Gen. 45.27 Did Jacob rejoyce to see a Waggon or a Chariot that would carry him into Aegypt to see his Son Joseph And wilt not thou rejoyce to think that Death is a Chariot to carry thee to JESUS CHRIST to carry thee not to Aegypt but to Heaven Not to thy Son but to thy GOD Death is but a Chariot to carry into Heaven to bring us to that Eternal Goshen of Light where GOD's Presence shall both make and keep us blessed for ever And thus have you been offered a taste of Three of those Sweet Streams which came forth of that River which runs in the Eden of God 4. The Fourth and Last is this Is Christ gone to Heaven Thou shalt assuredly go after him 'T is somewhat a sad thing when Death comes and says You must go with me the Body to the Grave the Soul to God that gave it I say then Nature makes a sowr Face upon such a sad Message What my Body that hath cost me so much I used so tenderly that lived so delicately Now to say to corruption thou art my father and to the worm thou art my mother and my sister What this Face of mine be cloathed with Clods of Dust as Job says These Arms these Hands these Feet of mine that were my Pride the Worms Meat They shall feed sweetly upon them Job 24. This is a hard saying to Nature and the harder to be born when the Care hath been all imployed about the Body and the Soul forgotten it will be dreadful indeed to leave the Body in the Hands of Death when the Soul hath been in the Power of Sin But hast thou the least Hold-fast on Christ a Faith but like a smoaking Flax thou hast then a Cordial to give the Spirit when thy Body is falling into the Pit No mattter let it fall it shall up again Christ is risen and he is gone to Heaven and he is gone to receive thee thither that thou mayest be even where he is So he tells you Joh. 14.19 Yet a little while and the world seeth me no more but you see me because I live you shall live also The Branches live in the Root and if the Root lives they will live As if he said Well my Friends I must leave you a while I must go to Heaven before you but know this I go to Heaven for you and be cause I live there bodily assure your selves you shall live there bodily too What saith a Father to this Well saith he Christ is our Flesh and our Bone he is gone with our Flesh into Heaven our Flesh hath taken possession already of our Inheritance And this is a good assurance and pledge to us that our Flesh these Bodies of ours shall be in Heaven where Christ is Christ is gone bodily into Heaven and because he lives there you shall live there also Because I live ye shall live also saith Christ And as much you have in the 14 Joh. 3. And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am ye may be also Christ is gone for the present but when all is prepared above he will come again and fetch his People Home to his House and to their Inheritance Oh what an unspeakable Comfort is this to a dying Soul I am now ready to lie down in the Dust saith a Soul And though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God as Job said 19 Job 26. Christ is entred into Heaven in our Name in our Flesh hath taken possession for us of the purchased Inheritance and therefore he will bring us thither in his appointed time Christ hath gotten in his Head his Body his Church shall come after CHRIST will not sit in Heaven a HEAD without MEMBERS It 's a Scripture more worth than both the Indies for a dying time 6. The End of Christ's Ascention was that he being full of Grace and Glory might be able to refresh and fill the Souls of all his People My Brethren as I told you before Christ did not lose his Bowels his Pity by going to Heaven We have not an High Priest saith the Apostle which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities let us therefore come boldly to obtain mercy Heb. 4.15 16. No my Brethren our High-Priest hath not lost his Feeling by going into Heaven he is not like a Man that his Advancement should make him forget his Friend 's Good That he might hear them that he might help them that he might fill them that he might save them so saith the Apostle Ephes 4.10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens that he might fill all things He ascended with filling purposes as the Sun ascends with enlightning strength And therefore at his departure what saith he John 17.19 For their sakes saith he sanctifie I my self that they may be sanctified And Ver. 22. The glory that thou givest me I have given them Our Glory our Fulness our Holiness was one of Christ's Ends why he was glorified and filled himself Of his fulness we all receive grace for grace John 1.16 A notable Comfort to poor needy Souls Dost thou