Milton, taking his hint from the revelations of St. John, represents our great High-priest in this glorious and delightful attitude; represents him offering up the supplications and penitential duties of our first parents, mixing with them the incense of his own merits, and thus interceding before the throne: See, Father! what first-fruits on earth are sprung To supplication; hear his sighs though mute! Par. Lost, b. xi. l. 22, &c. The poet's words are very emphatical. Yet words can no more express the prevalence of our Lord's negociation, than the picture of the sun can diffuse its splendour or convey its warmth. Ther. My spiritual wants are many. I have many duties to discharge, and many temptations to withstand; many corruptions to mortify, and many graces to cultivate, or rather to acquire. Yet have I no stock, and no strength of my own. Asp. I rejoice that my Theron is sensible of his own indigence. The good Lord keep us both, in this respect as little children, whose whole dependence is upon their nurse's care, or their parents' bounty! Then may we, having such a sense of our poverty, and having a great High-priest over the house of God, come boldly to the throne of grace. We may apply, through the righteousness of Jesus Christ, for all needful succour, and for every desirable blessing. If Solomon could say, "Lord remember David, and all his trouble:" if Moses could say, "Lord, remember Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, thy servants:" how much more confidently may we say, "Lord, remember Jesus, the Son of thy love! remember Jesus, and all his sufferings; Jesus, and all his merits. Shall they be sent empty away, who have their Saviour's obedience to plead?" No, verily. Though they are altogether unworthy in themselves, "yet worthy is the Lamb that was slain," for whose sake their petitions should be granted, and their every necessity supplied. Let me repeat to you a most beautiful and encouraging portion of Scripture, which you may look upon, under all your wants, as a carte-blanche put into your hand by God all-sufficient: "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he has consecrated for us, through the vail, that is to say, his flesh; and having an High-priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith," Heb. x. 19-22. The apostle in this place, and throughout this whole epistle, alludes to the Mosaic ordinances, in order to shew that the privileges of the Christian dispensation were typified by, yet are greatly superior to, those of the Jewish. Among the Jews, none but the high-priest was permitted to set a foot within the holy of holies; and he only on the solemn day of expiation whereas, all Christians are allowed to enter into the immediate presence of the most high God; may have the nearest access to him who lwells in the heaven of heavens; and this, not once in the year only, but at all times, and on all occasions. The high-priest never made that awful Approach but with the blood of a slaughtered animal: we have blood of nfinitely richer value to atone for our failings and recommend our addresses, even the blood of the crucified Jesus. Aaron entered through the vail of the temple, a way which was soon to become antiquated, and for ever to be abolished: we enter by a far more noble way; by the flesh of our blessed Redeemer, given as a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins; which way is both new and living, such as never waxes old, will subsist to the end of time, and eads to eternal life.—Trusting in this sacrifice, and entering by this way, which are consecrated on purpose for our use, we may not only draw near, but draw near "with boldness," with an humble filial confidence; and present our supplications with faith-with assurance of faith,—with full assurance of faith. How strong is the contrast, and how fine the gradation! how precious the doctrine, and how free the privilege! What shall we fear, if we believe this doctrine? what can we lack, if we improve this privilege? And why should not we believe the former, why should not we improve the latter; since they both are founded, not on any excellent endowments, not in any recommending actions of our own, but purely, solely, entirely on the blood of Jesus Christ? Ther. There may come seasons of desertion when all graces are languid, if not dead; when the light of God's countenance is suspended, if not turned into darkness; and the man is more like a lifeless log than a zealous Christian. These frames of mind I have heard mentioned, and I begin to know something of them by experince. Asp. Then, Theron, when you "walk in darkness and see no light" of sensible comfort, "trust in the name," the unchangeable grace, "of the Lord; and stay upon" the righteousness, the consummate righteousness, of "your God," Isa. 1. 10. This is not barely my advice, but the direction of an infallible guide. This agrees also with the character of a real Christian, as it is most exactly drawn by an unerring pen: "We rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh*; no reliance on any thing of our own, either for present joy or future glory. To rely on the elevation of our spirits, or the enlargement of our devotion, is like building our house upon the ice; which may abide for a season, but upon the first alteration of weather ceases to be a foundation, and becomes "water that runneth apace:" whereas, to derive our consolation from the Mediator's righteousness and Jehovah's faithfulness, is to build our edifice upon the rock, which may not be removed, but standeth fast for ever." The former of these, even amidst all our changes, is invariably the same; the latter, notwithstanding all our unworthiness, is inviolably sure. Therefore the fruit of that righteousness is peace, and the effect of this faithful • Phil. iii. 3. Exactly drawn.