Selected quad for the lemma: saint_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
saint_n	intercession_n	mediator_n	redemption_n	1,722	5	9.9845	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91944	The figg-less figg-tree: or, The doome of a barren and unfruitful profession lay'd open. In an exposition upon that parable: a certain man had a figg-tree planted in his vineyard, &c. Luke 13. 6,7,8,9,10. / By Nehemiah Rogers, a minister of the Gospel of Christ.	Rogers, Nehemiah, 1593-1660.	1659 (1659)	Wing R1823; Thomason E973_1; ESTC R203371	458,183	541

to it of all the sins that ever were committed by thee or of any whatsoever as Christ had of all the Kingdomes of the World in a moment Let all the difficulties of being saved that ever yet any poor humbled Soul did meet withall or can possibly imagine or cast within it self and joyn to these all the Objections and hinderances of thy salvation that thy heart can suppose or invent yet Christ by his Intercession is able to save thee to the utmost beyond the farthest compasse of thy thoughts Do but remember this same word to the utmost and then put in what exception thou canst The sacrificing part is done and ended the price all-sufficient for all the sins that were ever committed in the World His Intercession hath now the place and by it we get the merit of his death and Passion applyed and not by any new Oblation Vse 3 Wherefore Let it be your care to come unto God by him or through him the former comfort appertains onely to such as do so Heb. 7.25 Heb. 7.25 He is the Door and the way through which onely accesse is gotten to God by Saints and Angels we have not this accesse but by Christ onely They of the Church of Rome would perswade us otherwise they tell us that Christ indeed is the onely Mediatour betwixt God and us touching Redemption but there be other Mediators of Intercession namely Saints and Angels who albeit they be not the Redeemers of the World yet they are as the Courtiers of Heaven and speak a good word for us and so may be come unto by us But what warrant have they for this distinction in the word That Saints living on Earth may intercede for us and How we shall shew you anon but that the Saints departed do it for any particular Person we utterly deny Secondly 1 Joh. 2.1 1 Tim. 2.4 The Scripture tells us expresly that there is but one Advocate 1 Joh. 2.1 and one Mediator between God and Man 1 Tim. 2.4 and no more and which is to be observed that in the same place where the Apostle St. Paul tells us of one Mediatour betwixt God and Man the Subject that then he intreats of is Prayer so that even in Prayer he would not that we should acknowledge any other Mediator of Intercession but Christ alone Thirdly The High-Priest under the Law was typically Mediator both of Remission by Sacrifice and of Intercession by Prayer and to deny Christ this is to rob him of the honour of his Priesthood whose Priest-hood is everlasting Fourthly To communicate Christ's Priest hood or any part thereof with any other besides his own Person or use any other Mediator for Intercession besides him is in effect to deny that which Scripture speaks that Christ is able to the utmost to save those that come unto God through him But to follow this chase no farther let us not partake with them in their error but cleave close to the Intercession and Mediation which God hath ordained for us in the Person of Jesus Christ resting assured that he is both willing to step between God and us and able to procure us favour in the sight of God his Father and bring us into a state of Grace and Reconciliation with him He is our onely Master of Requests let us know no other if we would speed in our Suits He is a Saviour in solidum a thorough Saviour and needs not any to come after him to finish what he hath begun he doth not his work by halves We are taught to conclude all our Prayers and Requests through Jesus Christ our Lord Dan. 9.17 in and through his Mediation as did Daniel cap. 9.17 Chemnitius tells us of a Man who having used the help of some of the Nobles at Court to prefer a Petition to the King and being marvellously delayed hearing a Bishop preach of going to God by Saints and Mediators said If it were in the Court of Heaven as it was in the Courts of Earthly Princes they were like to have but a cold Suit of it But blessed be God it is not so here by Christ we have accesse unto the Father who will lead thee by the hand unto him as it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 2.18 3.12 for so much the word signifieth Ephes 2.18 3.12 and he will speak for thee Cou●dst thou be assured that thou hadst all the Saints and Angels in Heaven and all the Saints on Earth joyntly concurring at this instant in Prayer and Request to God on thy behalf intreating for God's love and favour towards thee How wouldst thou be comforted and encouraged But I dare assure thee that one word out of Christ's mouth will do more with his Father than all in Heaven and Earth can do In him the Father is well pleased Mat. 17.5 he will not cannot Mat. 17.5 Joh. 11.42 1 King 2.19 Psal 2. deny him any thing that he asketh of him Say on my Mother said Solomon to Bathsheba I will not say thee Nay So saith God Ask of me my Son and I will give thee nor did he ever deny him the hearing Wherefore stay your hearts and comfort your selves with these things Come we now to speak of the words as they have reference to the Under-dressers He said That this is to be understood secondarily of the Vnder-dressers of the Vineyard is evident enough in that they are those who are appoynted to dresse it and dung it and be serviceable unto it so long as God hath a Vineyard upon the Earth To these the head-Husbandman hath committed the charge of his Vineyard as before hath been shewed Whence it followes That Faithfull Ministers may not be wanting Doct. neither are they wanting in Interceding and Praying unto God in the behalf of that unprofitable people which is committed to their charge This was enjoyned the Priest under the Law Num. 6.24 25. 