Christ Crucified, Sermon 67
SERMON LXVII.
ISAIAH LIII.XII.
Verſ. 12. —And made interceſſion for the tranſgreſſours.
O! That Sinners were ſeriouſly conſidering how much they are obliged to Chriſt; He hath in the former words Poured out his ſoul unto death, for Sinners, and was wounded for tranſgreſſours, and yet that was not all, though Sin was our Lords death, he hath not caſten out with Sinners, but having gotten the Victory over all enemies, and ſitten down at the right hand of God; He makes interceſſion, and to make it the more full; It's ſaid, He makes interceſſion for tranſgreſſours: All his Offices have an eye to Sin, and Sinners, and this part of his Office among others.
We began to ſpeak of an Uſe of comfort that flows from this; and truly, if any Doctrine be comfortable this is; That Sinners have an Advocat with the Father; what would Sinners do, when their peace is broken, & there is a door ſhut betwixt God and them, and his back is turned on them, and the Conciſence is wakened, and they cannot think on God but it's troubleſome to them, if they had not a friend in Court, with whom the Father cannot but be well pleaſed?
This Conſolation being a main part of the uſe of this Doctrine, and the ground of Believers boldneſſe with God: In the following of it forth, we propoſed Five things to be ſpoken to. 1. To ſhew the largeneſs and extent of the conſolation that flows from this ground, and of this we ſpake. 2. The particular advantages that the Scripture attributs to Chriſt's Interceſſion, and the conſolation that is in them. 3. The particular times, when eſpecially Believers are called to make uſe of this conſolation. 4. Some grounds warranding them to make uſe of it. and 5. Some caveats, or advertiſements to them that would warrantably comfort themſelves from it.
To proceed now, and to ſpeak to theſe laſt Four things. 1. The particular advantages that the Scriptures attribut to Chriſts Interceſſion, and if we look through them, we will find that there is nothing, that may be uſeful to a Believer, either as to a particular or publick mercy, but it's knit to Chriſts Interceſſion.
1. For privat mercies. 1. Look to the beginning and growth of our ſpiritual life, and to the pouring out of the ſpirit, It is made the fruit of Chriſts Interceſſion, John 14.16 I will pray the father, and he ſhall ſend the comforter: and John 16. If I go not away the comforter will not come: This is the Conſolation of a Believer labouring under deadneſſe of ſpirit, barrenneſſe, and unfruitfulneſs, That the pouring out of the ſpirit, is a remedy of that, and the pouring out of the Spirit is a fruit of Chriſts Interceſſion; It's this that procures the firſt conviction of the ſpirit to an elect lying in nature; It's this that continues there convictions, and procures the ſpirits quickning of them, John 16.8. If it ſhould then be aſked, how a perſon lying in black nature gets any good? It's anſwered, that it's Chriſts Interceſſion that does the turn, 2. I…'s f…om Chriſts Interc…ſſion tha… … keeped from many …, or when they aſault, tha… they prevail not ut…erly over us; T…e Devil lye… alwayes a… the wa… and we are often ſecure; but our Lord Je…us, (to ſay ſo) watch …n the ſtor, or rebound of the tentation, and … it off as to the deſigned prejudice, Luke 22 32. Simon, Simon, Satan hath deſired that he may have you, that h… may winnow you but I have prayed for thee, that thy ſaith fail not: There are many tentations that he keeps off; that they beat not on us, and when they aſſault us, he breaks the power of them, tha the Believer ſuccumbs not under them; Hence it is, that we are keeped on our feet otherwayes what would become of us? when David fell in adultery, and Peter denyed his Maſter, what would have become of them, had it not been for this? there would be no living for us, in the multitude of tentations, if he were not interceeding for us; what could we forſee of Satans ſnars? what ſtrength have weak and witleſſe we to reſiſt tentations? what could we do with the ſpear of corruption, when it riſes like a flood, upon us, and Satan inforceth his aſſaults upon us, a if he were ſpeaking with mans voic…, or mouth, hiding us do this and that? But there is an Interceſſour that pleads our cauſe. 