see thy emptiness yea but look on Christ's fulness he emptied himself for us Why so he filled himself for us Dost thou feel great want of Knowledge thou art a poor ignorant Creature that as Paul said thou dost know nothing as thou shouldst Thou dost want Wisdom and Strength and Grace to make thee solid and able in thy Christian Business Thou canst not walk as prudently as thou shouldest in the place God hath set thee Thou canst not carry thy self as beseemingly and as humbly as thou shouldest when God's Hand is upon thee thou hast not that fear of God as thou shouldest nor that love of God that his Mercies call for Yet in the midst of all here 's thy stay and support Thou knowest where to carry thy empty Vessels to be filled Thou canst now go to thy Saviour and say Lord thou art now in Heaven filled with unmeasurable Glory Thou art a God full of Grace and Glory Thou art full that thy People may be full Oh of thy Fulness let us receive Grace for Grace Such Thoughts such Meditations as these will in time work us out of all our Wants Where I am there also shall my servant be saith he John 12.26 When I shall be in Heaven ne're a Servant of mine but shall be in Heaven too the Servant shall be with the Master and you know in that fore-cited place Ephes 2.6 The Apostle speaks of our Ascension as a thing already effected and wrought by Christ's Ascension God hath made us sit together saith he in heavenly places in Christ Jesus Oh my dear Brethren here 's a Comfort for every Cross Come what can come Life or Death Fears Hopes Trouble or Peace this will give us Confidence in all our Fears and
his Death Resurrection and Ascension Speaks of them thus interested in him as those who already sit in Heavenly places ver 6. They do not sit personally but in their Representative as the People of England sit in Parliament by their representative And as the People yet unborn may be said to sin in Adam because he was a Person that stood up in the stead of all So with as much proprieâ—y of Speech may the People of God now on the Earth be said to sit in Heavenly places in that Christ who stands up for them and in their names is there ascended and sate down Quest 2. Can Christ be said to ascend in both Natures or no did he ascend as God if so his Motion overthrows his Omnipresence Now for answer hereto you must know that Ascension is taken two ways 1. Figuratively in regard of State and Condition and so we say a Man gets up or comes down as his Estate and Honours grow or decline though he moves not in place 2. It is taken properly for Local motion a Motion from a lower to a higher place Now both these may be admitted to their place in Christ's Ascension though not both to both Natures For we must know that Christ is a compound Person a Person consisting of two Natures the Divine and Humane Now then the Divine Nature can be only said to ascend in regard of Condition and State When that which lay obscured and vailed in Dust and Flesh came to have its Glory and Perfections to be manifested and to shine forth more clearly then is he said to ascend in his Divine Nature So far forth as Ascension presupposes a Change it may by no means be predicated of the Divine Nature But there may be an Ascension in respect of manifestation which doth not imply a change but a more full appearance As a bright Candle in a Lanthorn is the same whether the Lanthorn be covered or clean wiped And yet the Light is not alike discovered in the one as in the other so that the change is not at all in the Candle but in the Lanthorn 2. The Divine Nature may be said to ascend causally in as much as he caused the Local ascent of the Humane Nature But now Christ man ascended both in regard of State and Place too 1. In regard of State in that he received that Glory and these Perfections which before he had not For till he was ascended his Manhead was not glorified 2. In regard of Place In that he left those lower Seats of the Earth and by the Power of his Divine Nature was carried up to those Mansions which are above the Heavens We may learn what his Ascension was by his descension His descension was not say the Schools proper but metaphorical in respect of his Divine Nature Non mutatione loci vel motu aliquo locali It was not the change of Place or Local motion as if he were come off that glorious and holy place that he might come down upon the Earth Sed tantum naturam humanam in terrâ non autem in caelo assumendo But only by assuming Humane Nature on the Earth which he had not assumed in Heaven And so I may by parity of Reason say that his Ascension was humanam naturam in terrâ assumptam intra coelum recipiendo or