Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

may ascend in our contemplations, and, penenetrating within the veil, behold Jesus in all the glories of his exalted state, seated at the right hand of the heavenly majesty, answering all accusations, perfuming, with much incense of his intercession, the prayers of his people, and obtaining every blessing which they require: If we are not privileged with the Jewish worshiper to behold the Schechina, the cloud of glory, this visible pledge of Jehovah's presence, we may hear the still, small, soothing voice, I am pacified towards you; "the sword of my justice, bathed in the blood of my SON your surety, now slumbers for ever; I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters :" We may behold him as it were pointing to these elements and saying, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased; "through his cross I am everlastingly reconciled to you; all the lightnings of my wrath which once played around, threatening your perdition, are now exhausted upon him; for you there remains unclouded, eternal day."

A propitiation through faith. Christ is a saviour only to such as actually apply him. The natural bread gives no nourishment to the body which does not eat it, and except we really eat, that is receive it, the living bread imparts no life to the soul: A robe, however splendid in itself, cannot adorn the person who refuses putting it on,,

and the garment of salvation will not beautify in the sight of Jehovah, unless it be particularly applied; the blood of the literal passover was sprinkled on the lintels of the door, as a mean of securing the Israelites from the sword of the destroying angel; and unless the blood of our New Testament passover, of the lamb that was slain, be sprinkled upon the conscience it will not purge from dead works, nor deliver from the wrath to come. The necessity of particularly applying Jesus and his salvation is frequently taught in the scriptures, because an error in this is dangerous, yea, damning in its nature; and I tremble to add, no error is probably more common in the visible church. Men occasionally read their bibles; they attend ordinances; they believe every doctrine that is delivered; they yield a cold, speculative, unoperative assent to the truth that Jesus died and rose again, and then conclude that they are good christians.

But do they reflect that devils believe, and yet perish; and they may believe in a speculative manner all that is revealed, and be. lost for ever? We must eat the flesh of the son of man; we must put on his righteousness; we must apply his healing balm; we must live upon him as the very life of all our hopes; we must glory in him as the alpha and omega of our pardon, and peace, and joy. This is that faith in his blood which the scriptures require: It is the cour

mencement of heaven, the dawning of glory in the human heart. "He who thus believeth in the son hath everlasting life, and shall not enter into condemnation."

A propitiation through faith in his blood. Although the soul in the act of believing views the Saviour in all his offices; although it receives him for wisdom, for righteousness, for sanctification, for redemption, yet in the first act of coming to Jesus the sinner more immediately contemplates him in his priestly office; he beholds the fiery law denouncing indignation against his crimes, and therefore endeavors to quench it with his expiatory blood; he knows, like Adam, that he is spiritually naked, he is ashamed, he is afraid, and then eagerly embraces this celestial robe, this raiment clean and white, the surety's righteousness; he sees a righteous God armed with vengeance, threatening his instant destruction, and then pleads the atonement of Calvary as the ground of his reconciliation. "One shall say in the Lord have I righteousness and strength; I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my LordThat I may be found in him, not having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is by the faith of Christ, even the righteousness of God by faith." Bathed in this fountain of his blood, and covered with the garment of his salvation, the soul experiences an undisturbed repose, a peace which passeth all understanding.

Waving any other remarks on the different members of this text, it is designed to shew that there was a peculiar agency of God the father in the appointment of Messiah to his mediatorial work; and in all that he has done, is now doing, or will perform hereafter in that capacity. Him hath God set forth,

1. By the immediate agency of God the Father, Messiah was solemnly set apart from eternity to this high undertaking. When the plan of human redemption first arose in the infinite mind, Jehovah is introduced as asking, Whom shall I send, and who will go for me? "What personage, throughout my vast dominions, is either able or inclined to embark in a work so awful and interesting? Who in the heavens above, or in the world which shall afterwards appear is capable by the underived, infinite dignity of his nature to bring glory to me in the recovery of man?" The Son, co-equal, and co-eternal with the Father, moved by love which only God could feel, instantly replies, "Here am I, send me: To my account let all the debt of allthy chosen be charged from this moment; mine be the bitterness and the joy, the reproach and glory of securing an eternal revenue of honor to thy crown in their redemption. Lo! I come, in the volume of thy book let it from this time be written of me, to do this thy will, O God." At that moment the council was held between them

both, and the restoration of man determined. Had angels then existed, they must have clapped their wings, and shouted their loudest hosannas at the depth of divine condescention and mercy; they must speedily have veiled their faces with their wings, unable to behold the full blaze of that sovereignty, and justice, and wisdom, and love, which mingled their glories in this scheme.

Referring to that transaction the Redeemer declares, I was set up from everlasting, "I was ordained by Jehovah the surety of a better testament, and commissioned to appear in time for the accomplishment of that undertaking." The Father, in his turn, frequently mentions this substitution of his Son in the room of his chosen. "I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people; I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: With whom my hand shall be established; mine arm also shall strengthen him. Behold my servant whom I uphold; mine elect," my chosen, my consecrated one," in whom my soul delighteth I have put my spirit upon him; he shall bring forth judgment to the gentiles." These characters can with no propriety be applied to the Son essentially considered; he is in that sense the Father's FELLOW; he deems it not robbery to be EQUAL with God; he claims, and claims without the least air of presumption, every title,

« AnteriorContinuar »