CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

4. This Mediatory prayer comes from him who not only because of his worth doth merit, or because of his dear Relation, The Father cannot deny him as you heard, but also from one whose affections and compassions are larger to thee then any of thy dearest Friends can be; You heard, that he was one who was touched with our infirmity, one who had gone under several Temptations that he might know experimentally how to succour those that are tempted; Oh now it's far better to have one praying for us that is experimentally tempted, or hath been, as we are, then ten thousand others; Non ignara mali miseris succurrere disco; So that so far as any grief or temptation may go without sin, so far Christ knoweth the meaning of it, and even for the guilt of sin and the displeasure of God, that he did undergo in the height of it: Thus he that intercedes for thee is one who knoweth the meaning of thy Temptations, of thy desertions, what it is to fear God hath forsaken thee.

4. This Mediatory praier comes from him who not only because of his worth doth merit, or because of his dear Relation, The Father cannat deny him as you heard, but also from one whose affections and compassions are larger to thee then any of thy dearest Friends can be; You heard, that he was one who was touched with our infirmity, one who had gone under several Temptations that he might know experimentally how to succour those that are tempted; Oh now it's farre better to have one praying for us that is experimentally tempted, or hath been, as we are, then ten thousand others; Non ignara mali miseris succurrere disco; So that so far as any grief or temptation may go without sinne, so far Christ knoweth the meaning of it, and even for the guilt of sinne and the displeasure of God, that he did undergo in the height of it: Thus he that intercedes for thee is one who knoweth the meaning of thy Temptations, of thy desertions, what it is to fear God hath forsaken thee.

5. A great aggravating consideration in this Mediatory prayer of Christ is the potency and prevalency of it; It is an almighty and omniscient prayer; Luther called the prayer of a Godly man so, how much rather may we say so of Christ himself: God said to Moses, Let me alone, as if his Prayer hindered him from doing what he would do: Jacob wrestled, and made Supplication, and prevailed with God, how much more doth Christ then prevail, and that upon two Titles: 1. of Justice, his Prayer is satisfactory and compensatory to God. And then 2. Because of Love, For he is the only begotten Son and well-beloved of his Father: The prevalency of Christs Mediatory Prayer is seen both for impetration and application, for as it is with his oblation of himself, so it is with his Intercession.