Ver. g, the 17th Chetpter of St. J O H Ne Jot Take an Argument or two, why Chrift did not, could not, doth not pray for the Reprobate World. This Prayer 'nit either argüe, r. A Nefcience of his Father's Decrees, which cannot Rand with the Llnity of hiS Perron, efpecially as now in Glory. While upon Earth he knew it, and approved it, that God by an immutable Decree had left fume to be ju(tly hardened to their own ruine. Mat I I. 25, 26. I thank thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, bet-wife thine bait hid thefe things from the rife and prudent, and haft revealed them Ante Babes: Even fo, ,father, for ft it feemed good in thyfight. Or, 2. A ContradiEtion to his Will and exprels Decree. It is true, ivedo not fin by asking a thing contrary to God's Decree; as when I ask a Parent's Life, whom God bath de- termined to cut off by fuch a Sicknefs, which I know not, but if I did, it is no rule to me. But now God's Decree was a Rule to Chri(t in his Mediatory AElions, as the Moral Law was a Rule to his Moral AEtions 5 and therefote when the Decree Of God called for one thing, and the Moral Law for another,Chrift was both to (hew his Moral A(fretions, and Mediatory Obedience. Father, let thst Cup pals s »errerthelef not as I mill, bat as thou wilt. Mat. /6.39. There was an innocent delire of Nature, but an expreß SubtnitTion to his Father's Will. 3. Becaufe all Chri(t's Prayets were to be grounded on a Promise. There was aft Indenture drawn up between him and his Father, he had the Affurance to be heard in whatfoever he asked. Pfal.2. 8. Askofine, and I will give thee the Heathen for thine Inhe- ritance, arid the ntter»tofl parts of the Earth for thy Po]l ton: John t I. 4.2. I know that thou hearefl me alma». Therefore he mutt needs exclude the Reprobate World out of }915 Prayers. Obfervations. Firfî, Let us look upon it as a Mediatory AEtion. r. Obferve ; Here was the firf folemn Offer of Chrifl'' Meditation between God and Man, and therefore upon this place we may ground the DoEttine of his Intercefon; I pray for them. Here I thall fpeak of Firfî, The Perlon, who is the Interceffor. Secondy, The Nature of the Intercef ion. Thirdly, The Privileges and Fruits of it. Firfl The interce(1or, I pray. The Syriac( twice repteateth the Ptonoun, I evert Ipray fo' r them ; it is not an ordinary High-Peie(l, burl t 1 that arts thy beloved, and only begotten Son, co- eternal, and con-fubfiantial with thy fell; I that have glorified thee upon Earth, and done thy work ; I that am holy and harmlef ; I whore Prayers thou halt promifed to hear ; I who am an authorized Mediator, tent into the World for this Purpofe. There are all there Advantages in the Interceflion of Chriut, let us go over them a little briefly. I (hall tefet them to thefe Heads, the Dignity and Dear- n& of his Perron, the Sublimity of his Office, the value of his Satisfatlion, the Atticles of the Covenant, or the Promise of being heard. I. The Perron ofChrift; and there you have, (t.) His Dignity, he is God -Man, and fo fit for this Office. Job 9. 33. Neither it there any days -man between Ms, that might lay his Hand sepan eel both. He communicates with God in the fame Nature, and we with him : He is our Brother, and God's Fellow t Our Kinfinan is in the Court of Heaven, pleading for us; hgappeareth there in our Na-, eure, to let on our Salvation : we need not be a(hamed to go to him, new be to go to God: He is of near Alliance to us, and to God himfelf, God's own natural Son; which doth not only give him a Power to prevail with God, but a Sufficiency to do us good. None but Chrift could ferve our turn in this Matter. Who can know all our Needs, all our Sins, all out Thoughts, all our Delires, all our Prayers, all our Purpofes, arid wail upon our Bufinefs with God Night and Day, that no Wrath break out upon us, but f èlusChrifl,who bath his confiant refidence in Heaven at his f'ather's right Hand? There is an All- fisllitciency required to Intercefflon,as well as Oblation. (a.) Thee Dearnefs of his Perfon, called, his dear Son. Col. IA 3. the Sean óf his Love, one with him. God bids him ask what he will, Pfal. a. 8. Ask of owe,- mid 1 milt give thee the Heathen for thy Inheritance, and the'satermoft parts of the Earth for thy Poef- ftow. When Chrifi came firft into Heaven, he was to make his Demand. He proclaimed ib
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