transferendo A receiving or translating his Humane Nature assumed into Heaven to be glorified And so I come to the second Term the Place to which he was advanced to which he ascended and that was to Heaven Now Scripture and Philosophy agree in the Number of Heavens and from both we have warrant for three 1. The Region of the Air. 2. The Starry Firmament or Sphears where the Planets run their course 3. The highest Heavens where are the Seates of the Blessed The Caelum Empyreum That resplendent and glorious place where are the blest Spirits made perfect The City of the living God the new Jerusalem Now when we say Christ ascended into Heaven we mean into this Heaven of Heavens above all those visible Heavens and those heavenly Mansions where God doth more fully shew and manifest his glorious Presence and Perfection and where his Angels and blest Spirits have their abode And hence it is that Christ is said to be ascended afar above all Heavens Epes 4.10 To that Holy place which doth as far out-go all the other Heavens for loftiness of Scituation for stability of Duration for dignity of Substance for largeness of Capacity Doth as far I say out-go all other Heavens for these as also for Glory and Blessedness as it doth out-go all the Abilities of a Humane Understanding to comprehend them Sometimes called the Heaven of Heavens 1 Kings 8.27 by way of Eminency Sometimes the House of God the Father John 14.2 Sometimes the 3d. Heaven So far Faith as 't is compared with the Air and Firmament stretched out and adorned with so many glorious Stars and Planets 2 Cor. 12.2 and vers 4. It is called Paradice whereof that ancient Paradice planted in Eden was a Type Sometimes 't is called Abraham's Bosom Sometimes the new Heaven Sometimes the high and holy place shadowed out and often described by Mount Sion Therefore called the Holy Mount of the Lord. Sometimes it is called a City which hath Foundations whose Builder and Maker is God Heb. 11.10 Sometimes the Heavenly place Now to this high and to this heavenly place above all Heavens visible to those immortal and unseen Ones above was our Saviour at his Ascension carried by the infinite Vertue and Power of the Divine Nature to sit with the Father triumphant in highest Glory and Majesty And that he was so we are now to prove Now this I shall make good 1. By Types 2. By Prophesies 3. By Promises 4. By Witnesses 1. By Types And hence was it as I conceive and all the Learned I have met with That Enoch before the Law was translated and in the Body advanced from a mortal to immortal Condition to that place where the blest Spirits remain Till their Bodies raised by the Power of Christ's Voice shall be prepared for such a perfect Translation Gen. 5.24 And Enoch walked with God 't is said and he was not for God took him And that this was only an Ascension without any acquaintance with the Grace or Corruption the Apostle tells us Heb. 11.5 By Faith Enoch was translated that he should not see Death Another Type you have under the Law of Eliah specified 2 Kings 2.11 who set on fire with Zeal for God was sutable to his Work and Spirit carried up to God in a fiery Chariot There appeared a Chariot of Fire and Horses of Fire and parted Eliah and Elisha asunder so that Eliah went up by a Whirlewind into Heaven The Chariot parted Eliah and his Friend Elisha but not his Soul and his Body his Soul was translated to Heaven without any smell of Death upon his upper Garment his Body Thus have you
gone his Journey why now then let the Servants every one set to their Business to their Service now let it be known they are not Eye-servants but do what they do in Love 6. There is another special Duty that from Christ's Ascension lies upon you that is Spiritual Joy and Rejoycing My Brethren Christ's Ascension was his Triumph and if a People be loyal when their King triumphs they will rejoyce Oh let our joyful Spirits give Eccho as it were to Christ's Trumpets that while they sound a Victory and Peace on Earth we may cry glory to the Highest Christ himself made this an Evidence of his Peoples Love 14 John If ye loved me ye would rejoyce because I said I go unto the Father Hadst thou a poor Kinsman advanced to some high Place in the Commonwealth thou wert but a poor Friend if thou wouldst not rejoyce So it is our eldest Brother yea our Head is gone into Heaven and there in our Nature sitteth next in Authority under God the Father who hath put all things under him and shall not we send one Gratulation after him See the Disciples Carriage when they had seen Christ ascended a Man would have thought that they which had so sweet Converse with Christ should have been