1 Sam. 12.23 Isa 37.4 Deut. 33.40 Numb 6.24 25. and practised conscienciously 1 Sam. 12.23 Isa 37.4 the Prophet is sent for and willed by King Hezekiah to lift up his Prayer for the People So Deut. 33.10 they shall put Incense before thee i. e. pray for thy People as well as preach to them c. In which regard they are counted and styled Intercessors as appears by that we read Jer. 7.16 Enlightned Jer. 7.16 Pray not thou for this People neither lift up a Cry nor Prayer for them neither make Intercession unto me for I will not hear It was his Office and Duty to pray for them and make Intercession on their behalf But God was so offended with them at that time that he forbids the Prophet to execute his Office in that particular as concerning the Captivity Had he omitted altogether the Duty of Prayer for that People he had sinned in that omission but God having so absolutely and peremptorily inhibited him even thrice with one breath Pray not Cry not Intercede not shewing thereby the

have our share Isa 66.10 there is a private benefit Isa 66.10 that will redound unto you you shall be marked for mourners in Jerusalem and so saved in the day of destruction Ezek. 9.4 Ezek. 9.4 Zeph. 2.3 Zeph. 2.3 I shall conclude the point with that exhortation of the Prophet Ye that make mention of the Lord Ministers and others too Isa 62.6 7. keep not silence and give him no rest till He establish and make Jerusalem a praise in the Earth Isa 62.6 7. Every one help with your humble prayers and tears make no other answer to God's complaints but humble Confessions and Petitions as did this Dresser of the Vineyard who in answering made no other answer but this Lord let it alone c. And so we come to the words more particularly He answering said Text. The Person Interceding was the Dresser of the Vineyard the Person Interceded was the Lord of the Vineyard He answering said Lord let it alone c. Who this Dresser is hath bin before shewed The Head and Principal Dresser is Christ himself The Under-Dressers are the Ministers of the Gospel the Servants of Christ whose Office it is to digg about the roots of the Trees We shall speak somewhat of both In reference to Christ the Head-Dresser we may take notice of the Intercession which he makes unto his Father in the behalf of sinners such as the Jews represented by this Figg-Tree were When God is offended Doct. Christ steps in and mediates and pats a stop to the present proceedings of Justice Thus Zachary 1.12 we read that the Angel of the Lord even the great Angel of the Covenant Zach. 1.12 Christ Jesus the Mediator of his Church interceded for Jerusalem saying O Lord of Hoasts how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the Cities of Judah against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years Seventy years God had shewed his just in●ignation against that People for their sins and had afflicted them with a miserable Captivity under the Babylonians Christ intercedes for them that God would proceed no further in wrath against them God heard him Vers 13 and answered him with good and comfortable words verse 13. And thus Being upon the Earth He made Intercession for sinners So did the Evangelical Prophet foretell Isa 53.12 Isa 53.12 speaking as Positively as if he had stood by when Christ made that prayer upon the Crosse in the behalf of his enemies Luke 23.34 Guevar de Mont. Calv. c. 3.4.5.6 Pendebat tamen petebat Aug. Father forgive them they know not what they do Luke 23.24 O sacred word O blessed speech saith one uttered upon the Crosse by the Son of God the Saviour of the World and that in the very Act of his crucifying when the blood did trickle down from his hands and feet when his shoulders were rent and torn with whipping his face swell'd with buffeting and when the pains of Hell had caught hold upon him yet then he prayes and is careful of his enemies for those who were then like so many bloody hounds tearing of him yea breathing Devils tormenting of him crucifying of him and bathing their hands in his blood yet then for them he prayes and that not for any one in particular but for all even the whole Nation of them questionlesse he saw many amongst them who belonged not unto him August tract 31. in Johan but amongst that wretched and seduced multitude He saw many that were his and for their sakes he makes intercession and puts up this prayer unto his Father Forgive them Fain would they pull upon themselves the guilt of his blood he deprecates it They kill He sues for remission and life And now that the Elements are troubled the