Christ Crucified, Sermon 66
SERMON LXVI.
ISAIAH LIII.XII.
Verſe 12. —And he made interceſſion for the tranſgreſsours.
IF Chriſt were known in the greatneſs and vaſt extent of his worth, O! how lovely would he be? How incomprehenſibly full are his Offices of grounds of conſolation to his people? But the mean and low thoughts we have of him; and the poor conſolation we feed on, do evidence much ignorance of him, and much unbelief of the ſolid worth and fulneſſe that is in him, and in his Prieſtly Office in particular; and yet, O! how full of conſolation is it? Such a high Prieſt became us, Heb. 7.26. Even ſuch a High Prieſt …s Sinners had need of: There hath been much ſpoken of one part of his Prieſt-hood, to wit, his Sacrifice, and offering up of himſelf, in the former verſes of this Chapter; Now ere the Prophet cloſe, he gives a hint of the other part of his Prieſtly Office, to wit, of his Interceſſion, a main commendation of Chriſts fulneſſe; It's that which evidenceth him to be a Saviour, able to ſave to the uttermoſt ſuch as come …nto God through him; becauſe he lives for ever to make interceſſion for them: as it is, Heb. 5.25. And it's a piece of the conſolation of Gods People, that Jeſus Chriſt hath this Office by the Fathers allowance; and that it is Articled in the Covenant of Redemption betwixt the Father and him; That as he ſhall pour out his ſoul unto death, be numbred with tranſgreſsours, bear the ſins of many: So he ſhall make interceſſion for the tranſgreſſours: Therefore, Heb. 7.21. He is ſaid to be made an high Prieſt with an oath, by him that ſaid unto him, Pſal. 110.4. The Lord ſware, and will not repent; thou art a Prieſt for ever after the order of Melhiſedeck: He was a Prieſt on earth by offering himſelf in a Sacrifice, and by interceeding for Elect Sinners, and he is a Prieſt in heaven by his Interceſſion; and therefore is preferred to all the Prieſts on earth, Who did not continue by reaſon of death; but he continues for ever; and none can ſtart him wrong, to ſpeak ſo with reverence of him.
We ſhew in our entring on this verſe, that this his interceſsion is not to be a ſtricted to his prayer on the Croſs; that was but an evidence, or particular inſtance of it, but it tak…s in his whole Interceſsion: Becauſe the Scope of the Prophet here is to hold out, as what God promiſed to him on the one hand in the Covenant of Redemption, ſo on the other what he interceeds for; and ſo his Interceſsion looked on in the Covenant of Redemption, takes in his whole Interceſsion, eſpecially as it is gone about in heaven, by vertue of his Sacrifice once for all offered up when he was on earth.
We Obſerved the laſt day, That according to the Covenant of Redemption, our Lord Jeſus Chriſt behoved not only to die, but to be an Interceſſour, or that it belongs to our Lords Prieſtly Office, agreed upon in the Covenant of Redemption, not only to offer up himſelf in a Sacrifice, and to die, but to make interceſsion for his people; He made interceſſion for the tranſgreſſours: or as all the reſt may be read in the future time, ſo this; He ſhall make interceſsion for the tranſgreſſours; but for the certainty of the thing, it's ſet down in the preterit, or by-paſt time, The Father did take his word, and ſo it paſt as done in the Court of Heaven.
We cleared this point, and propoſed Four Uſes of it, The First whereof was to inform u… anent Chriſts fulneſſe, to diſcover his inſearchable riches, and to let us ſee what an excellent high Prieſt we have, that continues an Interceſſour: Not only hath he once for all offered up his Sacrifice, as the high Prieſt under the Law did once a year, but hath entered within the vail to interceed, and thereby to make the benefits of his purchaſe effectual, and forthcoming to them, for whom his Sacrifi…e was offered: Even as Levit. 16. (where the rules for the high Prieſts offering are given) after he had offered the Sacrifice, he took the blood and entered within the vail, and by the Sacrifice, and his going in to pray, he made atonement for the People typically; anſwerable to this, our Lord Jeſus, by his once offering hath perfected for ever theſe who are ſanctified: and by his going within the vail, he executes this part of his Prieſtly Office, in interceeding for tranſgreſſors.
