Thirdly, He pleads the cause of believers by his blood ; it satis- fies him not, as other advocates, to be at the expence of words and oratory, which is a cheaper way of pleading ; but he pleads for us by the voice of his own blood, Heb. xii. 24. where we are said to be come " to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things " than that of Abel :" Every wound he received for us on earth, is a mouth opened to plead with God on our behalf in heaven ; Quot vulnera, tot ora. And hence it is, that in Rev. v. 6. he is re- presented standing before God, as a lamb that had been slain ; as it were, exhibiting and opening in heaven those deadly wounds re-
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ceived on earth, from the justice of God, on our account. Other advocates spend their breath, Christ his blood.
Fourthly, He pleads the cause of believers freely. Other advo- cates plead for reward, and exhaust the purses, while they plead the causes of their clients.
Fifthly, In a word, he obtaineth for us all the mercies for which he pleads ; no cause miscarries in hi.s hand, which he undertakes, Rom. viii. 33, 34. O what a lovely Advocate is Christ for be- lievers !
Fourthly, Christ is altogether lovely in the relation of a friend, for in this relation he is pleased to own his people, Luke xii. 4, 5. There are certain things in which one friend manifests his affection and friendship to another, but none like Christ. For,
First, No friend is so open-hearted to his friend as Christ is to his people : he reveals the very counsels and secrets of his heart to them. John xv. 15. " Henceforth I call you not servants, for the servant " knoweth not what his Lord doth ; but I have called you friends ; " for all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made " known unto you."
Secondly, No friend in the world is so generous and bountiful to his friend, as Jesus Christ is to believers ; John xv. 13. he parts with his very blood for them ; " Greater love (saith he) hath no " man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." He hath exhausted the precious treasures of his invaluable blood to pay our debts. O what a lovely friend is Jesus Christ to be- lievers !
Thirdly, No friend sympathizes so tenderly with his friend in af- fliction, as Jesus Christ doth with his friends : " In all our afflic- " tions he is afflicted," Heb. iv. 15. He feels all our sorrows, wants and burdens as his own. Whence it is that the sufferings of believers are called the sufferings of Christ, Col. i. 24.
Fourthly, No friend in the world takes that complacency in his friend, as Jesus Christ doth in believers. Cant. iv. 9. " Thou " hast ravished my heart, (saith he to the spouse) thou hast ravish- " ed my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.1' The Hebrew, here rendered ravished, signifies to puff up, or to make one proud : how is the Lord Jesus pleased to glory in his people ! how is he taken and delighted with those gracious orna- ments which himself bestows upon them ! No friend so lovely as Christ.
Fifthly, No friend in the world loves his friend with so fervent and strong affection as Jesus Christ loves believers. Jacob loved Rachel, and endured for her sake the parching heat of summer and cold of winter ; but Christ endured the storms of the wrath of God, the heat of his indignation, for our sakes. David manifested
SERM. XII. THE METHOD OF GRACE. OO3
his love to Absalom, in wishing, " O that I had died for thee !" Christ manifested his love to us, not in wishes that he had died, but in death itself, in our stead, and for our sakes.
Sixthly, No friend in the world is so constant and unchangeable in friendship as Christ is, John xiii. 1. " Having loved his own " which were in the world, he loved them unto the end." He bears with millions of provocations and injuries, and yet will not break friendship with his people. Peter denied him, yet he will not disown him ; but after his resurrection he saith, " Go, tell the " disciples, and tell Peter," q. d. Let him not think he hath for- feited, by that sin of his, his interest in me ; though he have de- nied me, I will not disown him, Mark xvi. 7. O how lovely is Christ in the relation of a friend ! I might farther shew you the loveliness of Christ in his ordinances and in his providences, in his communion with us and communications to us, but there is no end of the account of Christ's loveliness : I will rather chuse to press believers to their duties towards this altogether lovely Christ, which I shall briefly dispatch in a few words.
Use. First, Is Jesus Christ altogether lovely, then I beseech you set your souls upon this lovely Jesus. Methinks such an object as hath been here represented, should compel love from the coldest breast and hardest heart. Away with those empty nothings, away with this vain deceitful world, which deserves not the thousandth part of the love you give it ; let all stand aside and give way to Christ. O did you but know his worth and excellency, what he is in himself, what he hath done for, and deserved from you, you would need no arguments of mine to persuade you to love him.
Secondly, Esteem nothing lovely but as it is enjoyed in Christ, or improved for Christ. Affect nothing for itself, love nothing sepa- rate from Jesus Christ. In two things we all sin in love of creatures, viz. in the excess of our affections, loving them above the rate and value of creatures ; and in the inordinary of out affections, i. e. in loving them out of their proper places.
Thirdly, Let us all be humbled for the baseness of our hearts, that are so free of their affections to vanities and trifles, and so hard to be persuaded to the love of Christ, who is altogether lovely. O how many pour out streams of love and delight upon the vain and empty creature ; whilst no arguments can draw forth one drop of love from their obdurate and unbelieving hearts to Jesus Christ ! I have read of one Joannes Mollius, who was observed to go often alone, and weep bitterly ; and being pressed by a friend to know the cause of his troubles ; O ! said he, it grieves me that I cannot bring this heart of mine to love Jesus Christ more fervent 1} \
Fourthly, Represent Christ, as he is, to the world, by your car-
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