Lights of Heaven darkned the Earth trembling and all Creatures in a sort prepared to be revenged on so wicked a Nation He stops their course and deterrs them from their intended purpose by Interceding unto his Father for them Father forgive them And what he did on Earth He doth still in Heaven in the behalf of those who belong unto the Election of grace but yet uncalled I pray for them saith Christ I pray not for the World John 17.19 20. but for them which thou hast given me for they are thine Joh. 17.9 10 And for their sakes Christ now makes Intercession unto his Father that he would deferr his wrath and that the World may stand till that the number of his Elect be made up which otherwise had not stood to this day and no sooner shall that number be made up but the world shall be consumed with fire Of this Intercession which Christ makes in Heaven for us now that He sits at the right hand of his Father the Apostle speaks Rom. 8.34 Heb. 7.25 Rom. 8.34 Heb. 7.25 And it containes divers things in it First His appearing for us in the sight of God and presenting of his Person in our Nature and his own as a publique person Heb. 9.24 So Heb. 9.24 He is there said to appear now in the sight of God for us alluding to the manner of the High Priest under the Law who used to go into the Sanctum Sanctorum the Holy of Holyes with the names of the Children of Israel written in precious stones for a remembrance of them that he might be mindful of them all Exod. 30.7 in his prayers Exod. 30.7 So Christ being now ascended up into Heaven there presents unto his Father the names of all his Chosen doing the Office of a Priest continually remembring the Lord of that which he hath done in offering himself a sacrifice for us thereby as it were with strong and mighty voyce craving for us mercy and grace whose blood speaks louder and better then the blood of Abel Heb. 12.24 Heb. 12.24 Secondly His undertaking for us before God and passing his word that we being mindful of Reconciliation through him shall eschew sin by his Grace and not provoke him any more as formerly we have done Look as Judah was both a Mediator to request and a Surety to engage himself to bear the blame for ever with his Father Gen. 43.8 9. for his Brother Benjamin Gen. 43.8 9. And as Paul was for Onesimus a Mediator I beseech thee for my Son Onesimus and a Sponsor If he have wronged thee or owe thee ought put it upon my account I will repay it Philem. 9.10 18 19. So is Christ both our Mediatour and Surety Heb. 7.22 Thirdly His powring out of the Spirit of Intercession upon us which causeth us Rom. 8.26 Gal. 4.6 7. by an unutterable manner to make our moans and requests known unto God Rom. 8.26 Gal. 4.6 7. Fourthly His offering up the Prayers and Praises of the Saints to God Rev. 8.3 4. That Angel is Christ the Lord in Rev. 8.3 4 and through whom our Prayers are heard and accepted Fifthly The presenting of his

Immutability of his Counsell and that the Captivity of that People was decreed and established of God He had sinned if he had prayed for them any more in that respect This grieved him to the heart Jer. 14.11 13. ver 20 21 23. Jer. 14.11 13. yet he goes as far as he might ver 20 21 22. He might and ought and did as he ought to pray for other Blessings of God in their behalf As that He would give them Repentance Remission of Sins Redemption from eternal Captivity Comfort and Patience in that Captivity threatned and deliverance out of it in due time according to Promise He might and ought and did as he ought in praying for deliverance from other Judgments as Famine Pestilence c. At that time there was a great Famine in the Land by reason of drought and for the removing of that Judgment and the blessing of Rain he prayed albeit he might not pray for the State of the Kingdome that it might stand and flourish and the Enemy not prevail against it Piscator in loc and that they might not be carryed away into Captivity for after God had so charged him not to do it he never Interceded and prayed for them as before was shewed And that this is the duty of all faithful Ministers thus to make Intercession for their People unlesse there be such a special Interdiction which we in these dayes have not appears by that we read Jer. 27 18. If they be Prophets Jer. 27.18 Explained and the word of the Lord be with them Let them now make Intercession to the Lord of Hoasts that the Vessels which are left in the house of the King of Judah and at Jerusalem go not to Babylon As if the Prophet should say If these men amongst you that say they are Prophets and would disswade you from serving of Nebuchadnezzar whom God hath determined you shall serve Verse 14. if they be Prophets indeed let them do the work of a Prophet in intreating the Lord for you and making Intercession on your behalf that his Judgments may be averted from you or at least mitigated and sweetned unto you and let them not any longer delude you in saying You shall not serve the King of Babylon for in so saying they Prophesie a lye unto you And so under the Gospel Ministers are to intercede so did Paul Rom. 10.1 John 17. Rom. 10.1 Christ hath given us an example Joh. 17. But if these Intercede Quest how is Christ our only Mediatour and Intercessor Intercede is properly a Latine word and signifieth to come betwixt