Christ Crucified, Sermon 71
SERMON LXXI.
ISAIAH LIII.XII.
Verſ. 12. —And he made interceſſion for the tranſgreſſours.
THe greateſt priviledges that we have by the Goſpel, do often hold forth the greateſt aggravations of our Sin; as being againſt ſo great and excellent priviledges; Now that the Lord hath given us a Mediator; and that this one part of his Mediation, to wit, to make Interceſſion for Tranſgreſſours, or Sinners; is one of the great priviledges of the Goſpel, is beyond all doubt; and therefore, we had need to fear, leaſt by our abuſing, and not improving aright of this priviledge it prove an aggravation of our guilt: And this is the laſt thing that we would ſpeak a word to, from theſe Words; That ſeeing our Lord Jeſus is inveſted with this Office, to be an Interceſſour, then it muſt be a ground of expoſtulation with, and reproof of theſe, who ſhall be found ſlighters of His Interceſſion; For, if it be a Duty to improve his Interceſſion, and if it be a Mercy that we have it, and if many advantages be gotten by it; then it muſt be a grievous Sin, a matter of juſt challenge, and great ſhame, that Sinners ſhould have ſuch an Advocat and Interceſſour provided for them, to take and plead their cauſe ſo freely, and to manage it ſo dexterouſly as He doth; and yet to ſlight Him, and not to put that truſt in Him, as to commit their cauſe to Him.
In proſecuting of this Uſe, we ſhall 1. Shew, that there is ſuch a Sin as not improving of Chriſts Interceſſion, and how it is fallen into. 2. The cauſes of it, or whence it comes, that folks ſo much miſken this part of Chriſts Office. 3. The great inconveniences that follow on it, and the prejudices that are ſuſtained by it. 4. We ſhall hint at ſome ſymptomes and evidences, where this Sin is. And 5. ſpeak a word to the remedies in oppoſition thereunto.
For the Firſt, That there is ſuch a Sin, it may be clear from a few Conſiderations, that may be obvious to every one of us. 1. It may be clear from the effect, what is the cauſe that ſo many come ſo little ſpeed in prayer, that they pray, and yet get not a hearing, ſo that in the day of Judgement, it will be found that many prayed, and that their prayers were caſt back as dung upon their faces, They ſought to enter, and were not able, as it is, Luke 13. And this will be found to be the reaſon of it, that they went to God, but miſken'd, or took not notice of him, who is is the way, the truth, and the life: For where Chriſts Interceſſion is improven, there is an effect following; For God hath laid it down for a ſolid ground, that whoſoever believeth in him ſhall not periſh; and, Whatſoever ye ask in my name, it ſhall be granted: And therefore where there are many Petitions put up to God, and no anſwer at all; There is ſure a crack and default in folks making uſe of Chriſt; For God is faithful, and will perform His promiſe. 2. And more particularly, all the Members of the viſible Church may be reduced to theſe Three Ranks; and we will find a defect as to the uſe-making of Chriſts Interceſſion, in them all, though not of the ſame degree, or rather not of the ſame kind. 1. Either they are profane, and have not ſo much as a form of Religion, and ſuch do ſlight Chriſt, and his Interceſſion altogether, Or 2. They are Hypocrites, that make a faſhion of prayer, but come not to God by Him, but at the ſhort cut proudly ſtep forward, and put up their ſuits upon the account of their own righteouſneſſe; As they ground their Juſtification on it, and not on Chriſts Satisfaction, ſo they put up their prayers to God, on the account of their own righteouſneſſe; and not on the account of Chriſts Interceſſion, Or 3. They are ſuch as have ſomething of God in them, and ſo are Believers, and even in ſuch there is often a great defect, as to this; as Chriſt ſayes to the Diſciples, John 16.24. Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name; He chargeth them not ſimply for not praying, he grants that, but ye have not asked in my name, That is, ye have not made uſe of my Interceſſion, as ye ſhould have done; although there be not ſuch a defect in them as there is in the former two ſorts, yet there is a great ſhort-coming, and not an improving of Chriſts Interceſſion, as they ſhould: And therefore. 3. It will be more clear, if we conſider the particular caſes incident to Believers; wherein we will find, that but very ſcarcely Chriſts Interceſſion is improven in any of them; As, 1. If the Believer hath liberty in prayer, he is ready to ſit down on it, and to conclude that he cannot but be heard, becauſe he hath liberty; and there is not ſo ſingle an eye had to Chriſts Interceſſion; and of…en it's more difficult to hold off this Sin, when liberty is injoyed, then when it is wanting; becauſe, though liberty be good and deſirable in it ſelf, yet through our corruption, and pride it's often abuſed; even as when Chriſtians win to ſome good meaſure of holineſs; it is in ſome reſpect more difficult to reſt upon Chriſts Righteouſneſs, then if that meaſure were not attained; So is it here more difficult, ſome way to reſt upon Chriſts Interceſſion when we have liberty in prayer, then when we are in bonds, and under reſtraint. 