104 SERMONS upon Serm. i 2. We communicate with Chrift in all his Offices ; we are Spiritual Priefts,confecrated to him by Baptifm. The ordinary Prisfts were firft confecrated in the great Laver, before they were to offer Sacrifices : fo we are purified and cleanfed in the Laver of Regene- ration, and then offer to God thefe Sacrifices. As Chrift was Temple, Prieft, and Sa- crifice, fo are we. God dwelleth in us, as in a Temple ; a Çor. 6. 16. Te are the Tem- ple of the Living God : As the Godhead dwelt in Chrift bodily, Col: 2. 9. We are confe- crated to be Priefts to God, being fanaified by him, cleanfed in the Laver of his Blood, our Perron received into favour. And then we offer our Selves, Bodies, Ser- vices to God ; and fo we perform Duties acceptable to him ; becaufe when we a& the Prieft, Chrift a ð it over again, prefents our Services to God in his Cenfer. Rev.8. 3. .Another Angel came and flood at the Altar, having a Golden Genfer, and there was gi- ven unto him much Incenfe, that he fhould offèr it with the Prayers of all Saints upon the Golden Altar, which was before the Throne : He puts no Filth nor Drofs into his Golden Cenfer. As the Priefts under the Law were to examine the Sacrifice before it was'of- fered to the Lord ; fo doth Chrift examine our Services, not to rejeft them, but to better them in his own Oblation; and fo by his Interceffion, our Duties, and all the good Works of our Lives, are recommended to God. 3. It etícourageth us to come to the Throne of Grace with boldnefs. God would have Prayer in Heaven, to encourage us to Prayer on Earth; Chrift is always with God to (et on every Requeft. This is the Copy of Chrift's Interceffron. Befides, you have the groans of the Spirit in your Hearts : Rom. 8. a6. The Spirit it felf maketh In- terceon in us, with groaning: that cannot be uttered. Chrift is our Advocate, the Spirit 'our Notary, we the Sollicitors. Ira. 62. 6, 7. Te that make mention of the Lord, keep not (Pence ; and give him no refi, &c. We may know what Chrift is doing for us in Heaven, by the Work upon our Hearts. Oh then let us never reft, till we have an Intereft in his Interceflion. This is the great prop of our Faith and Confidence, to know that we are comprehended in Chrift's Prayers : You have a Friend in Court, he bath liberty of immediate accefs, he is a Favorite, the Father loveth him, and you for his fake. Our Friend prayeth to our dear Father for his own Children. When Joab taw the thing was pleating to David, he interceded for Abfalam, 2 Sam. 14. 1. God can deny him nothing ; if you have ten thoufand Accufers, it's no matter, your Ad- vocate will anfwer all their Accufations. Never leave till you get it evidenced, that it is your privilege, chufe him, go to God by him, ratify God's Appointment by your own choice. Faith is a Confent ; wait for the Spirits Intercefíion, thofe Groans will end in Joys. It is the great Comfort of the Church, that we have fuch a Mediator, who Will effe&ually plead our Caufe with the Father. We may look upon it as a Moral, as well as a Mediatory A& ; an All of Chrift's Love to his own Difciples, chiefly the Apoftles, who were, as it were, his Family and fpecial Chaigè. Out of this Example of Chrift, let us learn to pray one for another. It is a Spiri- tual All of Love: You may difcern the hypocrify and Gncerity of your Love to others, by your carelefnefs or ferioufnefs in Prayer for them ; for if we defire a thing, we will pray for it with importunity : By this the Saints have communion with one ano- ther at a diftance. Chiefly this concerneth Minifters for their Charge; they Mould be of Samuel's tem- per, tho hehad received Affronts from Ifrael ; God forbid that I fhould fin againfl the Lord, in ceafing to pray for you, 1 Sam. 12.23. Their Sin doth not exempt you from the Duty you owe to them for God's fake ; they look to an higher Obligation than civil Refpe &s, and an interchange of Kindnefs : But efpecially are we bound to pray for them, if, as the Apoftles here, they are gained to any degree of Faith, Knowledg, and Obedience : 2 Theft. t. 1 t. We pray always for you, that God would count you worthy of this Calling ; and fulfil all the good pleafure of his Goodnefs, and the Work of Faith with Power. What encouragement bath a Mintfter to go to God for filch, not only when you fend for him in times of ficknefs, but always, as the Apoftle faith, in every Addrefs to God. It is fweet to give an account of the thriving Lambs, and to de- fire the Lord to perfe& his Work. And it argueth in the Minifter Sincerity, to take pleafure in their gracious Elate, and to account it, as it were, his own Benefit, that God hath any way bleffed them with Grace, which moveth him again to commend their Cafe to God. Certainly if we have but any portion of the Unity of the Spirit, or any (hare in the Communion of Saints, or any refpe& to God's Glory, thus it would be. Again,
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