa) ro ac!>f.ta. evyy.ai'Arai- })ik t5t« W-ziyayiv

iKUvy t); oji viXBdf ^virex rixvov 6^-/>;j, kh) r) xard'^^anrets, sob— » — u (idCo?
crXsrs x,ou irc<)(piK? xcc) yvutfiu-: Qini, T'/j yao- ^x^irt i?i aitruiru-ivoi ^'/icrr/.
Chrysost. in loc.

{I,) 1 Tim. ii. 5. (c) John xiv. 6.— Epb. i. 6.

(</) Heb. vlli. I, 2. (r) Dr. Owen in !oc.

AT god's RIGHT IJAXD. Ill

declared him (a). Were it not for this, all spiritual gifts
would cease ; we should be altogether estranged from the
life of God, through the blindness of our hearts : there
would be no exercise of grace, or enjoyment of spiritual
comfort. But here hes the church's security and encourage-
ment, that though the under ])rophets die, yet the great
prophet lives for ever ; though earthly ministers may err
from the truth, yet Christ never can ; he is in the bosom of
the Father, and knows the Father as intimately and fully,
as the Father knows him : with him also is the residue of
the Spirit ; and to him, as sitting at the Father's rig'.it hand,
we are to look," as still engaged to teach and instruct us,
to explain and to confirm the truth, and to make us feel the
sanctifying and comforting povver of it.

Christ's intercession is both an exercise and an evidence of
his priestly oftice. It is, and it ought to be, tlie believer'^
great comfort, that Christ ever lives in heaven i-o make in'
tercession for him (bj^ and tluit he continues still to pre-
sent his prayers ; which shews that he has an unchangeable
priest-hood, and that, as our great High Priest, he passed
into the heavens for us. V/e are to consider this our great
High Priest, as being still as merciful and faitlifu^. as ever.
Notwithstanding his sitting at God's right hand, he is touch-
ed with a feehng of our infirmities, and feels in himself the
injuries done to his church here below. It was since he took
his place in heaven, that he said, Said^ Said, vohy rterse-^
cutest thou me (c) F Since his exaltation to his throne, he
is spoken of fdj, as the faithful tvitness ; and we are told,
that if we believe not, yet he abides faithful, and cannot
deny himself [e). Such a merciful and faithful High Priest,
at God's right hand, may be a great comfort and joy to his
people in this world, amidst all their infirmities and afHic-
tlons.

(a) John i. 18. [b) Heb. vli. 25. (<:) Acts ix. -i,

(.^) Rev. i. 5. (^) 2 Tim. li. 13.

in
aii-

1 12 i)T Christ's sitting

Ciirist, as King, sits and reigns upon his holy hill of the
heavenly Sion ; th.e supreme Lord sits as King for ever (a) ;
l;e still sways the sceptre of grace and providence. To hi
therefore we are -to look, who can protect us in all our d
u^'ers, who can redress all our just grievances, and can be
«.ur crown of righteousness in the great day.

Christ is spoken of (b), in his present state, as the great
and cliicf shepherd of the sheep : he is great in his person,
\ii his power, in his grace, and in his gloi-y ; but lie is tlie
ihepherd stiil, who protects and feeds the flock, It is a
pleasant and useful work of faith, often to look upon him,
and say, The Lorcl is my shepherd, I shuU not tvant (c).
He Gtiily^^^'i hisjlock, and carries his lambs in his bosoii;,
i:nd gently leads those that are xiith young (dj. There-
fore his weak, shiftless, and burdened servants, may cast all
their care upon him, for he now cares for them fej. Hea-
ven has not put an end to his pastoral care : before he died,
he spoke of a work to be done ffj, after he was glorified ;
which was the bringing the Gentiles into his fold. This he
has been doing near seventeen hundred years, and will never
leave it till it is finished ; and so pleasing is the work to him,
that all who faithfully serve him in it, as under-shepherds,
shall, v^'hen the chief shepherd appears, receive a crotvn of
glory that fades not aii'ciy (gj.

Christ's sitting at the right hand of God is spoken of, as
:ie is head of the church : he is a head of vital influence to a
body of men made up of living members, which derive frona
him nourishment, and spiritual increase (h). They who
worship angels, and make use Gf them as mediators and in-
tercessors, deny Christ the head of tre church, whose work
it is, as such, not only to prot2ct:, but to plead for the bo-

{a) Psal. xxix. \C. (h) Ucb. xiii. '2 .— 1 Vet. v. 4.

(0 Psal. xxlii. 1. (d) Isa. x!. 1!. (0 1 Pet. v. 7.

(/) John X. 16. (g) 1 Pet. v, 4.

{h) Eph. i. 21. i:2.--Coi. ih ID.

AT god's RIGHT HAND'. 113

dy, and take care for the welfare of all its members. There
is a strict union, and a real, though invisible communiori,
between Christ the head, in heaven, and all his mei-nbers
here below : distance of place does not cut off the commu-
nication between them. No persecutor can toucU the mem-
bers on earth, but Christ the head feels it in heaven. Let
none then of Christ's poor, oppressed, afflicted, or tempted
members say, Christ will not be concerned for me ; what
benefit shall I receive from his sitting at the right 4iand of
God ? For as he is seated there, he is the author and finisher
of our faith, and to him we are to look, whilst we run the
Christian race (^a J, under such burdens as may make us ready
to grow weary and faint in our minds. This looking to Christ,
at God's right hand, is not limited to certain times and sea-
sons, but is always to be done, by all Christians. As long
as we are running our race, we must be looking to Jesus, at
God's right hand : A sight of him there composed the mar-
tyr Stephen, and enabled him calmly to resign liis spirit to
his glorious head.

We find in scripture, that Christ was exaited to be a
Prince and a Saviour, to give repeniance and remissioti of
sins (b). There is no reason then for any to say, we have
no concern in Christ's sitting at God's right hand, unless it
be such as will yield him no subjection, and will expect from
him no forgiveness. It is a comfortable thought, that Christ,
in all his glory, still continues the character and office of a
complete Saviour, or one that is able to savs to the utter-
most fcj. Such as were reconciled to God by his death,
shall certainly be saved by his heavenly life f^fi'y' . His ad-
vancement then should not discourage us ; if he had laid a-
side the care, he would also have laid aside the character of
a Saviour. It would be a great eclipse of his heavenly g'o-

(a) Heb. xii, 2, 3. (^) Acts v. 3L

(/) Hcb.vii. 25. (</) Rom. v. 10,

lli< • OF Christ's siTTiN^G

ry, to be exalted for this very end, to save his pt'^ople, and
yet neglect their salvation, or leave it unaccomplished.

Thus I have considered some of the titles and characters
which Christ sustains, as sitting at God's right hand,
which, as they have a special relation to his people, so they
may animate and encourage them, to go up out of this wil-
derness, leaning upon their Beloved.

We may also consider Christ's sitting at God's right hand,
as it respects the wicked : Though Christ is not a head to
them, yet he is Lord over them ; though they are not his
J^rieiids, yet they shall be hlsjootstool fa J. The day oi veil-
geance is in his heart, and lie tvi/l tread them in his anger,
and tramjole them in his fury (h). He sits above, to rule
the nations with his iron rod, and to dash them in pieces, as
a potter's vessel (c). It would therefore be their wisdom
to receive instruction, and to submit to him whom they can-
not withstand ; for, if his turath is hindled hut a Utile, bless-
ed are all they that 'put their trust in him.

IV. I shall consider the time and ends cf Christ's sittir.g
at God's right hand. I shall speak, to these distinctly ;

Ist, I shall speak a little cf the time, or how long Christ
shall sit at God's right hand. That I may handle this the
more clearly, I shall cast my thoughts into the following
propositions :

1. Christ's sitting at God's right hzvAfolloii^ed his ascen-
sion, and did not go before it. In my text, the apostle spoke
of it, as consequent, to his enduring the cross. It immedi-^
ately followed his being received up into heaven (d) : no
regard is therefore to be had to their opinion, who hold that
Christ sat at God^s right hand from the first moment of his
assuming our nature.

2, Christ shall sit at God's right hand, till all his ene-

{a) Psal. cr, 1. (/;) Isa. Ixiii. 3, 4.

{c) Psal. ii. 6, 9, 10, 11, 12. {d) Mark xvi. IP.

AT god's KIGIIT HAND. 115

wies be subdued and destroyed, viz. sin and Satan, death
and hell. The father said to hirn, Sii ifioii on my right
hand, till I mahe tidne enemies thy footsicol (a). And it
is said of him, that he must reign lill he has put all his ene-
mies under his Jeet, and the last enemy that shall be de-
stroyed is death (h). He shall then cantinue in his present
station, till the general resurrection ; for till then death is
not destroyed. I do not say, that Christ shall not continue
in it after that. Some indeed are of that opinion, induced,
as I suppose, by some scripture passages, which I come
next to consider.

3. There is a time and sense wherein Christ shall deliver
lip the kingdom to the Father. When the end comethy
Christ shall deliver up the kingdom to the Father, and be
subject to him, that God may he all in all (cj. But these
things need to be explained s by the Iwigdom which Christ
shall deliver up, w^e may understand the present form of
his rrediatorial kingdom, as it is now administered, by
means and instrum.ents, in this world -. As for example, by
the Word and Spirit, by ministers, ordinances, instruments
of gr-^cQ and providence. Angels and men are employed
by Christ, in converting som.e, and confounding others ; he,
at the same timie, over-ruling all to his own glory. When
all of this kind is accomplished, as it will be, at, or af-
ter the general judgment ; for then cometh the end of
this present v/orld, and of Christ's kindom in it ; then he
shall deliver up his kingdom to the Father, as having finished
all he was to do in time, and to bring about by means and
instruments in governing his church, subduing his enemies,
and in bringing all the redeem.ed to glory : And then they who
had enjoyed God but very imperfectly, in time, shall have
him to be all in all, or enjoy him fully for ever, as fully as their
capacities will admit ; and then Christ himself shall be sub-
ject to the Father ; that is, as some say, as man, but so he

(a) Psal. ex. 1. (^) 1 Cor. xv. 25, 26. {c) 1 Cor. xv. 2^, 28.

116 OF Christ's SITTING

is already ; therefore I think it is rather to be understood
of Christ's being subject to the Father, as Mediator.

It may be here objected, in that sense he was always sub-
j^?ct to the Father, as he himself said, " The Father is
*' grealcr tJian I (a).^' I answer, that though the mediatory
office is inferior to the essential sovereignty of the Godhead,
yet, as to the exercise of that authority, the Mediator had
it in his own hands, as set up by the Father, to govern the
church and the world, by means and instruments to the end
of time. Christ himself declared, in these words. The Fa-
ihe?' Judges no man, having committed, all judgment to the
Son (6). But when that dipensation is finished, then the Son
ceases from this way of rule and government, and in that sense
becomes subject to the Father ; his commission for a kingdom
and rule on earth expiring, he, as it were, lays it down be-
fore the Father, and so becomes subject to him : This, with
submission to better judgments, I think to be the meaning
of the difficult text 1 have considered ; but if I should be
mistaken in this, yet I suppose 1 may safely assert,

4. Christ shall for ever coiitinue King, Priest, Prophet,
and Head of the church triumphant. He shall reign over
the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there
.'diall be no eyid fcj. It is strange to think, that he should
lay aside his rule as soon as he has subdued his enemies ; as
if a king should quit his crown as soon it comes to sit easy
en his head ; or lay down his government as soon as he has
reduced his subjects entirely to his obedience ; And it is, at
least to me, very shocking, to suppose, that Christ should
ever" cease to be a head to his church, or that his human na-
ture should ever be degraded from that throne on which it
now sits. Are the gifts of God to the saints luithout re-
pentance ; and are they not so to his Son ? It was long
since declared, that of the increase of Christ's government

U) John xlv. 28. {h) John v. 22, 2S. {c) Luke i. 23,

AT god's RIGHT HA^'D. 117.

and 'peace there should be no end (a) ; and, with respect
to his sitting at God's right hand ; that his dominion is an
cveiiasling dominion, which shall not pass away ; and his
kingdom, that which sliail not be destroyed ; that he shall
reign over liis people in mount Sion, from henceforth, even
ior ever, and that his throne is for ever and ever : and shall
we think lie has an everlasting throne, and yet shall not sit
upon it for ever ? Christ prayed that his people might be
xiitk him, to behold Itis medi'ttorial glory fbj ; and shall
this glory cease as soon as they all come to see it ? What
good then would this prayer do them ? How short-lived a
happiness would it be to some cf them, who should only
have a short glimpse of it, after the resurrection, and then
behold it no more for ever, whilst others have been in the
views of it ever since Christ's ascension. ' It is (as one

* expresses it fcj ) a matter of inexpressible joy to such

* as love Christ, that he is now exalted, glorified, enthron-

* cd in an everlasting immoveable kingdom :' How then
can they bear the thoughts of Christ's being dethroned ? —
Surely this can never be ; will Christ the chif^ Shepherd
(dj, hereafter give to his under shepherds a crotvn of glory
that Jades not away, and shall his own wither ? Shall he
who is chief, have less honour than they w^ho are so niuch
inferior to him ? Shall the subjects wear a crown when the
King has none ?

It has been alledged, that Christ's mediatory kingdom
being given him (e), as a reward of his sufferings, the re-
ward shall cease when the work is done ; but that is a pun-
ishment, and not a reward : surely the reward is rather to
begin than end, w^hen that which procured it is accompHsh-
ed. Christ did not leave but enter into his glory when his
suiFering work was finished ; for otherwise the same thing
should be the cause of his being enthroned and dethroned.

{a) ha. Ix. 7.— Dan. vii. 14. — Alich. iv. 7.— Heb. i. 8.

(/;} Johwi xvii, 24. (c) Dr. Ovven'i expos. Keb. i. 8. p. 112,

(-1] 1 Pet. V. 4. {c) Dr. Whitby on 1 Cor. xv. 23.

118 OF Christ's sitting

It has been farther urged, that when Christ's work as a
King is done, his kingdom may well be supposed to be at
an end (aj. To which I reply, that, according to that
rule, it must continue for ever ; for it will be an eternal
work for Christ to reward his friends, and punish his foes.
Christ, as King, lives for ever, and has the keys of death
and of hell : Vvhen he comes to judgment he will punish the
"kicked v^itJi everlasting destruction, from his presence : and
he sliall be eiernallij glorified in the saints, and admired in
all tJiem that believe (h).

The 'T.embers cf Christ shall reign in life for ever ; and
shall not their head, who procured them this dignity ? Shall
the servants be above their Lord ? How can the saints
reign with Christ fur ever, if he himself does not reign for
ever (c) \ Some v/ho speak of Christ's laying down his
office (d), and resigning his kingdom, do yet allow, that
he shall sit for ever at God's right hand, highly exalted in
dignity, honour, and blessedness ; and that the saints shall
pay him religious respect and veneration, as their King : And
it is observable, that the scriptures say nothing of his being
degraded after his being placed at God's right hand ; but
on the contrary, tell us (e), that he is a Priest for ever,
after the poiver of an endless life, and that he sat down on
the right hand of God for ever and ever, and lives in heaven
to make intercession. * It is not probable, as one says Cf),

< that the intercession of Christ should totally end, at the
' end of the world ; but rather it will continue to all eter-

< nity.' In some respects, indeed, there will be no occa-
sion or necessity of Christ's interceding after the last judg-
ment; there will be no need of his interceding for the ef-
fectual calhng of any of the elect, nor for the pardon of

(a) Dr. Whitby on 1 Cor. xv. 28. {b) 2 Thes. i. 9, 10.

(e) Psal. ex. 4.— Heb. vii. IG.—x. 12.— vii. 25.
f/) Cruso on Christ's interces. p, 3G4,

AT god's RIGHT HAND. 119

sin, nor for their progress in sanctification, nor for the bring-
ing God's sons and daughters to glory : All these things
will be then actually done, and fully brought to pass ; but
the intercession of Christ will be still needful, for the ever-
lasting continuance of the glorified in their holy and happy
state. If the virtue of the blood of Christ could ever be
spent, or its voice drowned, throughout eternal ages, what
security would the saints have for their abode in heaven ?

The redeemed had always been used to come to God
through Christ, and to receive all from God, by and through
him ; and to admii-e him, love him, and cleave to him, as
their dignified Lord and head : Surely then it would be very
surprizing to them, to have such a turn and change in their
condition, that their dear Saviour should continue no longer
in that relation or glory, which they had rejoiced in. But
that God, who gathers all the things in heaven together in
Christ, will doubtless continue him, as an everlasting bond
of union, and medium of communion, between himself and
the glorified saints. If the elect angels were chosen and
confirmed for ever in Christ, as their head, as the scripture
seems to intimate (rij, what reason can there be that those
redeemed from among m.en, should not for ever abide in
him ? The whole family in heaven fbj, and on earth, good
angels, and redeemed men, are named of Christ : He is their
head, the headof all principalities and powers ; the angels
worship him, and are part of the general assem.bly gathered
together in Christ fcj ; in him all the members of this fa
mily are united, and in him they for ever abide ; he there-
fore is for ever their Lord and head. Christ is the eternal
head of the v/hole family ; God hath placed one head over
all angels and men. Thus there is a strict union and con-

(j) Eph. i. 10.

[J>) Eph. iii. 15.— Col, ii. 10.— Keb. xVi. 22.

^) Vide Dr. Owen's mcdit.r.. on Clirht's glory, p. 2'1.

120 OF Christ's sitting

junction, all having one heavenly necessary bond of union,
as one of the ancient writers has expressed it (a).

That what I am now upon may not be thought foreign
to my subject, I desire it may be observed, that Chrisfs
silting at God's right handy and being head over all thiyigs
to the church (h), are joined together in scripture ; and
certainly there is a very close connection between them. It
is said of the heavenly Jerusalem, that the Lamb is the light
thereof ( c ) ; this may respect that unction from Christ, the
holy One, the emanations of light from the Holy Spirit,
derived from Christ, the eternal head of the glorified church j
and if so, then Christ for ever sits at the Father's right
hand, not only as king and priest, but also as prophet ; from
whom, by his Spirit, light is continually communicated to
that blessed assem.bly. — From what has been said, I hope
the truth of the proposition last laid down m.ay appear, that
Christ sits for ever at God's right hand as kingj priest, and
prophet, and head of the church.

The substance of what I have advanced upon this point
I take to be the sense of a very learned and judicious writer
(d), who, speaking of Christ's sitting down for ever, at
the right hand of God, says, < it was in an unalterable state

< and condition :' and in another place (e), upon a review
of what he had said, concerning Christ's delivering up the
kingdom to the Father, he has observed, ' That the person

* of Christ, in and by the human nature, shall be for e\^r

< the immediate head of the whole glorified creation ; for

< we shall never lose our relation to him, nor lie to us. That

* he shall be the way and means of communication between

< God and the glorified saints for ever ; that our adherence

(a) Ourco; ecv yivoiro aK^itr,$ (Tvv^.<piia, orccv vrro y/iav c-l-ravru L;)(^^i'.7i
»i^ciXr,y, ffvv^tc-juev nva. u,vay-,iciicv ccvuS-zv 'i^ovrx. Chrysost. in ]oc.

(^) Epb. i. 20, 2?. [c) Rev. xxi. 23.

(i) Dr. Owen's expos. Heb. x. J?, p. 47.

{e) Owen of Christ's person, fo), p. 188, 189.

AT god's right hand. 121

« to God, by love and delight, shall always be through
< Christ ; and that the person of Christ, and therein his hu-

* man nature, shall be the eternal object of divine glory,

* praise, and worship.' When this learned writer spoke of
Chrisfs human nature^ as being the object of xmrship^ I
suppose he meant not that it is so, immediately and formally,
but only relatively and conseqxientially, as it is in the person
of the Son ; for God only is the immediate and proper ob-
ject of divine worship and adoration. The blessed assembly
above will never forget the Lamb, or any of his glorious
titles, offices, or works : a review and thankful remembrance
of them, will be no small part of the eternal work and hap-
piness of heaven.

I shall conclude this part of my subject relating to the
duration of Christ's sitting at the Father's right hand, in
the words of a very judicious writer (a)^ * Though the

* present form of Christ's government shall end with the

* world, yet his government shall not end, but together

* with, and subordinately to the Father : he shall govern
<■ his church triumphant, by the immediate efficacy of his

* Spirit, without all use of external means.' In which words
I think he has expressed the truth, relating to this matter,
very concisely and clearly.

2^/y, I come to the last branch of this general head, which
is to point out some of the tnds and reasoyis of Christ's sit-
ting at the right hand of the throne of God. The dignity
of Christ's person, the Father's love to him and his work,
the accomplishment of the decree and promise, and due per-
formance of Christ's offices, and the filling up his relative
characters, might here be assigned as good reasons of it ;
But I shall confine myself to one respecting God, another
to the church militant, and a third relating to the church
triumphant.

1. It was necessary with respect to the glor?/ of God, that

{a) Mr, Norton's orth. evang. p. 50.
VOL. ir. L

122 OF Christ's sitting

Christ should sit at his right hand. Christ hinted this in
those words : Father, glorify thy Son, that thy Son also
may glorify thee (a). The very appearance of such a
glorious Redeemer, at the Father's right hand, must cause
the heavenly assembly to admire the wisdom and grace which
concurred in the constitution of his person, and in his de-
signation to his office. How much is it to the honour of
the divine truth, power, and love, to raise him from the lowest
humiliation to the highest glory ?

2. Christ sits there for the good of the church militant :
Qhrist sitting at God's right hand, rules over a xjcilling jico-
ple (b) ; he employs his power in both worlds, for the col-
lecting and making happy the chosen seed ; from that glori-
oits morning, in which he began to shine in his heavenly
throne, he had the detv of his youth, a num.erous conversion
of souls to God : A proof of this was Peter's sermon, which
AVas preached when Christ was newly ascended to his throne,
and had poured out the Spirit, according to his promise.
Before his ascension, he promised to be with his church here
belovv, to the end of the tvorld fcj : as Christ rults, so his
people live, in the midst of his and their enemies ; but Christ
sit? upcn the throne to curb them, and in the end he will
destroy them. After the general resurrection there shall be
no enemies left, in a capacity to hurt Christ's people ; and
in the mean time his sitting at God's right hand is an evi-
dence, that God is well pleased with man's salvation : This
may cause us to 'iDclieve that God is in Christ, 7-econciling
the world to himself. Every serious impartial mind will
draw this conclusion from Christ the Saviour, sitting at the
right hand of God. From Christ, in this station, all gifts
and graces are derived, for the edifying the saints, both in
grace and holiness ; and thus our enthroned Saviour builds
the temple, and bears the glory : He will never leave work-

(fl) John xvii. 1. {!>) Psa!. ex. I, 2, 3. (f) Mat. xxviii. 19.

AT GOD S RIGHT HAND.

125

Tng, till the church militant is incorporated with the church
triumphant.

3. Christ sits at God's right hand to complete the joy
zn<\ glory oi xX\Q church triumphant y or the saints in glory.
To the old-testament saints, who had never seen Christ in
the flesh, it must be a wonderful joy, to see their incarnate
Saviour, crowned with glory and honour, at the Father's
right hand. If Abraham rejoiced to see the day of Christ's
incarnation, what was his joy when he saw him ascend the
throne of his glory ? Such as had seen him a man of sor-
rows on earth, must be filled with joy unspeakable, to be-
hold him in possession of those pleasures and honours which
he has at the Father's right hand for evermore. John the
Baptist, the converted thief, the apostles, and others, who
saw him debased on earth, must be wonderfully pleased to
behold him in his glorious throne, next to God the Father.
Those who lived and died since Christ's ascension, and so
never savsr him in the flesh, till they saw him in glory, must
be filled with joy unspeakable by the sight, especially if we
consider Christ's part in the temple service above ; how en-
tertaining must this be to the blessed beholders on earth, !-
They used, it may be, many prayers and sermons, and
other duties and ordinances, to get one glimpse of Christ ;
but in heaven he dwelis amongst them continually, aud is
never out of their sight. Christ had prayed that they might
be with him (a) ; and so they shall be for ever before him,^
to behold his glory (h). It must be to them a peculiar
pleasure to see what Christ is doing for the Church iieie be-
low ; how he intercedes for them, how he presents thjir
prayers and worship to God, and their souls when they
leave their bodies. These things, with many ocher-s, of
which we are now ignorant, we may suppose to be no. small
part of the happiness of the saints in heaven. And I would
beg leave to add, that Christ's glory, after the day of judge-

(a) John xvii. 24. (^) Rev. vli. 15^,

^24 OF Christ's sitting

mer.t, as sitting at God's right hand, and exercising all his
offices, in a glorious manner there, will be the entertainment
of all the redeemed, who shall then meet in one glorious as-
sembly, and that the most glorious one that ever was ; and
the joy, adoration, and praises of the holy angels will be no
small accession to the happiness and glory of heaven. They
desired to look into the gloiy foretold by the prophets (a) ;
with joy they saw God manifest in the flesh, and sungglori/
io God in the highest (h)y when he first appeared on
earth. With what fresh delight then may we suppose they
beheld him ascending up on high, and with how much plea-
sure do they attend his throne (^f^, with the ascriptions of
glory and honour to him, as sitting there I * Heaven itself
< (as one speaks d) was not what it is, since the entrance

* of Christ into the heavenly sanctuary for the administra-

* tion of his cHice ; neither the saints departed, nor the an-

* gels themselves were participant of that glory which now

* ^hey are partakers of.' — It was therefore necessary that
Christ should take his glorious seat in heaven, that so he might
glorify the Father, take care of the church below, and make
the church above happy and joyful in his presence: And at
the restitution of all things the blessed angels, and all the
redeemed will join in ascribing glory, and honour, and praise,
to him that sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb at his
rifrht hand, and that for ever and ever. I come now to the

APPLICATION.

]. If Christ sits at the right hand of the throne or God,
then the Christian should be willing to be absent from the
ucd^, ztA io he present iiith the Lord. When Paul had
once been in the third heavens, he ever after desired to be
dismissed from this world. Havingy said he, a desire to de-
part, and to be ivith Christ, ivhich is far better (c). Who

(fl) 1 Pet. i. 12. (i) lAike ii, 14. (0 Rev. v. 1 1. 12.

[a) Dr. Owen on Christ's person, p. 184. {c) Phi!, i, 23,

AT god's niGHT HAND." ii5

could be a better judge of the desirableness of heaven, ami
the glory of that place, where Christ is, than one who had
been admitted to such knowledge of it, as, I suppose, no
mere creature in this mortal state ever had, either before or
since. — -The believer's affections should now be in heaven,.
where his Saviour is ; his heart ought to be with his gloriouti
head. Did Jacob, when he heard of all the glory of Joseph
in Egypt, say, I "will go doiun and see him before I die fa) ;
and should not the believer, who has heard of Christ's glory
in heaven, say. If the Lord please, I would die, that I may
go thither, and see my dear enthroned Redeemer, and live
with him for ever ? I am persuaded, that if v/e had a clear
view of Chrit's glory there, and of our interest in him, v/e
should need as many arguments to make us willing to live,
as some Christians now do to make them wilHng to die.

2. If Christ sits at God's right hand, then what reverenc&
is due, in all our approaches to him, and in our whole con-
duct and conversation ? Though \\t are in a low condition,
yet we worship one who sits upon a glorious throne, on the
right hand of the Majesty on high ; the holy angels cover
their faces before him, as sitting upon his glorious throne,
high and hfted up. Did the prophet Isaiah cry out. Woe
is me,Jbr I am undone, (or cut off,) because my eyes have
seen the King (b) P Did the holy apostle, who had once
leaned on his bosom, afterwards^// at his feet as dead (c]^
when he had a view of his glory ; and shall we draw nigh
to him with an irreverent boldness ? Must Moses put (ffhis^
shoes fdj in point of reverence, when he called to him out
of the bush ; and shall we indulge a light and unconcerned
spirit, when he speaks to us from heaven ; or when we ap-
proach him upon his glorious throne ? Is he to be had in
reverence by all who attend him in heaven ? and shall wCj
in a lower station, have no awe upon our spir.ts, when we

(a) Gen. xlv. 28. (^;Isa. vi. 1.

Cc)Rev. i. 17. (^) Exod. iii. 5.

^-^ OF CHRIST'S SITTING

have to do with him ? Are not all things naked and open to
his eyes, though he is at God's right hand ; how then will
they answer it another day, who profane, or take his name
in vain ?

^ 3. If Christ is at God's right hand, next to him in dig-
nity, power, andglory, thenthereis.no reason for Christians
to be ashamed of their Master, or his scrxice in this world.
It is a greater honour to be a servant of Christ, than to
be next in dignity to the greatest prince on earth ; for
Christ is Lord of lords, and King of kings : Christians
serve an honourable Lord, who sits enthroned, at the right
hand of the Majesty in the heavens : but sinners, however
they flatter themselves, liave reason to be ashamed, both of
their master and of his work ; they serve an inglorious spirit,
who is himself a victim in chains, dreading his final doom
and misery. Whilst wicked men, therefore applaud them.-
selves and one another, they do but glory in their shame ;
and when the Christian either labours, or suffers for Christ,
shall he be ashamed of his glory ? When we look to Christ
sitting at the Father's right hand, how reasonable may the
apostle Paul's exhortation appear to be, which is. Be thou not
ashamed of the testimony of the Lord, nor of me his pri-
soner (a) P Christians should esteem the reproach of Christ,
as greater riches than the world can give.

4. How dangerous is it for sinners to oppose Christ, who
is at the right hand of God, possessed of all power in heaven
and earth ? Is he not able and resolved to make. his enemies
his footstool ? Every hnee shall hovo to him, and every
tongue must confess him (b) : Such as refuse his yoke,
shall not escape his iron rod. How will they bear to hear
him say, Bring those my enemies that ivould not that I
should reign oxer them, and slay them before me (c) ?

5. How thankful should we be for the honour which
Christ has done our nature ? When man had made it more

ia) 2 Tim, i. 8« U) Phil. ii. 10. {c) Luke xix. 27.

AT god's UIGIIT HAND. 127

vile than the beasts that perish, Christ raised it not only
above them, but above the angels, even the highest order
of them, whether they be thrones or dominions, or princi-
palities or powers ; to none of these was it ever said by God,
Sil on my right hand : Bat our blessed Redeemer did the
human nature an infinite honour, first in taking it into union
with himself, and then in rai*iing it to a throne of unspeak-
able glory : He has not only filled it with grace, but which
is astonishing, with \.\iQ fulness of the Godhead fa J, which
dwells in him bodily, and the glory of it shines in his face.
Now, ivhat is inan, that both God the Father, and the Son
bhould be thus tnindfid of him (h) ? Christ did not lay
aside our nature, because he was treated with such indigni-
ties in it, buffeted, spit upon, crowned with thorns, and cru-
cified ; but he still retained his respect to it, and after all
this ascended in it, to be crowned with glory and honour,
at tlie right hand of God : This is such a high favour and
honour, as we could never have expected, nor have believed,
were it not so clearly revealed in scripture. How much
should this be in our thoughts, and how frequently should
it be the matter of our admiration and thankfulness ?

G. If Christ has sat down at the right of the throne of God,
then what encouragement and comfort may this afford the
weak and dejected Christian ? Doth the Saviour find such fa-
vour with God ; and will he reject any of his people ? Is Christ
in so high a station, exercising all his power and grace for
the good of his labouring, afflicted servants, in this world ;
and shall not their weak hands be lifted up, and their feeble
knees be strengthened ? Do Christ's merits appear infinite,
and prevalent, in-as-much as he is goyie to the Father fcj,
and we see him no more ; and 'shall not this encourage the
feeble Christian to commend his soul to him, and cast all
his care upon him, expecting the comfortable issue of it ? Is

(a) Coll. ii. 9, C^) Psal. viii. 4, 5. (c) John xvi. 8.

128 OP Christ's sitting, Arc.

not the Redeemer gone to appear in the presence of God for
all his people ? Does he bear all their names and cases on
his heart, so near to the Father ; and shall the believer re-
fuse to be comforted ? What reason has the Christian, who
is of z fearful hearty to he strong ? Are all the redeemed
raised up with their exalted head, and set together with him
in the heavenly places ; and shall not Our faith and hope be
raised up, and fixed upon him ? Have we no anchor to enter
into what is within the veil ? Why should the Christian's
heart fail when he has an enthroned Saviour, who cannot
fail or be discouraged ? Let us the more diligently attend
to this, because it is what the apostle Paul has so strenuously
urged upon the afflicted believing Hebrews, in the text and
context. Let us run xiith patience the race set before u&,
looh'iug to JesuSf the author and finisher of our faith, tjoho
for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, and
despised the shame : Let us consider him who endured such
contradiction of sinners against himself, lest we be wearied
and flint in our minds. And let us take encouragement
from this consideration, that he who was brought very low,
is now exalted, and has taken his seat at the right hand of
God.

