Hdndred and Twentikth Sacrament December 2, 1739
Never have I been so frequently at the table of the Lord within so short a period. I have now been four times there within five Sabbaths; having administered the ordinance at Newport and Welford, since the last time at Northampton; and I bless God, at both places with some pleasure, and 1 hope with some improvement.
This day I heard, with unutterable pleasure, dear Mr. Orton preach one of the best sermons that ever was preached of the service of Christ, Blessed be God, who has given him such gifts and graces. My sermon was a very poor thing in comparison to it. But I speak in the sincerity of my heart, and in the sincerity of my heart have I praised the God of all grace, that the disciple was so much above his master. May the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit be multiplied ten thousandfold upon him, and may thousands yet unborn have reason to call him blessed!
I introduced the ordinance with some meditations on these words:” Who being the brightness of his Father’s glory, and the express image of his
person, when he had by himself purged our
sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Heb. i. 3. I had been preaching of Christ giving himself for us, to redeem us from all iniquity, and to sanctify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. And this seemed well connected with that text. It gives us a view of the grandeur of Christ’s person; and of the happy success of his undertaking. The grandeur of his person: — he was the brightness of the Father’s glory, and the express image of his person; that is, the Being who of all others bore most of the image of God. Much, indeed, is reflected from good men here, and much more from glorified spirits above, and more especially from the angels. But, O, all these stars disappear in the presence of the Sun of righteousness! He is the very effulgence of his Father’s glory, and as if none but he bore his image. And he, having created all things, does, also, by the word of his power uphold them. He spake, and we existed. To what purpose is he mentioned? Even to this, that he by himself has purified us from our sins. He did not assign the ofiice to any other; he did not consign it over to any meaner person; he did not say to the brightest cherub, “Go, and become incarnate, and submit to death for the redemption of sinful man. Go, and give thy back to the smiters; stretch out thine arms on the cross.” No; he did not substitute another, but he endured it himself, to purge us from evil, and to expiate our sins. And the consummation is, that he has sat down at the right hand of God, which speaks the Father’s acceptance of the atonement which he has made; else he would never have released him from the tomb, — much less would he have set him down at his own right hand. And it also proclaims his honour and glory. The Majesty on high has received him there. His human nature is instated in a place of supreme dignity and glory, of supreme joy and happiness. And thither is he gone as our Forerunner. Where he is, there we shall be also; that is, at the right hand of God! And there is fulness of joy, and there are pleasures for evermore.