CXXI: impiety and lewdnefs. There are many who daily S ERM fall off from the profeffion of the reformed religion, to the grofs errors and fuperftitions of the Roman church, which in many things does too nearly refemble the old pagan idolatry. And what the apoftle here fays of the apoftates of his time, is proportionably true of thofe of our days, that "they who thus fall away," it is "extremely dif"ficult to renew them again to repentance." And it ought to be remembred, that the guilt of this kind of apoftafy hath driven fome to despair; as in the cafe of Spira, who, for refifting the light and convictions of his mind, was caft into thofe agonies, and fill'd with fuch terrors, as if the very pains of "hell had taken hold on him;" and in that fearful despair, and in the midft of thofe horrors, he breathed out his foul. "Let us then hold faft the profeflion of our "faith without wavering," and let us take heed how we contradict the profeffion of our faith, by any impiety and wickedness in our lives; remembring that "it is a fearful thing to fall into the "hands of the living God." I will conclude with the words of the apoftle immediately after the text, "the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh "oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for "them by whom it is dreffed, receiveth bleffing " from God. But that which beareth thorns and "briers, is rejected, and is nigh unto curfing, whose "end is to be burned." And how gladly would I add the next words! "but, beloved, we are per"fuaded better things of you, and things that accompany falvation, though we thus speak." 66 SERMON CHRIST the author, and obedience the condition of falvation. SERM HE B. v. 9. And being made perfe, he became the author of eternal falvation unto all them that obey him. T HIS is spoken of CHRIST, our great high priest under the gofpel; upon the excellency of whofe perfon, and the efficacy of his facrifice for the eternal benefit and falvation of mankind, the apoftle infifts fo largely in this, and the following chapters; but the fun of all is briefly comprehended in the text, that our highpriest "being made perfect, became the author of "eternal falvation to them that obey him." In which words we have these four things confiderable : ift, The great bleffing and benefit here spoken of, and that is "eternal falvation;" and this implies in it, not only our deliverance from hell, and redemption from eternal mifery; but the obtaining of eternal life and happiness for us. 2dly, The author of this great blessing and benefit to mankind; and that is " JESUS CHRIST the "SON of GOD," who is here represented to us under the notion of our high-priest, who, by making atonement for us, and reconciling us to God, is faid to be the author of eternal falvation" to mankind. CXXII. 3dly, The way and means whereby he became SER M. the author of our falvation; "being made perfect, "he became the author of eternal falvation." The word is nλewels, having confummated his work, and finish'd his courfe, and receiv'd the reward of it. For this word hath an allufion to thofe that run in a race, where he that wins receives the crown. And to this the apoftle plainly alludes, Phil. iii. 12. where he fays, "not as though I had already "attained," x öτ dn ëλaßov, not as if I had already taken hold of the prize; but I am preffing, or reaching forward towards it; on TETEλεśwμar or were already perfect; that is, not as if I had finish'd my course, or had the prize or crown in my hand; but I am preffing forward towards it. In like manner, our bleffed SAVIOUR, when he had finish'd the course of his humiliation and obedience, which was accomplish'd in his fufferings, and had receiv'd the reward of them, being rifen from the dead and exalted to the right-hand of GoD, and crown'd with glory and honour, he is faid to be TEXEIWEls made perfect; and therefore when he was τελειωθεὶς giving up the ghoft upon the cross, he faid, John xix. 30. "TETÉRESα, it is finish'd," or perfected; that is, he had done all that was neceffary to be done, by way of fuffering, for our redemption. And the fame word is likewife ufed Luke xiii. 32. concerning our SAVIOUR'S fufferings, "I do cures to day and to morrow, καὶ τῆ τρίτη τελειομαι; and "the third day I fhall be perfected;" this he fpake concerning his own death. And therefore chap. ii. 10. GOD is faid" to make the captain "of our falvation perfect through fufferings; dia wadnμάtwy TEXEIŵr." And thus our high-priest δια SERM. being made perfect in this fenfe, that is, having fiCXXII. nifh'd his courfe, which was accomplished in his fufferings, and having received the reward of them, in being exalted at the right hand of GoD; "he "became the author of eternal falvation to us." 4thly, You have here the qualification of the perfons, who are made partakers of this great benefit, or the condition upon which it is fufpended, and that isobedience;" he became the author of "eternal falvation to them that obey him." These are the main things contained in the text. For the fuller explication whereof, I fhall take into confideration thefe five things: ift, How, and by what means CHRIST is the "author of our falvation:" 2dly, What obedience the gospel requires as a condition, and is pleafed to accept as a qualification, in those who hope for eternal falvation. 3dly, We will confider the poffibility of performing this condition, by that grace and affiftance which is offer'd, and ready to be afforded to us by the gospel. 4thly, The neceffity of this obedience, in order to eternal life and happiness. And 5thly, I fhall fhew that this is no prejudice to the law of faith," and the "free grace and mercy of GOD," declared in the gospel. ift, We will confider how, and by what means "CHRIST is the author of our falvation;" and this is contain'd in thefe words, "being made perfect he "became the author of eternal falvation," that is (as I told you before) having finish'd his courfe which was accomplish'd in his laft fufferings; and having received the reward of them, being exalted at the CXXII. right-hand of God, he became the "author of eter- S ER M. "nal falvation" to us; fo that by all he did, and fuffer'd for us, in the days of his flesh, and in the state of his humiliation, and by all that he ftill continues to do for us, now that he is in heaven at the right-hand of God; he hath effected and brought about the great work of our falvation. His doctrine and his life, his death and fufferings, his refurrection from the dead, and his powerful interceffion for us at the right-hand of God, have all a great influence upon the reforming and faving of mankind; and by all these ways and means, he is the author and caufe of our falvation; as a rule, and as a pattern, as a price and propitiation, and as a patron and advocate that is continually pleading our cause, and interceding with GOD on our behalf, " for mercy and grace "to help in time of need." And indeed our condition requir'd an high-priest who was qualified in all these respects, for the recovery of mankind out of that corrupt and degenerate ftate into which it was funk; an high-priest "whofe lips fhould preferve knowledge," and from whose mouth we might learn the law of God; whose life should be a perfect pattern of holiness to us, and his death a propitiation for the fins of the whole world; and by whofe grace and affiftance we fhould be endowed with power and strength to mortify our lufts; and to perfect holiness in the fear of GOD; and therefore" fuch "an high-prieft became us, who was holy, harmless, “undefiled, and separate from finners, who might "have compaffion on the ignorant, and them that are "out of the way, and being himself compass'd "with infirmities, might have the feeling of ours, being in all points tempted as we are, only withVOL. VII. R "out |
