compleatly: Heb. ix. 14. forecited. For though Chrift's Sufferings were not infinite in Continuance, yet they were infinite in Value. What made them fo, was the infinite Dignity of his Perfon, he being God, the Most High: Acts xx. 28. Feed the church of God, which he hath purchafed with his own blood.' Phil. ii. 6. 7.8. Chrift Jefus being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself or no reputation, and took upon him the form of a fervant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himfelf, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the crofs.' The Sufferings then of Believers in Chrift, are not laid on them, to fatisfy, God's Juftice for their Sins in whole or in part: Pfal. ii. ult. Kifs the Son left he be angry, and ye perifh from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little: Bleffed are all they that put their truft in him.' But they are laid on them for their Trial and Correction: 1 Pet. i. 6. 7. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a feafon (if need be) ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations. That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perifheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praife, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Jefus Chrift.' Heb. xii. 5. My fon, defpife not thou the chaftening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.' Now, the State of the Bufinefs of our Reconciliation with God, as foon as Chrift's offering up himself was over, was, that then it was purchased, the Price of it fully paid: John xix. 30. When Jefus therefore had received the vinegar, he faid,

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It is finished and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghoft.' Col. i. 20. And (having made peace through the blood of his crofs) by him to reconcile all things unto himself, by him, I fay, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.' Actual Reconciliation between God and us, is made as foon as we are juftified by Faith: Rom. v. I. Therefore being juftified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jefus Chrift.' And we are not actually reconciled to God, until we believe in Chrift, because till then we do not receive the Atonement: Rom. v. 11. We joy. in 'God, through our Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom < we have now received the atonement.' Compared 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 Jesus Christ cannot fall short of his Defign and End in offering up himself a Sacrifice: 1. 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.' Wherefore 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 8 and priests. John xvii. 12. Thofe that thou 6 gaveft me I have kept, and none of them is loft.'” And these are all the Elect, and they only: Acts

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xiii.

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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 I faid unto you. My fheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life, and they fhall never perifh, ⚫ neither shall any pluck them out of my 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 intercef'fion for us.' By his making Interceffion for us, is meant his pleading our Cause in the Court of Heaven. And none make Interceffion for us there, but Chrift only: John xiv. 6. Jefus faith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life : 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 Chrift'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 laft is done by Chrift only.

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

'Chrift

<

• do.'

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 Therefore he intercedes for those 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 these alone, but for them alfo which fhall believe on me through their word.' verf. 24.. forecited. His Interceffion is always cffectual: John xi. 43. I knew that thou hearest 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 ⚫ will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchifedec.? Not a facrificing Priest for ever, but an interceding Priest for ever: Heb. x. 14. For by one offering he hath perfected 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 Redemption obtained for them by the Sacrifice of bimfelf: 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 gi❝ven me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory which thou haft given me for 'thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. Compared with 1 Theff. iv. 17. Then we which are alive and remain, 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.'

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We are to receive Christ as our Prieft, renouncing our own Righteoufnefs, and wholly trufting in him, to be faved by his Sacrifice of himself, and Interceffion: Phil. iii. 3. For we are the circumcifion, which-rejoice in Chrift Jefus, and have na 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 sprinkled 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.>

Queft.