2. Upon the other hand, if we look to a Believer when he is ſtraitned and it goes not well with him in prayer; there is then ordinarly a great defect, in making uſe of Chriſts Interceſſion, as if it could not in that caſe avail us, and upon this follows anxiety and fretting; and the Believer is ready to conclude, he will be nothing the better of prayer, and that it is better to pray none then to pray ſo; whereas an eye to Chriſts Interceſſion would give the mind ſome quietneſs. 3. If there be an ill and very neceſſitous caſe; or if there be challenges, and ſome commotion, diſcompoſure and diſquiet be in the ſpirit, there is readily little reſpect had to Chriſt; If quietneſs, and calmneſſe be, there is alſo hazard of ſitting down on that, and we readily forget that we hold it of him; And indeed it will be found difficult, either to have or to want, and in either the one caſe or the other to be making right uſe of his Interceſſion: Now when I ſpeak of this Sin, it not only reproves them that pray none at all, which ſmells of groſſe Atheiſm, but alſo theſe who ſhuffle by Chriſt, and ſtep forward at the neareſt, as if they were not to come to God by him; As it is, Heb. 7.25. and John 14.6.
2. The Cauſes of this Sin, and whence it comes to paſſe, that folks ſo ſlight the uſe-making of Chriſts Interceſſion. 1. There is a great difficulty in the thing, it's tickle. 2. There is an natural averſneſſe from, and enmity at that thing in us, 3. There is a readineſs to pitch on ſome other thing, and to miſken, and over look this; now let all theſe Three be put together; and we will ſee the reaſon and way, how folk ſlide and fall into this fault.
1. I ſay, There is a difficulty in the thing, It being one of the moſt purely ſpiritual, ſublime and denyed things, in all the Goſpel; one of the greateſt exerciſes of Faith, and we know that all ſuch things have to our nature a great difficulty. 1. It's a difficulty to bring a man to be but formal in Religion, 2. There is a difficulty, when he is made formal to make him ſerious even in a legal manner, and to be any thing affected in the exerciſe of Repentance, and of other duties; So that he be not groſly deſſembling. 3. When he is made thus ſerious, it's a difficulty to bring him over that ſeriouſneſs; and to draw him from reſting on theſe duties, which he hath been drawn to; I ſay, it's a great and difficult work to get a man brought to the performance of holy Duties; and as great a work to get him brought over them, and from reſting on them, to reſt on Chriſt's Righteouſneſſe for his Juſtification, and on Chriſts Interceſſion, for the acceptance of his prayers; And therefore when the Lord hath once gotten His Diſciples to pray, and honeſtly yoaked and ingaged therein; He trains them on to pray in His Name, and ſo to get their prayers rightly qualified. 2. If we conſider our nature, we will find that there is an averſneſs, & backwardneſs therein to it; as there is an averſneſſe in us, to all things that tend to the making us deny our ſelves; and lay the weight of every thing on Chriſt; That which thwarts with our pride, ſtands and ſticks at our ſtomacks (to ſpeak ſo) and goes not well down with us; of ſuch nature is this; For our uſe-making of Chriſts Interceſſion implyes, that we of our ſelves are at a diſtance with God, that we have broken Covenant, and are not to be truſted without a Mediator; and there is in our nature, a ſecret ſort of diſdain at this; We cannot naturally indure it; Hence, Rom. 10. It's ſaid of the Jews, that being ignorant of Gods Righteouſneſſe, they did not ſubmit, nor ſtoop to the ſame; but ſought to eſtabliſh their own Righteouſneſſe. 3. There is a readineſſe to pitch, and condeſcend almoſt on any other Sin, rather then on this; And therefore folks may be longer under it, then under many, and yet not be challenged for it; They will readily be challenged for Lying, Swearing, Sabbath-breaking, and the like; but they ſleep more ſecurely in this Sin then in moſt others; It is a Sin eaſily fallen into, and a Sin not eaſily recovered from, or win out of; Becauſe it is a Goſpel-ſin, that the light of nature reacheth not, and that the Conſcience hath not ſuch an aw i… convincing of, It's againſt natures light to neglect prayer, or to take Gods name in vain; but this runs in the Channel of the Goſpel, to pray in the name of Chriſt, and to make all our addreſſes to God through Him? The ſinful neglect whereof cannot be diſcovered, but by Goſpel-light: And we find by experience, that many will be convinced of, and have challenges for out-breaking Sins, who yet wil have no challenges for the neglect of this duty; Even as it is eaſier to convince folks of a breach of the Law then of not believing in Chriſt; many will grant that ignorance of God is a Sin, and that irreverence, and wandering in prayer are Sins, who yet will ſtand and ſtick at this, and cannot be gotten convinced, but that they ſtill believe in Chriſt, and make uſe of his Interceſſion.