THE

INTERCESSION OF CHRIST FOR HIS
PEOPLE.

AT THE

RIGHT HAND OF GOD.

TWO SERMONS.

SERMON I.

Preached February 6, 1727-8.

}Ie is able to save to the uttermost^ all that come io God
through him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession
for them, — Heb. vii. 25.

Having formerly discoursed of Christ's ascension and 5//-
ting at God's right hand, I come now to consider that great
and blessed vcork which he is doing there for his people. The
loss of Christ's bodily presence from the earth was attended
with a double advantage, his sending the Spirit to dwell in,
sanctify, and comfort his people on earth, and his own in-
terceding for them in heaven. The Holy Ghost introduces
Chrisfs intercession with a high encomium, in assigning it
as a reason and evidence oF his beino- able io save his people
to the uttermost. It appears that his sacrifice was accepted
of God on earth, seeing he admits him to plead the merit
of it in heaven ; and doing this, ia discharge of his office,
the Father, according to previous agreement, is obliged to
grant those saving blessings, for which he prays : for thus
the Father said to him, /Jsk of me, and I xmll give thee tho

ISO OF CHRIST^S INTERCESSION.

heathen Jbr thy inheritance, a7ul the uttermost parts of th^
earth for thy possession fa J.

The words of my text are introduced as a reason of
Christ's being able to save to the uttermost all such as come
to God by him, because he ever lives to make intercession
for them. At first view, it appears from this connexion of
the words, how much, our perfect and eternal salvation de-
pends upon Christ's perpetual and prevalent intercession.
The apostle does not lay the stress of our salvation only
upon Christ's dying for us, but ascends step by step till he
comes at his intercession ; and centers and rests there, that
being what fully secures it. Who shall lay any thing to
the charge of God's elect P It is God that justifies, tvho is
he that condemns P It is Christ that died, yea rather, that
is risen again (b) : But as if that were not enough, he
ascends two steps higher, xjoho is even at the right hand of
God s and to crown all, he adds, ivho also maheth interceS'
sionfor us. The doctrine which the words afford is this,

Christ ever lives to make intercession for believers.

In speaking to this, I shall pursue the following method,

I. I shall describe the persons for whom Christ intercedes.

IL I shall shew the reality and certainty of his inter-
cession. '

III. I shall consider the character of the intercessor.

IV. I shall endeavour to explain the nature and ^;rojo^r-
ties of Christ's intercession.

V. I shall inquire into the extent of it, w^hether it is li-
mited or universal.

VI. I shall represent the imjoortance and j^^cvalence of it.

VII . I shall mention some of its fruits and ejects. And,.

VIII. By way of conclusion, I shall shew some of the
uses which are to be made of this doctrine.

I. I shall describe the persons for whom Christ inter-
cedes : They are such as come to God by him.

(^) Psal. ii. §. {I)) Rom. viii. 33, 3'4.

OF CIlRfST's INTERCESSION. I3i

The expressions are comprehensive of a great many things,
which I cannot now insist on : As for example, that men
naturally are at a distance from God ; though as to his es-
sence, he is not far from them, yet as to affection and com-
munion, they are alienated from him, and are afar off, and
naturally live without God in the world ; so that if ever they
enjoy him, they must first be made nigh, and then they will
draw nigh and come to God. Another thing impHed in the
words is, that God is the true center and rest of the soul ;
as all rivers run into the sea, so all happy souls take up their
rest in God, as the Psalmist speaks, Return to thy rest, 0
my soul (a) I — The expression also denotes, a sense of tlie
person's unfitness and unworthiness to come to God alone,
or immediately, by himself, by reason of gm'it, pollution,
darkness, and weakness ; and therefore he comes to God by
Christ, the one and only Mediator, betwixt God and sin-
ners. There is one thing more included in the expression,
which is the person's desire and willingness to come to, and
enjoy God, in what way he prescribes and thinks fit. See-
ing God has appointed that no man shall come to him but
by Christ, those who come to him wilHngly and gladly take
this way, they hke it well and make use of it ; the bent and
earnest breathings of their souls are to come to God, and
they agree to any method which he appoints, in order to
their access to him, and erijoyment of him.

I might farther remark, that the words speak not of a
single act, but of a series and continued course of actions,
[_7r^o(ri^^f4,ivyg2 ^^^ Corners, as the word is rendered else-
where (b) ; I may compare the expression with that of
Peter, To tvhom corning as to a living stone fcj. As de-
parting from God is the continued course, and the reiterat-
ed action of an unbeliever, so coining to him through Christ,
is the repeated daily work of a true Christian. Such there-
fore are very properly described as coming to God ; persons

(a) Psal. cxvl. 7, (A) Heb. x. 1. {c) I Pet. ii. 4.

132 OF Christ's intercession".

who do it not' only once, but often ; it is the employment,
the business of their lives.

All these things, with others, are implied and included
in the description of the persons, for whom Christ makes
intercession. But to sum up the whole, in as narrow a
compass as may be, there are these two principal things sig-
nified by the apostle's words, true faith in Christ, and in
God through him, and the exercise of that faith, in the way
of God's own appointment.

1. Faith in Christ is represented as a coming to Christ, in
these words of his, He that comes to me shall never hun-
ger, and he that believes in me shall never thirst : Come
to me all ye that labour^ and are heavy laden, and I vcill
give you rest (a). Faith is also represented as a coming to
God, by Christ, by whom ive have access, by one Spirit to
the Father (b). This faith in Christ terminates upon his
person, has an eye to all his offices, but especially hi^ priest-
ly office : It looks to the sacrifice of atonement which Christ
offered, and the interest which he makes in the virtue of it.
Such as come to God by Christ, renouncing all trust in
their own righteousness, their best duties and services, de-
pend entirely on the merits and righteousness of Christ, for
pardon and eternal life, and can wish Vv^ith the apostle Paul,
that they may be found in him, not having on their oxim
righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through
the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by
faith (c) ; and being reconciled to God by the death of his
■Son (d), they trust, that they shall much more be saved
by his life. _

2. Coming to God often signifies religious worshij) :
Thus especially in the old testament is the phrase made use
of for that purpose ; accordingly the apostle Paul speaking
of the legal sacrifices, said, D'tat they coidd not make the

{a) John vi. 05.— Ivlatt. xi. C8. {h) Eph. ii. J 8.

(r) Phil. ill. 9. {J} Rom. v. JO.

OF CHRIST y INTERCESSION.

133

vomers thereto perfect, (a) viz. those who in that way came
to God. Such as Christ intercedes for, and saves to the
uttermost, are those who beheving in Christ, give up them-
selves in holy obedience to worship God in Christ, as one
has observed fdj. Obedience to Christ's authority, affi-
ance in his mediation, and faith in his person, are all includ-
ed in the expression of coming to God by him ; as is very
' well observed by the same person. We run into a gross
mistake, if vve think that Christ intercedes for all, who
come to the religious worship of God by Christ : The text
speaks no such thing ; they who really come to God in
faith and love, -and have acceptance and communion with
him, are the persons for whom Christ intercedesj and who
are by him saved to tlie uttermost. A due <:onsideration of
this is necessary to our taking comfort in what remains to
bespoken concerning Christ's intercession : Our joy may be
full, if it appears tiiat the high-priest bears our names on
his breast, and that cur cause is upon his heart, and in his
pleas, as advocate with the Father. As the high-priest of
old bore the names of the children of Israel upon his shoul-
ders, and on his breastplate, which was fastened to liis
glorious ephod ; so Christ, our great higii-priest, appears
before God, in the glorious garm.ent of his own righte-
ousness, and in a glorious conjunction of power and love,
bears the names and causes of his people, as a memorial he-
fore the Lord continually (c). This is the happiness of
all true believers who come to Go4 by him ; for them he
intercedes, and them he saves to the uttermost, perfectly
and for ever.

Having thus described the persons for whom Christ in-
tercedes, it will be necessary, in the next place, to shew-
that Christ's intercession is no fiction oxfancij. Therefore,

n. I shall shew the reality and certainty of Christ's in-
tercession.

(a) Heb. X. ]. (^) Dr, Owen in Lcc. (■^) Exod. xxviii. J?, 29,
VOI^ II. M

i 54? OF Christ's intercession'.

Christ, as the angel of God's presence, (or one who ap-
peared in the presence of God for them,) saved his people
all the days of eld (a). As Aaron, the high-priest (b),
carried the names of tlie twelve tribes upon his breast-plate
and heart, when he went in to intercede for them before the
I^ord ; so Christ, in all ages, has sustained the character of
an advocate, as well as of a propitiation. God admitted of
the salvation of old-testament saints, by virtue of a sacrifice
that should afterwards be offered ; and consequently he ad-
mitted of a plea, arising from the virtue and merit of that
future sacrifice : Christ then could as well be an intercessor,
as a propitiation from the foundation of the world.

Ke is always living to make intercession (c). Before he
came in the flesh lie uas engaged in tlu_3 work, for thus he
is introduced by the prophet Zechariah, the angel said, Hoxv
-'ong^ 0 Lordi vdll ii be ere thou hast mercy on Jerusa-
lem ? And the Lord ansivered the amy el tvith good ivords
and comfortable ivords (d). The angel here praying is
Christ interceding with the Father for his people (e). God
the Father answered the Son with good and comfortable
vrords, heard and graciously answered his prayers, and ful-
i:l!ed his petitions., < Christ exercised the office of Media-

* tor and Intercessor for his people, making the price to be

* paid forthcoming in all ages, even before his incarnation ;

* for here, at tliis time, he is interceding for the church of

* the Jews,' as one observes upon the place (f . Before
Christ's incarnation, it was an intercession upon credit ;
since his death it is upon a price paid, not upon promise, but
upon performance, or upon value received.

Christ's intercession was not only typified, declared, and
exercised, before his incarnation, but it is affirmed in the
'plainest and strongest terms in the new testament ; it is he,

{a) Isa, Ixiii. 9. {b) Exod. viii. £9. (c) Ylavrcn ^Zv.

(</) Zech. i. 12, 13. {e) See the suppletn. to Pool's annot in loc.
(/) Huteheson on ZecU. I 12.

OF Christ's intercession. 133

W/o is at the right hand of God, xi-Jio aliK) makes interccs-
sio?i for us. We have an advocate with the Fatherf Jesus
Christ, the righteous. He entered 'nto the holy place tvith
his oivn blood. He is entered into heaven itself to appear
in the presence of God for us. Tiic blood of sprhiMing
speaketh better things titan the blood of Abel. He bore the
sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
He ever lives to make intercession for them (a). Christ's
prielsthood, or his fulfilhng his priestly office, depends upoa
his intercession. Hence the apostle said, If he were mi earth,
he ivould not be a priest (b). As the high-priest under
the law could not fulfil his office, without carrying the blcod
and sweet-incense into the most holy place, sprinkling the
blood on the mercy-seat, and covering it with the cloud of
the incense : So Christ had not fulfilled his priestly office, if
he had not entered into the heavenly sanctuary with his ow:i
blood, pleading the virtue and merits of it with the Father,
as the ground of God being merciful and gracious to the^
redeemed. Here,

1. It may be alledged, that Christ seemed to di^idain this
work, when he said, I say not that I voUl praythe Father

for you, for the Father himself lovcth yon fcj : to which
it may be replied, that the design of these words is not to
deny that he would intercede for them, for he does it in the
very next chapter ; but to declare the infinite love which the
Father had for them, which inclined him to grant their
prayers ; tViis indeed may be formed into another objection.

2. If God has such a love to his people, and is so well
affected to their salvation, what need can there be of vhrisl's
intercession, seeing this love of God towards them must be
an effectual advocate in his own breast, to engage him to
bestow the spiritual blessings they want ? But, if this should
set aside Christ's intercession, it might also make the believ-

(fl) Rom. vili.34.— I John ii. l.~Heb. ix. 12. & xli. 24.— 133. liii. 12.,
{I,) Heb. vi. 4. (c) John xvi, 26, 27.

^ S6 OF Christ's intercession.

er's prayers needless : It might as v/ell be said, that thcii
prayers are superfluous, as well as Christ's intercession is so,
seeing God's love will prompt hira to give them what bless-
ings they stand in need of. But notwithstanding God's
free and eternal love, which moved him to establish the co-
venant of grace, in which all spiritual blessings are provid-
ed and promised ; yet nevertheless he has said, he xvill be in-
quired of for these things, to do them for ther,i fa }. G( d
will have his perfections acknowledged, and an esteem of his
blessings discovered and exercised. God's justice is-glcrificd
in Christ's pleading his own merits ; and grace, that lovely
attribute, which reigns to eternal life, is honoured by Christ's
intercession, which does not eclipse, but displays its glory :
And with respect to Christ, God will have his office fulfill-
ed, his care and love to his people employed, and salvation
dispensed, according to the divine ceconomy and order, and
in such a way as shall shew the equity and righteousness, as
Vvcli as tb.e grace and mercy of hia di-alings with the redeem^
ed. And this may serve as an answer to a third objection
against ChHst's intercession, which is,

S. That God had decreed and promised those blessings
which Christ intercedes for ; and therefore there was no need
of this intercession, for the decree and promise cannot fail,
or become void. It is true, God had decreed and promised
those blessings ; but we are to rjmember, that he decreed
and promised to dispense them in this v/ay, and not otlier-
■wise ; He will put an honour upon Christ's sacrifice, and
interest with him, in commiunicating salvation this way to
us : He will h.ave Christ to be endeared to us, and make
him precious to the souls of believers for ever ; seeing his
blood shed on earth and pleaded in heaven, is the canal
through whicli their blessings are conveyed to them. Nor
is it any disparagement, but an honour to God's truth and
faithfulness, that such a plea is continually urged ; for it

{a) Ezek. xxxvi. ST.

OF ciiRist's intercession:. 137

supposes and declares, that God will not break his word, cu-
be false to his promise. He who thus comes to God, de-
clares his behef, that he ist and that he is a retvarder of such
as diligeiitli/ seek him (a). Christ had no foundation to
intercede with the Father for us, if he did not know his love
to be unchangeable, and that his faithfulness cannot fail, nor
his righteousnessbe subverted ; for otherwise he might plead,
as well as die, in vain : but this cannot be ; therefore Christ
ever lives to make intercession.

III. I shall next consider the character of tlie intercessor.

1. Christ is in scripture represented as a great high-
priest fb). Christ is infinitely more exaltji^d above the le-
gal high priests, than they were above* the ordinary priests.
Christ's superiority appears both in the conttitution of his
person, and in the administration of his ofSce, and his rela-
tion as Son to the Father.

(1.) His superiority appears in the constitution of bis
person. The law made men high-priests which' had infir-
mities, but the word of the oath makes the S0n high-priest
who is consecrated for evermore. He is the Son of God, by
Tiature, perfectly pure and holy, and vested with an un-
changeable priesthood. It was necessary that our interces-
sor should partake of both the natures he interposes between,
that he might have credit witli God, and icompassion to
man ; that he might plead our cause with a feehng sense,
and yet with a prevailing energy, arising from the dignity
and merit of his obedience and sufferings. He is a proper
dayh man, tvho can lay his hand upon both (cj ; he com-
municates wnth God in the same nature, and also with us :
He is God's fellow and our brother ; we need not be asham-
ed to go to him, he is our near kinsman j nor has he any
reason to be ashamed to go to God, being his own natural
Son : He must then have power with God, as a prince,
and prevail. As God he knows all our wants, all our ds-

{a) Heb. xi. 6. (^) Heb. iv. 14. {c) Job ix. 53,.

M 3

158 OF Christ's intercession.

sires, all our difficulties and dangers, all our sins, all cursor-
rows, and what is the proper supply, for kind, season, and
degree ; and therefore must be most excellently qualihed to
be- an Intercessor with God for us, seeing he ever lives, and
always employs his infinite knowledge, power, and grace,
for the good of his people. As he is man, he knows how
to have compassion on us. He 'himself, in the days of his
flesh, made supplications, xmth strong' cries and tears ; and
xvns in all points tempted, even as ive are, sin only excepted
(a) ; he had no inward lusts to draw him away and ent-ice
him ; but outward provocations he had many to turn him
aside from God ; yet he did no iniquity, neither w^as guile
found in his mouth : He not only was, but still is, a merci-
ful and a faithful high-friest (b), and puts up many a com-
passionate plea to the Father on the behalf of his distressed
servants. We have not an high-priest that cannot be touch-
ed vcitli- a feeling of our infrmities fcj, for in his present
exalted interceding state, he is very sensible of our case, and
compassionate to his people ; for he has the same natures,
and therefore the same compassions, as he had when on earth.
(2.) Christ appears to be a high-priest, superior to the
legal high-priest, with respect to the administration of his
office : The legal high-priest went into an earthly sanctuary,
Christ into a heavenly one ; the former hut once a year, the
latter is ever interceding : Aaron went 'Avith the blood of
of beasts, and incense made of earthly things ; Christ went
into the miOSt holy place, with his own blood, and mtercedes
in virtue of that sacrifice, which was infinitely more pleasing.
to God than any earthly odours could be. As Intercessor
then, he is a great high-priest, highly exalted at God's right
hand, not ministering there in a servile posture, for a short
time, and first pleading for his own pardon, and then for the
people's, as Aaron did ; but as one holy, and higher than
the heavens, sitting at God's right hand, he desires and wills

{a) Heb. V. 7.— iv. 15. (h) Heb. ii. 17. (c) Heb. iv. 15.

or Christ's intercession'. 139

tlie communication of all those blessings, which he had pur-
chased by his death.

(3.) ChrkVs 7'elat ion as a Son to the Father, sets him
above all other intercessors ; Christ hints at this, in those
words, which the greatest saint on earth could never have
truly ajfiirmed of hin^.self, Father^ / knotv that thou hearest
me abmys (a), A Son so near and dear to the Father must
have his ear, and his heart ; This^ said he, is my beloved
SoUy inii'Jiom I am vocll pleased (b). It is a great matter
to have an advocate, or ambassador that is acceptable to the
person to whom he is sent ; Christ, as he is God's Son,
and always his delight, cannot be otherwise conceived of,
and therefore he is raised far above all other advocates, or
interces'.ors. Such another could not have been found, ei-
ther on earth, or in heaven.

2, Christ is an able Advocate and Intercessor ; able to
save to the utterm.ost, seeing he ever lives to make intei'ces-
sion : He is qualified with a complete knowledge of the cases
of his people ; He needs not that any should testify of man,
for he knows tvhat is in man (c) : He is infinitely wise and
skilful ; in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and know-
ledge : he is qnahfied to apply to God, in a proper manner,
on all occasions. We find him pleading God's holiness/^o?^,
when he woirid have his people kept from sin ; and his right-
eousness, when he pleads the accomplishment of his pro-
mises ; and God gives him his heart's desire, and doth not
withhold the regj^ests of his lips fe}. He knows the heart
of God, and the hearts of men, what willl)e for God's glo-
ry, and his people's good ; what God has promised to give,
when and how he will do it ; and therefore is able to ma-
nage every plea in season, and with suitable energy and
force : He is quick of understanding in the fear of the Lord
(f). He never mistakes a cause, or fails in any which he

(a) John xi. 41, 42. (^) Mat. iii. 1 7. (0 John ii. 25.

(<0 John xviU 25. {e) Psal. xxi. 2^.. ^(/) Isa. xi. 2, 3.

1-10 OF Christ's iNTEticEssiOK.

undertakes : This is too high a character for any other ad-
vocate ; but it is very justly due to Christ our Intercessor.

3. Christ is condescending and constant in his work.
At the very instant when he was feehng the torments of the
cross, to which his enemies had fastened him, he poured
forth this most affectionate prayer for his crucifiers, Father
orgive them Jbr they knoxv not tvhat they do (b). Here
was love that many waters could not quench, nor the flood-j
drown. O the invincible kindness of our A.dvccate, thus
pleading, even upon the cross, for his murderers ! We m^ay
admire and adore till there is no spirit left within us, as one
speaks (c) : His heavenly glory has not caused him to lessen
his care, or lay aside his concern for his people ; He ever
lives in heaven to make intercession Jbr them : It is not the
only end, but it is one great end of his life there. Never
was there an advocate so condescending, and so kind as Christ
is ; his heart overflows with love, and he fills his mouth
with arguments, for those who breathed forth nothing but
cruelty against him : they cried. Crucify him, crucify him ;
Tie pleaded, Father, forgive them. Peter poured out im-
precations on the name of Christ, but Christ prayed for Pe-
ter, that his faith might not fail fd J. Where was there
ever such another advocate, who thus blessed those that
cursed him, and prayed so fervently for them that hated
him, and despitefully used him ? No discouragements, no ill
usage could cause him to lay aside his work : Satan finds
many ways to stop the mouths of Christians for a time, but
he caiT never silence Christ : He ever lives to intercede, not
once a year, as the high-priest formerly, but always. This
is the" happiness of believers, that Christ freely espouses,
and ever pleads the cause of every one of them ; such is his
condescension and constancy as he ever makes intercession,
for all that come to God by him.

(1) Luke zxlii. 34. (c) Dr. Manton on Isa. liii. 12. p. 587.

{d) Mat xxvi. 74.— Luke izii. 32.

OF CHRIST S INTERCESSION.

141

4. Christ is a Jioly and righteous Intercessor. The a-
postle Paul having declared that Christ ever lives in heaven
to make intercession for such as come to God hy him (a),
has immediately added, Such an high-priest became usy tvho
is holy, harmless, undejiled, and separate from sinners (b) :
His sacrifice was offered to God, without spot, and so is the
plea founded upon it. The apostle John has represented
our advocate with the Father (^Cy), as Jesus Christ, the
righteous ; this must include the purity of his nature, and
of his life. Whilst he was in this world he did no iniquity,
neither was guile found in his mouth : But now, in heaven,
he is not only separate from sin, but from sinners ; he in-
tercedes with a holy heart, and with a holy God, and in a
holy assembly, where his prayers are no ways hindered.
Our prayers, how polluted and defiled are they by sin ! what
darkness, deadness, distraction, unbelief, pride, and vanity
ir.ay we find in them ? Bat Christ's intercession, as it is
fcunced upon a perfect sacrifice, so it is performed in the
most holy sinless perfection : There is not the least sin, ei-
ther in the matter or manner of his prayers to the Father ;
a vain thought could never croud in among his petitions, nor
the least unbelief mix with them. Though we never made
a sinless address to God, yet our advocate never made
one which is sinful. Christ is the righteous advocate : grace
and m.ercy having accepted him, as our high priest, and his
oblation being offered, and accepted of God, he has a right
to plead the virtue and merits of it with the Father, His of-
fice gives him an authority to appear in the presence of God
for us. Christ is no intruder ; for he has a commission to
plead. The Father said to him, Jsk of me, and IiviUgive
Iheeihe heathen for thy inheritance, and the uttermost parts
of the earth for thy possession (d). It was part of the ori-
ginal agreement between him and the Father, that he should

{a) Heb. vii. 25. [h) Heb. vli, 2G. (0 I Joljn ii. I.

{d) Ps<il. il. 8.

14-2 OF cpirist's intercession-.

make intercession J(:r the ii'ansgrcssors (a). He is a right-
eous advocate ; and as be loves righteousness -and hates ini-
quity, he isiit to manage the taking away our sins, and the
restoration of righteousness. He is the rigliteous advocate,
as he pleads the righteous cause. God is ^faithful and just
io forgive us (h) ; and therefore Christ acts a faithful anu
a righteo'js part, in interceding for that forgiveness. Christ
iias right aird justice on his side, and is engaged in a right-
eous cause ; and he therefore is to be looked upon as a right-
eous advocate. Christ is a righteous advocate, as he pleads
his ov,'n n:erit and righteousness, as the ground and rea-
son of granting his requcsis : This is meant by his entering
into the hoJif place lath his oxvn blood (c). V/e may look
upon our intercessor pleading in heaven, and may say in the
words of the great apostles Paul and John, Who is he that
CGudejnns P it is Christ that died. If any man sin tuc lia-cc
an advocate ixith the Father^ Jesus Chi-ist, the righteous^
•who is the propitiation for our sins fdj. He fultiiled a perfect
obedience, and presented an atoning sacrifice ; this he pleads
Vr'ith great honour and success in the heavenly temple, as a
reason of granting all spiritual blessings to the redeemed.
If the cry of the labourers enters into the ears of God,
claiming their wages, much more do Christ's obedience and
sufferings loudly plead for the blessings which they have pur-
chased. Christ must be a righteous advocate, seeing he
pleads a perfect righteousness? which he fulfilled for his peo-
ple in their room and stead, which therefore gives him a right
to claim the purchased possession, the grace and glory of.
the new covenant. He makes no unrighteous demands ; de-
sires nothing unbecoming the justice, holiness, or veracity
of God to grant ; nothing inconsistent with his honour or
his people's happiness. As Christ's sufferings were such as
became God, and were perfectly suited to his honour, ia

(«) Isa. lili. 12. (l) 1 John i. 9. (0 Hcb. ix. 12.

(.^) Rom, viii. SI. — 1 John ii. 1,

OF Christ's intercession. M j

u-orklng out our salvation ; so tlie plea which Christ raises
from them is such as became the respect and honour due to
all God's perfections in the apphcation of the salvation, to
the souls of the redeemed : He intercedes for no more than
he has purchased, for whom he has given a valuable consi-
deration ; he paid, and he pleads a full price of redemption,
and therefore is a righteous advocate.

5. Christ is very intimate, both with the persons for
whom he intercedes, and the person xmlli whom he inter-
cedes. When we are told, x<:e Jiavc an advocate vcith tlie
Father (a)y this may refer to Christ and to Christians.
Christ is an advocate with his Father ; he is in his very bo-
som, is his dear Son, has always been his dehght, and the
Father always shews great favour and affection to him :
77^/5 is my beloved Son, hear him, said the Father (b).
Does he command, us to hear him ; and will he not hear
himself ? Is he well pleased in him ; and yet will he turn a
deaf ear to his requests ? — The expression of an advocate
ivith the Father may likewise relate to Christians ; there is
r.o contradiction in this, for God is Christ's Father, and
their Father (c) : this still m.akes their cause the better ;'it
is not only a Son that pleads, but tliey are sons for whom
he pleads. God is a Father both to the advocate and the
^ clients : the interest of all is wrapt together ; the advocate
is a dutiful Son to the Father, a loving Brother to the client,
and God is a tender Father to them both. Our intercessor
has the ear and heart of God ; he is advanced high in his fa-
vour, and sits on the right hand of his throne; the advan-
tage and comfort of which I endeavoured above to shew (d).
Believers may well rejoice, that Christ is gone to the Father,
seeing he is an advocate so near the throne, and in such fa-
vour V. ith God. Favourites in other courts are often sup-
planted, and lose their interest with the prince ; but Christ

(<0 1 John ii. I. (^) Matt. ili. 17. (c) John xx. 17.

iV) See the two termons on Christ's sitting at God's right hand.

144j of Christ's intercession.

is not onl)- most in favour with God, but lie holds it to
eternity : as he always was, so he always will be the Fa-
ther's dehght ; and therefore will ever be a glorious inter-
cessor.

6. Christ is the only intercessor. The papists grant, that
he is the only mediator of reconcihation, but they feign many
other mediators of intercession ; but the scriptures speak
of but OKE mediator hetvoeen God and men (a) : To us
there is one Lord by whom we come to God ; one person
who is our Pvedeemer an.d intercessor. He, that single
person, who hath an uncliangcahlc 'prie&thood, ever liveth to
^nahe intercession for us (h). We have an advocate (c)^ not
manif advocates, with the Father. Though the virgin Mary
xvas committed to the care of the apostle John, yet he did
not do her the honour to join her with Christ, in this ■work •.
had he known any thing of her being an advocate, and of
other advocates, he should have said, vce have advocates
\\>ilh the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, his mother and
others, who are in peculiar favour with him ; but of that
the scripture is wholly silent : and indeed what need could
there be of any other intercessors besides Christ, when we
are assured in my text, that he is able to save to the idler-
most, for ever, and to perfection, such as come to God hy
■him P What room then could there be for others to inter-
pose ? This singular honour is reserved for Christ ; he alone
is Eufiicient to plead and defend the cause of his people ; it
is nonsense and blasphemy to set up any other intercessors
*with God. Besides, how should any mere creatures be
able to know the cases, and attend to the numerous peti-
tions presented to them, from various parts of the world at
once ? It is very injurious to the condescension and love of
Christ, to suppose, that any of them should be more inchn-
ed to hear, and favour the Christian's cause, than he who

(^) S Tim. ii. 5. (i) Heb. vii. 24, 25. (c) 1 John ii, :.

OF Christ's intercession. 145

kad so loved them, as to die for them ; or that any of them
should be more able to manage the plea with God, than he
who is the everlasting Father, the tmnderful counsellor,
and the mighty God.

7. Christ is 7\. party with those for whom he intercedes.
Those who plead at the bar in our earthly courts, many
times, are strangers to their clients, and have no farther to
do with them, than to take their fees, and make the best of
their hr'i^h they can ; and it is no matter to many of them,
whether they gain or lose the cause they plead : But with
retpectio Christ, it is far otherwise ;, those for whom he
pleads, were the objects of his eternal love : The persons
for whom he travailed in death, to bring them forth to God,
they are joined to him, and one in spirit with him ; it is
given in charge to Christy not to lose any of his sheep [a) i
his honour and comfort depend upon his presenting them
all perfect in glory ; they are all members of his mystical
body, and it could not be complete without them : his in-
terest is therefore deeply interwoven with theirs ; his hon-
our inseparably connected with their salvation. We must
then look upon him as the fittest person, to plead the cause
of his people. It is strange to see, with what coldness and
indifference, many Christians plead with God for them-
selves ; but we have reason to conclude, that Christ is in
earnest : the zeal of God's house ate iiim up in this world ;
and we have no ground to think it is less, now he is in
heaven : by all the discoveries he has made of himself from
thence, it appears, that he is yesterday, to-day, and for ever
the same {b). Christ was very sensible hov/ much his and his
people's interest are complicated and united, when he said,
/ ascend to my Father, and your Father j to my God, and
your G od ( c. Sometimes when he prayed for himself, it
was, not as I xvill, but as thou xvilt (d) ; but when he pleaded

(a) John vi. 39. {b) Heb. xiii. 8. {c) John xx. 17.

{d) Luke xxii. 42.
VOL. ir. N

liG OF Christ's intercession.

for his people, it was peremptorily, and as one that would
take no denial ; Father, I will, that those xvhom tnou hast
given, me, may he mth me xvhere I am, that they may be-
hold my glory i^a). His thoughts run upon the Father's
gift, and his own undertaking ; and therefore he is very so-
licitous to bring them safe to glory. May I not say, his
life, his joy, his Sflory, are bound up with theirs ? It is
one of the glories of our salvation, that Christ, both by af-
fection and interest, is so nearly concerned in it : hence
he said, I pray not for the ivorld, hut for those xjchom thou
has given me out of the x-corld, for they are thine : and all
thine are mine, and mine are thine, and I am glorified in
ihem (h). God the Father, Christ,- and believers have a
mutual interest and concern in each other ; and particularly,
Christ's glory is much concerned in his people's salvation,
therefore he so earnestly prayed for them.

APPLICATION.

1. What encouragement have we to come to God, by
Christ, seeing he ever livcth in heaven, to make intercession
for them that do so ? A sight of our advocate at the Fa-
ther's right hand, may cause us to come cheerfully to the
throne of grace. When the Christian comes to God, in the
exercise of faith and prayer, he has a friend in the heavenly
court, to introduce him, to bring him into the presence of
God, and to make him partaker of his favour. Surely then
we forget our great intercessor at the Father's right hraid,
Vvhen we either neglect our addresse*s to God, or grow faint
and dispirited in them. Does Christ's intercession never
fiag ; why then should our hands hang down, and our cries
to God grow faint ? Do we not, or rather should we not, go
boldly in such a worthy name, and to look to his prevaihng
intercession ? What force and energy may our poor prayers
have with God, when we are washed in the blood of the

(.7) John xvii. 24. (^) John xvli. 9, JO.