found in a sad and mourning Posture upon his Departure He gone whose Life was their Light his Words a sweet Mixture of wise Counsels solid Comfort precious Promises and he departed from us Who but would have thought he should have found his Disciples wringing their Hands and prickt at their very Hearts since they had lost the Personal Presence of him who was their Counsel and Support their very Hope and Life No such matter they rejoyced that he was gone as you may see 24 Luke 52 53. He was parted from them and they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God See my Brethren it was the very Joy of their Hearts that Christ was gone to Heaven they rejoyced at it and they continued rejoycing just like good Subjects when their King rides in Triumph they cry after him GOD save the KING GOD save the KING some such Triumphant Song should we send after our Triumphing Captain None should express more Joy in Words in Works in Carriage in Conversation in Face in Faith than God's People 'T is an undecent and unbeseeming thing that a triumphing King should have a sad and a sullen People None should be so heartily merry as Christians I do not mean toyish and idle and apish in their Carriage and their Words which to see in People of Age may be the Wonder of Fools and Laughter of Children But in a comfortable Frame of Spirit arising from the Mercies they have and the Hope they have founded on the Love of God manifested in Promises that 's Madness and not Mirth which makes Fools and Children laugh but wise Men mourn Their Leader is in his Chariot on his Throne their Enemies at his Wheels at their Feet Thanks be to God that hath given us the Victory through Jesus Christ. 7. Lastly Is Christ gone to Heaven why then make up after him as fast as thou canst ascend thither Spiritually whether Christ is ascended Corporally Is Christ in Heaven why then let thine Heart be in Heaven let thine Heart be where thy Head is let thy Desires Thoughts Meditations be like the Angels on Jacob's Ladder going up coming down hold constant Correspondence with thy Prince Remember Christ thy Head is in Heaven What hast thou to do to build Tabernacles here upon Earth thou art Travelling to thy Country to thy Husband Along in the way thou art going for Jewels do not think of taking up thy rest in thy way Doest thou believe Christ is ascended What dost thou scraping then in the Earth and rooting thy self in the Mud or tumbling with Swine in dirty Puddles of Filthy Pleasures Observe what Paul saith 3 Coloss 1. If ye be risen with Christ seek these things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God What said the Angels to those that came to seek Christ in his Sepulcher Luke 24. Why say they Do ye seek the living among the dead he is not here he is risen So why seek you Christ amongst the things of the Earth he is not here he is ascended Christ is in Heaven Why then Let our conversation be in Heaven saith the Apostle Phil. 3.20 Where the Carcase is thither will the Eagles be gathered saith Christ Matth. 24.28 The Glory of the Gospel shall with such Effect and Power be maintained in the World that it shall make Men as eager to come after Christ into Heaven as the Eagle is after the Prey See then how you can find the Power of Christ's Ascension growing upon your Hearts Whether it draws thee up to Christ makes thee most Earthly and more Heavenly Whether it makes thee more Passionately eager and more Importunately earnest after Christ in his Ordinances in his Presence in his Grace in his Members This is thy Duty and this if it be thy Work will be thy Happiness What all for Earth and Christ in Heaven Let thy Thoughts then be more working to Christ thy Words more Talking of Christ thy Life more guided by Christ thy Affection more with the People of Christ Thy Head is in Heaven Let thy Heart be in Heaven and then doubt not but thy Body will come after FINIS BOOKS Printed for John Salusbury in Cornhill THE Certainty of The Worlds of Spirits fully evinced by unquestionable Histories of Apparitions and Witchcrafts Operations Voices c. Proving the Immortality of Souls the Malice and Miseries of the Devils and the damned and the Blessedness of the Justified The End of Doctrinal Controversies which have lately troubled the Churches by reconciling Explication without much Disputing Both by Mr. Richard Baxter The Protestant Religion truly stated and justified by the late Reverend Divine Mr. Richard Baxter Whereunto is added by way of an Epistle some Account of the Learned Author never before Published By Mr. Matth. Silvester and Mr. Daniel Williams The Harmony of the Divine Attributes in the Countrivance and Accomplishment of Man's Redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ By William Bates D. D. The Changeableness of this World with respect to Nations Families and particular Persons with a Practical Application thereof to the various Conditions of this Mortal Life By Timothy Rogers M. A. The Christian Laver or a Discourse opening the Nature of Participation with and Demonstrating the Necessity of Purification by Christ By T. Cruso Earthquakes Explained and practically Improved Occasioned by the late Earthquake Septemb. 