〈…〉 keeped from many 〈◊〉 or when they asault thaâ— they prevail not utâ—erly over us Tâ—e Devil lyeâ— alwayes aâ— the waâ— and we are often secure but our Lord Jeâ—us to say so watch â—n the stor or rebound of the tentation and 〈◊〉 it off as to the designed prejudice Luke 22 32. Simon Simon Satan hath desired that he may have you that hâ— may winnow you but I have prayed for thee that thy saith fail not There are many tentations that he keeps off that they beat not on us and when they assault us he breaks the power of them tha the Believer succumbs not under them Hence it is that we are keeped on our feet otherwayes what would become of us when David fell in adultery and Peter denyed his Master what would have become of them had it not been for this there would be no living for us in the multitude of tentations if he were not interceeding for us what could we forsee of Satans snars what strength have weak and witlesse we to resist tentations what could we do with the spear of corruption when it rises like a flood upon us and Satan inforceth his assaults upon us a if he were speaking with mans voicâ— or mouth hiding us do this and that But there is an Intercessour that pleads our cause 3. We have by this Intercession the preventing of many Judgements temporal and spiritual when tâ—e ax is laid to the root of the tree and it is found barren and juâ—â—ice cryes and the command comes out Cut it down why cumbers it the ground How comes it that the ax strikes not why is it not hewed down There is an efficacy in Christs Intercession for paring of it a while longer as it is Luke 13.6 The dresser of the vineyard sayes spare it for this year and it 's granted O! but we would have a most sinful and miserable life if there were not an Intercessour at Gods right hand 4. Disposition for dutie and help in the performance of dutie flows from his Intercession It 's this that makes us pray and that gives us boldnesse in prayer and in other duties that there is such an high Priest over the house of God as it is Heb. 10.19 20.21 Iâ—'s this that gives us ground of approaching to God and to expect a hearing and as it is Luke 13.7 8. It is his digging and pains that makes the barren fig tree fruitâ—ul 5 It flows from this that our prayers are heard though there be much I firmâ—â— in them and that they are not call back in our â—aces as dung but are made s voury to Goâ— it 's through the efficacy of his Intercession We have a type of his Revel 8.4 5. where John sees an Angel come and â—and at the Altar having a golden censer and there was given unto him much incense that he should offer it up with the prayers of all faints and the smoak of the incense which came up with the prayers of the sâ—ints ascended up before God It was savoury and acceptable to God and made the prayers of all Saints acceptaâ—le for the weight of Gods accepting their prayers is laid on the smoak of his incense It 's he that takes the â—â—â—gled and halfe prayers of his People and presents them to God and when they would be cast back as the supplication of an enemy He as great Master of Râ—quists through the acceptation that he hath with God makes them acceptable We should have no ground to pray with confidence nor acceptation to be heard if there were not a golden censer in his hand 6. We have from his Intercession an answer to all challenges There is much debt on our score the Law pursues hâ—rd and curseth us for our habitual enimity and all the particular Acts of it and his Intercession is the last defence on which the triumph of Faith rises by the other stepâ— Rom 8 43. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect Is it because they want a chaâ—ge No for there is the Devil the Law and the Conscience to charge them But it's God that justifies who shal condemne It 's Christ that died yea rather is risen again who is at the right hand of God and maketh intercession for us We have a high Priest there that hath payed our Debt and pleads that the application of his purchase may be made forthcoming and who I pray will lay any thiâ—g to our charge in that Court where God is Judge and Christ is Advocat 7. More particularly our Lord by his Intercession taketh away the guilt of our holy things for when we approach to God in worship there is a carnalness and pollutedness in the best things we do much irreverence much unbelief much want of humility zeal sincerity and tendernesse So that all our righteousnesses are but as filthy rags But the high Priest Exod. 28.38 hath on his fore-head Holiness to the Lord And his Oâ—â—ce is to bear the iniquitie of the holy things of the children of Israel â—hat they may be accepted before the Lord and in this he was a Type of Christ the great high Priest going in unto Heaven to make Intercession for his Peoplâ— who bears not onâ—y their iniqâ—â—ties but the iniquity of their holy tâ—inâ—s Aaron answers for them as the Type Our Lord Jesus as the anti-râ—pe