to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.* He is a priest, an altar, and a sacrifice. As God-man he is mediator, interposing between flaming justice and sinning souls; and I own no mediator between God and man, but the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all;† who hath redeemed sinners from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. I am satisfied with this glorious contrivance of free grace, that the word should be made flesh, dwell among us, and fulfil all righteousness by doing God's will, and laying down his life freely for his sheep and children. I lay myself before him as the altar, who being God, sanctified himself as man, and by his divinity added infinite virtue to his temporary sufferings, § to make them of infinite value, to satisfy divine justice for the sins of man: for though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God:¶ yea, he is declared to be the Son of God with power by the Spirit of holiness, "by the resurrection from the dead."** And as for his sacrifice, since it was of necessity “that this man had somewhat to offer," he hath appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, there is the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all ;†† he gave himself an offering and a sacrifice to "God for a sweet-smelling savour." The Messiah is cut off, but not for himself; "he gave his life a ransom for many," as a propitiation for our sins; ‡‡ "for without shedding of blood is no remission:" by this blood he obtained "eternal redemption for us;" this blood speaks better things than the blood of Abel; |||| it brings peace with * Heb. ii. 17 || John i. 14. ¶ 2 Cor. xiii. 4. + Gal. iii. 13. + 1 Tim. ii. 5, 6. ** Rom. i. 4. ++ Heb. viii. 3. ix. 26. x. 10. Dan. ix. 25. Matt. xx. 28. 1 John iv. 10. ++ Eph. v. 2. Heb. ix. 11, 12. Heb. xii. 24. God, pardon to sinners, pacification to troubled consciences, access to God, and eternal communion with God.* Well, since there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved,† I do acquiesce in Jesus Christ only for life and righteousness, I desire to know nothing save Jesus Christ crucified; to glory in nothing save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; to count all things but loss, "yea dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness-but the righteousness which is of God by faith;‡ this is a faithful saying, the truth of it I firmly believe," and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."|| I am the worst and unworthiest of all, but a sinner, and in the right of a sinner I plead for interest in a Saviour: O that I could say, he loved me and gave himself for me; I am sure by the works of the law can no flesh be justified;§ my own righteousness cannot profit me, I flee to the Lord Jesus, the horns of the altar, the city of refuge, the brazen serpent, by him all that believe are justified from all things from which we could never be justified by the law of Moses. By him I humbly hope to receive the atonement: O my blessed Jesus, thou wast wounded for my transgressions, bruised for my iniquities, the chastisement of my peace was upon thee, and with thy stripes I hope to be healed:¶ I renounce confidence in any creature, performance, duty, gift, grace, or enlargement, and only rest my distressed soul on that "Redeemer who comes to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob."** I this day profess to ⚫ Col. i. 20. 1 John i. 7. 1 Cor. ii. 2. Gal. vi. 14. § Gal. ii. 16, 20. ** Isa. lix. 20. Heb. x. 19 22. Phil. iii. 8, 9. Act. xiii. 39. + Act. iv. 12. Rom. v. 11. Isa. liii. 5. believe in a betrayed, accused, reviled, condemned, crucified, raised, glorified Redeemer, and hope for pardon and heaven through his name. Amen, so be it. 66 in I do also humbly and thankfully own, accept and retain the same blessed Jesus,* as my advocate at the right hand of God, who is able to "save to the uttermost them that come to God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." I am persuaded my Lord Jesus is entered into the holy places, the holy of holies, even heaven itself, now to appear the presence of God for us: there doth our new testament Aaron bear before the Lord, the names of those whom he bore on the cross, upon his shoulders for a memorial, and upon the breastplate of judgment, upon his heart; he hath also a plate of pure gold, with “ Holiness to the Lord" graven upon it, continually on his forehead, for he bears the iniquity of the holy things, which true Israelites hallow. Our Lord hath a golden censer, and much incense, to offer it with the prayers of all saints," upon the golden altar before the throne.' And if Satan the grand adversary stand at our right hand to accuse and resist us, this angel of the covenant will rebuke him, and clothe us with change of raiment; and then who can "lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? since Christ makes intercession for us.¶ O my Lord, I am daily sinning, and so provoking God, but thou sayest if any sin, we have "an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." To thee I flee under my guilt, who once didst excuse thy sleeping disciples, and intercede for backsliding Peter that his faith might not fail, who in thy farewell prayer didst breathe out thy soul for the preservation of believers, unity among them, thy joy in them, prevention of evil to them, further sanctification, perfection in grace, and coronation in glory.* My dear Lord Jesus, I put myself and services into the hands of my mediator, that thou mayest purify and present them to the Father. Thou carriest on the same design now thou art above, and art touched with the feeling of our infirmities, I therefore come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy; I know the Father heareth thee always, and whatsoever thou askest of him he will give it thee. ‡ Merciful Saviour, undertake to bring off this guilty soul before the throne now, and at the solemn day of judgment. I dare not use the intercession of saints and angels, having no commission so to do, and they know not my heart as my Lord Jesus doth, yea I am forbid angel worship. || I will henceforth worship God in "the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." This is my confidence that I have in the Son of God, that whatever I ask in his name according to his will he heareth me.§ Amen; Lord, add thy Amen to this. You are also to accept of Jesus Christ as your Prophet, and so the truth, as he is the truth in the accomplishment of the prophecies and types. God has made good the prediction of Moses: "A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me, him shall you hear in all things." This is the prophet mighty in deed and word," before God and all the people." He it is that hath prevailed to open the book, and loose the seven seals thereof. * Matt. xxvi. 41. Luke. xxii. 32. John xvii. 11-24. + Heb. iv. 15, 16. John xi. 22, 42. It John vii. 40. Luke xxiv. 19. || Rom. viii. 27. Col. ii. 18. Rev. xxii. 8, 9. § 1 John v. 14, 15. ¶ Deut. xviii. 15. Acts. iii. 22. Rev. v. 5. was the Spirit of Christ that testified beforehand in the prophets, of his own sufferings and following glory: but in these last days God hath spoken to us by his Son. O what a preacher of righteousness was Jesus, never man spake like him; he taught as one having authority. O what wisdom was given him! He was anointed to preach the gospel, and he alone was both text and preacher. "All bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth." Well, I will choose this Teacher sent from God as the apostle and high-priest of my profession.* I have been as a sheep going astray, but now will return to the Shepherd and Bishop of my soul. I will own none as rabbi and master of my conscience but him. I will hang upon his lips, and be attentive to hear him. He can speak a word in season to my wa vering, doubting, weary soul,† thou, Lord, shalt be my prophet; I expect no light but from the Sun of righte ousness. Thou enlightenest with reason all that come into the world, but oh let the light of the knowledge of the glory of God shine into my heart, in the face of Jesus Christ. Thou art the light of the world, and I follow thee, suffer me not to walk in darkness; but let me see the light of life: give light to me that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, guide my feet in the way of peace in thy light only shall I see light.|| Thou who hast thy chair in heaven, teachest hearts; let me have covenant teaching from thee, I am resolved to follow the guidance of thy word and Spirit: “Then shall I behold thy face in righteousness, and 1 Pet. i. 11. Heb. i. 2. John vii. 46. vi. 2. Luke iv. 18, 22. John iii. 2. Matt. vii. 29. Mark Heb. iii. 1. Luke xix. 48. Isa. 1. 4. John i. 9. 2 Cor. iv. 6. + 1 Pet. ii. 25. Matt. xxi. 46. John viii. 12. Matt. xxiii. 8-10. Psal. xxxvi. 9. |