BOOK 9. THE INTERCESSION.
CHAPTER 2.
9.2.3. Of Desiring after Jesus in that Respect.
Of Desiring after Jesus in that Respect.
Let us desire after Jesus, carrying on this work of our salvation in his intercession. I cannot but wonder what a dulness seizeth on my heart, and on all the hearts of the sons of men, that we have no more longing after Christ, whose heart is ever panting and longing after us. Surely we do not set ourselves to find out experimentally the sweetness that is in Christ; if there were not another object to think upon, but only this one of Christ's intercession. Is not here enough to put us all into a teeming, longing frame? O my soul, rouse up, and set this blessed object before thy face! Take a full view of it until thy affections begin to warm, and thou beginnest to cry, "Oh, for my part in Christ's intercession! Oh, I would not be left out of Christ's heavenly prayers for ten thousand worlds?" Come and be serious, the object is admirably sweet and precious; long for it, pant after it! God understands the rhetoric of thy breathings as well as of thy cry. But what is there in Christ's intercession that is so desirable? I answer, --
1. In Christ's intercession, lies the present transaction of our soul's salvation. Such passages as hitherto we have spoken of are done and past; the transactions of eternity were at an end when time began; the transactions of Christ promised, had their period when Christ was Incarnate; the transactions of Christ's birth, and life, and death, and resurrection, and ascension, are now above a thousand and six hundred years old: I know the virtue and influence of all these transactions continue, and will continue forever and ever; but the several actings had their periods, and only Christ's session and mission of his Spirit, and his blessed intercession, both were, and now are the very present employment of Jesus Christ. If it were possible that we could see into heaven: if with Stephen, we could look up steadfastly, and see the heavens opened; if our eyes, by an extraordinary power, were carried through that azure sky, and through all till we come to the holy of holies, and to Jesus Christ in his glory; what should we see but Christ interceding, Christ busy with his Father in his poor saints behalf? Now he prays, now he presents his person, merits, intercession, interpellation, q.d. "Father, here are a company of rebels, justly fallen under thy displeasure, they deserve to be set at an eternal distance from thee; but I must needs have them pardoned, and received into thy bosom; come, make thine own terms, let justice require never so great satisfaction, I have paid a price sufficient for all, and effectual for them; give them what laws thou pleasest, I will undertake they shall observe them; and to this purpose, away, away, Holy Spirit, go to such and such souls, enable them to their duties, yea, enable them in duty, and sanctify them throughout, in souls, bodies, and spirits." Why, this is the present transaction of Jesus Christ, and therefore most desirable: methinks I long to know what Christ is now a doing in heaven for my soul, and is it not thus? Is not all his time spent either in reading pardons for redeemed ones, or in presenting petitions for them, and pleading for them? Surely he is still interceding every day, it is his present work for our souls; O desirable work!
2. In this present transaction lies the application of all Christ's former actings, whether of his habitual righteousness, or of his active and passive obedience. All those passages of Christ's incarnation, conception, circumcision, birth, life, and death, which more especially we look upon as the meritorious causes of our salvation, had been nothing to us, if they had not been applied by Christ: they were the means of impetration, but Christ's intercession is the means of application; Christ purchased salvation by those precedaneous acts, but he possesseth us of our salvation by this perfective and consummate act of his intercession. The order of this is laid down by the apostle, in that first, "He learned obedience, by the things which he suffered, and then being made perfect, he became the author (or applying cause) of eternal salvation to all them that obey him; being to this purpose, called of God an high-priest, after the order of Melchisedec," Heb. v. 8, 9, 10. Now, is not this the desirable act above all other acts? Alas! what am I the better for a mine of gold, in such, or such, or such a field, in which I have no propriety at all? I am thoroughly convinced, that Christ's merits are most precious merits, but, Oh that they were mine! Oh that Christ's intercessions would bring the salve, and lay it to my sore, Oh that I could hear that voice from heaven! "My son, I was incarnate for thee, and conceived for thee, and born for thee, and circumcised for thee, and I did the law, and suffered the penalty for thee; and now I am interceding that thy very soul may have the benefit of all my doings, and of all my sufferings." Why, if Christ's intercession be the applying cause, if it bring home to my soul all the former transactions of Christ, saying, "All these are thine, even thine;" Oh how desirable must this intercession be?
