A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

7. Lastly, present all into the hands of Christ. This was signified of old by praying towards the Temple, ¹because the golden mercy-seat typifying Christ was there; he is ordained of God to offer gifts and sacrifices, and therefore 'tis of necessity that he should have something from us to offer, being^(a) the high priest over the house of God. What does Christ on our behalf at the throne of grace? Put some Petition into the hands of Christ, he waits f•r our offerings at the door of the oracle; leave the sighs and groans of thy heart with this compassionate intercessor, who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, ³who sympathizes with our weaknesses. He that lies in the Father's bosom and hath^(b) expounded the Will of God to us, adds^(c) much incense to the prayers of all Saints before the throne of God, and explains our Wills to God;^(d) so that our prayers perfumed by his, are set forth as incense before him. He is the^(e) days-man, the heavens-man betwixt God and us. Whatever we ask in his name, he puts into his golden censer^(f), that the Father may give it to us. When the sweet smoke of the incense of Christ's prayer ascends before the Father, our prayers become sweet and amiable and cause a savour of rest with God. This I take to be one reason why the prevalency of prayer is so often assigned to the time of the evening sacrifice, pointing at the death of Christ, about^(g) the 9th hour of the day, near the time of the evening oblation. Hence it was that Abraham's sacrifice received a gracious answer, being offered