394 Chap.16. AnExpofities upon theBookof J O S: ierfxi minionwho leaves the deathofChrifi in thehand ofmans free will, affitled onely by general Grace, to make it effe6`l ual to himfelf, or not, he (I fay) afferts the interctfliòn of Chritl not only fufficient , but effefual for all, in whole behalf he ins. tercedes : So that we are lure all (hall gówell with us in the Court of Heaven, while we have Chrift our Advocate with the Father. And that we may have fulnefs ofconfidence to come to God by Chrift, let us confaderthefe five things. Fìrfl, Chrifl is moll wife-to mannage our caufe; fo wife that he is the wifedom of the Father : If we had an Advocate at the Barr, furnifht with as much wifdom as the Judge , it were a great ftep to obtain in a right fuit. Secondly, Chrift is an eloquent Advocate, a powerful Out tor. As the Lord bathgiven him the tongue of the learned, that hefhouldk w how tofpeaka word infeaJ'oM to him that is weary, ife, 54:4. So he hath a learned tongue tofpeak a word for him that is weary: Chritl is the Effential word, and the flower of all declarative words is with him ; when he fpake with auR thority, Mattb.7 29. All wondred at the gracious words that proceeded out ofhis mouth, Luke4.24. Yea, his hearers force- where teflifi never fpake manas this man fpeaketh": And as no man ever fpake like him toman, fo no man ever fpake like him to God. Thirdly Chri(l is a faithful Advocate ; his interceffion is a part ofhis Prietily office, We have afaithful high FrielI, faith the Apoftle, therefore afaithful Advocate : . He will never ei- ther defect our caufe, or betray it; he is as fore to us as our own fouls ; yea, he and the foules ofhis are one. Fourthly, Chrift is a merciful Advocate, he layes our caufe to heart, our caufe is his caufe : He hath efpoufed the interefis ofhispeople, and doth all for us upon his own ac, count, WhenSaints are perfecuted, we may tell him that he is perfecuted, and that he is afflitied when theyare : The Churchmay plead with Chrift to plead for the removing of her fufferings, under the titleof his (offerings , he being the headof the Church, and the Church being his body: Chrift is, as a faithful, fo amerciful high Priefl, Heb. z. 17. and the Apgfile,faith, That in all things it behovedhim to be like his
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