Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of Jesus as carrying on the great work of mans salvation from first to last / by Isaac Ambrose ...

SECT. III. Of desiring after Jesus in that respect.

3. LEt us desire after Jesus carrying on this work of our salvation in his intercession. I cannot but wonder what a dulness seizeth on my heart, and on all the hearts of the Sons of men, that we have no more longings after Christ, whose heart is ever panting and longing after us. Surely we do not set our selves to find out experimen∣tally the sweetness that is in Christ; if there were not another object to think upon, but only this one of Christ's intercession, is not here enough to put us all into a teem∣ing longing frame? O my soul, rouze up, and set this blessed object before thy face? take a full view of it untill thy affections begin to warm, and thou beginst to cry, Oh for my part in Christ's intercession! Oh I would not be left out of Christ's heavenly prayers for ten thousand worlds! come and be serious! the object is admirably sweet and preci∣ous; long for it, pant after it! God understands the Rhetorick of thy breathing, as well as of thy cry. But what is there in Christ's intercession that is so desirable? I answer—

1. In Christ's intercession lyes the present transaction of our souls salvation. Such passages as hitherto we have spoken of are done and past; the transactions of eter∣nity, were at an end when time began; the transactions of Christ promised, had their period when Christ was incarnate; the transactions of Christ's Birth, and life and death, and resurrection, and ascension, are now above a thousand and six hun∣dred years old; I know the vertue and influence of all these transactions continue, and will continue for ever and ever, but the several actings had their periods; and only Christ's session, and mission of his spirit, and his blessed intercession both were, and now are the very present imployment of Jesus Christ. If it were possible that we could see into Heaven, if with Stephen we could look up steadfastly, and see the Heavens opened; if our eyes by an extraordinary power were carryed through that azure sky, and through all till we come to the Holy of Holies, and to Jesus Christ in his glory; what should we see but Christ interceding, Christ busie with his Father in his poor Saints behalf? now he prayes, now he presents his per∣son, merits, intercession, interpellation, q. d. Father, here are a company of Rebels

justly fallen under thy displeasure, they deserve to be set at an eternal distance from thee, but I must needs have them pardoned, and received into thy bosom; come, make thine own terms, let justice require never so great satisfaction, I have paid a price sufficient for all, and effectual for them; give them what laws thou pleasest, I will undertake they shall observe them; and to this purpose away, away holy spirit, go to such and such souls; enable them to their duties, yea, enable them in duty, and sanctifie them throughout in souls; bodies and spirits. Why, this is the present transaction of Jesus Christ, and therefore most desi∣rable; methinks I long to know what Christ is now a doing in Heaven for my soul; and is it not thus, is not all his time spent either in reading pardons for his redeemed ones; or in presenting petitions from them, and pleading for them. Surely he is still inter∣ceding every day, it is his present work for our souls, O desirable work!

2. In this present transaction lies the application of all Christ's former actings, whe∣ther of his habitual righteousness, or of his active and passive obedience. All those pas∣sages of Christ's incarnation, conception, circumcision, birth, life, and death, which more especially we look upon, as the meritorious causes of our salvation, had been nothing to us, if they had not been applyed by Christ: they were the means of impetration, but Christ's intercession is the means of application: Christ purchased sal∣vation by those precedaneous acts, but he possesseth us of our salvation by this perfec∣tive and consummate act of his intercession. The order of this is laid down by the Apostle, in that first, He learned obedience by the things which he suffered, and then being made perfect, he became the Author (or applying cause) of eternal salvation to all them that obey him; being to this purpose, called of God an High-Priest after the order of Mel∣chizedeck. Now is not this the desirable act above all other acts? Alas! what am I better for a Mine of Gold in such, or such, or such a field, in which I have no propriety at all? I am throughly convinc'd that Christ's merits are most precious merits, but oh that they were mine! Oh that Christ's intercessions would bring the salve, and lay it to my sore! Oh that I could hear that voice from Heaven, My son, I was incarnate for thee, and con∣ceived for thee, and born for thee, and circumcised for thee, and I did the Law, and suffered the penalty for thee; and now I am interceding that thy very soul may have the be∣nefit of all my doings, and of all my sufferings. Why, if Christ's intercessions be the ap∣plying cause, if it bring home to my soul all the former transactions of Christ, saying, All these are thine, even thine, oh how desirable must this intercession be?

