-J &.- 3 The Exercife of the Mediatory 0ffice: 3· In this folemn Alfembly beforet~e Throne of Grace, the: LordJefus U;rijl, the great High Priefi, cloth reprefent and render acceptable unto God, the T¥crjhip of the Church• JJere below. So it is expreffed, Re·v. 8. 3,4. And an Angelcame and}loocl at the Altar, having, a golden Cenfer, and there was. given unto him much /nc.enfe, that he _(hould offer it with the. prayers of ali Saints upon the Golden Altar which was before the Z:hrone; and tbe fm_oak of the /ncenfe which came with the _prayers ofthe Saints, ajcended up unto God out of the Angels hand. It is a·Reprefentation of the High Priefr burningIn~ cenfe on the golden Altar on. the day of Attonement ,. when he entred into the rnofr Holy .Place. For that Altar– was placed jufi at the entrance of it, directly before the Ark and Mercy-feat, reprefenting the Throne ofGod: This Angel· therefore is our High Priefi; none elfe could approach that· Altar,or o.fferlncenfe on it, the fmoak whereof was to en– ter into the Holy Place. And the prayers ofall Saints is a· fy.nec.doahica.lexpre.f!ion of the whole Worfhip of the Church.; And this is prefented before the Throne of God,by this High Pvieft. Aad it is not f~id that their Prayer'S. came unto the Throneof God,.but the[moak ofthe lncenfe out ofthe hand of the A•1g,el did f~ For it is the Incenfe of the Interceffion of Chrifi alone that gives. them their .acceptance with God.. Without this, none of our Prayers, Praifes or Thankfgivings. would ever have aceefs into-the prefen(:e ofGod, or .unto the·· · Throne ofGra.ce. Bleffed be God for this Belief, under ·the ·. ronfideration of the wealmefs and imperfecrion· ef them. Wherefore in him and by him alone, do we reprefent all our Defires,and Prayers, and whole Wodhipto·God. And herein, . inall om:Wodhipdo-we our felves enter into the mofl Ho(y – J!lace, Heb . ro•. 19. Wedoitnot meerly by Faith,butby this ; <tfpecial exercife of it, in putting our prayers into ,the han(j; 0£ t~is HighPriefr. · There~
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