It is by this Sacrifice, O my Soul, that thou art put into a Capacity to be an Heir of Salvation. It is by this Attonement, that thou art free from all corroding Apprehenfions, and continual Uncertainties, whether upon Repentance, God will turn from his fierce Anger, that we perifh not? By this bleffed Sacrifice thou art deliver'd from that Terror which muft ever accompany the Dread of Punifhment from that God to whom Vengeance belongeth Thou can't look upon God, as the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longfuffering, and abundant in Goodness and Truth; keeping Mercy for Thoufands, forgiving Iniquity, and Tranfgreffion and Sin; who, thro' this Blood of Sprinkling which speaketh better Things than that of Abel", will accept thy fincere, tho' imperfect Obedience: For this bleffed High Priest of our Profeffion, is entred into the holy Place with his own Blood, there to appear in the Prefence of God, and make Interceffion for us. Thus, may'ft thou, O my Soul, draw near with Boldnefs, in full Affurance of Faith, thro' this one Mediator between God and Men, the Man Chrift Jefus, knowing that he who poured out his Soul" as an Offering for thy Sins ", ftill pursues that gracious Deign to perfect thy Salvation. He fits at the right Hand of God, and presents to [1] Pf. xciv, 1. [m] Ex[o] Ib. iii, I. [P] Ib. [r] Ibid. Chap. vii, 25. [i] Heb. i, 14. [k] Jonah iii, 9. od. xxxiv, 6. [n] Heb. xii, 24. ix, 12. [q] Ibid. Ver. 24. [f] Ibid. x, 22. [t] 1 Tim. ii, 5. [w] Ibid. Ver. 10. [x] Heb. 10, 12. [u] If. liii, 12. him that Sacrifice which he made on Earth, for a fweet smelling Savour, in that Nature which he affumed for our Sakes, which was made Subject to, and fenfible of our Infirmities, and which was in all Points tempted like as we are, yet without Sin, and therefore he knows how to pity and fuccour them that are tempted; and from the Remembrance of his own Sufferings is prompted to a compaffionate Senfe of ours; and never ceases, in Virtue of his Blood which was fhed for us, to plead our Caufe with God, and to interceed powerfully in our Behalf. By this plenary Sacrifice, by this prevailing Interceffion thou art delivered, O my Soul, from the Fear of Death, which otherwife would have all thy Life-time fubjected thee to Bondage. Thou mayft now look on the Grave as a Paffage only to those bleffed Manfions where Chrift thy Saviour has purchased thee a Place, which he is gone to prepare for thee; where he continues to be thy Patron, thy Advocate, and takes Care of thy moft important Concerns. с How does the Thought of this Sacrifice give Reft to all thofe that labour and are heavy laden? It is the Source of all our Peace, of all our Comforts; that Anchor of the Soul, both fure and fedfaft, on which we may fafely rely, filling the devout Chriftian with a Joy unspeakable and full of Glory, and with a Peace which paeth all Understanding & ! [y] Eph. v. 2. (b) Heb. i, 15. [e] Heb. vi, 19. (a) Ibid. Chap. ii, 18. [d] Matth. xi, 28. Ph. iv, 7. (z) Heb. iv, 15. (c) John xiv, 2. [f] 1 Pet. 1, 8. [g] O my O my God, I am loft in Admiration and Wonder at this thy great Love towards us. Could it ever enter into the Heart of Man, that thou didst fo love the World, as to give thy Son (the Son of thy Love hh) thy only begotten Son, to the End that all that believe on him should not perish, but have everlasting Life? Surely no Words can exprefs, no Thoughts of finite Beings can reach this exalted Inftance of God's Love towards Mankind. It is fo wonderful, fo fublime, that the Angels defiring to look in to ii, cannot throughly comprehend it. Let the Preaching of Christ crucified be unto the Jews a ftumbling Block, and unto the Greeks Foolishness, do thou gladly acknowledge, O my Soul, that it is the Power of God, and the Wisdom of God. Refolve with St Paul, to know nothing fo much as Christ crucified', and glory in the Cross of Christ ". Rejoice in the Lord, do thou joy in the God of thy Salvation". But whilft thou art exulting, O my Soul, on the Greatnefs of this Salvation, remember that Chrift is the Author of it only to them that obey him; to them, who by Continuance in welldoing, feek for Glory, and Honour, and Immortality P: Comply with his Conditions, who had an abfolute Right to prescribe the Terms on which he would bless thee: Turn thy felf according to his gracious Defign from thine Iniquity : Follow Holiness, without which no Man fhall fee the Lord; and denying all Ungodliness [h] 1 Cor. ii, 9. [ii] Pet. i, 12. [m] Gal. vi, 14. [P] Rom. ii, 7. [bh] Col. i, 13. [i] John iii, 16. Ibid. Chap. ii, 2. [o] Heb. v, 9. and and worldly Lufts, do thou live foberly, righteoufly, and godly in this prefent World, looking for that bleed Hope, and the glorious Appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jefus Chrift, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all Iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works". A Meditation on our Saviour's Regal Bleffed Jefu! my King and my God • ! I believe that thou art of the Seed of Abraham P, and the Son of David, according to the Flesh 9. Thou art the King of Ifrael". Thou wert born to be a Light to lighten the Gentiles, as well as to be the Glory of thy People Ifrael. O that all the World may join in finging Praife to thee, who art the great King over all the Earth. Thou wert born King of the Jews", and with a Right and Title to the Throne of David; but yet by neglecting and avoiding outward earthly Honours, and withdrawing from those that would have made thee a King, haft plainly fhewn the Emptinefs and Vanity of Crowns and Sceptres; haft ftampt a Dignity and Grandeur upon a low Eftate, and more especially upon an humble and lowly Mind; haft fhewn that thou wert born for fpiritual and heavenly Purposes, and that thy Kingdom is not of this World.---Thou didst not affect the Pomp and Glory of earthly Courts: When thou took'ft on thee to deliver Man, thou didst not abhor the Virgin's Womb; and tho' thou waft born a King, wert content to be born in a Stable; and humble Shepherds were the only Courtiers of mortal Race, that came to celebrate the 'joyful Festival of thy Birth. Some indeed of fuperior Rank were afterwards drawn to thy Rifing": Wife Men from the Eaft (directed by Prophecy, and led by a Star) came to enquire after him that was born King of the Jews, and there they offer'd him Gifts as to a Prophet, Prieft and King. But how foon did the Kings of the Earth fet themfelves, and the Rulers take Counfel together against the Lord, and against his Anointed 22? One King fought to murder, under the hypocritical Pretence of worfhipping, him that was born King of the Jews. In his merciless Fury the Lives of a Multitude of innocent Babes were cruelly destroyed, and, to escape the inhuman Slaughter, thou wert forced to flee into Egypt. --- Another King, in Mockery and Scorn, arrayed thee in royal Robes, and fet thee at Nought. Pilate, the Roman Governor, asked thee, Art thou a King? Yet when he had thy Anfwer, he delivered thee to be crucified. And thine own Nation dd and more immediate Subjects cried out, We will not have this Man to reign over us, away with (x) John xviii, 36. (a) Matt. ii, 1. (c) John xviii, 37. xviii, 35. (y) Ibid. Ver. 37. (z) Ifa. lx, 3. (aa) Pf. ii, 2. (b) Luke xxiii, 11. (d) Ibid, Chap. xix, 16. [dd] John |