3. In this application lies that communion and fellowship which we have with the Fa∣ther and the Son: I pray for these, that as thou Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us. Understand this soberly, we cannot think that there should be that oneness in equalitie betwixt God and us, as betwixt God and Christ; no, no, but there is oneness in similitude and reallity, even in this life; by vertue of Christ's inter∣cession we have oneness with God and Christ, not onely in comforts, but also in graces; I pray you mark this: when I speak of communion with God in this life, I mean espe∣cially the communication of grace between God and the soul; on God's part there's a special influence of grace and favour to man; and on man's part, there is a special re∣turn of grace and honour to God. Some trembling souls are apt to think, that all com∣munion with God and Christ consists only in the comforts of the holy spirit, whereas Christians may as really and advantagiously have communion with God in secret convey∣ances of grace, inward supports, in a concealed acceptation of service, in the hidden drawings of the soul God-ward, as in the more open, and comfortable manifestations of God unto the soul; communion with God is a familiar friendship (I speak it in an holy humble sence) now do we not as usually go to a friend for councel and advice, as for comfort and cheering? in a friends bosom we intrust our sorrows as well as our joys. Suppose a soul even spiritually overwhelmed, and ready to break, be taking it self unto God, and venting it self before the Lord; now if afterwards the soul hath no more case, than by the bare lanching of the sore, if God pours in no balm at all, but only gives support; shall we say that this soul in this case hath no communion with God? O yes! in God's secret visits of the soul, and in the souls restless groping after God, though nothing but darkness be apprehended, yet that soul lives in the light of God's countenance; the Sun shines, though a cloud interposeth; God smiles though the soul do not perceive it; or certainly thou hast his strengthening-supporting presence, if not his shining; now this is the fruit of Christ's blessed intercession; and this is the sub∣ject-matter of Christ's intercessions, O my Father, that these may be one in us; I in them, and thou in me; I in them by the influence and power of my Spirit, and

thou in me by the fulness and power of the Godhead. And is not this a most desirable thing?

4. In this communion lyes the vision and fruition of Jesus Christ in glory, grace brings to glory; If communion here, we shall have communion hereafter; and this also is a part of Christ's prayer and intercession, Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me. Jesus cannot be in Heaven long without his Saints; indeed it is impossible that Christ should be in Heaven, and that pieces and bits of Christ-mystical should be in Hell, or yet long on Earth. Christ will draw in his Legs and Members on earth up nearer to the Head; certainly Christ and you that are believers must be under one roof ere long. Is not he gone before to prepare a place, yea, many mansions for you; we think them happy on earth that have their many stately Halls and Palaces; their summer, and their winter-houses. O Christians! how happy will you be when you come to be Lords and Heirs of many stately Mansions in the streets of Heaven? but what speak I of Mansions now I am naming Christ? Mansions are nothing, many Mansions are but little, yea, many Mansions in Christ's Fathers house, are but created chips of happiness, in comparison of that communion which by vertue of Christ's intercession we shall have with Christ. It is the saying of an eminently learned holy Divine, I should refuse hea∣ven (saith he) if Christ were not there; take Christ away from Heaven, and it's but a poor, dark, heartless dwelling; Heaven without Christ would look as the direful land of death. And therefore after Christ had spoke of many Mansions, and of a place that he would prepare for his Saints, he adds further to increase their joy, I will come again (saith he) and receive you unto my self, that where I am, there ye may be also. Mansi∣ons are but as places of bryers and thornes without Jesus Christ, and therefore I would have Heaven for Christ, and not have Christ for Heaven; O this communion with Christ is above all desirable, and this is the subject-matter of Christ's prayer, Father I would have the Saints to be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory. Why, this is the communion which the Saints shall have with Christ, never will their eyes be off-him, never will their thoughts wander after any other objects; O the intimacy that will be then betwixt Christ and Christians! Oh what communication of glory will there be to each other! These shall walk with me (saith Christ) for they are worthy.

O my soul, if this be the business of Christ's intercession, if all these particulars are contained in the bowels of this one transaction, how is it that thou art not in a fainting swoon? how is it that thou art not gasping, groaning, sick unto death with the vehement thirst after thy part and portion in Christ's intercession? if there be such a thing as the passion of desire in this heart of mine, O that now it would break out! Oh that it would vent it self with mighty longings, and infinite aspirings after this blessed Object! why Lord I desire, but help thou my faint desires; blow on my dying spark, it is but little; and if I know any thing of my heart, I would have it more; Oh that my spark would flame! why Lord I desire that I might desire; Oh breath it into me, and I will desire after thee.

Notes

• Heb. 5.8, 9, 10.
• John 17.21.
• John 17.23.
• John 17.24.
• John 14.2.
• Sam. Ruther∣ford.
• John 14.3.
• Rev. 3.4.