to pacify him. When the wrath of God began to break out upon Israel, Aaron presently stepped in with his censer, and offered incense, and so the plague was stayed, Numb. xvi. 47, so, no sooner doth a child of God of fend, and God begin to be angry, but immediately Christ steps in and intercedes: "Father, it is my child hath offended, though he hath forgotten his duty, thou hast not lost thy bowels: O pity him, and let thy anger be turned away from him!" Christ's interces-able, Lev. xvi. 16, "Aaron shall make atonesion is ready at hand, and, upon the least ment for the holy place." This was typical, failings of the godly, he stands up and makes to show that our holy duties need to have request for them in heaven. atonement made for them. Our best serQUEST. What are the fruits of Christ's vices, as they come from us, are mixed with intercession? corruption, as wine that tastes of the cask, Ans. 1st Fruit, Justification. In justifica- Isa. lxiv. 6, "they are filthy rags; but Christ tion there are two things: 1. Guilt is remit-purifies and sweetens these services, mixing ted. 2. Righteousness is imputed, Jer. xxxiii. the sweet odours of his intercession with 16, "The Lord our righteousness." We are them; and now God accepts and crowns reputed not only righteous as the angels, but them. What would become of our duties as Christ, having his robes put upon us, 2 without a high priest? Christ's intercession Cor. v. 21. But whence is it that we are doth to our prayers as the fan to the chaff, it justified? It is from Christ's intercession, winnows it from the corn; so Christ winRom. viii. 33, 34, "Lord," saith Christ, nows out the chaff which intermixeth with 'these are the persons I have died for; look our prayers. upon them as if they had not sinned, and repute them righteous."

ther, but he prays over our prayers again, Rev. viii. 3, "Another angel came, having a golden censer, and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar." This angel was Christ; he takes the golden censer of his merits, and puts our prayers into this censer, and with the incense of his intercession makes our prayers go up as a sweet perfume in heaven. It is observ

4th Fruit. Access with boldness unto the throne of grace, Heb. iv. 16. We have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, let us go.-come boldly to the throne of grace; we have a friend at court that speaks a good word for us, and is following our cause in heaven, therefore let this animate and encourage us in prayer. We think it too much boldness; what, such sinners as we to come for pardon,—we shall be denied! This is a sinful modesty: did we indeed come in our own name in prayer, it were presumption, but Christ intercedes for us in the force and efficacy of his blood. Now, to be afraid to come to God in prayer, is a dishonour to Christ's intercession.

2d Fruit. The unction of the Spirit, 1 John ii. 20, "Ye have an unction from the Holy One." This unction or anointing is nothing else but the work of sanctification in the heart whereby the Spirit makes us partake of the divine nature, 2 Pet. i. 4. Such as speak of the philosopher's stone, suppose it to have such a property, that when it toucheth the metal it turns it into gold: such a property hath the Spirit of God upon the soul; when it toucheth the soul, it puts it into a divine nature, it makes it to be holy and to resemble God. The sanctifying work of the Spirit is the fruit of Christ's intercession, John vii. 39, "The Holy Ghost was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glori-John xiv. 16, "I will pray the Father, and he fied." Christ being glorified and in heaven, now he prays the Father, and the Father sends the Spirit, who pours out the holy anointing upon the elect.

5th Fruit. The sending the Comforter,

will give you another Comforter." The comfort of the Spirit is distinct from the anointing; this comfort is very sweet,-sweeter than the honey-drops from the comb,-it is 3d Fruit. The purification of our holy the manna in the golden pot, it is vinum in things. It is Christ's work in heaven, not pectore,-a drop of this heavenly comfort is only to present his own prayers to his Fa- enough to sweeten a sea of worldly sorrow,

it is called "the earnest of the Spirit," 2 Cor. i. 22. An earnest assures one of the whole sum. The Spirit gives us an earnest of hea ven in our hand. Whence is this comforting work of the Spirit? Thank Christ's intercession for it: 'I will pray the Father, and he shall send the Comforter.'

prevail; prayer, as it comes from the saints, is but weak and languid; but when the arrow of a saint's prayer is put into the bow of Christ's intercession, now it pierceth the throne of grace.