3. We have by this Interceſſion the preventing of many Judgements temporal and ſpiritual; when t…e ax is laid to the root of the tree, and it is found barren and ju…ice cryes and the command comes out; Cut it down, why cumbers it the ground? How comes it, that the ax ſtrikes not? why is it not hewed down? There is an efficacy in Chriſts Interceſſion for paring of it a while longer, as it is, Luke 13.6. The dreſſer of the vineyard ſayes, ſpare it for this year; and it's granted; O! but we would have a moſt ſinful and miſerable life, if there were not an Interceſſour at Gods right hand. 4. Diſpoſition for dutie, and help in the performance of dutie flows from his Interceſſion, It's this that makes us pray, and that gives us boldneſſe in prayer, and in other duties, that there is ſuch an high Prieſt over the houſe of God, as it is, Heb. 10.19, 20.21. I…'s this that gives us ground of approaching to God, and to expect a hearing: and as it is Luke 13.7, 8. It is his digging and pains that makes the barren fig tree fruit…ul. 5 It flows from this, that our prayers are heard, though there be much I firm… in them; and that they are not call back in our …aces as dung, but are made ſ voury to Go…; it's through the efficacy of his Interceſſion; We have a type of his, Revel. 8.4, 5. where John ſees an Angel come and …and at the Altar, having a golden cenſer, and there was given unto him much incenſe, that he ſhould offer it up, with the prayers of all faints, and the ſmoak of the incenſe which came up, with the prayers of the ſ…ints, aſcended up before God: It was ſavoury and acceptable to God and made the prayers of all Saints accepta…le, for the weight of Gods accepting their prayers is laid on the ſmoak of his incenſe; It's he that takes the …gled, and halfe prayers of his People, and preſents them to God: and when they would be caſt back, as the ſupplication of an enemy, He as great Maſter of R…quiſts through the acceptation that he hath with God, makes them acceptable; We ſhould have no ground to pray with confidence, nor acceptation to be heard, if there were not a golden cenſer in his hand. 6. We have from his Interceſſion, an anſwer to all challenges: There is much debt on our ſcore, the Law purſues h…rd, and curſeth us for our habitual enimity, and all the particular Acts of it and his Interceſſion is the laſt defence, on which the triumph of Faith riſes, by the other ſtep… Rom 8 43. Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? Is it becauſe they want a cha…ge? No, for there is the Devil, the Law, and the Conſcience to charge them But it's God that juſtifies, who ſhal condemne? It's Chriſt that died, yea, rather is riſen again, who is at the right hand of God, and maketh interceſſion for us: We have a high Prieſt there, that hath payed our Debt, and pleads that the application of his purchaſe may be made forthcoming; and, who I pray, will lay any thi…g to our charge in that Court, where God is Judge, and Chriſt is Advocat? 7. More particularly, our Lord, by his Interceſſion, taketh away the guilt of our holy things, for when we approach to God in worſhip, there is a carnalneſs, and pollutedneſs in the beſt things we do, much irreverence, much unbelief, much want of humility, zeal, ſincerity, and tenderneſſe; So that all our righteouſneſſes are but as filthy rags: But the high Prieſt, Exod. 28.38. hath on his fore-head, Holineſs to the Lord: And his O…ce is, to bear the iniquitie of the holy things of the children of Iſrael …hat they may be accepted before the Lord; and in this he was a Type of Chriſt the great high Prieſt going in unto Heaven, to make Interceſſion for his Peopl…; who bears not on…y their iniq…ties, but the iniquity of their holy t…in…s; Aaron anſwers for them, as the Type, Our Lord Jeſus as the anti-r…pe, He being em…nently holineſs to the Lord: and having holineſs on his forehead: and being ſo well pleaſing to the Father, however our prayers, an… praiſes, and other parts of ſervice, be but little worth, ye… he makes them acceptable, and procures that they be not rejected, when he is, for this end imployed, and made uſe of. 8. We will find that ſtrength to bear through under a Croſs, and a good o…tgate from under the croſs comes from him as Interceſſour; O! ſo advertant as he is, when his own are under the croſs; his bowels are then moved, though not as they were on earth, yet certainly they want not their own holy motion, ſuitable to the glorious eſtate whereunto he is exalted: Therefore, Acts 9. He cryes from Heaven, Saul, Saul why