3. He undertaketh for us, and promiseth obedience to God the Father in our behalf ; therefore he is said to be our surety, Heb. vii. 22. He promiseth that we shall subscribe to the conditions of God, and pass over into the power of the covenant.
4. He pvayeth and intercedeth, and maketh his request for us, as being sensible of our infirmities, as the high priest was to bless the people, that is, to pray for them. Therefore it is said, 1 John ii. 2, ' We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.' There Christ is dealing with God for us. When he was here upon earth, he was a-praying whole nights, and there he is praying whole ages : Jer. xxx. 21, ' Their governor shall proceed from the midst of
494 A PRACTICAL EXPOSITION, ETC. [ISA. LIII. 12.
them, and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me : who is this that engageth his heart to apjiroach unto me ? saith the Lord.' His heart is engaged, even all his bowels and pities, to draw near to God, and plead with him for your sakes. These are the acts of Christ's intercession in heaven.
2. In the hearts of his people ; and there the acts of Christ coming between us and wrath are these two : —
[1.] He applietli his merit: the application is by virtue of his inter- cession. The scriptures everywhere put a great deal of weight upon this, Rom. v. 10. Therefore it is said, ' Much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.' He beginneth to save us here by his Spirit, sanctifying all inward and outward means for the bringing of us to the full participation of all the benefits he hath purchased for us ; but the actual application is afterwards.
[2.] He prays in us. The Spirit's interceding in our hearts is but the answer and echo of Christ's intercession in heaven : Rom. viii. 26, ' The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities ; for we know not what to pray for as we ought ; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.' The workings of Christ's Spirit in prayer show how Christ's heart is affected towards you in heaven.
Use. Is comfort. Think of Christ as a Mediator and Intercessor, for whose sake we shall be accepted with God. To open this comfort, consider for whom he prayeth, not only for present believers, but for all them that shall believe hereafter. For what ? All mercies, the public glorifying of God's name : John xii. 30, ' This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.' Private acceptance in duties, efficacy of ordinances, doing away guilt in holy services. Exod. xxviii. 88, the high priest was to bear the iniquity of their holy things. Here is comfort in Christ's success in prayer : the Father always heareth him, John xi. 42. In the person praying, the Son of his love, a Son that hath made satisfaction ; he can bring blood with him. It is a great privilege for us to pray to God, but it is a much greater to have God praying for us.
THE END OF VOL. III.
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