8. 1692. In London and many other Parts of England and beyond Sea With a particular Account of the Earthquake in Jamaica By Tho. Doolittle M. A. The Pastor's Care and Dignity and the Peoples Duty By G. Tross
Christ's Ascension INTO HEAVEN ASSERTED AND Practically Improved IN Several SERMONS By the Reverend Mr. Joseph Hallet late Minister of the Gospel in Exon. Whereunto is added by way of Preface some Account of the Pious AUTHOR I ascend to my Father and to your Father and to my God and your God John 20.17 London Printed for Iohn Salusbury and Robert Osborne Bookseller near the Bear in Exon. 1693. THE Epistle Dedicatory To that Congregation of Christian People in Exon that were usually my Father's Auditors during the publick Exercise of his Ministry in this City and to all his Friends and Acquaintance DEAR SIRS IT is Customary with some Persons to front the Reasons of the Publication of their Treatises with this viz. That they were induced thereto by the pressing Importunity of their Friends I verily believe I may have as good a Foundation for the imploying of this Argument to excuse my exposing some of my Father's Sermons to publick View as most of those that have at any time addressed their Readers with this Plea With what Vrgency many of you have been prompting me to this Vndertaking I leave you to your selves to be informed To gratifie your desires and in Compliance with your earnest Solicitations I here at length present you with a few Sermons of his that were some Years since Preached amongst you upon the Subject of our Lord's Ascension into Heaven I confess I was a long while very backward to the Publication of my Father's Discourses because I saw the World was already cramb'd with so many Treatises on all kind of Subjects that I almost doubted whether amongst so great a Croud there would be any room admitted them for Entertainment However I have resolv'd to send these into the World but what acceptance they may meet withal I cannot presage only thus much I dare adventure to presume upon that they will meet with a Cordial welcome from you But let me leave this Caution with the Reader that he expect not to meet in these Discourses with a Gaiety of Expression or a pompous Rhetorick for the Author never affected a finery of Language in his Pulpit-Discourses but always studied plainess that he might affect and Profit not Amuse his Auditors I have often heard him speak with somewhat of concern against those Pulpit-Declaimers whose Language discovered their Design rather to be Ostentation then Edification I question not but he was as able to Trim and Adorn a Discourse as most of those that would fain have the World applaud them as mighty Orators But he was satisfied however that might make the People admire it was not the way to make them wiser or better Well a plain Discourse it is that you are here presented with but yet as it is not gaudy so neither does it appear in so sordid a Dress as to attract Contempt Had my Dear Father had the Publication of it himself before his Decease you may be confident it would have had something more of exactness then now can be supposed to attend it For it s highly improbable that posthumous and popular Discourses especially if their Authors ne'er designed them for the Press should be chargeable with no Defects when as some of the least Composures of this kind have their Flaws If you meet with any thing in the following Sermons liable to Objection remember these Discourses could not possibly have the Author 's Review to render them more Correct before their Publication And then they struggle under the Disadvantage of having been Copied from a few blotted Notes that were scarcely Legible yet thus much I dare aver that altho' the Scribe may have been guilty of some few mistakes yet not of very great ones But as to the Author of these ensuing Sermons My endeared Father it may perhaps be expected by some that I should give a Character of him suitable to his Worth and tell the World what were those commendable Qualities in him that recommended him so much to the esteem of many that knew