austere, difficult to be entreated, or hard to be won: this would be a very mistaken view of Him whose name is Love. The Father appoints this way of approach in infinite compassion and love to us, that we may come boldly unto the throne of grace; (Heb. iv. 16.) and though his holiness be such that he cannot endure the approach of sinners without a Mediator, yet it was his own free grace which moved him to provide a Mediator, and disposes him to accept his meditation in our behalf. Hence the Father himself is represented as willing to hear us, when we pray in the name of Jesus. Thus our Lord says to his disciples, (John xvi. 26, 27.) At that day ye shall ask in my name, and I say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you, for the Father himself loveth you.

Jesus Christ intercedes for his people BY PRAYING FOR THEM.-Does he see them exposed to the just vengeance of the holy almighty God? Is the sentence gone forth, Cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground? he prays, Let it alone this year also, and I will dig about it, and dung it, and if it bear fruit, well; but if not, after that, thou shalt cut it down. Luke xiii. 8, 9. Are any of his disciples exposed to peculiar temptations and dangers, so that it may be said of them, as it was of Peter, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat? he adds, But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not. Luke xxii. 32. Indeed, we could never pray ourselves, nor could we ever approach unto God so as to be accepted of him, but through the intercession of Christ. No man, saith our Lord, cometh unto the Father but by me. (John xiv. 6.) By his prayers we receive the Holy Spirit, (John xiv. 16,) and many other spiritual blessings. In the 17th of John, you have a delightful specimen

and example of the prayers which Jesus our Lord himself makes out for his people.

Jesus Christ also OFFERS UP OUR PRAYERS.-It was the office of the Jewish priests to present the prayers of Israel unto God, at the time they burned incense before the Lord on the altar. And thus our High Priest, by his own intercession, makes even our poor and imperfect sighs and groans prevailing and effectual. The very best prayers we make, even when aided by the Holy Spirit of our God, are so tainted with our sins, and so mingled with our imperfections, as to need his mediation for their acceptance. He has assured us, (John xvi. 23,) Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. This name of Christ enabled those who used it, through faith in his name, to work miracles, cast out devils, speak with new tongues, and oppose and overcome Satan, the world, and the flesh; and by it we shall assuredly prevail in all our petitions. Our persons and our prayers are accepted of God, in and by Jesus Christ. Eph. i. 6; 1 Peter ii, 5.

It is delightful to consider further, that the INTERCESSION OF OUR LORD IS ALL IN OUR BEHALF. It is said of the prophet Elijah, Elias made intercession to God against Israel. "He was," says Trail, "a severe prophet, and had severe service put into his hand; but our great Prophet and High Priest makes no intercession against his Israel, but all for them." In that pattern of what he is doing, (John xvii.) we may observe that he mentions not one fault of his disciples, but selects what was good in their conduct, and then pleads their cause. Let us see in this his love; let us trust him entirely.

The intercession of Christ is AN ENDURING act of mercy. His grace and love never fail. It is said (Heb. vii. 25,) he ever liveth to make intercession. Therefore the Apostle adds, He is able to save to the uttermost. We need not fear that we are now too late to obtain the advantages of it. He intercedes for his church now, as he did in the days of his flesh. John xvii. 20, 24.

It is also an INTERCESSION FOR SINNERS.-It was foretold of him, He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isa. liii. 12. Hence he prayed even for his murderers. When they had taunted and reviled him, and nailed him to the accursed tree, he still prays, Father, forgive them! And there is a special intercession for his people which may greatly encourage believers. St. Paul says, who also maketh intercession for us. Rom. viii. 34. The connection here shews him to mean God's peculiar people; hence our Lord says, (John xvii. 9,) I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, for they are thine. Yet in that very prayer he does afterwards include the world, Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word: That they all may be one, as thou Father art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us, that the WORLD may believe that thou hast sent me. Augustine says, "Christian men in their prayers mutually recommend each other to the divine regard. That person for whom no one intercedes, while he intercedes for all, is the true and only mediator."

I have stated thus fully and plainly, from the Holy Scriptures, the doctrine of the intercession of Jesus Christ, because it is not only a most delightful truth

to those who feel the burden of their sins, but is highly profitable to us when duly improved. To this end it should be considered before, at the time of, and after your prayers.

BEFORE PRAYER.-Make it the only ground of your encouragement to draw near to God. Do not, on the one hand, trust in any preparation which you may have made, or in any disposition which you may have acquired; and on the other hand, whatever your former transgressions, (Psalm xxv. 7,) or aggravated wickedness; may have been, (Psalm xxv. 9; lxxix. 8, 11,) or whatever is the conviction of your present sinfulness, (Jer. xiv. 7,) or your indisposition to approach God, still endeavour to come with freedom, knowing that you have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins. 1 John ii. 1,

2.

AT THE TIME OF PRAYER.-Let the intercession of Christ encourage you. Expect through his mediation, the Spirit of grace and supplication. Zech. xii. 10. By the exercise of faith, however weak, still expect to receive, out of his fulness, grace, suited to your necessity. However great the matter for which you ask, however many things in yourself may tend to discourage or discomfort you; you have a sufficient ground to hope for the acceptance of your prayers, through the name and mediation of Jesus Christ. His gracious intercession remains firm and unchangeable. Let faith in Christ's merits quiet and compose your troubled mind, and dispose and strengthen you to leave every petition with comfort and confidence in his hands.

AFTER PRAYER.-However conscience may accuse you of many wanderings, imperfections, and distrac

tions, or abuses of former answers to prayer, or however earnest or fervent your petitions; still plead for acceptance only on this ground. Christ is your mediator. Your hope of a favourable reception of any prayer is, and is only, in the name and work of Jesus Christ, and not in your own prayers. A practical writer observes, If we have cast our anchor on Christ, and rest upon his merits and intercession, in order to the receiving of an answer to our prayer, we shall have a sufficient hold to keep us sure and stedfast, in the midst of the tossing waves of this world. By this we may answer all-Christ is faithful, and a tender, sympathizing High Priest, and so will not, and cannot forget or neglect our cause.'

'He,' says Ambrose, is our mouth, with which we address the Father; our eye, by which we behold him; our hands, by which we present ourselves to him without whose mediation neither we, nor any of all the saints, have the least intercourse with God.'

1 Brown on Prayer:-an author to whom the writer has been often indebted.