perſecuts thou me? And Stephen, when a ſtoning to d…ath, ſees him ſtanding at the right hand of God, executing this part of his Prieſtly O…ice; One part whereof, is to keep off a croſs, and another part whereof is to help to get it honourably born, and to a victory over it. 9. Our perſeverance in the Faith, and perfect glorification is a fruit of Chriſts Interceſſion, ſo that his own cannot but perſevere and be glorified becauſe he interceeds for them; This is it that is ſpoken to ſeveral times, John 17. eſpecially verſes 15. and 24. In the 15. v. I pray for them that they may be keeped from the evil▪ He prayes for them, that they may be keeped from the evil of ſin eſpecially; he prayes for them that they may be keeped, that they fall nor from the truth: And v. 24. Father, I will that theſe whom thou haſt given me, be where I am, to behold my glory: That longing and eff…ctual deſire …nd will of his, preſented by him in heaven is continuing ſtill effectuall for all the Saints in the C…urch militant; There is ground of quie…neſſe, an… comfort from his Interceſſion; …nd by ver…ue of it to have hope, that not only preſen… but coming ſnares and tentations ſhall not prevai…: Therefore the Apoſtle Rom. 8.38. …o his ſpeaking of Chriſts Interceſſion, …ubjo…nes his higheſt triumph, I am perſwaded, that neither death, nor life, principalities, nor p wers, things preſent nor things t… come; and becauſe it's impoſſible to num…r all things; h… ſayes, nor any other creature ſhal be able to ſeparat us from the love of God, which is in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord: Now, if all …heſe be put together, beſide many moe, that may be gather…d from Scripture, what wants a Be…iever for his own privat and particular conſolation, which this one word, That Chriſt is an interceſſour, doth not anſwer?
But 2. There is not only conſolation for a Believers particular condition from this ground, but alſo in reference to the publick caſe of Gods Church: Th…re are Four things eſpecially, that ſeem very he… to the Church, and publick work …f God; in reference to all which we will find conſolation from this ground. The 1. is the fear of a ſcarcity, or weakneſs of the pu…ick Miniſtry; that being the great gift w…ich he hath given, for the edifying of hi… body, and it being a prejudice to the Church, when ſhe hath not Paſtors, accord…ng to Gods own heart: But compare Pſal. 68 18. with Epheſ 4.8 12, 13, 14. and we will find that his Interceſſion anſwers that fear; In the Pſalm, it's ſaid, Thou haſt aſcended on high, thou haſt led captivity captive▪ thou haſt received gifts for men; w…ich ſuppo…es his ſeeking of or making ſuite for them; or as the word is, thou haſt received gifts in the man, that is, being in our nature, he procured them: And, Epheſ. 4. It's ſaid, he gave gifts to men; and compare theſe Two places with a Third; to wit, Acts 1.4. Where he bids his Apoſtles tarry at Jeruſalem till he ſend the promiſed ſpirit; and immediatly, after his aſcenſion, as it is, Acts 2. He poured it out, which abode on them, in the likneſs of cloven tongues of fire: It's likewiſe ſaid, John 11.39. That the ſpirit was not given, for Jeſus was not yet glorified; All which ſhew an influence that Chriſt's aſcenſion hath on the pouring out of the Spirit, and on the gifts given to men, whether Miniſters, or others: There is nothing amongſt men readily leſſe cared for, then a Miniſtry; ſome would have none at all; others would have them of ſuch a ſtamp, as would pleaſe and humour them; But our Lord ha…h received gifts to give unto men; And he that poured out ſuch gifts on the Apoſtles and others; ha…h what gifts he pleaſeth, and ſees needful for his Churches edification yet to give; And that he gives ſuch gifts to men, that his people are not praying much for, whence is it, but from his Interceſſion? Therefore, Revel. 