Sermon 66

Isaiah 53:12 — Verse 12. — And he made intercession for the transgressors.

If Christ were known in the greatness and vast extent of his worth, O! how lovely would he be? How incomprehensibly full are his offices of grounds of consolation to his people? But the mean and low thoughts we have of him, and the poor consolation we feed on, do evidence much ignorance of him, and much unbelief of the solid worth and fullness that is in him, and in his priestly office in particular; and yet, O! how full of consolation is it? Such a high Priest became us (Hebrews 7:26). Even such a High Priest as sinners had need of: there has been much spoken of one part of his priesthood, to wit, his sacrifice, and offering up of himself, in the former verses of this chapter; now before the Prophet closes, he gives a hint of the other part of his priestly office, to wit, of his intercession, a main commendation of Christ's fullness. It is that which evidences him to be a Savior, able to save to the uttermost such as come into God through him; because he lives for ever to make intercession for them: as it is (Hebrews 5:25). And it is a piece of the consolation of God's people, that Jesus Christ has this office by the Father's allowance; and that it is articled in the covenant of redemption between the Father and him; that as he shall pour out his soul to death, be numbered with transgressors, bear the sins of many: so he shall make intercession for the transgressors. Therefore (Hebrews 7:21) he is said to be made a high Priest with an oath, by him that said to him (Psalm 110:4), The Lord swore, and will not repent; you are a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. He was a Priest on earth by offering himself in a sacrifice, and by interceding for elect sinners, and he is a Priest in heaven by his intercession; and therefore is preferred to all the priests on earth, who did not continue by reason of death; but he continues for ever; and none can start him wrong, to speak so with reverence of him.

We showed in our entering on this verse, that this his intercession is not to be restricted to his prayer on the cross; that was but an evidence, or particular instance of it, but it takes in his whole intercession. Because the scope of the Prophet here is to hold out, as what God promised to him on the one hand in the covenant of redemption, so on the other what he intercedes for; and so his intercession looked on in the covenant of redemption takes in his whole intercession, especially as it is gone about in heaven, by virtue of his sacrifice once for all offered up when he was on earth.

We observed the last day, that according to the covenant of redemption, our Lord Jesus Christ was required not only to die, but to be an intercessor, or that it belongs to our Lord's priestly office, agreed upon in the covenant of redemption, not only to offer up himself in a sacrifice, and to die, but to make intercession for his people. He made intercession for the transgressors: or as all the rest may be read in the future time, so this; he shall make intercession for the transgressors; but for the certainty of the thing, it is set down in the preterit, or by-past time. The Father did take his word, and so it passed as done in the court of heaven.

We cleared this point, and proposed four uses of it, the first of which was to inform us concerning Christ's fullness, to discover his unsearchable riches, and to let us see what an excellent high Priest we have, that continues an intercessor. Not only has he once for all offered up his sacrifice, as the high priest under the law did once a year, but has entered within the veil to intercede, and thereby to make the benefits of his purchase effectual, and forthcoming to them, for whom his sacrifice was offered. Even as in Leviticus 16 (where the rules for the high priest's offering are given) after he had offered the sacrifice, he took the blood and entered within the veil, and by the sacrifice, and his going in to pray, he made atonement for the people typically; answerable to this, our Lord Jesus, by his once offering has perfected for ever those who are sanctified: and by his going within the veil, he executes this part of his priestly office, in interceding for transgressors.

