Book IV. 1l..001ting unto jjcfu5'. Chap. 2.Sett-4559 ,-;ffi;nso(iif,.. chrift?--;;;;d if this prefe~-;;rchrift-s Spir; be fo fivm, what is himfrlf then? J know we had need to be w1ry i~>.bying down this fign, it is clearly proved by an eminent Divine, rhar Jiveer mo~ions of h~arr in h1ly things are not infallible evidences Mr. nurgrs of of gr.ce : the third kind of hearers are fatd to recei•oe the Word with joy; they found Aflurancc. fome fweet and power in the Ordi~ances of Cbri(l; and Herod h:d.rd John gladly; and ~:;i/f/:~. many for afeaf6n r<Joyccd w folm s light and rr.mift;J' : Cenamly affdttOns Ill holy ad- John S· 35 • mini!lrationswithdelighrand joy, rmy be tn 1hofe, who yet have no srue grace; fn ir may be rhar the novdry and f1:rangenefs of a doctrine may much affect and delight; or the nature of rhc doctrine as1r t5 comfortable, wtrhout any rcfpect to fpmrual operation, may excoedingly affeCl; or the Minitiers abilities, beca~fe of his parts; eloqu~nce, elocution, affeCtionate uttera,nce may much dehgbr, and !ltr up the hearers affectiOns ; fine head-notions may produco fome affectionate hearr-nlot:ons ; bur what fymptome of grace in all this? The iign therefore I lay down of my propriety in Chri!l's inw;cefsions is not every fweet motion, or every excited affection, .but that which is holy, fpiritual, heavenly, faving; 1may dtfcern much of tlus, 1f I wtll but look tnto the·grounds and effect> of my excited, or 1\ir:cd up affections; if the ground thereof be fetched from H<aven, ac.d in their effect they tend towards Heaven ; if they wean my heart from the world ; if rhey elevate and raife up my affeCtions to things above; if they form, and frame mv convetfation heaven-wards, then may I be alfured thefe motions and affeClions are of rlir right {\amp; for all fuch motions are but fparks of that heavenly fire, the the flame whereof is mindful of, irs own original ; they are the fruits of Cbrill, and they go back to Chrilt, they work toward> their center, they tend towards tbe place from whence they came; and in this refpect 0 that I could never hear a Sermon, without a favory affection of what l hear! 0 rhat J could never go to prayer without fome warmth, and heat, and life, and fervency! Oh that in every duty l were favingly affeL'led, that I felt the favour of Chr11!'sointments, whofe name, a .d whofe intercefsion iJ as an ointment poured forth! in time> of the Old Te!lamenr,if they offered up a facrifice, and a material fire came down from Heaven, and burnt up the facrifice to allJes, it was a certain te!limony that the facrifice was accepted : No1~ in the time of the Gofpel we mull: not expect material fire to come down upon our duties, but bath the Lord at any time canfed an inward and fpirimal fire to fall down upon thy heart warmit1g thy fpirit in duty? and carrying it up heaven-ward? Surely if fo; thou maye!l fafely conclude, thefe are the very effects of Chrif1:'s intercefsion; his intercefsion is mine. 3·_ If in my heart I feel a holy frame, difpofirion, inclination; to pray, and cry, and Intercede for orhers, efpectllly for the mtfenes and d1fl:relfes of the Church of God, then is Chrill's intercefsion mine. We llwuld (as near as we may) in every thing con– form to Chri{\; and this conformity is an evidence or lign to us of our interefi in Chrifl: : 0 my foul go down inw the inmofl: c)ofet of thy heart, look what difpofition there is in it towards the members of Chrif1:; and thou nllyefl: conclude, there is in Chrifl's heart the very fame difpofition towards thee. Ah! do I think there is love in my bofo:n towards the Saints, and that there is no love in Chrifl:'s bofom towards me? what? can I think that my mrrow, flraitened, finful bowels are larger than thofe wide, .. compafsiona'e, tender bowels of Jefus Chrifi? as a drop of water is in comparifon of the Ocean, and as a gravel-!lone is incomparifon of the fand, fo is my heart to Chrifi's, and my love to Chrift's, and my bowels to Chrif1:'s. Come then, and try by this fign; Hertby "'' k._now th<t we are tranjl.!ted fro>n death to life if we love th' brethren; he th~t loveth not his brother, abid<th in death. - - Hereby perceive we the love of God, becaufe 1 John3· 14; heJaid down his life for m, and we ought to lay down our lives for the bruhren; is not 16, this platn, 1f I love the brethren, Clmlt loveth me ; 1f I feel m my heart an holy difpofition to go to God, and to pny, and cry, and intercede for a Sa.tnt in mifery, furely the Lord Jefuslmh as much bowels towards me, to go and intercede for me, and to prefent my prayers unto God the Father; his intercefilon is mine. 4· lf 1 am called, julti6ed, fanctificd, then is Chrifl's intercefi!on mine: are not thefe the fubject .matter of Chri!l's.jmercefilon? I pray ( faith Chrill) th,rt tho~t jhDI<ldft k£epthem from the evii.-- I pray that thouwouldft fanF/ifie them through the trmh! John 1 _ r nmher pray I for thefe alone, bur for them alfo which jha/1 believe on me throuah their · 1 ' S· u-ord or prCttcbing:, F(olthcr I wilL th.tt thofe ~vho:n. thor. haft given mf, be rvith me inglory . 17 ' 20 , , 24 " He fir[\ prayesthar we may b< oiled and JUf1:Jfied, and thenh~ prayesthat we may be fanctified and faved: he holds at both ends of thts golden cham of our falvation · the< one end is hanged at his brea'\, where ibe names of all his S1ints arc written, a~d the other
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