He being emâ—nently holiness to the Lord and having holiness on his forehead and being so well pleasing to the Father however our prayers anâ— praises and other parts of service be but little worth yeâ— he makes them acceptable and procures that they be not rejected when he is for this end imployed and made use of 8. We will find that strength to bear through under a Cross and a good oâ—tgate from under the cross comes from him as Intercessour O! so advertant as he is when his own are under the cross his bowels are then moved though not as they were on earth yet certainly they want not their own holy motion suitable to the glorious estate whereunto he is exalted Therefore Acts 9. He cryes from Heaven Saul Saul why persecuts thou me And Stephen when a stoning to dâ—ath sees him standing at the right hand of God executing this part of his Priestly Oâ—â—ice One part whereof is to keep off a cross and another part whereof is to help to get it honourably born and to a victory over it 9. Our perseverance in the Faith and perfect glorification is a fruit of Christs Intercession so that his own cannot but persevere and be glorified because he interceeds for them This is it that is spoken to several times John 17. especially verses 15. and 24. In the 15. v. I pray for them that they may be keeped from the evil He prayes for them that they may be keeped from the evil of sin especially he prayes for them that they may be keeped that they fall nor from the truth And v. 24. Father I will that these whom thou
Consideration is that the Saints often pray God that he would take his own way and use his own means to bring about these great ends mentioned wherein there is indeed at least a tacite insinuation that if he in his wisdom see it meet to make use of the rod and affliction in order thereto that they will not allow themselves to decline the same nor to mistake him in it But that rather they shall through grace be satisfied with and bless him for fulfilling their Petitions and granting them according to their own hearts desires though it be by such means Which is not praying for affliction but a resolved and declared Submission to infinite Wisdoms love-choise of his own midses to effectuat bring to pass the prayed for ends Tenthly If it be considered that it now neither grieveth nor troubleth any of all the glorified triumphing and Palm-bearing Company before the Throne of God and of the Lamb that they were exercised with so many and so great trials and tribulations while they were here below It troubleth not John the Baptist that he was imprisoned basely murthered and beheaded there in a hole without having access to give any publick testimony before his death And at the desire of a wanton dancing Damsel through the instigation of her Adulterous and Incestuous Mother Nor Stephen commonly called the Proto-Martyr that he was stoned to death as a Blasphemer for giving testimony to the most precious and comfortable truth of Christs being the Messiah Nor Paul that he was thrice beaten with Rods and received five times fourty stripes save one that he was in so many perils by Sea and Land in the City in the Countrey and in the Wilderness by the Heathen by his own Countrey-men and by false Brethren That he was stoned and suffered all these other things whereof he gives us an Historical Abridgment in his 2d Epistle to the Corinthians chap. 11. Nor doth it trouble any of all these Worthies of whom the world was not worthy that they were cruelly Mocked Imprisoned Scourged Tortured or Tympanized and Racked Stoned Tormented Sawen assunder Killed with the Sword Tempted driven to Dens and Caves of the Earth and put to wander up and down in Sheep Skins and Goat Skins Whose Martyrology the Apostle briefly compendeth Heb. 11. Nor doth it trouble any other of all the Martyres Saints and Servants of Jesus who have in the several Ages of the Church suffered so many and so great things while they were here in the World Nay all these their sufferings go to make up a considerable part of their Song of Praise in Heaven where the History of these Wars of and for the Lord will be very pleasant to them to read however sore and bloody they were on earth And not only so but these of them who have suffered most wonder much that they have suffered so little and that they are come to so excellently glorious a Kingdome thorow so little tribulation in the way to it Believe it there will be as much matter of thanksgiving and praise to God found treasured up under the plyes and foldings to say so of the most cross and afflicting providences that ever the People of God met with here in the World as under these that for the time were more smiling and satisfying Let us then valuing all things we meet with according to the Aspect they have on our spiritual and eternal state which is sure the justest and safest valuation of them heartily allow him to take his own will and way in afflicting us Eleventhly If it be considered that as this Submission to the will of God in cross and afflicting providences is Chronicled in the Sacred Records to the perpetual commendation of several of the Saints Namely of Aaron of whom it is said when God had slain his two Sons in a strange and stupendious manner even by Fire from Heaven for their presumptuous offering of strange fire before him that he held his peace Levit. 