3. In this application lies that communion and fellowship which we have with the Father and the Son, "I pray for these, that as thou Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us," John xvii. 21. Understand this soberly, we cannot think that there should be that oneness in equality betwixt God and us, as betwixt God and Christ; no, no, but there is oneness in similitude and reality, even in this life; by virtue of Christ's intercession we have oneness with God and Christ, not only in comforts, but also in graces: I pray you mark this, when I speak of communion with God in this life: I mean especially the communication of grace between God and the soul; on God's part there is a special influence of grace and favour to man; and on man's part there is a special return of grace and honour to God. Some trembling souls are apt to think, that all communion with God and Christ, consists only in the comforts of the Holy Spirit, whereas Christians may as really and advantageously have communion with God in secret conveyances of grace, in inward supports, in a concealed acception of service, in the hidden drawings of the soul God-ward; as in the more open and comfortable manifestations of God unto the soul; communion with God is a familiar friendship, (I speak it in an holy humble sense) now, do we not as usually go to a friend for counsel and advice, as for comfort and cheering? In a friend's bosom we entrust our sorrows, as well as our joys. Suppose a soul, even spiritually overwhelmed and ready to break, betaking itself unto God, and venting itself before the Lord; now, if afterwards the soul hath no more ease than by the bare lancing of the sore, if God pours in no balms at all, but only gives support; shall we say that this soul, in this case, hath no communion with God? O yes! In God's secret visits of the soul, and in the soul's restless groping after God, though nothing but darkness be apprehended, yet that soul lives in the light of God's countenance; the sun shines, though a cloud interposeth; God smiles, though the soul do not perceive it; or certainly thou hast his strengthening supporting presence, if not his shining; now, this is the fruit of Christ's blessed intercession, and this is the subject matter of Christ's intercession, "O! My Father, that these may be one in us, I in them, and thou in me," John xvii. 23. I in them by the influence and power of my Spirit, and thou in me by the fulness and power of the Godhead. And is not this a most desirable thing?
4. In this communion lies the vision and fruition of Jesus Christ in glory; grace brings to glory, if communion here, we shall have communion hereafter; and this also is a part of Christ's prayer and intercession, "Father, I will, that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me," John xvii. 24. Jesus Christ cannot be in heaven long without his saints, indeed, it is impossible that Christ should be in heaven, and that pieces and bits of Christ mystical should be in hell, or yet long on earth Christ will draw in his legs and members on earth up nearer to the head; certainly Christ, and you that are believers, must be under one roof ere long. Is he not gone before to prepare a place, yea, many mansions for you? John xiv. 2. We think them happy on earth that have their many stately halls and palaces, their summer and their winter houses; Oh Christians; how happy will you be, when you come to be lords and heirs of many stately mansions in the streets of heaven? But what speak I of mansions, now I am naming Christ; mansions are nothing, many mansions are but little, yea, "many mansions in Christ's Father's home," are but created chips of happiness, in comparison, of that communion, which by virtue of Christ's intercession we shall have with Christ. It is the saying of an eminently learned holy divine, "I should refuse heaven, (saith he) if Christ were not there; take Christ away from heaven, and it is but a poor, dark, heartless dwelling; heaven without Christ would look as the direful land of death." (Mr Samuel Rutherford.) And therefore, after Christ had spoken of many mansions, and of a place that he would prepare for his saints; he adds farther, to increase their joy, "I will come again, (saith he) and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also," John xiv. 3. Mansions are but as places of briers and thorns without Jesus Christ, and therefore I would have heaven for Christ, and not have Christ for heaven; O! this communion with Christ is above all desirable, and this is the subject matter of Christ's prayer, "Father, I would have the saints to be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory." Why, this is the communion which the saints shall have with Christ, never will their eyes be off him, never will their thoughts wander after any other subjects; oh! the intimacy that will be then betwixt Christ and Christians! Oh! What communication of glory will there be to each other! "These shall walk with me, (saith Christ) for they are worthy," Rev. iii. 4.
O my soul! If this be the business of Christ's intercession, if all these particulars are contained in the bowels of this one transaction, how is it that thou art not in a fainting swoon? How is it that thou art not gasping, groaning, sick unto death with the vehement thirst after thy part and portion in Christ's intercession? If there be such a thing as the passion of desire in this heart of mine, O that now it would break out! Oh! that it would vent itself with mighty longings and infinite aspirings after this blessed object! Why, Lord, I desire, but help thou my faint desires; blow on my dying spark, it is but little; and if I know anything of my heart, I would have it more; Oh! that my spark would flame! Why, Lord, I desire that I might desire; Oh! breathe it into me, and I will desire after thee!