sheep of Christ and to none else This is not for him that will catch at any comfort to protect himself in a trade of sin but this truth chiefly belongs to those that are indeed truly humbled under and burthened with the sense of the weight of sin To such only I speak do your sins press you down as a Cart is pressed with sheaves Do your iniquities so weigh down your heads as that you cannot look up Dare not you come to God nor stand in his presence Do you fear that your sins have provoked God against you Do you doubt the Plague is begun against you are you fearful the wrath of God is coming out upon you and that it may prove such a storm as may sink you into the lowest Hell Yet O look up to your interceding High Priest who is now in Heaven for you who labours to prevail upon the heart of God for pardoning grace on your behalf who likewise makes it his business to observe his Fathers countenance towards Believers that if at any time his face of Justice begins to look grim and he perceives that wrath begins to come forth he may as Aaron did step quickly in between God and the people and so by his interposing presence of grac eand powerful Intercession he may allay the anger of his Father again Hence it is that John comforts doubting drooping souls in his day with this truth because indeed it is a truth proper to that end and purpose and farther John the Divine doth not only apply this truth as a Cordial to bear them up under the sense of sin but likewise as a notable preservative against the act of sin 1 John 2. 1 2. My little children I write unto you that you sin not and if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is a propitiation in his blood for our sins and not onely for ours but for the sins of the whole world O Soul live upon this blessed truth stay thy self here under all thy doubtings O consider sin may vex and disquiet thee but all cannot hurt thee so long as Christ keeps up his praying hands to God for thee it shall not do thy soul the least injury Christ doth prevail and he will prevail in heaven for thee against sin and wrath Christ lies in the way of his Fathers wrath as it were if any of it run forth it must pass through Christ he stands between the Father and thy Soul in a time of the Fathers displeasure and cryes out good Father stay thy wrath O hold thy hands strike not this poor sinner if thou strikest I am resolved the blows shall alight all on my back I will bear all and suffer all and take all both fault and punishment upon my self This the Father tried once and it proved true when the Father went to strike the Elect the blows fell all upon Christs own back which bruised him very much Isa 52. 1. which leads me to a fifth use of the Point Use 5. Which is to exhort thee O soul from what hath been said about the intercession of Jesus Christ for thee Oh! to love Jesus Christ with all thy heart and with all thy strength and with all thy soul O who can love such a friend as Christ is too much O therefore strive to love with the love of service and obedience with the love of delight with the love of communion and with the love of desire so as to part with Father Mother Wife Husband Children Honours Lands Livings yea all that 's near and dear for Jesus Christ O account nothing too much you do for him in his Worship in his Ordinances as in Prayer Hearing Reading in Meditating Mourning Weeping Repenting Oh account nothing too much you administer unto him in his People in his Ministers in the mannaging of his Cause and Gospel in the world O with Mary think not your Alablaster Box and Oyntment too good to bring forth in a time of need for Jesus Christ Oh account nothing too much you suffer for Christ account no prison to bad to go into for Christ no dungeon too deep to lie in for Christ no death too disgraceful for Christs sake because he thought nothing too much he suffered for you nor any thing too much which he now doth for you CHAP. 25. Of the Brazen Laver. I Now come to speak of the brazen Laver which was for this purpose that the Priests might wash themselves therein before they went into the Tabernacle to perform the Worshp and Service thereof Exod. 30. 18 19 20. Thou shalt also make a laver of Brass and his foot also of Brass to wash withal and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the Altar and thou shalt put water therein for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat when they go into the Tabernacle of the Congregation they shall wash with water that they die not or when they come near unto the Altar to minister to burn offerings made by fire unto the Lord. This brazen Laver was a Type of Jesus Christ and the cleansing water which was in it typed out the Blood of Jesus Christ which onely can cleanse poor souls and wash them from their sinful guiltiness and sinful filthiness for as the Priests under the Law were to wash themselves in the brazen Laver before they were thought fit to have to do either with the holy God of Worship or the holy things of the Worship of God so are all the Elect first by Faith to wash themselves in the Blood of Christ this spiritual brazen Laver before they are thought fit to have to do either with God or his Worship Hence is that cleansing attributed to the Blood of Christ so often in Scripture to shew you it performs the same use to the Gospel Priests for so doth the Gospel term every Believer now Rev. 1. 6. as the Laver water did to the legal Priests 1 John 1. 7. The blood of Jesus that cleanseth us from all sin so Rev. 1. 5. To him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own Blood Now in this chapter of Revelations you may see by the order of the words in verse 5 6. how the Holy Ghost makes the type and the antitipe to agree In Exod. 30. 19. you have the brazen Laver set up now in the 5. verse of this chapter you have Christ set out to you performing the same use and office in washing and cleansing In Exod. 30. 19. you have the subjects spoken of who they should be which should wash in the brazen Laver and these were Aaron and his sons now you know these were Priests Now look into Rev. 1. 6. there the subjects spoken of which must wash in the Laver of Christs Blood they are called Priests likewise which intends all believers in and under the Gospel all those which have washed in the Blood of Christ our
