The Pattern of Wholesome Words, Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI. Of Christs intercession.
HItherto of the expiation of sinnes.
The third part of the Priesthood of Christ followes, and that is the intercession of Christ: concerning which there are foure principles.
1. That Christ at the right hand of God maketh intercession for vsus, Rom. 8.34. Who shall condemne? It is Christ, which is dead, yea, or rather, which is risen againe, who is also at the right hand of God, and maketh request also for vsus.
Heb. 7.25. Wherefore he is able also perfectly to saue them, that come vntounto God by him, seeing he euer liueth to make intercession for them.
2. That we hauehave no other intercessour in heauen but Christ, 1. Tim. 2.5.6. For there is one God, and one Mediator betweene God and man, which is the Man Christ Iesus:
Who gaue himselfe a ransome for all men to bee a testimony in due time.
Isaiah 59.16. And when he saw, that there was no man, he wondred, that there was no intercessour; therfore his arme did saue it, and his righteousnesse it selfe did sustaine it.
3. That the intercession of Christ is perpetuall, hee so doth it once, as hee will neuer faile to doe it in all ages, Heb. 7.25.28. For the Law maketh men high priests which hauehave infirmitie: but the word of the oth, that was since the law, maketh the sonne, who was consecrated for euermore.
4. That he makes intercession onelyonly for the Elect, Iohn 17.9. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast giuen me: for they are thine &c.
Now for the explication of these principles, three things must be opened.
The first is the acceptation of the word intercession: for it signifieth
Sometimes the prayers which the godly make in the name of Christ the intercessor, to turne away Gods iudgements from their brethren in this world, and so it is taken, 1. Tim. 2.1. I exhort therefore, that first of all supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giuing of thanks be made for all men, &c.
Sometimes the complaints, that men make or pretend to make against the faults of others: Thus Elias made intercession against Israel, Rom. 11.2. And the Iewes made intercession against Paul, Acts 25.24. But vsually it signifieth that part of the mediation of Christ, in which he appeares before God to preuent or pacifie his displeasure towards the Elect.
2. The second is, how many waies Christ makes intercession for vsus, and so there are seuen distinct things in the intercession of Christ: for
1. First, he presents himself before God with his merits tendring his sacrifice for our satisfaction, Heb. 9.24. For Christ is not entred into the holy places that are made with hands, which are similitudes of the true sanctuary: but is entred into very heauen, to appeare now in the sight of God for vsus. And so pacifying God toward vsus, Ier. 30.31.
2. Hee praied, and still doth pray for vsus: all his prayers on earth were a part of his intercession, and he still prayeth for vsus in heauen, Rom. 8.34. Who is also at the right hand of God, and maketh request also for vsus.
Heb. 7.25. Wherefore he is able also perfectly to saue them, that come vntounto God by him, seeing hee euer liueth to make intercession for them, &c.
3. He offers vp our prayers and praises to God, Reuel. 8.3.4. That he should offer with the prayers of all Saints vponupon the golden altar, which is before the throne.
And the smoke of the odours with the prayers of the Saints went vp before God out of the Angels hand. And so all our good works, Col. 1.22. In the body of his flesh through death, to make you holy and vnblameable, and without fault in his sight.
4. He vndertakes for vsus before God, and giues his word for vsus, that we being mindfull of reconciliation through him, shall eschew sinne by his grace, and not prouoke God any more, as wee hauehave done. This sponsion is a necessary part of the office of an intercessor, Iohn 17.6. I hauehave declared thy name vntounto the men, which thou gauest mee out of the world, thine they were, and thou gauest them mee, and they hauehave kept thy word.
25. O righteous Father, the world hath also not knowne thee, but I hauehave knowne thee, and these hauehave knowne that thou hast sent me.
26. And I hauehave declared vntounto them thy name, and will declare it, that the louelove wherewith thou hast loued me, may be in them, and I in them.
5. He pleades our cause as an aduocate, and remoues and non-suites all accusations, which men or Diuels may make against vsus to God, Rom. 8.34. as before, 1. Ioh. 2.1. My babes, these things write I vntounto you, that ye sinne not: and if any man sinne, we hauehave an Aduocate with the Father: Iesus Christ the iust, &c.
6. He poureth out vponupon vsus the spirit of intercession, which causeth vsus after an vnutterable manner to make our moanes and requests to God, Rom. 8.26. Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what to pray as we ought: but the Spirit it selfe maketh request for vsus with sighes, which cannot be expressed, &c. So in the 15: For ye hauehave not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare againe: but ye hauehave receiued the spirit of adoption, whereby wee cry Abba Father.
Gal. 4.6.7. And because yee are sonnes, God hath sent forth the spirit of his Sonne into your hearts, which crieth Abba Father, &c.
