BOOK 9. THE INTERCESSION.
CHAPTER 2.
9.2.2. Of Considering Jesus in that Respect.
Of Considering Jesus in that Respect.
Let us consider Jesus carrying on this work of our salvation in his intercession; many of God's people have found the benefit, and for my part I cannot but approve of it, as an excellent, quickening and enlivening duty to be much in a way of meditation, or consideration, especially when we meet with such a blessed subject as this is, "My meditation of him shall be sweet, (saith David) I will be glad in the Lord," Psal. civ. 34. It is enough to make a meditation sweet and refreshing, when it is conversant about such a subject, as Christ's intercession; is it not as incense, a sweet odour, and perfume with God himself? And shall not each thought of it be sweet to us? Come, let us be serious in this duty; and that we may do it thoroughly, let us consider it in these several particulars. As, --
1. Consider of the nature of Christ's intercession: what is it but the gracious will of Christ fervently desiring that for the virtue of his death and sacrifice, thy person and performances might be accepted of God? As Christ on earth gave himself to the death, even to the death of the cross, for the abolition of sin, so now in heaven he prays the Father, "by his agony and bloody sweat, by his cross and passion, by his death and sacrifice," that thy sins may be pardoned, thy service accepted, and thy soul saved. This is the will of Christ, even thy justification; sanctification, and salvation; and accordingly he presents his will, "Father, I will that all those privileges flowing from my death, may be conferred on such a person by name; such a soul is now meditating and considering of my intercession, and my will is, that his very meditation may find acceptance with God." O what workings would be in thy heart and spirit, if thou didst but consider, that Christ even now were speaking his will, that thy person and duty might both find acceptance, and be well pleasing with God.
2. Consider of the person that intercedes for thee, it is Christ in both natures, it is thy Mediator, the middle one betwixt God and man; in this respect thou mayest consider him as one indifferent, and equally inclining to either party, like a pair of scales that hang even, neither side lift up, or depressed more than the other; "a Mediator is not of one," saith the apostle. Gal. iii. 20. Christ indifferently partook of both natures, Godhead, and manhood, that so he might be fit to stand in the gap between his Father and us; he is a priest according to both natures; he is a days-man wholly for God, and a days-man wholly for us, and on our side.
3. Consider of the person to whom Christ intercedes; is it not to his Father? Thou art sure to speed well, O my soul! for God is the Father of thy intercessor. If I had a suit to some majesty, and the prince would but mediate, I might hope to speed; Christ is God's prince, (as I may call him) and in respect of us, "the first begotten of many brethren." And herein is thy rejoicing, that the party offended is Christ's own Father, and in Christ thy Father; fathers cannot be cruel to their own dear children; "What man amongst you, whom if his son ask bread, he will give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Matth. vii. 9, 10, 11. And especially if Christ himself ask.
4. Consider of the persons for whom Christ intercedes, it is for all the elect, and in particular for thee. O the sweet of this one meditation! If I knew that my name were written in heaven, should I not (as Christ bids me) "rejoice in this?" Luke x. 20. Oh! but what is it to have my name written in the chief part of heaven? What is it to have my name written in the breastplate of Jesus Christ? Come, read, O my soul! is it not thus written? Isaac, or Jacob, "I have prayed, and I am praying for thee that thy faith fail not." Sure I am, that I would not part with my hope in this privilege for all the wide world; the very consideration of this makes me to esteem of all the world as dross and dog's meat.
And Oh that ever the world, or flesh, or devil, should steal this meditation out of my heart! Oh that ever I should forget that Christ is gone to heaven, that he is entered into the holy of holies, and that he carries my name into the presence of God the Father! I speak the same to thee that readest, if thou art a believer, there is no doubt of it, but Christ is speaking a good word to his Father in thy behalf; he can no more forget thee in his intercessions, than a mother with full breasts can forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb; now, if ever, look up to Jesus, yea, look, and never leave looking, till thou spiest thy own name writ on his heart; it is enough to fix thy soul, and to make it dwell on Jesus Christ, thus carrying thee on his shoulders, and bearing thee on his breastplate for a memorial unto his Father in heaven.
5. Consider of the agreement and difference betwixt Christ's intercessions, and the intercessions of the high-priests of old, they did both intercede, but Christ's intercessions are ever in a more transcendent eminent way; Christ is more faithful in his office and place than ever high-priest was; Christ is more compassionate and pitiful than ever high-priest was; and hence it is, that he hath the title of 'polusplanchos,' "One of many commiserations," James v. 11. All is mercy, and love, and sweetness, and more than motherly affection that comes from Christ, O my soul! why shouldst thou say with Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over by my God?" Isa. xl. 27. As if Jesus Christ had left thee out of the count of his people, and out of the roll of those whom he is to look after? No, no; he is a faithful and merciful high-priest, far above all the high-priests of the Old Testament, and if they were so careful not to leave out of their breastplate one name of all the twelve tribes, how much more careful is Christ not to leave out thy name in his intercession? From this very argument of Christ's compassion and Christ's faithfulness, the apostle calls on us to "consider the apostle and high-priest of our profession Christ Jesus, who was faithful to him that appointed him," Heb. iii. 1, 2. above Aaron, or Moses, or any of the high-priests; why, consider him, O my soul! this gospel high-priest is well worthy indeed of thy consideration.