In prosecuting this Use, we answered some questions, which now we shall not insist to repeat: Only there is a short question or two, that further may be asked (which will clear the former before we go to the next Use). And the 1st is, if our Lord before he came in the flesh, discharged this part of his priestly office? The reason of the question or doubt is, because in the New Testament his intercession is always, at least very ordinarily, subjoined to his Ascension. The 2nd is, How his intercession now differs from his intercession before his Incarnation, or in what respects the consolation of believers, that flows from his intercession is stronger now, than the consolation of believers flowing from it was before he was incarnate? As for the first, it cannot be denied, but Christ was Intercessor since he had a church in the world, for it's a part of his priestly office, and he was made a Priest, by the eternal oath, in the Covenant of Redemption (Psalm 110:4). The Lord has sworn and will not repent, you are a Priest forever: And it's said to have an unchangeable Priesthood. And there being but one way of access for sinners to heaven, by Christ, who is called the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world; it must be held for a sure conclusion, that his intercession is as old as his sacrifice. And he was Intercessor before his Incarnation in these three respects. 1. In respect of his office, being designed to be Intercessor; For (as we said) being designed to be Priest, and being Mediator before his Incarnation, he needed to be Intercessor also: For that way he did mediate, and the benefits that came to sinners from the beginning, were the effects of his intercession: Therefore (1 Timothy 2:5) it's said, There is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, and there was never another real Mediator, however Moses might be called a typical one. 2. He was Intercessor before his Incarnation, in respect of the merit of his future sacrifice: He did not before his Incarnation intercede by virtue of his sacrifice actually offered, as now he does; yet there was virtue which flowed from his sacrifice to be offered, to the people of God, as well then as now, when it has been long since offered: The sins of all that ever were pardoned, were pardoned on the account of his sacrifice: And so also the spiritual benefits that did redound to them, did redound to them through his intercession then, as now, by virtue of the same sacrifice, because of the nature of the Covenant, wherein it was agreed, that his sacrifice should be of the same efficacy before his Incarnation, as after: For the day and hour was agreed upon, when he should offer that sacrifice, Therefore it's said, that in due time, and in the fullness of time, he came and died. 3. He was Intercessor before his Incarnation, as after it, in respect of the effects that followed on it, to the people of God, then and now: The people of God before his Incarnation had communion with God, and access to him; though not generally, in that degree of boldness, they presented their prayers through, and were beholden to the same Christ, for a hearing, as we are; and therefore, his intercession, before his Incarnation extended to them, as to us in these respects, but with this difference that he procured these benefits to them by virtue of the Covenant, and the efficacy of his blood to be offered; and now he procures them to his people since his Incarnation and ascension, by virtue of the same ascension, and by virtue of the efficacy of his blood offered.

As to the 2nd, How his Mediation, and intercession now differs since his ascension, from his intercession before it, as to the strengthening of the consolation of the people of God? For answer, 1. We lay down this for a conclusion; That though our Lord Jesus was Mediator both before his Incarnation, and now, yet since his ascension, he has a new way of Mediation, and intercession, that exceedingly abounds to the strengthening of the consolation of his people: therefore it's ordinarily subjoined to his ascension, because of his new manner of discharging that his office. It is true, there is no addition to that grace which is infinite in him, as if he could be more gracious, or as if, in respect of the Covenant, there could be larger promises, as to essential things contained therein; but by taking on our nature, he has a new way of being affected, and a new way of venting his affection to us; and is capable of another manner of touch with the infirmities of his people now, that he has human bowels, though glorified, and glorious; and the faith of his people has a ground superadded, whereupon to expect the communication of that grace, mercy, and goodness that is in him; though all the effects that followed to his people, before his Incarnation, had respect to his future Incarnation; So these effects had respect to his future intercession, in our nature, as well as to his dying, and laying down of the price; for those that were admitted to heaven before he came in the flesh, were admitted the same way that we are.