7. Hee sprinkleth his blood vponupon vsus, by application of his merits to vsus, which cries and makes intercession for vsus, Heb. 12.24. And to Iesus the Mediatour of the new Testament, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things, then that of Abel, &c.
The third is, in which nature he maketh intercession? & I answer, in both. For howsoeuer, if we cō sider the Diuine nature of Christ, Christ is then equall with the Father, and the same in essence, and so it cānot fitly be said, that Christ requesteth any thing of the Father; yet if we respect the person of Christ in his diuine nature, as it is personally vnited to ye humane in the dispensatiō of grace, as voluntarily he hath vndertaken for vsus: so it is no more inconuenient to pray for vsus, thē it is to take vponupon him the forme of a seruant for vsus; and the office of a Mediatour, vntounto which belongs this worke of praying.
The vse of all may be, first, for confutation of the Papists, who do most sacrilegiously dishonor the intercession of Christ, by substituting secondary intercessors. The office is bestowed onelyonly on the Kings son, and they most iniuriously would imploy the kings seruants: we know no Master of requests, but Iesus Christ; nor doth it help thē, that they say, they hauehave mediators of intcrcession, but not of redēption, but only Christ: for when they acknowledge and beg not only the prayers, but the merits too of the Saints to purge away their sinnes, and supply their wants, they make them mediators of redemption also.
Secondly, for instruction, and so it should teach vsus:
1. To imitate this part of the Priesthood of Christ, both by praying to God for our brethren, and for all sorts of men, though they bee our enemies, 1. Tim. 2.1. and also by making peace, and keeping it, as much as is possible amongst men. Blessed are the peace-makers: for this makes them like the Sonne of God, Matth. 5 7. and seeing the Saints shall iudge the world, they should put in to end the quarrels amongst the brethren, if it may be.
2. Secondly, to liue so, as Christ may hauehave credit by vsus, in giuing his word for vsus. Hath Christ vndertaken for vsus to God, and shall not we bee carefull to the vttermost of our power to be such, as he hath promised for vsus, we shall be, Iohn 17.10.18.19.
3. To pray and giuegive thankes much, and so to doe all the good we can, seeing it shall all be presented to God by Christ, Colos. 1. 22. Reuel. 8.3.4.
4. To establish our selues in the full assurance of faith, seeing all our imperfections are couered in Christs intercession, and we may approch to God by this new and liuing way, and be sure of heauen also, euen to come within the vaile, when we die, Heb. 10.19.
Thirdly, for consolation: for wee may and ought to bee much refreshed, if we consider, that by the intercession of Christ
1. The fauour of God is established vponupon vsus, and God is kept quiet from being prouoked against vsus; God and we are now through him all one, Ioh. 17.21.
2. The compassion of God is implored in the times of distresse and affliction, Zach. 1.16. &c.
3. The diuell is restrained, he cannot hurt vsus, either by tempting, or accusing; our faith shall be kept, that it faile not, Zach. 3. 3. Rom. 8.34. Luke 22.32.
4. Our sinnes which we daily commit, are forgiuen vsus, he being an earnest aduocate to pleade for vsus, 1. Iohn 2.1.2.
5. We shall be protected against the hatred of the world, Iohn 17.14.15.16. I hauehave giuen them thy word, and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world.
I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou keepe them from euill, &c.
6. Our prayers and suites shall bee all presented and obtained, Reuel. 8.4.
7. We shall be kept from euill, and preserued vntounto the end, vntill wee be perfected from all sinnes and wants, Ioh. 17.11. And now am I no more in the world, these are in the world, and I come to thee: holy Father keepe them in thy name, euen them whom thou hast giuen me, that they may be one as we are.
15. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou keepe them from euill.
23. I in them, and thou in mee, that they may bee made perfect in one, &c.
8. We hauehave assured hope of the glory of heauen, and to dwel in the most holy place, that is, within the vaile, Heb. 10.19. Seeing therefore brethren, that by the blood of Iesus we may bee bold to enter into the holy place, &c.
Heb. 7.25. Wherefore hee is able also perfectly to saue them that come vntounto God by him, seeing he euer liueth to make intercession for them, &c.
Ioh. 17.24. Father, I will that they which thou hast giuen mee, bee with me, euen where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast giuen me; for thou louedst mee before the foundation of the world.
Colos. 3.1. If ye then bee risen with Christ, seeke those things which are aboue, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God.
9. We shall be laden with al needfull blessings in the meane time, Heb. 12.24.
10. All this is the more comfortable, because hee liueth euer to make request for vsus. There is no cessation of this office, but at all times we may hauehave the benefit of it, Ioh. 17.20.
Heb. 7.25. Wherefore he is able also perfectly to saue them that come vntounto God by him, seeing hee euer liueth to make intercession for them, &c.