First, That Christ is our great high priest to God, "We have such an high priest, who is set down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," Heb. 8:1. Now it was the way of God to lend his ear in a special manner to the high priests; and therefore the people usually ran to them, when they would inquire of God, "Before-time in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer, for he that is now called a prophet, or high priest, was before time called a seer," 1 Sam. 9:9. People were wont to repair to the priests, and the priests were wont to go to God; and good reason, for the priests were to mediate for the people, and the people had experience that God would hearken to the cry of their priests, "Samuel called unto the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people said to Samuel, pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God.-And Samuel said unto the people, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord, in ceasing to pray for you,' 1 Sam. 12:18,19.23. Now such an high priest as this, (though with far more eminency) is Christ to God; he intercedes for his people, "God forbid that he should ever cease to pray for his people," and he hath God's ear in special manner; if ever God lend his ear to any one, it must needsbe to this high priest, because of his office to intercede betwixt God and his people, Christ stands in the middle, or indeed next to God, as he is in these gospel-times our great high priest; and therefore he must needs prevail with God in every petition he puts up for us.

2. That Christ was called to this office by God, "Christ glorified not. himself to be made an high priest," Heb. 5:4,5. No, no, but "he was called of God as Aaron was;" it was God the Father, that designed him to it, and that furnished him for it, and that invested him in it, "The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec," Psa. 110:4. Now to what purpose should God call him to this office, but especially to intercede for them to whom God was willing to communicate salvation? It was God's mind, as well as Christ's mind, to save his elect: and this was the way whereon they agreed, that an high-priest should be appointed, and an office of intercession should be erected, and by that means the salvation purchased should be applied; many times we are apt to conceive legal or law-thoughts of God the Fa ther, as that he is just and severe, and that Christ his Son is more meek and merciful; but this cannot be, for there are not two infinite wills, nor two infinite mercies, one in the Father, another in the Son, but one will, and one mercy in both. And to that purpose observe but the readiness of God the Father, to receive Christ honorably into heaven, that he might do the work of the high priest there; no sooner had Christ entered through the gates into the city, but presently, "Sit thou down (saith God) at my right hand;" but to what end? Surely not only to rule as king, (of which we have spoken before) but also to intercede as our great high-priest; hence we find in scripture, that Christ's session and intercession, his kingly and priestly office are joined together, "He is set on the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens," Heb. 8:1. He, Who? why, Christ our high-priest, we have such an high-priest who is set down. It is, as if Christ in his entrance into heaven, had said, "My Father, I am come hither as the great high-priest, having on my breastplate the names of all the elect, and I am come to intercede for poor sinners; what, shall I have welcome on these same terms?" to whom the Father replied, "Welcome my Son, my only Son, on these very terms; Come sit thee down and intercede for whom thou pleasest, I have called thee on purpose to this very office, and thou shalt prevail." Surely the Father is en

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gaged to purpose to hear his Son, in that he is an high-priest to God, and called to his office by God.

3. That Christ is God's Son, and that is more than Christ an high-priest; he is his natural Son, his beloved Son, his Son that never gave him the least offence; sure then, when he comes and intercedes for a man he is most like to speed; if a gracious child do but cry, "My Father, my Father," he may prevail very much, especially with a Father that is tenderhearted; Jesus Christ is the gracious, precious Son of God the Father, and God the Father is a dear and kind-hearted Father; How then should the intercessions of Christ but be most powerful with God? Hence some gather the prevalency of Christ's intercession, because in many places of scripture where this part of Christ's priesthood or intercession is laid down, this Sonship is also expressed or set forth; As "we have a great high-priest entered into the heaven, Jesus the Son of God," Heb. 4:14. And thou art an high-priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec," Heb. 5:5,6. But immediately before, "Thou art my Son, This day have I begotten thee." O needs must the intercession of such a Son be very prevalent; I say, Of such a Son; For was ever any son like this Son of God? was ever any son so like his Father, or so equal with his Father? We know he is a begotten Son, and yet never began to be a Son; he is the Son of the Father, and yet never began to have a Father; he is a Branch of the King of ages, and yet in the ages past was never younger; surely all the relations of son and father in the world, are but a shadow of this relation betwixt God and Christ; it is so near, that though they were two, (as in all relations there must needs be relatum and correlatum) yet Christ speaks of them, as if they were but one, "I and my Father are one," John 10:30. If then the Father should deny him any thing, he should deny himself, or cease to be one with his Son, which can never be. Christ is God's Son, his natural Son, his beloved Son, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," saith God, Matth 3:17. Oh then! how prevalent must Christ's intercessions be with God?