OF Christ's intercession. Hi

Lamb, and they are presented to God perfumed v/Ith the
eweet incense of his merits ? How should it enlarge our
hearts to God, to consider how the heart of Christ is en-
larged for us ? all that come to God by him he receives, and
effectually pleads their cause with the Father, and saves
them to the uttermost. What then, shall we be strangers
to the throne of grace, and seldom appear there ? Shall we
'say in our hearts, It is in vain _^to serve the Lord ; vs'hat
profit can there be in praying to him ?

2. What constant convincing evidence have believers of
the love of Christ ? He came dov»^n from heaven, lived a life
of sorrow and labour for us on earth, and closed it with an
accursed and bitter death ; by this one would have thought,
he had given sufficient evidence of his love to men, and that
here it might have stopped and have gone no farther ; but
well might he say, that /lavmg loved his otvn, he loved them
to the end (a) ; nay, rather without end, ^v.d/br ever ; for
so it appears, in his living for ever, to make intercession for
them.

S. What ohligations has Christ laid his people under,
to love him, and live to him. Does Christ continually
plead his people's cause in heaven ; and shall they not plead
his cause, and promote his interest all they can, in this
world ? Does Christ, even now in glory, live a life of con-
tinual service to his people ; and shall not his love constrahi
thevi to live to him (h), and to vindicate his honour, his
truth, and his ways ? Is it not a reasonable service for Chris-
tians to do all they can for Christ on earth, seeing be is do-
ing such great things for them in heaven ?

4. From Christ's living for ever to intercede for his peo-
ple, we may learn the perpetuity of the church, and the
reason of the Christian's perseverance : Christ ever lives,
therefore his people shall never die j consequently they

{a) John xiii. 1. {b) 2 Car. v. 5, H.
N 2

548 OF Christ's ixtercession.

should always abound in his service : Christ ever intercedes,
therefore vie are, or shall be, saved to the uttermost, even
perfectly and for ever. That faith cannot fail for the con-
tinuance of which he has prayed ; nor can such come short
of complete and endless happiness, v.*ho though they are in
the storm and heat of battle, yet are under the protection
of a glorious Leader, who will bring all his children to
glory, seeing he ever liveth in heaven, to make intercession
for them.

— *>K-*'

SERMON II.

Preajched February 20, 1727-8.

He is ahle to save to the iii'termosty all that come to God
through him, seeing he ever lives lo f)iaJ:& intercession
jor thsvii.'-^Yk^^. vii. 2>5.

llAViKCr formerly shewed for whom Christ intercedes, the
the certainty of his intercession, and the character of the in-
tercessor, I now proceed : And therefore,

IV. I shall explain the nature and properties of Christ's
intercession.

Before I enter on this, I would premise, that the variation
of some circumstances does not alter the nature of Christ's
intercession, or nullify and destroy it. We must allow some
difference between Christ's intercession for his people, before
their conversion, and after it ; before his incarnation, dur-
'ing his abode on earth, and now in heaven ; and yet the in-
tercession itself is for substance th^ S'ame* Let it also be ob-
seVved, that Christ's' intercession iru heaven is performed in a
way agreeable to his present glorified stAte, aa sitting on th«

OF Christ's intercessiox. 119

right hand of God ; and therefore he does not new pros-
trate himself, nor present his requests with strong cries
and tears (a), as he did in the days of his humihation :
This is not consistent with his present exalted triumphant
state ; and whatever is contrary thereto must be excluded
from our idea of Christ's intercession in heaven. Christ's
own words may, perhaps, be the best pattern and represen-
tation of it ; Father, I tvill, that those tinhorn thou hast giv-
en 7ne, may he luith me luhere I am, that they may behold
tny glory (b). Which words may inform us in what way
and manner Christ manages the work ; it is by expressing
his desire and will to the Father, for the grant of the bless-
ings prayed for. We may further note, that the circun:-
stances of Christ's intercession, which the scripture has leh
unrevealed, we may, and should, leave undetermined ; as for
instance, whether it is vocal, or only mefiial ; whether it is
hj plea and argument drawn out at length, or in a snorter
way ; these, with other things concerning it, we should be
content not to know, because God has seen fit to conceal
them : It is enough for us, that Christ intercedes in a way
known to the Fatther, and which is sufficient and successful
for our salvation.

\st. If we consider the nature of Christ's intercession in
heaven, it may be said to be * his continual appearance, be-
' fore the Father, as our great high priest, presenting his

* sacrifices and desires, in his own nam^e, as the ground and

* reason of the perfect and perpetual salvation of all true

* believers.' The following things are comprized in Christ's'
intercession, as nov.' described.

1. '}i\!\'i> continual appearing \w \^Q presence of God, as
our great high-priest and advocate. Under the law, the
high-priest, in a solemn manner, once a year, presented him-
self before the Lord, witli the blood of the sacrifices, and

{d) Heb. V, 7. . {I) John xvii. 24,

V N 3

150 OF Christ's Hn-tercession.

with sweet incense, in his holy vestments, sprinkling the
blood, and burning the incense in the most holy place (fl) :
In like manner we read (b), that Christ is ejitered into the
heavenli/ temjjle, to appear in the j^resence of God for us ;
which compared with the type, is justly to be interpreted of
his entering into heaven, as our great high-priest, and act-
ing there as our advocate and intercessor. The legal inter-
cessor appeared before the ark, v^^hich, by reason of the
cherubs and mercy-seat, was composed into the form of a
throne (c). Christ has entered into the real presence of
God, appearing in his sight, snd standing before his face.
This Christ does, not barely as a friend, but as our great
high-priest, who has taken our names on his breast, and in-
to his heart ; and is engaged, by of&ce, to transact and se-
cure our salvation. Kence Christ has said, that he xvill con-
fess their iiames bifore his Father [dj. His appearance
before the Father, under this character, is the more effec-
tual, as it was the Father who called him to, and by a solemn
unction and oath invested him in; the office fej ; and there-
fore, by his own act, is the more obliged to regard and own
him in this sacred work : herein, as in many other things,
Christ's intercession differs from that of any other person.
Christ acts by special office, pleads inhis own name, aijfd pleads
his own merits ; whereas, when one Christian prays for
anotber, it is in Christ's name, and for Christ's sake, not his
own ; and it is performed as an act of Christian love and
duty, and not by virtue of special office. WhaUoe'oer you
shall ask the Father in mij name, he tvill give it youy said
Christ (f)» It is farther to be observed, that though
Christ's intercession, as well as his passion, belongs to
and derives virtue from his divine person, yet they both
are performed, in and by his human, nature ; as his divine

(a) Lev. xvi. {h) Heb. ii. 24. {c) See Dr. Owen on Ioc=
(i) Rev. iii. 5. (<) Heb. v. 5, 6. (/; John xvi. 233

OF Christ's ixteucessio>j» 151

nature did not, in itr^^if suffer, so neither dees it properly
intercede. The human nature was the sacrifice, and pre-
sents the requests, and Christ's divine person renders them
prevalent.

2. In Christ's intercession is included, \\\s presenting his sa-
ciffice and merits before God, as the ^-ound of his audience,
and of our complete salvation. He entered the holij place,
by his oxv/i blood ; and appears in the inidst of the throne,
as the Lamb that had been slain fa J. He soleiTinly pre-
sciits his sacrifice before the Father, as judge of the perfec-
tion of the offering on earth, and of the right it gives
him to plead and prevail in heaven, For all the blessinga
purchased by it : This is, as it were, his shewing his creden-
tials, or full powers, which he has to intercede and save to
the uttermost, all that come to God by him. Christ pre-
sents that body before God, which had been crucified, and
was shut up in the prison of the grave, which God deliver-
ed from prison and judgment ^ and receivfdiip into glory (b) ^
and hereby he makes it evident, that he has paid our debt,
purchased our inheritance, and has a very good plea to
make use of, for his people's being saved to the uttermost,
Christ speaks by his blood, and his blood speaks by its me-
rit : if he had not a mouth, to speak, yet his blood has a pi-e-
vailing voice in the ears of God. As AbcPs blood is said
to cry from the ground against Cain (c), who shed it j so
Christ's blood, by which he entered heaven, cries effectually
for those for whom it was shed ; and God can no more for-
get, or neglect to bless them, when he sees the Lamb that
had been slain, appearing before him, than he can forget his
covenant with the earth, when he sees his bow in the clouds.

3. Christ voills and desires, that all the evil from which
he redeemed his people may be averted, and that all the good
which he purchased for them, may be enjoyed by them.
In what way he signifies his mind and will to the Father,

(a^ Heb. ix. 12.— Rev, v. 5. (h) Isa. liii. 8. (c) Gen. iv. 10.

152 OF Christ's intercession:.

whether with words or without, we need nof, as I said be-
fore, determine ; it is enough for us to know, that it is done
in such a way, as that God hears and anstvers him, and gives
Jiim his heart's desire (a), Christ informed his disciples^
before he went to heaven, that he should not cease praying
for them there ; / voill, said he, pray the Father, and he
shall give you another Comforter (h) ; which is as if he had
said, when I am ascended, I will plead the Father's promise
of pouring out the Spirit, for your assistance and comfort.

* It is, as one has observed (c)^ no ways unbecoming the
' human nature of Christ, in its glorious exaltation, to pray

* to God : hence Christ is directed by the Father, to ask of

* him, in his exalted state, the heathen for his inheritance
< (d).^ The union of Christ's divine nature with his hu-
manity, does not set it above prayer, now in heaven, any more
than it did whilst it was on earth. Christ's wilHng and de-
siring our salvation is a petition of right, founded on his
merits and God's promises : it is not a mere supplication
for mercy, that may be received or rejected ; but it is a plea
that is peremptory, that cannot in justice be denied. It runs
thus. Father, I "will, that those tvhom thou hast give?i me
may be tvith tcilh me fej. Christ has authority to demand
his people's salvation, and every thing that shall promote it :
for, though it is all free grace to us, it is all a due debt to
him ; it is the purchase of his blood, the travail of his soul
(f), and the satisfaction which the Father promised he
should have. He desires that the promises may be fulfilled,
and that the purchase of his death may be granted, which
carries in it the nature of the strongest intercession ; for, as
the Spirit makes intercession for the saints, ixiith groanings
tchich cannot be uttered fgj, and the Lord knows the mind
of the spirit ; so Christ may, by strong desires, though not

(fl) Psal. xxi. 2. (t) John xiv. 16.

(e) John xvii. 24. (/) Isa. liii. II. (g) Rom. vii:, 26.

OF Christ's intercession. 153

uttered in words, make intercession for his people, and the
Father knows and fulfils his desires. Job, in those early
days, is thought to have had his eye upon Christ's interces-
sion, in these wovdi fa Jy 0 that one might plead fur a math,
tvith Godf as a man pleadeth Jbr his neighbour (b) I

4. Christ presents the prayers of the saints, with much
incense (cj ; or, he presents their persons and services, that
they may be acceptable to the Father, through his interces-
sion, vvhich is a desire of their being accepted, on the ac-
count of his own merits : for all his intercession is in the vir-
tue of his sacrifice, and is a plea founded on a sacrifice.
When Christ is represented as an advocate v.'ith the Father,
we are led to think, not only that he defends his people
against all the charges brought against them, and maintains
their cause ; but also, that he sohcits for all those blessings,
which are proper for his people, in their divers seasons and
circumstances. This is strongly implied in the apostle Paul's
encouragement to us to c'jtne Loldh/ to the throne of' grace,
for grace and mercy to help in the time of need, because
ri"^ have a great high priest, Jesus the Son of God^ tvho is
2)assed into the heavens for usfdj : or, we have an able com-
passionate advocate and intercessor there, who is aKvays
pleading for that grace and mercy, which suits the case and
necessities of every one of his clients, which are his covenant
children. As Christ presents all the prayers of his people,
that are agreeable to God's will ; so he pleads for the com-

(a) Job xvi. 21.
(i) In the Annotations published by tlie Westminster assembly,
the words are thus rendered, He ivill plead for a man iv'ith Cod^ and
the son of man for his friend. To which this sense is given, " Christ,
" who is God and man, will plead my cause with iiis Father ; he
" will prevail, because he is God equal with the Father ; he will
" undertake it, because he will be man like to me." Mr. Curyt
aud some ot'iers fall in with tliis interpretation.

ic) Rev. viii. 4. (/) Heb, Iv. 15^ 16*

^54- OF Christ's interce3sion\

jnunication of all those blessings, which are agreeable to hie
death, and which he purchased and procured thereby.

Some of Christ's adversaries would confound his oblation
and intercession, and make them the same thing ; but they
are evidently distinct, in many things, though closely unit-
ed in some respects. Christ's oblation is the payment, his
intercession is the plea founded upon it ; the former was
made on earth, the latter is done in heaven ; the one consist-
ed in his death, the other is the product cf his new life ;
the sacrifice was offered but once, the intercession is perpe-
tual.

Our justification before God, and acceptance with him,
ie a matter of great importance and comfort ; herein God is
considered as a Judge, man as a criminal, Satan as the ac-
cuser, the law as the indictment, conscience as the evidence,
Christ as the believer's advocate, pleading his own obedi-
ence and sufferings, as a ground of our forgiveness and
eternal Hfe. It is also owing to Christ's intercession, that
believers are kept in a state of peace with God ; Such are
the daily provocations of the best of saints, in this world,
that their persons and services would soon become odious to
God, did not Christ present the memorial cf his sacrifice,
and continually plead the m.erit of his death, as the ground
of their acceptance, and peace with Godt. (a). Our spirit-
ual sacrifices are acceptable to God only by Jesus Chns\.(bjy
through the much incense of our great high-priest ; Th is is
the coyifidence that tee have in himfcji (the Son of God) (^dj
that if XKe ask any thing, according to his ixiilly he hears
us ; and if he hear us, we have the petitions that we ask of
him. If our prayers, for the substance of them, are ap-
proved of by him, his incense renders them acceptable to the
Father, and so we have the petitions which we ask of him.
Christ prayed for Peter, that his faith might not fail fej^

(a) Epl). i. 1. (^) 1 Pet, 5i. 5. {c) 1 John v. 14.

f /) 1 John V. 13. {e} Luke xxii. 32.

OF ciihiot's intercession. }Sij

and directed him after hia recovery to strengthen his breth-
ren, by that prayer ; implying, that it was not only for his
perseverance, but for his' apostles also, and for all Christians,
under their sore conflicts : He saves to the utiei'mosti every
one that comes to God hy him.

'Idly, I shall consider ihc properties of Christ's interccG-
sion ; several were hinted when I spoke of his character ;
others I shall have occasion to speak of in the process of this
discourse ; and therefore shall only briefly mention these few
following.

1. It is constant, or continual ; He ever lives to make
intercession. Other advocates cannot always attend the af-
fairs of their clients, but Christ does so continually : There
is no interruption or end of this service ; and how comfort-
able may this be to the believer !

2. It is complete and/uU ; there is nothing wanting in it :
he did all things well on earth, so he does in heaven ; He
never fails nor is discouraged (a) : he makes every m.otioi:,
urges every request, refutes every accusation, solicits every
grace and mercy, in proper time, order, and measure. All
this and more is signified in the words of the tc^vt ; He is
able w save to the uttermost, all that come to God hy him,
seeirig he ever lives to make intercession Jbr them.

3. It is a v.'ork of great bcnejit and comfort to believers.
It is their defence against apostacy, and a spring of con-
solation at all times, could they make use of it, as may more
fully appear afterwards. In all wants, fears, and dangers,
this is our relief, we have a throne of grace, to which vi'e
may have recourse, and the prevailing intercession of our
great high-priest: therein our eternal salvation, and conse-
quently all our comfort is wrapped up and secured.

4. It is a most honourable and glorious v,-ork for Christ.
It shews the glory of his love to his people, that he not on-
ly cared and died for them on earth, but still cares as much

(.7) Isa. xlii. 4.

156 OF Christ's intercession.

for tnem in heaven ; as appears in bis continual intercession
on their behalf. It is for Christ's honour, that the Father
ever continues him in his office, and takes pleasure in him,
and in his nnanagement of it : It is for Christ's honour that
his oblation and sacrifice has such infinite and lasting virtue
in it, as to support so many pleas as are built upon it : it
continues for ever ; what a wonderful sacrifice must that be,
which purchased all that grace and glory, which Christ prays
for, and applies to all that come to God by him. It is also
to the honour *of Christ's faithfulness, that he ever holds out
in this \vork, and manages it, now he is higher than the
heavens, with undenled integrity, and that for ever. The
Son is consecrated for evermore j not after the law of a car-
nal commandment, but after the jjoxver of aii endless life fa J .
Some hereticks of old, and others of late, have endea-
voured to turn Christ's intercession to his disgrace ; and
would infer from it, that he is not God, but a creature, in
an inferior, indigent, and dependent state. Their pretence
is, that if he has all-sufficiency in himself, all the fulness of
the Godhead, what need has he to pray to the Father, for
what he has in himself, and can communicate at his pleasure !
The objection may appear plausible to some, at first sight,
yet it is capable of an answer, which may be satisfactory to
the judicious and impartial. It must indeed be allowed on
all hands, that all the fulness of the Godhead, dwells bodily
in Clirist, and yet that he makes intercession (h) ; these
two therefore are not so inconsistent, or absurd, as our ad-
versaries suppose, unless they will charge Christ with incon-
sistency and absurdity in his conduct. The matters of fact
are too plain to be denied ; and therefore either there is no
absurdity for one, who has the fulness of the Godhead, to
make intercession, or else Christ is guilty of that absurdity ;
but there is no absurdity for him, who is true and real God,
in one nature, to pray to the Father, in another nature, or

(ff) Heb. vii, 28. (^) Ccl. ii. 9.

OP Christ's intercession. 15T

ill iiis human nature, which subsists in his divine peroon, fjr
those blessings, which, according to the divine economy,
and his office, as Mediator, were agreed to be that way-
given and dispensed to men. It is not absurd for one to
ask of another, what he was able to do of himself, when,
by mutual agreement, it has been fixed and determined to
proceed in this w^ay of petition and answer faj, as agree-
able to the office the petitioner bears, and as it is for the
good of those whose cause iie has undertaken ; now, this
is the real state of the case 'before us: A certain order of
proceeding was agreed upon, among the persons in the ever-
blessed Trinity ; the Father acts as Judge, and Lord su-
preme ; the Son, as Mediator, and High-priest, to whom
it belonged, under that character, to pray for the people
for whom he acted, having taken their nature, to qualiiS*
Kim to die, and intercede for them. Christ's love to the Fa-
ther, his desire to advance his honour, his agreement with
him as to the method of salvation, the office in which he
acted, and the good of the persons for whom he acted, all
required, that he should not only die, but intercede for his
people ; and yet he was and is God, of the same nature,
and all-sufficiency, with the Father. When it is said, that
Christ C7'ied to him thai was able to save him from dealh^
and was heard (b), it does not imply, that Christ was not
able to raise himself; for he said, / have power to lay doiai
my Ufey and I have povcer to tahe it again (c) ; but his
office, as high-priest, required his application to the Father,
that he might receive his life from him, to whom, as judge,
he offered it, as a testimony that he was well pleased with
his sacrifice : on which account, God the Father, as bring-
ing again from the dead our Lord Jesus, is called the God
of peace (d), Christ presents his prayers to the Father
on our account, and as our high-priest : In the days of his

(a) Vide Bisterfold. contra Crellium, p. 20O.

(i) Heb. V. 7. (f) John x. 18. {£) Heb^xiii, 20.

Vol. II. o

158 OF Christ's ixtercessiont.

flesh, and that others might know the Father's approbation
of hiin, when a thing was done with his consent first had
and obtained, he thus spoke in a solemn address to him.
Father, I thank thee that thou hearest me ; I knetv that
thou hearest me akvai/s, hut for the sake of the peojde that
stand h!j, I said it, that they may believe that thou hast
sent me (a). It is then neither inconsistent with Christ's
power, nor deity, that he intercedes with the Father.

V. I shall inquire into the extent of Christ's intercession,
whether it be Hmlted, or universal. Christ himself has sa-
tisfied this inquiry, in a few words which are full and very
plain; I pray not for the ivorld, (said he) but for those
ivhom thou hast given me out of the norld (b). The friends
of universal redemption have not, as far as I know, had the
boldness to affirm, that Christ intercedes for all, though
they would have us believe, that he died for all men ; for,
indeed, such an affirmation would be a direct giving Christ
the lie, or contradicting what he has openly declared : My
text also signifies the persons for whom Christ intercedes,
those that come to God byjiim ; by which words we are to
understand all, and only such, as come to God by true faith
in Christ ; or true believers, exclusive of others.

1. Christ intercedes only for those who are given him out
of the xvorld, and not for the tvorld. This is plain, from
Christ's own words ; I pray not for the tvorld, but for those
ivhoni thou hast given 7nc cut of the XKorld ; for they are
thine. Hence Christ is brought in saying, My goodness
cxtendcth not to thee, but to the saints, and to the excellent
in the earth, in ivhom is all my delight (c). As for the
rest he said, / tmll not take up their names into my lips ;
or, I will not intercede for them. Here we are carefully to
observe, that though Christ's intercession extends oply to
such as come to God by him, yet they have an interest in it,
before they actually come ; / pray, said Christ, for them

(a) John xi. 12. (^) Joh:i xvii. 9. 0) Paal. xvi. r?, ^.

OF Christ's intercession. 159

ivho shall believe in me, through their xvord (a). Ke in-
tercedes for the first grace, as well as for all future graces ;
there was a stock of prayers laid up in heaven for his peo-
ple, before they were born. As Abraham said, 0 that
Ismael might live in iliy sighi ; so Christ is deeply concern-
ed to bring home all the chosen seed : Having spoken of the
Jews fbjf he has added these words with relation to the
Gentiles, Other sheep I have, ivhich are not of this old;
those also I must bring : they need his prayers before con-
version, as well as afterwards j and, blessed be God, they
aie not excluded ! What a comfort and encouragement is
this, with respect to our unconverted hearers, relations, or
friends, for whom we travail in birth, till Christ is formed ia
them ! that they not only have an interest in our prayers,
but also (if they belong to the election of grace) in Christ's
prayers ! and how far off soever they are at present fcj,
yet, if Christ has prayed for them, they shall come. He
did nof say barely, it ma7/ be, but it certainly shall be.
Christ's prayer and merit are of equal extent ; he prays for
all that shall beheve, and only for such : He died not for
the world, but for those that were given him out of the
world, who either then did, or hereafter should believe.

2. Christ intercedes for, everi/ ijidividual member in par-
ticular ; not only for all in the gross, or comprehensively
taken in a body, as the ekct or church of God fdj ; but
he calls his own sheep by name, and has a particular regard
for every single Christian. As Peter was persoirally prayed
for in the hour of his danger, according to what Christ told
him, I have prayed for thee, (for thee, Peter) that thy
faith fail not (e) ; so Christ prays for every other behever,
particulaily. If any man sin tve' have an yldvocate tvilh the
Father (f) ; if any child, any one of the httle children
sins, he has ah Advocate with the Father. Some poor do-

(a) John xvii. 20. (J?) John x. 16. G) John vi. 81.

id) John X. S. ie) Luke xxii. S2, (/). 1 John ii,,l.

^^0 OF cfirist's IXTERCHSSION.

jected believers are prone to ihink, they are so weak, sinfulj,
and unworthy, as that Christ will take no notice of them,
cr they must be shut out of his prayers ; but, on the con-
trary, the scripture has assured us, that if any man among
the little children sins, he has an Advocate with the Father.
Christ offers the ipr?iYers o( a/l saints fa); and therefore
of every, saint, upon every occasion. How hard is it then,
Christian, to contradict the word, and to wound thyself :
Christ carries his lambs in his bosom fdj ; and wilt thou
leap out and run away from him ? He will not break the
braised reed fcj ; and shall the poor Christian do it him-
self? Christ doth not despise the day of small things fdjy
why then should we ? Can he have compassion on the igno-
rant, and them that are out of the way ; and shall such who
so much need his compassion reject it, and make that a rea-
son of their being excluded, v%-h;ch Christ makes a reason of
h:3 8pecihl care ai;u cor.cern f^r ihem ? He ccirries home the
lost sheep rejoicing ; of ail given him he loses nothing, but
gives eternal life to as many as are given him fej : Every one
therefore, who comes to God by him, even the weakest
true believer, is hound to believe, that Christ intercedes for
iiim ; and how v\-eak, distracted, and unworthy soever his
own prayers may be, how long soever he has cried, and can-
not perceive that he is heard, yet this is certain, that Christ
prays and prevails for him, for the Father always hears hini
(fj. He that secured a tempted Peter's faith from failing,
will do, and does the same for every other believer, how
small soever his faith is, or how great soever his sins, temp-
tation?, and fears may be. Let but this one thing be made
clear, that Christ is chosen, received, and relied upon, by
a gospel faith, and the believer may, with the apostle, bid

/^) Rev. vili, 3. - (0 I^a. xl. 11. (c) Matt. xli. 20.

(d) Heb. V. 2. {e) Lv.kc xv. 5, 6.— John xvii. 2.

(/) John x5. 42.

OF Christ's iNTERCESsfiox. I'Gi

defiance to all his enemies ; and may say, who is he th^l
condemns, since Christ makes intercession for me ? he is my
Advocate with the Father, I shall be saved to the utter-
most, seeing he ever lives in heaven, to make intercession
for me fa J.

VI. I shall represent the importancet and prevalence of
Christ's intercession.

1. The importance of Christ's intercession is sigailied in
my text, as the perfection of our happiness ; and his ability
to perfect our salvation, are both represented as depending
thereupon. Why is Christ able to save to the uttermost ?
because he ever lives to ?nake intercession ; implying, that
he would not be able to save to the uttermost, were it not
for his intercession ; did he not intercede, the perfection of
his priesthood would be wanting ; one thing which he had
engaged, as our surety to "do, would be neglected, and so
the work of redemption would have been incomplete ; and
an^insufiicient saviour, is no saviour at all. The life of the
legal high-priest depended upon his covering the ark and
the mercy-seat, with the cloud of the smoke of the incense
(b) ; in like manner the residence and glory of Christ in
heaven, and his ability to save his people, depend upon his
life of intercession for them in heaven. What confidenee
could we have had to come to God, or what acceptance
could our prayers have met with, if Christ were not our
Advocate, and Intercessor, at God's right hand ? It is un-
becoming the wisdom of God, to appoint a needless, or an
useless employment for Christ in heaven ; and it is incon-
sistent with his veracity^ to lay the stress of our perfect sal-
vation upon Christ's intercession, if we could have been
perfectly saved without it. The honour of God's justice
is preserved, in Christ's pleading his merit and satisfaction
as a ground of our salvation, and the honour of his grace
is promoted, by its being solicited for us, in the prayers of

(a) Rom. viii. 34. — Heb. vii. 25. {b) I^evit. xvi. 13,

o 3

J 62 OF Christ's intercession.

so great a person, as Christ is. His intercession then is of
great importance, both to God and himself, and also to us,
on the accounts now mentioned.

2. The next thing to be considered, is the prevalency of
Christ's intercession : This is a very useful and comfortable
truth, clearly revealed in scripture. As it was formerly
said of Jacob, (a type of Christ,) As a prince tlioii hast
poiver x^itli God, and hast prevailed (a) ; so may it much
more be said of Christ, and indeed is so prophesied of him,
in these words of the twenty-first Psalm ? Thou hast given
him his hcarfs desire, and hast not -withheld the requests of
his lips (b). This Psalm is allowed, by many ancient and
modern writers, to speak of Christ (c) ; and the cited pas-
sage, as well as others, is eminently fulfilled in him : what
ancient prophecy foretold, Christ declared to be fulfiUedj
and to be universally true, when he said, / hnoifi thou hear-
est me alvcr.ys fdj.

(1.) If this was true, when he had not as yet paid the
price of redemption, shall it fail, when he presents and
pleads his perfect oblation P Did God hear him when he
pleaded on the credit of it ; and will he deny him when he
pleads actual and full payment ? His sacrifice must lose its
virtue before his intercession can want its prevalency ; for
his intercession being founded on his death, the former must
be as acceptable to God as the latter was. God was at li-
berty to have accepted of a sacrifice, in our stead, or not ;
but when he has accepted it, as satisfactory and sufficient,
there is no longer room to deny the blessings purchased by
it, when demanded by the purchaser. As grace and mercy
admitted Christ to be a sacrifice in our room, so justice re-
quires that his plea be admitted, when he claims that for
which he has given a valuable consideration : The Father

(a) Gen. xxxii. 28. (l) Psal. xxi. 2.

{d) John xi. 42,

OF CIIiUST*'s INTERCESSION. 163

cannot deny him bis requests, without disowning the merit
of his oblation ; but that he can never do, having smelt a
sweet savour in it, and openly owned its perfection (a).
The argument is short and full : If his sacrifice is perfect,
his plea upon it must be prevalent ; if that obtained eternal
redemption for us, this must succeed in soliciting the grant
and application of every .part of it : If Abel's blood pre-
vailed for vengeance upon him that shed it, Christ's blood
must prevail for the salvation of those for whom it was shed.
The Judge of all the earth zvill do right ; and Christ's
blood speaks better things than that of Abel fbj.

(2.) God is under the obhgation of a solemn promise,.
that Christ shall see the travail of his soul and be satisfied
fcj : but this promise could never be fulfilled if any blessing
he has purchased for the redeemed were withheld when he
has not only paid, but prayed for it. God has declared,
that his covenant shall standfast tvith Christ, and his faith-'
fulness shall not fail (d). Christ must then be heard, see-
ing he prays for what the Father has promised.

(S.) T\\Q end pursued by Christ in his intercession, is
agreeable to the Father ; and therefore his intercession must
needs be prevalent. The whole design of it may be express-
ed in those words of Christ, and the Father. Father, glori-
fif thy name : Then there came a voice from heaven, saying,
I have both glorified it, and imll glorify it again (e). All
Christ's prayers are for such things as glorify God the Fa-
ther, Himself, and the Spirit. Therefore, as God regards
his own glory, he will regard Christ's intercession. When
Christ prayed to be in heaven, to be at this work of inter-
cession there, it was that he might glorify the Father :
Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven, saying, Father, the hour
is come, glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify

(a) Eph. V. 2. (^) Heb. xii. 24. {c) Isa. liii. 11.

{d) Psah Ixxxix. 28. (^) John xi. 28.

i 6i^ OF CHRIST*S INTERCESSION'.

thee fa J. This prayer in the seventeenth chapter of John's
gospel is thought to be a specimen or model of Christ's in-
tercession ; and if so, it comes up fully to my purpose,
that Christ's intercession has God's glory for the end of it ;
and therefore is always prevalent. To be well assured of
this, will be of excellent use against our unbelief and dis-
couragements ; and therefore 1 will proceed a little further
upon it.

(4<.) Christ's intercession is prevalent with the Father,
because it is always agreeable to the Father's tviil. In the
time of his agonies, the haman will in Christ inclined to
that exemption from suffering, which was not agreeable to
the will of God ; but then it was only conditionally, and
may properly be called a wish or desire. If it be j^ossibie
'iyiay this cup pass from me; nevertheless thy tvill be done fb)y
said our Lord, when prostrated in the garden : But now,
in glory, as there is no such occasion, so Christ's human
will is so absolutely under the power of his divine w^ill as
God, and under the influence of the Spirit of grace, that
there is no room to suppose that he is capable of putting
up one request to the Father, but what is entirely agreeable
to his will : Ke delighted to do Iiis Father's v.'ill on earth ;
and no less doth he delight to comply with it in heaven.
Now, seeing the will of Christ, whereby he intercedes, is
the same with the will of the Father, with whom he inter-
cedes, the Father cannot reject the will of the Intercessor,
without offering violence to his own ; and he must deny
himself, at the same time that he denies his Son. If it holds
true, that when we ask any thing, according to the will of
God, he hears us, and we have the petitions we ask of
him (c) : It cannot be less certain, that Christ asking only
what is according to the will of God, is heard in every thingp
and has all the petitions that he puts up granted to him.

(fl) John xvii, 1. {!>) Matt. xxvi. 39. {c) I John v, 14.

