262 Chri}l the Interceffor are compaffed with the bociy of fin, that their own confciences have whereof to accufe them every day • . . and the devil is an inceffant accufer of the brethren; but Chrill intet'ceeds 'for them, to the preventing al– w~ys a total rupture betwixt heaven and them; how– ever they may for their fins fall under God's fatherly difpleafure: upon the ground of his fatisfaCl:ion ·for them, he anfwereth all accufations againfi him, ans{ ·takes up all emer&ing differences between them and their covenanted God, 1- John ii. r. ' If any man fitl we have an advocate with the Father, Jefus Chrift the-righteous : Ver 2. And he is 'the·propithH~on for our fins.' Hereupon the Apo!He triumphs over ·an their accufers, Rom. 'viii. 33· ' Who fualllay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that jufiifieth ; Ver. 34· Who is he that condemneth ?. It is Chrift ' that died-- who alfo maketh interceffion for us.' Wherefore, their fiate of peace with God is inviol ab• ly maintain'd; tho~ for their corretl:ion, they may in– deed lofe the fight and fenfe of it for a time. Having once become their friend in Chrill:, he may indeed feverely chafiife th.em for their faulrs,but he never.be– cpmes their enemy again, even in the way oflegal-en• mity ; far lefs in the way of reil! enmi'ty. Rom. viii . 1. Ifa. l!v. 9· Fourthly, Procuring them accefs to God, and accep– tance with him, notwithfiaqding of their il;llperflCl:i- _()ns, while in this life. Saints on earth never want bufinefs in the court of heaven ; yet being finful; they are in themfelves unfit t 1 o come into the pretence of the King. But the interceffor of the covenant intra- ~ ~uceth them. procuring th~ accefs by his interell: in th.e court: ' For through him we have an accefs by one .Spirit unto ~he Father, Eph. U. 18. And by his mean_s they are allowed accefs with boldnejs, Chap. iii . I 2 . He makes their perfons accfpted, notwithllanding of the jin[ulnefs de'aving to them : they are accr:pted b z the I ;
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