BOOK 9. THE INTERCESSION.
CHAPTER 1.
9.1.7. What the Properties of this Intercession of Christ are.
What the Properties of this Intercession of Christ are.
What are the properties of this intercession of Jesus Christ? I answer; --
1. It is heavenly and glorious; and that appears in these particulars: --
(a). Christ doth not fall upon his knees before his Father, as in the days of his humiliation; for that is not agreeable to that glory he hath received; he only presents his pleasure to his Father, that he may thereto put his seal and consent.
(b). Christ doth not pray out of private charity, as the saints pray one for another in this life, but out of public office and mediation, "There is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ," 1 Tim. ii. 5.
(c). Christ prays not out of humility, which is the proposing of requests for things unmerited, but out of authority, which is the desiring of a thing, so as withal he hath a right of bestowing it as well as desiring it.
(d). Christ prays not merely as an advocate, but as a propitiation too; Christ's Spirit is an advocate, but only Christ is advocate and propitiation; Christ's Spirit is our advocate on earth, but only Christ in his person applieth his merits in heaven, and furthers the cause of our salvation with his Father in heaven. In every of these respects we may see Christ's intercession is heavenly and glorious.
2. It is ever effectual and prevailing, as he hath a power to intercede for ,us, so he hath a power to confer that upon us for which he intercedes, I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter," John xiv. 16. "If I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you, but if 1 depart I will send him unto you," John xvi. 7. If Christ prayed on earth he was ever heard; but if Christ pray in heaven, we may be sure the Father ever heareth and answereth there: when Christ, as man, prayed for himself, he was heard in that which he feareth; but now Christ as Mediator praying for us, he is ever heard in the very particular which he desireth. We sinful men many a time "ask and receive not, because we ask amiss, that we may consume it upon our lusts," James iv. 3. But Jesus Christ never asks amiss, nor to wrong ends; and therefore, God the Father, who called him to this office of being (as it were) the great "Master of requests in behalf of his church," he promised to hear him in all his requests, "Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I know thou hearest me always," (saith Christ) John xi. 41, 42.
3. It is of all other the transactions of Christ till the very end of the world, the most perfective and consummate: indeed so perfective, that without it, all the other parts of Christ's mediatorship would have been to little purpose. As the sacrifices under the law had not been of such force and efficacy, had not the high priest entered into the holy place, to appear there, and to present the blood there unto the Lord; so all that ever Christ did or suffered upon earth, it had been ineffectual for us, had he not entered into heaven, "to appear there in the presence of God for us," Heb. ix. 24. Surely this intercession is that which puts life into the death of Christ: this intercession is that which strikes the last stroke, during this world, in the carrying on of our soul's salvation, and makes all sure. It is a witty observation (Goodwin's Christ set forth.) that one makes of these several steps of Christ's actings for us; as, --
First: There was an all-sufficiency in his death, "Who shall condemn? It is Christ that died," Rom. viii. 34.
Second: A rather in his resurrection, yea, rather that is risen again.
Third: A much rather in his life and session at God's right hand, "For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God, by the death of Christ: much rather being reconciled we shall be saved by his life," Rom. v. 10.
Fourth: The apostle riseth yet higher, to "a saving to the utmost," and puts that upon his intercession, "Wherefore he is able to save us to the uttermost, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for us," Heb. vii. 25.
If in the former were anything wanting, this intercession of Christ supplies all: it is the 'coronis,' which makes all effectual; it saves to the uttermost, for itself is the uttermost and highest step; on earth Christ begins the execution of his office, in heaven he ends it; in his life and death, Christ was the meritorious cause; but by his intercession, Christ is the applying cause of our soul's salvation. In this very intercession of Christ is the consummation and perfection of the priesthood of Christ. O then! how requisite and necessary must this needs be?
4. It is gracious and full of bowels; Christ's intercession, and indeed Christ's priestly office is erected, and set up on purpose for the relief of poor distressed sinners. There is no mixture of terror in this blessed office of Jesus Christ, and this doth distinguish it from his other offices, Christ by his kingly office rules over the churches, and over the world; but all obtain not mercy whom he thus rules over; Christ, by his prophetical office, comes to his own, but many of his own received him not; but now wherever the priestly office of Jesus Christ is set forth upon a soul, that soul shall certainly be saved forever, O this priestly office of Christ, is an office of mere love and tender compassion! "Christ (saith the apostle) is such an high priest, as cannot but be touched with the feeling of our infirmities," Heb. iv. 15. Oh! he is "a merciful and a faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people," Heb. ii. 17 He is merciful and exceeding compassionate, "in all our afflictions he is afflicted; and in his love, and in his pity he redeemed us," Isa. lxiii. 9, and in his love and pity he intercedes for us.