Christ Crucified, Sermon 65
SERMON LXV.
ISAIAH LIII. XII.
Verſ. 12. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great and he ſhall divide the ſpoil with the ſtrong: becauſe he hath poured out his ſoul unto death: and he was numbred with the tranſgreſſours, and he bare the ſins of many, and he made interceſſion for the tranſgreſſours.
THere was never bargain ſo ſeriouſly entered in as this, betwixt Jehovah and the Mediator, never bargain was of ſuch concernment, and weight; It is therefore no marvel it be inſiſted upon.
The Prophet hath been holding forth the terms and conditions of it on both ſides, and now he ſums them up in this laſt Verſe, that the buſineſſe may be left cle…r, and diſtinct, ſetting forth what the Lord Jehovah ingageth for to the Mediator and what the Mediator ingageth for to Jehovah; only with this difference that in the former part of the Chapter, the Mediators ingagment is firſt ſet down, and then what are the Promiſes that the Lord Jehovah made to him, But in this Verſe where the Covenant is reſumed, what the Lord ingageth for to the Mediator is firſt ſet down, and then what the Mediator is to perform, in the laſt place; To ſhew (as I ſaid) the mutualneſſe of the Covenant of Redemption; and that it is but one bargain, one link whereof can never be looſed on either ſide.
In the laſt part of the Verſe, what the Mediator is to perform, is ſet down in Four Expreſſions as paſt and done, becauſe of the certainty, & efficacy of the Mediators Sufferings, and of His performing what He undertook; and of divine Juſtice, It's acceptation thereof. The 1. is, becauſe, He hath poured out his ſoul unto death; It was propoſed to the Mediator to die, which he undertook, and in the execution goes che…rfully about it; He poured out his ſoul unto death, without any prigging; grace and love (to ſpeak ſo with reverence,) were ſo liberal and prodigal of the Life of our Lord Jeſus, for the Salvation of loſt Sinners, That His bleſſed Soul was ſeparat from his Body, and he made obnoxious to the Curſe, which moſt willingly he underwent, his Life or Soul was poured out unto death. The 2d. is, He was numbred with the tranſgreſsours; which implyes Three things, 1. It ſuppons that he was indeed no tranſgreſſour, there was no guile found in His mouth, yet he behoved to ſtoop ſo low, as to be reckoned among, or numbred with tranſgreſſours; as the former expreſſion holds out the painfulneſſe of his Death; So this holds out the ignominie of it; he not only died, and behoved to die, but he was looked on as a deſpicable perſon, even ſo deſpicable, that Barrabas a thief and robber was preferred unto him; and of this we ſpake from verſe 3. He was diſpiſed and rejected of men. 2. It implyes mens ingratitude, that when our bleſſed Lord came to redeem them, they did not count him worthy to live, but looked on him as a tranſgreſſour; This was alſo fulfilled in the Hiſtory of the Goſpel, as, John 18.30. They ſay unto Pilat, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him unto thee. 3. It implyes the low condeſcendence and depth of the love of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt which hath no bottom; he will not only die, but die a ſhamful and curſed Death, and take on reproach and ignominy with the Debt of Sinners, when they are diſpyſing him; The Cautioner muſt not only die, but die a ſhamful death; ſome deaths are creditable and honourable; and men will with a ſort of vanity affect them; but it behoved not to be ſo with our Lord Jeſus; when he entered himſelf Sinners Cautioner, he muſt not only die, but be deſpicable in his death, as it is, Chap. 50.5. He gave his back to the ſmiters, and his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair, he hid not his face from ſhame, and ſpitting; becauſe it was ſo articled, and agreed upon; when he was reviled, he reviled not again: O! what condeſcending-love ſhins forth here, in the Mediator; It was much to pay the Debt, and die, but more in his dying to be counted the tranſgreſſour; much to be Cautioner, but more to be counted the dyvour: As if ſome wicked and perverſe Officer, ceazing on the Cautioner, ſhould not only arreſt him for the Debt, and exact it of him; but account and call him the dyvour Debtor; yet he bears all patiently. It would learn us to bear reproach for him, he bare much more for us then we can bear for him; he was railed on, and reviled, bufferted, and ſpitted on; they, in deriſion ſaid unto him Hail king of the Jews; they mocked him, nodded the head at him; hanged him up betwixt two thieves, as the moſt eminent malefactor of the three; and Mark ſaith, Chap. 15.28. That this ſcripture was fulfilled, which ſaith, and he was numbred with the tranſgreſſours; God had appointed it, and the Mediator had condeſcended to it; and therefore it behoved ſo to be; We ſpake to the matter of this before, and will not now inſiſt on it any further.
