of such a nature, as brings all things to a state of complete and endless perfection. *61 XLV. It is, doubtless, a signal instance of the power, wisdom, and goodness of God, that Christ, by these three offices, remedies all those defects, and delivers from all those evils, which render us miserable. He cures our ignorance and blindness, as a Prophet; expiates the guilt of our sins, as a Priest; perfects his strength in our weakness, as a King. As a Prophet, he shows the way of salvation; as a Priest, obtains a title to salvation; as a King, bestows salvation itself. As a Prophét, he furnishes our understanding with a spiritual knowledge of spiritual things; as a Priest, cleanses us from all pollution of the flesh and of the spirit; as a King, bends our wills into obedience to himself. XLVI. Happy, then, the diligent disciples of so great a TEACHER!-who instructs them in most important, and most wonderful, saving truths, "which angels de"sire to look into;"-instructs with a perspicuity which "makes wise the simple," and with an almost incredible sweetness and grace, which is not only extolled by the Church in words breathing pure affection, but acknowledged, in their own way, even by carnal men, and enemies themselves. Nor doth he merely exhibit those sublime mysteries externally to the ears and eyes; he also gives inwardly the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of himself, and grants his disciples a new and heavenly understanding that they may discern divine and heavenly things in their native beauty, and know the truth "as the truth is in Jesus," and may even "have the mind of Christ." What is the most delightful and most efficacious of all methods of instruction, this incomparable Teacher presents his truths not only to be seen, but also to be tasted and experienced." The genuine disciple of Christ not merely knows, and not merely believes, but sometimes tastes and feels what is implied in the remission of sin, in the privilege of adoption, in familiar intercourse with God, in the grace of the Spirit dwelling in the breast, in the love of God shed abroad in the heart, in the hidden manna, in the sweet embraces of Jesus, and finally, in the earnest and pledge of perfect felicity. This kind Teacher brings his followers into his school, as into a banqueting-house, and says, Eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved;" and being thus liberally entertained, not by a generous Father, but by the blessed Redeemer, they obtain far clearer eyes for contemplating celestial objects, than Jonathan had of old, after having tasted of the honey-comb. With great truth, therefore, the Supreme Wisdom uttered this, as well as every other expression that proceeded from her lips: "Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of "my doors."x 66 66 66 XLVII. Happy, also, are contrite sinners in so great a HIGH-PRIEST!-who is both "merciful and “faithful in all things pertaining to God;" and who by one offering hath perfected for ever them that are "sanctified." The whole guilt of our sins being thus expiated, there remains no condemnation to us; and we have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he has consecrated for us through the vail, that is to say, his flesh.b Besides, this unparalleled High-priest, "when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand "of the Majesty" of God" on high;" and there he makes continual intercession for us. Our prayers truly are often so frigid and languid, that we can scarcely hear them ourselves, and much less can we presume to imagine they have entered into the ears of the Lord of Hosts, unless perhaps to solicit vengeance against us for not treating his Majesty with becoming reverence. How rich the consolation, then, that we have a Highpriest so near to God, who is always interceding for us, and whose intercession is never disregarded by the Father; who, putting our prayers into his golden censer, offers them with his own incense upon the golden altar which is before the throne, that they may be a fragrant odour to the Lord!e Whilst he does this for us, he cannot fail at the same time to enrich us with his most abundant and delightful benedictions, that so we may "come and sing in the height of Zion, and flow together to the goodness of the Lord, that our soul may be like a watered garden."f 66 66 XLVIII. Happy, in fine, the faithful subjects of so great a KING!—all whose laws are at once wise, just, holy, and good, and rejoicing to the heart;s whose z Heb. x. 14. b Heb. x. 19, 20. d John xi. 42. a Rom. viii. 1. e Rev. viii. 3. See also Heb. iv. 14, 15, 16. Jer. xxxi. 12, 13, 14. & Ps. xix. 8. . whole administration is full of righteousness, wisdom and equity; and whose protection is omnipotent, so that none can hurt any one of his people, none can destroy in all his holy mountain.h XLIX. But whoever wish to be partakers of this inexpressible happiness which is found in Christ, must by faith receive him in all his offices, and in the whole extent of his character. He cannot possibly be divided into parts. He is either wholly enjoyed, or wholly lost. If men have no inclination to acknowledge him as a Prophet, to whose instructions and discipline they must cordially submit, and as a King, whose will they must obey with alacrity and reverence, it is certain that their glorying in him as a Priest is vain and presumptuous. He expiates the sins of none as a Priest, but of those whom he also instructs as a Prophet, and governs with sovereign authority as a King. The same persons are at once his disciples, his clients, and his subjects.62 DISSERTATION XI. ON THE NAME CHRISTIANS. I. ALL believers are called CHRISTIANS, from CHRIST, their Master, Lord, Husband, and Head. They are partakers of his anointing, and consequently of his name. 66 II. Of the origin of this denomination, which occurs but thrice in the sacred volume, we have an account in Acts xi. 26. - - - " And it came to pass that a whole year they assembled themselves with the Church, and taught much people. AND THE DISCIPLES WERE 66 CALLED CHRISTIANS FIRST IN ANTIOCH." Here the exchange of the ancient and more simple name for the new and more significant one, and also the time when, and the place where, this alteration was introduced, are distinctly stated.63 III. The faithful were originally denominated either disciples absolutely, or the disciples of the Lord." Christ had given it in charge to his Apostles to make disciples of men of all nations, by the preaching of the a Acts xxvi. 28. 1 Pet. iv. 16. b Acts ix. 1. 65 See NOTE LXIII. |