Branch 3. It shows where a Christian must chiefly fix his eye when he comes to prayer, viz. on Christ's intercession. We are to look up to the mercy seat, but to hope for mercy through Christ's intercession. We read, Lev. vi., that Aaron made the atonement as well by the incense, as by the blood; we must look to the cloud of incense, viz. the intercession of Christ. Christian, look up to thy advocate, one that God can deny nothing to; a word from Christ's mouth is more than if all the angels in heaven were interceding for thee. If a man had a suit depending in the court of chancery, and had a skilful lawyer to plead, this would much encourage him. Christ is now at the court appearing for us, Heb. ix. 24, and he hath great potency in heaven; this should much encou

6th Fruit. Perseverance in grace, John xvii. 11, "Keep through thy own name those whom thou hast given me." It is not our prayer, or watchfulness, or grace that keeps us, but it is God's care and maintenancy; he holds us, that we do not fall away. And, whence is it God preserves us? It is from Christ's intercession; "Father keep them." That prayer of Christ for Peter, is the copy of his prayer now in heaven, Luke xxii. 32, "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." Peter's faith did fail in some degree when he denied Christ; but Christ prayed that it might not totally fail. The saints persevere in believing, because Christ perseveres in praying. 7th Fruit. Absolution at the day of judg-rage us to look up to him, and hope for aument. Christ shall judge the world, John v. 22, "God hath committed all judgment to the Son." Now sure those that Christ hath so prayed for, he will absolve when he sits upon the bench of judicature. Will Christ condemn those he prays for? Believers are his spouse; will he condemn his spouse?

Use 1st. Branch 1. See here the constancy of Christ's love to the elect. He did not only die for them, but intercedes for them in heaven; when Christ hath done dying, he hath not done loving; he is now at work in heaven for the saints; he carries their names on his breast, and will never leave praying till that prayer be granted, John xvii. 24, | "Father, I will, that those whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am."

dience in prayer. We might indeed be afraid to present our petitions, if we had not Christ to deliver them.

Branch 4. The sad condition of an unbeliever: he hath none in heaven to speak a word for him, John xvii. 9, "I pray not for the world;" as good be shut out of heaven as be shut out of Christ's prayer. Christ pleads for the saints, as queen Esther did for the Jews, when they should have been destroyed: "Let my people be given me at my request," Esth. vii. 3. When the devil shows the blackness of their sins, Christ shows the redness of his wounds. But how sad is the condition of that man Christ will not pray for, nay, that he will pray against? As queen Esther petitioned against Haman, and then his face was covered, Esth. vii. 6, and he was led away to execution. It is sad when the law shall be against the sinner, and conscience, and judge, and no friend to speak a word for him; there is no way then, but, jailor, take the prisoner.

Branch 2. See whence it is that the prayers of the saints are so powerful with God. Jacob, as an angel, prevailed with God; Moses' prayer tied God's hands; Precibus suis tanquam vinquam vinculis ligatum tenuit Deum; “Let me alone," Exod. xxxii. 10. Whence is this? It is Christ's prayer in Branch 5. If Christ makes intercession, heaven makes the saints' prayers so availa- then we have nothing to do with other inble. Christ's divine nature is the altar on tercessors. The church of Rome distinwhich he offers up our prayers, and so they guisheth between mediators of redemption

and intercession, and say, the angels do not redeem us, but intercede for us, and pray to them; but Christ only can intercede for us ex officio. God hath consecrated him a high priest, Heb. v. 6, "Thou art a priest for ever." Christ intercedes vi pretii,—in the virtue of his blood; he pleads his merits to his Father; the angels have no merits to bring to God, therefore can be no intercessors for us; whoever is our advocate must be our propitiation to pacify God, 1 John ii. 1, "We have an advocate with the Father, v. 2. And he is our propitiation." The angels cannot be our propitiation, therefore not our advocates. Use 2d. Of trial. How shall we know that Christ intercedes for us? They have little ground to think Christ prays for them, who never pray for themselves: well, but how shall we know?

ANS. 1. If Christ be praying for us, then his Spirit is praying in us, Gal. iv. 6, "He hath sent forth his Spirit into your heart, crying, Abba, Father;" and Rom. viii. 26, the Spirit helps us with sighs and groans; not only with gifts but groans. We need not climb up into the firmament to see if the sun be there, we may see the beauty of it upon the earth; so we need not go up into heaven to see if Christ be there interceding for us, let us look into our hearts, if they are quickened and inflamed in prayer, and we can cry, Abba, Father. By this interceding of the Spirit within us, we may know Christ is interceding above for us.

A. 2. If we are given to Christ, then he intercedes for us, John xvii. 9, "I pray for them whom thou hast given me;" 'tis one thing for Christ to be given to us, another for us to be given to Christ.

QUEST. How know you that?

of gift to Christ, it gives up its use, its love to him, 1 Cor. vi. 19, there is the resigning work of faith. These that believe are given to Christ, and have a part in his prayer, John xvii. 20, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word."

Branch 1. It

Use 3d. Of exhortation. stirs us up to several duties: 1. If Christ appears for us in heaven, then we must appear for him upon earth; Christ is not ashamed to carry our names on his breast, and shall we be ashamed of his truth? Doth he plead our cause, and shall we not stand up in his cause? What a mighty argument is this to stand up for the honour of of Christ in times of apostacy? Christ is interceding for us: doth he present our names in heaven, and shall not we profess his name on earth?

