The the Revelator, in his sublime visions, beheld the ineffaBLE THRONE, the symbol of Jehovah's universal moral government. Before that throne stood a pure altar, the symbol of that worship which is due to him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb forever. Cherubim and seraphim presented their oblations there with indescribable awe, affection, and rapture. Nor were angelic oblations the only ones to be presented upon it. There the prayers of SAINTS were to be offered. Revelation to John acquaints us how they are there presented. "And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints, upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand." In the discussion of this subject we proposed to considered, FIRST, Who the personage is that presents the prayers of saints to God; SECONDLY, What he presents with them; THIRDLY, The necessity that the prayers of sinful beings should be accompanied with this incense. Who is it that presents the prayers of saints before the ineffable throne? is the FIRST inquiry which occurs for our solution. The word angel is commonly used in Scripture, as applicable to a created, pure spirit. On this account the Roman Catholics have construed this passage in the Revelation as supporting their practice of invoking the intercession of angels and departed saints. But the very letter of the passage forbids this use of it, as but one being presents incense with the prayers of ALL saints. We may not therefore multiply our INTERCESSORS. The personage who presents the prayers of all saints must be dignified. between God and creatures. created spirit is but a creature. be this medium. Our Lord and by uniting the divine and human natures, became, like He must be a medium Jacob's ladder, a medium of communication between the TOPLESS THRONE and earth. In the prophecy of Isaiah, he is called the ANGEL OF GOD's presence. This name precisely answers to the station and employment of the angel mentioned in our motto. By Malachi, Christ is called the Messenger, or angel of the covenent. As such he is the only mediator between God and men. In an Epistle of the Revelator, he expressly names this advocate with God. "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." This great advocate, therefore, is the personage, through whom the prayers of sinful beings ascend before the eternal throne. St. Paul, when reasoning on the safety of believers in Christ, confirms this exposition. "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect?" says the Apostle. "It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died; yea, rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. For through him, we (both Jews and Gentiles) have access by one Spirit unto the Father." we are plainly taught that prayers and praises to the Father should ever be offered through the Son, relying on the aids of the Holy Spirit. This is the only way in which we can have audience and acceptance in our devotions. Christ himself has affirmed that he is the WAY; that no man cometh to the Father but by him. He has likewise directed his people, "ye shall ask in my name," "and whatever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." And now, reader, is not the conclusion irresistible, that Christ is the only being in the universe who can receive the prayers of saints, and present them before the mercy seat? Thus our first inquiry is definitely answered. The angel, out of whose hand the incense ascended up with the prayers of saints before God, is the angel of God's presence-the Anointed of the Lord, our great High Priest, who is passed into the heavens, the one Mediator between God and men, and who is the brightness of the Father's glory. We proceed, Here SECONDLY, To consider what he offers, with the prayers of all saints-much incense. Incense was much used by the Priesthood under the Mosaic dispensation. It was a white odoriferous gum, of an oily substance, which caught instantly when thrown on fire, and sent up an agreeable, rich perfume. When setting up the holy tabernacle, Moses was commanded to make an altar of incense, and overlay it with gold. This was to be placed near the vail of the most holy place, and Aaron was required to keep the sacred fire constantly burning; morning and evening, each day, sweet incense was to be thrown on that altar, that incense might be perpetually burning before the mercy-seat. Once in the year the high priest was to sprinkle blood on it as typical of the atoning blood of the Lamb. The great apostle of the Gentiles refers to the Levitical priesthood in explaining the nature of Christ's priesthood. "It was necessary," says he, "that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better things than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. Because he continueth ever, he hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. By him let us therefore offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually; that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” From these and many other passages that might be quoted, it appears that Christ presents, with the prayers of all saints, the incense of his own intercession. they in his name implore pardoning mercy, he pleads his vicarious sufferings and death, the just for the unjust, that penitent sinners might receive remission of sins. Do they supplicate the renovating, sanctifying, and comforting influences of the Holy Spirit to be vouchsafed to them, and extended to others, our great High Do Priest pleads his purchase of the gift of the Spirit, to convict, regenerate, strengthen, and animate souls. Do they pray for his acceptance with God through the righteousness of the Mediator, he pleads his perfect obedience, even unto the death of the cross, as that robe in which his people may appear with acceptance before Infinite purity. Before the Almighty Father, he moves our humble suit for temporal, spiritual, and eternal blessings: He pleads the covenant of redemp tion, in which it was promised that he should have a seed to serve him, that he should see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied. He pleads that those whom the Father hath given him may be drawn to him, that they all may on earth be sanctified by the word and spirit of God, and that at last they may be received to those mansions which he has prepared for them, and behold his glory, a glory which he had with the Father before creation existed. In behalf of cumberers of the ground, he pleads awhile for the Divine forbearance to be extended, but with the express stipulation, that after a limited time, if the long-suffering of God did not lead to repentance, his own decision would be their destruction. How consoling the consideration that he, with whom the Father is ever well pleased, is continually presenting before God the desires of penitence, dependence, and gratitude, and perfuming them with the incense of his obedience and sufferings, plead in their behalf, that God may be just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus. This intercession of Christ ought to endear him the more to us since it is indispensable to the acceptance of the prayers of sinful beings. This necessity of incense with the prayers of all saints was our last proposition. THIRDLY. The majesty, justice, and purity of the Almighty Father required that one without sin should make intercession for the transgressors; that they should never make mention of their own names or doings, to recommend themselves to the Divine favour. The glory of the eternal Son required, that the ransomed of the Lord should express and feel the compassion and mercy of the Saviour, in suffering, in their room and stead, that they should forever acknowledge these truths, all their desires must ascend, and all their blessings descend through the only Mediator; the only name given under heaven among men whereby we must be saved. Thus they would be filled with humility and rejoiced with gratitude. It is indispensable to their acceptance with the Father that the prayers of Christians be indited by the Holy Ghost, and presented by our Great High Priest, because ignorant, depraved beings know not of themselves how to present their petitions and praises aright, or for what things it is suitable for them to pray. But the Comforter takes of the things of God and reveals needful truths to them; and the Beloved of the Father has infinite wisdom for conducting their cause in the COURT of heaven. Again; all the prayers of Christians on earth are mixed with sin, and nothing but holiness can come up with acceptance before the immaculate throne. It is therefore abundantly manifest that the prayers of all saints must ascend before the mercy seat through him who is the end of the law for righteouess to every one that believeth. St. Paul affirms that Christians are washed, sanctified, justified, (and consequently accepted) in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. But our subject has less need to be expanded than it has to be improved. 1. By the light of our subject, we learn the nature and utility of many rites and ceremonies under the old dispensation. They were typical of better things. They directed the eye of faith in the pious worshipper to the atonement and intercession of an unchangeable High Priest. The Epistle to the Hebrews is a key of inestimable worth for understanding many types and ceremonies of the ritual law. 2. Our subject teaches us that Christ must be every where present, and possess a mind infinitely capacious, to know the desires of all saints, and to present, without mistake and without confusion, the millions of prayers which are daily offered to God through him. But omnipresence and omniscience are essential attributes of Deity. Christ is therefore truly divine. Hence it |