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· LXXI.

SERM. ways to have laboured under, and concerning which they were at fo great a lofs, viz. an effectual expiatory facrifice for fins upon earth, and a powerful mediator and interceffor with GOD in heaven: and both

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thefe by the fame perfon, JESUS CHRIST, who
σε appeared in the end of the world, to take away
"fin by the facrifice of himself;" and in the merit
and virtue of that facrifice," appearing in heaven
"in the prefence of GOD for us," is become a per-
petual advocate, and a moft powerful interceffor
with God in heaven for us. So that instead of the
endless facrifices of the Jewish religion, which were
ineffectual to the real expiation of fin, and only types
and fhadows of the true expiatory facrifice; and in-
ftead of the bloody and inhuman facrifices of the hea-
then idolatry; the Son of GOD hath" by one facri-
"fice for fin once offered, perfected for ever them
"that are fanctified, and obtained eternal redemp-
"tion for us." And instead of the mediation of
angels, and the fouls of their departed heroes, which
the heathen made use of to offer up their prayers to
the gods; we have "one mediator between GOD
"and men," appointed by God himself, JESUS
"the Son of GOD," who in our nature is afcended
into heaven," to appear in the prefence of God for
"us." And who fo fit to be our patron and advo-
cate, as he who was our facrifice and propitiation?

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Thus the method of our redemption, as it was by the wisdom of GoD admirably fuited to the common apprehenfions of mankind, concerning the neceffity of a facrifice to make expiation of fin, and of a mediator to intercede with GOD for finners; fo was it likewife excellently fitted, not only to put an end to the Jewish facrifices, but likewife to abolish the barbarous facrifices and rites of the heathen idolatry,

and

LXXI.

and to cashier that infinite number of mediators and S ER M. interceffors, by whom they addreffed their prayers to the deity; and instead of all this, to introduce a more reasonable and spiritual worship, more agreeable to the nature and perfections of GoD, and the reafon of mankind; which was one of the main and principal defigns of the christian religion: and therefore to bring in any other mediators, to intercede in heaven for us (whether angels or faints) and by them to offer up our prayers to GoD, is directly contrary to the defign of the chriftian religion.

Thirdly, it is likewife evident from the nature and reafon of the thing itself, that "there is but one me"diator" and interceffor in heaven, who offers up our prayers to GOD, and that there can be no more. Because under the gofpel there being but one high priest, and but one facrifice once offered for fin, and interceffion for finners being founded in the merit and virtue of the facrifice, by which expiation for fin is made, there can be no other mediator of interceffion, but he who hath made expiation of fin, by a facrifice offered to GoD for that purpofe; and this JESUS CHRIST only hath done. He is both our high priest, and our facrifice; and therefore he only, in the merit and virtue of that facrifice, which he offered upon earth, can intercede in heaven for us, and offer up our prayers to God. Others may pray to God for us; as our brethren upon earth do, and perhaps the angels and faints in heaven; but none of thefe can offer up our prayers to GOD, and procure the acceptance of them; for that can only be done in virtue of a facrifice firft offered, and by him that offered it; this being the peculiar office and qualification of a mediator or interceffor, properly fo called.

SERM. It is the plain defign of the author of the epistle LXXI. to the Hebrews, to prove that CHRIST is our only

mediator in heaven, in virtue of that facrifice for

fin, which he offered upon earth; and that he alone

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appears in the prefence of GOD for us," to prefent our requests to him, and obtain a gracious answer of them; and he fhews at large, how this was particularly typified by the Jewish high priest, who upon the great day of expiation, after the facrifice was flain without," entered alone into the holy of holies, "with the blood of the facrifices," in virtue whereof he❝ made interceffion for the people.” Answerably to this," JESUS the high priest of our profef"fion, offered himself a facrifice for the fins of "men, and, in virtue of that facrifice" is entered into "the high place not made with hands, that is, into "heaven itself, there to appear in the presence of "GOD for us, where he lives for ever to make inter"ceffion for us," in virtue of that "eternal redemp

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tion, which he hath obtained for us," by the price of his blood, as the apoftle declares in feveral chapters of that epiftle. So that this interceffion being founded in the merit of a sacrifice, which he alone offered, he is of neceflity, "the only mediator be"tween GOD and men."

And for this reafon it is, that the mediation and interceffion of CHRIST, is fo frequently in fcripture mentioned together with the expiation which he made for the fins of men, or, (which is the fame,) with the price which he paid for the redemption of mankind; because the one is founded in the other, and depends upon it. So we find, 1 John ii. 1, 2." If

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any man fin we have an advocate with the Father, "JESUS CHRIST the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our fins; and not for ours only, but

"alfo

alfo for the fins of the whole world." And here S ER M. LXXI. likewise in the text, "there is one mediator between, "GOD and men, the man CHRIST JESUS, who gave "himself a ranfom for all;" therefore "the only me"diator between GoD and men;" because " he only

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gave himself a ranfom for all" men. The efficacy and prevalency of his mediation, being founded in the merit and virtue of the ranfom of his blood.

And the force of these texts, and this reafoning from them, is not to be avoided and turned off, by diftinguishing between a mediator of redemption and of interceffion, and by saying, that it is true, that CHRIST is the only mediator of redemption, but there may be many mediators of interceflion: for if the force of his being advocate or interceffor be founded in the virtue of his ranfom and propitiation (as I have plainly fhewn, to the conviction of any that are not strongly prejudiced, and that will read and confider what the fcripture fays in this matter without prepoffeffion,) then it is plain, that none can be a proper mediator of interceffion, but he that paid the price of our redemption: fo that the mediator of our redemption, and our mediator of interceffion, muft of neceflity be one and the fame perfon; and none can appear in the quality of "our advocate with the Father," but he only who is "the propitiation for the fins of the whole world." I should now have proceeded to

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The fourth thing I propofed in the handling of this argument, namely, to fhew how contrary to this doctrine of the chriftian religion, concerning "one 'only mediator and interceffor in heaven for us” the doctrine and practice of the church of Rome is in this matter; namely, in their invocation of angels, and the bleffed virgin, and the faints, and flying to

their help and making use of their mediation and interceffion with GoD for finners: as likewise how contrary all this is to the doctrine and practice of the christian church, for feveral of the first ages of it. And then I fhould have anfwered their chief pretences and excuses for these things, and fhewed that this practice of theirs is not only needless (being no where commanded of GoD) but useless also, and unprofitable; and not only so, but very dangerous and impious, being contrary to the chriftian religion, and highly derogating from the virtue and merit of CHRIST's facrifice, and from the honour of "the only mediator between GoD and men." But of this another time.

SERMON LXXII.

CHRIST JESUS, the only mediator between GOD and men.

SERM.
LXXII.

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For there is one GOD, and one mediator between GOD and men, the man CHRIST JESUS; who gave himSelf a ransom for all.

IN

IN these words are four propofitions; three expreffed, and the fourth implied.

I. That there is one GOD.

II. That there is one mediator between GOD and men; CHRIST JESUS.

III. That

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