OP Christ's intercession. 165

(5.) Christ's intercession is performed by virtue of a com-
inissio?i, or an office^ which he has received from the Fa-
ther. Will he authorise him to plead, and then refuse his
plea when it is every way agreeable to his will as to matter,
manner, end, and right to use it ? This cannot be ; he that
made Christ a priest for ever, and gave him power to plead,
and admitted him into the most holy place, in order there-
unto, will not reject his plea vv-hen he makes it : He pleads
with authority, and therefore with success. Christ inter-
cedes with one who has a great love to the person interced-
ing, and the persons for whom he intercedes ; the Advocate
and tlie clients are aU dear to him ; and therefore Christ's
intercession must needs be prevalent, seeing there is nothing
in law or equity against it ; if indeed there were, the righte-
ous Judge could not, by his affection to the parties, be en-
gaged to do an unjust thing : but seeing what Christ prays
for is just and right ; aud seeing the Father has such a
love, both to Christ, and to those for whom he intercedes,
there is no room to doubt his success. Thou art my Sony
said God ; ask of me and I mil give ihee the heathen
for thine inheritance (a). Such a Son shall be denied in
nothing that he asks.

(6.) Nor should we forget the love which God bears to
the clients, as well as to the Advocate : He loved them, and
chose them from eternity ; he sent his Son to die for them,
in time, and his Spirit to convert them ; and he has receiv-
ed Christ up into glory, in quaiity of a high- priest, to in-
tetcede for them ; and shall he, after ail these marks of af-
fection to them, turn a deaf ear to the requests that are
made for them, either for grace or glory ? Can he love them
so dearly, and yet deny them any thing that should rnakg
them happy, or do them good ? It is unreasonable to think
5^ : Therefore let us conclude, that Christ is a prevaihng
Tntercessjpr ; he himself thus declared ; / say not that I tjill

(a) Psal. ii. 7, 8.

^6^ OP Christ's iNTERCEssiOxV.

pray the Father for you, for the Father himself loves
you fa) : That is, I will not now insist on the interest /
Lave with the Father, but that which you have with him ;
his love to yau disposeth him to do all that is needful for
your good.

(7.) There is an infinite dignity derived from Christ's
]}€rson to his intercession as well as to his sacrifice ; and
therefore it is prevalent. Though the intercession is made
in and by his human nature, yet it is the act of his divine per-
son, or belongs to him : and being the work of such a per-
son, it must be of great value. * The intercession of such

* a divijie person is as powerful as his sufferings were meri-

* torious,' as one speaks (b). — The other characters of
the Intercessor, as being infinitely wise, holy, faithful, and
dear to God, were hinted before ; and therefore I shall not
insist on them here.

(8.) We may conclude the prevalency of Christ's inter-
cession, from the instances which we have of its success,
Christ prayed for Peter that his faith might not fail ; and
lie lived and died a glorious believer : Ke prayed for the
apostles that they m^ight be kept from the evil of the world,
or from moral evil ; and the purity of their lives was an an-
swer of Christ's prayers : He no sooner ascended, but he
prayed the Father for the efTusion of the Spirit, which was
granted in a wonderful manner ; and in granting this, God
virtually granted all spiritual blessings ; at least we may use
the apostle's way of reasoning, he who withheld not the Spi-
rit,but gave him freely, when Christ interceded for him, will
doubtless with him, also freely give us ail things he shall de-
sire ; for having granted the greater, there is no reason to
think he will withhold the less.

VII. I shall mention some of the fruits and effects of
Christ's intercession. In the general, our complete and en-
tire salvation is ascribed to Christ's intercession ; and there-

(ir) 1 John xvi. 27. (i) Charnock on Intercess. p. 1133.

OF CHRIST^S INTERCESSION-. 167

fore all the parts of It are the fruits thereof. He saves to
the uttermost^ seeing he ever lives to make intercession Jcr
lis. But more pv^rticularly,

1. The preservation and welfare of the church is the ef-
fect of it. 0 Lord of hosts, said Christ, hoio long xvilt thou
not have mercy on Jerusalem ? And the Lord ansiKcred
the angel xvith good and comfortable rvoj'ds (a). At Christ's
intercession the Father turns the captivity of Zion. As
Christ promised, that the gates of hell should not prevail
against his church, so his intercession secures her safety ;
and when she is brought low restores her. This teaches us
to whom we sliould look under the most discouraging pros-
pects. In the vision which John had (hjt Christ from
heaven is represented in his priestly garments, in the midst
of the churches, holding the ministers in his right hand, and
his voice is said to be as the aoiind of many tcaters ; his in-
tercession for his church is most powerful, and effectual.

2. The mission, or pouring out of the Spirit, aher Christ's
ascension, was a fruit of his intercession : Before his death
he declared (cj, he would pray the Father to send the Com-
forter ; when he ascendt;d up on high he received and gave
this gift to his church fdj, the most comprehensive, and the
m.ost glorious gift next to hhnself, which he could bestow ;
for hereby the conversion,, edification, and eternal glory of
all the chosen seed are secured. A gospel ministry, and all
ministerial gifts and success are to be looked upon as the
fruits of Christ's intercession, procuring the mission of the
Spirit for these ends; and therein for the edifying his body,
till me all come to the stature of a perfect man in Christ
Jesus (c).

3. Security from co?2;'/(?wn2(7.''/o?2 is another effect of Christ's
lintercession. None- can condemn so long as Christ makes
intercession for us. Satan, as an adversary, accuses ; but

{a) Zech. i. 12, IS. G) Rev. \. 13. \5. {c) John xiv. 16.
{(l) Acts. ii. 33. (-'-) £ph. iv. 11, 12.

16S OF Christ's ixtercessiox.

Christ, as an Advocate, silences and rebukes hiai, vindicates
his people, and keeps open their way of access to God, and
of their communion with him. Sin and Satan would soon
find a way to debar us of this privilege, were it not for
Christ's intercession : Through his blood, which pleads for
us, we have boldness to draw nigh to God. This is what
we can never enough value, or bless God for ; all our spi-
ritual comfort and eternal safety depend upon it, and flow
from it.

4. Another fruit of it is God's hearing and ansiverhig his
people's prayers. As they come from us, they are polluted,
defiled, and attended with many infirmities ; for we know
not what to pray for as we ought faj ; but they ascend ac-
ceptably to God, as they are perfumed with Christ's much
incense fbj, Christ is represented saying. Let 7iot them
that ti-ait on thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my
sahe ; let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake

0 God of Israel, because fotr thy sake I have bore reproach
(c). This is the ground of our acceptance at the throne of
grace, the intercession of our great high-priest, who is pas-
sed into the heavens for us fdj.

5. The numerous conversions of souls to God, since Christ's
ascension, have been the fruits of his intercession. All who
have believed through the word of the gospel, have felt and
enjoyed the power and fruit of that prayer of Christ begun
on earth, and no doubt continued in heaven, I pray not for
these alone, but for them also that shall believe on me through
iheir xvord (e) ; which is, as if he had said, Holy Father,

1 desire, that those who are yet to be brought home to me
may taste and feel the power of thy love and grace, in the
o-ospel, so as to rest on me by faith, and may have all the
privileges and blessings of believers.

6. Preservation and perseverance in \.\\q faith, is the fruit

la) Rom. \\\\. 2G. (b) Rev. vii. 4. (.) Psal Ixlx. 6, 7.

{i:) Ileb. iv. 15, 16. (0 John xvii. 20,

OF Christ's intercession-. 169

of Christ's intercession. All the believers, as well as Peter,
owe the security of their faith, and their recovery from
backslidings, to Christ's prayer for them : they are preserv-
ed in Christ Jesus ; he restores the believer, and makes him
t-o walk in the paths of righteousness for his prayer's sake.

7. All supplies of grace are the fruit of Christ's interces-
sion. The attendance of our great high-priest, at the throna
ef grace, and his prevailhig pleas there, are the causes oT
our Jinding grace to help in time of need (a). For this rea-
son, it may be, among others, it is called the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ ; and we "re said to j-eceive grace, accor-
ding to the measure of the gift of Chris/.

8. Eternal life is the fruit of Christ's intercession. This
is being sax'ed to the uttermost ; and thus Christ ^aves be-
lievers, because he ever lives in heaven to make intercession
for them.

Thus we see something of l!ie nature, properties, extent,
prevalency, and fruits of Christ's intercession, and may ga-
ther what reason tbe apostle had to lay a stress upon -it, as
ke did in my text. What remains is to hint some heads of
jipplication.

APPLICATION.

1. This doctrine informs us of the injury the Papists do
Christ, in joining other intercessors with him ; The scrip-
tures speak of but 0}ie advocate and intercessor in heaven ;
but the Romanists tells us there are majii/ others. None
but Christ has merit or authority to plead there : their doc-
trine Is therefore a vile indignity put upon Christ, as if he
was not able ^o save to the uttermost all that come to God
by him. Is there any other, that has more knowledge of our
cause, more compassion to move him to, espouse it, more
wisdom to manage it, more favour with God, or a better
plea to use than he ? Or, in a word, is there asy other au-
thorised of God to intercede with him, in heaven, for his

(a) Heb. iv. 15, 16.

Vol. II. p

170 oir Christ's intercession.

people on earth ? We know that God has appointed Clirlst,
admitted him into his presence, and heard his prayers.: But
as for all the rabble of popish intercessors, we know not
whence tliey are : however, this we know, that they are
not of God; and that they are, and must be, injurious to
the office and honour of our one and only Mediator, between
God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

2. From Christ's intercession let us learn that he is inte
Godi and inie man. If he was not man, he could not pro-
perly pray ; if he is not God, he cannot prevail, know all
our wants, supply them, and Bave us to the uttermost. A
mere creature cannot know all things, search all hearts, know
all the distant groanings of millions of labouring minds at
once, see all their wants, difficulties, and dangers, and pro-
vide a suitable supply and rem.edy : he that can do this, as
our Intercessor does, must have in himself omniscience, om-
nipotence, and all-sufficiency ; and he that is possessed of
these is, and must be God.

3. What comfort and ejhcpiiragcmetit may believers draw
from Christ's intercession ? "W-^at a mighty encouragement
is it to go to God, and be much in prayer, seeing we have
an Intercessor at his right hand to present our prayers ? We
liave a friend in the heavenly court, to plead our cause,
whose intercession never fails ; shall then our prayers flag
or our spirits faint ? Has he power as a prince, and prevails ?
and shall we give over all for lost, and say, it is in vain to
pray to him ? There must be great force an^ energy in our
prayers, when we are washed in the blood of the Lamb, and
our requests are enforced by his intercession. Some poor
dejected Christians are apt to think, they are miserable and
destroyed almost to the utmost ; such should remember, that
the great Intercessor is able to s:ive to the utmost, all that
come to God by him, whatever their sins and miseries have
been, or are ; -and what can they desire more ? What salva-
tion c'dn be greater ? — It m^ay be, Christian, tliy darkness.

OF CHRISt's INTERCESSION". 171

deafness, unbelief, slavish fears, straitaess of heart in pray-
er, and other sins have abounded ; but still the saving ability
of the intercessor much more abounds : his merit, vi'isdom,
compassion, and prevalence with God, are far greater t9
«ave the believer, than all his sins and temptations can be to
destroy him. If f^'^y "^'^^^ -^i^^ ^t^t? Jia-ce an advocnie mth the
Father (a) ; yet still we must be careful to avoid sin as far
as we can ; and for that end v^'e should go to God, and plead
hard with him for his Spirit and grace, to keep us from
it ; remembering that Christ is praying that his people may
be sanctified and kept from evil. With reference to that,
in the model of his intercession, or his prayer recorded in
the seventeenth chapter of John's gospel, Christ said. These
things speak I in the tvorldf that the?/ might have my joy
JiilfiUed in themselves (b). Christ's blood can and does
speak for the Christian, when he cannot plead for liimself :
Kow may this encourage the poor believer, to go to God
with full assurance of faith, as a ship under full sail to the
habour, carried in by the sweet gales of Christ's interces-
sion I

If the Spirit has been making intercession in a CI ristian
with labouring and unutterable desires after God, it is a sign
Christ is interceding for him ; for, * the Spirit's inteixession
* in the heart is but the echo of Christ's intercession in hea-
< ven,' as one speaks (c) : what comfort is there in this,
for such as thus come to God by Christ ? Christ goes to
Qod for them, and never leaves the suit till he has saved his.
client to the uttermost, brought him to the King's palace,
with joy and gladness, and has set him above all dangers and
miseries. O how safe and happy is the believer, in such an
Advocate witli the Father, whose love never grows cold,
whose merit is never exhausted, and whose pica never grov/s
weak or fruitless ? If it is a comfort to have a share in ih:*

(a) 1 John. ii. 1. {b) John xvii. 13.

[c) Goodwia of Christ's intercession, p. 1"^.%,

J 72 OF Christ's iNTERCEssiox.

prayers of our gracious friends ? what joy may it afford the
Christian, that he has an interest in Christ's prevaihng in-
tercession for ever continued in heaven. Noah, Job, and
Daniel may be denied, but Christ never can : Satan often
baffles us, but he cannot stand before Christ ; he easily finds
a way to distract our prayers, but he can never obstruct
Christ's requests, or render them ineffectual. If the effec-
tual fervent prayers of a righteous man avail nuich, shall not
Christ's much more ? How may these considerations streng-
then our faith, encourage our prayers, and kicrease our com-
fort and joy in coming to God by Christ ?

4. If Christ ever lives to intercede for his people, then
great and affecting is his love to them : he lived a sorrowful
life, he died a bitter death for them on earth, and employs
his glorious life in interceding for them in heaven. What
manner of love is this ? C.in he never do too much for us ?
Is he never weary of his work, how painful or endless so-
ever it be .'* How much then does his love pass our know-
ledge, our highest admiration ? The glory of his throne,
the adoration of angels, the Hosannahs of the saved, the
delights he has with his Father cannot divert him from a care
and concern for his poor people in this world, or cause him
to interi3iit his pica* for them ? It is the constant business
of his heavenly ViiQ, to make intercession for them ; behold
then hovv he loves them !

5. What a xvoeful condition are th.ey in, who, tliough
they pretend to come to God, yet do not come by Christ ?
The Jews, though they have lost their temple, qrk, priests,
and sacrifice, yet will not com^ to God by Christ ; they
neither value his sacrifice nor intcj-c^ssion ; AVhen the law
cannot save them, they reject the gospel salvation ; whilst
they have Moses and the prophets pleading against them,
they refuse to have Christ to plead for them : they cannot
save themselves by their own pleas ; what then remains but
that destruction should coxe uocn them to the utmost ; and

OF CHRIST'S rNTERCESSiON-. iio

not on them only, but on all others who come not to God
by Christ, and have no part in his intercession ? Such may
hear him pleading against them, in these terrible words,
Four out tliine indignation upon them, and let thy xvrathfal
anger take hold of them (a) I

6. How safe is the church under xki^ ■patronage of suci*
an Intercessor ? He ever lives to intercede and save it to the
utmost ; therefore Christ's church can never die, be lost, or
miserable. Christ cannot fail of his end, and therefore
Christians cannot be disapppinted of their salvation. If
Christ ever lives to intercede for them, then there will be some
who fear his name to the end of the world, who shall come
to God by him, for whom he always intercedes. This is a
good evidence, that the gates of hell shall never prevail
against the church, or extirpate Christ's interest out of the
world. That faith cannot fail* which he preserves bv his
intercession, nor can those in whom it dwells, fail from among
men, till there is either an end of the world, or an end of
Christ's prevailing, (may I not say) almighty intercession.

7. How valuable are the souls of believers and their sal-
vation ? The men of the world despise 'them, as they do
indeed their own souls, and their salvation. How impossi-
ble is it to shun multitudes in the open streets, whose tongues
are set on fire of hell, who are calling upon God for that dam-
nation to Vv'hich they are hasting \ These wretches have
surely no sense of the worth of souls, and of the value of
salvation ; no belief that Christ is in heaven interceding for
salvation, whilst they, on earth, are soliciting damnation to
seize upon themselves and others. However, the worth of
souls, the importance and excellence of their salvation may
be clearly seen from Christ's intercession : He v/ho is infi-
nitely wise and good, would not spend his glorious life in
heaven in pleading for things that are only fancies or trifles
things of no reality, or of no importance. Let us then be-

(a) Psalm Ixix. 24.

1/4? OfiT CIIPJST's n<TEP.CESSIO>:.

lieve the reality and excellence cf the Saint's future eternal .
blessedness.

8. Does Christ io>2 believers in heaven ? Does he live and
plead for them there ? Then how much are they bound to
love him, to live to Idm, and to jjlcad for him on earth?
Since he will be ashamed of such as are ashamed of him be-
fore men, \vhen he appears in glory, shall we be ashamed
of him and. his cause ? Does he always include our interests
in his prayers, and shall we exclude his interest out of
our prayers ? Is he so much concerned for our happiness
and shall vre have no concern for his honour, or but little \
Does he always plead our cause with his Father, against our
eiiemies, and shall we never plead his cause, either with his
friends to encourage them, or with his enemies to silence and
convince them ? Did he not only die, but does he always
live for us, and shall we always live to ourselves and not to
him ? How disingenuous and ungrateful v/ould this be ! Let
ys then remember our obhgations, and follow after, and
abound in that faith, love, and obedience to Christ, which
become all such, who come to God by him, and shall by
him be saved to the utmost, seeing he ever lives in heaven tc
niake intercession for them.

CHRIST'S SECOND COMING

JUPGE THE AVORLD IN RIGHTEOUS^

NESS,

OPENED AND APPLIED j

FOUR SERMONS.

SERMON I.

Preached April 23, 1728.

I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who
shall judge the quick and the dead, at his aj)pearing, and
his kingdom. — 2 Tim. iv. 1.

xIaving formerly inquired, what Christ is doing at the
Father's right hand, I now come to shew what he will
do, when he descends from heaven again ; then he wiW judge
the quick and the dead. This future judgment is brought
in as a reason of that solemn charge which the apostle
Paul gav€ to Timothy, to j)reach the word in season, and
out of season ; to reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all
long-suffering and doctrine, without being soon weary
of it, or desisting from it, to avoid trouble, or for want
of desired success. Christ will come again to judge all
men ; therefore Timothy was under his eye, and account-
able to him for his ministry ; what care therefore ought
he to take to fulfil it ? We must all appear before the

176 OF CHRIST*S COMING TO JUDGMENT.

judgment-ssat of Christ (said the same apostle, on ano-
ther occasion :) therefore toe labour, "wJiether present or
absenty that loe. may be accepted of him ; and knowing
the terror of the Lord, lue persuade men (a). It will be
very dreadful for any unbeliever, especially for wicked and
slothful ministers, to appear before Christ's judgment-seat :
and even the best ministers, such as Timothy was, have
need to be warned and excited by the thoughts of the fu-
ture judgment, to a due discharge of their work.

The time of this judgment is, in my text, said to be at
his appearing, and his Jdngdom : From these words some
have inferred, that the day of judgment should last a thou-
sand years ; and that the dead in Christ, being raised and
absolved at his first appearance, shall reign a thousand years
with him on the earth, before the wicked shall be raised and
receive their judgment : for this reason, as they think,
Christ's appearance, judgment, and kingdom are joined to-
gether. But from the connection between Christ's appear-
ing and his judging the quick and dead, it rather appears,
that the saints and sinners shall be assembled at once beibre
the judgment-seat of Christ : and though the saints shall be
raised first, and first receive their sentence, yet both righte-
ous and wicked shall, at the same time, meet in judgment,
the sheep being placed on Christ's right hand, and the goats
on his left (b). Though the saints shall first receive their
sentence, yet the execution of the sentence first begins upon
the wicked, according to the scriptures (c). How tliis
order of proceeding can consist with the before-mentioned
scheme, I see not : As to the apostle's connecting Christ's
judging, and his kingdom together, that might be only to
shew, that the judgment of the great day will be a glorious
exercise and discovery of Christ's kingly power, and sove-
reign dominion over all. * Christ's second coming shall not

(a) 2 Cor. v. 9—11. {b) Matt. xxv. 31.

{c) Malt. xxY. 46.-2 Thess. i. 8—10.

OF Christ's coming to judgment. 177

* be like the former, in meanness and abasement, but v/ith

* power and great glory, with an open discovery of his do-

* minion and greatness,' as a judicious ancient commentator
has explained the text '(^0' When Christ comes to judg-
ment, the earth, the sea, heaven, and hell shall give up all
that have been dead, at Christ's command ; which will make
it evident, that his kingdom rideth over all.

The words quick and dead signify all persons that ever
were, now are, or shall be ; all who die before Christ's se-
cond coming, and all who shall then be found alive. It is
not said that Christ shall judge some of the quick and dead,
■at his appearing, and the rest ^ long time after ; but my
text joins ihem all together, in the same judgment, quick
and dead of all sortSy both good and bad. The day of
judgment is spoken of as one, and as unknown before-hand ;
but it could neither be one, nor unknown, if the saints should
be judged at the beginning of the thousand years, and the
wicked at the end of them ; for then, at least when Christ
was once come, the time when the wicked shall be judged
must needs be known before-hand. I must confess, I can-
not see how Christ's being personally a thousand years on
earth can consist with his ever living in heaven^ to intercede
for his joeojyle, which requires liis bodily presence there :
and to say that earth itself will be heaven, when Christ
comes to dwell here, is to mix and confound all things, and
to suppose that the wicked shall appear in heaven, where
nothing that defiles can enter, in order to be judged. But
without allowing this personal reign, which some are so fond
of, we may and ought to believe a happy and flourishing
state of the church militant, before the end of time ; con-
cerning which glorious things are'spoken in scripture : but it
is besides my subject and intention to enter upon that point
now. What needs farther explication in the text will be

'A 'r*;":-j »r;; K'.yn on ^-^ oCt'^; r.'rii m$ vZv, ChrysOSt. ill loc,

178 or Christ's coming to judgment.

attempted in the management of the following doctrine
from it :

Christ shall come again, and in the great da?/ shall judge
the "whole "world, both quick and dead.

In discoursing upon this point, I shall cast my thoughts
into the following method.

I. I shall inquire into the certainty and time of a future
judgment, and the need of insisting on this doctrine.

IX. I shall consider \}i\Q iperson and character of the Judge.

III. I shall specify the objects of this judgnient ; or shew
who, and what shall be judged.

IV. I shall explain th^ Jbrm and ^5rocc55 of it.

V. I shall hint some of its properties.

VI. I shall assign some reasons of this judgment.

VII. I shall mention some of its consequents, an6 an-
swer some questions concerning it. And,

VIII. By way of conclusion, I shall make some appli-
cr:tion of this subject.

I. I shall inquire into the certainty and time of the fu-
ture judgment, and the need o^ insisting upon it.

I shall begin with the last branch of this head, as open-
ing the way to the others. The fitness of this doctrine, to
be a part of the evangelical ministry, appears from Christ's
command to the apostles, after his resurrection, as recited
by Peter, in these words, //e commanded us to preach to
the people, and to testify that it xvas he that tons ordained
of God to be the judge of quick and dead (a). — Accord-
ing to their instructions the apostles abundantly insisted on
this doctrine ; some received it with pleasure, looking and
longing for Christ's appearance, others trembled at the hear-
ing of it ; but whether it is liked or disliked, it ought to
be preached, and was so very early. — Enoch, the seventh
from Adam, preached it, saying, Behold the Lord comes

(a) Acts X. 42.

OF Christ's coming to judgment. 179

to execute judgment (a). Tlie wicked would not believe
it, but uttered many hard speeches, not only against the
doctrine, but also against the Lord himself, who was to
judge them ; but yet it was published and insisted on from
time to time. — We are told by a good judge (h), that tliis
doctrine was the eleventh article of the Jewish creed : It is
plain that the apostle (c) reckoned it among the first prin-
ciples and func'amental truths.-*— Solomon, the wisest preach-
er among mere men, taught this truth, as a relief against
the injustice practised in human courts, when he said, God
shall judge the righteous and the winked (d) : and to curb
the voluptuous appetite, when he thus addressed himself to
such as are guilty on this head, Knoxv thou, that for all
these things, God will bi'ing thee into judgment (e). — Loiig
before this, Abraham spoke of God as a Judge (J^J. — And
the Psalmist has represented it in very lofty language. He
comes to judge the earth fgj. — Job, aviio lived very early,
put his friends in mind, that there is a judgment fhj. — And
to shew the necessity and usefulness of this doctrine under
the new-testament dispensation, near the end of the sacred
canon, this matter is thus related by the apostle John fij;
I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God ; and
the booh were opened : and another book was opened, which
is the book of life ; and the dead were judged according to
the thins^s that were written in those books, according; to
their works. Of which I shall have occasion to apeak at
large hereafter. — Paul told the Athenians of a day in whicli
Christ shall judge the world fkj ; and assured the Corin-
thians, that we must all appear before'the judgment-seat (f
Christ (I). — Our blessed Lord spoke ol the end of the
tvorld, when he instituted baptism, to put us in mind of the

(a) Jude 14, 15. (u) Dr. Owen's expos. — Heh. vi. ], 2.

(/) Gen. xviii. 25. (g) Psalm xcvi. 13. (h) Job. xix. 29,

('•) Rev. XX. 13. {k) Acts xvlf. 31. (/; 2 Cor. v. 10.

180 OF Christ's coming to juegment.

general judgment which then will be : and when the apostle
Paul spoke of the Lord's supper, he likewise mentioned the
Lord's coming (a) : and the dreadful curse he uttered against
the haters of Christ, is //// the Lord comes (b) ; and so
the persons who are cast out of the church, and die impe-
nitent, pass from the lower judgment to the judgment of the
great day : Thus a memento of the final judgment is annex-
ed to these ordinances, that when they are celebrated, this
av/ful and important doctrine may be presented to our
thoughts. — If these things are well considered, it will ap-
pear that this is no improper or unprofitable doctrine, see-.
ing it is so much insisted on in scripture.

This likewise, in part, shews us the cerlalnty of a future
judgment, which is the next thing to be spoken to. We
are told, that in the last days there shall come scoffers,
tvalking after their otvn lusts, saying, tvhere is the promise
of his coming fcj : These words imply, that this denial of a
future judgment had neither been general nor perpetual, but
the apinion of some notorious wicked men, who were will-
ing to persuade themselves, that there would be no future
judgment, because it was their interest that there should be
none. The heathens had some glimmering apprehensions
of this judgment, conscience suggesting it to them : heUce
Fehx trembled whilst Paul reasoned conQerning it ; hence
also sprung their fiction of the infernal judges, the Ely.siau
fields, and the Stygian lake. Conscience was in them the
echo of the law, and the harbinger of this judgment, their
thoughts accused, or excused them, in reference to that fu-
ture judgment fdj. The poet spoke the common sense of
mankind, when he said, * no guilty person shall be acquitted,
* his own conscience being judge.' It is also to be observ-
ed, that the future judgment is agreeable to the divine per-
fections. When we rightly conceive of God, we apprehend

(a) 1 Cor. xi. 26. {I) 1 Cor. xvi, 22.

(0 2 Pet. iii. 3,' «. (i) Rom. ii. 15.

OF Christ's coming to judgment. ISl

Inm to be the highest and best of beings, of sovereign power
and dominion, of infinite holiness, goodness, and truth ; with-
out these perfections he would be no God, and if they belong
to him, thence we may infer the certainty of a future judg-
ment. If God is the highest and best of beings, then he
governs the world, and will punish the disobedient ; and will,
in order thereto, try and judge them : for the supreme Go-
vernor to leave all men to do as they will, v/ithout ever call-
ing them to an account, would be at once to quit the govern-
ment over them. Nor would it be consistent with his infinite
wisdom, to threaten the rebellious with punishment, ajid
yet never inflict it : if the punishment was not necessary,
equal, and just, why was it ever threatened ? may some say ;
and if it was, then not to execute the threatening must be
unjust, and the omission of what was equal and necessary,
which must be a high reflection on the wisdom, and other
perfections of the great Governor of the world. If the
.omission of the judgment should be owing to a better in-
sight into the nature of things, what becomes of God's
omniscience ? if it is • supposed to arise from an inability to
do as he had threatened, his omnipotency is destroyed ; if
it should be imputed to more favourable thoughts of the
^vil committed, can we defend his holiness ? and if a change
of will in God should be the cause of it, surely his veracity
and immutability must be denied ; Now, as this would be
to deny the God that is above, by divesting him of the per-
fections of his nature, we may conclude, that God will not
neglect a work which is so necessary to ths stability and-
^lory of his own throne, nor give any one room to say, the
Governor of the world doth not what is right and agreeable
to the declared excellencies of his nature ; he cannot give
men occasion by his keeping silence, always to say, he is al**
together such a one as themselves.

God's faithfulness and goodness to his own people, prove
-the certainty of this judgment ; how many of God's dear

VOL. ir. q

182 eF Christ's coming to judgment.

servants suffer hard and unjust things from their enemies in
this world ? and at God's command his servants have left it
to him to avenge their cause (a) ; they denied themselves,
and taking up their cross, followed Christ, not loving their
lives to the death, in hope of that crown of righteousness
Avhich the Lord hath promised them : But should there be
no future judgment, rewards, or punishments, wherein
would the faithfulness and goodness of Go'd to his people
appear ? How could they be preserved ? How could we
acquit him from acting the most unkind and deceitful part
towards them ? But let God be true, though every man be
a liar. Christ therefore shall certainly judge the quick and
dead.

God's faithfulness, righteousness, and love to his Son
render this judgment necessary. Christ, more than any
man, had endured the contradiction of sinners against him-
self ; many of his implacable enemies went out of this world
without receiving a just retribution for their evil deeds.
God himself had engaged that they should be punished, and
that the judgment should be put into Christ's own hands ;
and this is to be no small part of Christ's mediatorial ho-
nour and glory, to judge the whole world : But on supposi-
tion that there never should be such a judgment, how would
God be faithful and just to his Son ? How would he shew
his love to him, or a regard to liis glory as Mediator, and as
a sufferer for righteousness sake ?

It may be said in the particular judgment after death, the
sinner receives a sentence and reward accoi ding to his works ;
so Christ is avenged of his enemies, and his glory is provid-
ed for. To this it m.ay be replied, that in the particular
judgment only one part of the sinner, his soul, comes into
judgment, and why should his body, which had been a part-
ner in the sin, be exem.pted from the condemnation ? Be-
sides, this particular judgment is neither so public, nor uni^

{a) James v. 6— 8.— Rom. xli. 19.

OF Christ's coming to judgments 183

versal, as Christ's ill usage and honour require. Those
ahve at the end of time would escape judgment, if the general
judgment should never be : should not every knee be brought
to bow to Christ, and every tongue be made to confess to
him, after he had humbled himself to death for his people,
how would the Father's engagements to Christ be per-
formed ?

The righteousness of God proves the certainty of this
judgment : the apostle thus confirms it (a). It is a righte-
ous thing xvith God to render tribidation U) them that
trouble you ; and to you that are troubled rest tvith us,
ivhen the Lord shall ie revealed Jrom heaven ivith his
mighty angels. The dispensations of providence are very
mysterious ; There is a Just man that perisheth in his
righteousness, and their is a wicked man that prolongs his
life in his xmckedness (b) ; It is necessary therefore that
there be a future judgment, whereia the saint sliail be re-
warded, and the sinner punished. It was the belief of
this that set the Psalmist Asaph right (c), when his feet
were almost gone. If no sins were punished in this life,
men would be apt to deny a providence ; and if all sins
were punished here, they would be ready to thick there
would be no future judgment ; but seeing some are, and
some are not punished in this world, there is reason to be-
lieve both a providence, and a judgment to come : Wrath
brings the punishment of the sword, that ice may knoiv there
is a judgment (d).

There is yet a clearer and more convincing argument of
a future judgment to be drawn from the judgment and suf-
ferings of Christ ; that God, who did not spare the sins of
his own people, will not spare the sins of others. He that
judged and condemned his own Son, for sins only imputed-
to him, will certainly judge and condemn impenitent sinners

(a) 2 Thes. i. 6, 7. (^) Eccles. vii. 15.

(<r) Psal. Ixxiii. 2, 3, 17, IS. {d) Job iix., 2iv

I8i CF Christ's coming to judgment.

for those sins that are inherent in them, and were never
purged away by the blood of Christ. The same hohness,
justice, and truth, which moved God to inflict judgment on
his own Son, when he stood in the place of the redeemed,
will engage him to judge and condemn them who have no
sacriftce for their sins. .

