Christ Set Forth, Book V: How Christ's Intercession Adds a Further Support
Who also maketh intercession for us, Rom. viii. 34.
A connection of this lfith the former; and how this adds a further support. Two things out of the text propounded to be handled. First, the concnrrence of influence that Christ’s intercession hath into our salvation. Secondly the security that Faith may hayc therefrom for our Justification.
WE have seen Christ sitting at God’s right hand as a Judge and King, having all authority of saving or condemning, in his own hands; and having all power in heaven and earth, to give eternal life to them that believe: and the confidence that this giveth us.
Let us now come to his Intercession, and the influence which it hath into our Justification and salvation; which as it strikes the last stroke to make all sure; so, as great a stroke as any of the former: therefore (as you have heard) that there was an all-sufficiency in his Death ( Who shall condemn? it is Christ that died): a rather in his Resurrection: (yea rather is risen again,) a much rather (polio mallon) that he lives and is at God’s right hand, Rom. v. 10. The Apostle riseth yet higher to an eis le panicles (a saving
1$ HIS INTERCESSION.
to the uttermost) put upon his intercession, Heb.vii.25. Wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost, seeing he ever lices to make intercession. So that if you could suppose there were any thing which none of all the former three could do or effect for us, yet his intercession could do it to the utmost; for itself is the uttermost and highest. If money would purchase our salvation, his Death hath done it, which he laid down as a price and an equivalent ransom, (as it is in 1 Tim. ii. 6.) If power and authority would effect it, his sitting at God’s right hand, invested with all power in heaven and earth, shall be put forth to the utmost to effect it. If favour and entreaties added to all these (which oft-times doth as much as any of those other) were needful, he will use the utmost of this also, and for ever make intercession. So that if love, money, or power (any of them, or all of them) will save us, we shall be sure to be saved, saved to the utmost, ( eis to pantelcs) all manner of ways, by all manner of means; saved over and over.
For the clearing of this last general head, the Intercession of Christ, and the influence and security it hath into our faith and justification, I shall handle two things, and both proper to the text.
First, shew how unto all those other forementioned acts of Christ for us, this of Intercession also is to be added by him for the effecting our salvation, and the securing our hearts therein. This that particle also in the text calls for; Who also maketh intercession for us.
Then secondly to shew the security that faith may assume and fetch from this Intercession of Christ: or his praying for us in heaven; Who shall condemn? it is Christ that maketh intercession for us.