But, secondly, and more particularly, if it be asked wherein this addition to the consolation of God's people, by his intercession, after his ascension manifests itself — we may take it up in these six steps, which will also serve to illustrate the manner of his interceding. 1. It manifests in this, that he appears in heaven in our nature; now the man Christ is in heaven interceding, and as Advocate, answering for pursued sinners, or as Ambassador, and Legate, agenting the affairs of them that are given to him of the Father, as it is (Hebrews 9:24): He is not entered into the holy places made with hands, but into heaven itself, to appear now in the presence of God for us — where the Apostle, having been speaking of the excellency of his priesthood before, and comparing him with the type, tells that he is not entered into the typical tabernacle, but into heaven itself, to appear there in the presence of God for us. And this is a solid ground of consolation to a poor believing sinner, that he has Christ in his own nature in heaven, interceding — that what he performed before, by virtue of his office and of the efficacy of his sacrifice, to be offered when he should be incarnate, he now being incarnate and ascended performs; we having God in our nature become a man like us, to care for the things of his people; and if any new question arise, or debate be started, to entertain the treaty, and to effectuate, and make out their business, that nothing that concerns them go wrong. 2. Their consolation is stronger in this respect, that he is in heaven by virtue of the efficacy of his sacrifice already offered; as the high priest, when he had offered the sacrifice, took the blood with him within the veil, and interceded for the people — so our Lord Jesus is not now interceding by virtue of his sacrifice to be offered, but by virtue of his sacrifice already offered, having entered into heaven and taken the efficacy of his sacrifice with him, to enter it (to speak so) in the book of God, to stand on record. Indeed, he stands there himself, to keep the memory of his blood fresh; and by each appearance of him there, who is never out of the sight of the Majesty of God, there is still a representation of the worth and efficacy of his sacrifice, and for whom, and for what it was offered. 3. There is, by the man Christ's being in heaven, this ground of consolation added, that he has a sympathy with sinners otherwise than before — not as to the degree, nor as to the intenseness of his grace and mercy (as I hinted before), but as to the manner how he is affected; so he has the true nature, and sinless affection of a man, and so has compassion to be moved upon, which manifested while he was on earth; although we cannot grasp the manner how he is touched, yet he is touched otherwise than God abstractly considered can be, and otherwise than an angel in heaven can be touched — as we may see (Hebrews 2:17 and 4:15): We have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all things tempted as we are, yet without sin; and it was necessary for him to be like his brethren, that he might be a merciful, and faithful high priest, and have compassion on the ignorant, and them that are out of the way. He is sinners' friend, that is Intercessor; and such an Intercessor, that intercedes from the impression that the holy, and inconceivable sympathy which he has with his members has upon him — as his expression to Paul speaks forth (Acts 9): "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me" — counting himself a sufferer with his people, which cannot but have its own influence on his intercession, and add to the consolation of his people; that what he intercedes for the procurement of to them is in some way on this ground, as being a favor to their glorified head. 4. Beside this sympathy he has a longing (to speak so) to have all the wants and defects of his people supplied and made up, and to have all the promises made to him in behalf of the elect fulfilled — not any such longing as may in the least encroach on, or be inconsistent with the glory, and glorified state of our blessed Lord Jesus; but considering that there is a near relation between him and his followers, he being the head and they the members, and that he has a sympathy and affection according to that relation, it is answerable and suitable that he should desire, and in some way long for the perfecting of his body the Church, which (Ephesians 1) is called the fullness of him who fills all in all. And he has no question, though a most pure and regular, yet a most kindly and strong desire, and longing to have his body perfected, to have the elect gathered and brought in — as he had on earth a longing to have the work finished which was given him to do. And this cannot but be a weighty part of his intercession, and very comforting to his people; his longing to have such and such a person converted, such and such a person more mortified, and more perfected, and made more conformed to him. There is a word (Hebrews 10:13) that gives ground for this: From now on