The second part is that which he executes there whither he is now gone, even into heaven itself, where the throne of grace is.  I say, study what Christ has done and is doing.  Oh, what is he doing now?  He is sprinkling his blood, with his priestly robes on, before the throne of grace.  That is too little thought on by the saints of God:  “We have such a High-priest, who is set down on the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched and not man.”  Busy thyself, fellow-Christian, about this blessed office of Christ.  It is full of good, it is full of sweet, it is full of heaven, it is full of relief and succor for the tempted and dejected.

The priestly office of Christ is the first and great thing that is presented to us in the gospel; namely, how he died for our sins, and gave himself to the cross, that the blessing of Abraham might come upon us through him.  But now because this priestly office of his is divided into two parts, and because one of them, to wit, this of his intercession, is to be accomplished for us within the veil, therefore—­as we say among men, out of sight, out of mind—­he is too much as to this forgotten by us.  We satisfy ourselves with the slaying of the sacrifice; we look not after our Aaron as he goes into the holiest, there to sprinkle the mercy-seat with blood upon our account.

But since his dying is his laying down his price, and his intercession the urging and managing the worthiness of it in the presence of God against Satan, there is glory to be found therein, and we should look after him into the holy place.  The second part of the work of the high-priests under the law, had great glory and sanctity put upon it.  Forasmuch as the holy garments were provided for him to officiate in within the veil, also it was there that the altar stood on which he offered incense.  Also there were the mercy-seat and the cherubim of glory, which were figures of the angels, that love to be continually looking and prying into the management of this second part of the priesthood of Christ in the presence of God.  For although themselves are not the persons so immediately concerned therein as we, yet the management of it, I say, is with so much grace and glory, and wisdom and efiectualness, that it is a heaven to the angels to see it.  O, to enjoy the odorous scent and sweet memorial, the heart-refreshing perfumes that ascend continually from the mercy-seat to the throne where God is, and also to behold how effectual it is to the end for which it is designed, is glorious; and he that is not somewhat let into this by the grace of God, there is a great thing lacking to his faith, and he misseth of many a sweet bit that he might otherwise enjoy.  Wherefore, I say, be exhorted to the study of this part of Christ’s work in the managing of our salvation for us.

They who are justified by the blood of Christ, should still look to him for the remaining part of their salvation; and let them look for it with confidence, for it is in a faithful hand.  And for thy encouragement to look and hope for the completing of thy salvation in glory, let me present thee with a few things.