[2.] He doth interpose his love, will, and desire for our salvation, and all grace that is necessary thereunto, in all our difficulties, conflicts, and temptations. To intercede is the part of an inferior towards a superior ; thus is Christ as mediator to God : John xiv. 16, 'I will pray the Father.' He is to ask his own glory, Ps. ii. 8 ; therefore what grace is necessary for us. It is a comfort Christ doth not forget us now in heaven, as Pharaoh's butler forgot Joseph, Gen. xl. 23 ; but it is much more a comfort that he will take notice of our particular case, that he knoweth us by name, and our necessities and wants, and doth particu- larly intercede for us. Nay, he is mindful of us when we are not mindful of ourselves, for his intercession doth make way for the efi'ec- tual application of his grace to us when we think not of it. He obtaineth first the convincing, then sanctifying, then comforting Spirit.
[3.] To prevent breaches : 1 John ii. 1, ' We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.' An advocate, so he is opposite to our accuser. And Heb. ii. 17, ' He is a merciful and faith- ful high priest in things appertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.' Merciful to undertake, faithful to accom- plish ; merciful to us, faithful to God ; merciful in dying, faithful in interceding, and so mindful of us at every turn. Surely it is the office of a saviour to be God's instrument in procuring our discharge ; if we ourselves should only plead for pardon, having carried ourselves so unworthy of it, it would be uncomfortable to us ; but he that hath redeemed us pleadeth for us ; we do not go to God alone.
[4.] He presents our prayers, which are made acceptable to God, not as coming from us, but as perfumed with his merits : Heb. viii. 2, and Eev. viii. 3, ' And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer, and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of the saints.' He hath intendered his own heart by suffering hunger, contempt in the world, exile, weari- ness, pain of body, heaviness of mind : Heb. iv. 14-16, ' Seeing then, that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus
374 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. XLV.
the Son of God, let iis hold fast onr profession ; for we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us there- fore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in a time of need.' Therefore come boldly for such mercies as we stand in need of. He knoweth the heart of a tempted man.
Use. You see then, wliat abundant cause we have to triumph and glory in Christ. You have his humiliation as the ground of your com- fort ; his exaltation, which qualifieth him to apply it to you, and work it in you ; the merit and power. If he had not wrought our deliver- ance, long might we have borne the wrath we deserved, and had no means to help ourselves. If he should not make continual intercession for you, the remnant of your sin would still bring damnation ; if he did not hide your nakedness, and procure your daily pardon, you would every day be your own destroyers ; nay, you would not be an hour longer out of hell ; if he did not bring you to God, you could have no comfortable access to him in any of your wants and necessities ; if he leave you to yourselves to resist one temptation, even to the foulest sins, how quickly would you be borne down, and wallow like a swine in the mire ! We can, with Jonah, easily raise the storm, but we know not how to allay it. All, from first to last, must be given and ascribed to God in Christ.
SERMON XLV.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sivordf — EoM. viii. 35.
The triumph over the evil of sin being ended, the apostle beginneth his triumph over afflictions. Here observe —
1. The challenge — Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
2. The evils enumerated^/S'/ia/^ tribulation, or distress, or persecu- tion, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
1. The challenge, -rk for ti ; — who for what. The things men- tioned are spoken of as a person ; but the chief difficulty is about the meaning of that clause, ' the love of Christ' — Whether it be meant of our love to Christ, or Christ's love to us. Reasons may be given on both sides. (1.) That it is meant of our love to Christ ; for tribulation is not like to alienate Christ from us, but us from Christ. This doth rather tend to draw us from loving God, than God from loving us. (2.) That it is meant of Christ's love to us, because it is very unlikely that the apostle wotild boast of the constancy, of his own love ; it is more comely to triumph in God's love to us than our love to God. What shall we then determine in the case? I answer. It is meant of both, Christ's love to us, and our love to Christ, but principally of the love of God in Christ to' us. First, The object — 'us;' it is we are in danger