For the Third, To wit, the inconveniencies and prejudices of this evil, they are very many; we ſhall only hint at them, for they are dierectly oppoſit to the good that comes by the improving of Chriſts Interceſſion. 1. It makes many prayers to be fruitleſs, and fruſtranious, though folks ſhould weary themſelves in prayer, yet it is all but loſt labour, and the Lord will ſay as it is, Iſaiah 1. Though ye make many prayers, yet I will not hea… them, if Chriſts Interceſſion be neglected; but one word put up in Chriſts name hath a gracicious hearing. 2. It makes many prayers, and other duties alſo to be lifeleſſe; No duty goes with folks, neither can it go with them when Chriſt is ſlighted; Seing it is by Faith in Him, that we have Life derived to us, whereby we are made lively in every thing. 3. It hath much anxiety following on it; To be praying, and to have no expectation, nor ground of expectation of a hearing; For if we look no further than to ſomething in our ſelves, it is but a poor foundation of quietneſſe and peace. 4. It hath this prejudice, that it inures, habituats, and accuſtomes us to a low eſteem of Chriſt, and makes us want many ſweet experiences that we might have of his uſefulneſſe, and worth, and it foſters a diſreſpect to Chriſt; whereas the uſe making of his Interceſſion, keeps alwayes up an eſteem of him, and m…kes the thoughts of him freſh, and it is ever well with the Soul while he is eſteemed of, and it is impoſſible it can be well when he is not in requeſt.
Now, ye may eaſily gather what all this aims at, even that ye may not ſatisfie your ſelves wi…h the form of Dutie; but that ye may look that it be rightly diſcharged, ſo as Chriſt in his Offices, and particularly in His Prieſtly Office, and more particularly in this part of it, be made uſe of: It may be, there are ſome here that have been called Chriſtians theſe 20, 30, or 40. years, But I would inquire at you, what uſe have ye made all the while of Chriſts Interceſſion? The neglect of this is a Sin againſt mercy, a Sin againſt your own Souls, and the cauſe of many other Sins; therefore take it among your reproofes, that not only ye have neglected prayer, lived in ignorance, and taken his name in vain, but that ye have alſo long profeſſed Faith in Chriſt, and yet have not made uſe of Chriſts Interceſſion; This will be amongſt your ſaddeſt challenges when ye come to ſickneſs, and to your death-beds, and ye will have it heavily charged on you, That there hath been great ſlighting, and miskening of Chriſt, even when ye thought what ye were praying to him.
In the 4. place, To clear it yet further, we ſhall 1. Hint at ſome ſymptomes, or evidences of neglecting of Chriſts Interceſſion. 2. At ſome Characters of a Perſon that is making uſe of Chriſts Interceſſion aright. 3. At ſome Directions that may help to the ſuitable performance of this duty, And 4. At ſome Motives, and Incouragements to it.