1. we will find that he delights in this propertie, as a piece of his ſpiritual ſtate, and grand our, That he holds the ſtars in his right hand: ſuch is his reſpect to them, and his it is to diſpoſe of them. 2. It's a greatly exerciſing difficultie to the Church of God; to think of the mighty oppoſition that is made by enemies: Mahomet, Heathens, Antichriſt, falſe Brethren, threatning to ſwallow up the little flock, the Church of Chriſt, which is like a buſh burning with fire, and not conſumed: But for this there is a conſolation in Chriſts interceſſion; according to that word, Heb. 10.13. He ſat down on the right hand of God, from henceforth expecting, till his enemies be made his footſtool; He hath this for his ſuite at the Fathers Bar, and is backing it; upon this it followed, and as a fruit of it, that all the firſt perſecutions were broken; On this it hath come to paſs, that Antichriſts kingdom is tottering; and it's on this ground, that his bearing down, and utter breaking wi l be accompliſhed; Hence it's moſt emphatically ſaid, 1 Cor. 15.24. That He muſt reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet: According to the promiſe made by Jehovah to him, Pſal. 110. 1. The Lord ſaid to my Lord, ſit on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footſtool: He cannot be an Interceſſour, but his enemies muſt down; For who, I pray, wi…l be able to ſtand, when he gives in his complaint againſt them? who will plead Antichriſts, and other perſecutors cauſe when he appears againſt them? …nd he is ſo certain of his enemies being m…de his footſtool, that he is waiting till he ſee it done; he muſt reign till then, maugre all the malice and might of Devils, and Men.
3. It's a difficultie to the Church and people of God, to think on ſuch great confuſions as are in the world; there are but few Judicatories that are for Ch…iſt; but few Governours higher or lower that do conſult his honour or regard him; It's others that have the Throne and Court, and the guiding of things, th… friends and f…vourers of his intereſt, for moſt part; But here the conſolation lyes; that there is a Court in Heaven that gives out orders, where the Church hath an Agent conſtantly lying; where the Devil and the World hath none: Jeſus Chriſt is the Churches Agent, and Interceſſour there: Daniel Chap. 10.13. Hath a word to this purpoſe; The prince of the kingdom of Perſia withſtood me one and twenty dayes, but Michael the chief prince came to help me: And v. 21. There is none in all the court of Perſia that holdeth with me in theſe things, but Michael your Prince: The great Interceſſour was at Court, looking that nothing went wrong, ſeeing that no decree were paſt to the prejudice of the people of God, and his work; in the time when they were building the Temple, He, Zech. 6.13. is ſaid to build the temple of the Lord, to bear the glory, and to be a Priest, ſitting and ruling on his throne; having the government committed to him; what hazard then is there here, when heaven guids all, when the Church hath an Agent at the Court to ſee (as I ſaid) that nothing go wrong, when Michael the Prince is there, and ſees all the Acts and Decrees of the Court, and readeth them, yea draweth them, and looks well that there be nothing in them hurtful to his Church: And, O! may we not, and ſhould we not thank God for this? 4. A Fourth thing that troubles the Church of God, is the abounding of offences in her ſelf, and the ſpreading of errour, which like a flood threateneth to drown the Church; and great ſtormy winds come, that are like to blow down the houſe of God; offences and ſtumblings abound; and errour which (I juſt now ſaid) as a flood is like to drown all, when the Devil is put from the Throne, and gets not violence …cted, he turns about, and falleth on another wa…, and …pe…s out this flood of errour, to devour the Woman and her Child; But our Lord hath a voce here alſo: Af…er the perſecution of the Heathens is over, Revel. 7.1, 2. John ſees an Angel aſcending from the eaſt, the great Lord Keeper, or Chancellour of the Fathers Council; the ſupream Deputy over all un…er Officers, that hath the keeping of the great Seal of the living God, and there is nothing relevant, nor valid till it be ſealed by him; And mark the time when he appears: It's when the winds are holden, and ready to blow, as v. 1. but he cryes with a loud voice, Hurt not the earth, nor the ſea, nor the trees, till we have ſealed the Servants of God in the foreheads: Stay, ſaith he, a little; ere theſe winds blow, that will take the moſt part off their feet, ere that deluſion go forward, there are ſome ſervants of God that muſt be marked; and put without the reach of the hazard; and then the wind ſhall get leave to blow: what reaſon then of anxiety is there, or could be here, if the ſolid, and lively faith of this Interceſſour, and Advocat, his being in heaven, and thus interceeding, were in our hearts?
