174. cADéclarationofthe GloriolLJ` Myst E R ioiiçfmspÇFiiJait"vlcooLFo+3oo+SiFamw?)ttiota400eco+áoo+,kmrx rMI 43a/pn0çaMgMM: ^í`,_carR%s.NíCiíim.k..i..rá'%ra.- ra rw':0{:x{°..M'{r°r°riO1i.%`°.O't°fÿ° {}°. 4i11tF0°.i{é;}°. °dld°n'oocsmo{°f1.Ño{°iol CHAP. XX. The Exercfe of the Mediatory Office of CHRIST in HEAVEN. HE third and loft thing we propofed unto confideration,in our enquiry into the prefent Bate and condition of the perfonof Chriftin heaven, is the exercife and difchargeof his mediatory office in behalf of the church'; efpecially as he continueth to be a minifter of the fanctuary, and of the true tabernacle which God Bath fixed and not man. All chriftians acknowledge that his prefent Bate is a Bate of the higheft glory, ofexaltationabove the whole creationofGod, aboveevery name that is or can benamed; and hereon they enema their own honour and fafety to depend. Neither do they doubt of his power, but take itfor granted that he can do whatever he pleifeth, which is the ground of their placing all their confidence in him. But we muff thew moreover that his prefent Rate is a Bate ofoffice, power, work andduty. He leads not in heaven a a life of meer glory, majefty and bleffednefs, but a life ofoffice, love and and care alto. He lives as the mediator of the church, as the King, Prieft and Prophet thereof. Hereon do our prefent- fafety, and our future eter- nal f lvation depend. Without the continual adings of the office, power and care of Chrift, the church could not be prefeved one moment. And the darknefs of our faith Herein is the caufe ofall our difconfolations, and muff of our wcakneffes in obedience. 114oft men have only general and confufed notions and apprehenfions of the prefentBute of Claris with refpol unto the church. And by fume all confiderations of this nature are defpifed and derided. But revealed thingsbelong unto us ; efpecially fuchas areof fo great importanceunto theglory ofGod, and the favingofour own fouls ; fuch as this is concerning the prefent Bate of the perfon of Chrift . in heaven, with refpech'unto his office, power and care. Thus he is at once reprefented in all his offices Rev. v.6. And t ;beheld, and lo in the mall of the throne, andof thefour living creatures,flooda lamb as it hadbeen flab; having feven horns, andfeven eyes, which are the feven fpirits of God featforth into all the earth. The whole reprefenta- tion of the glory of God, with all his holy attendants, is here called,his throne, whence Chrift rs faid to be in the midfl of it. And thishe is in his kingly glory; with refpe& alfo whereunto he is faid to have feven bores, or perfect power for the accomplif sment ofhis will. And with ref. pea unto his facerdotal office, he is reprefented as a Lomb that had been flain; it being the virtue of his oblation that is continually effettual for the falvation of the church. For as the lamb-4- God, in the offering of lihnfelf, he takes away the fins of the world. And as a prophet he is faid
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