The 3d. is, He bare the ſins of many; which is alſo cauſal, as the former are; It's put in here. 1. To ſhew the end of his dying, and the nature of his death; His death was a curſed death; but not for his own Sin, but for the Sins of others, even to pay the Debt, that was owing by his Elect; the many here are the ſame many ſpoken of in the former verſe who by his knowledge are juſtified, It's not the Sins of all that Chriſt bare, but the Sins of many, and the many whoſe Sins he bares are the many that are juſtified; and all who are juſtified, their Sins he bare, and of no moe; So that as many as have their Sins born by Chriſt are juſtified; and whoever are juſtified, had their Sins born by him. 2. It ſhews alſo, how the Sins of theſe many are taken away, It was by Chriſts bearing the puniſhment due for their Sins, this it that which we ſpake to from, verſe 6. The Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all: In a word, it's this, The Mediator articleth, and agreeth to take on the guilt of the Sins of the Elect, though not their Sins, themſelves formally conſidered; he took the deſerving, or burden of their Debt; Of this we have alſo ſpoken before, and will not therefore inſiſt any more particularly on it.
The 4th. and laſt Article, or part of the condition required of the Mediator, is, He made interceſſion for the tranſgreſſours; There was more required of him then to die, and to die ſuch a death for the Elect's Sins; He muſt alſo make application of his death; and he will do that likewiſe: whereupon is founded his interceſſion, that the benefit of his death and ſatisfaction, may be applyed, and made forthcoming to them; which is ſet down in theſe Words, He made interceſſion for the tranſgreſſours; wherein alſo we are to carry along the thoughts of his condeſcending love; who not only will ſatisfie for the Elects Debt, and procure to them Righteouſneſſe and eternal Life; but when they continue in oppoſition to him, will make interceſſion for the application thereof to them, He having a number given to him, not only to pay their Debt, by dying for them, bat alſo actually to apply the benefits of his death, and purchaſe to them; according to that, John 6.39. This is the will of him that ſent me, that of all that he hath given me, I ſhould loſe nothing, but raiſe them up at the laſt day: Theſe Four do plainly, and ſummarly comprehend the Mediators ingagment in the Covenant of Redemption, as to his prieſtly Office; and having ſpoken ſomewhat to the firſt three; we ſhall inſiſt a little on this laſt, concerning his Interceſſion.
For clearing whereof; when he prayed on the Croſs, Luke 23.34. Father forgive them, for they know not what they do: this was in part fulfilled; But his Praying, or making Interceſſion for tranſgreſſours, is to be conſidered Two wayes, 1. As he was a man under the Law, and ſo he was to pray for other tranſgreſſours, then the Elect only: as Stephen following his example did, Acts 7.60. When he ſaid, Lord lay not this ſin to their charge: 2. As he is Mediator, and ſo he prayes only for the Elect: as is clear, John 17.9. And his Interceſſion thus conſidered is alwayes effectual, and runs in the channel of the Covenant of Redemption, and is commenſurable, and of equal extent with his Death; His Interceſſion in the First ſenſe is more largely extended, he might, conſidered as man under the Law, have interceeded for his Enemies, that were not Elected; Therefore we take his Interceſſion here in the Second ſenſe, as he is Mediator: and as Matthew, chap. 8.17. applyes his bearing of our griefs, and carrying of our ſorrows ſpoken of, verſe 4. of this, chap. To his carrying of our temporal bodily infirmities: So there may be an alluſion to this, in the Lords Prayer on the Croſs: We mark this diſtinction, becauſe Arminians, that pretend to an univerſal Redemption, plead alſo for an univerſal Interceſſion: and on this ground they ſay that Chriſt prayed for many that went to hell: But we anſwer, that our bleſſed Lord Jeſus did not there, if he prayed for any ſuch, interceed as Mediator properly, but as man under the Law; even as in his prayer in the Garden, when his holy humane nature ſinleſly ſkarred at the bitter cup, He prayed, Father, if it be poſſible let this cup depart from me; and it was agreeable to the humane nature to ſeek innocently to eſchew the drinking of ſuch a cup; But, when in the ſame Prayer, he ſpeaks as Mediator: He ſayes, not my will but thy will be done: And for this cauſe came I into this hour; So when he preached as man, and a Miniſter of the circumciſion, he ſayes, O! Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem, how often would I have gathered thee, and thou wouldeſt not: Whereas, if we conſider him as Mediator he doth what he will; and calleth none but they come, and calleth none to be gathered, but ſuch as are gathered: The Interceſſion here meaned is that, which is an Article of the Covenant of Redemption, aed a piece of Chriſts Prieſtly Office, To which the promiſe in the firſt part of the Verſe is made; and therefore we have here clear acceſſe to ſpeak of it according as the new Teſtament holds it out to us.