In proſecuting this Uſe, we anſwered ſome Questions, which now we ſhall not inſiſt to repeat: Only there is a ſhort Queſtion or two, that further may be aſked (which wil clear the former ere we go to the next Uſe, And the 1. is, if our Lord before he came in the fleſh, diſcharged this part of his prieſtly Office? The reaſon of the queſtion or doubt is, becauſe in the new Teſtament his interceſsion is alwayes, at leaſt very ordinary, ſubjoyned to his Aſcenſion. The 2d. is, How his Interceſsion now difers from his Interceſſion before his Incarnation, or in what reſpects the conſolation of Believers, that flows from his interceſſion is ſtronger now, then the conſolation of Believer… flowing there from was before he was Incarnat? As for the Firſt, It cannot be denyed, but Chriſt was Interceſſour ſince he had a Church in the World, for it's a part of his prieſtly Office, and he was made a Prieſt, by the eternal oath, in the Covenant of Redemption, Pſal. 110.4. The Lord hath ſworn and will not repent, thou art a Prieſt for ever: And hels ſaid to have an unchangable Priesthood; And there being but one way of acceſs for Sinners to Heaven, by Chriſt, who is called the Lamb ſlain from the beginning of the world; it muſt be holden for a ſure concluſion, that his Interceſſion is as old as his S…crifice; And he was interceſſour before his Incarnation in theſe three reſpects. 1. In reſpect of his Office, being deſigned to be Interceſſour; For (as we ſaid) being deſigned to be Prieſt, and being Mediator before his Incarnation, he behoved to be Interceſſour alſo: For that way he did Mediat, and the benefits that came to Sinners from the beginning, were the effects of his Interceſſion: Therefore 1 Tim. 2.5 It's ſaid, There is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the man Chriſt Jeſus, and there was never another real Mediator, however Moſes might be called a typical one. 2. He was Interceſſour before his Incarnation, in reſpect of the merit of his future Sacrifice: He did not before his Incarnation Interceed by vertue of his Sacrifice actually offered, as now he doth yet there was vertue which flowed from his Sacrifice to be offered, to the people of God, as well then as now, when it hath been long ſince offered: The Sins of all that ever were pardoned, were pardoned on the account of his S…crifice: And ſo alſo the ſpiritual benefits that did redound to them, did redound to them through his Interceſſion then, as now, by vertue of the ſame Sacrifice, becauſe of the nature of the Covenant, wherein it was agreed, that his Sacrifice ſhould be of the ſame efficacy before his Incarnation, as after: For the day and hour was agreed upon, when he ſhould offer that Sacrifice, Therefore it's ſaid, that in due time, and in t… fulneſs of time, he came and died. 3. He was Interceſſour before his Incarnation, …s after it, in reſpect of the effects that followed on it, to the People of God, then and now: The People of God before his Incarnation had communion with God, and acceſs to him; though not generally, in t…at degree of boldneſſe, they preſented their Prayers through, and were beholden to the ſ…me Chriſt, for a hearing, as we are; and therefore, his Interceſſion, before his Incarnation extended to them, as to us in theſe reſpects, but with this difference that he procured theſe benefits to them by vertue of the Covenant, and the efficaca… of his blood to be offered; and now he procures them to his People ſince his Incarnation and aſcenſion, by vertue of the ſame aſcenſion, and by vertue of the efficacy of his blood offered.
As to the 2d. How his Mediation, and Interceſſion now differs ſince his aſcenſion, from his Interceſſion before it, as to the ſtrengthening of the conſolation of the people of God? For anſwer, 1. We lay down this for a concluſion; That though our Lord Jeſus was Mediator both before his Incarnation, and now, yet ſince his aſcenſion, he hath a new way of Mediation, and Interceſſion, that exceedingly abounds to the ſtrengthening of the conſolation of his People: therefore it's ordinarly ſubjoyned to his aſcenſion, becauſe of his new manner of diſcharging that his Office; It is time, there is no addition to that grace which is infinit in him, as if he could be more gracious, or as if, in reſpect of the Covenant, there could be larger promiſes, as to eſſential things contained therein; but by taking on our nature, he hath a new way of being affected, and a new way of venting his affection to us; and is capable of another manner of touch with the infirmities of his people now, that he hath humane bowels, though glorified, and glorious; and the Faith of his People hath a ground ſuper…dded, whereupon to expect the communication of that grace, mercy, and goodneſſe that is in him; though all the effects that followed to his people, before his Incarnation, had reſpect to his future Incarnation; So theſe effects had reſpect to his future Interceſſion, in our nature, as well as to his dying, and laying down of the price; for theſe that were admitted to heaven ere he came in the Fleſh, were admitted the ſame way that we are.