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Branch 2. If Christ lays out all his interest for us at the throne of grace, we must lay out all our interest for him, Phil. i. 20, "That Christ may be magnified." Trade your talents for Christ's glory; there's no man but has some talent to trade, one parts, another estate. O trade for Christ's glory! Spend and be spent for him; let your heart study for Christ, your hands work for Christ, your tongue speak for him; if Christ be an advocate for us in heaven, we must be factors for him on earth, every one in his sphere must act vigorously for Christ.

Branch 3. Believe in this glorious intercession of Christ! That he now intercedes for us, and that for his sake God will accept us in the text, "Who maketh intercession for us." If we believe not, we dishonour Christ's intercession. If a poor sinner may not go to Christ as his high priest, believing ANs. If thou art a believer, then thou art in his intercession, then are we Christians in one given to Christ, and he prays for thee; a worse condition under the gospel than the faith is an act of recumbency, we do rest on Jews were under the law. They, when they Christ as the stones in the building rest upon had sinned, had their high priest to make the corner-stone. Faith throws itself into atonement: and shall not we have our high Christ's arms; it saith, "Christ is my priest, priest? Is not Christ our Aaron, who pre-his blood is my sacrifice, his divine na-sents his blood and incense before the merture is my altar, and here I rest." This faith cy-seat? O look up by faith to Christ's is seen by its effects; it is a refining work, intercession! Christ did not only pray for and a resigning work. It purifies the heart, his disciples and apostles, but for the weakthere is the refining work; it makes a deed est believer.

Branch 4. Love your intercessor, 1 Cor. xvi. 22, "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema." Kindness invites love; had you a friend at court, who, when you were questioned for delinquency or debt, should plead with the judge for you, and bring you off your troubles, would you not love that friend? So it is here, how oft doth Satan put in his bills against us in the court? Now Christ is at the Judge's hand, he sits at his Father's right hand ever to plead for us, and to make our peace with God. O how should our hearts be fired with love to Christ! Love him with a sincere and superlative love, above estate, relations : BERN. Plusquam tua, tuos. And our fire of love should be as fire on the altar, never to go out, Lev. vi. 13.

Use 4th. Of comfort to believers. Christ is at work for you in heaven, he makes intercession for you. O! but I am afraid Christ does not intercede for me.

QUEST. I am a sinner; who doth Christ intercede for?

ANS. Isa. liii. 12, "He made intercession for the transgressors." Did Christ open his sides for thee, and will he not open his mouth to plead for thee?

QUEST. But I have offended my high priest by distrusting his blood, abusing his love, grieving his Spirit; and will he ever pray for me?

ANS. Which of us may not say so? But, Christian, dost thou mourn for unbelief? Be not discouraged, thou mayest have a part in Christ's prayer, Numb. xvi., "The congregation murmured against Aaron;" yet, though they had sinned against their high priest, v. 48, " Aaron ran in with his censer, and stood between the dead and the living." If so much bowels in Aaron, who was but a type of Christ, how much more bowels are in Christ who will pray for them who have sinned against their high priest? Did not he pray for them that crucified him, "Father, forgive them."

QUEST. But I am unworthy ; what am I, that Christ should intercede for me?

ANS. The work of Christ's intercession is a work of free grace; Christ's praying for us, is from his pitying of us; Christ looks not at our worthiness, but our wants.

QUEST. But I am followed with sad temptations?

OF CHRIST'S KINGLY OFFICE.

QUEST. XXVI. How doth Christ execute | Ps. xlv. 3, "Gird thy sword upon thy thigh;" the office of a king?

his sceptre, Heb. i. 8, "A sceptre of right

ANS. In subduing us to himself, in rul-eousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom."ing and defending us, and in restrain- 3. His escutcheon, or coat armour; he gives ing and conquering all his and our ene- the lion in his arms, Rev. v. 5, "The lion of the tribe of Judah." And he is, the text saith, "King of kings." He hath a preeminence of all other kings; he is called, "the Prince of the kings of the earth," Rev. i. 5. He must needs be so, for "by him kings reign," Prov. viii. 15. They hold their crowns by immediate tenure from this great King. Christ infinitely outvies all other princes; he hath the highest throne, the largest dominions, and the longest possession, Heb.

mies.
Now of Christ's regal office, Rev. xix. 16,
"And he hath on his vesture, and on his
thigh, a name written, 'King of kings, and
Lord of lords.'"-Jesus Christ is of mighty
renown, he is a king; 1. He hath a kingly
title, High and Mighty,' Isa. lvii. 15.-
2. He hath his insignia regalia,—his en-
signs of royalty; corona est insigne regiæ
potestatis,--his crown, Rev. vi. 2; his sword,