XII. CHAP. the contrary. Yet in Contempt of God and the Mediator, and their reveal'd Will, they have chofen to themselves Variety of fuperfluous Interceffors, Saints and Angels: And fet up an idolatrous, prohibited Worship and Dependance upon them, under a falfe Shew of Humility; which is not Humility, but an impious difobedient Perverfeness and Corruption of Humility in not applying where they are purposely commanded, and, only permitted to apply. SINCE Chrift is able of himself to fave all to the uttermoft who apply to his Mediation, don't they directly diminish the Efficacy, and deny the Sufficiency, and the Divine Appointment of his only Interceffion; by their vain ridiculous Application to fo many others? Can they be sure, that any Saint or Angel knows their Want, or are capable of hearing their Prayers; as all Chriftians are fure and certain, that our Lord both knows, and hears them every where? Will they prefume to ask Favours of God in a different Way than he has directed to feek them? Is he not Mafter of his own Favours, and of the Method and Manner how he will confer them? Is there Mention of any Mediator of Interceffion for us to apply to in Scripture, but one; and he is Christ: But they who can quit Scripture, Reason, and their Senses fo far as to maintain Transubstantiation, maintain any other Abfurdity they please; whether Truth and Falfhood are not the fame Thing; or rather, whether Interest is not all in all to the degenerate Priesthood, in charging the great Law of Mediation and Interceffion. What can, I fay, more reprove the petulant Sufficiency of any Man's reafoning, or Dependance on his own Conduct for Salvation, in defpite of Revelation; or may more XII. more convict him of the Want of Humility, and CHAP lowly Opinion of himself, the true Ground work of the Knowledge of Salvation that comes from God, than this Method that God has taken with Man? For this convinces him, if any thing can, of the Worthleffnefs and Unacceptableness of all that is in his poor Repentance and Amendment, when and where they are refractory to, and contemptuous of the Thoughts of our Mediator. Since our Repentance avails as nothing before God, unless it is favour'd, and recommended before him, by the great Inviter to it at the Right. Hand of God, who gains it Acceptance. If any Man fin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jefus Chrift the Righteous; and therefore, if any, repent, knowing that Advocate, and depending on him for Remiffion of Sins, it is he muft introduce his Repentance to the Father. And fince Repentance without Amendment is Mockery before God and the Mediator, it makes that as neceffary, where there is Space of Time for it, as Repentance; yet even that is as unavailing, by Reafon of its great Imperfectnefs, from thofe who have the Knowledge, and free Ufe of Chrift, unless the perfect Righteousness of the Author and Finisher of our Faith cures it, recommends it, and fpeaks in its Favour. FOR alas! of ourselves when we have done all that we are able, we are but unprofitable Servants; without the leaft Shadow of Merit to fue for any thing at the Throne of Grace, Seeing then that we depend upon the Son for all that we have, or hope for, as he is the appointed Difpenfer over the Houfe of God, having the Difpofal of all Gifts and Graces, and every Blef fing that defcends from Heaven upon the Sons of Dd 4 Men, CHAP. Men, must come through his Hands, and are XII. owing to his Mediation, we must be mindful and affiduous of doing thofe Things that are well pleafing to him, as we defire his Favour, or value his Interceffion. And to all fuch he is fure to make good, and obtain from the Father all Promifes, Privileges, Grants, inheritable Joys and Rewards: For he is able to give, and able to fave to the uttermost all thofe that come to bim. WORTHY Notions of our MEDIATOR are ever neceffary, both to regulate our Addreffes, and encourage them to the Throne of Grace. 1. The Confideration of him, what he really is; as much interested in, and concerned for the Honour and Authority of God, as for the Interest and Benefit of Man; mightily conduces to regulate the Matter of our Prayers and Applications to God. In the Prefence and Devotion of fuch Thoughts, what Votary would prefume to offer up Petitions for the Pardon of his Sins, for the Sake of Jefus Chrift bis Mediator and Advocate, whilft he continues unchang❜d and impenitent in Mind and Practice, with Regard to that Sin or Sins; or refufes Forgiveness to others for their Trefpaffes against him? He may be very fure fuch a Petition can never be regarded, or preferr'd by him, who is the impartial Mediator of the Covenant between God and Man; when it is fo contrariant, and abhorrent to the Terms of it; which promises and enfures Forgiveness to none, but the penitent Forfaker of Sin. And he is as much engaged to be true and faithful to God, in feeing to the Performance of the Terms; as to gain us Favour and Acceptance upon our fincere Performance of them. The Foundation of God, and that Covenant, ftandeth XII. ftandeth fure, be that nameth the Name of Chrift, CHAP. or invokes him for MEDIATOR, must depart from Iniquity; or elfe he may depart from the Thoughts of his being concern'd as Mediator for him: And then his Cafe is desperate beyond Redemption. The very Prayer of fuch wicked ones, turns into Abomination, both to God, and the Mediator. So in every other Petition, or Thanksgiving, as ever we expect him to introduce or fecond it, we must have a true and due Regard to the Honour of God, and his general Laws, as also his particular Precepts and Directions incumbent upon our Station; as well as to the recommending ourselves, and our Affairs to his Favour; all our publick Prayers and Devotions must be qualify'd with a right Intention, directing them to the fingle Service of God, not to the Eyes of Men; praying or hoping otherwife in his Interceffion, we do but affront him, as if he did not know our Hearts. In that Cafe, we confider the Mediator not whole and entire as he is, but by Halves. And therefore tho' we put our Cafe into his Hands, he will have no regard to it, unless we fubmit to him as an impartial Mediator: For just and true are thy ways, O King of Saints! Rev. xv. 3. Whilft we would gladly make Ufe of his Intereft in the Father to be ferviceable to ourselves, we are guilty of the Partiality, and the base Imagination of expecting, he would betray the Respect and Obedience due to his Father's Authority over us; whofe Will is one with his, and whofe Commands are the fame, with regard to our Compliance; who is now in Heaven, become the Author of eternal Salvation to all that obey him. And there he has the Deno 2 mination XII. CHAP. mination of Impartiality, being called faithful and true, Rev. xix. 2. which he fulfils both towards God, and Man, Being thus rightly guarded from any Prefumption; 2. THIS Dispensation is most graciously and divinely conceded unto Men to encourage our Addreffes to Heaven with every Alacrity and Chearfulness, and with full Affurance of Succefs, our Hearts can with. Our Imagination can readily fupply, and affift us, as it were, with an actual feeing a glorious Person, a mighty Counsellor in our Human Nature, affifting, abetting, and pleading at the Right Hand of God for human Weakness and Frailty, confeffing its Wilfulness and Folly, and vowing its beft Refolutions, and performing its fincereft Endeavours after better Obedience. Having therefore boldness to enter into the Holieft by the Blood of Jefus, by a new and living Way, which he has confecrated for us through the Veil, i. e. bis Flesh; let us draw near with a true Heart, in full Affurance of Faith, having our Hearts Sprinkled from an evil Confcience*. And again, we have Freedom and Access with Confidence to the Father, by Faith in him t. And St. Peter makes it the End of his fuffering for our Sins, that be might bring us unto God t. And we are commanded to afk in his Name, that we should receive, and that our Foy may be full . And herein is Joy, if any Man fin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jefus Chrift the Righteous, and he is the Propitiation for our Sins +. And fee how the Apostle afcends in his Argument; Who fhall lay any thing to the Charge of God's Ele&t? It is God that justifies, who is be that condemneth? It is Chrift that died, + Eph. ii. 16. ‡ 1 Pet. iii. 18. +John ii. 1. * Heb. x. 19, &c. John xvi. 14. yea |