Sermons preached

III. I shall prove that this is the Mediator's Blessing.

1. Let me lay down this, that those Blessings that are most proper to the Mediator are spiritual Blessings. We forfeited all by Sin, but especially the Grace of the Spirit, whereby we might be made serviceable to God. Other Mercies run in the Channel of common Providence, but spiritual Blessings are the discriminating Graces and Favours that are given us by the Mediator. Eph. 1. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual Blessings in heavenly Places. Christ came not to distribute Honours, and Greatness, and worldly Riches to his Followers, but to turn away every one of us from our Sins, to reduce us to God, that we may love him, and be beloved of him. He came as a spiritual Saviour, to give us Grace rather than temporal Happiness. Most Men have a Carnal Jewish Notion of Christ, they would have a temporal Safety and Happiness, they would have Deliverance from Affliction, rather than Deliverance from Sin. To be delivered from every evil Work is more than to be delivered from the Mouth of the Lion. This is most proper to the Mediator, 2 Tim. 4. 18. A sanctified Use of Troubles is more than ⟨p. 56⟩an Exemption from them; a carnal Man may have Exemption from them, but not a sanctified Use of them. Poverty, Lameness, Blindness, are not as bad as Ignorance, unruly Lusts, and Want of Grace. Moral Evils are worse than Natural. Daniel was cast into a Lion's Den, you would think that was a Misery; but it was a greater Misery when Nebuchadnezzar was thrust out among the Beasts, being given up to a brutish Heart. Exemption from Trouble may be hurtful to us, but Deliverance from Sin is never hurtful to us.

1. Let me lay down this, that those Blessings that are most proper to the Mediator are spiritual Blessings. We forfeited all by Sin, but especially the Grace of the Spirit, whereby we might be made serviceable to God. Other Mercies run in the Channel of common Providence, but spiritual Blessings are the discriminating Graces and Favours that are given us by the Mediator.