Serm,CLXIV. the troubles of life. 419 ranfom for all , thereby to put an end to that infinite Superflition, which had-ob- tained in theWorld for fo many Ages, of addrefing their Prayers to God by the Mediation of good Angels, and the departedSouls of their Heroes and great Men, who were, as I may fo call them, the Pagan Saints. So thatxas under the Gofpel God bath appointed but one facrifce for fiat, that fhould'beJ'of eternal efficacy ; fo but one Mediator in Heaven for finners, to offer up our Prayers to God, and to intercede continually for us, in the Power and Virtue of that One Sacrifice once offer'dfor the redemption of mankind. And there- fore it is every whit as contrary to the genius and defign of the Chriftian Religions to apply our felves to other Interceffors with God in Heaven for us, whether Saints, or Angels, or even the bleffed Virgin her Pelf, as ,it would be to conti- nue Rill the jewif Sacrifices, not to fay the Heathen. For it is not clearer that there is but one proper Sacrifice under the Gofpel, viz.. that of Chrifl upon the Crofs, than that there is but one mediator and interce/òr with God in heaven for us. Nay, St. Paul fpeaks as if the Chriftian Religion did no more admit ofmorn Mediators than one, than of moreGods than one, Tian. 2. 5, There is one God; and one Mediator between God and Men, the Man Clorill Jefits, who gave himfelfa ranfom for all. Nor is the force of this plain Text to be avoided, by flying that the Apoftle here fpeaks of a Mediator of redemption, as appears by the fol- lowing words , who gave hinfelf a ranfom for all. For it is plain likewife, that he fpeaks alfo of a Mediator of interceffion, and affirms him to be but one, as is evident from what goes before. The Apoftle direfts prayers and fpplica- tiens to be made for all men, and then at the fifth ver, to whom Chriftians Gould addrefs thefe Prayers, and by whofe Mediation, viz. to God, in the Name and Mediation of Jefus Chrift. For, fays he, there is one God, and one Mediator be- tween God and Men, the Man Chr :Tim. So that the Apoftle's Difcourfe does as plainly infer, that there is but one Mediator of interceffion, as that there is but one Mediator ofRedemption. And indeed whofoever confiders that quite throughout the New Teftament our Saviour and his Apoftles do conftantlydire& Chriftians to make their Pray- ers to God in the Name and Mediation of Jefus Chrift, and no where give fo much as the leaft intimation of applying our felves to any other Interceffors with God in Heaven for us, may juftly wonder how this fuperftition of praying to An- gels and Saints departed, which bath no manner of countenance, and is by necef- fary confequence fo clearly forbidden, Gould ever prevail among Chriftians ; ef- pecially fence it is a plain diminution of the Virtue and Efficacy of our Saviour's interceffion ; or if it add nothing to it, is perfe&ly vain and endlefs and to no purpofe. For what need of any other interceffors with God in Heaven for us, if that be true which the Apoftle to the Hebrews molt exprefly affirms, that Chri/l is able to fave them to the utmofl that come to God by him, feeing he ever liveth to make interceffion for them. The prevalency and efficacy whereof may juftly minifter to us in all our di- ftreffes and troubles, force peculiar ground of Comfort above what fprings from the bare contemplation of the Divine Nature ; that we have fo powerful a Friend to intercede with God for us, one fo dearly beloved of him, and fo highly in his favour; one that is advanced far above all principalities andpowers, and eve- ry name that is named, not only in this world, but in that which is to come ; and confequently able to do more for us, than all the bleffed Saints and Angels in Heaven, and more than all the Powers of darknefs can do againft us. And this is matter of great Comfort to us, upon thefe three Confiderations. a. That our Advocate is nearly related to us, having condefcended, by affu- wing our Nature, to be allied to us, to become bone of our bone, and fief)) of our fefh, fo that we may addrefs our felves to him with great freedom and confi- dence, and, as the Apoftle expreffeth it, Heb. 4.16. We may come with boldnefs to this Throne of Grace, for feafonable mercy and help in time of need. For we may molt affuredly believe, that he who ftooped to be made Man , and to H h h 2 become
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