2dly. As to the particular times, and occaſions when the people of God ſhould more eſpecially make uſe of this ground of conſolation, and comfort themſelves in it, (I ſpeak not of Chriſts Interceſſion ſimply, but of the conſolation that flows from It,) 1. In their moſt languid and lifeleſs conditions; when the body of death comes in on them, like a wave of the Sea, and is ready as it were to drown them; they ought to comfort themſelves in this, that they have an interceſſour that can rebuke that; when tentation is violent, and a perſon fears he be undone, he hath a grip here to hold himſelf by: Jeſus Chriſt is interceſſour; He prayes that my graces ſail not; That my Faith, and Patience be not undone; that the Devil get not his will of me, the man would be deſperat, if he were not in heaven, and interceeding; but he gathers confidence from this ground, and ſayes, I ſhall not die, but live, and ſee the ſalvation of God; For he is able to ſave to the uttermo…t all that come unto God through him: Seeing he evee liveth to make interceſſion for them: And therefore, although I cannot win out of the grips of this tentation, yet he can rebuke it, and break the force of it: And hence is that comfortable word, Heb. 2. laſt. For that he himſelf ſuffered, and was tempted, he is able to ſuccour them that are tempted: Sometimes it will not meet with Believers condition, that Chriſt ſuffered, but this doth; when he comes on and finds that he was tempted: It's true, there was no corruption in him, and tentations had no ſinful influence on him, and the more comfort to us; He is the ſtronger to overcome in us; yet he was ſet on and aſſaulted by the tentation, he was tempted, and that is a conſolation; when Joſhua the high Prieſt is in his dutie, Zech. 3. And the Devil is at his right hand to reſiſt him, and mar him in it, and he can do, or ſay little himſelf, he boaſts him with authority from marring his ſervant in his work: A great conſolation it is, when the tentation is ſtrong, and we weak; when the Devil is violent, and we are diſpairing to reſiſt him; that there is a high Prieſt at h…nd whole office is to do it. A 2d. time is, when challenges are very freſh, when the charge of ones Debt given in, is long, and large, and the Law i… ſevere in exacting, and Juſtice in preſſing, and preſſing hard, and the conſcience cannot deny, nor reſiſt; and the man hath nothing to pay his Debt, and he …s ike to be dragged to the Priſon, and there is none to undertake for him; There comes in that word, 1 John 2.1.2. I writ theſe things to you, that ye ſin not: I give …oot a diſpenſation to ſin, but if any … ſin, we have an Advocat with the Father, Jeſus Christ the righteous: And this is the gr…d of Pauls triumph ſo often mentioned, Rom. 8.34. Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? it is God that justifies, &c. Though the charge ſhould be given in, what is the matter,, there is a way to be fred of it, there is an Advocat at the right hand of God in heaven, who became Cautioner for, and payed the Elects Debt, and is now interceeding for them; and who can loſs the cauſe when he pleads it? and here he quiets, and comforts himſelf, giving a defiance to challenges, and all that can be lybelled againſt him. A 3d. time and occaſion is, under a Croſs-condition, when Chriſtians have the world in their tops, and their is confuſion in publick things, and there is darkneſs and indiſtinctneſs in our private condition, It ought to comfort us, that we have an Advocat in heaven, who pleads our cauſe, and will not diſpiſe the ſuite of the poor and needy. A 4th. time is, when we our ſelves cannot interceed for our ſelves, when we pray, but our prayers are much mangled, and little worth, and we think ſhame to look upon them; we would then look on what accompt our prayers are put up, If on the accompt of Chriſts Interceſſion, a ſigh, a groan, a broken word, nay a breathing will be accepted; the Interceſſour hath his own incenſe to perfume it with and it's accepted on the weight that it hath from him; and though our prayer, be but