1. Then we Obſerve this Doctrine from it, That according to the Covenant of Redemption, our Lord muſt nor only die, but alſo interceed for tranſgreſſours, or ſinners; or, it is a part of our Lords Office agreed upon, in the Covenant of Redemption, that he ſhould be Interceſſour for tranſgreſſours; It's on this ground, that it's ſaid, Pſal. 110.4. The Lord hath ſworn, and will not repent; thou art a Prieſt for ever, after the order of Melchiſedeck; He is a Prieſt a ter Melchiſedeck's order, and not after the order of Araon, and Rom. 8.34. He is ſaid to be at the right hand of God, making interceſſion for us: It is ſaid likewiſe, Heb. 7.25. That He is able to ſave to the uttermost all that come to God by him: Seeing he ever liveth to make interceſſion for them: So, 1 John 2.1. It's ſaid, If any man ſin we have an advocat with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the righteous: and frequently elſe where, it's in Scripture attributed to him: If it be aſked, why behoved Jeſus Chriſt the Mediator to be an interceſſour? we anſwer, for theſe Three reaſons, 1. It was ſuitable to the glory of God, that the great Lord Deputy appointed for the ingathering of Elect Sinners ſhould be furniſhed with this Office; and his interceſſion is derived from it, Heb. 7.25. He is able to ſave to the uttermoſt, ſeing he ever liveth to make interceſſion for us: He cannot ſit up, nor fall in proving himſelf to be an able Saviour, becauſe he lives for ever to interceed. 2. It's ſuitable and meet for the glory of the Mediator, and of his Prieſthood, that he ſhould not be a Prieſt for a time only, but for ever; Therefore, when he is brought in as a Prieſt, Pſal. 110. compared with Heb. 7. He is preferred to the order of Araon, and ſaid to be a Prieſt for ever, after the order of Melchiſedeck; by ſo much as he is ſurety of a better Testament: They were many, becauſe they were not ſuffered to continue; But this man, becauſe he continueth for ever, hath an unchangeable prieſt-hood. 3. It was meet, in reſpect of the conſolation, that Believers in him have from this his Interceſſion; there had been a defect in the conſolation of Believers, if he had not been Interceſſour; but ſeing, as it is, Heb. 10.19. We have ſuch an high Priest over the houſe of God, we have boldneſs to enter into the holieſt, by a new and living way and may draw near with full aſsurance of faith, And that which gives us this boldneſs, is that (as it is Heb. 4.15.16.) We have not an high Prieſt which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are: Then follows, Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of geace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 4. We may add, That it's ſuitable for this reaſon, to wit, if we conſider, and compare the Type with the Anti-type, Exod. 30.10. and Levit. 16. compared with, Heb. 9. The high Prieſt had Sacrifices preſcribed to him for himſelf and for the people, when he went once in the year, into the moſt holy with the blood of the Sacrifice, which ſignified, that Chriſt after the laying down of his Life, was to enter into heaven, there to appear in the preſence of God for us, Heb. 9.24.
This is a point which may yeeld us many and great Uſes, as 1. For Information, to clear us …bout Chriſt's Interceſſion. 2. For Conſolation; To ſhew us the advantages that flow to Believers from it. 3. For Direction in dutie, to learn us what uſe we ſhould make of it. And 4. For Reproof and Conviction, for, and of the Sin of our much ſlighting, and neglecting this part of Chriſts Prieſtly Office.
As for the Firſt, It ſerves, we ſay, for Information; and to let us ſee that we have an excellent high Prieſt, who is not only anſwerable to the Type, in dying, but alſo in interceeding, who died, that he might make application of what he purchaſed by his death.