4. That Christ is God himself, not only God's Son, but God himself; how powerful in this respect must his intercessions be unto the Father? It is true, that Christ is another subsistence and person from the Father, but Christ is one and the same God with the Father; Christ is the very essential, substantial, and noble representation of God himself; Christ is the very self of God, both God sending, and God sent: Christ is the fellow of God; "awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow," Zech. 13:7. Nay, Christ is God, and not another God, but one God, "God of God, light of light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made." Can we imagine now that God himself should be denied any boon of God himself? If God sometimes spake to his servants, "Ask of me, command ye me concerning all the work of mine hands," Isa. 45:11. Will not God much rather say to God, "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession?" Psa. 2:8. We have brought it now so near, that if God be God, and God be omnipotent, that he can do, and can have whatsoever he pleases; then Christ being one God with his Father, he must needs prevail; it is but ask and have, let him ask what he will.

5. That Christ is God's darling upon this very account, because he intercedes for his people," Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life that I might take it again," John 10:17. I lay it down

by suffering, and take it up again by arising, ascending up into heaven, and interceding there; and "therefore doth my Father love me." Othe love of God to Christ, and of God in Christ to all his saints! "God so loved the world that he gave his Son," and Christ so loved the world, "that he gave himself;" and now again, because Christ gave himself, and his gift is as a sweet smelling savor unto God, therefore God loves Christ; O what around of love is here! 66 God loves Christ, and Christ loves us, and the Father loves Christ again for loving of us." There is not an act of Christ in his work of our redemption, but the Father looks on it with love and liking. At his baptism, Lo, a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," Matth. 3:17. at his death, "He seeth all the travail of his soul, and is satisfied," Isa. 53:11. at his ascension, he heareth of the intercessions of his soul, and he is delighted; Christ's intercessions are God's music, and therefore, as sometimes Christ spoke to his spouse, so God speaks to Christ, "Let me see thy .countenance, let me hear thy voice, for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely," Sol. Song 2:14. Now Christ's intercessions must needs prevail, when God loves Christ for his intercessions' sake, if before the world was made, the Son was his Father's darling, (for so it is said,) "When he appointed the foundations of the earth, then I was by him as one brought up with him, and I was daily his delight," Prov. 8:29,30. In the original, delights, intimating that the eternal Son was variety of delights to his Father. O then! what delights, what variety, what infinity of delights hath God in Christ now interceding for us? What a dear darling is Christ to God, when not only he stands by him, but he represents to him all the elect from the beginning to the end of the world, q. d. "See Father, look on my breast, read here all the names of those thou hast given me, as Adam, and Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob; of the twelve tribes, and of the twelve apostles, of all the martyrs, professors, and confessors of the law and gospel: I pray for them, I pray not for the world, but only for them, for they are mine. Methinks I hear God answer, What my Son! and what the Son of my womb! and what the Son of my vows! hast thou begotten me thus many sons? And are all these mine? Why then, ask what thou wilt, and have what thou pleasest; I am as strongly inclined and disposed to give thee thy asking, as thou wouldst have it; it is my joy, my delight, my pleasure to save these souls, and surely the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in thy hands."

6. That Christ is God's commander, (I speak it with reverence,) as well as petitioner; it is a phrase given to the servants of God, " Command ye me," Isa. 45:11. And may we not give it to the Son of God? Christians! God is as ready to do us service as if we had him at command, "This is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us," 1 John 5:14. And in this sense, we may boldly say, That God the Father is as ready to hear Jesus Christ, as if he had him at command; not that in deed and reality he commands God, but that in deed and truth he commands all below God, and he commands all in the stead of God. And to this purpose is that voice of God, "I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion," Psal. 2:6. And why my King? I dare not say he is God's King, as if God were Christ's inferior, or Christ's subject; God forbid! Why then my King? I answer, He is God's King, because appointed by God; or he is God's King, because he rules in the stead of God," The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son," John 5:22. God hath given away all his prerogatives unto Jesus Christ, so that now the King of saints

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can do what he will with God, and with all the world, only it follows, "Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance," As if the Father should have said, "I cannot deny thee, and yet, O my Son! I would have thee ask, do what thou wilt in heaven, earth, and hell; I have not the heart, indeed I have not the power to deny thee any thing, only acknowledge this power to be originally in myself, that all that honor the Son, may honor the Father, and all that honor the Father, may honor the Son." These are the terms betwixt God the Father, and God the Son; Oh then! how powerful and prevailing are Christ's intercessions with his Father? If he asks who hath power to command, there is little question of prevailing in his suit. We have heard in our days of a suit managed with a petition in one hand, and a sword in the other, and what the effect is all now can tell. As a king, who sues for peace, backed with a potent army, able to win what he entreats for, must needs treat more effectually; so Christ, suing to his Father for his saints, with a power sufficient to obtain what he sues for, he must needs effect what his desires may be. It is well observed, "That Christ first is said to sit at God's right hand, and then to intercede; he treats the salvation of sinners, as a mighty prince treats the giving up of some town, which lies seated under a castle of his that commands the town." Or he treats the salvation of sinners as a commander treats the surrendering of a person already in his hands; it is beyond God's power (I speak it with submis sion) to deny his Son in any thing he asks; if the Lord sometimes cried out to Moses, like a man whose hands are held, "Let me alone,” Exod. 32:10. How much more doth Christ's intercession bind God's hands, and command all in heaven, earth, and hell? Hence we say, That God the Father hath divested himself of all his power, and given the keys into Christ's own hands, "I am he that liveth, and was dead. And behold I am alive for evermore, Amen, and have the keys of hell and death," Rev. 1:18. There is no man goes to hell, but he is locked in by Jesus Christ, and there is no man goes to heaven, but he is locked in there by Jesus Christ, he hath the keys of all men's eternities hanging at his own girdle: if he but say, Father, I will that this man, and that woman should inherit heaven;" the Father cannot but reply, My Son, I have no power to deny thy suit, thou hast the keys of heaven in thine own hand, be it even as thou wilt.

