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It is finished and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghoft. Col. 20. And (having made peace through the blood of his crofs) by him to recon

cile all things unto himself, by him, I fay, whe ther they be things in earth, or things in heaven.' Ada Reconciliation between God and us, is made as fou as we are juftified by Faith: Rom. v. 1. Therefore being juftified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jefus Christ.' And we are not actually reconciled to God, until we believe in Chrift, becaufe till then we do not re ceive the Atonement: Rom. v. ir. We joy in God, through our Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom we have now received the atonement." Gom pared with John i. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the fons of God, even to them that believe on his name.? Now, our Lord Jefus Chrift cannot fall fhort of his Defign and End in offering up himself a Sacri fice: If. liii. 11. "He fhall fee of the travail of his foul, and fhall be fatisfied: by his knowledge " fhall my righteous fervant juftify many for he fhall bear their iniquities.' John vi. 37. All that the Father giveth me, fhall come to me.' Where fore Chrift hath not redeemed any by Price, who are not, fooner or later, actually reconciled to God: Rev. v. 9. 10. And they fung a new fong, faying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the feals thereof: for thou waft flain, ( and haft redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and haft made us unto our God kings and priefts. John xvii. 12. Thofe that thou gaveft me I have kept, and none of them is loff? And these are all the Elect, and they only: Acts

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xiii. 48. As many as were ordained to eternal life, believed.' John x. 15. I lay down my life for the fheep.' verf. 26. 27. 28. But ye believe not; because ye are not of my fheep, as faid unto you. My fheep hear my voice, an them, and they follow me. And I ⚫ them eternal life, and they fhall nev neither fhall any pluck them out of now hand.'. The fecond Part of Chrift's prieftly Office, is his Interceffion: Rom. viii. 34. It is Chrift that ⚫ died, yea rather, that is rifen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh interceffion for us. By his making Interceffion for us, is meant his pleading our Caufe in the Court of Heaven. And none make Interceffion for us there, but Chrift only: John xiv. 6. Jefus faith unto

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him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: C no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Rom viii. 34. forecited. The Spirit makes Interceffion for us in our own Hearts; and that, by helping us to pray for ourselves: Rom. viii. 26. Likewife the Spirit alfo helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit itself maketh interceffion for us with gronings which cannot be uttered.' The Difference then between Chriff's Interceffion and the Spirit's Interceffion, is fuch as is between one that draws a poor Man's Petition, and another that prefents it to the King, and gets it granted to him. The first of these the Spirit does for us; the last is done by Christ only.

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Now, Chrift intercedes for us, not as a Supplicant on mere Mercy, but as an Advocate pleading Law and Right: 1 John ii. 1. If any man fin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jefus

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Chrift the righteous.' John xvii. 24. Father, I will that they alfo whom thou haft given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory which thou haft given me : for thou lovedft me before the foundation of the world.' The Ground in Law upon which he pleads for us, is his fulfilling the Condition of the Covenant of Grace, by offering up himself a Sacrifice for us John xvii. 4. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to 'do.' Therefore he intercedes for thofe only for whom he offered up himself a Sacrifice: John xvii. 9. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou haft given me, for they are thine. verf. 20. Neither pray I for thefe alone, but for them alfo which fhall believe on me through their word. verf. 24. forecited. His Interceffion is always effectual: John xi. 43. I knew that thou heareft me always.' And he will continue it for ever: Heb. vii. 25. 'He ever liveth to make interceffion for them Accordingly, he is called a Prieft after the order of Melchifedec, because he will be a Prieft for ever: Pfal. cx. 4. The Lord hath fworn, and

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not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchifedec.' Not a facrificing Prieft for ever, but an interceding Prieft for ever Heb. x. 14. For by one offering he hath perfect ed for ever them that are fanctified. Chap vii. 25. forecited. He will be an interceding Prieft even after the Refurrection, for ever, eternally willing the Continuance of the perfect Happiness of the Saints, on the Ground of the eternal Re demption obtained for them by the Sacruice of himself: Heb. xi. 12. Chrift by his own blood ⚫ entered

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entered in once into the holy place, having ob ⚫tained eternal redemption for us.' John xvii. 24. Father, I will that they alfo whom thou haft given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory which thou haft given me : for ⚫ thou lovedit me before the foundation of the world. Compared with 1 Theff. iv. 17. Then we which are alive and remay, fhall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and fo fhall we ever be with the Lord.'

We are to receive Chrift as our Prieft, renoun. eing our own Righteoufnefs, and wholly trufting in him, to be faved by his Sacrifice of himfelf, and Interceffion: Phil. iii. 3. For we are the circumcifion, which-rejoice in Chrift Jefus, and have no confidence in the flesh.' Heb. x. 21. 22. And having an high prieft over the houfe of God: let us draw near with a true heart, in full affurance of faith, having our hearts fprinkled from an evil confcience, and our bodies washed with pure water.' And we are to make use of him as. our Prieft, daily applying to him, and trufting in his alone Merit and Interceffion, for the Removal of our Guilt, and the Supply of all our Needs fpiritual and temporal: 1 Cor. i. 30. But of ⚫ him are ye in Chrift Jefus, who of God is made unto us righteoufnefs,and redemption. Gal. ii. 20. I am crucified with Chrift: Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Chrift liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flefh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

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Queft. 26. How doth Chrift execute the Office of a King?

Anf. Chrift executeth the Office of a King, in fubduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in reftraining and conquering all his and our Enemies.

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EXPLICATION.

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Chrift hath a twofold Kingdom; namely, an effential Kingdom, as he is God; and a mediatory Kingdom, as he is our Redeemer. His effential Kingdom is the whole Creation: Col. i. 15. 16. Who [the Son] is the image of the invifible "God, the firft-born of every creature for by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, vifible and invifible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers all things were created by him, and for him.' His mediatory Kingdom is the Church: Col. i. 18. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning the firft-born from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. Zech. ix. 9. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, Q daughter of Jerufalem: behold, thy King co meth unto thee.'Now, it is his mediatory Kingdom that his kingly Office relates to.

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The Office of Kings, whom God anointed and over his ancient People, was, to fave them by Strength of Hand. from their Enemies, and to rule them as their Head: 2 Sam, i iii. 17. 18. And

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