10.3 Of old Eli when he received a sad message concerning himself and his house by the hand of young Samuel who said It is the Lord 1 Sam 3 18 let him do what seemeth him good Of Job after by four several Messengers each of them coming immediatly on the back of the other so that he scarcely got leave to breath betwixt or the former to finish his lamentable narration the terribly allarming tidings were brought him concerning the plundering of his Oxen and Asses by the Sabeans and the killing of the Servants with the Sword Concerning the consuming of his Sheep and Servants by the Fire of God falling from Heaven upon them Concerning the carrying away of his Camels and the killing of his Servants by the Caldeans and concerning the smothering to death of all his Sons and Daughters while Feasting together by the falling of the House upon them Job 1.21 22. who said The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord In all this not sinning nor charging God foolishly Of David who in a croud of crosses saith to God Psal 39.9 2 Sam. 15.25 26. I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou didst it And who when forced to flee from Jerusalem by his unnatural and rebellious Son Absolom and sending back the Ark thither with admirable composure and sweet stooping of Soul said If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord he will bring me again and shew me both it and his habitation but if he say thus I have no delight in thee behold here am I let him do to me as seemeth good to him Of Hezekiah when that heavy Message was brought to him by the Prophet Isaiah concerning the Babylonish Captivity wherein his Royal Posterity were to have their deep share 2 King 20.19 who said Good is the Word of the Lord which thou hast spoken who said moreover Is it not good if peace and truth be in my dayes If the threatned doom and sentence shall be for a while suspended and not presently execute And of these Christians who after they had with much weeping earnestly intreated the Apostle Paul deservedly very dear to them not to go up to Jerusalem where the Prophet Agabus had foretold he should be apprehended and put in Bonds and perceived that he was inflexibly resolved at any rate of hazard to go thither Act. 21 14 ceased and submissively said The will of the Lord be done As I say it is thus Chronicled to their commendation so it is a piece of most beautiful and amiable conformity to the practice of our blessed Lord Jesus of whom we ought to be followers as dear children in all these things wherein he is proposed as a pattern for our imitation Ephes 5.1 who in a great and grievous agony of trouble and when most terribly assaulted by a strong combination of cross and afflicting providences and after condition at deprecating of that bitterest Cup and
he was made a Priest by the eternal oath in the Covenant of Redemption Psal 110.4 The Lord hath sworn and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever And hels said to have an unchangable Priesthood And there being but one way of access for Sinners to Heaven by Christ who is called the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world it must be holden for a sure conclusion that his Intercession is as old as his Sâ—crifice And he was intercessour before his Incarnation in these three respects 1. In respect of his Office being designed to be Intercessour For as we said being designed to be Priest and being Mediator before his Incarnation he behoved to be Intercessour also For that way he did Mediat and the benefits that came to Sinners from the beginning were the effects of his Intercession Therefore 1 Tim. 2.5 It 's said There is one God and one Mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus and there was never another real Mediator however Moses might be called a typical one 2. He was Intercessour before his Incarnation in respect of the merit of his future Sacrifice He did not before his Incarnation Interceed by vertue of his Sacrifice actually offered as now he doth yet there was vertue which flowed from his Sacrifice to be offered to the people of God as well then as now when it hath been long since offered The Sins of all that ever were pardoned were pardoned on the account of his Sâ—crifice And so also the spiritual benefits that did redound to them did redound to them through his Intercession then as now by vertue of the same Sacrifice because of the nature of the Covenant wherein it was agreed that his Sacrifice should be of the same efficacy before his