6. Consider of the properties of Christ's intercession; is it not heavenly and glorious, effectual and prevailing, and of all other, the transactions of our salvation whilst this world lasts, the most perfective and consummate? O! Give me the intercession of Christ above all the intercessions of men or angels. I know the saints on earth pray mutually one for another, but they pray not in their own names, or for their own merits, but in the name and for the merits of Jesus Christ; and as for the saints and angels in heaven, Cyprian (Cyprian Epist. Hierome Lib. advers. vigil.)and Jerome seem to grant, that they pray for the state of the church militant; but if so, they do it only of charity as brethren, not of office as mediators; they do it only for the church in general, and not for any particular man or member of the militant church: such an intercession as this, so heavenly, so effectual, so perfective of our salvation, so authoritative and public, founded upon the satisfactory merits of the person interceding, is proper only to Christ. I would be glad of the prayers of all the churches of Christ; O that there were not a saint on the earth, but that I were by name in his morning and evening prayer, (whosoever thou art that readest it, I beseech thee pray for me) but above all let me have a property in those prayers and intercessions that are proper only to Christ; I am sure then I should never miscarry; Christ's prayers are heavenly, glorious, and very effectual.
7. Consider of the particulars, wherein more especially Christ's intersession consists; is it not in the presenting of his person, blood, prayers, interpellations? Is it not in the presenting of our persons, performances, pleas or answers to the accusations of Satan? Men little think how busy our Mediator, sponsor, solicitor, and advocate, is now in heaven for us; men little think that Christ is appearing, and his blood is crying, and his prayers are ascending, and his robe of righteousness is covering us, and the iniquity of our holy things: O my soul! Look up, consider Jesus thy Saviour in these respects! I am persuaded, if thou didst but know, if thou could but see what a deal of work Christ hath in hand, and how he carries it on for thy salvation, it would melt thy heart into very tears of joy. Whilst Christ was on earth and his mother had lost him, he could then say, "Wist ye not that I must go about my Father's business?" Luke ii. 49. Now Christ is in heaven, he is about the same business still; all his employment in heaven is to intercede for us, that we may be saved: very true, there is much in this intercession of Jesus Christ, it is a tree of many branches, and every branch fruitful; so that if thou wouldst enlarge thy meditation in this wide ocean of delights, there is room enough; but herein I must leave thee in the duty, for I can but point at the several particulars whereon thou mayest enlarge: O think on it, that Christ, and Christ's blood, and Christ's prayers should be all at work! that Christ should play the advocate, and plead thy cause, and perfume thy duties with his incense, and take thy person in an unperceivable way to God his Father, and cry there, "O my Father be merciful to this sinner, pardon his sin, and save his soul for the sake of Jesus!" O blessed meditation! O blessed is the man! that on this blessed object knows how to meditate both day and night.
8. Consider of the power and prevalency of Christ's intercessions with his Father. Is he not to this purpose a priest to God, and called thereto by God? Is he not the Son of God, yea, God himself? Is he not God's darling, God's commander, as well as petitioner? Nay, is not the hand of God himself in this design? Is not the Father's heart as much towards us and our salvation as Christ's own heart? As sure then as Christ is gone into heaven with thy name engraven on his heart, so sure shalt thou follow him, and be with him where he is, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? Who is he that condemneth?" Where Christ becomes patron to defend against the sentence of damnation, it is in vain for sin, or law, or Satan, to attempt anything; for as an innocent person is safe so long as he hath his learned advocate to answer all objections, so it is with believers, who have Christ himself both judge and advocate; a sure advocate, he ever prevails in whatsoever he undertakes; he was never yet cast in any suit; he hath for these sixteen hundred years carried away all the causes of hundreds, thousands, and millions of souls; why, he is so dear, and near to his Father, that he can work him to any thing he will. And, O my soul! if thou hast any relation to Jesus Christ, is not here comfort? I dare, in the name of Christ, be thy warrant, and give it under my hand, that if Christ pray for thee, Christ will be sure to save thee; he never yet failed, he never will fail in any of his suits to God. Oh? Consider of this.
9. Consider of the reasons of Christ's intercession. Many are given, but this may be sufficient, it is God's own ordinance; the very wisdom of God found out this way to save our souls, viz. That an high-priest should be appointed, who should die for sinners, and afterwards present his death to his Father, by way of intercession in their behalf. Some may look upon this as needless; what could not God have pardoned our sins, and saved our souls without a priest? I shall not dispute Gods power, but if any will, let such an one tell me, what way could his own wisdom have found out a heaven, between the wrath of God, and the sin of man? I believe it would have posed all the wisdom of the world, (of men and angels) to have reconciled God's mercy in the salvation of man, and his justice in the condemnation of sin: to have poured out hell upon the sin, and yet to have bestowed heaven upon the sinner; now then if God himself did study to find out this way, and that he hath said, "This is my pleasure, that Christ my Son should be a priest, and that he shall offer himself, and present himself and his offering, and his prayer to me for my people" O! no, soul rest on this as the very ordination of God; admire at the contrivance of God; say, O the depth! question no farther, only meditate, and ponder, and consider of it, till thou feelest Christ's intercession darting its influence and efficacy on thy sin-sick soul.