For further clearing, and proſecuting of this Uſe, we ſhall ſpeak a little to ſome few queſtions, As 1. What this Interceſſion is? 2 Who Interceeds? 3. For whom? 4. For what? 5. How this Interceſſion is performed? 6. What are the grounds on which it is founded?
For the Firſt. What this Interceſſion is in general? and for clearing it, ye would conſider what it is not; and, 1. There is here no humbling of the Mediator in way of Supplication, as he prayed when on earth; or as we pray, or as one man intreats, or interceeds with another; That way of Interceeding is inconſiſtent with his exaltation; his humiliation being perfected and by, and he being now exalted at the right hand of God. 2. It's no verbal thing, no bringing forth, or uttering of Words; There is no ſuch language in our Lords Interceſſion; and ſo we are not to conceive of his Interceſſion, as if he made a formal prayer: That manner of dealling, or proceeding is not now betwixt God and the Mediator. 3. Neither doth this his Interceſſion conſiſt in any new particular act of his will, as if he did act, or will ſomething that he did not before; therefore he is ſaid to Live for ever, to make interceſſion, and to abide a Prieſt continually: His Interceſſion is continual, as is clear, Heb. 7.3, 25. His being in Heaven, and appearing there in our name, is his Interceſſion: And therefore, 2. Let us ſee in the next place, what i… is; And more generall…, we may take it up in ſuch expreſſions as the Scriptures make uſe of to hold it b…; and in the ſimilitude, and analogie whence it's borrowed; for it's a borrowed thing; as the Covenant of Redemption is, from compacts among men, becauſe we cannot take up divine, and miſterious things, except they be expreſt after the manner of men for our capacity: Such is this, as if a Kings Son were interpoſing for a perſon not in good terms with the King, or, for whom he would have ſome benefit from the King his Father; The ſimilitude ſeems indeed to be drawn from this, yet it muſt not be aſtricted thereto: Therefore, 1 John 2.1. He is called an advocat with the Father; and yet he doth not advocat our cauſe verbally as we ſaid before; And 1 Tim. 2.5. There is one God, and one Mediator between God and man: Where the Apoſtle is ſpeaking of praying; And here he is ſaid to make Interceſſion for us, as the high Prieſt did in name of the People; in a word, it is our Lords Jeſus Chriſt his m…king of what he hath purchaſed, and hath ingaged to him in the Covenant of Redemption, effectually forthcoming for the behove of his People, as if he were Agenting their cauſe, as an Advocat in Heaven; which is ſo held forth, for the help of our Faith; that the Mediator having made his Teſtament, and confirmed it by his death, is looking well that his death, and the benefits purchaſed to Elect Sinners thereby, may be made effectual; and is as it were lying as Agent, and Advocat at Court, to procure and bring about this buſineſſe, according to that, John 17.19, 20, 24. For their ſakes I ſanctifie my ſelf, that they alſo may be ſanctified, &c. Neither pray I for theſe alone, &c. and Father I will that theſe whom thou haſt given me, may be with me, where I am: It's even that all may be made good to them for whom he S…nctified himſelf, and the effectual making out of that which he hath purchaſed to them; that is called his Interceſſion.
2dly. Who makes Interceſſion? It is not enough that Chriſt▪ as man makes Interceſſion; but it is Chriſt Mediator, God and M…n in one Perſon: It being an error of the Papiſts, to make the Interceſſion of Chriſt, to be a thing performed by the humane nature only, which leſſeneth the conſolation of Believers, and is inconſiſtent with the Union of the two natures, and detracts from the weig…t that his God-head gives to his Interceſſion.
3dly. For whom does he interceed? There are here extreams on both hands to be eſhewed. 1. Some make his Interceſſion over broad; as if he interceeded for all the World; this he expreſly denyes, John 17.9. I pray not for the world: and his Interceſſion being grounded on his death, and ſatisfaction, it muſt be of equal extent therewith, and muſt relate to the Covenant of Redemption; wherein ſo many were given him to be redeemed by his death. 2. Others make his Interceſſion too na…row, in making it only for them that actua…ly believe; He alſo refuts this opinion, John 17.20. By ſaying▪ Neither pray I for theſe alone, but for all that ſhall believe on me through their word. And it is alwayes on this ground that he interceeds, to wit, becauſe they are given; So that it's for the Elect converted, or unconverted, that he interceeds; The reaſon why we mark this, is, to overturn thereby Two corrupt diſtinctions, that are made uſe of, to bring in an univerſal Interceſſion, as well as an univerſal Redemption. 1. Some make his Interceſſion common to all; but we, according to the Scripture, acknowledge no ſuch Interceſſion to belong to Chriſt, eſpecially as Mediator; however he might, as man, under the Law, have prayed for ſome that ſhall not be actually ſaved, as he commands one man to pray for other men, yet not for all men ſimply. 2. Others make a conditional Interceſſion for all, as they make a conditional Redemption of all; and make both abſolute for Believers only, which is alſo corrupt; For conſidering the object of his Interceſſion as Mediator to be only the Elect, as indeed they are; it overturns both this, and the former opinion; if he prayed not for all, he died not for all: the one whereof is grounded on the other.