Incarnation as after For the day and hour was agreed upon when he should offer that Sacrifice Therefore it 's said that in due time and in tâ—â— fulness of time he came and died 3. He was Intercessour before his Incarnation â—s after it in respect of the effects that followed on it to the People of God then and now The People of God before his Incarnation had communion with God and access to him though not generally in tâ—at degree of boldnesse they presented their Prayers through and were beholden to the sâ—me Christ for a hearing as we are and therefore his Intercession before his Incarnation extended to them as to us in these respects but with this difference that he procured these benefits to them by vertue of the Covenant and the efficacaâ— of his blood to be offered and now he procures them to his People since his Incarnation and ascension by vertue of the same ascension and by vertue of the efficacy of his blood offered As to the 2d How his Mediation and Intercession now differs since his ascension from his Intercession before it as to the strengthening of the consolation of the people of God For answer 1. We lay down this for a conclusion That though our Lord Jesus was Mediator both before his Incarnation and now yet since his ascension he hath a new way of Mediation and Intercession that exceedingly abounds to the strengthening of the consolation of his People therefore it 's ordinarly subjoyned to his ascension because of his new manner of discharging that his Office It is time there is no addition to that grace which is infinit in him as if he could be more gracious or as if in respect of the Covenant there could be larger promises as to essential things contained therein but by taking on our nature he hath a new way of being affected and a new way of venting his affection to us and is capable of another manner of touch with the infirmities of his people now that he hath humane bowels though glorified and glorious and the Faith of his People hath a ground superâ—dded whereupon to expect the communication of that grace mercy and goodnesse that is in him though all the effects that followed to his people before his Incarnation had respect to his future Incarnation So these effects had respect to his future Intercession in our nature as well as to his dying and laying down of the price for these that were admitted to heaven ere he came in the Flesh were admitted the same way that we are But 2dly and more particularly if it be asked wherein this addition to the consolation of God's People by his Intercession after his Ascension kythes or manifests it self We may take it up in these Six steps which will also serve to illustrat the manner of his interceeding 1. It kythes in this That he appeareth in heaven in our nature now the man Christ is in heaven interceeding and as Advocat answering for pursued Sinners or as Ambassador and Legat agenting the affairs of them that are given to him of the Father as it is Heb. 9.24 He is not entered into the holy places made with hands but into heaven it self to appear now in the presence of God for us Where the Apostle having been speaking of the excellency of his Priest-hood before and comparing him with the Type he tels that he is not entered into the typical tabernacle but into heaven it self to appear there in the presence of God for us And this is a solid ground of consolation to a poor believing Sinner that he hath Christ in his own nature in heaven interceeding that what he performed before by vertue of his Office and of the efficacy of his Sacrifice to be offered when he should be incarnat He now being incarnat and ascended performs it we having God in our nature become a man like unto us to care for the things of his people and if any new question arise or debate be started to entertain the treaty and to effectuat and make out their businesse that nothing that concerns them misgive 2. Their consolation is stronger in this respect That he is in heaven by vertue of the efficacy of his Sacrifice already offered As the High Priest when he had offered the Sacrifice took the blood with him within the vall and interceeded for the people So our Lord Jesus is not now interceeding by vertue of his Sacrifice to be offered but by vertue of his Sacrifice already offered having entered into heaven and taken the efficacy of his Sacrifice with him to enter it to speak so in the book of God to stand on record nay he standeth there himself to keep the memory of his blood fresh and by each appearance of him there who is never out of the sight of the Majesty of God there is still a representation of the worth and efficacy of his Sacrifice and for whom and for what it was offered 3. There is by the man Christ his being in heaven this ground of consolation supperadded That he hath a sympathie with Sinners otherwayes then before not as to the degree nor as to the intensness of his grace and mercy as I hinted before but