God has reserved tho: fallen angels in everlasting chains,
to ihe judgment of the great day (a) ; therefore tliere shall
be such a judgm.ent : God has also given us an undeniable
evidence of this judgment in Christ's resurrection from
the dead ; he received his body from the grave, to qualify
him to execute judgment, as the Son of man, as v/ell as for
other reasons. Besides, the scriptures abound with testi-
monies assuring us of a future general judgment ; The Son
of man shall come in ihe glory of his Father, tvith his
cngels i and then shall he reward etery man according to
his ivories. God hath appointed a day in which he idll
judge the world in righteousmss : It is appointed for man
once to die, and aftzr tJiis comes the judgment. JFc must all
stand before the judgment seat of Christ (b). Therefore,
from plain express scripture testimony, appears the certain-
ty of a future judgment.

As to the time of it, Christ said, Of that day and hour
Inoxvs no man (c) ; it comes .as a thief in the night, se-
cretly and unexpectedly. God has concealed the particular
day, that we may wait for it every day. God has revealed
the time of several other great events, that men might be
convinced of his omniscience and veracity ; but at, or after
the day of judgment, there will be no need of such convic-
tion, which may be one reason why the precise time is hid
from us. Christ indeed has mentioned the signs of his com-
ing, and of the end of the v.'orld j^ but in such a way, that
it is probable none will be able rightly to apply them, till

{a) Jude ver, 6. {i) Mat. xvi. 27. — Acts xvii. 31.— Heb ix, 27.

{c) M;-.rk xiii. 3f,

OF CHRIST'S COMING TO JUDGMENT, 1^5

the time itself draws very near, according to his own words,
JVhen you shall see all those thingSy knorv that the lime is
near, even at the door fa J. But I shall have occasion here-
after to speak to this more largely.

II. I shall consider the jjerson and character of the
Judge. In my text Christ is said to be the Judge nfthe
quick and dead ; and elsewhere, he is often spoken of as the
Judge ; and yet in other places we find it affirmed of God
the Father. We read of Jesus the Mediator (b), and God
the Judge of all ; yet it is said, The Father' judges nonef
hut has committed all judgment to the Son (c). How are
these things consistent ? The apostle's words may help us
to reconcile them ; he has told us, God has appointed a day
in xvhich he will judge the world in righteousness, by that
man whom he has ordained [d). The Father judges the
world by the Son ; the Father judges no man without the
Son, nor personally as the Father, but has committed the
administration of the judgment to the Mediator. The su-
preme judiciary power is in the Godhead ; and the exercise
of that power is, by dispensation, in the hands of Christp
God-man-mediator : The Father has given him authority
to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man (e) —
As man, Christ was capable of receiving this power, but
not^s God ; and because the Son of God only assumed
human nature, and became the Son of man, therefore the
judgment is committed to him. It was proper, &nd it was
designed, that judgment should be executed in a visible
manner, in the sight and hearing of men ; therefore the
Son of God, who assumed our nature, and became 'man, has
this authority given him, because he is the Son of man. A
mere creature indeed could not be judge, but he who has
both an uncreated and a created nature ; or who is both
God and man in one person, is qualified to be the Judge, ^

(a) Mat. xxlv. 33. {b) Heb. xii. 23. (c) John r. 22,

{d) Acts xvii. 31. {e) John v. 27.

18 OF Christ's coming to judgment-

both natures acting in this work, according to their pro-
perties. As God, Christ is infinitely knowing, wise, holy,
just, and powerful ; therefore he can neither be blinded, de-
ceived, corrupted, nor resisted. To judge the tvorld in
righteousness must include a just and irrevocable sentence,
and the execution of it : to accomplish this, requires those
infinite perfections of knowledge, wisdom, holiness, justice,
and power ; and he that has these is and must be God, and
not a mere creature ; yet it was proper, that he should not on-
ly be God, but m.an, that he may visibly and gloriously ap-
pear on the throne of judgment, and openly pronounce sen-
tence upon all. On account of the near union of Christ's hu-
manity with his divine person, it is fit that even the human na-
ture should bear its part in the future judgment : Having
the honour of so near a conjunction with the Son of God,
it has also the honour to be joined with him in the great
work of judging the tvorld.

As Christ's human nature had been condemned, made a
sacrifice for sins, and very ill used by men, whilst he was
employed in the work of our redemption, God will put an
honour upon that nature in and by which he had been so
much dishonoured. Seeing judgment is to pass upon men who
"have fiesh as well as spirit, judgment shall pass upon them
in such a way as shall be subject, not only to rational per*
ception, but to the very senses of men, Hence Christ'a
judging and appearing are joined togetlier in my text ; and
elsewhere it is said, Every eye shall see him, they also
that pierced him (aj» It will be very affecting and terrible
to the wicked to see him visibly coming as their judge, in
power and great glory, whom they had despised and rejec-
ted ; and whom some of them_^had buffeted, spit upon, and
treated with all manner of indignities. How will they be
troubled and confounded at his presence ? But it will be very
pleasing to the redeemed to see that body, which had once

(/») Rev. i. 7o

18T

been humbled to the dust of death for them, now upon the
throne of judgment ; and to hear those hps pronouncing the
sentence of Ufe and death upon men, which had so often
preached the word of hfe to them : and particularly to hear
him saying, Come you blessed of my Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared Jor you. — On these accounts the person
of the judge is God-man-mediator.

T come next to consider his qualifications i or some of the
ingredients in his character : and seeing we must all be judg-
ed by him, it very much concerns us to know what sort of
Judge he will be. But here an objection may be thrown in
our way, Christ said, I judge no man ; I came not into the
ittorld to judge the tvorld (a J. What need then is there to
inquire into Christ's character as Judge, seeing he disclaims
the work, and rejects the character ? To this it may be an-
swered. That Christ might say, he judged no man, at that
present time, or in such a carnal fleshly manner as the Jews
did : He came not into the tvorld to judge the tvorld ; this
was not the primary end and design of his coming, to judge
and condemn, but to save men : besides, the cited text speaks
of Christ's first coming, not of his second. Christ came
the first time, not to judge, but to be judged : He was then
in the form of ii servant ; but at his second appearing he
will judge the quick and the dead. And for this he is quali-
fied ; as may appear in the following things.

1 . He is God's elect, in tvhoni he is well pleased (h} ;
whence we may infer, that he is well quahfied for the work,
otherwise the infinitely wise and good God would not have
chosen him : He would never have entrusted the concerns of
his own glory, and of his people's happiness in an insuffici-
ent hand.

2. He is an ahle understanding Judge. He knows all
things ; he needs not that any should testify of man, for he
knows what is in man (c) : Hence he judges not after the

(a) John xii, 47. {l>) Isa. xHi. 1. (c) John xxi. 17.— ii. 25.

IBS OF Christ's coming to judgment.

outward appearance, but ivith righteous judgment (a). He
is infallible ; and therefore there lies no appeal from his
judgment. Solomon in a much lower case, says, Who is able
to judge so great a people (b). But Christ, in whom dwells
the fulness of the God-head bodily, has sufficient abiUties
to judge the whole world.

3. He is an impartial Judge ; he will be no respecter
of persons : he may say as the Psalmist Asaph did (cjy
When I receive the cojigregation, I rvill judge uprightly. —
In this world he is merciful ; but yet he will by no means
clear the guilty : He will not pervert judgment, nor lay on
any man more than is meet. Every one shall receive the
thincrs done in the body, according to what he hath done,
whether it hath been good or bad (d) : not only open ene-
mies, but pretended friends, who had not been sincere, shall
be rejected and condemned in the judgment of the great day.
Though they call Christ Lord, and claim favour on the ac-
count of former services and acquaintance, yet the impar-
tial Judge will say to them. Depart from me I know you
not : you are xvorkers of iniquity fej.

4. He is a powerful and glorious Judge : he shall come
\y\\\\ j^oxcer and great glory (f ) . There wnll be no room
to question his power, when he re-collects the scattered dust
of men's bodies, and rebuilds them, replaces their souls in
them, and brings them and all the world to his bar, devils
not excepted. Those who derided him on earth will feel
the power and weight of his last sentence and judgment.

5. He is a righteous Judge : Because he loved righteous-
ness, he was annointed with the oil of gladness ; and as he
loved it, so he will exercise it : He shall judge the world iti
righteousness (g). It is impossible that one so righteous

(a) Isa. xi. 2 — 5. {b) 1 Kings ill. 9.

(0 1 Pet. i. 17.— Psal. Ixxv. 2.— Exod. xxxiv. 7.
{d) 2 Cor. V. 20. (f) Mat. vii. 22. (/) Mat. xxiv. 30,

{g) Acts xvii. 31.

OF Christ's comixg to judgment. 189

as Christ is, in both natures, should pass an unrighteous
Sentence : this righteousness is essentially requisite in the
Judge of the world. The Judge of all the earth xvill do
right ; were it otherwise, what multitudes would be eternal
sufferers by him? Is God un righteous ? said the apostle
Paul, hotv then shall hepidge the tvorld (a) P but Christ is
the righteous Judge : Therefore this is not the case.

6. He will be to many a terrible Judge. The apostle
V^vXi Joreseeing the terror of the Lord persuaded men (h) :
There will be no room to call this in question, when he aj)-
pears injlamingjirey taking vengeance on them that hiow
not God, and have not obei/ed the gospel fcj. This will be
the great and terrible day of the Lord : x'\ll the kindred?
of the earth shall wall because of him ; for destruction from
the Lord may justly be a terror to them.

7. He will be a peremptory iri/lexible Judge. There will
be no revoking or changing his sentence when it is once pass-
ed : It is eternal judgment, as the event of it is eternal hap-
piness or misery. Christ's sentence is final and decisive $
there is no higher court to appeal to. All power in heaven
and on earth is given to him ; and when once he has passed
sentence, he will never alter the thing that is gone out of his
lips ; and this makes the judgment very awful : to be con-
demned then, is to be lost forever without remedy.

8. This Judge is strong and mightij. He is the mighty
God v/ho made and upholds all things, who raised the dead,
and can subdue all things to himself (d). He has the devils
in chains already ; they were subject to his contronl, in the
days of his infirmity, much more in the day of his glorious
power : As it was said of Babylon, so may it be said of the
world , Strong is the Lord God that judges it.

9. To the saints and holy angels, he will be most gracious
and delightful. He has found out a v/ay to unite mercy and

(a) 2 Tim. iv. 8, C^)2Cor. V. 11,

ic) SThes. i. 7, 8., {d) Phil ill. H,

190 OF Christ's coming to judgment.

truth, rigliteousness and peace ; and to be just and yet gra-
cious to his people. The sentence of hfe will be just, because
he Jiad purchased the hfe for his people, and yet it will be
gracious, because he freely gives the salvation to them. Well
then may the saints be said to love the appearance of this
Judge ; for, He tvill come icT be glorified in the saints, afld
to be admired in all them that believe. And thus we see
ihat Christ is well qualified to be the Judge of quick and
dead. — What remains in the doctrinal part, rriust be defer-
red till another time ; and, with some apphcation, I shall,
close this discourse.

APPLICATION.

1. From what has been said, we may learn the viiseri^
v»'hich they will be in, when the Judge comes, who have net
obeyed the gospel : How shall these lift up their heads in
judgment, or be able to stand before the tribunal of an in-
jured, slighted, rejected Saviour, who is then their Judge ?
In vain will they cry to him for mercy, who had so long of-
fered them mercy, but all in vain ; There is no escaping for
them that neglect such great salvation fa J, and turn away
from him that speaks to them from heaven, and will come
from thence in flaming fire, to judge and destroy them.

2. What strong motives have ministers to be earnest with
sinners, and to exhort them lojly from the vorath to come ?
Some would have us treat them as mere machines ; but God
draws them with the bands of a man, and works upon the
faculties he has given them. It was Paul's practice, in the
views of the awful judgment, to i^ersuade men : Knoxuing
the terror of the Lord he persuaded men (b) ; that is, as
one has explained it (c), * Duly considering what will be

* the state of things, with all men in that day, how dread-.

* ful the Lord Christ will be therein to impenitent sinners,
« and what a dreadful thing it is to fail into the hands

(d) 2 Thess. J. 8, 9. (')) 2 Cor. v. 1 1 .

{j:) Dr. Owen's expos, Heb. vi, p. 31.

OF Christ's coming to judgment. 191

* of the living God ! wc use all diligence to prevail with men

* to get such an interest in the peace and reconciliation ten-

* dered in the gospel, that they may be accounted worthy

* to stand on that day ; for, if the judgment seat of Christ

* is not continually in our eye, whatever other motives we

* may have to diligence, in our work, we shall have little

* regard to the souls of men, whether they live or die in

* their sins or no/

3. From this doctrine we may learn t!ie greatness and
glorT/ oi Christ : he 'is now Lord of all, and hereafter he
will be Judge of all ; all the great ones of the earth shall
stand at his bar, and have him for their Judge. Our Re-
deemer is great, and greatly to be praised. God has given
him a name above every name, made him a Prince and a Sa-
viour, the supreme Judge of quick and dead. Christians
have no reason to be ashamed of their Lord and Master, but
a great deal of reason to be displeased with them who would
degrade and lessen their exalted Savioyr, whose nature and
office set him far above the highest. creatures.

4. What comfort may true believers take in this doctrine ?
When the apostle had given the Thessalonians an accomit of
this judgment, as a practical use to be made of it by the
saints, he said, IVhereJorey comfort yoii one another with these
xvords fa J. A believer that knows his interest in Christ,
may be delighted to think, how his dear Saviour will be
openly seen, admired, and honoured, in the great day ; and
t4iat the redeemed shall then be fully and for ever acquitted
from every charge and condemnation, and openly owned and
proclaimed heirs of the heavenly glory. Hov%r comfortable
it is to think in what shining robes of glory the saints shall
attend the judge, and appear at his right jiand, even such as
were not thought fit to live in this world, and could hardly
find a den or cave of the earth to hide their persons in,
whilst they lived, or when they died. O happy change fc?

{a) 1 Thess. iv. IS.

192 OF Christ's coming to judgment.

the believers ! when Christ comes to judgment, and calls for
-their bodies out of their dusty beds, and brings their souls
from heaven with him, and re-unites them with their bodies,
He will plead their cause against all their enemies, and will
allot them a place in the heavenly mansions : Happy are the
people that are in such a case ; blessed are they who have
Christ for their I^ord : Such as are now subject to his go-
vernment shall be hereafter exempted from his condemning
sentence ; for, There is no condemnatmi to them that are
in Christ Jesus (a).

5. With what zeal and diligence should ministers preach
the word, in season, and out of season ? How should they
reprove, rebuke, and exhort men, seeing they must all ap-
pear before such a righteous, holy, impartial Judge, whose
sentence is for eternity ; and who is able and resolved to exe-
cute it upon all (b) ? And with what seriousness and at-
tention should men hear the word, and use all other means
to prepare themselves for the great day ; being firmly per-
suaded, that the Lord Jesus Christ shall judge the quici
i'^nd dead, at his appearing, and his kingdom ?

M^ff^

SERMON II.

Preached May 7, 1728.

I charge thee before Gcd, and the Lord Jesus Christy tvho
shall judge the quid' and the dead, at his ajopearing, and
his kingdom, — 2 Tim. iv. I.

The apostle her? presses Timothy to preach the word w^ith
all diligence, as he would answer it to Christ, who shall
judge all men at the great day. The consideration of that

■a) Rom. viii. I. (Z) Jude 14, 15.

OF CHRIST S COMING TO JUDGMENT. 195

awful judgment, should have a great influence upon all of us,
ministers and people, in our whole conduct. One of the
ancients thought he ever heard those words sounding in his
ears, Arise you dead, and corns to judgment. — In a former
discourse, on these words, I have shewed the certaintij of
this judgment, and the .'wces-itij and use of this doctrine ;
after vviiich, I proceeded to consider t\\Q person and character
of the Judge in several particulars. I now proceed.

III. I shall specify the o<5;ec^<> of this judgment ; or shevv
'wko, or xjchat shall be judged.

The scriptures speak of it in general and unW.ersal terms :
Christ shall judge the world, all nations, small and great,
quick and dead, the righteous and the wicked ; we must
all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, and every one
must give an account to God : All mankind that ever were,
now are, or ever shall be, without exception of any age,
sex, or quality, m.ust be judged in the great day. In this
Vvorld some are too high to be called to an account, others
are thought too low to be taken notice of; but there are
none too great to stand at Christ's bar, nor too mean to ap-
pear there ; civil distinctions will then cease ; the prince and
the peasant will appear before the Judge, as creatures and
criminals to be tried and judged, without respect of persons.
Those who would never come to the throne of grace, shall
be forced to appear before the bar of justice. Death shall
be no hinderance ; for death and the grave shall give up
their dead, when Christ comes to judgment.

It is said, indeed, that the vciched shall not stand in judg-
ment (a) ; from whence some of old, very absurdly infer-
red, that the wicked should not be judged : but it is one
thing not to he judged, and another thing not to stand in
judgm.ent ; this is to be cast and condemned in judgment,
which supposes a judgment to come. It is said, that he
that believes shall 7iot come into condemnation (h) j and

(a) Psalm iit 5. {b) John v. 24.

VOL. If. K

i94j OF Christ's coming to judgment.

therefore, as some think, shall not be judged : and thus be-
tween these two opinions, the objects of the future judg-
ment are almost wholly lost, and the judgment itself is in
a manner denied.

It has been pleaded by some of the ancients, such as Hi-
lary and others (nj^ that judgment takes place only in doubt-
ful cases ; and therefore the openly wicked, and those evi-
dently good, shall not be judged, but only such concerning
whom the matter is not plain : but it is very surprising that
such men could speak so contrary to plain texts of scripture,
which tells us, that God mil judge both the righteous and
the idclced (b) : this is spoken without restriction ; and what
warrant have men to make exceptions, where God has made
r.one ? We must all appear before the judgment-seat of
Christy that every one may receive the things done in the
body, according to tvhat he has done, ivhether it be good or
bad fcjj

It is a question among some, whether such as die in in-
fancy shall be judged in the great day ; the scripture says,
that small and great shall stand before God and be judged
fdj. If infants have rational souls, and are subject to eter-
nal rewards and punishments, sure then they must be liable
to be judged in the great day : And it seems contrary to
reason, and the end of creation, to suppose that God should
put an immortal soul into a body, only to sleep here a few
days on earth, or for ever in the world to come, which
would seem to be a making them in vain and to no purpose.

Some are very confident, that the good angels shall be
judged ; but, as th« scriptures speak nothing of it, I shall
pay no regard to that opinion : but as to the evil angds it
is very plain (e), that they are reserved to the judgment of

{a) In Psalm i. 5. p. 651. Vide Gerli. T. 9. p. 82, 83.
(J?) Ecd. Hi. 17. (0 2 Cor. v. 10. {d) Rev. xx. 12.

■j The ministries and offices of the former, (/. e. of the good an.
nrels) sliatl come under examination, that they m^y receive due

OF Christ's coming to judgment. 195

■ the great day (a) ; then they must answer not only for
their first apostacy, but for all their sins since. The de-
vil sins from the beginning ; and therefore shall be judged
for all he hath done from the beginning. Thus it appears
who or what persons shall be judged.

There is one thing more to be considered under this head,
that is, whether all the actions of all men shall be discovered
and tried, in the day of judgment. Divines are divided in
their sentiments on this point : that the saints shall not come
into the judgment of cdndemnation is generally agreed ; but
yet many (bj think that their evil, as well as their good

commendation ; for those fore-mentioned words, in 1 Cor. vi. 3. seem
to include these. Dr. Edwards Theolog. Refor. vol. I. page 454.

I need not say much more of the absolution which appertains to
the good angels; that these shall be judged hath been shewn al-
ready ; and it is most undeniable, because we have it from the
pen of the infallible apostle, (as we have heard before) that holy
men at the last day shall judge angels: he speaks in general, and
therefore both good and evil ones must be judged. Id. 456.

(fl) 2 Pet. ii. 4.— Jude 5, 6.

{b) I know it is doubted by some, whether at the last judgment
the sins of the saints shall come into the judgment of discussion
and discovery : Scripture seems to many most to favour the afHr-
mative; but that they shall escape the judgment of condemnation,
it is not doubted. Jenkyn on Jude, p. 244.

Ad Judicii illius objectum pertinent etiam omnes omnium, tarn
bonorum, quam malorum, hominum actus, turn boni, turn mali.

Non excipiuntur peccata piorum, quorum remissionem per

Christum adepti fuerint, quae tunc etiam manifestabuntur ; ita ta-
men ut ipsis nullam confusionem afFerant, sed potius gaudium im-
mensum, ex eo quod propter tot peccata remissa, tanta erga eos
apparebit dementias divins magnitudo. Synops, puriorisTlieologia:,
p. 799.

I cannot say absolutely, that their (/. e. the saints) sins shall not
be mentioned at all, for Acts iii. 19. it is said, Repent ye therefor?
and be converted^ that your sins may be blotted outy ivhen the times of refresh-
ing [shall come from the presence cf the Lord. Certainly not to their
trouble and confusion, possibly not"particuIarly. Mantf>n on Mat.
sxv. p. 17C.

B.2

J 96 OF Christ's comixg to judgment.

actions, shall be made manifest in that day ; and several
scriptures seem to favour the opinion (a). It is said, that
God shall bring every tvor/c into Judgment, tvith evert/ secret
i/iing, tchet/ier it be goody or tvhether it be evil. That nie.>i
'A all give an account of every idle word in the day of judg-
ment : that God shall Judge the secrets of men by Jesus
Christy and manifest the counsels of the heart : But when
the scripture says, that God mil biing every xvoj'Jc into Jifdg-
menty "whether it is good or evil ; this may be taken distri-
hutively, or collectively, for every good v\^ork of the saints,
or every evil work of the sinner. This sense will preserve
the truth of the general or universal terms, without suppos-
ing that all the sins of all the saints shall be laid open in the
day of judgment. In Christ's account of the future judg-
ment (b)y not the least notice is taken of the sins of be-
lievers, but only those good works which evidence the truth
of their faith ; and Christ's representation of the process of
the final judgment, may go a great way, in determinino- our
thoughts as to this matter. All particular passages relating
to the future account must be interpreted, in a consistency
with Christ's own declaration concerning it. * The sins of

* the faithful shall not be brought into judgment, says a

* learned and judicious writer (c) ; for being in this \\it

* covered, and taken away, by a sentence of justification,

* and seeing the last judgment' ehall be a confirmation and

* manifestation of the same sentence, it is not at all likely
< that they should then be brought to light,'

As to unbelievers, they ere, in the great day, lo rece'.vp

{a) Eccles. xtl, 14. — Matth. xii. SG.— Rom. ii, \Q.~~\ Cor. iv. 5.

(^) r^atth. XXV.

(<r) Hinc peccata fideliiim non prod'hunt i.n judicium: nr.um
enlm, in isthac vitd, ])er senteiitiam justificatloni:;, tect^ sunt, ci;
ablata, et ultimum illud judicium coufirmatin erit et mnnifestatiri
ejusdem lententije, non esset consfntapeum ut in .'ucem denao ixxVA
temporis proferanlur. Amessi medu!!. i. 1. p. 323,

OF CHRISX'a COMING TO JUDGMENT. 197

the txjages of their sins (a), the full and proper demerit of
their evil works : and Christ will convince them of all their
hard speeches, and of all their ungodly deeds ; and therefore it
is necessary, that their sins should be brought into judgment :
but there doth not appear to be the same reason of bring-
ing to light, all the sins of the saints, because their trial
and sentence proceeds upon a different ground, upon what
Christ has done and suffered for them, on the account of
which their sins are blotted out, and they have a sentence
of life and happiness passed upon them. Christ has advised
his people to buy of him tvhite raimentj that the shame of
their nakedness may not appear (b) ; and shall this shame
appear, after they are thus clothed ? shall the church be pre-
sented, in that day by Christ, xmthout spot (c) ; and yet
will he expose all her spots to public view ? Is not Christ'*
merit a sufficient covering, to hide all his people's sins ?
Christ's satisfaction takes away the charge of guilt ; his
obedience answers the demand of righteousness ; and so the
believer will stand rectus in curia, blameless in court. Christ
having taken away the hand-writing that xvas against us fdj^.
all the curse and condemnation, there remains no foundation
to build a charge upon ; for, xvhere there is' no lavoy there is
no transgression ; and consequently, no room for a charge
or accusation. The infinite grace which justifies the believer,
and the infinite merit for the sake of which he is justlflec,
overflows and swallows up all his sins ; hence when they are
sought for they shall not be found (e). Has God said,
all the transgressions that he hath committed, shall not be
mentioned to him (f) ; and yet will he hintself make a re-
petition of them, before the whole world ? If God doth
not impute sin to his people in this world, why should he
proclaim it in another ? Hath he said, their sins and iniqiti-
ties mil J remember no more P and will he, after this, re-

(a) Jude 15. (^) Rev. ill. 17. (^) Eph. v. 27.

id) Col. il. 14. (f) Jer. 1. 26. (fj Zech. viii. C*-.

R 3

198 OF Christ's coming to judgment.

vive til- memory of them, in the most pubhc manrrcr? This
seems very disagreeable to the state both of the souls and
bodies of Christians, in that day ; their souls will then ap-
pear before Go'd, without the le^iSt spot of bin ; and as to
the far greatest part of them, they had long since passed
their trial, and private judgment^ in which they had been
fully absolved ; and shall their r.ir,3, after this, be called
over again ? Their bodies also shall appear holy and glori-
ous, at Christ's right hand; and is it not hard to suppose,
that, after such testimonies of divine love and approbation,
he should rip up all their faults, and r^.ake them a spectacle
to evil angels and wicked men ? Should Christ, in the great
day, permiit the accusation ngainc-t his people which he blot-
ted out, and nailed to his cros?, to be revived and read over
again, it would look as if he had repented him of his per-
formances ; gone counter to the design of his cress, and
permitted the sufGciency of his merits, as v^'tll as of his love,
to be called in question.

It may be alledged, that this bringing the sins of the
saints into judgment, will be a discovery of Christ's omni-
science and righteousness : to vv^hich it may be replied, that
these perfections will appear, in the examination and sentence
of the wicked, and also in bringing to light the faith and
holiiicss of the saints in that day, as well as in revealing and
following the counsels of God, which. Christ has such a re-
gard to in those words. Come you blessed of my Fothevy
inherit the kingdom prepared for you^ from the foundation
of the voorld : q. d. My Father, in infinite love, has ap-
pointed you to possess the kingdom from eternity ; it was
designed for you, and now I call you actually to inherit and
enjoy it.

It has been objected, that to suppose that the sins of the
saints shall not be brought into judgment, would open a gap
to licentiousness, and encourage persons to sin. To which
I answer, that they who are most likely to make that wick»

OF CIIRIST^S COMING TO JUDGMENT. W9

ed use of it, are tliose whose sins will be thoroughly searched
and exposed to public View, even hypocrites and wicked men:
but as for true believers, the inward principle of grace
teaches them to denj/ all taigodUness ; aiul why siiould not
the absolution cf the sins of the saints, in the great day,
as much encourage sin, as the conceahng them ? yet I think
it is allowed, that a public sentence of absolution shall thea
pass upon all tl:e saved.

If it be said, every one must give an account of himself
to God, it is allowed ; but it is not said, that it shall be to
man too. ^od knows the heart, and the thoughts afar off.

It may be urged, that Christ, the righteous Judge, will
not acquit any before his cause is fully heard and known,
which may readily be granted, without any injury to the
opinion now advanced ; for the Christian's cause is sufficient-
ly heard and known, when there is practical evidence pro-
duced, that he is a true believer : his faith is proved by his
vv'orks, and so his right to eternal life appears, according to
the will of God, that every one that believes should have
everlasting life ; so that Christ in passing a sentence of eter-
nal life upon him doth not act unrighteously, or without
knowing the cause, though he does not set all his sins in the
view of the world.

If it be further urged, that the glory of God's grace
and mercy seems to be best provided for, in first bringing
all the saints sins to public view, and then absolving their
persons from them ; — It may be answered, that tlieir sins
may be set forth as exceeding great and many, without en-
tering into particulars ; and the burying them all in oblivi-
on, so as they shall be remembered no more, seems, at least
to me, most highly to advance the glory of divine grace
and mercy, which reigns in such a sovereign manner through
righteousness, to eternal life.

200 OF Christ's coming to judgment.

sent : this will admit of an easy answer, for there are many
good purposes to which such a discovery may serve at pre-
sent, which can have no place in the great day ; such as the
humiliation of offenders, the caution and warning of other
Christians, the public evidence of the need of Christ, and
of the promises and ordinances of the gospel ; as also to try
the faith, and exercise the watchfulness of fellow-christians :
but these things belong not to the day of judgment ; and
therefore there is not the same reason for their discovery
then, as there is for it in this world.

After all, I would only desire the arguments made use of,
• may be seriously considered, and then be admitted or reject-
ed, as they shall appear consonant to scripture and reason,
or not. I shall close this, with the words of two very
learned divines of our own, * Whether all the saints' sins

* shall be then called over, and made known to others, see-
' ing they are known to him, who is more in himself, and

* more to us, than all the world besides, I question. The

* elect shall not have their sins, for which Christ satisfied,

* but only their good works remembered f a_j.'

This leads me to speak something of the notice which
shall be taken of the good works of the saints, in the day
of judgment, with the design and end thereof. The good
works ot the saints shall be produced, in that day, not only
as the evidences of their faith, but also as the rule of the
reward of grace, which they shall then receive. This re-
ward is not deserved by their works, but is the free gift of
God : when they had done their best, they were unprofit-
able servants ; but yet God has been pleased so to order it,
that the reward shall be proportioned to their works (b).
Every man shall receive his own reward, according to his
own works ; great is their reward in heaven, who suffer for

{b) I Cor. ill. 8.

OF Christ's coming to judgment. 201

Christ's name's sake and the gospel fa). The scripture
speaks of a prophet's reward fbj, a righteous man's reward,
and the reward of him that giveth a cup of cold water to a
disciple in the name of a disciple. God is not unrighteous,
to forget his people's tvork and labour of love, tvhicli they
have shewed to his name fcj. The following words are
very clear and full to our purpose, The nations ivere angry,
and thy -Mrath ivas come, and the time of the dead, that
they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give rctmrds
to thy servants, the j)roj)hets, and to the saints, and to them
that fear tfty name, small and great (d). Christ himself
has expressly said, that the Son of man shall come in the
glory of his Father, tvith his angels, and then shall he re-
xvard every man according to his xvorks' (c) : a^id it is laid
down as a certain rule, in scripture, that he that sows spa-
ringly shall reap sparingly ; and he who soweth bountifully
shall reap bountifully. A learned commentator on those
words (f), (^God is not unrighteous, to forget your zvor/cs of
faith,) says, * respect may herein be had to the future and

* final reward of the faith, love, and works of believers, for

* this also belongs to God's covenant, and it is so of grace as

< that the righteousness of God, can be no ether than that

< of his faithfulness in his promises ; for neither we nor our
« works are capable of an eternal reward, by way of merit.*
Upon the whole it appears, that there is a reward of grace
which shall be given in the great day, according to the
works of believers ; and that therefore it will be necessary
for these good works to be then set in an open light, that
all may see the suitableness of that reward of grace, that
every one may receive the things done in his body, accord-
ing to that ivhich he hath done, x^liether it he good or
bad (g).

{a) Mat. V. 1 1, 12. (Z) Mat. x. 41, 42. G) Heb. vl. JO.

(</) Pvev. xi. 18. (^) Mat. xvi. 27, (/) Dr. Owen ia loc,

{?) 2 Cor. V. 10.

202 OF Christ's coming to judgment.

I now proceed to the next' general head.

