seen God and was preserved," Gen. xxxii. 24, 30. He had power with God.* And it was Jehovah that Abraham stood before, to plead for Sodom, Gen. xviii. 22. And all the saints in all ages of the world have had the same intercessor; so that it is not a new invention, though a gospel revelation, for they of old had the same essentials of religion without us, that is, without our gospel discoveries they could not be made perfect,† only ours is in a clearer character; so that Christ is always busy and never weary of his blessed work of intercession; it is no burden to him, though he hath been constantly employed from the beginning of the world to this day, and will be to the consummation of all things, as long as the meanest saint shall live upon earth; and when they are all gathered into heaven, he will deliver up his mediatorial kingdom to God the Father, and so God shall be all in all, 1 Cor. xv. 24, 28, in his essential kingdom as before the world began. 2. Christ's expiation and intercession are of equal extent. He intercedes for all for whom he satisfied justice, and none else. It is true, as was said before, the vine-dresser interposeth for sparing the vineyard one year longer, and Christ prayed for his enemies, "Father, forgive them;" but both were in order to their spiritual and eternal good: for repentance was intended in sparing, and included in forgiveness, for we cannot imagine that Jesus Christ should pray for pardon to the murdering Jews, continuing impenitent. He therefore prays for sinners in order to their conversion, but for converted souls, as before described. Divines tell us of a threefold love that God and Christ have towards man: (1.) A love of benevolence: so God hath no pleasure • Hos. xii. 35. + Heb. xi. 40. in the death of a sinner, but rather that he should return and live.* And Christ saith of Jerusalem, "How often would I have gathered thee?" † Not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, which he expresseth many ways. (2.) A love of beneficence, in doing good to all, and " his tender mercies being over all his works." || To the worst of men and heathens, "He left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave rain from heaven." § All partake of his general bounty. (3.) There is a love of complacency and delight; this is what the Lord is pleased to manifest towards his saints, and chosen ones; this also is for Christ's sake, through his satisfaction and blessed intercession; of these it is said in Eph. i. 6, "Wherein he hath made us accepted, εκαρίτωσεν, restored us to favour, in the Beloved." These are the persons in whom the great and holy God takes pleasure above all persons and things in the world; they that are upright in heart are his delight, yea, the very prayer of the upright is his delight. These are they for whom Christ hath laid down his life, and these are they whom he bears on his breastplate in the presence of Jehovah. There are some that are not for a universal intercession, while they favour a universal sacrifice or propitiation; because they cannot deny but many will perish for ever, which yet could not happen did Christ pray for them :** but they leave the death of Christ in the hand of man's free will, assisted only by general grace to make it effectual. We, however, believe that his sacrifice is as effectual as his intercession, and that he died for none but those for whom he prays, his in tercession being for the drawing out and bringing home the benefit of his sacrifice, to those and to all those for whom he offered himself to God. But I waive controversies. 3. If Christ be the only advocate and intercessor for his church and souls, then it is a great affront to the blessed, Jesus to substitute any others in this office; it is arrogance intolerable to degrade the blessed Jesus, and ascribe this office to angels or saints departed. Alas, they know not our cares; the dead know not any thing; * "Abraham is ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledgeth us not." † Papists say, Yes: those heavenly inhabitants see all things in the world, in speculo Trinitatis, in the glass of the Trinity; but this would make them omniscient, and so gods. Now we read of some things that even angels themselves know nothing of, and that is of the day of judgment, the day and hour of it. ‡ Indeed, where do we find that ever God deputed angels or saints departed to hear people's prayers, or to present them to God? No, they never did nor will arrogate this office to themselves. When John fell down before the feet of the angel, he was twice forbid and rebuked, with this reason, " See thou do it not, for I am thy fellow-servant-worship God." || And those glorious and glorified spirits give due deference to the mediator of the covenant in this weighty affair. None hath right by office to be advocate but Christ, none hath interest so prevalent in God as Christ, none hath merits to produce, none died for sinners but Christ. No, say Papists; none except Christ is the mediator of redemption, but saints departed are mediators of intercession: however, the Holy Ghost asserts that Christ sustains both characters -1 Tim. ii. 5, 6, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself for all." Observe it, it is he only who gave himself for all, who intercedes for transgressors: nothing but Christ's blood can plead for us. O what horrid blasphemy in that mad prayer : By the blood of Thomas Becket, Which he did spend, This needs no confutation; but were that perfidious traitor a holy martyr, it savours of horrid blasphemy, and is no other than the doctrine of demons, 1 Tim. iv. 1, as Mr. Joseph Mede fully proves in "The Idolatry of the Last Times." Read him and Mr. Perkin's "Reformed Catholic," tom. 1. fol. 603; for I love not to rake in this puddle. 4. Then high is a believer's privilege, if Christ be advocate and intercessor for transgressors. Penitent believing souls shall certainly speed in prayer, and come off well in whatsoever cause they engage. It is a comfort to us, to know that a godly friend prays for us. How was the Reverend Mr. Hildersham encouraged, when, being daunted in the first sermon he preached, the thought occurred to him, such a good man is praying for me? How much are God's children quickened and comforted by the communion of saints? Even blessed Paul saith, Rom. i. 12, "That I may be comforted together with you, by the mutual faith both of you and me." When a weaker Christian hears his particular case devoutly insisted upon by a stronger before the Lord, how doth it erect his hopes that God will hear? but much more when by faith he is persuaded Christ is pleading his cause. When the poor Christian can hardly get out a sensible word, well, he thinks, but my advocate can make good sense of this sorry stammering, which I call praying: for our advocate takes it in good part, as a father doth the child's broken expressions, passes over weakness, spells out his meaning, and bids him welcome. Thus he dealt with Hezekiah, Isa. xxxviii. 14, "Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter, I did mourn sore as a dove:" but this confused lamentation was prevailing rhetoric in the ears of God. Christ his friend in heaven, and the Spirit working in the heart will prevail. He that hath given his Son for them, and his Spirit to them, how shall he not with them also freely give us all things? * Christians have a large charter-all things are theirs. † Whatsoever they ask they shall have; our Lord rather challengeth his disciples for asking too little, nay, nothing comparatively, rather than too much. - See John xvi. 23-27. O who would not be a serious Christian? Who would not seek for an interest in Jesus Christ? Nothing shall be left undone that may contribute to the Christian's happiness. If all the saints on earth, and all the angels in heaven interceded for you, it would not stand you in so much stead as Jesus singly, God's beloved Son; he owns you as his peculiar treasure, a people near unto him. Clear up your title to him, prepare your hearts for him, remember you are the favourites of the Saviour, open your mouth wide and he will fill it; || improve this liberty, enter into the King's palace, § come and welcome into the presence chamber, improve your interest in him, for your own souls, your relations, and the church of God; be not shy, let not Satan discourage you, or your unworthiness damp your spirits, but |