heaven, as he had for what he suffered on earth : he that ordained him a priest to die for sinners, did not then strip him of his priestly garments, as Aaron, hut appoints him to ascend in them to heaven, where he sits a priest for ever by God's oath. And this office of intercession was erected purely in mercy to be- lievers, that they might have fidl content given them for the performance of all that God hath promised ; so that Jesus Christ attends at court as our ambassador, to see all earned fairly between God and us according to agreement : and if Christ follows his business close, and be faithful in his place to believers, all is well : and doth it not behove him to be so, who intercedes for such dear relations? Suppose a king's son should get out of a besieged city, where he had left his wife and children, whom he loves as his own soul, and these all ready. to die by sword or famine, if supply come not the sooner; could this prince, when arrived at his father's house, please himself with the delights of the court, and forget the distress of his family ? Or rather, would he not come post to his father, having their cries and groans always in his ears, and before he eat or diink, do his errand to his father, and entreat him, if ever he loved him, that he would send all the force of his kingdom to raise the siege, rather than any of his dear relations should perish ? Surely, sirs, though Christ be in the top of his preferment, and out of the storm in regard of his own person, yet his children left behind in the midst of sin, Satan, and the world's batteries, are in his heart, and shall not be forgotten a moment by him. The care he takes in our business, appeared in the speedy despatch he made of his Spirit to his apostles' supply, when he ascended, which as soon almost as he was warm in his seat, at his Father's right hand, he sent, to the incomparable comfort of his apostles and us, that to this day, yea, to the end of the world do, or shall believe on him.
Section II. — The second branch of the point follows : that saints should eye this power of God as engaged for them; and press it home upon their souls, till they silence all doubts and fears about the matter ; which is the importance of this exhortation : ' Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.' Fortify and entrench your soids within the breast-work of this attribute of God's mighty power, made over to you by God himself.
First, It is the end as of all promises to be security to our faith ; so of those in particulai-, where his almighty power is expressly engaged, that we may count this attribute our portion, and reap the comfort it yields as freely as one may the crop of his own field. ' Walk before me,' saith God to Abraham, ' I am God Almighty;' set on this as thy portion, and live upon it; the apostle, Heb. xiii. 6, teacheth us what use to make of promises; ver. 5, ' I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,' — there is the promise ; and the inference, which he teacheth us to draw by faith from this, follows, ver. 6, ' So we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper.' We, that is, every believer, may boldly say, that is, we may conclude God will help ; not sneakingly, timorously, perhaps he will ; Isut we may boldly assert it in the face of men and devils, because He that is almighty hath said it. Now for a Christian not to strengthen his faith on this incomparably sweet attri- bute, but to sit down with a few weak unsettled hopes, wlien he may, yea, ought to be strong in tlie faith of such promises ; what is it but to undervalue the blessing of such promises? As if one shoidd promise anotlier house and land, and bid him make them as sure to himself as the law can bind, and he should take no care to effect this ; would it not be interpreted as a sligliting of his friend's kindness? Is it a small matter that God passeth over his almighty power by promise to us, and bids us make it as sure to ourselves as we can by faith, and we neglect this, leaving the writings of the promises unsealed on our hearts ?
Secondly, Our obedience and comfort are strong or weak, as oiu" faith is on this principle.
First, Our obedience, that being a child of faith, partakes of its parent's strength or weakness. Abraham being strong in faith, what an heroic act of obedience did he perform in offering up his son ? His faith being well set on the power of God, he carries that without staggering, which woidd have laid a weak faith on the grouTid. No act of faith more strengthens for duty than that which eyes God's almighty power engaged for its assistance. ' Go in this thy might,' said God to Gideon, ' have not I called thee?' as if he had said, Can I
2g AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.