expecting till all his enemies be made his footstool. And what is spoken of this expecting of what is there mentioned may be applied to other things; he is surely expecting till all these promises concerning his seeing of a seed, and the justifying and glorifying of many be fulfilled, because that was promised him in the former verse — and expecting till he divide the spoil with the strong, as is promised in the former part of this verse. Now our Lord Jesus, having laid down his life, what is he doing in heaven? — even longing till these promises be fulfilled. Not that he has any longing that implies a defect in him simply, for he is absolutely glorified and glorious; yet such longing as is consistent with his glorified state — as (if we may make the comparison, though in every thing it be not suitable) the souls in heaven are perfectly glorified, yet they have a longing for the union of their bodies, for the perfecting of Christ's mystical body, and for the union of all the members in soul and body with the head; so Christ, considered as Mediator, God-man in heaven, has a longing and holy desire which agrees with his office, and is a qualification thereof, and does no ways interrupt his happiness, that what concerns his elect may be perfected. Therefore it is said in the verse before: He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied — importing that it is a kind of new satisfaction to him to get a sinner brought in to believe in him, and that he was waiting and longing for it. 5. He has an actual willing, and continuing desire, that what he has purchased to such and such persons may be applied — and this is not simply to will, for he had that on earth, but a declaring of it in heaven; that such and such things may be forthcoming, and made effectual for the benefit of his members, that what he intended in laying down his life may be brought to pass. It is the Mediator God-man willing, whose will, as man, being perfectly conformed to the will of God, cannot be (to speak so) gainsaid in whatever he wills for the persons given him. And this is answerable to (John 17:24): Father, I will that these whom you have given me may be with me, where I am, etc. I will that such and such things engaged to me for them may be made good, that such and such persons be pardoned and brought through, that they may be preserved from temptation, may have their prayers heard, that they may be made to persevere, and may be glorified. So that we cannot imagine a case wherein God's people have need, and a promise in the covenant, but there is an actual willingness in Christ to have the need supplied, and the promise applied, according to the terms of the covenant. 6. We may take in here not only Christ's willing that such a thing be done, but his effectual doing of it; and as this is a piece of his intercession, so it holds him forth to be a notable Intercessor. Compare John 14:13, 14:16, 14:26, and 15:26, and 16:7. In Chapter 14, verse 13, he says, Whatever you ask in my name I will do — which we suppose respects Christ as Mediator, to be trusted as great Lord Deputy in our nature, to answer the prayers of his people, when put up according to the will of God. Chapter 16, verse 26, speaks of the Father's sending the Comforter, and Chapter 15:26 of the Mediator's sending the Comforter; so does Chapter 16:7. In one place it is, What you ask I will do, and in another place it is, that the Father will do — it is all one, but it is to show that what the Father does, he will do it by the Son the Mediator, and he will actually perform it. And these three expressions — I will pray the Father, and I will send, and the Father shall send — hold out this: that as the Father does by the Son, so this is a part of Christ's intercession, effectually to procure and send out to us what we have need of. 7. In all this there is in the man Christ an adoration of the Father, which, though it be not such as is unsuitable to his exalted and glorified state, yet is it becoming well him that is man, and in that respect is at his right hand, to give to God. I shall only say further here, that though we cannot tell how he intercedes to satisfy ourselves fully, yet this is clearly held forth to us, that whatever is needful, by his being in heaven we may confidently expect it will be performed from the man Christ, from him who is God-man in one person; and so his intercession with the Father is his actual procuring, and doing such a thing, and that not as God simply, but as Mediator. Therefore these two words are put in the previously cited expressions: Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son, and whom the Father will send in my name — that is, by virtue of my procurement, by virtue of my sacrifice and intercession. And the sending of the Comforter shows that it is performed by him that is God-man, out of the respect he has to his members, and on the account of his office, which he pursues for their edification. And so there is enough to answer the question, and abounding consolation to his people, which is the next application.

