The Mediation of Christ.

SERMON III.

1 TIM. ii. 5.

There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

THAT sinful men cannot be saved without a mediator, is one of the most obvious truths of holy writ. God, who is transcendently holy, will not suffer them to. approach him in their own name; but in the name of Jesus they may draw near with humble confidence, for he is their mediator. "There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."

Let us consider, first, the character of our Mediator: secondly, his mediatorial work: and, thirdly, the happy consequences of his

mediation.

I. THE CHARACTER OF OUR MEDIATOR.

1. His name is called Wonderful; and every thing which is said of him by the inspired writers is wonderful. Having two natures, the divine and human, he stands nearly related both to God and man. He is the beloved Son of God, and the despised Son of Man.

Without "form or comeliness" in his human nature; but in his divine, "the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person." The Word was God, and the Word was made flesh. This is a deep mystery which the human mind cannot fathom, but which we are bound to believe on the authority of inspiration. We cannot explain it, because it far exceeds the limits of our contracted understandings. The best method for us to take, is to give full credit to that which God has revealed, without either attempting to pry into hidden secrets, or to explain that which is inexplicable. Had all men adopted this plan, many painful disputes, in the christian world, would never have been known; and the real character of our blessed Mediator would have been maintained on scriptural principles. For my part, I see nothing in the union of Godhead and manhood, in the person of Christ, contrary to reason; and he who objects merely because it is above reason, must, to be consistent with himself, object to every part of God's creation.

2. The wisdom of our Mediator exceeds all our conceptions. Peter said to him, "Lord, thou knowest all things." And the apostle Paul informs us, that" in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom." He is perfectly acquainted with the sinfulness, weakness, frailty, and temptations of man, and with

the best methods of delivering him from all; so that we may safely depend upon him as our guide to heavenly glory.

He

3. His power is equal to his wisdom. made and preserves the world: "For by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him : and he is before all things, and by him all things consist." This power, blessed be God, is employed in saving a lost world. Well might the apostle to the Hebrews say, “He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him." Let us commit ourselves wholly to him, remembering that he is able to keep that which we commit unto him against that day-that great decisive day, which will determine the everlasting state of all mankind.

4. He is perfectly holy. "Such an high priest became us who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens." On this account sinners can have no union with him till they are saved from their sins. In reference to this, the angel of the Lord said to Joseph, "Thou shalt call his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins."

5. He is full of compassion for all the human race; yet, such is his regard for the honour of

God, that he will not save them who obstinately live and die in a state of carnality. Possessed both of divinity and humanity, he regards the one as much as the other; and it is as much his plan to secure the divine glory as it is to save the world. This should never be forgotten, lest, while we view his unbounded love, we should indulge our selves in those things which will ever be hateful in his sight.

These things, duly considered, lead us to conclude that he is in every respect a fit person to mediate between God and men. Have we to do with God? He is God. Arè we men? He is man. Are we ignorant? He is wise. Are we weak? He is strong. Are we polluted? He is pure. Are we miserable? He is compassionate.-Let us now proceed to consider

II. HIS MEDIATORIAL WORK.

1. As Mediator, he fulfilled the law, and made it honourable. His obedience was perfect. In all his works the precepts of the law shone peculiarly bright. Every command appeared in its native beauty and grandeur; and the world beheld what God designed man to be at first, and what he actually was while he remained in a state of innocency. The following prophecy was remarkably accomplished in his holy conduct: "The Lord is well pleased for his

righteousness' sake: he will magnify the law and make it honourable.”

2. By his death he made atonement for sin. Man was guilty and condemned. God required satisfaction; and a sacrifice of great value must be offered up before guilt could be removed. No sacrifice was of sufficient value but that of Christ. The blood of bulls and goats could not take away sin. They were offered up to God, under the ceremonial law, as types of the great Redeemer, who had mercifully undertaken to atone for sin; and they directed the jewish church to him, as the only foundation of hope to man. In the fulness of time he came, and "suffered the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God-He was wounded for our transgressions-He redeemed us by his blood-He tasted death for every man."

3. By his resurrection he conquered death, and opened the grave. The sentence pronounced upon man when he first went astray was, "Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return;" but by the resurrection of Christ a way is opened to a blessed immortality. Death yielded to his superior power, and the dreary grave was opened. What cause of thankfulness to us! What glorious prospects are before us! We also shall arise from the dead, and heaven will be our final home!