Branch 2. See whence it is that the pray- ers of the saints are so powerful with (lod. Jacob, as an angel, prevailed with God ; Moses' prayer tied God's hands ; Prtcibus suis tanquam vinquam vi?icu/is ligotnm tenvit Deiim ; " Let me alone," Exod. xxxii. 10. Whence is this ? It is Clirist's prayer in heaven makes the saints' prayers so availa- ble. Christ's divine nature is the altar <»n wliich he offers up our prayers, and so tlioy
prevail ; prayer, as it comes from the saints, is but weak and languid ; but when the ar- row of a saint's prayer is put into the bow of Christ's intercession, now it pierceth the throne of grace.
Branch 3. It shows where a Christian must chiefly fix his eye when he comes to prayer, viz. on Christ's intercession. We are to look up to the mercy-scat, but to hope for mercy through Christ's interces- sion. We read. Lev. vi., that Aaron made the atonement as well by the incense, as by the blood: we must look to the cloud of incense, viz. the intercession of Christ. Christian, look uj) to thy advocate, one that God can deny nothing to ; a word from Christ's mouth is more than if all the an- gels in lieaA'cn Avere interceding for thee. If a man had a suit dc])ciiding in the court of chancery, and had a skilful lawyer to plead, this would much encourage him. Christ is now at the court appearing for us, Heb. ix. 24., and he hath great potency in hea- ven ; this should much encourage us to look up to him, and hope for audience in prayer. We might indeed be afraid to present our petitions, if we had not Christ to deliver them.
Branch 4. The sad condition of an un- believer : he hath none in heaven to speak a word for him, John xvii. 9., " I pray not for the world ;" as good be shut out of heaven as be shut out of Christ's prayer. Christ pleads for the saints, as queen Es- ther did for the Jews, when they should have been destroyed : " Let my ])eoj)le be given me at my request," Esth. vii. 3. When the devil shows the blackness of their sins, Christ shows the redness of his wounds. But how sad is the condition of that man Christ will not j)ray for, nay, that he Avill })ray against ? As queen Esther petitioned against Ilaman, and then his face was covered, Esth. vii. 6., and he was led away to execution. It is sad when the law shall he against the sinner, and con- science, and judge, and no friend to speak a word for him ; there is no way then, but, jailor, take the ])risoner.
Branch 5. If Christ makes intercession, then we liave nothing to do with other in- tercessors. The church of Bome distin- guisheth between mediators of redemption
OF CHRIST'S INTEIICESSION.
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and intercession, and say, tlic angels do not redeem us, but intercede for us, and praiy to them ; but Christ only can inter- cede for us ex officio. God hath consecrat- ed him an high priest, Heb. v. 6., " Thou art a priest for ever." Christ intercedes vi pretii, — in the virtue of his blood ; he pleads his merits to his Father ; the angels liave no merits to bring to God, therefore can be no intercessors for us ; whoever is our advocate must be our propitiation to paci- fy God, 1 John ii. 1., " We have an advo- cate with the Father, v. 2. And he is our propitiation." The angels cannot be our propitiation, therefore not our advocates.
2d Use. Of trial. How shall we know that Christ intercedes for us ? They have little ground to think Christ prays for them, who never pray for themselves : well, but how shall we know ?
yins. 1. If Christ be praying for us, then his Spirit is praying in us. Gal. iv. 6., " He hath sent forth his Spirit into your heart, crying, Abba, Father ;'' and Rom. viii. 26. the Sj)irit helps us with sighs and groans ; not only with gifts but groans. We need not climb up into the firmament to see if the sun be there, we may see the beauty of it upon the earth ; so we need not go up into heaven to see if Christ be there inter- ceding for us, let us look into our hearts, if they are quickened and inflamed in prayer, and we can cry, Abba, Father. By this interceding of the Spirit within us, we may know Christ is interceding above for us.
A. 2. If we are given to Christ, then he intercedes for us, John xvii. 9., " I pray for them whom thou hast given me ;" 'tis one thing for Christ to be given to us, ano- ther for us to be given to Christ.
Quest. How know you that ?
Alls. If thou art a believer, then thou ai't one given to Christ, and he prays for thee ; faith is an act of recumbency, we do rest on Christ as the stones in the building rest upon the corner-stone. Faith tlirows itself into Christ's arms; it saith, " Christ is my priest, — his blood is my sacrifice, — his divine nature is my altar, and here I rest." This faith is seen by its effects ; it is a refining work, and a resigning work. It purifies the heart, there is the refining
J work ; it makes a deed of gift to Christ, it gives up its use, its love to him, 1 Cor. vi
I 19., there is the resigning work of faith.