"One like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot,
and girt about the paps with a golden girdle." - Revelation 1:13
My soul, thou art going this morning to the throne of grace, art thou
not? Pause then, and behold Jesus as John saw him, for the church's
joy, in his priestly vestments; for remember he is still a priest upon
his throne, and by the oath of Jehovah, abideth a priest forever. Nay,
my soul, be not afraid, draw nigh; hark, surely he calls. Methinks he
speaks to thee' Behold me! behold me! See, I am thine intercessor. For
this cause I wear these priestly garments; and as the high priest of
old represented me, I appear in them down to the foot, and the golden
girdle round and beneath the breast. What is thy cause? What blessings
and praises hast thou to offer for past grace? And what supplications
for present and future favours? Behold my vesture dipped in blood.
Think of the everlasting efficacy of my righteousness: and for whom
should I make intercession but for transgressors?' Fall down, my soul,
with holy reverence and godly fear. Jesus will do by thee as he did by
John. He will lay his right hand upon thee, and say, "Fear not." Oh
precious, precious Lord, thou art, indeed, he that was dead, and now
livest for evermore. Arid thou livest to see the fruits of thy great
salvation faithfully and fully applied to every one of thy redeemed.
Thy priesthood is forever. Thy intercession unceasing. I do behold
thee, Lord, by faith, even now standing with the blood of the covenant
in thine hand, and presenting me, even me, poor, wretched, worthless
me, as one of the purchase of this blood. Do I not hear thy voice in
those soul-reviving words, "Father, keep through thine own name those
whom thou hast given me? Father, I will that they also whom thou hast
given me be with where I am?" Oh glorious, gracious, Almighty High
Priest[ thou art, indeed, "a priest forever, after the order of
Melchisedec." Oh ye trembling souls! ye who have any cause this day to
bring before the court of heaven, look unto Jesus, look within the
veil, see Jesus there; look steadily, though humbly, and behold his
hands, his side; Zion is still engraven on his palms. Nay, do we not
see, may we not read our very names, as the high priest bore the names
of Israel on his breast, while his hands are lifted up to bless! Yes,
Jesus takes up our cause, bears our persons, and all our concerns. And
how shall either fail, while he "is able to save to the uttermost, all
that come to God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession."
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