and so to Lett Hinder Withstand Inter et cedo Cameron de p. 122. Eccles 1 Tim. 2.1 or Prohibit the doing of a thing It hath sometimes a more large signification so the prayers which the godly make in the name of Christ to turn away God's Judgments from their Brethren in this World are termed Intercessions 2 Tim. 2.1 And these are Intercessions of Charity But usually and more strictly it signifieth that part of the Mediation of Christ in which he appears before God to prevent or pacifie his displeasure towards his Elect of which we spake before And this is out of Justice or Authority To be such an Intercessor belongs to Christ alone because Intercession as it is a publique and authoritative Act is founded upon the satisfactory merits of the Person interceding 1 Joh. 2.2 He cannot be a right Advocate who is not a Propitiation also Therefore the Papists are forced to venture so far as to affirm that the Intercession of the Saints in Heaven with God for us is grounded upon the virtue of their own merits But thus Christ onely is our Intercessor and no other neither in Earth nor Heaven The things we pray for either for our selves or others are unmerited of us and undeserved by us therefore we put them up in His name we expect them ex vi promissi out of Gods gracious promise and not ex vi pretii out of any price or purchase by us paid or made such meritorious Mediators God's Ministers are not they are but Ministerial Mediators and Intercessors under Christ 2 Cor. 4.20 wherein indeed they are preferred before others in nearnesse to Christ and have as Nazianzen speaks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Mediation between God and Man For the further Explication and Confirmation of the Point Let me shew you First wherein this Intercession of God's Ministers doth consist and then the Grounds and Reasons of it The intercession of God's Ministers for their People stands in two things First In speaking betwixt both interpreting the mind of one unto another from God to Man and from Man again to God Secondly In interposing betwixt both when God is offended and displeased with Man They speak from God to Man and so they are His Voyce to Us Luke 1.70 Him we cannot hear in His own Voyce and live Luke 1.70 Speak thou with us said the People of Israel to Moses and we will hear Exod. 20.19 Deut. 5.27 28. but let not God speak any more with us lest we dye which desire of theirs was well approved of by the Lord In like manner God having respect to our Infirmities is graciously pleased to acquaint us with his good pleasure by men like our selves Math. 10.20 2 Cor. 5.20 It is not you that speak but the spirit of your Father that speaketh in you as Christ spake to his Disciples Math. 10.20 we pray you in Christ's stead saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 5.20 They speak from Men and for Men to God and so they are Man's Voyce to Him presenting their Persons and Causes before him when they come into his presence Thus Aaron was enjoyned to bear the names of the Children of Israel upon his Pectoral when he came before the Lord to minister for a memorial before the Lord for ever Exod. 28 29. Exod. 28.29 So every Faithful Pastor is mindful of his Flock and carries it upon his heart not onely to his Pulpit but to his Study When he studyes he remembers them and prayes for them when he meditates on them he prayes for them In Publique he prayes for them in Private he neglects not that Duty St. Paul mentioned the Romans alwayes in his prayers Rom. 1.9 Rom. 1.9 In every prayer of his Publique or Private he had the Philippians in remembrance making request for them all with Joy Philip. 1.4 Phil. 1.4 5 5. Look as the tender hearted Mother prayes for her Babe when she suckles it when she dresseth it takes it up or layes it down which prayers are usually wanting when she puts it forth to Nurse So is it with a Faithful Pastor though it be otherwise with those who turn over their Flocks unto another man's care Secondly They Intercede by Interposing in time of danger betwixt God the People when the Almighty is incensed against them through their manifold provocations This is injoyned Joel

the former not latter kind He acquainted God with the Impiety of that People lamented it in God's hearing was sorry for it and grieved at it but he called not for vengeance to fall upon their heads he desired not their ruine for questionlesse he was better acquainted with Samuel's Rule if he had not too much through passion forgot himself 1 Sam. 12.23 1 Sam. 12.23 God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you If besides the complaint made by the Prophet unto God there be likewise a secret imprecation as some conceive there is Calvin Grynaeus and that he did imprecari interitum wish their destruction and ruine then it was spiritu prophetantium by way of Prophesie he knew by Revelation from God that Judgments were intended against that People for their Idolatry and bloody cruelty and so he framed his desires according to God's appointments The like did Jeremiah Deliver up their Children saith he and let them drop away by the Sword Jer. 18.21 21 23. forgive not their iniquity put not out their sin but deal with them in anger Jer. 18.21 22 23. And it was usual with the Prophets thus to do We come to make use of the Point