'Senn. LXVIII. Condition, of Salvation. 49.9 our Sins are pardoned upon our fincere P) epentance, our Prayers are gracioufly an- fwered, our Wantsare abundantly fupplied, and the Grace and Af uftanceof God's Spirit are plentifully afforded to us, to excite us to our Duty, to ftrengthen us in well doing, to comfort us in Afi&ions, tofupport us under the greatefk Tryals and Sufferings, and to keepus through Faith unto Salvation. And for this reafon, as the purchafingofourSalvation is in Scripture attributed to the Death andSufferings of Chrift 5 fo the peefetting and finifbing of it is afcribed to the prevalencyof his Interce(fion at the right hand of God for us. So theApoftle tells us, ch. 7. v. 25. That he is able to fave to the utterraoft all thofe that come toGod by hint Peeing he ever liveth to make Intercefion for us. He dyed once to purchafe Salvation for us; and that we may not fall fluort of it, but receive the full Benefit of this Purchafe, he lives for ever to make Intercejon for us, and thus he Paves to the uttermofi all thofe that come to God by him that is, he takes careof the whole bufinefs ofour Salvation from firft to last. And now that he is in Heaven, heis as intent to procure our Welfare and Happinefs, and as tenderly concerned for us, as when he livedhere among us upon Earth, as when he hung upon the Crofs, and poured out his Soul an Offeringfor our Sins; for he appears at the right Hand of God in our Na- ture, that which he affirmed for our fakes, which was made fubjed to, and fenfible of our Infirmities, and which was tempted in all things, like as we are, onlywithout Sin; and therefore he knows how to pity and fuccour them that are tempted; and from the remembrance of his own Sufferings, is prompted to a compaffionate Senfe of ours, and neverceafeth in virtue of his Blood, which was fired for us, to plead ourCaufe with God, and to intercede powerfully in our behalf. Sothat the Virtue and Efficacy of Chrift's Interceon on our behalf, isfounded in the Redemption, which he wrought for us, by his Blood and Sufferings; which, being entred into Heaven, . he reprefents to God on our Behalf. As the highPrieft under the Lawdid enter into the holy place, with the Bloodof the Sacrifice that had been offered, and in virtueof that Blood, interceded for thePeople: SoChriff by hr own Blood entred into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal Redemption for to 5 as the Apoftle fpeaks, ch. 9. v. 12. He entred into the Holy Place, that is into Heaven it felf, to make Intercef ion for us, as the Apoftle explains himfelf, v. 24. aryi is not entred into the holy places which are made with hands ; but into Heaven it felf, to appear in the pretence of Godfor us. And ch. to. v. 12. fpeakingof Chrift's appearing for us at the right Handof God, this Man (fays he) after he had offer'd one Sacrifice for Sin for ever (that is, a Sacrifice of perpetual Virtue and Efficacy) fat down at the right Hand of God, that is to intercede for us in virtue of that Sacrifice. From all which it appears that the Virtue of Chrift's Mediation and Interceliion for its in Heaven, is founded in his Sacrifice, and the price of our Redemption which he paid on Earth, in (bedding his Blood for us. Fromwhence the Apoftle reafons, that there is but one Mediator between God' and Man, by whomwe are to addrefs our Prayers toGod ; a Tim. 2. 5. There is one God, and one Mediatorbetween God and Men, theManChrifi f efus, whogave himfelf a Ran- fom for all. His Mediation is founded in his Ranfome, orthe Price which he paid for our Redemption. TheApoftle indeed does not fay there is but one Mediator be- tween God andMan in exprefs words, but furely he means fo; if by faying there is one God, he means there is but one God; for they are joined together, and the very fame Expreffion ufed concerningboth; There is one God, and one Mediator between God and Men: that is, there is but one God, and one Mediator. But then, they of theChurch of Rome endeavour to avoid this plain Text, by diftinguifbing between aMediator of Redemption, and a Mediator of Intercejon: But now ifChrift's Media- tion, by way of InterceJon, befounded in theVirtue of his Redemption; then if there be but one Mediator of Redemption, then there is but one Mediator of Interceon in Heaven for us. There is one God and one Mediator betweenGodand Men, the Man Chrifl fefus, whogave himfelf a Ranfomefor.all. So that the Power and Prevalency of his Intercefon is founded inhis Ranfome, that is, the Price of our Redemption ; in virtue whereof alone he intercedes withGod for us, as the Apoftle to the Hebrews does molt plainly affert. So that all other Intercefors in Heaven for us are excluded from offering and prefentingour Prayers to God, betides our High Prieff, who is at the right hand of God, andlives for ever, tomake interceon for ne, and by virtue S f f 2 of
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=