Firſt, For the Symptomes, or Evidences of miſkening, and ſlighting of Chriſts Interceſſion. 1. This is one, when there is little walking under the impreſſion of the need of His Sacrifice, when folks walk whole-heartedly (to ſpeak ſo) and without due conviction of the diſtance that is betwixt God and them; For Chriſts Interceſſion flows from His Satisfaction, and the improving of His Satisfact on flows from the conviction of our natural diſtance from God; when folks are not ſenſible of their enmity, and of their vileneſs, and ſee not their need of waſhing, when they have a heal heart, few challenges, little exerciſe of repentnce, and of ſelf-loathing, it's a great evidence▪ that there is little or no uſe made of Chriſts Interceſſion. The 2d. Symptome is deep ſecurity, and much ſelf-confidence; where theſe are Chriſts Interceſſion, is little, or not at all made uſe of; When a Soul makes no queſtion of, nor nor hath any doubt about it's own peace, or about it's praying or getting a hearing, This is indeed ſelf-confidence and does flow from the former, to wit, Ignorance of our diſtance from God; which is clear both from experience, and from Scripture; They that make leaſt uſe of Chriſts Interceſſion, and have moſt carnal confidence, have readily feweſt challenges: Thus the Phariſee ſtands, Luke 18. and prayes, ſaying, Lord, I thank thee, &c. The greateſt part of ſuch folks prayers is thanksgiving on carnal grounds, Whereas the poor Publican dare not come near, but when the Phariſee comes boldly forward, He ſtands a far off, and ſayes, Lord be merciful to me a ſinner, Who, (as if he had ſaid) have a reſpect to the Covenant of Grace, and ſo to the improving of Chriſts Interceſſion; It's certainly an ill token, when folks ſit down with confidence to their prayers, and riſe up from them without all fear of being denyed, and ſaid nay. A 3d. Symptome of not making uſe of Chriſts Interceſſion, is, when folk have too much anxiety, which is a fault that a Believer may eaſily fall in, when he hath no ground from himſelf to propoſe to God for a hearing and when he cannot anſwer his own challenges, and is therefore diſcouraged; which ſayes, that he lippens not much to Chriſt, and to His Interceſſion. A 4th Symptome is, When duties of worſhip become burdenſome, when it wearieth folk to pray, to ſanctifie the Lords Day, &c. when theſe are faſhions, and cumburſome to them; The reaſon wherof is, becauſe they take the burden wholly, or moſtly on themſelves, and lay it not over on Chriſt; Whereas, were he rightly made uſe of, it would be found to be a truth, That His yoke is eaſie, and his burden light, as himſelf ſaith, Matth. 11.30. A 5th Symptome is, When folks are not thankful for any mercy they receive, and are not wondring how it comes that they get ſuch mercies as they have; when they think little of their dayly bread, of Ordinances, of acceſs to Pray &c. Souls that are improving Chriſts Interceſſion think much of any mercy, becauſe the leaſt mercy is quite without the reach of the merit of ought they can do, and muſt come to them by the Mediation of another; Thus every mercy becomes a double mercy, as it is conſidered in it ſelf, and as it comes to them by vertue of Chriſts Interceſſion, therefore the Believer Improving Chriſts Interceſſion, wonders at every thing he meets with from God; that he is admitted to pray, or to praiſe, for he knows, that it's from free-grace thus admitting Sinners through, and by a Mediator.