Use 1 Such as are called unto the Ministerial function should make conscience of their Duty in putting up prayers to Heaven in the behalf of their People which sometimes may be more prevalent with God on their behalf then any other part of their pains that Prayer which St. Stephen made when he was stoned Acts 7.60 Lord lay not this sin to their charge Acts 7.60 was heard when his Sermon wrought but little on them to whom it was Preached and so heard as that it was as we may religiously conceive an effectual means of the conversion of One of his greatest Persecutors Saul at whose Feet the Witnesses layd down their Cloathes as we read ver 58. Augustine speaks confidently Si Stephanus non sic orâsset Paulum hodie Ecclesia non haberet that if Paul had not bin enwrapped in those Prayers which Stephen made for his Persecutors the Church had lost the benefit of all St. Paul's labours and if God had not bind so intreated by a praying Stephen the Church had not bin so blessed with a preaching Paul The like saying hath Fulgentius Great pitty it had bin that the Church should have wanted either the Person of the one or the Prayers of the other However admirable was St. Stephen's patience and piety others at such a time would have forgotten their Friends he remembers his Enemies and prayers for them yea at that very instant when they were stoning of him and which is yet more he kneeled down and prayed for them albeit the stood when he prayed for himself intimating thereby as the greatness of their impiety which could not easily be forgiven so the greatnesse of his own charity in being more grieved for their sin then for his own suffering Luke 23.24 imitating therein his Lord and Master Jesus Christ Who hanging on the Crosse yet prayed for his Persecutors Luke 23.24 Is this the condition of any of us who are Ministers of Christ Are we traduced reviled persecuted by those from whom better things are expected by us Look we then upon the practise of our Lord and Masters and upon his suffering Servants who are gone before and learn to blesse them who curse us and pray for them who desptiefully use us as we are enjoyned Luke 6.27.30 33. Luke 6.27 32 33. This is Heroical revenge and such was that which the Martyrs have taken We read of Mr. Saunders in the Reign of Queen Mary who being sent to Prison by that B. B. of Winchester Stephen Gardiner he gave God thanks that had given him at the last a place of rest and quietnesse where he might pray for the Bishop's conversion Oh! let us not be wanting in this Duty for them Who yet are wanting in Love and Duty to God and Us The Calf pusheth the Cow yet the Cow Lowes after it and is content to let down her Milk to nourish it Be we a Sanctuary to them who wickedly seek to drive us out of the Sanctuary of God and if it be possible pray we them into Inheritance of Heaven who it may be would swear us out of our maintenance on Earth so shall we manifest to the World that we are the true Disciples of Christ who had Gall and Vinegar given him by the Jews for the sweet Wine which he gave them to drink and for the feeding of Mens Bodies healing their diseases c. was by way of requital slandered scourged buffetted spit upon and at last crucified Yet He stood in the gap as you have heard betwixt the revenging wrath of God and those wicked ones He catched the blow in his own Body purchased an eternal Redemption for them by shedding of his blood that believing in Him they might not perish but have eternal life Joh. 3.16 Luke 6.40 The Disciple is not above his Master if any man will be perfect let him be as his Master If we that are sent to dresse the Vineyard and to Husband it are under contempt or under persecution If the Sword of the Tongue or the Sword of the Tyrant be drawn against us against all these Arma nostra preces lachrymae we must defend with no other Shield return no other Sword but tears and prayers blessing them that curse us And such weapons we may well have leave to use Thus as the Point concerns Us Now let me shew how it concerns you that heart us Use 2 See the benefit that comes unto you by these Intercessors There are a great company of unthankful and inconsiderate persons in the World that are ready to object against the calling of the Ministery as needlesse and uselesse Why Are not all God's People Intercessors and enjoyned to make Intercession as well as these you take too much upon you ye Sons of Levi. Numb 16.3 It is very true the Lord hath respect to the prayers of the meanest of his Saints but yet he hath respect to the prayers of his Prophets and Ministers more then to any other and their prayers are more effectual and prevayling as appears by that speech of God to Abimelech Gen. 20.7 For he is a Prophet Gen. 20.7 and shall pray for thee And as sick Abimelech was sent to Abraham a Prophet for prayers so are others in time of their sicknesse by St. James Jam. 5.14 Jam. 5.14 Why should People have recourse to them rather then to other if their prayers were not more potent and prevalent with God then the prayers of others Moses and Aaron were amongst his Priests and Samuel amongst such as call upon his Name these called upon the Lord and he heard them saith the Psalmist Psal 99.6 Others called upon God as well as they and God had gratious respect likewise to their