554 Book, IV. jl,rolimg unto 'jjefu.S'. --~---------------------------- the Old Teflamenr ; and if they were fo careful nor tO leave vut of their breafi:-plare. one na~e of all the twelve Tribes? how much more careful is _Chrifl: nor_to leave our rhy name m Ius tnterceffion? from thts very Argument of Chnrt s compallwn and Chrirt's Heb. 3 . 1 , 2 , faithfulnefs, the Apoltle calls on us to confider the Apojfle and high P>-ieft of o11r profeffion ChriflJefm , who w.u fatthf~tl to htm that appomted htm, above A"ron, or Mo{cs, or:~ny of the high Prie 1 1t; why, confider him0 my foul; ' this Gofpcl-high-Priefl is well wor– thy indeed of thy confidcration. 6. Confider of the p~operties of Chrifl's interceflion; is it not heavenly and glori– ous, effectual and prevatlmg, and of all orher the tranfactions of our falvation whilell: this world lafh, the moll: perfective and confummate ? 0 give me the int~rceflions. of Chrill: above all the interce/lions of Men or Angels. I know the Saints on earth pray mutually one _for another, but they pray nor in their own names·, or for theit· . own ments, bur In the Name and for the merits of Jefus Chrifl:, and as for the 'Jf,::: t\:: 1 \d- Saints and Angels in Heaven, Cyprian and Jaome feem to grant, that they pray for Ycrr. Vigil. the fiate of the Chu.rch Mdttanr ; .b~t tf fo, they do It only of chamy, as Brethren, nor of office ai Medtators ; they ao It only for the Church in general, and not for any pawcular man or member of the Militant Church; fuch an interceffion as this, fo heavenly, fo effectual, fo perfective of our fal vation, fo authoritative and publick, found upon the farisfa~ory merits of the perfon interceding, is proper only ro Chrill:. I would be glad of the prayers of all the Churches of Chrill:; 0 that there were not a Saint on the earth, bur that I were by name in his morning, and evening prayer ( whofoever thou an that readcfl I befeech thee pray for me) but above all let me have a property in thofe prayers and imercellions that are proper only to Chrifl:; I am fure then I 1l10uld never mifcarry; Chrifl's. prayers are heavenly, glorious, and very effectual. 7. Confider of the rarriculars wherein more cfpccially Chrirt's interceffion con– fi[ls: Is it not in tl1e prefenting of his perfon, blood, prayers, inrerpellations? is it nor in the prefenting of our perfons, performances , pleas or anfwers ro rhe ac– cufarions of Sathan ? men little think how bufie our Mediator, Sponfor, Solliciror, Advocate is now in Heaven for us; men little think that Chrill: is appearing, and his blood is crying, and his prayers are afcellding, and his robe of righteoufnefs is covering us, and the iniquity of our holy thfngs : 0 my foul , look.. up, confider Jefus thy Saviour in thefe refpects! I am perfwaded if thou didfl: but know, if thou couldll: but fee what a deal of work Chrirt hath in h•nd , and how he car– ries it on for thy falvation , ir would melt thy heart into very tears of joy, Wbilfl Chrifi was on earth, and his Mother had lofl him , he could then fay, Luke 2. 4S'· Wift ye not thAt I mttft go about my Fathm bufimfs l now Chrifl is in Heaven be is about the lame bufinefs fiill, all his imployment in Heaven is to intercede for us, that we may be faved; very true, there is much in this interceffion of Jefus Chrilt; it is a Tree of many branches, and every branch fruirful; fo that ii thou wouldrt enlarge thy Meditation in this wide Ocean of delights, there is room enough; bur herein I mufl leave rhee in the duty , for I can but point at the feveral pani– ct\lars whereon thou mayfl enlarge: 0 rhink on it, that Chrill, and Chrit1's blood, and Chrill:'s prayers fl10old be all at work! rhat Chrifl: fhould play the Advocate, and plead thy caufe, and perfume rhy duties with his Incenfe, and rake thy perfon in an unperceivable way to God his Father, and cry there, 0 my Father be merci– fttl to tku [inner, pardon hu fin, and fave hu foul f~' r.hefah$ of Jefit<: 0 bleffed n:;ediation! 0 biefftd u the man, that on this bleffed obJeei knows how to meditate both day and night, 8. Confider of the power and prevalency of Chrifl's interceffions wirh his Father. Is he not to this purpofe a Priefl: to God , and called thereto by God? is he not the Son of God, yea, God himfelf? is he not God's Da!·l!ng?. Go~'s Co.mmander, as well as Petitioner ? n1y, is nor rhe hand of God lumfelt m tlus deftgn? JS not the fathers heart as much towards us and our falvarion , as Chrifl:'s own heart? as fure then as Chrifl: is gone into Heaven with thy name engraven on his heart, fo fure !halt thou follow him and be with him whe1e he is. Who jhalllfiJ any thing to the charge cf C'od' 1 Elefl ? who it he that condemneth? where Chrifl: l?ecomes t·atron ro defend againrl the len1ence of damnation, it is in vain for Sin, or Law, orSlthan, to attempt any rhing: for as an inno:ent perfon is fafe fo long as he bath Ius l~arne~ Advocate to anfwer all Objectioni ; fo it is wi1h Believers , WMO have Clmft htmfdf both ·-,- ··r ~ judge
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