4ly. For what doth he interceed? In general, for all that is conditioned to him, in the Covenant for the behove of his people; He prayes for the fulfilling of all the Articles of the Covenant, as, that all the Elect, who are not regenerat, may be regenerat, and made Believers; That many through his knowledge, may be juſtified; That theſe that are regenerat, and Believers, and by Faith have be taken themſelves to him, may be juſtified, pardoned, and received in favour; friendſhip and fellowſhip with God; that Believers may be keeped from tentation, that tentations may be prevented, and they made to perſever; That Satan may not make their Faith to fail them, as he deſigns, and the Lord gives account of his deſign, Luke 22.32. Satan hath ſought to winnow you, but I have prayed that th… faith fail not: That they, and their prayers and ſervice may be accepted; that the ſuits and ſupplications that they preſent, and put up in his name may get a hearing; That they may be armed againſt the fear of death: That they may be carried on in the gradual advances of Sanctification to the end of their Faith, the ſalvation of their Souls; that they may be glorified, and be where he is, to behold his glory; In a Word, he interceeds for every thing needful, and for every thing promiſed to them; his Interceſſion being as broad as his Purchaſe:
5ly. How doth he perform this part of his Prieſtly Office for his People? it's performed by his entrie into the moſt holy place, in our nature and name, as having ſatisfied Juſtice, and vanquiſhed death, where he appears before God for us; So that we are to look to Chriſt's being in heaven, not ſimply as glorifying himſelf or as glorified in himſelf, for himſelf; but as our head, and forerunner, to anſwer all that can be ſaid againſt his Elect, for whom he ſuffered, and ſatisfied; as it is, Heb. 9.23, 24. It was therefore neceſſary that the patterns of things in the heavens ſhould be purified with theſe, but the heavenly things themſelves with better ſacrifices; for Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true, but into heaven it ſelf, now to appear in the preſence of God for us; So that our Lord Jeſus by his entry into heaven doth declare (I mean materially declare) his victory in our name, and appears there, as a publick, and not as a privat perſon; His entry into heaven is not to be looked on, as the entry of Moſes or of Elias, but as the entry of him who is head of the Elect, whoſe entry there is a Declaration of what he would be at; As by the power of his God-head, he conveyed himſelf in thither; So he hath taken poſſeſsion in our name, and according to the Covenant declares, that theſe whoſe room he ſuſtains, may and muſt be admitted to glory; And we muſt conceive an ſpecial efficacy in his being there, for procuring to them what he hath purchaſed. 2. His Interceſsion is performed through the efficacy of his blood and ſatisfaction flowing from the nature of the Covenant; which hath a moral real cry, for making effectual, what he by his death hath procured; As the Apoſtle ſpeaking of Abels Blood, and of making application of Chriſts Blood, Heb. 12.24. Saith, It ſpeaketh better things then the blood of Abels; For Abels Blood had a dmereit in it to cry guilt, and could not but have a Curſe following it, becauſe God had curſed the ſhedder of Blood; But Chriſts Blood conſidered, as the price of Redemption for the Elect; hath an invaluable and unconceivable merit, and worth in it, and muſt have a cry for the bleſſings purchaſed to them by it. 3. He performs this his Interceſſion by his conſtant care, and by his continual willingneſſe, and actual willing, that what he hath purchaſed for his Elect people may be applyed to them; that ſuch and ſuch perſons may be brought to believe, that upon their believing they may be pardoned; delivered from ſnares and tentations; keeped in favour with God; may be accepted in their performances, &c. For he had that prayer, John 17.20.24. And he continues to have that ſame Sympathy; His way on earth was alwayes ſinleſs, but now is glorious and majeſtick, ſuited to his glorified ſtate; He continues to interceed according as he intended; and his actual willingneſs is a main part of his Interceſsion, which is not in renewing of acts (to ſpeak ſo;) but in his continuing deſire, & willingneſs, that what good he hath purchaſed, may be conferred according to the Covenant; For Chriſt in heaven is ſtill a true man, and hath a will, as he had on earth, continuing to ſeek that they may be glorified with him, for whom he ſatisfied; and this actual willing deſiring, and affecting, that ſuch a thing ſhould be; is called his Interceſsion; becauſe it cannot but be ſo eſteemed, as to have the effect to follow, according to the Covenant, as he ſayes, John 11.41, 42. I thank thee Father, that thou haſt heard me, and I know that thou heareſt me alwayes: This as to his actual willing, cannot but be in heaven: However, we are ſure that he is there, and in our name; and that his death, and blood ſhed hath an efficacy, to bring about what he hath purchaſed; and that his will and affection are the ſame, and have an efficacy with them, and the effect certainly following; ſo as nothing can go wrong there, more then the man that hath a juſt cauſe in a Court of Judicature, and an able Advocat, with much moyen, to agent and plead it before a Juſt Judge, can be wronged, or loſs his Cauſe.