But, 2dly, and more particularly, if it be aſked wherein this addition to the conſolation of God's People, by his Interceſſion, after his Aſcenſion kythes, or manifeſts it ſelf? We may take it up in theſe Six ſteps, which will alſo ſerve to illuſtrat the manner of his interceeding. 1. It kythes in this, That he appeareth in heaven in our nature; now the man Chriſt is in heaven interceeding, and as Advocat, anſwering for purſued Sinners, or as Ambaſſador, and Legat agenting the affairs of them that are given to him of the Father, as it is, Heb. 9.24. He is not entered into the holy places made with hands, but into heaven it ſelf, to appear now in the preſence of God for us: Where the Apoſtle having been ſpeaking of the excellency of his Prieſt-hood before; and comparing him with the Type; he tels that he is not entered into the typical tabernacle, but into heaven it ſelf, to appear there in the preſence of God for us; And this is a ſolid ground of conſolation to a poor believing Sinner, that he hath Chriſt in his own nature in heaven, interceeding, that what he performed before, by vertue of his Office and of the efficacy of his Sacrifice, to be offered, when he ſhould be incarnat; He now being incarnat, and aſcended performs it; we having God in our nature become a man like unto us; to care for the things of his people; and if any new queſtion ariſe, or debate be ſtarted, to entertain the treaty, and to effectuat, and make out their buſineſſe, that nothing that concerns them miſgive. 2. Their conſolation is ſtronger in this reſpect, That he is in heaven, by vertue of the efficacy of his Sacrifice already offered; As the High Prieſt, when he had offered the Sacrifice, took the blood with him within the vall, and interceeded for the people: So our Lord Jeſus is not now interceeding by vertue of his Sacrifice to be offered, but by vertue of his Sacrifice already offered; having entered into heaven, and taken the efficacy of his Sacrifice with him, to enter it (to ſpeak ſo) in the book of God, to ſtand on record; nay he ſtandeth there himſelf, to keep the memory of his blood freſh; and by each appearance of him there, who is never out of the ſight of the Majeſty of God; there is ſtill a repreſentation of the worth and efficacy of his Sacrifice, and for whom, and for what it was offered. 3. There is by the man Chriſt his being in heaven, this ground of conſolation ſupperadded, That he hath a ſympathie with Sinners, otherwayes then before, not as to the degree, nor as to the intenſneſs of his grace and mercy, (as I hinted before) but as to the manner how he is affected; ſo he hath the true nature, and ſinleſs affection of a man; and ſo hath bowels to be wrought upon, which kythed while he was on earth; although we cannot take up the manner how he is touched, yet he is touched otherwayes then God abſtractly conſidered can be: and otherways then an angel in heaven can be touched: as we may ſee, Heb. 2.17. and 4.15. We have not an high prieſt, which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all things tempted as we are, yet without ſin: And it behoved him to be like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful, and faithful High Prieſt, and have compaſſion on the ignorant, and them that are out of the way: He is Sinners friend, that is Interceſſour; and ſuch an Interceſſour, that interceeds from the impreſſion that the holy, and inconceivable ſympathie which he hath with his members, hath upon him; as his expreſſion to Paul ſpeaks forth, Act. 9. Saul, Saul why perſecuts thou me, counting himſelf a ſuff…rer with his people, which cannot but have it's own influence on his Interceſſion, and add to the conſolation of his People; that what he interceeds for the procurement of to them; is ſome way on this ground, as being a favour to their glorified head. 4. Beſide this ſympathy he hath a longing (to ſpeak ſo) to have all the wants and d…fects of his people ſupplied, and made up; and to have all the promiſes made to him, in behalf of the Elect fulfilled: Not any ſuch longing, as may in the leaſt incroach on, or be inconſiſtent with the glory, and glorified ſtate of our bleſſed Lord Jeſus; but conſidering, that there is a near relation betwixt him and his followrs, he being the head, and they the members, and that he hath a ſympathy and affection according to that relation: It is anſwerable, and ſuitable that he ſhould deſire, and ſome way long for the perfyting of his body the Church, which Epheſ. 