IV. I shall explain the Jhrin cind process of the judgment r
and here,

1. We may inquire briefly into the preparations for the
judgment, which will be managed with the greatest regulari-
ty and order, becoming the greatness of the Judge, and of
the work he shall come about. Christ is said to be ready ^
that is, prepared, to judge the quick and dead (a) : He
has assumed cur nature, in which he will visibly appear,
which is one preparative for this judgment : He is invested
in his office, as Lord and Judge ; the Father has committed
all judgment to the So7i (h) : He is qualified with all the
requisites for it, infinite wisdom, knowledge, righteousness,
authority, and power ; he is ascended up into his throne, as
JLord of lords, and King of kings. The time, manner, and
objects of the judgment are already settled and fixed ; the
day is appointed, and not imcertain in itself, though un-
known to us : It is resolved that the judgment shall be in
righteousness ; in order to it, a register, and a record is kept
of the actions of men ; as at a petty sessions in a country,
presentments are made, and bills presented and found for the
general assize : so there is a twofold record kept of men's
actions in the book of conscience, and in the book of God's
omniscience, in order to the general judgment, at which
time these books shall be opened. These things are done
already.

There are other things which shall be done, by way
of preparation for it, in a proper time and order ; one
of which will be the sign of the Son of man (c), which
shall be seen in the heavens. Some think this will be the
visible appearance of Christ himself ; but it seems very harsh
and improper to say, that his appearing shall be the sign of
his appearing. The scripture says. Then shall they see the
sign of the Son of man in the heavens : and they shall sec

(a) 1 Pet. iv. 5. (!>) John v, 22. (0 Mat. xsiv. 30.

OF Christ's coming to judgment. 203

ihc Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven, iiilh ponder
and great glory. The sign of the Son of man , and the com"
ing of the Son of many are spoken of as two distinct things ;
the sign goes before Christ's appearance, and therefore can-
not be that appearance itself, for then the thing must be
before itself. Some take the sign to be some glorious stan-
dard and ensign of the approaching Judge, and of his host
that shall come with him : Whether it shall be any shining
brightness in the heavens, or any particular figure or form
cf the approaching Judge and judgment, we need not, as we
cannot determine ; this, I think, is enough for us to know,
that it will be something visible to all, and a convincing
evidence of the Judge's near approach. Hence one of the
evangelists, having spoken of this sign («), immediately has
added, that all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, being
struck with an apprehension of the Judge's near approach,
and with their own guiltiness. This universal mourning, at
the sight of the sign of the Son of man, shews that it re-
lates not to the destruction of Jerusalem, which did not oc-
casion such universal grief, but it is the forerunner of the
general judgment : in order whereto, the next thing will be
the appearance of Christ himself, and his coming in the
clouds of heaven, in power and great glory ; of v/hich more
hereafter.

Other preparatives, for the passing sentence, will be the
setting the judgment, the resurrection of the dead, and the
gathering of all those who had been dead, and of all those
who died not, but shall be changed, together with the fallen
angels, before Christ's judgment-seat : The next thing in
order to the judgment, will be the separation of the sheep
from the goats, and the placing the former at Christ's right
hand fbj, and the latter at his left hand. And seeing the
devils are reserved in chains, to the judgment of this great

(rt) Mat. xxlv. 30. (i) Mat. xxv. 32, 33.

204 OF Christ's coming to judgment.

day, there is no room to question their being compelled to
attend the tribunal of Christ ; for, at the name of Jesus
everi/ knee shall uoxv, and every tongue shall conjess to him ;
of things in heaven, or all the blessed above ; and of things
in the earth, or all that shall be living on the earth, when
Christ comes ; and of things under the earth (a), of devils,
and all the miserable departed spirits, that then shall be
found in the infernal prison of hell : That is, as some of
the ancients explain it, the whole world, angels, men, and
devils, shall be brought to own, that Christ is Lord an(i
God. This shall be done in the great day, according to
the apostle Paul, who has said. We shall all stand before the
judgment-seat of Christ : for it was written, as I live, saith
the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall
confess to God fbj. Having thus hinted some of the pre-
parations for this judgment, the next thing will be,

2. To consider the manner of the Judge's appearing, as
a thing that will be very remarkable and extraordinary ;
and so it will be on many accounts : It will be a real local
visible descent from heaven, as the angels declared. The same
Jesus, which is taken f-om you, into heaven, shall so come,
is like manner as you have seen him go nj) into hearen (c).
He shall come in that glorious body in which he ascended,
sitting upon a cloud, when he descends, as he did when he
ascended. As he visibly ascended, so he shall visibly de-
scend ; and, as one of the ancients notes fdj, he shall come
Avith greater glory, than he ascended with ; and it will be
much more wonderful, to see him descend, than it was to see
liim ascend, from earth to heaven ; for his descent will be
with a numerous and honourable retinue, becoming the
dignity of his person, and of his office as Lord and Judge

C«)Phll. ii. U. (^) Rom. xiv. 10, 11. (<:) Acts i. 1 1.

(d) MsTa ya^ •rXiiovo; nscu oo^r,;, Tkhv euro/ faro. vi<p'iX7;;, cvru f/,irie.

Tx '/i k%t yr;; KvaSxiyovTK. ChrysOSt. ID loC.

OF Christ's coming to judgment. '20B

of all. Thus the patriarch Enoch prophesied of him («),
Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints.
The spirits of the just made perfect shall attend in this ju-
diciary circuit ; and shall receive their glorified bodies, which
will, when all are together, make a shining part of Christ's
retinue.

The holy angels will appear then in their richest robes of
glory fbjj such as will be proper on so great an occasion ;
on the account of their splendor and brightness, I conceive
it is said, that Christ shall come in the glory of the holy
angels : they shall then all of them wait upon him ; not a
saint or angel shall be left in heaven, but all, and every one,
shall attend the Judge. Now, if the saints shall each one
shine as the sun, if the angels shall appear in such dazling
brightness, and if the number of them altogether be so ex-
ceeding great, what will be the glory of this procession ?
what tongue can utter it, what thoughts can reach it .•* < It is

* likely, says one, the angels will put on some visible shape,

* for the greater glory and majesty of Christ's appearing ;

* for, as he will appear in a body, upon a glorious throne,

* so will his legions round about him, whose order, power,

* and formidable hosts must some way or other be seen of

* the wicked for their greater terror (c).^ Public ministers
of justice are made formidable by their attendance ; and
Christ will come, as a royal King, in the midst of his nobles.
At Christ's resurrection, the angeVs countenance tvas as
light eningf and his raiment white as snow ; and for fear of
hinii the keepers shook, and became as dead men (d) :
what an appearance then must an innumerable company of
them, in their brightest glory make ?

These glorious creatures will be employed in a glorious
work, the gathering together the elect from the several parts
of the world, to attend their Lord : this will be an honour*

(a) Jude 14. U) Luke ix. 26.

ic) Dr. Manton on Mat. xxv. p. 153. {d) Mat, xxyiii. 34,
Vol. II. iS

206 OF' Christ's coming to judgment.

able and ea.-y conveyance, and will add to the glory and splen-
dor of Christ's appearance, which will be with great power ;
not only with a great authority, to which all ought to yield,
but also with a puissance and strength, able to subdue all
things to himself. There is no doubt but that those who,
in this world, break his bands, and cast his cords from them,
and will not have him to rule over them, w^ill be of the same
mind another day ; and were it in their power, v^^ould keep
as far from the bar of justice, as they had done from the
throne of grace : they will be angry, that he should come
to judge them, whom they had judged, condemned, and
persecuted, whose person, laws, and government they hated :
but however the Judge will bring them before his bar, not
one shall be able to refuse his summons, or make his escape ;
nor will all of them, with their united craft and force, be
able to secure themselves from 1ms power : they will easily
conclude that there is no withstanding that power, which
raises tlte dead, and forces the legions of hell to appear, with
their prisoners, before his bar. At the Judge's appearing
they will be convinced of the greatness of his power, ♦and
of the truth of that declaration of it, / 10111 ransom ihem
from the pox^er of the grave ; I vnll redeem them from
death : 0 death, I ziill be thy plagne ; 0 grave, I kHI be
ihii destrudion (^aj ! What they sh;dl then sec, and hear,
and feel in themselves, will make them sufficiently sensible
of the superior innnite power of the Judge. Hence the
kings of the earth, and the great mighty men are brought
in saying, The great dai/ of his X'cralh is come, and who shall
he able to stand fbj ? They shall see the So:i of man ccm-
in<r in the clouds, u-iih great jjoiccr (c) : the first sight
•will convince them, hovi^ invincible the Judge is ; and
therefore they will be for immediately hiding themselves
from his presence, seeing they find themselves too w^eak to
oppose him.

{a) Ho%ea xiii. 14. {I) Rev. vl. 15, 16. (0 Pvlak xiii. 2C.

OF Christ's coming to judgment. 507

There will be an nrvful glorj/y attending the advent of the
Judge: the scriptures represent it in magnificent language
faj, as ihQ glorious appearing of tJte great God, even our
Sdvioiir Jesus Christ. There is a threefold glory, in which
Christ shall then appear ; the glory of the holy angels, *Iiis
oivn glory, and the glory of his Father ft) J. The glory
of the angels was spoke of before; of Chriffs orvn glory we
may now take a distant view ; but who c?.n dcchre or ful-
ly conceive of it ? The glory of his humanity will be inex-
pressibly great : wdien he appeared to Paul, it was in a light
above that of the sun, which struck him blind ; John fell
at his feet as dead upon a like appearance (c) : And when
he comes in the great day, we are not to think it will be
with less, but far greater splendor and glory. But who
knows what that glory of the Father is, or Christ's own
glory as God, in which he will then appear ? when he ap-
peared at Sinai, the glory of the Lord ivas like devouring
frc, sj terrible teas the sight, that Moses exceedingly^fear-
ed and quaked ; and the people said, Let not God speak zcith
us, least tve die (d) : If such things attended the giving cF
the law, what will attend the execution of it ? The throne
of judgment w^U be like a fiery flame, and a fiery stream will
issue and come forth from before him. 'I'he apostle's account
of Christ's coming to judgment is, that he will come in fain-
ingfire (e) : his enemies fell backward, when he let out but
a small ray of his Deity upon them, when they came to aCp-
prehend him ; w^hat then will they do, when the glory and
terror of the divine Majesty shall appear, in the face of the
Judge with the brightest lustre ? The heavens and the earth
are said ^ofy aivayfrom his face; and what but his almigh-
ty power could retain and uphold the wicked in his presence ?
The great ghout, the voice of the archangel, and the trum-

ia) Tit. il. 13. (i}Luke ix. 2S.

((t) Acisix. 3, 8.— Rev. i. IS. {d) Excd. xJv. 17.
(i) 2 Thess. i. 9.

s 2

i208 OF Christ's coming to judgment.

pet of God will add to the terror and glory of that awfui
day, as will hereafter appear more fully.

When Christ comes to judgment, he will appear in royal
dignity and authority : every knee shall bow to him ? not
in derision, as it was when he died, but with the greatest
awe and fear : Every tongue shall confess his sovereignty ;
not with contempt, but with deep conviction, in that day
when they see the King upon the throne of judgment. —
Kence in the representation of the future judgment, Christ is
called the King fitting uj)on the throne of his glory (a) : there
will be a great white throne, upon which the King will
then appear ; his kingly power will be disputed by none,
who shall see the royal robes in t\'hich he comes, the crown
of glory upon his head, and his present guards, and the
execution of his sovereign commands, and heaven, earth, and
hell, all obeying his authority. There will be no need of
miracles, to prove the divinity of his person, or to manifest
his sovereign po.vcr, for it will be evident to all ; and what
they shall see and feel will abundantly convince them.

I will add but one thing more, as to the manner of Christ's
Cc-ming j that it will bs very sudd^fi and 6t(,rpi-!.,ing / hence
it ii compared to ihejiashing out of lightening (h). On©
of the ancients reprcgents Chrigt saying, * I shall not be hid

* in a manger, and walk up and down in obscurity, as I

* did thirty years, at my first coming ; but I shall come in

* all my glory, breaking forth in a moment, with all my

* angels attending me(^cj.' Christ's coming to judgment as
by himself, compared to the coming of a thief ^d) .- he will
come very secretly and suddenly, in such an hour as men
think not of. Christ's last words which he spoke to us in

(a) Mat. ixv, 34, 40.— Rev. xx. 1 1 . (p) Luke xvii. 24.

i^ivm, ovTu KXt TOTi, uXXa ^recurx Iv cs^yi ^soa^sc^yruv uyy'Ouaii, Kct\ u
jf<5r^. Thecphyl. ui Luke xvii. 24.

<^i) Rev, xxi. 15, 16.— 1 The?, v. 2.

OF Christ's coming to judgment. '20d

the new testament were, Behold I covie quicJcI^ (a). What
a surprize will it be to the epicure and atheist, and indeed
to niany^ Christians, who will be too deeply plaiiged in the
cares or pleasures of this world, to find, in a moment, iji
the twinkling of an eye, the Judge descending, and all their
worldly cares and delights at an end at once ? The trumpet
sounds, and the judgment breaks upon them, in a moment.
Having thus described the preparations for this judgment,
and the manner of the Judge's appearing, I come now,

3. To speak of the solemnity and greatness of tiiat day
and work. It is called the terror of the Lord (b). The
psalmist, by the spirit of prophecy, said, Our God shall
come; a fire shall devour before him, and it shall he '■eery.
tempestuous round about him : he shall call to the heavens
from above, and to the earth that he may judge his people;,
and the heavens shall declare his righteousness, fr God is
judge himself (c). Accordingly the apostle Paul has re-
presented it. in most awful terms. The Lord Jesus shall be
revealed from heaven .y "with his might y angels, in faming fire.,
taking vengeance on them that knoiv not God, and that obey
not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ ; -who shall be pu-
nished tvith everlasting destruction, from the presence of the
Lord, and the glory of his pjovoer (d). Though it is easy
to find many stupid hearers, yet there will be no unconcern-
ed spectators of this awful event ; all the kindreds of the
earth shall xvail because of him : then shall the ivicked, the
greatest and stoutest of them, call to the rocks and to the
mountains to hide them from the tvrath of the Lamb (e) j
desiring rather not to be, than to be brought before his
dreadful tribunal. Whatever sinners now think, they will
find it a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Hving,
God, to appear before a slighted provoked Judge, armed

(a) Rev. xxii. 20. (/5) 2 Cor. v. 1 1.— Jude 6,

(0 Rev. i. 17.— Ch. vi. J 5— 17.

S 3

210 OF Christ's coming to jruoeMENT.

with power and vengeance. Men think it a matter of great
importance, to have a decisive trial for their whole estate,
and much more for their lives ; but what is either of these,
compared with the eternal ;udgment ? what is the terror of
an earthly judge, or the awe of an human tribunal, to the
terrors of Christ, and his judgment-seat ? O the vast as-
sembly, that will make up that court, the dreadful skriek
that will attend his condemning sentence, and the confusion
and horror that will then fill the condemned criminals I
When they hear of the everlasting curse and fire, which
they must endure, with the devil and his angels, there will
be no amusement to take off their thoughts from these
things. The devil himself will not be at leisure, to tempt
or divert them, he will have enough to do to receive his
own sentence, and drag them from the bar to execution.

There will be no avoiding or escaping from this judgment,
no deceiving or bribing the Judge ; the sentence will be ir-
revocable, and must be executed ; the execution will last to
eternity, and fill the whole person, soul and body, with the
greatest misery : This is the portion of a wicked m.an from
his Judge ; and does not this make the final judgment an
awful day, and a solemn work ? * As often ^ says one fa J,

* as I consider that day, my whole body trembles ; whether

* I eat or drink, or whatsoever I do, I think 1 have ever

* in my ear the sound of that terrible trumpet, ^rise you

* dead and come to judgment.^ Paul fell at Christ's feet,
when he came to convert him ; what then will sinners do
when he comes to confound them ? Job said of the wick-
ed, that if one knew them, they are in the terrors of the
shadow of death ; what then will it be for them to have all
their secret wickedness made manifest in the great day ? Did
a. heathen governor tremble at the hearing of this judgment ;
and will there be any unmoved at the judgment itself when
it comes ? Such a judge never was seen bjefore, such a court

{a) JeromCo

OF CIlKrSX'ii COMING TO JUDGMENT. 211

was r.ever known, such a sentence was never passed, such
effects of judgment given were never felt, as will then be.

< Who, saith one { a)\ can imagine the greatness of that

* day, wherein the Judge will be attended with so many

* millions of servants ; every one of whom shall have a li-

* very more bright and glorious than the sun ; the splendor

< of this appearance at the great day, will surpass that of

* the greatest kings and judges in the world.' The Alex-
anders and the Caesars, who made the earth to tremble, shall
stand trembling before the bar of Christ, in the great day.
Paul has described it with awful solemnity, in those words.
The Lord himself shall descend Jj-om heaven^ •with a shout,
xvith the voice of the arch nngei, and toith the trumpet of
God (b). Other kings judge by their delegates, but
Christ comes in person, and that not with silence, as he
went to the cross, but with a shout, a shout of victory and
triumph over all his own and his people's enemies : there
will be the united shout of the heavenly host. < Behold the

* Lord comes, will be heard from one end of the heavens to

< the other ; the earth, and the sea, and hell itself shall

* hear and tremble (c) :' There will be the voice of the
arch-angel, the chief of the heavenly host, proclaiming the
Lord's coming, or as one of the ancients thinks, exhorting
the other angels to do their office, and gather the world toge-
ther before the judgment-seat. The trumpet of God, what-
soever it shall be, may be looked upon as still more awful
and affecting ; if the trumpet at Sinai shook the earth, shall
not that at the great day shake and open heaven, earth, and
hell, and call before the judgment-seat, those who had been
reserved there for this day ? * What fear will invade then

* such as are ahve upon the earth at that day, when the

* heavens shall be moved, and the earth dissolved, the trum-
*- pet sounding, that of the arch-angel louder than the rest t

(a) Jenkin on Jude p. 249. {b) 1 Thes. iv. 16. ,

212 OF CHRIST'S COMING TO JUDGMEXT.

< When the King himself, who is God, shall appear, what

< spirit will be left in man ? Have we not seen men almost

* dead with fear of the execution they were going to ; and

* if corporal death does so terrify them, how may eternal

* death affect them ? It cannot, it cannot, believe it, be de-

* clared by words, says Chrysostom (a)i hov/ much we
« shall be affected.'

Thus I have endeavoured to represent the greatness and
solemnity of that day and work : I shall finish now this
discourse with one general word of

APPLICATION.

From what has been said, we may learn what different
i-mjiressions these things may make upon different men : As
for unbelievers, who know not God, and have not obeyed
the gospel, with what conviction and concern may it fill
them when they think of their future and final doom ? And
fcow should they be excited, to fly from the wrath to come,
and to lay hold on the hope set before them, dreading the
thoughts of waking to everlasting shame, contempt, and
damnation in the great day ? But true believers may look
and long for Christ's coming, to such it may be said, AivaJce
and sing, yon that diK>ell in the dust (h). It will be a day
of gladness and triumph to the saints ; the Judge is their
friend ; he comes to receive them to himself, that they may
be for ever with him in glory : The terrors and misery ©f

(^a) Tioio: a^a T^ofjbcs '/i%it, Vo7o; tpoSss S""' '^st''; ^^' t^S y^i? u.'XofJi.'ivmrtx,^ ;

. 'oroLv TYiv ym avuppyiyvufiiv'/iv '/oeofiiv otuv tmv ffaX^rlyycav axoCffoifjLiv,

orav TTii (^uvvs; t5 A^^xyyO.a •ru.a'yis ffocX'^iyyo; Xce.fjb';r^o7i^a,$ oSffnt, orav

Tov 0VPKV6V ffvvce.viXxo/u.ivav, o rav uvrev Ta^ayivef/,svov rev a-^avruv QuffiXioe,

B^avecrav, •zrotxv vofjLtZ,iTi alrois 'htviti rhv ^pvpf^hv ; " h roivcv troffiuTtKo;
Quvaros ovru s^aj l^o^u, otcv kiuvios •xa.^a.yiviTO.t, ti TUtrofAsS-et ; oi/x,

£?«, ovx 'if, Tifiiiffari TK^a.^moct Xoyu to TciB-s;. Chrysost, in 1 Thes.
iv. 16.

{i) Isa. xxvi. 19.

OF CHRIST^S COMING TO JUDGMENT. 213

tliat day will be great to many, but to them it will be a
good day j they are to be persuaded that Christ is able to
keep what they have committed to his trust, and that they
shall find the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ to eternal
life : This is the blessed hope they are to look for ; they
may trust and not be afraid, even in the prospect of Christ's
judging the quick and dead, at his appearance, and his
kingdom.

SERMON III.

Preached July 16, 172S.

I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, tjoh^
shall judge the quick and the dead, at his appearing, and
his kingdom. — 2 Tim. iv. 1.

The glorious displays of Christ*s perfections, which will
attend his judging the world in righteousness* made the?
fiptjstk miist gQ ttiuch upQfl thii dotnrlng j and hv the ftatne
reason, which at the Qhm of th© gacred esnen, Christ laid,
Surely J come quiokty / thi ehurch answerg, Jmcn, €ven
so corns Lord Jesus, The day of Christ's kingly glory
will be the day of the sainti transcendent joy \ therefore
they love and long for his appearing ; On theee accounts, as
well as with regard to the practical use which is to be made
of it, this subject may be very grateful to us. I have for-
merly inquired into the certainty of this judgment, the cha"
racier of the Judge, the ohjects of this judgment, and have,
in part, explained tha form and process of it. On this head
I hinted the preparations for it, the manner of Christ**
appearing, and the great solemniti/ of that day and work.
I now proceed,

4'. To consider the ride and lavi by which men shall be

-i4< OF CliniSX's COMING TO JUDGMENT.

tried and judged. We are informed, that as many as si/i'
Jied tvithciit laiv, shall j^erish tvithoiit law ; but as many as
have sinned in the larv, sJiall be judged by tJte laiv (a). —
Those vAio are said to sin xvil/iGut latv, are such as lived
not under the ceremonial law, or the Gentiles. The Jews
had this law, and sinned in and under it, and shall be judg-
ed by it, together with that revelation of Christ, which
they enjoyed ; therefore our Lord told them, T/tcre is one
thai acciiscth you, even Moses in tvJwm you trust : Fo?',
had you believed Moses yon ivould have believed me, for he
'Unvote cfmz (b). The rule whereby all men shall be judg-
ed, is the law of their obedience made known to them. The
Gentiles, who lived before the com.ing of Christ, shall be
judged by the law of nature, which all of them have open-
ly transgressed (c) : The Jews of the same time must be
judged by the law, and the light into redemption from sin
super-added thereunto ; or by the rule, doctrine, promises,
and precepts of the law and the prophets. The gospel will
be that by which all men, to whom it has been offered and
preached, will be judged (d). * The rule of judgment at
' the last day neither is, nor shall be any other but Vv'hat is
< preached every day in the dispensation of the gospel,' says
a learned writer (e). When the scripture speaks of man's
perishing voiihout latv, it says not a word of his being saved
tvithout laxv : It has not distinguished between some that
more grossly sinned against the light of nature, and so perish-
ed ; and others walking up to tliat light, who should be
saved : but the apostle affirms of them universally, that as
many as sinned xvithoid laiv, shall perish without laxv. If
indeed any could be found, who had exactly fulfilled the
law of nature, they might be saved, notwithstanding any
thing affirmed here, by the apostle : But if his words are
true, no sinner can be saved by the law, or light of nature>

(a) Rom, ii. 12. (b) John ^7, 45, 4G. (c) Rom. ii. 12—14.
(f/) Rem. ii. IG, (e) Dr. Owen's eipof. en Heb, vi. G. p, 27.

OF CIlRIct's COMING TO JUDGMENT. 215

which he calls the law written in their hearts. It is upon
this supposition that the law of nature condemns every one
that continues not in all things written therein, to do them ;
that the apostle affirms, that as mnnij as sinned xmthout law,
shall perish mthout laiv : As for those who enjoy the gos-
pel, the rule is, He that believes shall be saved ; he that be-
lieves not shall be damned (a). According to these rules
we find Christ conducting himself, in the judgment of the
great day ; he comes in Jiamingfire, to take vengeance on
them that knoiv not God ; or tvho did not like to retain God
in their knovdcdge, nor glorified him as God (b) : when
in the visible things of the creation, he had discovered his
eternal power and Godhead to them, they were not thank-
ful to him, but tvorshipped and served the creature more
than the Creator ; so that by the law they were under they
will be found to be without excuse : The passage I now re-
fer to plainly shevv's the case of the Gentile world, and gives
us light into the other passage, which speaks of Christ's com-
ing v^jlamingjire, to take vengeance on them thai knoiv not
God (c). — Another sort that will fall under -his vengeance,
in that day, are such as had enjoyed, but not obeyed tlie
gospel ; sucli as had despised and rejected Christ, therein
exhibited to them ; these Christ has told us, shall he Judged
in the great dat/, bi) tJie tvord tduch he hatJi spoke. This
is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and
men love darkness rather than the light, because their deeds
are evil (d),

John in his Revelation tells us (e), that lie sato the dead,
both small and great, stand before God; and the books
were opened ; and another book tvas opened, ivhich was the
book of lije ; and the dead were judged out of those things
W'hi>:h were x'critten in the books, according to their works.
We have here a description of the last judgment, according

(a) Mark xvi. IG. (5) 2 Thes. i. 7.—Rom. i. li^— 2), 25.

(^c) John iii. IS. {J) John iii. 19. (r) R.ev. xx. 12.

216

OF CHRIST S COMIXG TO JUDGMENT.

to the manner of proceeding in human courts of judicature :
not, as I suppose, to signify that the former shall exactly
resemble the latter ; but to teach us, that all things in the
future judgment shall be managed with order, knowledge,
and righteousness, according to the laws, which the persons
judged had lived under, and according to the works they
had done, in conformity, or contradiction to those laws.
The books which shall be opened, and made use of, in the
judgment of the great day, we may suppose to be the book
of God's remembrance, the book of conscience, the book
of the law, the book of the gospel, and the book of life :
The books of the law, natural and written, and of the gos-
pel, are the rule by which men shall be judged ; the books
of God's remembrance and of conscience will be the evi-
dence of the state and actions of men. The judgment is
said to pass according to men's works, not according to their
faith or belief; the reason of which may be, because their
works are the certain evidences, or fruits of their faith or
belief to others. Though the omniscient Judge does not
need such discoveries, yet by-standers are this v/ay to be
made sensible of the justice and equity of the sentence that
shall be passed (a) : And for this reason ministers also must
give an account of their people ; and it may be the good
angels shall sfive an account of ministers : wherefore Paul
charged Timothy before the elect angels fbjy to do his
duty. It is the opinion of some, that the wicked, though
convicted in conscience, will deny the charge, or endeavour
to evade it, saying, Lord, n:Jien saw we thee hungry, or
thirsty, and did not minister to thee (c) P And that they
will plead their good deeds, IVe have pro hesied and cast
out devils in thy name ; thou hast taught in our streets (dj :
we have entertained, or at least permitted the gospel to be
preached. If such allegations should be made in that day,

{a) Heb. xlii. 17. - {b) 1 Tim. v. 21.

{c) Mat. xxT. 44. {d) Mat. vii. 21.

OF Christ's coming to judgment, 217

it will appear reasonable that they should be answered, and
witnesses cf fact should be produced, for the sake of those
present. — The last book mentioned by John, as opened in
that day, is the book of life, which is distinguished from
the other books. The book of life, I apprehend, is the
book of God's election, containing the names of those writ-
ten in heaven ; not that God needs or uses a book properly
speaking, but he knows them that are his, as exactly as if
all their names were registered in a book. This book of
life is also called the Lamb^s book of life (a), as it was a
list or register of those given hiai to bring to glory. It is
necessary that this book should be opened, bexiause as he
who best knew, has told us, it voas the mil of him thai sent
him, that of all that he had given him he should lose no-
thing (h). The opening this book will make it evident,
that Christ hath faithfully discharged his trust, and that he
gives eternal lije to as many as the Father liad given him
fcj. This will make an exact discovery of God's elect,
and will silence all the proud and envious cavils of men
against it. They would not believe it, they could not en-
dure it ; they studied all the shifts and evasions possible to
run it down, and to rob God of this jewel of his crown ;
but by opening this book he will vindicate his truth, and
' make it known to all the world, that he tvill have mercy on
whom he ivill have mercy, and will shew them this grace at
the revelation of Jesus Christ fdj. How will the elect
rejoice when it appears that their names were enrolled in the
book of life, before the foundations of the world were laidf
I come now,

5. To consider the nature <iv\^form of the judgment it-
self; and this will consist in Christ's pubhc and final con-
signing over the quick and dead, to their everlasting happi-
ness or misery, according to their state and works. It has

(aj R.ev. xxi. 27. {b) John vi. 39.

(<r) John xvii. 2. «) 1 Pel. i. IfJ.

VOL. ir. T

218 OF Christ's cominG'TO judgment.

been a question whether the sentence shall be vocally and
audibly pronounced : I see no reason to think otherwise,
seeing the whole transaction shall be public, and managed
by the Son of God, in human nature. Why should we
suppose, that his voice shall not be heard, as well as his body
shall be seen : his voice is said to be as many "waters (a) ;
lie will make all that are in their graves hear his voice : and
he that forms the thunder can speak loud enough to make
the Vi'hole assembly hear, though the greatest that ever was.
We are told, thst he shall say to them on his right hand,
Come you blessed ; and to them on his left hand, depart you
cursed Ch), We m.ay suppose, that it will be exceedingly
delightful to the saints, to hear their gracious sentence from
his blessed lips ; and no less terrible to the wicked, to re-
ceive their dreadful doom the same way : But as to the vocal
pronouncing it, we need not be very positive or tenacious,
remembering that good note of Austin (c), * In what

* manner and order the future judgment will be, experience

* will teach us better than human knowledge can perfectly

* inform us.' It is of more importance, to consider the
matter of the sentence, and the order of passing it.

With respect to the saved, Christ liath given it in these
words, Coyne yon blessed of my Father, inherit the Icing -
dom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Every word carries instruction and comfort in it ; it is not
depart, but come ; be in my presence, behold my glory ; I
vour Judge call you, and authorize you to it : Thus he will
call his own sheep by name, and give to them eternal life ;
and therefore they may well have boldness in the day of
judgment. The next words in the sentence are j/o?< blessed;
the curse is taken away ; and all spiritual blessings are

(a) Rev. i, 15.— John v. 28. (d) Mat. xxv. 31, 41.

(t) Qulbus modis et quo online veniant, magis tunc docebit re-
rum experientia, quam nunc valet consequi ad perfectum, hominum
ioteUJgentia. Aug. de civitat. lib. xx. c. 30.

or Christ's coming to judgment. 219

given in me, and that by my Father : He chose you, he
loved you, and appointed you to inherit the blessing, though
th€ world hated you, and cursed you ; come inherit the kiiig-
doiriy possess the celestial felicity, reign in life for ever, as
if you were kings of the heavenly Jerusalem ; the kingdom
\\?is prepared from the foundation of the world, from eter-
nity in my Father's love, decree, and promise to me the
head and surety of the new covenant bejore the world be-
gan (a) : inherit, says the Judge, the kingdom prepared
for you ; not for others, not for such as you, but for your
very persons, who were loved, chosen, and blessed of my
Father, before the world was. Thus will Christ own and
pubhsh the doctrine of election in that day ; and those who
could not bear it in this world, shall be forced to bear it in
the great day : you, says Christ, were blessed of my Fa-
ther, the kingdom was prepared by him for you, beiore the
world was. Thus he refers their whole salvation to the
elcting grace and love of the Father, which indeed was the
original and first moving cause of it. We may further ob-
serve, with respect to the order of time, that the sentence is
first passed upon the righteous j and herein many valuable
ends are answered : Christ will begin with the work of
mercy, which is most pleasing to him ; thus he honours the
Father's choice in making such an early discovery of it, and
shewing such a respect to the objects of it, preventing their
being terrified with the sentence of the wicked, and prepar-
ing them to give their approbation aud sufFerage when he
shall pronounce sentence, which I apprehend is their jttdg-
ing the xjoorld^ even angels (b). This will be preparatory
to the condemnation of the wicked ; and will, as it were,
anticipate their judgment, and increase their horror, vvhiLt
they see those persons absolved, and honoured, whom they
had' condemned and despised ; whence they may infer what.

{m) Tit. \. 2. {I) 2 Cor. yj, 2,

T 2

220 OF Christ's coming to judgmej^jt.

doom they themselves are to expect, which comes next to
be considered.

