apoftie is encouraging them against affic-own eftimation: Who fhall lay any thing tions, he in a special manner laboureth to ftrengthen them on this hand, and fays, to the charge of God's elect? Ibo hall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? III. When guilt is armed against a poor fcul, and thereby he finds himfelf in hazard of condemnation, he cannot choofe but faint and be difcouraged in the day of adverfity; for which caufe believers had need to keep their intereft in Chrift and pardon clear, in a time of trial and adverfity: therefore the apoftle fets himself against this, to prevent their fainting, and tays, Who fhall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that juflifieth. IV. Believers, by perceiving the grace of God in themselves, and how God has efficacioufly picked them out from among the reft of the finful race of man, may win to know that they were chofen of God from all eternity, and belong to his election of grace; for to fortify them against all accufations, and to perfuade them, that how many, and how grievous accufations and crimes foever their adverfaries fhall table against them, they fhall certainly be born out and overcome, and their enemies fhall fhoot fhort, he tells them, that they are elected; .which would be no ground of comfort, if it were altogether impoffible to be known that they were fo: therefore he adds, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? V. However our spiritual enemies be ftiil drawing up bills of indictment against us, who have fled in to Chrift by faith; yet there is no weapon formed against Ifrael which shall profper; his queftion contain eth a negation in the bofom of it: fo that albeit temptations of this nature may cause many believers queftion their eftate for a long time, and be ready to pass a sentence against themselves as utterly loft and condemned; yet their accufers fhall never fo far prevail, as to get them indeed conden.med, whatever they may be in their when Satan is affaulting them with accu VI. That whereby believers are kept, fations, fo that he doth not overcome, is not any thing in themfelves; but all their ftock of ftrength lieth out of themfelves, in the free love of God, and thither must all believers betake themselves for shelter: therefore fays he, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? his election is made ufe of as a ground of encouragement to their faith in that day. dark, and not know that they are juflified; VII. Tho' believers may be long in the it may be a long time before their own coneven tho' they have really fled in to Chrift, fciences abfolve them; yet are all fuch as have really fled in to Chrift by faith, juftified and abfolved before the highest tribunal; even God, who is the Lord, Law giver, and Judge, who only is able to pardon offences, Ifa. xliii. 25. Luke xi. 21. he it is that paffeth the fentence of abfolution, Rom. iii. 30. Gal. iii. S. they are affoiled before the highest court: It is God that justifieth; so that they are juftified in the court of heaven. God, whereby he pronounceth us as righVIII. Juftification is fuch a real act of teous, pardoning our tranfgreffions, and freeing us from the curfe due to us for fin, fo as we are accepted as righteous, and for here it is oppofed to accufation and is not an infufing of righteoufnefs in us: condemnation, so that it is a freeing of us from the charge and accufation of fin, and from condemnation due therefore; Wh hall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth: who is he that condemneth? eft court of justice, need not much be vexIX. Believers being affoiled at the highed, whatever Satan, or a misinformed confcience, can charge them with, feeing they court of heaven; and the right coufideraare not able to refcind the acts of the tion of this, that they are abfolved there, being a redemption full and perfect, anwill comfort them against all and their not being acquainted herewith' Iwering to all its guilt and finfulness com makes them fo ready to comply, and ftrike in with their accufers, to their own prejudice for this is his reafon, why no accufation can hurt them, It is God that juftifieth. From Verfe 34th OBSERVE,. I. Not only are believers in hazard of having guilt charged home upon them, and particular tranfgreffions laid to their charge by the accufer of the brethren, but alfo to have a fentence drawn out against them by Satan and their own confcience, and this is the butt Satan levels at, and for which caufe he muiters up their iniquities before them: therefore fays he, Who shall condemn? II. Albeit our juftification be an act of God's free grace, and no way merited by us, either in whole or in part; yet the Lord being just and true, ftanding to the law, Gen. ii. 17. there could be no remiffion without beding of blood, Heb. ix. 22. and a valuable price behoved to be paid, and this is only Crit's death, which is our redemption, and the meritorious caufe of our juftification: therefore it is added as a ground of our juftification, It is Chrift that died. III. Seeing Chrift's death was fuch a valuable and worthy price, as fatisfied God himfelf, for all the fins of all the elect, which the Lord made to meet on him, Ifa. liii. 6. and is therefore called a price, or ranfon, Matth. xx. 28. 