As to the 2d, To wit, The Characters, or evidences of a perſons making uſe of Chriſts Interceſſion, The 1. may be this, A conſtant uſe-making of Chriſts Satisfaction; when the Soul is never quiet, but when it hath a reſpect to that, And this uſe-making of Chriſts Satisfaction, hath in it, always either more implicity or more expresly an uſe-making of his Interceſſion and leaves the weight of duties and mercies upon Him; Hence a Soul will be under through conviction of it's enmity; and very much edged and eager in it's deſires after peace, and will have expectation of obtaining it through Him. A 2d. Evidence is, When folk in their approaches to God, have Faith and Fear going together; Anxiety and Fear without Faith are not good, and Self-confidence without Fear is as ill; But when Faith and Fear go together, it's good; Fear ariſing from the impreſſion of our own unworthineſſe, and diſcovered diſtance; and Faith from the diſcovery of Chriſts fullneſſe, keeping the mind quiet, looking over it's own unworthineſs, to His worthineſs, like to that ſpoken of Noah, Heb. 11. By faith, Noah moved with fear, prepared an ark; Preſumption will not hold up with Fear, and therefore, when the Hypocrite is ſtaggered, he turns anxious, becauſe the ground that he leans to is ſhaken; neither is that which is ſuppoſed to be Faith, good without Fear, for it turns to ſecurity, but Fear is good, having confidence mixed with it, for it ſayes, that there is a lippening to ſomewhat elſe then any thing in the Soul it ſelf. 3. They that make uſe aright of Chriſts Interceſſion, betake themſelves to it, when in a manner they have given over, and been formerly hopeleſs, like theſe ſpoken of, Pſal. 107. Then they cry in their diſtreſs, &c. Many have a confidence, becauſe they were never brangled nor ſhaken, and have win to quietneſſe this way, even as it is in the matter of making peace with God, many will profeſs that they alwayes had it, even from their youth up, they never doubted of it, which ſpeaks it's unſoundneſs; but it is a ſolid evidence of Faith, when the Soul hath once been brangled and ſhaken, and this gives it confidence, that Chriſt hath Satisfied, and makes Interceſſion, and they betake themſelves to that. 4. Where Chriſts Interceſſion is improven and made uſe of, it will be ground of rejoycing, and comfort to think on it, when Souls themſelves can do little: being bound up, and under bonds, yet they cheer themſelves, and bleſs God, that they know they have an Advocat; I apprehend there are many to whom it was never refreſhful, nor matter of gladneſs, that He is an Advocat, or that He ſtands in ſuch a relation to plead for Sinners, ſurely ſuch have not made uſe of Him. A 5th Evidence is this, When any thing is attained, the improving of Chriſts Interceſſion makes thankful and humble; If the Soul have liberty, it is not puffed up with it, becauſe it conſiders that it's a mercy come through Chriſts Interceſſion, it hath received it, and therefore ſhould not boaſt; it's not of it's own procurement, but it's obliged to Free-grace for it. 6. The Soul that is improving Chriſts Interceſſion, when it obtains not, it gives not over, but continues adhereing, and waiting for attaining of that which it is ſeeking; the cauſe of ſuch a Perſon is never quit deſperat; if it be a thing conditional it's ſubmisſive, if it be ſimply neceſſary, it's dependent, and will not quit, nor give over, becauſe, though it obtain not to day, it knows it's poſſible to attain it, and that it will in due time be attained; it layes not the weight of it's obtaining on its own prayers, but on Chriſts Purchaſe and Interceſſion; And though the Believer may be ſometimes aſſaulted, and ſet upon to quit his ſuit, and then his Faith is brangled, yet he leaves it not ſo. 7. It is a difficulty to the Believer, to g…t Chriſts Interceſſion rightly depended on, and made uſe of when he prayes, this is as great a difficultie to him, as to get words, and greater; As it is one piece of his exerciſe in prayer to get words, affection, and reverence; ſo it is another piece of his exerciſe, to get his prayer accepted through Chriſts Interceſſion; it is here as in Juſtification, it is one part of his exerciſe to do Duty, and another part of his exerciſe to be denyed to it, and made to betake himſelf to Chriſts Righteouſneſſe allanatly for his acceptation; but other Perſons that make not uſe of Chriſts Interceſſion, if they get words, and any bit of tenderneſſe, they think all is well enough; But it is a Believers exerciſe to ſee that his mind miſcarry not in the uſe-making of Chriſt. 8. Souls that are improving Chriſts Interceſſion, their confidence is not up or down according to their liberty, Words or Reaſons, they win to make uſe of in prayer, but they are up or down according as they win to get the thing they ſeek committed to Chriſt; Hence a word, or look will ſometimes quiet the Soul, when at another time many hours prayer will not do it; For this is ſure, ſo long as the thing reſts on our ſelves, the Soul get… never a kindly lair, and that which puts it off our ſelves over on Chriſt, is the exerciſe of Faith, and nor Liberty, nor the multitude of Words; At another time a Believer wi…l riſe from prayer, and not ſeriouſly look whether Chriſt have been depended on, or not, but is quiet, becauſe he hath prayed; Whereas, when Chriſts Interceſſion is improven, he is quiet on that ground, that it is God that is prayed to; through Chriſt; it's that which gives him ground of confidence to expect a hearing, and on that his Soul reſts when he hath done praying: And therefore we would commend this to you, in place of many queſtions that might be moved on what ye have heard, Even to carry a diſtinct anſwer in your boſome to theſe Two, whether when ye are going to pray, or when ye have done with prayer, 1. To whom are ye to pray, or have ye been prayIng? That it's the great God, that one God, the maker of all things, who ought alone to be worſhipped, that being properly, and formally the Object of your worſhip, and particularly of this your prayer. 2. Upon what ground do ye hazard to put up a ſuit to this great God, and what is it that gives you confidence to expect an anſwer? It's that, not for any righteouſneſs or worth in your ſelves, or in your prayers, but for Jeſus Chriſt, for His Satisfaction, and Interceſſions ſake; When ye can give a diſtinct anſwer from the Conſcience in reference to theſe Two, though there be not ſuch diſtinctneſſe in other things, to wit, That it is God ye pray to, and that ye expect a hearing on Chriſts account, it's right.
