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" and was dead: and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death," Rev. i. 17, 18. That he spoke there as Mediator, in his human, as well as divine nature, is more than evident from the words themfelves; wherein, his death, refurrection, and glory, as man, are fully expreffed. And, as fuch, you fee, he has the keys of hell; implying his power of turning thefe keys, when, and upon whom, foever he pleafeth. The reprobate world, whether of men or devils, are all, by his awful, tremenduous hand, fhut up, in thefe prifons of defpair. No enemy of God and the gofpel fooner drops the curtain of mortality, than our Lord's goings are dreadfully expreffed, in his turning the key of hell as well as death against them. Ere ever their clay-tabernacles be cold, their accurfed fpirits are wrapped up in flames, as in winding fheets of wrath, and that under fure ward, by the turning of this irreversible key.

SECT. V.

Our Lord's goings, in all thefe refpects, were established, by the Father, as Man-Mediator; for, as fuch only, his goings were, or needed, to be made firm. He acted, does, and will continue, to act, in virtue of a valid commiffion from the Father, representing the Deity, for thefe very purpofes. That he was and is poffeffed of fuch a commiffion, is certain, from his acting in the capacities mentioned; for no ufurpation of power can, in the remotest way, be fuppofed, without reflecting, deeply reflecting, against the Father permitting, and the Mediator practising, it. But manifold scriptures put the truth beyond peradventure. "I "have fet my King (fays the Father) upon my ho'y D 4

hill

hill of Zion; I fhall give thee the heathen for "thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the "earth for thy poffeffion; thou fhalt break them "with a rod of iron, thou shalt dafh them in "pieces, like a potter's veffel," Pfal. ii. 6. &'c. again, "I have exalted one chofen out of the peo"ple;" and again, "I will alfo make him, my "firft-born, Ligher than the kings of the earth.” Ffal. lxxxix. 19. and 27.

Cur Lord procured and acquired this commiffion upon the most honourable terms; namely, as the reward of his obedience unto death. It is precifely in this light the apoftle views it, when he fays, "Wherefore," namely, as the reward due to his humiliation, mentioned in the preceding context, "God alfo hath highly exalted him." &c. Philip. ii. 9, &c.

And as our Lord's commiffion was legally expede, and honourably procured; fo it is amply fupported by the Father. He does nothing, in any of the refpects mentioned, but the Father approves, corroborates, and confirms; nor is it poffible for him to do otherways, fince our Lord executes his mediatory warrant intirely to his mind. Thus, fpeaking of his anointed by the prophet, the Father fays, With whom my hand fhall be established; "mine arm alfo fhall ftrengthen him; and, in my name, fhall his horn be exalted," Pfal. lxxxix. 21, 24.

How majeftical, then, and how glorious, the Man Chrift Jefus ! Compared with him, now, what are all the puny princes, and what the petty potentates, among men? whatever contributes to render one great and venerable among the creatures,

has

has place in Chrift to the highest possible degree. But why fpeak of creature greatnefs, that, at beft, is circumfcribed by narrow limits? fince his majefty and greatnefs know no-bounds. Many have much to say in one corner of the earth, whofe authority, in another, meets with no regard. Many bear confiderable rule here below, who have no intereft, no influence, before the throne above. None even of the fons of the mighty, can turn the helm, in the veffel of providence, to their mind; nor keep the gates of hell and death from opening upon them or their's. But our Lord's greatnefs and influence are equal in all places, at all feafons, and over all creatures. With what humility fhould we therefore approach, with what reverence adore, with what willingnefs obey, and with what. chearfulness, fhould we confide in him?

How great, of confequence, the fafety, honour and happinefs of thofe interested in the Mediator's friendship? There is nothing in heaven or earth best for you, he will not procure and bestow. Since his goings are fo noble and majeftical, and his influence fo vaft and extenfive; you are fure, that whatever good your fituation requires, fhail be conferred and enjoyed, in the propereft time, manner and meafure. Are you unable to manage your own caufe before the throne? his goings in heaven are fuited to fuch a cafe; he praying for you, when you cannot, know not how, or what to pray for yourselves. Are your circumstances in the world trying, penurious and diftreffing? then know, thefe are the effects of his wifdom and love; and that it is because he fees trials and afflictions the greatest bleffings you can, in your prefent circumftances, enjoy, the fe bitter galling ingredients are mixed up in your cup. Are you burdened for the low ftate of the churches, the declining interefts

of religion, the formality, defections, errors and divifions, which have crept in, and are, in your views, like to gain ground; for the rarenefs of converfion among finners, the fmallness of reviving among faints; the awful backfliding among all, that have place? then our Lord's goings in the churches are grounds of comfort, at least, of humble filence, in fuch a cafe; for if he has work to accomplish, if he has clect feed to gather in, if he has defigns of grace upon finners among us, if our Zion is to be favoured, and if the time be come, he will not neglect his own business as Mediator. Are you afraid of death and hell, or afraid of coming short of heaven at laft? thefe fears are all without foundation, fince our Lord's goings, in these refpects, are fo manifeft, and peculiar.

As a confequence of the whole, muft not the fituation of our Lord's enemies be perilous beyond expreffion? Continuing in a ftate of rebellion against him, you can expect no favour from heaven, no good on earth, no advantage from the churches, no exemption from death, no fanctuary from hell. Wherever you turn your eye, the Mediator prefents you with frowns, meets you with difpleasure, and way-lays you with curfes. "Agree, there"fore with thine adverfary quickly, whilft thou art in the way with him; left at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be caft "into prifon," Matth. v. 25.

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PART

PART III.

Of our LORD's Employment with the faved Ones in Heaven, and of his Triumph over the Hearts of Sinners upon Earth.

CHA P. I.

Of the new fong of praife; with the Father's putting it into the mouth of Chrift, as Man-Media

tor.

SECT. I.

HE object of this new fong is, by the Meffiah, in the paffage under confideration, faid to be our God. By the object of any fong we are to understand the perion to whom it is addreffed, about whom it is converlant, whether compiled, modulated and performed, in way of commendation, thanksgiving or worship, in any, whatever view. Thus we know how the atchievements of the great and enterprifing have been celebrated in fongs, both by the ancients and moderns. But of this long Jehovah the Father is more particularly the object, as he is the fountain of the Deity, the original of all good, the fum and centre of all perfection; to whom, from all the creatures, worship is unquestionably due: whence the creation, animate and inanimate, rational and irrational, angelic and human, are often called to