Being confident of this very thing, that be which hash DISCOURSE X. CHRIST THE GRAND MEDIUM OF RELIGION. EPH. ii. 10. Created in Chrift Fefus. WHOEVER gives himfelf leave to reflect foberly on the present state of mankind, muft, I think, acknowledge the indifpenfible neceffity of the renovation of the heart, in order to the enjoyment of God. This is the great business of religion, and how it is effected hath been at large fhewn in the preceding difcourfe. My prefent defign is to confider more particularly than we have yet done, the concern which our Lord Jefus Chrift hath in this great affair. We are created in him. The fcope of the apoftle in this chapter is to fhew us, that our falvation, by which he here means that part of it chiefly which refpects our regeneration, is of grace. God who is rich in mercy, fays he, for the great love wherewith he bath loved us, even when we were dead in fins, bath quickened us together with Chrift*. And, having farther exprefsly declared, that we are saved by grace through faith, he adds, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, left any man should boat; for we are bis workmanship, created in Chrift Jefus unto good works, which VOL. II. God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them. Regeneration being the effect of divine energy and grace, it is most reasonable that God should have the glory of it. And good works being the end proposed by our regeneration, it is highly incongruous to confider them as the cause or motive, inducing the blessed God to fave us; for if this were the cafe, there would be room for boafting, whereas now all boasting is excluded. In the text then we have religion itself described—it is a Building and a Creation; and the interest which our Lord Jefus Chrift hath therein we are created in him. As to the nature of internal or perfonal religion, that not being the object of this difcourfe, it may fuffice to obferve, that the animated description here given of it, tends to confirm what hath been already faid, both of its excellence and importance, and of the divine influence exerted in its production. It is a building framed by exquifite skill, and reared by almighty power; and when the top-ftone is brought forth, the happy spirits above will fhout with one voice, Grace, Grace, unto it. It is alfo a creation-a new creation. God fpeaks the word, and behold light and order spring out of the dark and unformed chaos of the ignorant and depraved heart. So that of every one who is called by his name he says, I have created him for my glory, I have formed him, yea I have made him*. But our object at prefent is the intereft which our Lord Jefus Chrift hath in this great affair. We are created in bim. To much the fame purpose the apostle speaks, when he tells us of Chrift being in us the hope of glory ; and of his being formed in us ‡; and of the new man being renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him. Now the fenfe is plainly this, that the religion of the heart, with all its powers and pleafures, fome way or other, owes its original exiftence, and its continued fupport: *Ifa. xliii. 7. † Col. i. 27. to to our Lord Jefus Chrift. In regard of this new kingdom, which God hath fet up in the world, and in the hearts of men, Chrift is all in all *. I. This divine bleffing is obtained for us through his mediation. II. It is communicated to us by the influence of his Spirit. III. It is produced, nourished, and improved, by the faith of his gofpel. And, IV. It is in its own nature, the imprefs of his image on our hearts and lives. I. Religion is the fruit of the mediation of Chrift. Communion with God is the ground or foundation of religion. To this high privilege therefore, our firft parents were admitted in their innocent and perfect ftate; and the effect appeared in all that peace and happinefs they enjoyed; and in all that cheerful obedience they for a while rendered to the will of God. But by the fall this original intereourfe with Heaven was fufpended. For it confifted not with the honour of the holy and bleffed God, to converse with apoftate men, nor were they in these unhappy circum ftances capable of converfing with God. So was religion, that nobleft guest that ever visited our world, by fin moft fhamefully driven out of it. Since, however, it was the merciful defign of God, to dwell again with men, and to diffufe the bleffings of religion among them, it was fit some expedient fhould be devised, for reftoring finners upon honourable terms to the divine favour, for fecuring the return of the holy Spirit to their hearts, and for rendering them capable of those divine pleasures which had been totally interdicted and withheld. This expedient was the mediation of Chrift. A fcheme wherein the perfections of God are most illustriously displayed, to the infinite admiration and joy both of angels and men. 1 As to the perfon of Chrift, fcripture gives us the most exalted Col. iii. 11. exalted defcriptions of it, fuch as demand our highest hemage and most profound reverence. He is the only begot ten, the well-beloved and eternal Son of God *. The brightnefs of the Father's glory, and the exprefs image of his perfont. He in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. The true God and eternal life ||. God over all, bleed for ever §. This divine perfon confents to become a man, and fo to unite humanity with deity. He is Emmanuel, God with us T. God manifeft in the flesh **. And thus in the character of Mediator, he affumes all thofe offices, and undertakes all those arduous fervices, which were neceffary to bring this difference between God and man, in the confequences of which both heaven and hell were concerned, to an happy and honourable iffue. The defign was grand and noble. Early notices were given of it. A feries of the most auguft and ftriking mi racles opened the way for the execution of it.-In the fulnefs of time, behold! he appears, not in the grandeur of an earthly prince, but in the humble form of a fervant. He publifhes the glad tidings of falvation with his own lips. Authenticates his miffion with a kind of proof fuited to the dignity and importance of it. Yields a cheerful and perfect obedience to the divine law. Suffers a most painfuł and ignominious death. Defcends into the cold and filent grave. Triumphantly rifes thence on the third day. And in that véry nature, wherein he had thus bled and died, afcends through the clouds into heaven; where he now prefides over the kingdom of providence and grace, and from whence he will quickly return to judge the world.—What an aftonishing scene this! especially when viewed in connection with the grand defign propofed, the redemption and falvation of his church. Sin, the greatest of all evils, is expiated. The demands of the law are fully fatisfied. |