For the Third thing, What is it that will help us to make uſe of Chriſts Interceſſion? First, conſider that it's our duty; Souls often minde not, that God hath not ſimply bidden them pray, but commanded them to pray in the name of Chriſt; He hath nor bidden us ſimply approach to him, but to approach to Him, in and by Chriſt; This would be remembred, elſe we forget the half of our duty, to wit, the manner how we ſhould come to God, which is a main, if not the main part of it. 2. We would remember and think upon our condition by nature, that upon the one ſide, God is a conſuming fire, and we on the other, like dry ſtubble; and that there is no approaching to Him without a Mediator; There were the leſs hazard of going wrong, if folk were walking under the ſuitable impreſſion of their ſinfulneſs and miſery by nature; the want whereof makes too much forwardneſſe, in ſteping into God without Chriſt; Therefore we commend to you all, and eſpecially when ye go to prayer, to endeavour, to be under deep impreſſions of your own ſinfulneſs and baſeneſs; As we ſee it was with Abraham, Gen. 18. Behold now I have taken on me to ſpeak to the Lord, who am but dust and aſhes. 3. Mind the promiſe of Gods hearing you through Chriſt, and His promiſe of leading you in all neceſſary truth, and ſo to perform duty in this manner; Minde I ſay, 1. The promiſe of hearing, that it's not a promiſe to hear us ſimply in what we pray for, but in wh…t we pray for with other requiſit qualifications of prayer, and with this in particular, That it be in Chriſts Name; Hence is Asking in his name, ſo often mentioned, John 14. v. 13, 14, and 16. v. 23, 24, 26. To mind that there is a promiſe of hearing, draws a Soul to pray to God, and to minde that the promiſe is made to praying thus qualified, to wit, that it be in Chriſ…s Name; binds the Soul to this way, becauſe otherwiſe it forfaults the Promiſe, if it obſerve not the due qualification; I fear there are too many, who look on the Promiſe as abſolute; It's true. Though there are abſolute Promiſes in the Covenant, yet there are other Promiſes that have qualifications and conditions, whereof this anent hearing of prayer is one, and we are to expect the performance of the Promiſe, when we ſeek after the qualification and condition. 2. M…ne Chriſts Promiſe whereby he hath ingaged, as to lead us in all neceſſary truth, ſo in this part of it, to put up our prayers in His N…me, John 16.24. In that day ye ſhall a…k in my name; To conſider aright of this promiſe, gives ſome ground of confide…ce to win at the performance of it, an… holds the Soul in dependence on him, and makes it to be quiet in the duty of improving Chriſts Interceſſion; and indeed this is a main part of Religion: Learn therefore to put theſe things together, Firſt, think it a mercy that ye have a warrand and acceſs to pray, 2. That ye have a promiſe to be heard. 3. That ye have a Mediator to interceed for you. 4. That a promiſe is given you to learn how to make uſe of Him, and that though the uſe-making of His Interceſſion aright be difficult, and many do miſken and miſtake it, yet that by the eying of the Promiſe, ye may win to the right uſe-making of it; ye would by any means eye the Promiſe, that ye be not miſtaken; It may be there is a look now and then to liberty, and it is good in it ſelf, but there may be a defect here; That ye look not to Chriſt to be helped to pray with liberty, and to be guided to pray in His Name, ſo as to lay the weight of your being heard on Chriſts interceſſion.
