The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

2. For his Intercession, the Doctrine hitherto insisted on, renders him therein exceeding lovely and desirable. It tells you, that he doth pray the Father, and thereupon sends us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, for all the gracious acts and works, ends and purposes before mentioned, with innumerable other privileges that the Saints by him are made partakers of, and that to abide with us for ever, never to leave us, nor forsake us. That he continually appears in the presence of God for us, interceding that our Faith may not fail, pleading for us, in, and under all our decays, making out to us suitable supplies in all our Distresses, Temptations, Trials, Troubles, taking care that no Temptation befall us, but that a way also of escape be given to us, together with it. It tells us his Eye, even now he is in glory, is still upon us, seeing our wants, taking notice of our weakness, and providing for us, as his only concernment in the World, that we be not lost; That he hath not left one jot of that kindness, which he bare to his flock, his Lambs, his little ones. But pursues with all his strength, and all the interest he hath in Heaven, the work of their Salvation, which he came from his Fathers bosom to enter on, and returned to him again, to carry it on unto perfection; That, as the High Priest of old, he bears our names in his breast, and on his shoulders continually before his Father: So that in all our falls and failings, when we are in our selves helpless and hopeless, when there is nothing in us, nor about us, that can do us any good, or yield us any help or Consolation, yet on this account we may say, the Lord is our Shepherd, we shall lack nothing. He hath undertaken for us, and will bear us in his Arms, until he bring us to the bosom of his Father. Now whether such considerations as these, of the Oblation and Intercession of Christ, do not fill his Love in them, with a more constraining efficacy, and more draw out the hearts of the Saints unto Faith and Love, then any instruction can do, informing men of the uselessness of the one or other of these eminent Acts of his Mediation, for any of the ends and Purposes mentioned, let Believers judge.

2. For his Intercession, the Doctrine hitherto insisted on, renders him therein exceeding lovely and desireable. It tells you, that he doth pray the Father, and thereupon sends us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, for all the gratious acts and works, ends and purposes before mentioned, with innumerable other priviledges that the Saints by him are made partakers of, and that to abide with us for ever, never to leave us, nor forsake us. That he continually appears in the presence of God for us, interceding that our Faith may not faile, pleading for us, in, and under all our decayes, making out to us sutable supplies in all our Distresses, Temptations, Tryalls, Troubles, taking care that no Temptation befall us, but that a way also of escape be given to us, together with it. It tells us his Eye, even now he is in glory, is still upon us, seeing our wants, taking notice of our weaknesse, and providing for us, as his only concernment in the World, that we be not lost; That he hath not left one jot of that kindnesse, which he bare to his flock, his Lambs, his little ones. But pursues with all his strength, and all the interest he hath in Heaven, the worke of their Salvation, which he came from his Fathers bosome to enter on, and returned to him againe, to carry it on unto perfection; That, as the High Priest of old, he beares our names in his breast, and on his shoulders continually before his Father: So that in all our falls and failings, when wee are in our selves helpelesse and hopelesse, when there is nothing in us, nor about us, that can doe us any good, or yeeld us any help or Consolation, yet on this account we may say, the Lord is our Shepheard, we shall lack nothing. He hath undertaken for us, and will beare us in his Armes, untill he bring us to the bosome of his Father. Now whether such cosiderations as these, of the Oblation and Intercession of Christ, doe not fill his Love in them, with a more constraining efficacy, and more draw out the hearts of the Saints unto Faith and Love, then any instruction can doe, informing men of the uselesnesse of the one or other of these eminent Acts of his Mediation, for any of the ends and Purposes mentioned, let Believers judge.