SERMON XXIV.

ACTS xvi. 30, 31.

What must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.

HAVING considered and improved our Lord's ascension into heaven, we proceed to his session; "He sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty."

The title Almighty is ascribed to the Father in the first article of the Creed as well as in the present. Here it intends the absolute power of God, whereby he doth all things, can do what he pleases, and is above all possibility of being hindered in the execution of his purposes. There it regarded his absolute dominion over all things as an universal and eternal Sovereign.

To be on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, or on the right hand of power (since God has not indeed hands), must regard the station unto which Christ is exalted, and express the singular honour and glory he is advanced unto as Mediator, the possession of universal dominion as Lord of all things in his mediatorial capacity, and his own most perfect and inconceivable blessedness.

And whereas he is said to sit on the right hand of the Father, this has no reference to his bodily posture, for the first martyr saw him standing on the right hand of God, but may imply his perpetual life and settled unalterable continuance in his exalted state, or more properly the authoritative administration of that power unto which he is exalted, and whereof he is put in possession.

In this exalted station our professor now considers him, who in the days of his flesh was the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and having before declared his belief that Jesus had done all things while on earth, which either the glory of God or the salvation of sinners required of him in that state of humilia

tion, is now, in the merit of what he had done here below, possessed of all power in heaven, and employing it all in the most effectual manner to the same glorious ends. But particularly he intends to say,

First. I believe Christ to be at the right hand of God in the present and perpetual administration of his prophetical office. While he was upon earth his word was with power, but the full power of that word was reserved to his being made head over all things to his church. Then the partition-wall being broken down which separated between Jews and Gentiles, he would teach all nations. This he has done and doth. He began with the Jews at the feast of Pentecost, and would teach them the way of life in believing that he was the Christ, the Son of God. I hear the poor fisherman open his mouth, and see the hearts of thousands bending before the testimony he gave, that Jesus, that very Jesus whom they had crucified, was made of God Lord and Christ. What! Was it the word or wisdom of Peter that wrought thus powerfully upon the hearts of so many hearers, bent with peculiar opposition against the truths which they received? Or was this an effect arising in a way of mere persuasion and evidence from the miracle of tongues which stared them in the face? Both words and works alike powerful they had repeatedly enjoyed under Christ's ministry without any such issue. What then was the cause? I see and own it. Jesus was now glorified; therefore the Holy Ghost was given. That gift he had now received of the Father, and now he began to shed abroad the same in a measure and manner never before known. He taught the hearts of his people by sending to them the light, not of his word only, but of his holy Spirit. In the strength of this influence the word ran. Speedily the sound of it went out as it were into all lands, and believ ́ers were everywhere added to the Lord. The prince of this world was cast out of his dominion, which he usurped, and was forced to yield up the hearts of his captives to the more mighty Jesus. Thus the great Prophet of the church taught with power as soon as he was exalted to the right hand of God. Nor from that time to this day has he forgotten his office. In every age he has taught the hearts of his people. In this age he teaches all that ever come to know and love the truth. I see

him doing it by multitudes. While his faithful messengers are declaring the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, he is with them giving unto many hearts to understand them. He makes the word effectual, being present by the Spirit, though in person he be in heaven. Sleeping sinners awake, they arise from the dead, he gives them life. Yes, they live, they are turned from their former evil works, they live a divine life, they shine as lights in the world, he leads them into all necessary truth, he makes their path as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. They have no need of an earthly infallible interpreter of the word of God, for he himself instructs them all therein, from the least even unto the greatest, in their use of his own institutions. I own him for my Prophet, I desire myself to call no man on earth master, and I would leave others to be taught by him also. I will read, hear, and meditate upon his word, which he has caused to be written for my instruction, and will pray and wait for his Spirit to guide me into all saving truth. I am told by the mouth of St. John, that the people of God have received an unction from the Holy One, who sits on the right hand of God, and dispenses his gifts and graces to the church; and I am further informed, that This anointing abideth in them, and teacheth them of all things, so that they need not that any man teach them the first principles of Christianity, much less step into the place of the Spirit for their further information in revealed truths. This unction I trust I have received, for surely from the heart I have been enabled to confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh; I confess him to be my Saviour, I confess him to be the Son of God, I confess him to have come in the flesh to die for the ungodly, I confess that herein is all my salvation. Having therefore this unction from him the Holy One abiding in me, I shall hereby both know every spirit whether it be of God, and in these evil days of man's wisdom most easily be assured that he that denieth the Father as the Father, and the Son as the Son, is antichrist, denying the Son to be the only-begotten of the Father, and having consequently no true knowledge of the Father, nor interest in him; and also keeping under its influence I shall be built up in my most holy faith, receiving constant additions of light and grace, and being furnished with higher

qualifications for the kingdom of glory, through the continual care and teaching of my great Prophet, who sits at the right hand of the throne.

Secondly. As I believe Christ to be on the right hand of God in the exercise of his prophetical, so also of his priestly office. In the merit of his atonement he is gone up into heaven, and appears in the presence of God for us. He presents his crucified body there in the behalf of his people. No sooner was he sat down on the right hand of God than he obtained their perfect reconciliation, and the gift of the Holy Ghost to bless them with. Wherefore, when I consider myself as I am, covered with innumerable transgressions, and altogether guilty before God, I look up and see my crucified Lord presenting his sacrifice on the behalf of sinners before the throne; I cry out and say, "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." When I am carried away by the force of temptation, and from the daily lamented corruption of my nature am surprised into sin, and my heart is vexed within me, and there is no rest in my bones by reason of my transgression, then I humbly get me to my Lord, look up to heaven and say to my soul," If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins." When I would approach God, and my soul is ready to draw back from his presence in the thought of his great majesty and holiness, and of my unworthiness, as if it were presumption in me to look up unto this holy Lord God; and when I am sensible how low, unbecoming, and full of sin my very best addresses are; then I look to the right hand of the throne, and hear this encouraging account of my Lord's intercession recorded in the book of Revelations, and grow confident that God will not cast out my prayer; And another angel came, and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it up with the prayers of all saints, upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.' When with all my sins and infirmities about me, threatened by the law, and condemned by my own

my

conscience, I nevertheless find in my soul a peace in believing, which also, especially under trials and afflictions, grows up to joy in the Holy Ghost; I remember the words of my Lord, • If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but, if I depart, I will send him unto you;' and acknowledge his effectual advocacy, while I find that we have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but we have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.' While I find heart inclined and stirred up to mourn over sin before God, to cry importunately for deliverance from the body of sin dwelling in me, to sue continuedly for mercy as for my life, and for grace to love God in my own soul, and to others that they may love him also; while I find my spirit thus in conformity with the word of God, I have a joyful testimony that Christ intercedeth at the right hand of God, yea, that even for me he maketh intercession. What I experience in myself is the fruit and proof of his interceding even for me. The Spirit thus given is the effect of his intercession, and the proof of my interest therein. In such case The Spirit helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered.' And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

All these benefits I see arising unto me through the intercession of Christ, whose obedience unto death was so infinitely pleasing to the Father, that he had only to will all these things for his people and they are done; their persons are accepted, their daily miscarriages pardoned, their prayers heard, their souls comforted, their hearts quickened by the Holy Ghost to a penitent, humble, and heavenly temper. Well might the Apostle encourage us in these views of Christ's session at the right hand of God; Seeing then that we have a great HighPriest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an High-priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.?

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