-Perhaps there is no where extant a finer, a more complete, or so lively a picture of the true Christian. It is in miniature, I own; but it comprehends all the master lines, and every distinguishing feature. "We are they, who worship God in the spirit;" with the spiritual homage of a renewed heart; with faith, love, resignation. "And rejoice in Christ Jesus;" in him look for all our acceptance with God; from him derive all the peace of our minds; and on him place all the hope of our final felicity. "And have no confidence in the flesh;" renouncing ourselves, in every view, as unprofitable servants; disclaiming all our own works and attainments as defective services. ness is, if not rapturous joy, yet "quietness and assurance for ever," Isa. xxxii. 17. So that, when it is winter in my soul, and there seems to be a dearth on all my sensible delights, I would still say with the Psalmist, "Why art thon so disquieted, O my soul? Christ is the same amidst all thy derelictions. 'He is a green fir-tree,' Hosea xiv. 8, which never loses its verdure. Under his shadow thou mayest always find repose. His merit and atonement are still mighty to save; they constitute an everlasting and infinite righteousness. The promises of God, through his mediation, are yea, and amen,' 2 Cor. i. 20; are unquestionably and inalienably thine." Ther. It is very probable I may meet with afflictions-death in my family, or disease in my person. Disappointment may frustrate my designs. Providence may wear a frowning aspect, as though the Lord had a controversy with his sinful creature, and was making him to possess the iniquities of his youth. And what will be sufficient to support and to cheer in such a gloomy hour? Asp. The righteousness of Christ.-Nothing is so sovereign to calm our fears, and remove all apprehensions of the divine wrath. Apprehensions of the divine wrath would draw the curtains of horror around our sick-beds, and throw upon our languishing eyelids the shadow of death; but a believing improvement of Christ's satisfaction for our offences, clears up the mournful scene, and takes away the sting of tribulation. Attending to this great propitiation, the sufferer sees his sins forgiven, and his God reconciled. From whence he concludes, that the severest afflictions are only fatherly corrections; shall not exceed his ability to bear; and shall assuredly obtain a gracious issue. He can fetch comfort from that cheering word, "I will be with him in trouble;" and expect the accomplishment of a that most consolatory promise, "I will deliver him, and bring him to honour," Psal. xci. 15. These supports have enabled the saints to kiss the rod, and bless the hand which chastised them; to possess their souls, not in patience only, but in thankfulness also; while they have looked inward, and discerned their absolute need of these bitter but salutary medicines; have looked upward, and beheld the cup in a most wise and tender Physician's hand; have looked forward, with a joyful hope, to that better world, where God will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more sorrow, nor any more pain. Ther. The last occasion of need is the trying hour of death, and the tremendous day of judgment. Will this righteousness carry us with safety through the darksome valley, and present us with acceptance at the dreadful tribunal? Asp. It will, it will.-This silences all the curses of the law, and disarms death of every terror. To believe in this righteousness, is to meet death at our Saviour's side; or rather, like good old Simeon, with the Saviour in our arms. "They overcame," says the beloved disciple, they overcame the last enemy, not by natural fortitude, or philosophic resolution, but "by the blood of the Lamb," Rev. xii. 11; by a believing application of the victorious Redeemer's merit. "I know," adds the heroic apostle, "whom I have Allu ling to that description of tribulation and anguish, which, I believe, no person of sensibility can read without shuddering: "My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death," Job xvi. 16. believed," 2 Tim. i. 12; I am assured, that my Jesus is infinitely faithful, and will not desert me; that his ransom is absolutely sufficient, and cannot leceive me. Therefore, with a holy bravery, he bids defiance to death; or ather, triumphs over it as a vanquished enemy: "Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ!" 1 Cor. xv. 57. Nay, hrough the wonderful efficacy of Christ's propitiation, "death is ours," 1 Cor. iii. 22; not our foe, but our friend and deliverer. We may number it mong our treasures; and rest satisfied, that "to die, is gain.” What though our flesh see corruption? though this body, vile at present, e made viler still, by dwelling amidst worms, and mouldering in the dust? ret through his righteousness, who is the resurrection and the life, it shall hake off the dishonours of the grave; it shall rise to a new and illustrious state of existence; it shall be made like the glorious and immortal body of our triumphant Lord. If the body be so refined, so exalted, what will be the dignity, what the perfection of the soul? or rather of soul and body both, when they are happily and indissolubly united at the resurrection of the just ?