with the Altar which was overlaid with Brass upon which the slain sacrifices were offered up to God in sacrifice Secondly That which in the Verse relates to the Incense Altar overlaid with Gold you have in the latter part of the Verse in these words for a sweet smelling savour Both of which Uses of the Altars the Apostle makes to agree to and in our Lord Jesus Christ a Believers spiritual Altar But here a question may be asked me why the Incense Altar should be overlaid with Gold and the Altar appointed for slain sacrifices only with Brass To which I answer by this difference in the two Altars we may observe this note for our Instruction That as Gold is more excellent then Brass so was the work of the Incense Altar more excellent in the sight of God then that work of slaying the sacrifices on the Altar which was overlaid with Brass And as these Altars were both Types of our Lord Jesus Christ with reference to the twofold work he was to administer for the Elect which was first to offer himself a sacrifice and secondly to make continual Intercession to God for them I say it plainly shews us thus much that although the work which our Saviour did in dying the bitter death on the Cross in order to the satisfying of the justice of God wherein he was a sacrifice to take away sin I say though this was a very glorious and transcendent work yet the work of Christs Intercession is much more glorious This will appear if we consider these two things First the Apostles words in Rom. 8. 34. who puts the term Rather upon the Intercession of Christ a work proper to the Incense Altar which term is not put upon the sufferings of Christ Verse 34 Who is he that shall condemn it is Christ that died yea rather is risen again who is even at the right hand of God to make Intercession for us giving you to understand that the greater excellency of the two lay in the work of Christs Intercession rather then in the work of Christs sufferings farther it will more appear in that the Apostle in this 34. Verse tells you that for this work sake of Christs Intercession he sitteth at Gods right hand as if the Apostle should say though the work of Christs sufferings was a very glorious work yet that of his Intercession was yea is much more glorious in Gods sight because the act of Christs Intercession declares the former act of his sufferings to be wholly done and compleated therefore must Christ sit down at his Fathers right hand This you may farther see held out to you in the Type it self Exod. 37. 26. where you may observe that the Incense Altar had his Crown of Gold placed upon it which the other Altar had not which shews us as hath been said that this work of Christs Intercession Crowns all the former But secondly it will yet more appear if we consider the estate and condition our Saviour was in when suffering upon the Cross and that was a guilty state and condition he was under at that time when he was upon the Cross the highest guilt that ever was man in this world not any of his own for there was never guile found in his mouth but it was our guilt which he took upon him Isa 53. 6. For it pleased the Lord to lay upon him the iniquity of us all But in the work of Intercession he is fully justified from all that sin and guilt which he took on him for us by the offering up of himself to God as a sacrifice and the justice of God hath nothing now to say against Christ so that Christ takes his place in Heaven without controul or objection at the right hand of God who sits there making Intercession for us And Christ taking his place there at the Incense Altar doth cause a sweet smell to arise up to God from every other act of Christ done before upon the sacrifice Altar overlaid with Brass because now he acts not as a nocent person but as an innocent person therefore saith the Apostle Phil. 2. 8 9. speaking of Christ saith And being found in fashion like a man he humbled himself and became obedient to deaâ—h even the death of the Cross wherefore God hath highly exalted him and given him a name above every name Thus you see why the Altar of Incense was overlaid with Gold but the other only with Brass Use O then this should teach Believers where to run for sound solid comfort in doubting seasons let it be at the Altar of Incense where Christ sitteth at Gods right hand to make Intercession for us It s true I have in my former Discourse about the Altar of satisfaction which was overlaid with Brass advised souls to make at that Altar in doubting seasons and so I say still for Christ could not have sate down at the right hand of God to have made Intercession for us if he had not first suffered Phil. 2. 8 9. But the sufferings of Christ on the Altar of Brass do not yield a soul such full matter of triumph over Sin the Law and the Devil as the interceeding work of Christ doth My Reason for it is this because that although Christ in love to his people did go so far as to die for them even the bitter death of the Cross that so he might justifie them before God and although he went so far as to pour out his soul unto death that by it he might redeem them to God yet he might have miscarryed in the work he might not have been able to have given justice its full satisfaction and so he might have been held under the power of sin and the grave himself and so all the Elect have as really perished in him their second Adam as they had done before in the first Adam not that any thing of this nature could have been but the supposition may be made for the farther clearing of our matter in hand But now if the people of God will look to the Incense Altar there they shall see their surety Christ standing at Gods right hand Ministring for them before the Lord which clearly sheweth thus much for our comfort that as our Saviour took all our sins upon him and became guilty with them before the justice of God so now it s most certain he is got clear off from them and is pronounced a justified person and we in him fully as well as freely justified also otherwayes Christ had never sate down at the right hand of God Now this is that which fills up the comfort of Believers that Christ is translated from the Altar overlaid with Brass to the Altar of Incense overlaid with Gold which shews that he hath done the work which he came to do for Believers Hence it is that S. Paul triumphs so over Hell Sin Satan the curse of the Law and death it self not so much from what Christ did at the Brazen Altar
