Secondly, Christ performs his intercession-work in Heaven, not by a naked appearing in the presence of God only, but also by presenting his blood, and all his sufferings to God, as a moving plea on our account. 1Whether he make any proper oral intercession there, as he did on earth, is not so clear; some incline to it, and think it's countenanced by Zech. 1.12, 13. where Christ our intercessor presents a proper vocal request to the Father, in the behalf of his people. Saying, O Lord of Hosts how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem, and on the Cities of Judah, against whom thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years; and the Lord answered him with good and comfortable words. And so, Act. 2.23. As soon as he came to Heaven, he is said (and that as the first fruits of his Intercession) to obtain the promise of the Holy-Ghost. But sure I am, an Interceding voice, is by an usual prosopopoeia attributed to his blood; which in Heb. 12.24. is said to speak better things than the blood of Abel. Now Abel's blood, and so Christs, do cry unto God, as the hire of the Labourers unjustly detained; or the whole creation, which is in bondage through our sins, are said to cry and groan in the ears of the Lord. Jam. 5.4. Rom. 8.22. not vocally, but efficaciously. A rare illustration of this Efficacious Intercession of Christ in Heaven, we have in that famous story of Amintas, who appeared as an Advocate for his brother Aeschylus, who was strongly accused, and very likely to be condemned to die. Now Amintas having performed great services, and merited highly of the Common-Wealth; in whose service one of his hands was cut off ⟨p. 157⟩in the Field:2 he comes into the Court on his brothers behalf, and said nothing; but only lifted up his arm, and showed them cubitum sine manu, an arm without an hand; which so moved them without a word speaking, that they freed his brother immediately.
Secondly, Christ performs his intercession-work in Heaven, not by a naked appearing in the presence of God only, but also by presenting his blood, and all his sufferings to God, as a moving plea on our account. 1Whether he make any proper oral intercession there, as he did on earth, is not so clear; some incline to it, and think it's countenanced by Zech. 1.12, 13. where Christ our intercessor presents a proper vocal request to the Father, in the behalf of his people. Saying, O Lord of Hosts how long wilt thou not have mercy on Ierusalem, and on the Cities of Iudah, against whom thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years; and the Lord answered him with good and comfortable words. And so, Act. 2.23. As soon as he came to Heaven, he is said (and that as the first fruits of his Intercession) to obtain the promise of the Holy-Ghost. But sure I am, an Interceding voice, is by an usual prosopopeia attributed to his blood; which in Heb. 12.24. is said to speak better things than the blood of Abel. Now Abels blood, and so Christs, do cry unto God, as the hire of the Labourers unjustly detained; or the whole creation, which is in bondage through our sins, are said to cry and groan in the ears of the Lord. Iam. 5.4. Rom. 8.22. not vocally, but efficatiously. A rare illustration of this Efficatious Intercession of Christ in Heaven, we have in that famous story of Amintas, who appeared as an Advocate for his brother Aechylus, who was strongly accused, and very likely to be condemned to die. Now Amintas having performed great services, and merited highly of the Common-Wealth; in whose service one of his hands was cut off ⟨p. 157⟩in the Field:2 he comes into the Court on his brothers behalf, and said nothing; but only lifted up his arm, and shewed them cubitum sine manu, an arm without an hand; which so moved them without a word speaking, that they freed his brother immediately.
- 1Voluntate ac desiderio s o ardenti qu•nadmodum in terris antea secerat, ita & i• Coelis apud patrem mor•is s•a vim, atque •fficatiam novis ad salutem appli•a•i postul•t. Synops purior. Theol. p. 346.
- 2Aelian. Hist. lib 5 cap. 19.