as the ſhaddow of a prayer, if there be honeſty in it, it's a comfort, it will be accepted on that account; Whatſoever ye ſhall ask the Father, in my name I will do: And Revel, 8. He accepts the prayers of all Saints, the weakeſt as well as the beſt; for the beſt goes not up but by his cenſer, and incenſe, and the weakeſt goes up that ſame way: And there is in ſome reſpect, no diſtinction of Believers, and of their fervent, or not fervent prayers there, if honeſt; the fervour of Chriſts Interceſſion, and the favour of his incenſe makes all go up, and be accepted; becauſe the reaſon of Gods hearing of our prayers is not in us; elſe he ſhould hear none of them; but it's in his interceſſion, which is of equal worth, and extent to all honeſt prayers of ſound Believers; He is able to ſave to the uttermost, all that come unto God through him; though there be no ability nor worth in themſelves; becauſe he lives for ever to make interceſſion for them; but the two laſt things will clear this yet more.
3dly. Though this may ſeem ſtrange like; yet it is true, if we conſider the grounds warranding us to make uſe of his Interceſſion, and to draw this Conſolation from it; And they are Four, 1. That his Interceſſion ſuppons a defect in us, a libel and charge given in againſt us; elſe what needed we to have an Advocat, and Interceſſ…ur? if our Plea were juſt and good as from our ſelves we needed not one to undertake for us; the Judge would abſolve us, but the defects that are in us, give acceſs to this part of his Office; which ſuppoſes us to have infirmities, elſe we needed not an high Prieſt, if we were like Adam in his innocency, for he needed not an Interceſſour; and therefore in the Text, it is for the tranſgreſſ…urs that he makes Interceſſion; and 1 John 2.2. If any man ſin, we have an advocat, &c. 2. All the weight of Chriſts Interceſſion, and the grounds whereon he pleads, are in himſelf; and therefore none need to ſtand a back, becauſe there is nothing in themſelves; We have an advocat with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the righteous, and he is the propitiation; Chriſt hath in him a fulneſſe to pay the Debt himſelf, and he pleads on that, and on nothing in the creature: He ſayes not, let them be pardoned, becauſe they have not ſin, nor becauſe they have ſuch and ſuch qualifications, but becauſe I have been a propitiation for them, I have payed their Debt; Therefore he is called the righteous, becauſe he hath reaſon for that which he ſeeks. He hath payed for what he ſeeks, and therefore it cannot but be granted. 3. There is a freedom in the application of all, the application is free Grace every way, and that is clear from the parable of the barren fig-tree; what could the tree ſay, when Juſtice pleaded it ſhould be cut down? There is nothing in it to procure a delay; but the Gardner ſtands up and bids ſpare it, and he will take pains on it, and apply what is needful; cauſes are not here caſt back, becauſe the partie is poor, nor becauſe he hath much Debt on his ſcore; No, If any man ſin he hath an advocat, the thing is obtained without money; and without price; would ye then have a Prieſt that ſuits you well? ye ſhall have him, and have him freely; if ye imploy him to undertake for you, he will do it freely, and it's his honour ſo to do. 4. It's free and effectuall, It cannot miſgive; for who pleads? is it not the Son? before whom pleads he? It's before his own Father, who heareth him alwayes; for whom doth he plead? It's for them who are the Fathers own Elect, and his alſo; Thine they were, and thou gaveſt them me; and all mine are thine, and thine are mine: It's for them whom the Father loves as well as he; wha… does he ſeek and plead for? for that which is covenanted; and he pleads for it, according to the terms of the Covenant; Therefore it's ſure, that though heaven and earth may be mixed, and overturned, yet none can louſe a link here; It's impoſſible, but what he interceeds for, he muſt obtain; and for whom he interceeds, he prevails, and that's for all that imploy him.