This part of the sentence will be. Depart from me you.
cursed into everlasting Jire, prepared for the devil and his
angels (a). It is wondertul to think, that any that own
the scripture, and read there of the everlasting tire, to which
the v.ic!-ed are adjudged, should yet deny the eternity of
hell torments. We are to observe, that the sentence passed
■i.ipon the v/icked, is as contrary to that received by the
righteous, as the state, temper, and actions of the former,
are opposite to the latter. To the righteous, Christ will say,
Co7V.c ; to the wicked, Depart : they never loved Christ,
nor his people, and now they shall be banished from them
for ever, and have no communion with them in glory. But
their misery is not barely privative, for they depart accursed /•
all the curses of the law lie in force against them, and they
go into everlasting /Ire ; no words can express the misery
therein comprehended : it will be an aggravation of it, that
they must he for ever xuith t/\e devil and his angels ; they
would do the devil's lusts on earth, and therefore are justly
condemned to suffer with him in hell. The sentence of the
evil angels seems to be included in these words. The ever'
lasting fre prepared for the devil and his angels ; as they
are reserved to the judgment of the great day, doubtless
they shall not escape being judged in that day, though we
have no particular account of it, as we have of men's being
judged ; the scripture being written for the use of men, not
of devils, which may be a suiScient reason, why they give
us no larger account of that matter. Thus I have hinted
what, I hope, may be sufficient, to give some useful view, of
the nature and form of that judgment, or sentence, which
Christ shall pas« upon the quick and the dead in the great
day. I come now to the next general head ; therefore.

OF CHRIST*S COMING TO JUDGMENT. 221

V. I shall mention some of \.\\q properties of this jvidge-
ment : This may farther illustrate the nature of it, and be a
means to excite us to a more awful regard to it, and prepa-
ration for it. Seeing ive look for such things, hoixi diligeyit
should me be that voe may be found of Christ in peace with-
out spot and blameless (a) P

1. "j'his judgment will be universal and unavoidable.
We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (bj.
No demurrer takes place in this court ; there is nothing to
be done, in arrest of judgment ; it can be neither delayed,
nor prevented ; no person will have subtility or power e-
nough to escape. The Judge is prepared, the day is appoint-
ed, the justice of God, as well as the souls under the altar,
cry, How long, till vengeance be taken on the wicked ? ' It

* will be in vain, as one says, (c) to look about for help, all
' the world cannot rescue one soul ; there is no avoiding, by

* appeal, for it is the last judgment ; nor by rescue, for
< they shall be compelled ;. nor by flight, for there is no
' escaping ; nor by intreaties, for the Judge is inexorubJe.'

2. It will be an awfully terrible judgment. This, in part,
was cleared before, when I spoke of the solemnities of !':at
day and work ; and yet there is room to add something
here. Christ taught his disciples to fear him who is able to
destroy soul and body in hell (d)\ A sense of what they
themselves hare deserved, and of what the vvicked mast un-
dergo, in that day, may excite awful thoughts m the righte-
ous concerning it : To think of the sun's faihng, the stars
falling, the Judge appearing in flaming fire, when the gr- at
day of his wrath shall come, is enough to till our hearts
with fear and amazement; and may and ought to ^ve a
check to the sinful appetite • < I had not,* said Austii:, (e)

{a) 2 Pet. iii. 14. {h) 2 Cor. t. 10, II.

(<•) Nee me revocabat a profundiore voluptatum carnalium ^ur-
gite, nisi metus mortis et futuri judicii tui, qui per varias quidem
T 3

222 OF Christ's coming to judgment.

' been delivered from the gulph of carnal pleasures, had

* k not been for the fear of death, and this futu .^ judge -

* ment, which, amidst various opinions, never went out of
•* my thoughts.' Some men have a certain fearful expecta-
tion of this judgment, beforehand fa) ; and it will not be
less ten ble to them, when it comes : when in scripture it
is said bj, that ike poxvers of heaven shrill be shaken y
some think the angels are meant ; for, < great fear and

* trembhng will lay hold on them, says one (c), on the

* account of that awful judgment, and the terrors of the

* Judge.' « If, says another (d), all the angels praised

* God, with a loud l^oice, when the stars were made, how

* shall they be affected with the universal change of that

* day, when they shall see all the v^'orld standing before the

* terrible tribunal, and their fellow-servants giving an ao-

* count V Vfe also read (e)y that the devils believe and
tremhley at the thoughts of their future doom and misery ;
and the thing itself will not be less terrible, than the fore^
thought of it : Such among men as neither believe, nor fear
3t, who daily make a sport with damnation, seem hardened
to a greater degree than the devils themselves ; they tremble^
whilst ®thers deride the judgment of the great day.

S. To the wicked it will he pure unmixed ]\i^gvciex\\. ; or
judgment without mercy. God will not spare the guilty ;

opiniones nunquam tamen recessit de pectore meo. Aug. lib. 7^
Confess, cap. 16.

{a) Heb. X. 27, 30, SI. {b) Mat. xxiv. 29.

(f) De Angells dicit, tremoi enim eos apprehendet, et ilmor
iraagnus— propter judicis terrorum, et terribili apperatu de judicis
intuentis horrenda formidiue contremiscent. Aug. in Parasc. Serm.
I.Tom. 10. p. 886.

(</) E< yxp ort iyinro ra uf^x Stus i(p^i^a*, xiu iBetvfAetff»v, roXkS
umXXov opZvrts ^utra, fiira^v^fii^of/.tvu x,u) ris '^vvUXovs uutSv ^liivrai-

Chrysott. in M^t. xiiv. 29.

(e) James is. 19,

OF Christ's coming to juegment. 22S

sias of omission shall not be overlooked ; he shall have
judgment, without mercy, who has shewed no mercy.
Unbelievers will be judged by a law, that adn^its of
no mercy, but curses every one, thai conLirMCS not, in
all things •wriiien therein, to do them {a) ; hence their
cup of v/rath is zvithout mixture (hj ; So much are
ihe wicked mistaken in their expectations, that they shall
find mercy in that day. The scripture says, that xuithout
respect of persons, Godjiidgeih according to every ^nan-'s
tvork (c , . In this world the wicked neither shewed mercy,
r.or sought mercy aright ; and at the great day, they shall
have judgment without the least grain of mercy. * A sea
* of wrath without one drop of mercy,' as one speaks fdj,

4. It will be an impartial -^pdigrnQvA ; for there is no re-
spect of persons tvith God : As many as have sinned imthout
lam, shcdl perish •u)iihout Into ; and as many as have sinned
in the law, shall be judged by the latv (e). No mild in--
terpretation shall be put either upon the commanding, or
condemning part of the law ; nor shall one sinner find more
favour than another : Jews and Gentiles, great and email,
rich and poor, are all alike to the Judge ; for he will have no
respect of persons in judgment. Hence those who cry.
Lord, Lord, open to us, are rejected, being found workers
of iniquity.

5. It will be a righteous judgment ffj. I shewed be-
fore, that the Judge is righteous : and what can be expect-
ed from him, but a righteous judgment IHe shall judge the
voorld in righteousness, say the scriptures : Justice will hold
the balance, in an even hand.

It may be said, Where is the justice of judging men to
eternal punishment, for temporary crimes, which were but
of short duration ? To this I answer,

(1.) Adam's sin, in eating the forbidden fruit, was soon
committed, the act was but of a short duration ; but yet

(a) Gal. iii. 10. {b) Rev. xiv. 10. (f) I Pet. i. 17.

(i) Case's Pisgah, p. 170. (/) Rom. ii. 1 1, 12. (/) Acts xvii. 31.

224} OF CIIRIST*S COMING TO JUDGMENT.

God has been punishing the world for it, more than five
thousand years : and therefore a sin, soon committed, may-
demerit a long punishment ; for we are sure that the judge-
ment of God is according to truth.

(2.) Among men of the greatest justice and probity^
there is no proportion of time observed between the com-
mission of the fault, and the inflicting the punishment j im-
prisonment for life, or even death itself, is thought to be a
just punishment, for a fact done in a day, an hour, or in a
few mom.ents.

(3.) Sin has an infinite evil in it, objectively considered,
as it is against that God, who is infinitely great and good.
Now, an infinite evil deserves an infinite punishment ; and
seeing that cannot be inflicted at once, upon a finite creature,
reason dictates that it should be continued, till the whole
debt is paid ; and because that can never be, by the sinner,
therefore his punishment is eternal.

(4.) The judgment is justly measured by the will of the
offender ; his will is bent to sin for ever ; and therefore it
is equal, that he should suffer for ever : < Because, says
' Austin (a), the sinner would have enjoyed his sin for
« ever, he meets w^ith the severity of eternal punishment.*
It is not unjust, that he should be judged, as he himself
judged, and that he suffers, in the punishment of his evil
mind, as he would have acted.

( 5. ) If all these things are put together, it may appear, that
Christ's judgment will be righteous, though he allots men
everlasting punishment, for sins committed in a short space of
time. The distributions of providence seem to be unequal '^
but the distribution of the great day will be very equal :
men shall receive according to what they have done, "whether
it he good or bad (h ]. The wicked shall be rewarded, ac-
cording to their evil works, and the saints according to their

(a) Epist.49. {b) 2 Cor. v. 10,

OF Christ's coming to judgment. 225

good works. Christ shall judge the people in ctfuity fa),
not according to outward appearance : he will thoroughly
purge his floor, and burn the chaff with unquenchable lire ;
but the least grain of wheat shall not be lost.

6. It will be a cieaj- and open judgment ; not only righte-
ous in itself, but a revcliiio?i of the righteous judgment of
God (b). Righteousness and judgment are always the ha-
bitation of God*s throne, but yet in this world clouds and
darkness are round about him (c) : hence the prophet says.
Let me talk mth thee of thy judgments ; wherefore doth the
ivat/ of the wicked prosper (d) P but in the great day, all
things will be set in a clear light j it will be a day of dis-
covery and revelation. ' The word revelation is properly
used, says one (ej ; for then it shall be revealed, that every
one receivetb according to his works."

7. It will be eternal judgment, with respect to the exe-
cution, not with respect to the passing the sentence. How
long the day of judgment may last, we do not know, God
has not revealed it ; but this we know, that after the judge-
ment, comes the everlasting punishment ; and with respect
to thai it is called eternal judgment : It is decisive and de-
termining for an eternal state ; the sentence can never be re-
versed, for there is no higher court to appeal to, nor will
the same court ever sit again, to alter the sentence ; there=
fore it can never be annulled, when once passed. * It is
< absurd to imagine, as one has observed (yjf that the judge-

* ment should be eternal, in its duration ; but it shall be so

* in its end and effects* It may also be called eternal, in op-
position to temporal judgments, such as that of Christ, that
passed on the saints by the wicked, and that which profes-

(a)Isa. xi, 4. (/^) Rom. ii. 5.

{c) Psal. xcvii. 2. (^) Jer. xii. 1, 2.

{:) Kx) Koth^i ^inv, a.TTcxxXv-^'ius, fin yk^ araKaT^v-rrirtct §rxi i'ri
ri xsir alixv tKocffc; acroXxfz^civei. Chrysost. in Rom. ii, 5.
(/) Dr, Owea's Expusit, on Hcb, vi. 1, 2, p. 26.

^2Q OF Christ's comikg to judgment.

sors now very unjustly pass upon one another : All these shai^
be called over, and rescinded, in the great day, which will
unalterably fix every man's happiness or misery in the world
to come. Upon Christ's passing judgment, the xvicked are
said iLO go an:ay into everlasting punishment, and the righte-
ous into life eternal (a). Thus I have finished the fifth
general head, which was to mention some of the jjr oner tics
of the last judgment ; I shall now conclude this discourse
with some

APPLICATION.

1. How firmly should we believe, and how often and se-
riously should we think of this judgment to come ? The
evidence of it is clear and full, both from scripture, reason
and conscience ; to disbelieve it, therefore, is to sin against
the light of nature, as well as against revelation. A firm
persuasion, and a serious consideration of tills doctrine,
would have a good effect. TertuUian, as it is said fhj, ob-
served, in his time, that none lived loosely, but cither such
as did not firmly believe a future judgment, or such aa put
the thoughts of it out of their mlndb. * Let us, say one fcj,

* fix our thoughts on Christ's dreadful tribunal, where all

< things will be opened to his eyes v/hich in word, or deed,

* or thought, we have committed ; let us think on the fiery

* lake, the everlasting chains, the darkness void of light, the

< gnashing of teeth, the worm that dieth not, which will

< make it a dreadful day to the wicked.' Say not these are
mere words, the merciful God will never so punish men j is

fa) Ivlat. XXV. 46. (6) Leigh's body of divinity, p. 863.

fta.) TiT^a^n^iirfiivct roli oJ>B-»Xfii>7f uuroZ' tk, Iv XoyM, ret \i 'ipytf, rat iv
^ixvoiai,- t'^ruTo, rov ^ora/n-ov rov Tv^o;, <rovs Vt(Tfii.ov; reus aXt/rsj fov ffnorftt
roZ ui^iyyovi, rev ZevyfioZ ru* i^ovruv, re>v trKyJiTrixos ret loSiXv, riiv it^f.
^«v Us/v99v rriv oSvvyiooiv /u.h ro7e afia^ruXoTi . Chrysost. in secundum Da«
znini adventum, p. 545, ubi et csetera vide?.?.

OF Christ's coming to judgment. 227

God a liar ? How did he deal with Dives, with the foolisli
virgins, with the old worlJ, with Sodom and Gomorrah,
with Corah, Dathan, and Abiram ? How was Jerusalem
destroyed for rejecting Christ ? How were Ananias and Sap-
phirah punished ? If God is too merciful to punish sinners,
why were not these spared ? Why did Clirist say, Except
you repent <t you shall all liketvise perish P .Did the devils
confess an appointed time for their torment ; and shall not
men be ashamed and blush to deny what they could not but
own ? Were a man to be tried for his life at the next assizes,
how would his thoughts bs taken up with it ? and shall we
forget that tribunal where we must shortly be judged, justi-
fied, or condemned for eternity ?

2. If Christ will judge the quick and dead ; then hence
we may learn, that he is truly and really God. God is
Judge himself (a J, according to the scriptures. No person
below God can judge the world in righteousness. How-
can we once imagine, that -a mere creature can raise the
<lcad, bring the whole world before his tribunal, know the
secrets of all hearts, pass and execute judgment upon every
one, according to his works ? IVe shall all stand before the
judgment-seal of Christ, for it is xvritten, jIs J live, saith
the Lord, every knee shall Oorv ti me, and every tongue
shall confess to God (h). So then Christ is that God,
before whose judgment-seat we shall all stand. It is indeed
said (c), that the world shall be judged by the man Christ
Jesus ; which shews, that Christ's human nature shall be
employed in the judgment, but by no means excludes him
from bein^ God, or acting as God in the judgmeiit of the
o-reat day. It will be a manifestation of the glory of God, to
judge the world ; this glory is peculiar to God, and he will
not give it to another, to a mere creature. Seeing there-
fore he has given it to Christ, he is the great God ; so he
is called, with respect to this day and work, for we must

(a) Psal. 1. 5. (/;) Rom, iv. 10, U. (0 Acts xvii. 31. ,

9.2s 6f Christ's ccming to judgment.

be looking for the glorious appearing oj our great God,
'find Saviour Jesus Christ (a). He shall come in the
glory of his Father (b ) ; but who could appear in that in-
finite glory, that did not eajoy that infinite divine nature to
which it appertains ? The Judge has, and must have infinite
wisdom, power, knowledge, righteousness, and holiness ;
and he that has these, is certainly true God : such there-
fore is Christ our Judge.

3. What reason have we to hold feist the faith, once de-
livered to the saints. This inference is well drawn from the
future judgment, by the apostle Paul, where he has said,
Now tve beseech youj brethren, by the corning of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together to him, that
you be not soon shaken in mind (c). If we must not part
with an inferior truth, much less witli those of an higher
nature, and greater importance ; for Christ will come again,
and gather us together to him, and call us to an account
whether we have kept the faith, that precious depositum,
or whether we have made shipwreck of it, and of a good
conscience. Christ laid the matter plainly before us, when
he said. Whosoever shall confess me before men, hint will
I confess also before my Father which is in heaven (d). —

* Every one that confesses that Christ is God, shall find
' Christ confessing him before his Father, that he is a faith-

* ful servant, says one (e) ;' but on the other hand, Christ
has said, IVhosoever shall be ashamed of me, or of my
words, of him. also shall the Son of man be ashamed when
he comes in the glor 2^ of his Father, with the holy angels
(f). Christ, the Judge, will deal with us hereafter, as we
deal with him, and his truth in this world : if v^e suffer with

(.7) Tit. ii. 13. {b) Mat. xvi. 27. {c) 2 Thcs. ii. 1. 2.

{d) Mat. X. 32.

{e) nSf o-jv a oftaXoyZv on ©ssj if/ a XZ'''°=* Ivewti rev ^^irov o /xo? :.
yHfyrex. -ric) kvroZ <rat Tocr^i, on yir.aic, \<;i loZXc;. Thcnpliylact. in lOC,
(/) Mark viii. C8.

OF Christ's coming to judgment. 229

liim wc shall reign with him ; if we deny him, he will also
deny us ; if wc are ashamed of his truth, he will be asham-
ed of our persons in the great day ; if we do not own him,
profess, and confess him, declare his truth, and stand up
for it, but through cowardice or covetousness, conceal the
truth, and designedly express it so doubtfully, that men lose
our* testimony, and cannot tell whether we are friends or
enemies to Christ, and the great truths of the gospel, what
must we then expect from the righteous Judge, but to be
rejected and disowned by him, according to his own plain
declaration, in the fo recited scripture ? It" is then no indiffer-
ent thing, how we conduct ourselves in this matter, whether
we handle the xaord of God deceitfully fajj or by an inge-
nuous, free, open manifestation of the truth commend our-
selves to every man's conscience. Let us then remember,
that Christ oberves our behaviour, and will reward or re-
ject us in the day of judgment, according as we confess
him, or are ashamed of him or his truth in this world : This
■should make us hold fasi the faith once delivered to the
saints.

4. How vain a thing is it to rest in a form of godliness^
void of the poiver of it ? Christ's eyes are as a flaming
fire, and his judgment will be according to truth ; there is
no darkness, where the workers of iniquity may hide them-
selves : sinners in Sion may then be afraid, and fearfulness
may well surprise the hypocrite. Let not such be deceived.
Christ is not mocked : The foolish virgins are shut out of
the kingdom (h), when the Judge comes : That day will
make an exact discrimination betwixt the sheep and the
goats ; and the saints siiall be able rightly to disoern betwixt
the righteous and the wicked, which perhaps was never
done by them in this world. This should excite us to pray
and strive, that we may be accepted of God, and be found
sincere in the day of Christ, which will bring to light the

(a) 2 Cor. iv. 2. {i) Mat. xxv. 10—12.

Vol. ii, u

230 OF Christ's comuvg to judgment.

hidden things ofdarhiess, and make manifest the counsels
of' the heart (a) : every man's works shall be made manifest
for the day shall declare it ; disguises will be of no use when
we come before him, to whose eyes all things are manifest
and open, even to him to whom we must give an account.

5. Shall Christ judge the quick and the dead ? then how
dihgent should we be, that we may be found of him in
peaccy icithout spot and blame ? This is our grand concern ;
our eternal safety and happiness are wrapt up in it. If we
abide^in Christ by faith, and cleave to him in love, we shall
not be ashamed before him at his coming (b). Our love
23 made perfect, when by intimate communion with Christ
in love we taete his love, and so are helped to exercise ours
to him, in an higher degree ; and then we may have bold-
ness in the day of judgment. We nped not be ashamed to
appear before him whom we have loved so much, and of
■whose love we have had such a sense and evidence, because
as he is, so are we in this world ; seeing he hath changed
113 into his image, and admits us into his gracious presence,
therefore we may depend upon it, that the Judge will not
destroy us, and his ov/n image in us. This gives us confi-
dence in the fore-thoughts of the day of judgment ; this
shews us the true way to safety and comfort, in the views
and approaches of the judgment of the great day. May
we then cleave to Christ, in faith and love ; and then that
day, which to unbelievers will be of all tlie most terrible
and miserable, will be to us the most joyful and happy. O
then let us kiss the Son, lest he be angry ; blessed are they,
and only they, who before the day of his wrath, put their
trust in him ! Inexpressible is the encouragement and com-
fort, which those who receive Christ by faith, may receive
from these words of Christ, / am the resurrection and the
life, he that believes in me, though he were dead^ yet shall

[a) 1 Cor. iv. 5.— iii. 12.— Heb. i. 5.
U) 1 John ii, 28.— i. 4, 17.

OF Christ's coming to judgment. 2Si

he live ; a'nd tchosoeve?' lives and believes in me shaU never
die (a). Here is the'Christian's safety, here is his triumph ;
this may cause him not to fear, but to love and desire Christ's
appearance, that he may receive that croxvn of righfeouS'
nesst which the righteous Judge shall give to all such, in
the great day, when he shall come to be glorified in the
sainlSy and admired in all those that believe fbj.

6. How different shall Christ's second coming be from his
first P It may be iiseiful to compare them in our thoughts :
When he first appeared, it was in ihejbrm of a servant ;
when he comes again, it will be as God over all, blessed Jar
ever : then he was laid in a manger, _ among beasts ; here-
after he shall sit upon a throne of glory, surrounded witli
myriads of angels : formerly his visage ivas more marred
than any man's ; hereafter it shall outshine the sun in his
strength : at first he came to be judged and condemned by
men ; at his next appearance he ^\^\ judge loth qidcJc and
dead .* in the days of his humiliation, he came lowIy> rid'
ing upon the Jbal of an ass ; when he comes to judgment
he will come riding on the clouds of heaven : at his first
coming he was the derision of his enemies ; when he appears
the second time, he will be their dread and terror ; former-
ly he endured the cross, hereafter he shall wear the crown ;
heretofore he submitted to the curse ; in the great day, he
shall not only inherit, but also dispense the blessing, even
life for evermore : he who died under the hands of his ene-
mies, at his first coming, shall inflict eternal death upon all
who shall be found such in the day of judgment : Christ
will, in the great day, appear to be quite another manner of
person than men took him to be, whilst he dwelt among
them. What an amazing difference will there be between
Christ the sufferer, and Christ who will judge the quick and
the dead at his appearance, and his kingdom ?

(a) John xi. 25, 2G. {}) 2 Tim. iv. 8.-2 Thcs. ii. 10.

u 2

-32 OF Christ's coming to judgment.

SERMON IV.
Preached July 30, 172S. *

I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christy ivho
shall judge the quick and the dead, at his appearingy and
his kingdom. — 2 Tim. iv. ].

In discoursing upon these words, I have formerly consider-
ed the certainty and time of the future judgment, the per-
son and character of the Judge, the objects of the judge-
ment, the form of process and properties of it : I now pro-
ceed to the next head ; and therefore,

VI. I shall assign some reasons of the last judgment.

1. This appointment is a means to curb the lusts, and re-
form the lives of men ; not that this shall be done, after the
resurrection, for then there is no room for repentance or
amendment ; but the knowledge of this judgm^ut befove-
i.«Hu is « uic^r..;, in t^C I.«r.J cf the hcly Spirit, to restrain
from sin, and to excite men to repentance : It is true, this
means alone is not sufScient to produce this effect ; for we
see notwithstanding all that men hear of this judgment, yet
because sentence is not speedily executed) the hearts of many
are fully set in them to do evil (a) ; yet the certainty of
this judgment is made use of, by the Holy Ghost, in scrip-
ture, as a motive to repentance ; and when he sets it home
upon the heart, it is also an effectual means of it. This tlie
royal preacher had in view, in his ironical address to a iber-
tine, Rejoice, 0 young man, in thy youth, and let iJnj heart
chear thee in the days of thy youth, ■ nd iva/k in the ways
of thine heart, and n the sight cf thiie eyes ; but hio-^v
ihou, that for all these things, God rvJll bring thee into
judgment (b). The consideration of the future judgn-ient

(<0 Eccles, viii, U. if) Ecclc>\ >:i. 0.

OF Christ's coming to judgment. 233

is here proposed as a means to check the kists, and reform
the lives of young persons, who are so prone to indulge their
voluptuous appetite. Paul urges repentance upon the Athe-
nians, by this very argument ; Godj said he, noiv commands
all men to repcntf because he' has appointed a day in tvhich
he tvill Judge the world in righteousness (a) /- or, because
he has now made it known, that there is an appointed day,
in which he will judge the world, therefore he commands all
men to repent : Knoviing the terrors of the Lord^ voe per-
suade men (h) ; we urge them to consider, the terrible
day of judgment, that is coming, and intreat them to live,
and act as those that must give an account. Trie apostle
Peter's advice to those to whom he wrote was this. Pass
the time of your sojourning here in far ; the Father, with-
out respect of persons, judges every man according to his
iwrJcs (c). Thus we see how the Holy Ghost makes use
of the future judgment, as a motive to check sin, and to
engage men to walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.
2. Christ shall judge the quick and dead, as a public
vindication of providence and xhe gospel.. Wicked men, in
this world, often quarrel at providence, and good men too
often stumble at it ; the former chink they suffer too much,,
the latter, that sinners suffer too little : The judgment of
the great day will inform the one sort, and convince the
other, that the wicked shall not go for ever unpunished, nor
the saints always lie neglected. It will then appear, that all
things Vv'ere ordered for the best, and that the prosperity of
sinners in this world, is no more worthy to be compared with
the eternal weight of vengeance in hell, than the Christian's
present afflictions, which are but for a moment, are to be
compared with his eternal weight of glory, which shall be
allotted him, in the great day. The gospel, and the minis-
ters of it, had represented sin as the greatest folly and evil,

(.7) Acts xvii. 50, SI. {b) 2 Cor. v. 11. (c) 1 Pet. i. IT.
u 3

234? orciiRisx's coming to judgment.

exposing men to eternal perdition, and had taught men, tluit
life and immortahty are to be enjoyed through faith in Christ,
that he is Lord and King over the whole world, and that
those who will npt have him to reign over them shall be de-
stroyed. These things sinners v/ould not believe : some
treated them with rage, others with ridicule and contempt ;.
and the publishers of these things endured many cruel mock-
ings, for the sake of so unwelcome a message : Some have con-
iidence enough to say the gospel is all a cheat, folly, and^
lancy, not worth the regarding, but the judgment day will
set these things in a clear light, and will convince all the
ungodly of their hard speeches, and ungodly deeds (a). —
Christ, in the great day, will reprove those who had, from
the delay of judgment, inferred, that God was such an one
as themselves, and then he will set their sins in order before
them. It is but reasonable, that Christ, his gospel, and the
ministers and embracers of it should be publicly vindicated,
seeing they had been openly traduced and condemned : This
■will be the work of the great day, when Christ will appear
to his people's joy, but their enemies shall be ashamed. The
evil of sin, and the folly of sinners w^ill then evidently ap-
pear ; then men will find meekness turned into fury, mercy
into severity, a Saviour become a destroyer : and seeing all
this is owing to sin, surely it must be a dreadful evil, which
provoked him who had love enough for men to die for them,
BOW to come to take vengeance upon them. They who
would not see the evil of sin, in the glass of Christ's suffer-
ings, shall see it in the glass of their own sufferings, and of
others their companions.

3. The full retribution to Satan and sinners, may be

(a) iha nXB^t KHpt»s vrcmtfan xf'iait xara cruvruiv, xcii i^iXiy^cii, Tay-

vtci vovi aeti^iii ccvrm, vrtfi 'jravrut tuv tpyuv uai^iiai uv nffi^ritrxv, xat
^ifi ^civTuv vxXnpuv av IXciXtKrav xar uvrov afAUfruXot affr.^ils, J ud.l 4, 1 5.

The word i%iXiylfiti, which is rendered convince, signifies to re^
pnvt upon clear evidence, ^

OF Christ's coming to judgment. 235

assigned as another reason of the fiiUire judgment ;^ none of
them have their full reeompence before that day. The de-
vils are reserved to that judgment, and expect greater tor-
ment then. This is implied in those words of the evil spi-
rits to Christ, jlrt thou corae to torment lis before the
time (a) F To have all their wickedness ripped up and laid
open, to be dethroned by Christ, to be judged by hirn, and
by the saints, as assenting to it, and rejoicing in it, and to
be prevented doing any more mischief upon the earth ; these
things will be a great torment to them, though the wrath of
God, which they will endure, after the judgment, will be
still more torm.enting. As to sinners of the human race,
they are miserable but in part, before the last judgment,
their bodies feel no pain in the grave ; but after the judge-
ment of the great day, they shall have a full reeompence
in their entire persons. In this world it is hard, if not im-
possible, to pmiish some of them suitably to their crimes,
but in the great day Christ will do it : Such punishment
was not so proper in this world, because they had not fi-
nished their course, nor had the whole number of them fill-
ed up the measure of their iniquity, before the end of time,
and then comes the judgment. Hence it appears, how rea-
sonable and fit it is, that there should be such a judgment,
in which devils and wicked men shall receive the full reward
of their evil deeds,

4. Christ shall judge the quick and dead, for the sake of
his oxun people^ Justice and favour are what they have
reason to expect, at that day : They had often forbore to
avenge themselves, committing their cause to him that judg-
eth righteously ; they had been injured much in their good
names raid estates; and many of them had lost their lives for
Christ's sake, expecting that Christ would come again and
judge the world in righteousness. Hence the souls of those
under the altar, who were slain for the testimony of Jesus,

(a) Matt. vili. 29.

236 OF Christ's comixg to judgment.

are represented saying, Hovo long, 0 Lord, kolj/ and tj'ue,
dost thou not judge and avenge our blood (a) P Seeing
thou art so holy, as to hate sin perfectly, and so true in thy
threatenings against blood-thirsty sinners, and in thy pro-
liiises to thy suffering people, why dost thou not plead our
cause, and do us justice upon them, who wrongfully took
away our lives, for our love to the gospel and thy truth ?
The answer to this loud cry we have in these words. It was
said to them, that they should rest yet for a little season,
till their fellow servants also, and their brethren thai should
he hilled as they ivere, should be fulfdled. Their blood is
to be avenged, in the great day, when all the number of the
martyrs will be completed. Justice and faithfulness to Christ's
suffering servants, therefore, make this judgment necessary.
The favour and honour which the saints are then to receive,
is a farther reason for it ; an expectation is given them, that
Christ will in that day not only acquit, but also publicly
confess and own them ; and that they shall stand at his right
hand, judge the world, and receive a crown of righteous-
ness from the righteous Judge : now, if there should be no
such judgment^ how would the saints be deceived and disap-
pointed ? they have been directed to hojpe to the end (h),
for the grace that should be brought them, at the revelation
of Jesiis Christ ; they hope then publicly to appear in that
righteousness in which they had desired to be found, and to
meet amicably v.'ith those at Christ's right hand, with whom
they could not meet comfortably, in religious assembhes, in
this v^orld ; they hope to see the Judge in all his robes of
glory, and this hope shall not make them ashamed ; if before
the promise and declaration of these things, they could
have no reason to expect it, yet after »uch expectations
had been given them, by God himself, it is reasonable that he
should answer them ; and therefore that Christ should judge
the. quick and dead. Christ teaches his people by his word,

(.7) Rev. x\. 9— ih (^) I Pet. i. 13.

OF Christ's coming to jl'Dgmeict. 1S1

and enables them by his Spirit, to love, and look, and long
for his appearing, as the great God and their Saviour faji
which will be the most joyful sight they ever beheld. In-
expressible comfort must it yield them, to see such a con-
junction of majesty and mercy in t'ne Judge ; and shall he
not come at all ? Can we think, that he v/ill deal so cruelly
with his people as to disappoint them ? That is the time,
for tlie public reward of ail the secret good deeds of the
saints, which both reason and modesty taught them to con-
ceal in this world : Prn^ io your Father thai is in secret,
(said Christ) (b), and lie tlicit secth yen in secret shall re-
tvard you opeuly. He that has put down their private con-
ferences, and their secret tl.cughts and meditations, in the
book of his reraem.brance fcj, will not forget or conceal
them in the great day. ' Not a prayer, (says one) fdj but

* it was filled up ; not a sigh, not a groan, but is booked ;

* not a tear but it is bottled ; not a holy ejaculation, but
' it is upon record, and shall be publicly produced and ac-

* knowledged,* Those very acts of charity that were done
8G secretly, that the left hpud knew not what thy right hand
did, shall be published upon the house top, the great house
of heaven and earth ; they WL;re not done so closely but they
shall be as openly rewarded : God is not vnrighteoiiSj to

forget their zvcrk and labaur of love ; therefore it is reason-
able, on the saints' account, that there should be such a day
of judgment, v.'hen aretvaj'd is io be given to them that fear
Godi both small a?id great , e),

5. Christ shall judge the quick and dead, that his vjorh
may be finished, and his glory made manifest. All men are
to honour the Son even as the Father (f) ; that is, says
one (gji with equal honour. For this end it is requisite he

{a) Tit. ii. 13—2 Tim. iv. 8. (a) Mat. vi. 4.