Use, 2. To show the notable consolation that flows from this part of Christ's office: O! What savoriness, and unsearchable riches are in this part of his name? That our Lord Jesus, as Intercessor, appears in the presence of God for us; We shall speak here to these five things. 1. Wherein this is comfortable, or to the extent of it. 2. To the advantages that follow on it. 3. To the grounds of this consolation which are confirmations of it. 4. To this, at what times, and particular occasions the people of God may, and ought in a special manner to make use of, and comfort themselves in it: And 5. on what terms this consolation is allowed, that they grow not vain, and proud of it.

For the first, our Lord's intercession gives a fourfold extent of consolation, that makes it wonderful. 1. In its universality, as to the persons to whom it's extended; not indeed to all men in the world, but to all that will make use of it; and though it were simply of universal extent to all men in the world, yet it would comfort none, but such as made use of it: and that vanity of the Arminians, that extends Christ's death, and intercession to all can truly say no more for so in comfort; for they are forced to say that Christ died, and intended his death for many that will never get good of him, but we say all that he intended should get good of his death, do get the intended good of it; indeed, we say, that whoever will make use of him, shall get good both of his death, and of his intercession; so, (Hebrews 7:25) He is able to save to the uttermost, all that come to God through him; though the cause seemed to be desperate, and the sentence pronounced; Cursed is he that continues not in all things written in the law, yet he is able to save them. Therefore, (1 John 2:2) it's said, If any man sin: O, strange word, We have an advocate, what, an advocate for any man? Indeed, for any man that will make use of him: for as we showed before, though it's true that his intercession is bounded to his elect, yet it's as true, that he refuses no cause that is honestly given him to plead; if any man sin, we have an advocate: he will not say to such poor souls, I will not be for you, I have done all that I may, but it is gone against me; neither will he prig (to say so) with you, he will not say, I will have this or that before I undertake your cause for you; but if any man sin, if any man see his need, and will employ him; whether he be a great man, or mean man, whether he be poor or rich, bound or free; whether he be an old sinner that has lived long in security, hypocrisy or profanity, or be a settled professor, whether he be young or old; if any of you all that are here will come to him, he will not refuse to be employed by you: by him therefore (as the apostle exhorts, Hebrews 13:15) let us offer praise to God continually: and as praise, so the sacrifices of other duties, and they shall be accepted; as the [reconstructed: offer of] the gospel runs on a universality, and excludes none, but these, that by their unbelief, exclude themselves: so his intercession runs on a universality, if any man sin, and will employ him he is an advocate at hand: and seeing it is Christ, and Christ as intercessor for transgressors, that we are speaking of, as the ground of sinners' consolation; let me in passing desire you to remember, that he is pointing at you, men and women; and if there be any of you, that have a broken cause to plead, any debt that you would fain be freed of, any sin to be pardoned, or your peace to be made with God; here is an advocate, and the very best, offering himself to be employed: such an advocate, as said (John 11) I thank you Father, for that I know you hear me always: this was true while he was on earth, and will be true to the end of the world. 2. The extent of this consolation appears in respect of all cases, as his intercession excludes no person, that will make use of him, so it excludes no case, though it looked like a lost cause, and though the conscience had pronounced the sentence, God is greater than the conscience, and can loose from it, though the act were past in the law; he can cancel it: and here comes in the triumph, (Romans 8:33-34) Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies; will the Devil, the law, the conscience, or anything lay aught to the charge of the man whom God justifies? No, why so? It is Christ that died: but that is not all, alas, may the soul say, How will I get good of Christ's death? I cannot apply it, and make use of it, he answers that; he is also risen again, and sat down at the right hand of God, and there makes intercession for us; to wit, that his purchase may be applied, and there needs no more, you will get no more, you can seek no more, and that closes the triumph. There is no sin before, nor after conversion, no sin of ignorance, no sin against light, no enemy, no temptation, whatever it be, but that word answers all; Who can lay anything to the charge of God's elect? Where Christ takes the sinner's case in hand, who will stand up against him, he is too strong a party; if Satan stand at the high priest's hand, it's the Lord that rebukes him; (Zechariah 3) that as it were ousts him from the bar. 3. The extent of this consolation appears, in respect of the degree, and height of the perfection of the salvation that comes by Christ's intercession, to all that make use of him in all cases: (Hebrews 7:25) He is able to save to the uttermost: the word is very significant, he is able to save perfectly, to perfection, and to perfection at the height of perfection; and what more would you be at? He can save from corruption, and put without the reach of it; he can save from wrath, that it shall not come near you, he can save from all the effects of sin and wrath; he shall not leave a tear on the cheek of any of his own before all be done; and that is the ground of it, for he lives forever, to make intercession for us: if any should say, he may save from one sin, but not from another, or he may bring me a part of the way to heaven, and then leave me there; it's folly says the apostle, to think so; for he is able to save to the uttermost, because he lives forever to make intercession: although his death seem to be transient, once for all perfected, yet that cannot hinder the application of the benefits purchased by it; for he is intercessor; and he that procured your entering in the way, will carry you on in it; he that procured a [reconstructed: sanctified] conviction to come in, will bring you through it; [reconstructed: he] that procured your justification, and pardon of sin, will also apply it to your conscience, and bring forth an intimation of it, when he thinks fit, and sanctify you thoroughly; and this is indeed great consolation to a sinner, that he who has begun the work will perfect it, and he will not leave it, till it be at such a height of perfection, as it can be desired to be no higher. 4. The extent of this consolation is such, that it reaches to all times: there is not a believer in any place or case, that is wrestling with any difficulty, that can come wrong to Christ: he is ever in readiness to be employed: there is never an hour nor moment that he has his door shut, he died once, but now lives forever, to die no more, and he lives forever to make intercession, he is entered into immortality, to make effectual, what he has undertaken in favor of his people; he is always at the bar; and when his own are but little employing him, he is minding their affairs night and day, watching over them every moment: see (Luke 22) where the Lord says, Peter, satan has sought to sift you, but I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not: Satan gave in a bill against Peter, when he had no mind of it, but the Lord repelled it. The greatest cheat, or the most subtle adversary, that steals out decrees cannot circumvent him, he is still waiting on at the ear, that nothing come in against his people to their prejudice; and if it do come in it's that he may crush it in the first motion: O, how does the consolation of believers stream out here? He will not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard on high; a bruised reed will he not break, and the smoking flax will he not quench, until he bring forth judgment to truth: he will not contend, nor say, man or woman, how is this, that you have put yourself in the mire, and would have me to take you out of it, that you bring a broken plea to me, and seek of me to right it? He will not ask whether you have money, all his employment is free; nor will he put you back till the morrow, nor bid you wait on till another time, morning and evening, and at midnight he is ready; and when the elect sinner has little thought, he is watching over his need preventing many temptations, keeping from many ill turns, casting many challenges over the bar, that the Devil, and the law put in: therefore study his offices more, and this among the rest, we much wrong him, in not studying of them, and acquainting ourselves with them, that we may feed upon them; himself open up his name to us, and to him be praise.