7. I shall only add this on the Father's part, That God is Christ's commander to this office, as well as Christ is God's commander in this office. O why should we have hard thoughts of God the Father, more than of God the Son? Is he not as willing of our salvation as Jesus Christ? Sure. ly it was the oath of God, (I mean of God the Father,) As I live saith the Lord, I would not have the death of a sinner, but that the wicked turn from his sin and live, Ezk. 33:11. Was not this the first salute of God to Christ, when he first entered into heaven, "Sit down here on this throne, and ask what thou wilt of thy Father?" Nay, did not the Father prevent the Son, in laying his commands upon him to ask, be fore the Son opened his mouth to speak a word, by way of any re quests to God his Father?" Thou art my Son, this day (even this day of thy resurrection, ascension, session,) have I begotten thee, ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession," Psal. 2:7,8. q. d. "Come Son, thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee, and though I have begotten thee from all eternity, yet this day, and every day, I am begetting thee still: I said to thee at thy resurrection, This day have I begotten thee; and

I said to thee at thy ascension, This day have I begotten thee; and now ask, and be not shy, nor modestly backward in petitioning; I command thee to this office, I make thee here the great Master of requests in heaven; others may pray out of charity, but none but thyself in a way of justice, authority, and office; and therefore ask boldly and largely, open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." O what a demonstration of love is this, not only toChrist, but to us in Christ, that when man had offended his God, broken covenant with God, and turned enemy to God, and then God the Father should seek peace with man, offer conditions of peace to man, and for that purpose should appoint a Mediator, an Intercessor, and call his own Son to that office; and now he is in heaven, that he should bid him do his office, and ask freely, so that if the elect be not saved, it should be laid on the score of Christ, for the Father is most willing: "Surely here is more than intimation of the Father's inclination to accept of Christ's intercessions on our behalf." We may read here, that the Father's heart is as much towards us, as Christ's own heart, Oh! he is full of bowels, he is gentle and easy to be entreated; Christ needs not much ado to get his grant, "Christ adds not by his intercession one drop of love to the heart of God; only he draws it out, which otherwise would have been stopped, nor doth he broach it before his Father command him to it." Oh then! how powerful and prevailing must Christ's intercessions be.

SECT. X. Of the reasons of Christ's Intercessions.

10. WHAT are the reasons of this great transaction of Christ's interces sion for his people? I answer,

1. It is the Father's will that it should be so; he called Jesus Christ to this office, the command of God is upon Jesus Christ," Ask what thou wilt for thy redeemed ones, I willingly engage myself to grant, only it is my pleasure thou shouldst ask:" as sometimes he said to the house of Israel, "I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it; notwithstanding I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them," Ezek. 36:36,37. So saith God to Christ," I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it, only, my Son, I will be inquired of by thee." I look upon this as the main reason of Christ's intercession, "Even so Father, for so it seem. eth good in thy sight;" it is God's will that Christ should intercede.

2. It is the Father's love to engage his Son for his own people. O the comfort of a sound Christian in this respect! What! art thou in temptation, or desertion? Surely Christ is engaged by God to petition for thee; thou hast put up many petitions to Christ, and he hath put them all up unto God; he could do no otherwise, for he is in place an advocate, to mention and plead such causes as are moved to him. Methinks I imagine God thus bespeaking his Son; "See thou do this poor soul good, my Son; here is for him according to all he needs, only ask according to what thou knowest will make him happy; must he have my Spirit, my comforting Spirit? Will no less, no cheaper thing serve his turn? Then there it is." Oh how is Christ engaged now to petition for them whom God loves, and for whom he gave himself? Surely if Christ should leave to intercede for such, he would displease his Father, which we know he would not do, he would undergo hell first.

3. It is Christ's own inclination to do his office: the power that Christ hath for the good of sinners is necessarily acted: as the sun shines upon all the world, and it cannot do otherwise, so Christ the Sun of righteousness

* Goodwin, Christ exalted.