4ly. For Advertiſement, or caveat; It may be aſked here, may all comfort themſelves in Chriſts Interceſſion? Some will think, that were good, but in truth it would make the conſolation of all unſure; Therefore there are Four qualifications of a perſon that may, and only may warrantably take the conſolation whereof we have ſpoken 1. It's a Perſon that hath betaken himſelf to Chriſts ſatisfaction; for there are two parts of the Prieſtly Office, His Satisfaction and his Interceſſion, and there is no dividing of them; nor making uſe of them, but in the right order: Firſt he ſatisfies, and then he i…terceeds; and he muſt be taken, and m…e uſe of in this order. 1. In his Satisfaction to divine Juſtice, and it's on this ground that we muſt found our righteouſneſſe, and plead for abſolution, and who…ver ha…e … thi… … of his … faction may, … … ſelves in his … … ed on his Satisfaction, 1 John … he interceeds, for theſe he is a …, and he is a propitiation for all who by … have betaken themſelves to him; This is the very hinge of our Conſolation, … to take with our Debt, and to betake … ſelves to him, according to the …, lippening for ſalvation on that ground. …. It's theſe who are eſſaying and practiſing themſelves in the duties of holineſſe, wreſtling with a body of death, and exerciſing themſelves to Godlineſſe, that they may warrantably comfort themſelves in Chriſts Interceſſion; as Paul, who, Rom. 7. being put to it in the conflict with his corruption, comforts himſelf thus; I thank God through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord: Though they be ſorly haraſſed with a corrupt nature, yet they may expect an outgate, through vertue of his Interceſſion; Therefore, Revel. 8. Chriſts incenſe (as I have often ſaid) and the Saints Prayers go, and go up, together; Lazineſſe and ſecurity hath not this conſolation, but if a perſon be praying, and be ſerious though weak in it, he hath an Advocat, who, when it comes to he aſked, what ſhall be thought of ſuch an ones Sacrifice? pleads that it may be accepted. 3. It's the perſon that not only is aiming, and minting to do dutie; but is denyed to it, laying no weight on it, diſparing ever to get victory over corruption in his own ſtrength, or to come by the hearing of his prayers through any worth that is in them, and not daring to ſtep forward his alone; but leaving all he does at Chriſts feet, to make it acceptable; which leads to the 4th thing requiſit, (viz.) when perſons, whether their doing and duties be of worth or not; Jeſus Chriſt is made by them the upſhot of all; they lay weight on him to get them done; and to get them accepted when they are done; and without him all would be deſperat in their eſteem; this was typified in the peoples giving the Sacrifices to the Prieſt to be offered, and though it were but two Turtle doves, or two young Pigions, they were brought to the Prieſt, as well as other Sacrifices: But ſuch as conſider not the enimity, and ſinfulneſſe that is in themſelves, and adventure to ſtep into God without him, cannot lay claim to this conſolation; which runs alwayes on this ground: Heb. 7.25. He is able to ſave to the uttermost all that come unto God through him, Seeing he ever lives to make interceſſion for them: Is there not then ground of Conſolation here? and ſuch as there is reaſon to beſtow a preaching upon it, to teach us how to clear our ſelves in it, and make uſe of it, and how to chear our ſelves in it; Ye that ſeclude your ſelves from this Conſolation; O! but ye ſpil and mar a good life to your ſelves; and hazard your own cauſe, that will moſt certainly go againſt you; becauſe ye put it not in the right hand; which the Lord give you wiſdom to amend; and give us all the right uſe of this through Jeſus Chriſt.