Ver,2. the 17th Chapter bf St. J O H N. 15 prefenting his Merits. How can our Prayers chufe but be heard ? The Spirit is our No- tary to indite them, and Chrift is our Advocate to prefent them in Court. 3. The Miffron of the Spirit. Chrift carried up our Flefh, and tent down his own Spirit; as, to fit Heaven for us, Mat. 25. 34. fo to fit us for Heaven. Rom. 9. 23. Veg1s fitted for Glory; Veffels of Glory feafoned with Grace. Now the Spirit is not given, but by Chriffs Afcenfion. Ephef. 4. 1 I, 12. When he afi.ended, he gave, fill A- poftles, then Prophets, then Evangels, then Pafiars and Teachers, for the perfecting of the Saints, for the Work of the Miniflry, for the edifying of the Body of Çhrifi. This was his Royal Largefs on the day of his Coronation. 4. By his Afcenfion, all Chrift's Offices have a new Qualification, and are exercifed in another manner. Chrift bath been Mediator, King, prieft, and Prophet, from the beginning of the World, but the Adminiftration is different before his Incarnation, in the days of his Flefh, and after his Afcenfion. Before his coming in the Flefb, Chrift was the great Prophet of the Church, forefhewing what was to come 5 in his Incarna- tion, pointing at what he did 5 after his Glorification, working Faith, by reprefenting what was pall. So a Prieft 5 before his Incarnation, undertaking payment and fatif- fa&ion for our Debts; in the days of his Vieth, he made good his Engagement; af- ter his Afcenfion, he reprefenteth his Satisfa &ion made by his Intercefüon, he ap- peareth as a righteous Mediator, not by intreaty. Chrift was a King by defignation; before he was incarnate, the Old Church had a tafle of his Kingly Power; when he lived upon Earth, he was as a King fighting for the Crown, a King in Warfare ; after the Refurreaion, a King in triumph, folemnly inaugurated, he enters into his Throne: Chrift cometh into the Father's Prefence, royally attended : Dan.7.13,14. And I faro in the Night Mons, the Son of Man with the Clouds of Heaven ; and he came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him; and there was given him Dominion, and Glory, and all People, Nations, and Languages, that fbould ferve him ; his Dominion is an Everlafting Dominion, that fball not pafs away. After his Refurre &ion, Chrifl is brought into Gods Prefence, receiving all Power in Heaven and Earth. Chrift had this Power from the beginning, but was not folemnly inftalled till then. As David had the Power given him when anointed by Samuel, yet he endured Banifhment, and tedi- ous Conflias, and fhewed not himfelf till after the death of Saul, and till chofen by the Tribes at Hebron : So Chrift was a Prince and Saviour before his Afcenfion : But it is faid, Alla 5. 3s. Him kath God exalted by his right Hand, to be a Prince and a Savi- our. He was Prince by Eternal Right, and by Gift and Defignation : In the midft of his Abafement, Chrift acknowledged himfelfKing, yohn 8.37. But after his Afcenfion, he folemnly exercifed it, and adminiftred it for the good of the Elea. Well then ! let us meditate on thefe things, and draw Water out of the Wells of Salvation with Joy. It is better for us that Chrift fhould be in Heaven, than with us upon Earth. A Woman had rather have her Hufband live with her, than go to the Indies; but yieldeth to his Abfence, when the confidereth the Profit of that Traffick. We are all apt to with for the Apoftles Days, to enjoy Chrift with us in Perron ; but when we confider the Fruit of his Negotiation in Heaven, we fhould be contented : It is better for us he fhould be there, to plead with the Father, and fend his Spirit tq us. I come to the words. [As.] Some take this Particle, cuyue,eriiehs, comparatively 5 others, oirnaXordis, caufally. Comparatively ; Glorify me, i. e. as thou haft given me a Power over all Flefh, O-c. give me a Glory fuitable to the Authority; handle me according to the Power and Command which thou haft given me, as the Plenipotentiary of Heaven. But it is rather taken Caufally, by way of Argument : It is not ¿s, but w 4s, which may be rendred, becaufe: Now the Argument is double : (I.) it may be taken from a former grant of Power; As thou haft given, -c. Hitherto he had a right, now he pleadeth for Poffetfion, and a more full exercife of it ; and (2.) from the end which that Power is to be exercifed for, the good of the Elea ; that he may give eternal Life to as many as thou haft given him. e. I may obferve fomething from that, As thou haft given him. The memory of for- mer Benefits, is an encouragement to ask, anew. Experience begetteth Confidence. The Heart is much confirmed, when Faith bath fenfe and experience on its fide ; and the belief of what is to come, is facilitated, by cotifideririg what is pall. We fhould be- lieve;
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=