-Shall they have anything to fear when the judgment is set and the books are opened? It is probable there will be no accusation, it is certain "there is no condemnation, to them that are in Christ Jesus," Rom: viii. 1. Who shall lay anything to their charge? "It is God,"-not man, or angel, or any creature, but God-" that justifies them." The God whose law was broke, the God to whom vengeance belongeth, he himself pronounces them innocent, because their iniquities have been laid upon Christ; he himself pronounces them righteous, because they are interested in the obedience of their Redeemer; on these accounts, he himself pronounces them blessed, and gives them an abundant entrance into the joy of their Lord. 66 But what can express, or who can imagine their happiness, when they take up their abode in the palaces of heaven, amidst the choirs of angels, and under the light of God's countenance! when they possess the "hope of righteousness," Gal. v. 5; when they wear the crown of righteousness," 2 Tim. iv. 8; and receive that great, that eternal salvation, which is an adequate recompence for the humiliation and agonies of "Jesus Christ the righteous," 1 John ii. 1. Come then, my dear Theron, let us henceforth be as branches ingrafted into the heavenly Vine; derive all our sap, all our moisture, all our consolation, from his fulness. Let us live upon our all-sufficient Redeemer, as the Israelites subsisted on their manna from heaven, and their waters from the rock, and not wish for other, as we cannot possibly enjoy better sustenance. Ther. Is this the meaning of our Lord's exhortation, when he shows the necessity of "eating his flesh, and drinking his blood?” Asp. It is the very same. A repeated and incessant application of our Saviour's merits, for all the purposes of piety and salvation, is the kernel of this nut, the meaning of this metaphor. When we habitually advert to Jesus Christ, as dying for our sins, and rising again for our justification; performing all righteousness, that we may be entitled to an eternal crown; and interceding in heaven, that we may be filled with all the fulness of God; -then we eat his flesh, and drink his blood; then we derive a life of solid comfort, and real godliness, from his mediatorial offices; just as we derive the continuance of our natural life from the daily use of alimentary recruits. Ther. Your discourse brings to my remembrance that magnificent and НА beautiful passage in Scripture, where Christ is called "the Sun of Righteousness." Your doctrine sets the comparison in a very advantageous light; gives it the utmost force and the greatest propriety.-The righteousness of Christ, according to your account, is as extensively useful in the Christian life, as the beams of that grand luminary are in material nature. The sun fills the air; where it diffuses light, and creates day. The sun penetrates the ocean; from whence it exhales vapours, and forms the clouds. In the vegetable creation, the sun raises the sap, and protrudes the gems; unfolds the leaves, and paints the blossom; distends the fruit, and concocts the juices. Turn we to the animal world; the sun delights the eye, and gladdens the heart; it awakens millions of insects into being, and imparts that general joy which every sensible creature feels. Indeed there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. Asp. Thus the Lord Jesus Christ, that true and only Sun of Righteousness, arises on his people "with healing in his wings," Mal. iv. 2; so various, so efficacious, and so extensive are his influences. Like a sun, he enlightens and enlivens; like wings, he cherishes and protects; like a remedy, he heals and restores; and all, by virtue of his righteousness, on account of his righteousness. Nor can we doubt, nor need we wonder, if we consider its nature and its author. Its nature; it is consummately excellent, has every kind and every degree of perfection. Its author; it is the righteousness and obedience of that incomparable Person, in whom "dwells all the fulness of the Godhead." It must therefore-you will permit me to sum up in a word what has been displayed at large,-it must be fully answerable to the demands of the law, even in its highest purity and utmost exactness. It is infinitely superior to the demerit of sin, and entirely absolves from all guilt, entirely exempts from all condemnation. It is a most valid and never-failing plea against the accusations of Satan, and the challenges of conscience. It establishes an undoubted title to every blessing, whether in time or in eternity, whether of grace or of glory. It is a sure support for the Christian in an hour of desertion, and in the agonies of death. Casting anchor on this bottom, he may dismiss every fear, and ride out every storm. Leaning upon this staff, he may go down to the repose of the grave; and neither be appalled at the solemn harbingers of dissolution, nor terrified at its far more awful conse quences. The merit of this righteousness, and the power of its divine Author, will unseal the tomb; will bring forth the sleeping dust from the chambers of putrefaction, and build up the whole man into immortality and glory. By this he will be presented "without spot," Eph. v. 27; presented "faultless," Jude 24; yea, be presented "perfect," Col. i. 28, and with "exceeding joy" before the throne. What a gift then is the "righteousness of Christ!" Blessed be God for all the indulgent dispensations of Providence! Blessed be God for all the beneficial productions of nature! But, above all, blessed be God for the transcendent and unspeakable gift of Christ-for the unsearchable and infinite treasures of "his righteousness.” |