Chap.i6. AnExjsofition upon the Boob of J OB, Vert2i. his brethren, that he might be (o. Chrift had an ability of fufciency to be merciful tous, as God, though he had never been made like unto us by becoming man, but he had not that ability (as fume fpeak) of Idoneity, or fitneffe to be merciful, His being made like unto us, bathgiven him a double [donei- ty, for the tendernefs of his heart towards us. Firft, In that he himfelf bathfuffered being tempted, .Heb. z. a$. His pafiionsin the ilefh were great. Secondly, In that himfelf fuffers ftül in all our temptations, his compaflìons withour íleib are great. Now an Advocate, whoeither hath had an experience of trouble in his own perfon, or is full of the fenfe of his Clients trouble, and feels his (mart, will certainly do his utmoft to rep lieve him ; becaufe in his relief, himfelf is relieved al.fo. Fifthly, Chrift is the Favorite of the Judge ; it is a great advantage to have one pleading for us at the Barr, who is in favour with the Bench . Chrift is highly in favour with the Bench : God bath teftified from Heaven, This is mywell -belog vedSon, in whom I am well pleafed, Matth.3.17. The Judge is our Advocate Friend and Father. Laftly, That we may be further affured that he will do his utmolt for us, Our Advocate calls us his Friends : As the Judge is his friend, before whom he pleads, fo every Saint is his friend for whom he pleads. Some will do more for friend- (hip then for a Fee. We know it is fo with Jefus Chrift, he pleads for his people, becaufe they are his Friends : This f'ob makesufe ofhere , He will plead for a manwith God, and the Son of manfor hit Friend. As if706 had faid, I know I have a Friend of Chrift, and thrift looks on me as his friend, and therefore I have higheft confidence that he will plead my caule, and take off this fcandal. So much for job's carnal defire up- on his appeal, that his caule might come to a hearing , and that Chrift would undertake the pleading of it before his Fa- ther; He gives a reafon , in the lait verfe why he was thus pref- fing to have the bufineffe brought to an ifíue, why he did thus appeal to God as his witneffe, why he did pour out E e e 2 teares 395
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