1 Tim. ii. 6. yea, plenteous redemption, Pfal. cxxx. 7. and thus the grace of our Lord is faid to have been exceeding abundant, (or redundant, more than enough, as the word importeth) 1 Tim. i. 14. the confideration thereof may abundantly stay and fettle a foul fhaken by Satan's accufations, and charging them with many iniquities muitered up with many aggravations; and fure, when faith vieweth Christ in his death, as pletely and abundantiy, it will not be fo foon put to a non-plus: When Satan and a deceitful heart tables accufations against. the poor foul, this is one of the triumphing grounds, It is Chrift that died. IV. Chrift Jefus did, truly and really lay: down his life, and there was a real feparation of his foul and body, fo that it was no fiction: for to verify that he died truly, it is faid, that he rofe again. V. Chrift's body lying in the grave for a time, where it could fee no corruption, Pfal xvi. 10. was really raised out of the grave, and really and naturally joined to his foul; yet fo as he loft not the effence, nor the effential properties of the human nature, only he was free of thefe infirmities, which a natural body, as natural, is fubject unto, his body being then fpiritual, 1 Cor. xv. 41. and which he fubjected himfelf unto, in a peculiar manner, as our cautioner,: Yea, rather that is rifen again. See Luke xxiv. 39. VI. As Chrift did of his own accord,'. willingly lay down his life, John x. 18. fo alfo by his own power, being God equal with the Father in power; he raised himfelf from the death: for it is faid, Yea rather, that is rifen again. See Rom. i.. 4. John ii. 19. VII. As Chrift's refurrection is a clear evidence that God himfelf is fatisfied, and has difcharged the debt; Chrift being our furety, Heb vii. 22. undertaking to pay our debt, was arrefted and caft into prifon, Ifa. liii. 8. and fo could not win out of prifon upon any terms, till fatisfaction was had; fo hence alfo believers may be perfuaded that their juftification is fure before God, he being a common perfon in all that he did or fuffered as Mediator, and his juftification, and absolution from the debt he lay under, being virtually theirs therefore he addeth, as another ground of juftification, Yea rather, that is rifen again. 1. VIII. Chrift's refurrection being his coming out of prifon, as having fulfilled | IX. Tho' the death of Chrift rightly taken up, may abundantly fortify a foul against all accufations of Satan; yet there is more ground of triumph in his refurrection, this being a folemn discharge from all fin and condemnation, payment being made in his death, there is a fubfcribed difcharge had in his refurrection, fo as now a believer hath no caufe to fear damnation, let Satan multiply accufations as he can; which should cause believers ftudy well the right way of making use of his refurrection: therefore fays he, Yea rather, that is rifen again. crifice he offered, and fo well-pleafed as to fet him down on his right hand, (a great token of honour, 1 Kings ii. 19. Pfal. xlv. 9. Matth. xx. 21. and which was not granted to angels, Heb. i. 13.) and as one who entered heaven for our good, John xiv. 2. yea, and in our names, he being our forerunner, Heb. vi. 20. and hence our place is fure, Heb. xii. 23. 1 Pet. i. 5. and fet down at the Father's right hand, as having power to right his own children, and give them what is purchased for them, and what he left them in his teftament, John xvii. 2. and to deftroy his enemies, and the enemies of his church, Pfal. cx. 1. yea, and fat down as our head, may abundantly afcertain believers of their being free from condemnation, however they be exèrcifed with particular accufations: for to ftrengthen them the more against thefe onfets, he adds, (as it were ex fuperabundanti) and is even at the right hand of God. XII. As under the law, the high-priest, and he alone, did enter into the holy of holies, with the blood of the facrifice which he had killed without, Lev. xvi. 11. 14. 15. 16. 