6ly. The grounds of his Interceſsion are, 1. The excellency of his perſon, who, though he be man, yet is he God alſo, equal with the Father; the brightneſs of his glory, and the expreſs image of his perſon, and upholding all things by the word of his powe…, As it is, Heb. 1.2. Which cannot but add weight to his Interceſsion, as well as to his Satisfaction; the Perſon that interceeds being God. The 2. is his Satisfaction; which is the ground of his Interceſsion; for upon his Satisfaction he maketh Interceſſion; even as if a Cautioner would ſay, I have payed ſuch a mans Debt, and therefore he ought to be abſolved; Therefore 1 John 2.1, 2. Theſe two are joyned, We have an advocat with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the righteous: and, he is the propitiation for our ſins: So, Rom. 8.34. They are joyned, It's Chriſt that died, who is at the right hand of God, and maketh interceſſion for us. 3. The Covenant of Redemption is the great ground on which his Interceſsion is founded; Such and ſuch perſons are given to Chriſt, and ſuch priviledges, and benefits offered to be conferred upon them, on condition the Mediator would undertake, and ſatisfie for them; and he having undertaken, and payed the price; there is good ground for his interceeding, for the making application of the purchaſe; Therefore he ſayes, John 17. Thine they were, and thou gaveſt them me, &c. This gives him right to plead, and interceed for them; ſeing he hath endured Soul-travel for them, he ought to ſee his Seed, and to have many Juſtified, and fred from the curſe and condemnation that they were obnoxious to; as the fruit of that ſore Soul-travel.
In, and from the conſideration of theſe; we may gather what is the nature of Chriſts Interceſſion, and how we may make uſe of it: And how particularly we ſhould beware of a carnal miſtake in many about his Interceſſion; as if he were praying in heaven, as a diſtinct partie from God; It's true, he is a diſtinct Perſon of the glorious Trinity, but not a diſtinct Partie in interceeding, as ſome ignorantly conceive of him; and therefore think him eaſier to have acceſs to then the Father; and therefore will pray him to pray the Father for them; as if, when they prayed to him, they were not praying to the Father; or as if there were not on object of Worſhip; This flows from ignorance of the nature of Chriſts Interceſſion▪ and …s unbecoming a Chriſtian; for ſuppoſing … man to reſt by Faith on Chriſt, the Father is content, and well pleaſed to pardon him, as well as the Son is, becauſe he is ingaged in the Covenant of Redemption ſo to do; and if he be not a Believer neither the Father nor the Son will reſpect him; our uſe making of Chriſts Interceſſion doth conſiſt rather in the founding of our hope of ſpeeding with God on it, as on his Satisfaction; then inputing up words of prayer to him, to interceed for us; as if he were to pray in heaven, as …e did on earth; or as one man interceeds for another; The point is ſublimly ſpiritual, and ſome way tickle; and I indeed fear to enter on moe Uſes, at leaſt for the time, only remember, that he is an Interceſſour; And learn to make right uſe of him, as an Interceſſour; And the Lord himſelf make the benefit of his Interceſsion forthcoming to us.