BOOK 9. THE INTERCESSION.
CHAPTER 1.
9.1.2. According to what nature Christ doth Intercede.
According to what nature Christ doth Intercede.
According to what nature doth Christ intercede? I answer: according to both natures: Firstly, according to his humanity, partly by appearing before his Father in heaven, and partly by his desiring the salvation of the elect, "Christ is entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us," Heb. ix. 24. "And I say not unto you, that I will pray, or desire the Father for you, for the Father himself loveth you," John xvi. 26, 27. Secondly, according to his deity, partly by applying the merit of his death, and partly by willing the salvation of his saints; and as the effect thereof, by making request in the hearts of the saints with signs unspeakable, "Elect, through sanctification of the Spirit and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ," 1 Pet. i. 2. This sprinkling is the applying of the blood of Jesus, and that is an act of intercession: again, "Father, I will, that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am," John xvii. 24. He desires as a man. but he wills as God, and as the effect of this he gives the Spirit, "the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Rom. viii. 26.
But what are the intercessions of the Spirit to the intercessions of Christ? I answer, much every way, the Spirit's intercessions are as the effect, and Christ's intercessions are as the cause; the Spirit's intercessions are as the echo, and Christ's intercessions are as the first voice; the Spirit intercedes for men, in and by themselves, but Christ intercedes in his own person; there is a dependence of the Spirit's intercessions in us upon Christ's intercessions in himself. First, Christ by his intercession applies his satisfaction made, and lays the salve to the very sore: and then he sends down his holy Spirit into our hearts, to help our infirmities, and to teach us what to pray, and how to pray as we ought. Now this he doth as God, for who shall give a commission to the Spirit of God, but God himself! It is as if Christ should say, "See holy Spirit, how I take upon me the cause of my saints, I am perpetually representing my sacrifice to God my Father, I am ever pleading for them, and answering all the accusations that sin or Satan can lay against them, and now go thy way to such and such, and take up thy dwelling in their hearts, and assist them by thy energy, to plead their own cause; I am their advocate or intercessor by office, and therefore be thou their advocate or intercessor by operation, instruction, inspiration, and assistance."