17. all which were patterns of things heavenly, Heb. ix. 23. fo Chrift Jefus, who is called a great high-priest, Heb. iv. 14. after he had offered himself X. Chrift Jefus as our Mediator, was advanced to great glory and dominion, having great power and majefty, and great authority, having all things under his power, Eph. i. 22. &c. Matth. xxviii. 18. and fo as being governor, he ruleth alla facrifice to the death, Heb. ix. 26. carthings, in and for his church, having a name above every name, Phil. ii. 9. 10. 11. and has all things under his fubjection, Heb. ii. 7. 8. for he is here faid to fit at the right hand of God, and this right hand is called, a right hand of the majesty on high, Heb. i. 3. and the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens, Heb. viii. 1. fo it is called, the right hand of the throne of God, Heb. xii. 2. See Pfal. cx. 1. 1 Cor. ried his blood into the holy of holies, Heb. ix. 12. and there appears, Heb ix. 24. fends up a cloud of incenfe, Rev. viii. 3. &c. yea, without this act of his prieft-hood, he had not been a complete prieft, but had left his office imperfect, Heb. viii. 4. and thus he was a priest for ever, after the order of Melchifedeck, Pfal. cx. 4. therefore it is faid, who also maketh interceffion for us. XIII. Tho' Chrift be now exalted to great honour and dignity, being fet down as our Head and Mediator at the right hand of God, and fo crowned with unfpeakable glory and majefty, power and dominion; yet doth he not forget his poor brethren in the body, but even there afts acts the part of a priest and interceffor for them, having still a tender and kindly fympathy with, and brotherly love to them; as he fits at the right hand of God as King, fo doth he enter, and fit down as priest: for it is faid, Who alfo (even at the right hand of God) maketh interceffion for us. XIV. Christ's interceffion doth no way infringe his oblation, as if it had not been perfect, nor accepted of God, as fatisfactition complete for the fins of the elect; for notwithstanding hereof, his one offering is faid to perfect us for ever, Heb. x. 14. and thereby he obtained an eternal redemp tion, Heb. ix. 12. and thus being made perfect by fuffering, he became the author of eternal falvation, Heb. v. 8. 9. So then. these two parts of his office do no way juttle in his death he paid the whole fum, and the oblation was then as perfect as could be, and yet there was another action remaining, viz. his interceffion; for albeit be died and rofe again, in fign and token that juftice was fat sfied, and was fet down at the right hand of God, in fign and token that the Father was well pleafed with him; yet moreover, he is faid, to make interceffion. XV. Tho' Chrift's death was a full and complete price, wanting nothing for the urmoft fatisfaction of justice; yet it was neceffary, that he fhould moreover agent and advocate our caufe at the bar of God, that fo he might be a priest for ever, having an unchangeable priest-hood, Heb. vii. 21. 24 25. he might have work and be at work still, seeing he was confecrated for ever, Heb. vii. 28. and fo he might apply the purchafed redemption, or be the author or applying cause of eternal falvation, as a priest after the order of Melchifedeck, Heb. v. 9. 10. that the whole glory of the whole work of our falvation, firft and laft, might be his, to whom alone>it is due, and that God's mercy and free grace might fhine forth in our falvation thus by his interceffion, as juftice appeared in his fatisfaction; fo that all his priest hood would have been ineffectual, if he had not thus fulfilled his office: therefore, as the cop-ftone of all, this is added, with an also, when he fays, Who alfo maketh interceffion for us. XVI. As the elect of God food in need of this interceffion, for their firft juftification by faith, and being fprinkled with blood, (which Chrift now doth while in heaven, Heb. xii. 24. feeing it is added, which speaketh better things; fee 1 Pet.i. 2.) fo even after they are juftified, they ftand in need still of his interceffion; as for the continuation of their juftification and every fresh act of it, fo for every pardon of particular iniquities commited after; yea, this feems to be the great end of his interceffion, 1 John ii. 1. 2. or to be eminently the work of it; not that his death was not the procuring caufe of the pardon of thofe fins; and thus he faves to the uttermoft, even by making interceffion, Heb. vii. 25. Believers are, and fill will be standing in need of Chrift's working in his offices: for fays he, he maketh interceffion for us, even us believers. XVII. As believers will stand in need always of Chrift's work in the execution of his priestly office, having many accufations given in against them, which he only muft answer, daily failings which call for his help, and prayers and other duties to perform, which he muft perfume with his incenfe, Rev. viii. 3. 