him I could I confess say many things of him as a good Christian a Scholar a Pastor and a Parent which would discover him to have been a Person above the common Rate but I should incur the censure of many should I attempt any thing of that nature Therefore all I shall do as to that matter shall only be to remember you of some things concerning him which fell within the knowledge of most of you He was altho' a Person of a crasie Body yet a very painful and diligent Student that carefully imployed his time to the best advantage insomuch that he was not but with great difficulty at any time drawn to recreative Diversions Tho' it may be his enfeebled Body and his shattered Spirits called for their frequent Repetition He was a very faithful and affectionate Pastor that readily condescended to the meanest and would Conscientiously discharge the Duties of his Function notwithstanding the Frowns of the greatest He was as forward to reprove the Lives of those of a higher Station as the Follies of those that moved in a lower Sphere His Prayers were always fervent and pithy his Preaching very clear but warm and he delivered his matter with such a winning Pathos that he even commended the Attention of his Auditory he filled not his Discourses with bitter Invectives against the Persons of those that differed from him in some Controverted Points but many times spake honourably of them His design was not to raise mens Passions but to allay them when exorbitant not to Exulcerate mens Minds but to calm and sweeten them He Preached to instruct the Ignorant to reclaim the Sinful to comfort the contrite Soul but not to fill mens Hearts with Rage or their Mouths with Clamour He was a Person irrecoverably averse to any thing of flattery or a daubing Language who always made his Tongue the Interpreter of his Heart There are a sort of men in the World with whom there are as the Poet speakes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Moschus Charming Tongues but Hearts full of rancour and bitterness whose Words do not keep Peace with their secret Intentions And I am sure the Author had sufficient reason to be exemped from that number he was a fond lover of Integrity and was obstinately set against all Temptations to any thing of Injustice insomuch that he has sometimes drawn upon himself the displeasure of his Friends by his stiff adhesion to Truth and Equity It was always his temper to value Truth and Honesty before the Applauses of Men or the profuse Commendations of mistaken Friends Amicus Plato Amicus Aristoteles sed magis Amica veritas He might have justly challenged for his Motto He was a very Conscientious and Laborious Minister so well pleased with the Work his Master had called him to do that his many Bodily Infirmities that very much indisposed him towards the last of his Time could not detain him from engaging in it How often has it been fitter for him to
Graces of God's Spirit were not given down in that full and abundant measure till after Christ's Ascension The Apostles had after Christ's Ascension as in the 2 Acts a greater measure of the Holy Ghost poured down into them they had been given to the People of old The Disciples living in the Enjoyment of Christ's corporal Presence were so hung upon that that they were less capable of his spiritual Presence and therefore Christ must be gone that way might be made for this Spiritual appearance an infinite comfort in this Age of great work and difficulties that God's People may now go with boldness to beg greater measures of Grace yea and expect them too for this was the end of Christ's Ascension That if Troubles grow and Work increase a Soul may now expect higher and more enlarged Graces Christ did ascend not only to give you Gifts to bring you to Heaven but to give you Ministers enriched with eminent Abilities to fit you for Heaven Eph. 4.10 which by the way may shew Men how ill they requite the LORD when they band themselves against him Your Graces and your Ministers were alike the Fruit of CHRIST's Ascension that oppose them is to resist the GRACE of GOD. 4. Christ ascended on high to make Intercession for his People My Brethren Christ got into Heaven not only to open a way for his People to pray but that he might himself pray for his People Heb. 9.24 He is entred into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us It was requisite that Christ should ascend into Heaven that as he executed the Office of a Priest by offering himself upon the Cross for us he might also do it by appearing before God in Heaven to make Intercession for us There is he now holding up his Blood his Wounds to the Father that