w This Duty of Perſeverance in the Chriſtian Religion, is infor- ced by the Conſideration of the Sympathy of this High-Prieft. with the States of all who will enter into God's Reſt by him, {1 is worthy. that we ſhould hold it faſt, being without Tmpotcney, it 1s impoſſible he ſhould be pityleſs to penitent Sinners, thouzh he be glorious, there beins nothing in himſelf, or out of himſelf indiſ- poſing him to if, Zounrz3i-ze imports ſuch a Sympathy-or fellow- feeling, as makes him like affeted as if he were in the ſame cafe with them. He cannot but be compaſſionate, fince inward]v afett- ed and moved with the Sufferings of his, 4s 9. 5. comp. Ja. 63. 9. As God, he 1s infinitely merciful ; as Mano, inwardly feel- ing them, even all the Miſeries they were Iyable to, but ſinful oncs. He wants no Bowels, but he hath as a fellow-feeling, fo a fellow- orieving, and fellow-caring for the redreſs of them, even al! ſuch as are fit for his Pity; and works on AffetGtions, a fence of Gui'r, Fears, Doubts, Tremblings, Weak-workinzs to God, the Concen;i- tint Infirmities of finful Souls ; all the Weaknefics of Grace in us, all Troubles, Diſtrefſes, Anguithes in the Fleſh, the Fruits of Sin. He knows theſe ſenſibly as Man, which as God (ingly he could nor. Theſe ſinful Weakneſſes of Scul inclining to Sin, and &iſchlins from reſiſting Temptations, by which the ſubtle powerful Fncmv of our
3 4nd
Tr = V2
* Chap. 2. 18, {Luke 22,
2. |, 2 Cor. 21
+4
others for their god, to ſeek either temporal or ſpiritual good, a5 ; the Office 15, compare chap. 8. 3. By this Ordination is Power ng
veyed to this Officer, and an Obligation laid on him by a Charge tg excrt it about things wherein Men are concerned with God: He is > tell.
Chap. V:
and ſo need this Sympathy of His to us-watd ;, ſee chap. 5. 2, 1 Cor- 2. 3. 2 Cor, 11. 23. fo- gl. and 12.549, 40. Xx But mage) was pierced and tried by all forts ot Sufferings, being outwardly
tempted by the Devil to tin ; inwardly he could not, being pertect- ly holy, John 14. 30. but was outwardly. with violence aſſaulted by lim, Matth. 4. 1. to12. and tried by Men beyond any Man, and tempted to the ſame Sins whereby Adam fell, and others miſcarry every Day. He felt the Curſe of Sin, the Wrath of God, Agonies 1n tris Soul, violcut pains in his Body, Sorrows to the death, trom the Cradle to the Crots : And in every matter of Grief and Suffering 11 Soul, in Body, from the World; from Satan, from God, in all kind of Temptations Spiritual and Temporal ; experiencing the Evils of this Life, Hunger, Thirſt, Wearineſs, Grief, J/z. 53- 3- tO 11. even ſuch as weare liable to, all of them really and truly like ours, and more powetfully than ours ; they were for fimilitude like, but tor degree exceeding them ; ours for exquiſiteneſs of Senſe but a ſha- dow of His : Yet under all theſe Temptations He was ſinle/s, as the Holy One of God; never did Temptation prevail over Him, He over- came ail. Nothing was out of place or order by his Suffering in Him : All His AffeRicns and Paſſions under theſe, regular, ſhewing his Innocency under variety of Sufferings and cminency of Compatli- ons. Sin hardens Bowels, but He is compaſſionate without any miX- ture with; or hindrance by Corruption ; and His Interceſſion is the more effeual with God for us. What Chriſtian under his Conduct would not follow lis great Example, ſo to refiſt and conquer by Him ? 16 * Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne 2. of grace y, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need 3. |
y Since our High-Prieſt hath a ſenſe of our Infirmities, hath expe- ricnced our Tryals, and no Sin is in Him to ſhut up His Bowels of Compaſſion, therefore haſte we to Him, as thoſe who defire toreach Favours from our Soveraign, as our poor, guilty, needy Souls want them. It is 4 Soul-motion by Faith and Love breathed forth in ſtrong Cries to His God - and Father, and ours, conſtantly approaching God in every Duty by Him : compare chap. 10. 19. to verſe 23. and that with open Face, boldneſs and aſſurance, without any ſhame or diſmay, coming in the Name, and with the Perſon of our great High-Prieſt, who takes our Duties and Perſons, and preſents them perfumed with the Incenſe of His Merits to Him. Away now with all Unbeltef,
gious Officer. Te 1s imperfe&, as chap. 2.7. for & nic in things 7 » about things. A Sinner can undertake to manage nothing tt. ds God immediately, or by himſelf, but with a mediatins Prieſt wh . muſt know God's Mind and perform it ; and it was infinite Mercy = God to inſtitute ſuch an help to Sinners. The common bog of Mankind about it fince the Fall doth evince it. No Nation _ without a Religion, a Temple, a place of Workhip, a Priefi c Who may bring home to God the Supreme Lord and Kins of all Gifts, which were thoſe Free-will Offerings, as of things inanimate the Firſt-fruits of Corn, Wine, and Ovl, gc. or of Sacritices, ſuch whereby they were to attone and propitiate God for their Sins, tiiey being guilty, and he juſt ; thoſe were neceſlary to ſatisfie his Ju ſtice, remove his Wrath, and procure his Bleſſing. What thoſe 'S;. crifices were which would pleaſe him, God only could reveal, a: who ſhould offer them both for himſclt and others ; and this he did reveal to Adam, Noah, and Abraham, and to .Jojes tully in his Li given him about them on the Mount, and of which he hath writte in his four laſt Books. _
2 Who tf can have compaſſion on the ignorant 7 i « and on them thar are our of the way z, tor that * he rainy
himſelf alſo is compaſled with infirmity f.