4ly. When there hath been an eying of the Promiſe, not only for the thing we ſeek, but alſo to be guided in the ſeeking of it; ye would be often taking a review of your ſelves in, and after prayer, whether ye be indeed praying, and have prayed in Chriſts Name, that when the Soul looks back, and ſees it hath much miſkenned and neglected Chriſt, it may take it ſelf in this evil, and disclaim it, and ſettle it ſelf on a right ground; In a word, there would be looking well on the one ſide, that Jeſus Chriſt be the ground we build on, and on the other ſide, that when we eye Chriſt, and build on him, we be not afraid to hazard on Him; For into one of theſe extreams we readily run, either to lippen and lean to ſome other thing then Chriſt, or, if we ſee no other thing to lean and lippen to, and be neceſſitate to eye Him, we diſtruſt Him, and are loath to hazard on Him.
5ly, And laſtly, if we conſider well, we will ſee good ground, 1. To preſs, 2. To incourage us to, this way, not to be doing duty only, as men under the Law, but as Chriſtian men under the Goſpel, with reſpect to Chriſts Satisfaction and Interceſſion; And, First, For preſſing it, conſider, that there is a neceſſity of it in reference to as many prayers as are accepted of God; If it be neceſſary to get a hearing, fit's neceſſary to pray in Chriſts Name; It a may be many think it to be but an indifferent thing that we have been preſſing ll the while that we have been ſpeaking of Chriſts Interceſſion; but indeed it's of more moment then our preſſing you to any external duty; for the external duty of prayer, though it muſt needs be gon about, is yet but the carcaſe, this is the Soul and Life of Prayer; And therefore let me exhort and obteſt you, never to ſa…i…fie your ſelves with a legal performance of the moſt ſpiritual duties in themſelves, except ye win to a Chriſtian way of perfo…ming them, that is, That they be done in Chriſts ſtrength, and that ye reſt on Him, for the acceptance of them; It's as neceſſary to worſhip God in and by a Mediator, as it is to worſhip the only true God, and not to worſhip a falſe, or ſtrange God. I make no queſtion, but moſt part of the hearers of the Goſpel, do deſtroy themſelves here, by reſting on their legal performances, and not making uſe of Chriſt 2. For your incouragement, conſider that it is moſt advantagious and profitable; Theſe words in the Promiſe are broad and full, Whatſoever ye ask in my name, I will do it, And the Promiſe is frequently repeated in theſe forecited Chapters of John; O! what calmneſs, tranquility, peace, victory over anxiety, what patience in waiting, whether, when in bonds or in liberty, do flow from the exerciſing of Faith on this ground, to wit, That we have an Advocat in Heaven with the Father; further conſider the great ground of confidence that he hath given us, that we ſhall come ſpeed in this way, which ſhould ſtir us up, hearten and incourage us to it, which wil manifeſtly appear, if we joyn theſe Two together. 1. That this bleſſed Advocat is our Brother, that He was made like unto us in all things except ſin; that He is a fellow-feeling high Prieſt, that is touched with our infirmities, that He refuſeth to grant no ſuits of His People that are for His glory, and their good, that He ſaves all to the uttermoſt, that come unto God by Him; none could ever ſay that He refuſed to take their Cauſe in hand, when they indeed committed it to Him. 2. That when a Cauſe is committed to Him, it cannot but carry, and be ſuccesful, for as He is Man, ſo He is God, and He is heard alwayes; Thi… bleſſed Mediator (as I ſaid juſt now) refuſeth the ſuit of none, and no ſuit is refuſed Him: And now, what can we ſay more to you, for your up-ſtirring and incouragement to make uſe of Him? It is no ſtranger we have to go to, and there is good ground of confidence, that when we go, we ſhall come ſpeed; Therefore let Him ever be gone unto more and more; and bleſſe God heartily, that He hath given ſuch an high Prieſt unto Sinners, Who is able to ſave to the uttermoſt, all that come unto God through him: Now to this God, who can effectually teach us to make uſe of the Mediator every way, and particulary in His Interceſſion, ſuitably and ſuccesfully, And who is able to do exceeding abotnaantly above all we ask, or think, according to the power that worketh in us, be glory in the Church by Chriſt Jeſus throughout all ages, world without end, Amen.
FINIS.