of satisfaction as from what Christ doth at the Incense Altar therefore it is that the word Rather is put upon that not that the one could be without the other I mean this not that we could have been justified had not Christ died but S. Paul shews you where to go in doubting seasons for the greatest confirmation of your Faith and Comfort therefore saith S. Paul Rom 8. 34. Who shall condemn it is Christ that died yea Rather is risen and sitteth at the right hand of God making Intercession for us Therefore soul with S. Paul lift up thy head and look up to the Incense Altar and there shalt thou see thy blessed surety that once took all thy sins upon him yet now he sits at the right hand of God on the Throne of the Majesty of Heaven fully set free of all thy sins and discharged of all thy guilt Thou maist assure thy self they will never come into mind more God can never call them into remembrance more Jer. 31. 34. They can never trouble thee more to condemn or accuse thee before God O soul before thy sins can accuse or trouble thee they most trouble Christ in Heaven for they are not thine but Christs sins I mean they are so accounted to be his because he hath taken them upon him for thee if thou art a Believer Therefore as its natural for every thing to make to their home or Centre so if ever sin return again it will first light upon Jesus Christ You know the Ant makes to his hill the Fox when abroad will to his hole the Bee when abroad will to his hive and if ever sin swarm again it will to its hive which is Christ for he hath made it his by imputation and is become the hive of sin O doubting soul fear it not if by faith thou didst ever lay thy sins upon Jesus Christ O rest contented trouble not thy self about it for sin shall never trouble either thee or thy surety more Christ hath made sure work with sin it stands him upon it so to do For it was his sin for it was Christ was made sin for us that knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor 5. 21. And let all the Devils in Hell do what they can yet Christ shall come the second time without sin to salvation Heb. 9. 28. The work of the Incense Altar which was overlaid with Gold it was to offer upon it the Incense Oblation or Offering Exâ—d 30 1 2 3. with Exod. 39. 38. Which Incense was made of sweet Spices as Gumm Galbanum and Frankincense Verse 34. This was as I have already said to pefume all the other Offerings which were offered to God in Sacrifice This shews us the second part of Christs work as he is a Believers High Priest whose Work and Office as a High Priest as I have hinted already was not only to offer himself up a Sacrifice to God for Believers but also to make Intercession to God for them which Intercession of Christ answers to the work of the Incense Altar Insomuch that both of these works of the two Altars meets in Christ the High Priest of Believers Therefore in the High Priest under the Law which was a Type of Christ our great Gospel High Priest you may see how both these works were proper to him First To offer the Sacrifice for the people Lev. 2 3 4 5 6 7. Secondly To make Intercession for the people Lev. 9. 22. And Aaron lifted up his hands and blessed the people and came down from Offering the Offering for sin and the burnt-offering and the peace-offering So Lev. 16. 11 12 13. which blessing of the people is as much as to say his praying for the people for so much the lifting up of hands doth import Exod. 17. 11. with 1 Tim. 2. 8. that God would pardon their sin accept their sacrifices and send them the blessings of this life and that which is to come 1 Kings 8. 55 56 57 both of which works in the High Priest under the Law doth the Apostle apply to Christ and shews as I have already said That Christ was the Anti-type of the Jews High Priest in these two works 1. Of offering the sacrifices 2. In making Intercession for the people saith the Apostle in Heb. 8. 3. For every High Priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices wherefore it is necessary that this man meaning Christ should have somewhat to offer Now what is it that this man Christ Jesus the Believers High Priest was to offer in sacrifice to God for the people look into the 9th Chap. 26. verse and there it is told you what it was saith the Apostle But now in the end of the world hath he appeared meaning Christ to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself Secondly The same Apostle tells you that Christ hath another work to do as our High Priest besides the offering up of himself as a sacrifice to God for Believers and that is the work of Intercession or praying to God continually for all manneâ— of blessings for his Saints which relate to this life and that which is to come Heb. 7. 24 25. But this man meaning Christ because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood What to do Verse 25. for ever to make Intercession for us Now about the Office or Work of Christ as an Intercessour there are these things considerable First The work it self Secondly The time of it how long it shall last Thirdly The end or purpose of the work All this you may see held out to you in the Incense Altar which was the Type of this work of Christs constant interceeding for his people Exod. 30. 7 8. 9 10. 1. First there is the work it self Verse 7. And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet Incense every morning when he dresseth the Lamps he shall burn the Incense upon it So that there is a work of Intercession for the High Priest to do which High Priest now is Jesus Christ therefore faith the Apostle Heb. 7. 21. with 25. The Lord sware and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever meaning Christ after the order of Melchisedeck Now what was the work of Mechisedeck was it not to offer up prayers to God on the behalf of the people that God would bless them with the blessings of his love and favour Gen. 14. 18 19. with Heb. 7. 1. Therefore the Apostle adds this passage after that he hath shewed you that Christ was in the work of his Intercession the similitude of Melchisedeck Heb. 5. 6 7. Where speaking of Christ saith Who in the days of his flesh offered up prayers and supplications with tears and strong crys unto him that was able to save him from death Now you must not think that Christ in his crys and tears and supplications only prayed for himself at that time No no but for all the Elect who at that time met in Christ as