1. is called The fulneſſe of him who filleth all in all; And he hath no queſtion, though a moſt pure and regular, yet a moſt kindly and ſtrong deſire, and longing to have his Body perfyted, to have the Elect gathered and brought in: As he had on earth a longing to have the work finiſhed, which was given him to do: And this cannot but be a weighty part of his Interceſſion, and very comfortable to his people; his longing to have ſuch and ſuch a perſon converted, ſuch and ſuch a perſon more mortified, and more perfyted, and made more confirm to him: There is a word, Heb. 10.13. that gives ground for this, From henceforth expecting till all his enemies be made his footſtool: And what is ſpoken of this expecting of what is there mentioned, may be applyed to other things; He is ſure expecting till all theſe promiſes concerning his ſeeing of a Seed, and the juſtifying and glorifying of many be fulfilled; becauſe that was promiſed him in the former verſe: and expecting till he divide the ſpoil with the ſtrong, as is promiſed in the former part of this verſe; Now our Lord Jeſus having laid down his Life, what is he doing in heaven? even longing till theſe promiſes be fulfilled; Not that he hath any longing that implyes a defect in him ſimply; for he is abſoutly glorified, and gloriou…; yet ſuch longing as is conſiſtent with his glorified ſtate, as (if we may make the compariſon, though in every thing it be not ſuitable) the Souls in heaven are perfytly glorified, yet they have a longing for the union of their bodies, for the perfyting of Chriſts body myſtical, and for the union of all the members in a Soul and Body with the head; So Chriſt conſidered as Mediator, God-man in heaven hath a longing and holy deſire which agrees with his Office, and is a qualification thereof, and doth no ways interrupt his happineſſe, that what concerns his Elect may be perfyted; Therefore it's ſaid in the verſe before, He ſhall ſee of the travel of his ſoul, and ſhall be ſatisfied: importing that it's a kind of new ſatisfaction to him, to get a Sinner brought in to believe in him, and that he was waiting and longing for it. 5. He hath an actual willing, and continuing deſire, that what he hath purchaſed to ſuch and ſuch perſons may be applyed: And this is not ſimply to will, for he had that on earth but a declaring of it in heaven; that ſuch and ſuch things may be forth coming, and made effectual for the behove of his members, that what he intended, in laying down his life, may be brought to paſs: It's the Mediator God-man willing; whoſe will, as man, being perfytely conform to the will of God, cannot be (to ſpeak ſo) gainſaid in whatſoever he willeth for the perſons given him, and this is anſwerable to that, John 17.24. Father, I will that theſe whom thou hast given me, may be with me, where I am, &c. I will that ſuch and ſuch things ingaged to me for them may be made good, That ſuch and ſuch perſons be pardoned and brought through, that they may be preſerved from tentation, may have their prayers heard, that they may be made to perſevere, and may be glorified; So that we cannot imagine a caſe wherein Gods People have need, and a promiſe in the Covenant, but there is an actual willingneſs in Chriſt to have the need ſuppl ed, and the promiſe applyed, according to the terms of the Covenant. 6. We may take in here, not only Chriſts willing that ſuch a thing be done, but his effectual doing of it; And as this is a piece of his Interceſſion, ſo it holds him forth to be a notable. Interceſſour; compare John 14.13.16.26. & 15.26 & 67. In the 14. Chap. verſe 13. he ſayes, Whatſoever ye ask in my name I will do; which we ſuppoſe reſpects Chriſt as Mediator, to be truſted as great Lo d D…puty in our nature, to anſwer the prayers of his People, when put up according to the will of God: The 16. Chap. verſe 26. Speaks of the Fathers ſending the Comforter, and Chap. 15.26. Of the Mediators ſending the Comforter, So doth Chap. 16.7. In one place it is, What ye ask I will do, and in another place it is, that the Father will do; It's all one, but it is to ſhew, that what the Father doth, he wil do it by the Son the Mediator, and he wil actually perform it; And theſe three expreſſions, I will pray the Father, And I wil ſend, and the Father ſhall ſend, hold out this, That as the Father doth by the Son, ſo that this is a part of Chriſts interceſſion, effectually to procure and ſend out to us, what we have need of. 7. In all this there is in the Men Chriſt, an adoration of the Father, which, though it be not ſuch as is unſuitable to his exalted and glorified ſtate, yet is it becoming well him that is Man, and in that reſpect, is at his right hand, to give to God: I ſhall only ſay further here, that though we cannot tell how he interceeds to ſatisfie our ſelves fully, yet this is clearly held forth to us, that whatſoever is needful, by his being in heaven we may confidently expect it will be performed from the man Chriſt, from him who is God-man in one Perſon; and ſo his Interceſſion with the Father is his actual procuring, and doing ſuch a thing, and that not as God ſimply, but as Mediator; Therefore theſe two words are put in the forecited expreſſions, Whatſoever ye ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son, and wh…m the Father will ſend in my name: That is by vertue of my procurement, by vertue of my Sacrifice and Interceſſion; and the ſending of the Comforter, ſhews that it is performed by him that is God-man, out of the reſpect he hath to his members, and on the account of his Office, which he purſues for their edification; And ſo there is enough to anſwer the queſtion, and abounding conſolation to his people, which is the next Ufe.