{c) Ma), iii. 16. yd) Case's Mount Pis^ah, part ii. p. \1^.

{i) Rev. ix. 18. (/") J.,>l<n v. t22.

{g) " Ivx rrii/oiffi rev liov xccS^iJ; rif^uc-f tcv Uarifa, Ivk s'Tny ii-rfr, » f'Ay

238 OF Christ's coming to judgment.

should appear, as the great God and Saviour. The world
treated him as an impostor ; the far greater number of men
in the world, at this day, do not own liim : his enemies for-
merly condemned and crucified him ; but Christ, when he
was judged by them, put them in mind that judgment would
come to his turn hereafter (a) ; that they should see the
Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming
in the clouds, that is, to judge the world, asChrysostom (b),
and others understand it : Then he will wipe off his re-
proach, and will vindicate his character and office. What
was prophesied of the church shall be fulfilled in her head ;
His enemies shall botv hcforc him, and lick the dust (c) ;
all that had despised him shall bow them.selves down at the
soles of his feet : this shall be but a just recompence of his
former humiliation and sufferings. They who had despised
him as man, shall be forced to acknowledge him as God and
Judge of all. In that day his honour shall be more public
than ever his ignominy and v^hame had been ; for it shall be
maniiested to the whole world, angels, and men, at once :
He shall come in his Father^ s glory [dj, and with the most
public marks of his approbation and esteem. In the great
day, the glory of Christ's perfections will appear, of his
faithfulness in the performance of his promises and threaten-
ings, and of his holiness in the condemnation of sinners, and
approbation of the saints : he had promised his servants to
come again fej, and receive them to himself: and concern-
ing the wicked he said, Vengeance is mine, and J tvill re-
CQmpense (f). And after all, should he not judge the
world, how would the glory of his holiness and truth be ob-
scured and lost ? The glory of his love and merits would

TifAu* rov viov, »l TifAo, T«v YloLTifet, T7! vavTYiv ivvernrets Ti/u-hy, ov yup x^Xu{
9 fj^n Ttuut, ocXka 6 (fth rtfiuyi ovTCJSy us UTov, f»}triy, oh Tifta rev ^aripti.
Chrys0st. in loc.

CaJ Mat. xxvi. 64. (l) Vid. Chrysot, in loc. (<r) Psal. Ixxii. 9.

(</) Mat. xvi. 27. (e) John xiv. 3. (/) Heb. x. 30.

OF Christ's coming to judgment. 230

be quite eclipsed ; nay, the lionour of his whole mediation
would be destroyed at once ; but he shall come to be glori-
fed 271 the saints, and admired in all them that believe (a) ;
or, by that glorious church whicli will be the glory of
Christ in that day, and the occasion of eternal adorations
and praises ; for which reason Christ will appear and judge
the quick and dead.

I might add here, that Christ's complete victory over
sin and Satan, death and the grave, will be celebrated in
that day with public joy and triumph : when the saints ap-
pear without spot, It will be evident that sin is m.ade aa
end of; when Satan is judged at Christ's bar, it will be
very plain that he is conquered ; and the universal resurrec-
tion will be a full proof of Christ's victory over death and
the grave, and that the last enemy is then destroyed, and
tliat all things are put under his feet. Thus we see that
the glory of Christ requires, on many accounts, that he
should come again and judge the quick and dead.

6. The glory of God the Father^ and the harmony oj' the
divine perfections, require this day of judgment ; then the
glory, and the glorious fruits of electing love v/ill appear in
the clearest and most convincing light, whilst the Judge
shalt say, in the most public manner, to that innumerable
company at his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you before the foundation
of the XK)orld. Hov/ large and how valuable will that elect-
ing grace then appear to be, which is nov/ disbeheved by
some, and despised by others ? The Father's wisdom, in the
choice of such a Saviour and Judge will be seen, when he
comes, who is the brightness of his glory, and bears the ex-
press image of all his perfections. The universal subjection
to Christ, in the great day, will be to the glory of God the
Father ; the condition in which the redeemed will appear,

{a) 2 Thcss. i. 10.

24^0 OF Christ's comin'g to judgment.

and the glory to which they are appouited, will magnify the
love of the Father, in choosing them to such an happiness,
and in securing it to them, by such a Saviour, who is also
their Judge. — The harmony of justice and mercy that had
often been heard of with pleasure, will be then seen with
the greatest delight, in the person of the Judge, who is the
just God and the Saviour, and in the actual and full happiness
of the redeemed. Thus glory in the highest will accrue to
God, in the work of the great day. This reason of the fu-
ture judgnlent might be amplified, and others added, but I
hasten : *

VII. I shall mention some of the consequences of this
judgment, and answer some questions. What consequences
follow the judgment, Christ has represented in these words,
These, or the wicked, shall go away into everlasting pun-
ishment, but the righteous into life eternal (a). The sen-
tences are short, but the happiness and misery contained in
them are as broad and as long as eternity, and include more
than our thoughts can reach ; for, none knows the povocr of
God's anger : nor has it entered into the heart, tvhat God
has prepared for them that love him fb). The consequences
of the judgment, with respect to the wicked, are their go-
ing away from God and Christ, and all that is good and
comfortable, or that might make them happy ; and being
plunged into that misery which is expressed hyjire, to sig-
nify the greatness and the severity of the torment ; and to
give us the fuller idea of it, it is said to he prepared Jvr the
devil and his angels, which may denote the aggravation of
the punishment, not only in being put among such a dread-
ful company, but in sharing with them in the greatest tor-
ments, such as are due to those ancient and wicked spirits ;
the fire of men's own guilt, the devil's rage, and the
universal despair that fills the place, and, « which is above all,

{a) Matt, XXV. 4G. {b) PsAlm. xc. 1].— I Cor. ii. 9.

OF chijist's coming to judgment. 241

the dreadful wrath of ahnighty God, will render the misery
greater than words can express, or thoughts conceive. — The
consequences of the judgment, with respect to the righteous,
wiil be their going into life eternal; they shall by the Judge,
who is also their Redeemer, hQ presented to the Father un-
blameable end unreproveahle in his sight (a) : They shall
be presented by Christ, and exceeding joy will fill him and
them, when he delivers up his charge to God, saying, Be-
liohlhcre am /, and the children thou hast given me ; here
are ail thy chosen, not one is lost: behold I give eternal
life to as mani/ as ihoit hast given me (b) ; they are then
placed in the presence of Christ in the open view of Christ's
glory, and zvejor ever zviih the Lord (c). But what that
life will be, into which the saints shall go, after the judgment
of the great day, no mortal tongue can fully tell : It does
not yet appear ivhat xve shall be : but this we knotv, thai
ivhen Christ appears, his saints shall appear tviih him in
glory ; and they shall be like him, and see him as he is (d).
But, as this has been hinted at before, and doth not so im-
mediately belong to the judgment itself, I shall here dis-
miss it ; and shall proceed to answer three or four questions,
relating to this judgment, and so conclude the doctrinal
part.

i. It may be questioned, If Christ shall judge the quick
and the dead, vohy is this ivork so long delayed P I answer.
The day is appointed, and Christ will not stay a moment
beyond it ; He that shall come, mil come, and tvill not
tarry fej. . There may be many reasons why Christ comes
not so soon as some expect ; God will give the wicked suf-
ficient space Jor repenia)ice : and endure ivith muck k ny-
suffering, the vessels of wrath, till they 2xt fitted for de-
struction (f). There are in all ages elect to be born, con-

(a) Co'os. i. 22. _ (^) Heb. ii. 13.— John vi. 39.— -ivi. 2.

(6-) Jijde 24.-2 Thess. iv. 17. {d) 1 John iii. 2.~-Col. iii. 4

(0 Heb. I. S7. (/) Rom. ix. 22.-2 Pet. iii. 9.

Vol. II, X

242 OF Christ's coming to judgment.

verted, tried, and ripened for glory ; and the judgment
must not come till all things are ready for it. The delay
exerciseth the faith, patience, and prayers of the saints.
There are many great works of providence to be done be-
fore that day, and these have their proper seasons, connec-
tions, and progress ; but when all things are done, which
God sees fit to do before-hand, then the Judge comes.
When he came in the flesh it was in the fulness of time,
tliat is, in the fit and appointed time ; and so it shall be
when he comes to judgment. They are only scoffers that
say. Where is the promise of his coming [a) P and he is
called an evil servant who says that his Lord delays it, or
exceeds the appointed time.

2. It may be asked. If Christ shall come to judgment,
:v/jj/ is the time of it concealed P To this it may be replied.
That if we could give no reason for it, yet God may have
many ; and it ought to be a sufficient reason to us, that he
has thought fit to conceal it : but we may suppose, that he
thereby intended to check men's curiosity. The itch of
knowing good and evil very early infected our nature ; and
God might see it fit this way to shew his dislike of it :
hereby also God maintains his sovereignty, by keeping se-
cret the times which he hath put in his own power. "With
this answer Christ checked the disciples when they were for
prying into this secret fbj : If the precise time of Christ's
coming were known, some Christians might be more indo-
lent and careless, and some sinners more furious and resolute
in their wickedness. The apprehension of the evil servant,
that his Lord delayed his coming, led him to beat his fel-
low-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken fcj.
The wise king Solomon observed, that because sentence
a<yainst an evil worlc is not speedily executed, therefore the

(a) 2 Pet. iii. 3, 4.— Mat. xxiv. 48. {b) Acts i. 7.

{c) Mat. xxiv. 49, 50.

OF Christ's coming to judgment. SI'S

hearts of the sons of men ore fully set in them to do evil (a).
If 'the delay of execuiion for a little time, hardens men ia
their sins, what would the certain knowledge that the judge-
ment is a great way off do ?. God has concealed the day,
that we may daily prepare and wait for it : Watch yoit
therefore^ said Christ, /or you know not zvhat hour your
Lord comes ; therefore be you also ready^for in such a7i
hour as you think not of, the Son of man ivill come (b).
There is a better use to be made of our ignorance of the
time, than, I fear, many would make of the knowledge of it,
if God had pleased to repeal it.

3. Some may say, Are we not to consider the signs of
Christ's coming which he himself hath left us I I answer.
Doubtless we may ; whatever is "written, is for our learn-
ing (c) : but there are some things which it may be we
shall be ever learning, and yet shall never come to the know-
ledge of, till we come into another world, x^s to the signs
of Christ's coming in the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew's
gospel, they are so intermixed with the signs of Jerusalem's
destruction, that it is very hard, if possible, for us to dis-
tinguish them ; especially, seeing the same thing is suppo:-
ed to be used as a sign of Christ's coming to judgment,
and of Jerusalem's destruction : and supposing we could
distinguish the one from the other, how should we ever the
more know the time, till we see the sign ; or indeed, how'
near the sign and Christ's coming will be the one to the
other, and consequently how near, or how far off the day of
judgment might be ? God has cast shame upon those who
have had the vanity and folly to set the time of Christ's
second coming, which to do cannot but be great presump-
tion, seeing God has declared that no man knows it, and
that he will keep it secret. It is better therefore to be di-
ligent to be found of him in peace, without spot and blame.

{a) Eccles. xl, 9. {b) Mat. xxiv. 42, 44. (..-) Rom. xv, 4,
x2

in<;

244; OF cpirist's coming to JUDGME>.'T,

less, than to gratify a fleshly ir.ind (a), by intrudi
things which we have not seen, or which are not revealed
in scripture. I shall, therefore, have no regard to those
vain and curious questions, which some are for searching
into, as what shall be the place of the judgment I how long
it shall last ? what time of the year it shall be ? why Christ
will come in a cloud ? Concluding that there is no need for
us to know, or warrant for us to determine, what the scrip-
ture doth not reveal, I shall therefore only speak to one ques-
tion more, and that is,

4. Seeing Christ does not know the day of judgment,
how is he fit to be the Judge if he doth not know the time
of the judgment ? How doth he know the hearts of men T
and if he doth not know their hearts, how will he be able
to bring to light all the hidden things cf darkness, and to
give to every one according to his works ? I answer, That
it is true, that Christ said, that of thai day knows 7io man^
^0 not the angels in heaven, neither the Son, hui the Fa-
iher (b) ; but then the word Son may be understood cf the
humanity, and not of Christ's divinity ; and it is most agree-
able to the context, so to undersand it^ for he had a little
before been speaking of himself as man. Then shall ihcy i,ce
the Son of man coming in the clouds (c) : and of this Son,
that is, the Son of man, it is said, that he knows not the
day of judgment.

It may be urged, that the Son there spoke of, is, in a
sort of a climax, set above the angels ; and therefore it is
meant of the Son, in his highest nature, and as he is ncKt to
the Father : to which I repiy, that by virtue of the union
between Christ's humanity and his divine person (d), he as
man is exalted above the angels j and therefore in that gva.-
d^t'ion, of that day and hour hnoivs no man, neither the
angels, nor the Son, but the Father ; it is not improper to

(<r) Colos. ii. 18. {b) Mark xiii. 32. (OMurk^rsiii. 25.

(«/} Hcb. iv. i';.

OF Christ's coming to judgment. 215

set the Son, even as man, above the angels ; and if that
soul, which is united to God, in the person of the Logos,
did knowr the last day, inferior men cannot expect to know
it before-hand, which was a good argument against the
sinful curiosity of searching into things, upon which God
has been pleased to cast a veil ; but it doth not follow from
Christ's not knowing the day of judgment, as man, that he
does not know it at all, or that it is not to be aflirmed of him,
in any respect, because he denies it in some respects, without
mentioning any restriction or limitation ; for, this way of
speaking he has used elsewhere, and often, where yet a restric-
tion is impHed, and must be understood ; for instance, in one
place he said. The poor you have always tvith you, but me
you have not always (a) : but a httle after he said, Lo I.
am with you always, even to the end of the xioorld fbj.
Now, he is always with them, and yet not always with them :
Does he not contradict himself ? If his not being always
with them, is understood of his bodily presence, it was not
only true, but also very consistent with his being always
spiritually present with them as God ; and so both asser-
tions are true, and void of any contradition, being properly
applied to the two different natures which are in Christ, as he
is both God and man. Thus Christ might say, that as Son
of man, he knew not the day of judgment, without denyinp-
his knowledge of it as God ; for so considered, he must,
and he did know it, it being essential to God to know all
things ; But it is affirmed of Christ, that he knew all things ;
for thus the disciples said to him, We are sure that thou
hiowest all things ; by this toe believe that thou earnest J^rom
God fcj : That is, seeing it belongs only to God to know
all things, and thbu k newest all things, we therefore con-
clude, that thou art God, of the same nature with him •
now, seeing Christ gave no check to the affirmation, that

(a) Mat, ixvi, 11. (i^ Mat. xxvlli. 20, . (,,-} Jo!m xvi. so..

'246 OF Christ's coming to judgment.

lie knew all things ; but has elsewhere said, that, he cearches
the reins and the heart fa J, which belongs to God only ;
for he fbj, even he only, knows the hearts of all the child-
ren of men : hence it follows, that Christ is God, and as
God knew the day of judgment, which is included in all
things which he knows ; and therefore he is capable of
judging the tvorld in righteousness, seeing all things ars
naked and open to him as God fcj, to whom we must give
an account.

It would be very hard to suppose, that he ^vlio dwells in
the bosom of the Father, and knows the Fatlier as intimate-
ly as the Father knows him, should absolutely, and in all re-
spects be ignorant of the day of judgment : He himself said,
As the Father knoxvs me, so Jcnoiv I the Father ; all things
that the Father hath are mine fdj j or, his perfections are
my perfections. Is the Father ignorant of any thing ? If
not, how can the Son, as God, be ignorant of any thing ?
An ignorant God is no God ; and if Christ is not God, he
is not fit to be the Judge of all the earth. As man he might
be, and was ignorant of many things ; but being also God,
he knew all things ; and therefore is qualified to be a righte-
ous Judge, and to give to every man according to his works.
This may suffice in answer to this question; and thus I con-
clude the doctrinal part. All that remains, is the use and
improvement we are to make of these things.

APPLICATION.

1. How seriously should we thi7ih of, and prepare for
this awful day ? It is Christ's own advice. Be you also
ready ; for in such an hour as you think not, the Son of
man tuill come (e). The certainty of the judgment, and
the uncertainty of the time of it, should engage us, to give
all diligerxe, to make our calling and election sure, and to

(a) Rev. ii. 25. {h) 1 Kings vIU. 39. (f) Heb. iv. 13.

\d) Jphn X, 15, {*) Matt. xxiv. 44,

OF Christ's coming to judgv.ent. 24-7

be found of Christ witliout spot and blameless. We may
set about our work too late, as the foolish virgins did fajf
who v.^ere shut out'. If that day, which conies as a thief
in the night, should come in our day, are we ready for it ?
If \vc are not-'fit to die, how ar^ we fit to appear before the.
awful bar of Christ ? and seeing we must ail appear there,
sliould we not labour to be in a state of acceptance with
him, in good terms with our Judge ? Is there any work in
the grave, whither we are going ? If our gins lie down with
ns in the dust, will tliey not rise up Vvith us and appear
against us, at the judgment-seat ? If we remain impeni-
tent and unbelievers, how can we expect, that our sins should
be blotted out, when the times of refreshing to the saints
ihall come, from Christ's presence or second coming fbj ?
If the Judge should suddenly appear, and find us not ready,
what sliali we do, what will become of us., how shall we
beapf^e dreadful sentence, Depart from me, you cursed^
into exierlasiingjirei prepared/or the devil and his angels ?
Nay, how shall we bear the execution of it ? Will there be
any flying from the Judge, who is every where present ? can
we resist iiim who raises the dead, and compels the devils to
appear before him, and submit to their condemning sentence ?
will there be any way to avoid appearing at that bar, before
which all must stand ? and who shall entreat for us, when
the only Advocate appears as an angry Judge against all
the unbelievers ? How much then is it our interest to lay
up a good foundation, against the time to com.e, and to lay
hold on eternal Hfe ? The two main parts of preparation
for that hour, are faith and hoHness ; the former is our fun-
damental, the latter our actual readiness for it. Such as
abide in Christ shall not be ashamed before him at his coni-
in^ fcj ; There is no condemnation to those that are in
Christ Jesus ; and, blessed are the dead that die in the

{a) Mat. XXV. 10, 11, 12. {b) Acts iii. 19.

248 or ciiRisT*s comikg to judgmekt.

Lord, The Judge will not condemn his own members
to the everlasting fire ; it would be as contrary to his com-
mission, as to his inclination, to condemn any true be-
liever in the great day. This is the tvill of him that sent
• him, that eve?'?/ one that sees the Son,- and believes on him,
shoidd have everlasting life (a) : and where there is faithj
it will work by love, and grow up into holiness ; it will pu-
rify the heart and hie, wherein consists our actual readiness
for the Lord's cv^ming. Christ has directed us (b), not
only to avoid surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of
this life, but also to watch and pray always, that we may
be counted worthy to stand before the Son of man : The
wicked shv:ll not stand in judgment (c), nor sinners in the
congregation of the righteous. Peter's advice therefore is
very good and proper. Wherefore, beloved, seeing you look
for such things, be diligent, that you may be found of him
in peace, vcithoul spot and blameless (d). We should see
that we are found in peace with God and conscience, through
the imputation of Christ's righteousness, which is upoa
every believer ; and without spot and blameless, or advanced-
in nurity and holiness, for without that no man shall see the
Lord (e), look the' Judge in the face with comfort, or be
with him to behold his glory. It becomes such as hope to
be with him, to purify themselves, as he is pure (f) ; and
to fear God (g)'^ and keep his commandments, for God
will bring every work into judgment. A sense of forgive-
ness, and of a clear title to heaven, a heart weaned from sin,
the world, and the inordinate love of life, and armed against
the slavish fears of death ; faith, love, and hope, improved
and raised to a high pitch, arc no small parts of- our actual
readiness for that awful day and trial. When faith is strong,

(a) John vi. 40. ih) Luke xxi, 34.

(f) Psal. i. C. ' {d) 2 Pet. iii. 14.

(^) Heb. xil. 14. (/) 1 John iii, 2..

Ig) Ecdes. xii. 13.

OP Christ's co:,iixg to judgment. 249

liopc live!)-, experience rich, and joy unspeakable, sucli with
uhom it is thus, carry heaven about with them, and when
they die do but go out of one heaven into another ; or, if
Christ comes, and finds them ahve, they do but pass from
a lite of grace, to a hfe of glory, from loving Christ's ap-
pearing to the beholding it witli joy and admiration, from
the waiting for the crov.n, to the putting it on, and appear-
ing with Christ in glory fa J. Happy will they be that
are found in such a case ; such may have boldness in the day
oi judgment. Many take this to be all folly and fancy, but
Christ would never have troubled us with such counsel, had
not such preparation been highly necessary : We are' not
tlien to value the world's censures, it is better to be con-
demned by them nowi than to be condemned with them
hereafter : v»e are exhorted, as obedient children fbj, not
fashioning ourselves according to our former lusts in our
ignorance, to be holy in all manner of conversation, and to
call on the Father \Yho '^vh'^es every n:<an, according to hh.
works, without respect of persons.

2. V7ill Christ judge the world in rigliteousncss ? then it
is the dut^ of all men to repent. If it w^as formerly with
good reason said, when Christ came in the flesh, Repenty
Jar the kingdom of heaven is at hand (c) ; surely v.-e may,
with as great reason, now say. Repent, for Christ will ap-
pear, to judge the quick and dead (djy seeing God hath
appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righte-
ousness. 2\.C2)ent, said Peter, and be converted) that your
sins may he blotted out ; for Cod shall send Jesus Christ
fej. If we would hereafter see the Judge with comfort,
we must, in this life, see our sins with sorrow, and look
upon him whom we have pierced, and mourn ffj. 'I'he
impenitent are treasuring up to themselves wrath, against
the day of wrath, and the revelation of God's righteous

(u) lOohii iv. 17. (^) 1 Pet. i. 13, (c) Matt. iv. 17.

{Ji Acts xvii. ;31, (f) Acts iii. \9, CO. (/) Zech. xii. 10.

250 OF Christ's coming to judgment.

judgments (a). The scripture says, that if we would judge
ourselves, we should not be judged ; tliat is, be condemned
with the wicked : this caused one of the ancients to say (h) ^

* Really I am dreadfully afraid to fall into the hands of the

* living God ; I would appear before the face of his anger

* judged, and not to be judged : I will therefore judge my

* good and evil deeds.* Here we are to consider, that the
grace of repentance is not the product of nature ; Christ is
exalted to give it (c)^ and the Spirit must be poured out,
in order to our looking on him whom we have pierced, and
cur mouniivig after a godly sort. Where Christ gives re-
pentance, there will he also give remission of sins ; he will
never condemn that person to death in the great day, to
whom he gives repentance to life, in this world.

S. How inshiictive may this doctrine be, through God^s
blessmg, to unbelievers ; and that in many things ? eome
<?f which I will mention. From this future judgment they
«nuy learn their dreadful stupidity and infidelity ; what else
can keep them quiet and merry in their sins, void of pardon
and purity, and therefore exposed to such dreadful wrath
and misery, in the day of God's righteous judgment ? what
folly and madness is it in them, to slight and provoke him
who is to be their Judge ; how can they expect he should
own and receive them to himself, in the great day, who
refused and rejected him obstinately, against the softest in-
treaties of mercy, even to their last m.oments, in this world I
Have they any re2.son to expect to find mercy in the great
day, who despised his mercy, in the gospel day ? will not
their folly be made manifest to all men, in the great day,
who neglected eternal happiness, for the sake of a short-liv-

{ii) Rom. ii. 4.
{!)) Prorsus horreo incidere in manus Dei viventis ; volo vuUui
lis judicatus prssscntari, non judicandus: judicabo proinde mala,
niea, judicabo et bona. Bernard, in Con, Serm. 55. fol. 178.
U) Act; v. 31. — Zech. s.ij, 10,

or Christ's coming to judgment. 251

rd sensual gratification ? Sinners may be for a short life and
a merry one ; but they forget the long eternity, and the
misery they mnst endure in it : they say. Lei us eat and
drink, for to-morro'n} tve must die ; but will they say, Let
us eat and drink, for to-morrow we may be judged, and
must be damned, being then in the same state which now
we are in ? With vvliat patience can they bear the thought?,
of the everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord,
and how will they endure the thing itself? How is it then
that they will take no v/arning to fly from the wrath to
come ? How hard is it for them to kick against the pricks,
and to contend with him who has a power sufficient to subdue
all things to himself ? How will they grapple with his
wrath, before whom the great and the mighty shall not be
able to stand ; but when he comes to judgment fa J, shall
call to the rocks and to the mountains, to fall upon them,
and to hide them from his indignation ? — How dangerous is
it for the ungodly to insult and injure the righteous ? Do
they not know, that it is a righteous thing wiih God fbj,
to recompense tribulation on them that trouble his people,
and to the afnicted saints everlasting rest, when Christ shall
be revealed from heaven to judge the world? If the withhold-
ing kindnesocs from the saints will expose sinners to the curse
fc )y in the great day, v^rhat then wnll all their rage tnd
malice, violence and cruelty against them do ? — Must sin-
ners appear before the judgment-seat of Christ ? Surely
they might hence learn, how Bccessary a change of heart
and life is to their safety and comfort, in that day : How
shall an impure and sinful creature stand before the holy
Judge, or an unrighteous person bear his righteous sentence ?
Can his enemies expect to be received into hio glory, or that
he who died to destroy sin, will admit sinners, who love and
obey it, to be with him for ever ? How is it possible for

{a) Rev. vi. 15—17. (i>) 2 Thcs. i, 6. (0 Mat. xxv. 45. 46.

L?oli OF CHRIST S COMING TO JUDGMENT.

them to expect he should say to them, Cpme y6n blessed,
Avhen they know, that tJie unrigliteoiis shall not inherit ihc
Jdngdom of God (a J, nor anything that defiles enter into
it ? They should think how little all their subtillty and
craft, pride and violence, will avail them, in the great day,
when Christ will lay them open to all the world, and make
the stoutest of them tremble at his presence ? Might they
not infer from the doctrine of the future judgment, how
ruining a sin unbelief is, which binds all a man's sins upon
him, and certainly exposes him to be doomed to that lake of
fire, in which all unbelievers shall have their part (b) ? for if
he that believes not is condemned alreadyfcj, there is no rea-
son to think that such shall be absolved hereafter, for Christ's
sentence now, and then, are not contradictory the one to
the other. Surely they are their own enemies vvho slight
the gospel, and hate that light, which shews them the way
to escape the v/rath to come. — These inferences may well be
drawn from the doctrine cf the future judgment, and how
much would it be to sinners' advantage, if the holy Spirit
would enable them, rightly to make them, and improve
them, otherwise their rational knowledge vi'ill be of no ser-
vice to them jy^-r theivraih of God is rtxealedfrom heaven,
against all those ivho hold the truth in unrighteousness (d).
4>. How useful may the doctrine of the general judgment
be to the saints P It should teach them not to repine, un-
der the hardest usage in this world. The Lord IcnoxL^s hoto to
deliver the godly out cf^ temptation, and to reserve the un'
just io the day of judgment (e). Let not any of us say
then, Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, for all the
day long have I been plagued (f), whilst the ungodly pros-
per : let us look to their end ; their feet stand in shppery
places, they are reserved to judgment and punishment, in

(fl) 1 Cor. vl. 9. — Rev. xxi. 27. l^h) Rev. xsi. 8.

(<) John iii. 18, 19. («/) Rom. i, 19. (^) 2 Pet. ii. ?.

(/) Psal. Ixxili..l2, 13.

OF Christ's coming to judgment. 2,j;3

the great day : but there is deliverance and eternal life for
the saints ; let none of them then think the ways of God
unequal. They should learn patiently to bear unjust censure;i
and ill usage : Christ will judge righteously ; therefore let
not the Christian avenge himself (ajy much less should he
judge his brother, and set him at nought. Christ will judge
righteously, and will vindicate the oppressed : It is, or at
least it should be, a small thing to be judged of men, see-
ing he that judges us is the Lord (b)^ What encourage-
ment have Christians to abound in love and beneficence to
Christ and his interest ? The day of recompence is coming ;
and God is not unrighteous (c), to/orgct our work and la-
bour of love towards his name, if w^ minister to the saints.
Christ is represented saying in the great day. In as much as
you did it to the least of these my brjetkren, you did it to
me (dj. How secure is the true believerfs happiness ? Sure-
ly the Judge will not condemn those for whom he died, for
so he would punish himself in punishing them ; will he lose
the travail of his own soul, by condemning his people ? This
can never be ; for, he shall see the travail of his soul and be
satisfied. How good is it to get more knowledge of Christ ?
They are most likely to have boldness and comfort, in the
day of judgment, who shall see him upon a throne, virith whom
they have often had sweet communion, in the closet, in the fa-
mily, and in the sanctuary. The terror of tlie future judge-
ment should engage Christians, to do all they can to convince
and persuade sinners, not to neglect the great salvation, but
to seek to God, to enable them to fly to Christ for refuge;
vvliat objects of compassion are ignorant unbelieving men ?
Should not Christians do their utmost to pluck them as
brands out of the burning ?

Christ will come in flaming fire, to take vengeance on such
as know not God, and have not obeyed the gospel ; but he

(a) Rom. X. 14. {/,) 1 Cor, Iv. 5. . (<:) Heb. vi. 10.

(d) Mat. XXV. 40.

Vol. II. Y

'254i OF Christ's coming to judgment.

will, at the same time, come to be glorified in the saints, and
admired in all them'that believe : How then may such love and
look, and long, for his appearing ? Then it is that they are to
receive a crow^n of righteousness, a crovi^n of glory that fades
not away ; from that time all anxious thoughts, guilty fears,
iiery trials, dangers from sin within, or other enemies without,
shall cease, and be done with for ever; The comfort of stand-
ing unblemished and complete at the bar, in the robe of the
Redeemer's righteousness, and of appearing with him in glory,
may cause Christians to look for the day of Christ, as a blessed
hope, a day of grace to them, a day of glory, wherein
their bodies, their souls, and their company shall be all glo-
rious. How desirable will it be to such to hear him, who
had long been their advocate, and at that very time will be
their Head, pronounce their joyful and gracious sentence,
as their Judge, and say, Come you blessed of my Father !
Surely there is reason to long for that state of the church,
when every thing that offends shall be gathered out of it ;
ihen shall the righteous shine forth as the sun, iii the Idng-
dom of their Father. He that hath ears to hear let him hear
this good news ; it is really worth regarding ; this day de-
serves to be desired by all the faithful. Let all Christians
then keep themselves in the love of God, looking for the
mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. He is able
to keep them from faUing, and to present them before the
presence of his glory with exceeding- joy : This will be the
result of that judgment which Christ shall pass, as the fi-
nishing part of that glorious economy, wherein the Son
of God became man, lived and died for his people on earth;
rose from the dead, ascended, sat down at God's right hand,
where he will intercede for all who come to God by him,
till he shall come again to judge the quick and the dead, to
divide the sheep from the goats, and to perfect that glorious
work of redemption, which will fill all the inhabitants of
heaven with the most delightful and endless praises.

These things I have endeavoured to place in the strongest
hght and best connexion I could ; If what has been said
shall be a means to save any soul from death, or to promote
the meetness of any Christians for the inheritance of the
saints in light, my labour shall not be in vain in the Lord ;
and I shall have abundant reason to rejoice and give God the
glory. By way of conclusion, I shall add my warmest
v(ishcs that the Lord the Spirit, may help all true Christians
to abide in Christ, that they may not be ashamed before him
at his coming to judge the quick and the dead, at his ap-
pearing and his kingdom.

THE END»

Edinburgh :— -Printed by A. & J. Aikman.

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Full text of "Christ crucified and glorified : sermons preached at Merchant's-Lecture, in Pinner's-Hall"

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