A Body of Practical Divinity

Quest. In what manner Christ intercedes?

Quest. In what manner Christ interceeds?

Answ. 1. Freely; he pleads our Cause in Heaven, and takes no Fee. An ordinary Lawyer will have his Fee, and sometimes a Bribe too; but Christ is not Mercenary: How many Causes doth he plead every day in Heaven, and will take nothing. As Christ laid down his Life freely, John 10.15, 18. so he intercedes freely.

Answ. 1. Freely; he pleads our Cause in Heaven, and takes no Fee. An ordinary Lawyer will have his Fee, and sometimes a Bribe too; but Christ is not Mercenary: How many Causes doth he plead every day in Heaven, and will take nothing. As Christ laid down his Life freely, Iohn 10.15, 18. so he interceeds freely.

2. Feelingly; He is sensible of our condition as his own; Hebr. 4.15. We have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmity. As a tender hearted Mother would plead with a Judge for a Child ready to be condemned; O how would her Bowels work, how would her Tears trickle down, what weeping Rhetoric would she use to the Judge for Mercy. Thus the Lord Jesus is full of Sympathy and Tenderness, Hebr. 2.17. that he might be a merciful High Priest. Though he hath left his Passion, yet not his Compassion. An ordinary Lawyer is not affected with the Cause he pleads, nor doth he care which way it goes. It is Profit makes him plead, not Affection. But Christ intercedes feelingly; and that which makes him intercede with Affection, is, it is his own Cause which he pleads. He hath shed his Blood to purchase Life and Salvation for the Elect, and if they should not be saved, he would lose his purchase.