Uſe, 2. To ſhew the notable conſolatioon that flows from this part of Chriſts Office: O! What ſavourineſſe, and unſearchable riches are in this part of his name? That our Lord Jeſus, as Interceſſour, appeares in the preſence of God for us; We ſhall ſpeak here to theſe Five things. 1. Wherein this is comfortable, or to the extent of it. 2. To the advantages that follow on it. 3. To the grounds of this conſolation which are confirmations of it. 4. To this, at what times, and particular occaſions the People of God may, and ought in a ſpecial manner to make uſe of, and comfort themſelves in it: And 5. on what terms this conſolation is allowed, that they grow not vain, and proud of it.
For the First, Our Lords Interceſſion gives a Fourfold extent of conſolation, that makes it wonderful. 1. In it's univerſality, as to the perſons to whom it's extended; Not indeed to all men in the World, but to all that will make uſe of it; And though it were ſimply of univerſal extent to all men in the world, yet it would comfort none, but ſuch as made uſe of it: And that vanity of the Arminians, that extends Chriſts Death, and Interceſſion to all can truly ſay no more for ſo in comfort; for they are forced to ſay that Chriſt died, and intended his death for many that will never get good of him, but we ſay all that he intended ſhould get good of his death, do get the intended good of it; yea, we ſay, that whoever will make uſe of him, ſhall get good both of his Death, and of his Interceſſion; So, Heb. 7.25. He is able to ſave to the uttermoſt, all that come unto God through him; Though the cauſe ſeemed to be deſperat, and the ſentence pronounced; Curſed is he that continues not in all things written in the law, yet he is able to ſave them, Therefore, 1 John 2.2. It's ſaid, If any man ſin: O! ſtrange word, We have an Advocat, what, an Advocat for any man? yea, for any man that will make uſe of him: For as we ſhew before, though it's true that his Interceſſion is bounded to his Elect, yet it's as true, that he refuſes no cauſe that is honeſtly given him to plead; If any man ſin, we have an advocat: He will not ſay to ſuch poor Souls, I will not be for you, I have done all that I may, but it is gone againſt me; neither will he prig (to ſay ſo) with you, he will not ſay, I will have this or that ere I undertake your cauſe for you; but if any man ſin, If any man ſee his need, and will imploy him; whether he be a great man, or mean man, whether he be poor or rich, bound or free; whether he be an old ſinner that his lived long in ſecurity, hypocriſie or prophanity, or be a ſitten up profeſſour, whether he be young or old; If any of you all that are here will come to him, he will not refuſe to be imployed by you: By him therefore (as the Apoſtle exhorts, Heb. 1….15.) let us offer praiſe to God continually: And as praiſe, ſo the ſacrifices of other duties, and they ſhall be accepted; as the offer o… the Goſpel runs on an univerſality, and excludes none, but theſe, that by their unbelief, exclude themſelves: So his Interceſſion runs on an univerſality, If any man ſin, and will imploy him he is an Advocat at hand: And ſeing it is Chriſt, and Chriſt as Interceſſour for tranſgreſſours, that we are ſpeaking of, as the ground of Sinners conſolation; let me in paſſing deſire you to remember, that he is pointing at you, men and women; and if there be any of you, that have a broken cauſe to plead, any debt that ye would fain be fred of, any Sin to be pardoned, or your peace to be made with God; here is an Advocat, and the very beſt, offering himſelf to be imployed: Such an Advocat, as ſaid John 11. I thank thee Father, for that I know thou hearest me alwayes: This was true while he was on earth, and will be true to the end of the world. 2. The extent of this conſolation appears in reſpect of all caſes, as his Interceſſion ſecluds no perſon, that wil make uſe of him, ſo it ſecluds no caſe, though it looked like a loſt cauſe, and though the conſcience had pronunced the Sentence, God is greater then the Conſcience, and can louſe from it, though the Act were paſt in the Law; he can cancel it: And here comes in the triumph, Rom. 8.33, 34. Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? it is God that juſtifies; Will the Devil, the Law, the Conſcience, or any thing lay ought to the charge of the man whom God juſtifies? No, why ſo? It is Chriſt that died: But that is not all, alas! may the Soul ſay, How will I get good of Chriſts death? I cannot apply it, and make uſe of it, He anſwers that; He is alſo riſen again, and ſitten down at the right hand of God, and there maketh interceſſion for us; to wit, that his purchaſe may be applyed, and there needs no more, ye will get no more, ye can ſeek no more, and that cloſes the triumph. There is no ſin before, nor after Converſion, no ſin of ignorance, no ſin againſt light, no enemy, no tentation, whatever it be, but that word anſwers all; Who can lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? Where Chriſt takes the ſinners caſe in hand, who will ſtand up againſt him, he is too ſtrong a partie; If Satan ſtand at the High Prieſts hand, it's the Lord that rebukes him; Zach. 3. That as it were boaſts him from the bar. 3. The extent of this conſolation appears, in reſpect of the degree, and hight of the perfection of the Salvation that comes by Chriſts Interceſſion, to all that make uſe of him in all caſes: Heb. 7.25. He is able to ſave to the uttermost: The word is very ſignificant, he is able to ſave perfectly, to perfection, and to perfection at the hight of perfection; and what more would ye be at? He can ſave from corruption, and put without the reach of it; He can ſave from wrath, that it ſhall not come near you, He can ſave from all the effects of ſin and wrath; He ſhall not leave a tear on the cheek of any of his own ere all be done; and that is the ground of it, For he lives for ever, to make interceſſion for us: If any ſhould ſay, he may ſave from one ſin, but not from another, or he may bring me a piece of the way to heaven, and then leave me there; It's folly ſayes the Apoſtle, to think to; For he is able to ſave to the uttermoſt, becauſe he lives for ever to make interceſſion: Although his death ſeem to be tranſient, once for all perfyted, yet that cannot mar the application of the benefits purchaſed by it; For he is Interceſſour; and he that procured thy entring in the way, will carry the on in it; he that procured a ſa…tified conviction to come in, will through it; h… that procured thy juſtification, and pardon of ſin, will alſo apply it to thy conſcience, and bring forth an intimation of it, when he thinks fit, and ſanctifie thee throughly; and this is indeed great conſolation to a ſinner, that he who hath begun the work will perfyt it, and he will not leave it, till it be at ſuch a hight of perfection, as it can be deſired to be no higher. 4. The extent of this conſolation is ſuch, that it reacheth to all times: There it is not a Believer in any place or caſe, that is wreſtling with any difficulty, that can come wrong to Chriſt: He is ever in readineſſe to be employed: There is never an hour nor moment that he hath his door ſhu, He died once, but now lives for ever, to die no more, and he lives for ever to make Interceſſion, he is entred into immortality, to make effectual, what he hath undertaken in favours of his people; He is always at the Bar; and when his own are but little imploying him, he is minding their affairs night and day, watching over them every moment: See Luke 22. where the Lord ſayeth, Peter, ſatan hath ſought to winnow you, but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: Satan gave in a Bill againſt Peter, when he had no mind of it, but the Lord repelled it, The greateſt cheat, or the moſt ſubtile adverſary, that ſteals out Decreets cannot circumveen him, He is ſtill waiting on at the Ear, that nothing come in againſt his people to their prejudice; and if it do come in it's that he may cruſhit in the firſt motion: O! how doth the conſolation of Believers ſtream out here? He will not cry, nor lift up, nor cauſe his voice to be heard on high; a bruiſed reed will he not break, and the ſmoaking flax will be not quench, untill he bring forth judgement unto truth: He will not contend, nor ſay, man or woman, how is this, that thou haſt put thy ſelf in the myre, and would have me to take thee out of it, that thou brings a broken Plea to me, and ſeeks of me to right it? He will not aſk whether ye have money, all his imployment is free; nor will he put you back till the morrow, nor bid you wait on till another time, morning and evening, and at midnight he is ready; and when the Elect Sinner hath little thought, He is watching over his need preventing many tentations, keeping from many ill turns, caſting many challenges over the Bar, that the Devil, and the Law put in: Therefore ſtudy his Offices more, and this among the reſt, we much wrong him, in not ſtudying of them, and acquainting our ſelves with them, that we may feed upon them; himſelf open up his name to us, and to him be praiſe.