4. for by him we come to God, Heb. vii. 25. and offer facrifice, Heb. xiii. 15.; fo he is daily about his office, and his work lieth on his hand for ever, and so he is a priest for ever, Pfal. cx. 4. Heb. v. 6. and vii. 16 17. and has a ftanding office as our advocate, 1 John ii. 1. and is an agent and folicitor for us, Heb. ix. 24. fo it is faid, who maketh interceffion, as being his conttant employment, and the work he is ftill about, XVIII. Chrift Jefus doth not now interceed with ftrong cries and tears, as in his eftate of humiliation; but having a fympathy, and a native fenfible feeling of Τι our our infirmities, Heb. ii. 17. 18. and iv. 15. a fympathy which is finless and perfect, and is awakened by his union with his members; he has, as it were, a natural inclination to have these evils redreffed, and for this cause he appeareth in our nature, in the merit of his facrifice, Heb. ix. 12. 14. and thereby fpeaketh his purpose to have our evils remedied, and declareth his willingness to have all made out which was promised, and that with a holy and reverent adoration, suitable to him as Mediator now glorified; being yet, as head of the body and Mediator, inferior to the Father, and therefore he is faid to pray the Father, John xiv. 16. and xvi. 26. and thus he is expecting to have his enemies made his footflool, Heb. x. 13.: Who maketh interceffion. XIX. As the confideration of Chrift's interceffion may abundantly confirm the faith of believers touching the certainty of their falvation, feeing it is his work to fave to the uttermoft, completely and ful ly, Heb. xii. 25. and not by halves nor upon fuppofition, and thus his honour is engaged, as being furety, even to bring thofe he died for to falvation; fo may the confideration of it corroborate and confirm us against all accufations and fears, from whatever airth they come, feeing he is a great high priest, Heb. iv. 14. 16. fo great with God that he cannot but prevail, being his natural fon, Heb. iv. 14. vii. 25. with 28. and fo God as well as man, and a fon for ever, Heb. vii. 28. and one with himself, and dearly beloved, and fo can deny him nothing, Pfal. ii. 7. 8. yea, and a fon who has been obedient, Heb. v. 8. and thereby glorified God, John xvii. 4. feeing alfo he is placed in that office by the will and appointment of the Father, Pfalm cx. 4. and pleads upon the grounds of juice; being our advocate, he pleads upon his being a propitiation, 1 John ii. 1. 2. his blood itself speaks, Heb. xii. 24. and that in heaven too, Heb. xii. 22. 23. 24. and he feconds the cry thereof himself, feeing alfo he hath power to do what he will himself, as an abfolute monarch, John v. 21. 26. and fe fays no more in his prayer but, I will, John xvii. 24. and fo he cannot be faid nay, Zech. i. 13. Father and Son having but one will, John x. 30. and seeing he is interceeding with his own Father, John ii. 1. John xx. 7. and fo cannot but be answered, John xi. 41. 42. feeing the promised to hear him, even upon that score, Pfal. ii. 8. yea, and with our Father, John xiv. 28. and xvi. 26. 27. feeing also his interceffion extends to all cafes and all perfons that will come, and that to the uttermoft degree, Heb. vii. 25. and is most free, not hindered by our staying back, Ifa. lxv. 24. nor our fin, but thereby the more ftirred up; as a tender parent is affected with the child's ftraits, tho' procured by its own folly. I fay, the confideration of this his interceffion upon these fcores, may caufe believers abundantly to triumph against all that Satan, the world, or a falfe heart can fay: for this is added as another ground of triumph, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is Chrift that is making interceffion for us. VERSES 35. 36. 37. Who fhall feparate us from the love of Christ? hall tribulation, or diftrefs, or perfecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or fword? (As it is written, For thy fake we are kill ed all the day long; we are accounted as Sheep for the flaughter) Nay in all thefe things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. HE apoftle having laid down fuch T excellent, and tranfcendently worthy grounds of triumph, cannot foon win of them, but must yet extract further from thence, foul-fatisfying and heart-rejoicing conclufions, and fo go on in his gloriou triumph, and further challenging all ene mies whatsoever, to do what they ca and fo cuteth the glove, to speak fo, an therefore he crieth out, Who shall fepa rate us from the love of Chrift? having no g |