j These that believe ari' given to Christ, and
I have a part in his prayer, John xvii. 20., " Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word."
3rf Use. Of exhortation. Branch I. It stirs us up to several duties : 1. If Christ appears for us in heaven, then we must ap- pear for him upon earth ; Christ is not ashamed to carry our names on his breast, and shall we be ashamed of his truth ? Doth he plead our cause, and shall we not stand up in his cause ? What a mighty argument is this to stand up for the honour of Christ in times of apostacy ? Christ is interceding for us : doth he present our names in heaven, and shall not we profess his name on earth ?
Branch 2. If Christ lays out all his in- terest for us at the throne of grace, we must lay out all our interest for him, Phil, i. 20 , " Tiiut Christ may be magnified." Trade your talents for Christ's glory ; there's no man but has some talent to trade, — one parts, another estate. O trade for Christ's glory ! Spend and be spent for him ; let your heart study for Christ, your hands work for Christ, your tongue speak for him ; if Christ be an advocate for us in heaven, we must be factors for him on earth, every one in his sphere must act vi- gorously for Christ.
Branch 3. Believe in this glorious inter- cession of Clu'ist ! That he now intercedes for us, and that for his sake God will ac- cept us : in the text, " Who maketh inter- cession for us." If we believe not, we dis- honour Christ's intercession. If a poor sinner may not go to Christ as his high priest, believing in his intercession, then are we Christians in a worse condition un- der the gospel than the Jews Avere under the law. They, when they had sinned, had their high priest to make atonement : and shall not we have our high priest ? Is not Christ our Aaron, who presents his blood and incense before the mercy-seat ? O look up ly faith to Christ's intercession ! Christ did not only pray for his disciples and apostles, but for the weakest believer.
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OF CHRIST'S KINGLY OFFICE.
Branch 4. Love your intercessor, 1 Cor. xvi. 22., " If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him he Anathema." Kind- ness in^^tes love ; had you a friend at court, who, when you were questioned for delin- quency or debt, should plead with the judge for vou, and bring vou off vour troubles, would you not love that friend ? So it is bere, how oft doth Satan put in his bills against us in the court ? Now Christ is at the Judge's hand, he sits at his Father's right hand ever to plead for us, and to make our peace with God. O how should our hearts be fired with love to Christ ! Love him with a sincere and superlative love, above estate, relations : Bern. Phis- qiiom fua, tuos. And our fire of love should be as fire on. the altar, never to go out, Lev. vi. 13.
4:th Use. Of comfort to believers. Christ is at work for you in heaven, he makes in- tercession for you. O ! but I am afraid Christ does not intercede for me.
Quest, /am a sinner; wko^oth Christ intercede fur ?
Alls. Jsa. lili. 12., " He made intercession for the transgi'essors." Did Christ open his sides for thee, and will he not open his mouth to plead for thee ?
Quest. Bat I hove offended my high priest by distrusting his blood, abusing his love, grieving his Spirit; ajid will he ever pray Jar me /
Ans. "Wliich of us may not say so ? But, Christian, dost thou mourn for unbelief? Be not discovu-aged, thou mayest ha^ve a part in Christ's prayer, Numb, xvi., " Tlie congregation murmured against Aaron ;" yet, though they had sinned against their high priest, v. 48., " Aaron ran in with his censer, and stood between the dead and the liWng." If so much bowels in Aaron who was but a type of Christ, how much more bowels are in Christ who will pray for them who have sinned against their high priest ? Did not he pray for them that crucified him, " Father, forgive them."
Quest. But I am unicorthy ; what am I, that Chri,<it should intercede for me ?
Ans. The work of Christ's intercession is a work of free grace ; Christ's praying for us, is from his pitying of us ; Christ looks not at our worthiness, but our wants.
Quest. But I am folloiced icith sad temp ■ tations ?
Ans. But though Satan tempts, Christ prays, and Satan shall be vanquished; j though thou mayest lose a single battle, yet not the "victory ; Christ prays that thy faith fail not, therefore, Christian, say, " AMiy art thou cast down, O my soul ?" Christ intercedes; it is man that sins, — it is God that prays ; the Greek word for advocate signifies comforter. This is a sovereign comfort, Christ makes interces- sion.
OF CHRIST'S KINGLY OFFICE.
Quest. XXVL HOW doth Christ execute t/ie office of a king ?
Ans. In subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.