poor Worms may be pardoned poor Souls saved poor Bodies raised and then both glorified 'T was such a Priest we wanted saith Paul Heb. 7.26 Such an High Priest became us who is holy made higher then the Heaven which by the way doth shew us the advantage which God's People have by Christ's absence more then they should by his Presence Christ could never have fulfilled the Office of his Priesthood by making Intercession for his People if he had not gone bodily into Heaven and therefore 't is said If he were on Earth he should not be a Priest Look on this now as an unspeakable comfort that our Saviour is now in Heaven bodily appearing before God making Suit and Intercession for his People that their Sins may be pardoned that their Prayers may be heard that their Souls may be saved that their Enemies may be disappointed this was typified under the Law in the 28 Exod. 9 10 11 12 29. Aaron the Jewish High Priest was to bear the Names of the Children of Israel in the Breast-Plate of Judgment upon his Heart when he went into the holy Place for a Memorial before the Lord continually and this Type was fulfilled in the Ascension of Christ as in Heb. 9.24 Christ is entred into Heaven to appear in the presence of God for us Thither he is gone with the Names of all his People not on his Breast but in his Heart to make Intercession for them to his Father The Comforts whereof may be gathered from the two principal Parts thereof 1. The Presentation and Tender of his own Blood to his Father which he shed for our Sins a Blood of so much worth and value as God himself cannot ask more for 't is the Blood of him that is his fellow that is as much as to say the value of it is infinite not infinite only by way of price but efficacy A Blood that dyes white that make Sins of a Crimson and a Scarlet-dye like Snow and Wool 2. A making request for us Thus did the High Priest who was a Type of Christ enter into the holy of holiest which was a Figure of Heaven not only with Blood but with Incense which did signifie his Prayers to his People that by both he might perform the Office of an Intercessor Levit. 16.12 What the High Priest did typically within the Vail Christ doth now really within Heaven And therefore he is said to enter in by his blood into the holy place Heb. 9.12 and not only so but with his incense too Revel 8.2 3. whereof it is said that much was given him that he should offer it with the Prayer of the Saints Now indeed his very Blood hath an interceding Voice and therefore it is called the Blood that speaketh Heb. 12.24 My Brethren all that is in Christ hath a Voice to beg his Peoples Pardon A happy People to have such an Advocate his Person prays his Office prays his Humiliation his Exaltation all have a Voice to beg mercy for a poor Sinner like Paul for Onesimus a Mediator for him and a Sponsor for him Philem. 9.10 A Mediator I beseech thee for Onesimus saith he and a Sponsor if he hath wronged thee or oweth thee any thing put it on mine account I will repay it Thus is Christ both a Mediator and Surety Hence he is called a Mediator of a better Covenant Heb. 8.6 And a surety of a better Testament Heb. 7.22 So that he doth not only pray for us but promise for us he doth not only beg for us but engage for us His Person that cries for Mercy The Nature that hath sinned suffered His Merits that cries for mercy The Debt which was due is satisfied His Will that cries for mercy Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am John 17.24 Thus is Christ a compleat Intercessor All in him intercedes and he intercedes for all in us For Sin to be pardoned for Sin to be purged for the Soul to be saved for the Person to be glorified hence come all our Mercies priviledges all our Hopes for 1. Hereby we come to be brought into a more familiar acquaintance with and enjoyment of God himself I pray for these saith Christ That as thou father art in me and I in thee they also may be one in us John 17.21 That God and his People are as one was the Purchase of his Blood but that they are fastened in the most uniting Bond of Love and Affection is the Fruit of Christ's Prayer 2. Hereby we come too to be furnished with all spiritual Graces for our spiritual Employments I will pray the father saith Christ and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of truth John 14.16 17. Every glance of God on thy Heart every motion of his Spirit in thy Soul every impression of Grace on thy Spirit is the Fruit of the Intercession of Christ 3. Hereby come all our Services to be sanctified The High Priest was to bear the Iniquity of the holy things of the Children of Israel Exod. 38.28 So doth Christ He