holy God, most highly provoked; and Rebellious finners, still continuing in their pro Vocation. This was his great work, that was upon his hands, 2 Cor. 5. 19, To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trefpaffes unto them.

(2.) That this affords great encouragement, so to come to Chrift, as being, upon this account, able to fave to the uttermoft. Hereby we fee, that what he either did, or fuffered, though but in his human Nature, though but for a little while, the whole time of his continuing vifibly in the World, being but 33 years (rather to fpeak exactly, but 32 years, and a half) was of infinite value and efficacy; which did arise from the Union of his two Natures; because the Perfon, though in the form of a Man, was the migh ty God, that Did fuch things, and Suffered fuch things. Now this is a great relief to Faith; yea fuch may be the temptation, that a humbled finner may be under, that nothing else can relieve, or afford any nourish ment, fo much (as we ufe to fay) to keep Life, and Soul together. For fuppofe this to be the cafe, as once it was,

of Symondsbury.

Mr. John Hardy of a godly Minifter in this County,who dyed but this last Summer. I had the Relation of it from himself, who was, for a time, in a great Ago

3

ny,

Iny, and this was his temptation; Why, faid Confcience (and Satan too, who stood behind the Curtain) Thy fins deferve an infinite punishment, for thou haft finned against an infinite God, and thou deservest Eternal death. And that Christ, in whom thou trufteft, he being Man, and fuffering only in his human Nature, he could fuffer only that which is finite. And the time of his fuffering was but fhort. How then can he by fuffering fo fhort a time, deliver from infinite fuffering, and Eternal death? This, as he told me, was the temptation that lay upon him, and how he was relieved. Even thus; The Lord brought it to his remembrance, and fet it home with a Divine impreffion upon his Spirit: That though Chrift fuffered only in his Human Nature; and though therefore all his fufferings were but finite; yet becaufe the Human Nature was United, in one Perfon,to the Divine Nature; hence, what the Human Nature did fuffer, though but for a time, was of fufficient value to ranfome from Eternal death. In fuch a cafe, nothing else could have done it. Nothing elfe can fupport any Soul, in fuch a condition. But this may, and this will, if believed, and wrought upon the heart, that the Lord hath laid help upon one that is migh ty, Pfal. 89.19.

2. Confider

2. Confider Chrift, in his Offices. (1.) In his Priestly Office. He is a great High-Prieft, Heb. 4. 14. Great, both in refpect of his Satisfaction, and of his Intercesfion; which are the two fpecial parts of his Prieftly Office. From both which, much Spiritual Food, for the nourishment of the Soul, unto the highest degree of prosperity it is capable of, may be received.

1. From the fatisfaction he hath made, to the justice of God, for all the wrong that fin hath done him, by the facrifice which he offered, which was Himself, unto death. With this, God was well pleafed, Eph. 5.2. And for this, he fhall fee the Souls of all his Seed to profper, Isa. 53. 10. Hereby his flefb became meat indeed, and his blood drink indeed. This clearly manifefts, that Christ is fuch an object for Faith to reft upon,as we may fafely adventure our Eternal ftate upon. For let any Man conceive himfelf in as fad a condition, as the fears, of an awakened Confcience can fuggeft. Suppofe he fees the guilt of all his fins before him, with all their aggravating circumstances, and apprehends God coming out against him, to require fatisfaction, to his justice, for them all. This is a dreadful fight, but in the midst of all the heighth, and depth of that terrour, which this may impress upon his Spirit; if God give in a fight of Christ,

as

as the great High-Prieft, as he made his Soul an Offering for fin; this is enough to draw forth an hearty act of dependence upon him, as able to fave to the uttermoft. This fupported David, when he was in great depths, that he had a fight of him, that in the Lord was plenteous Redemption, Pfal. 30. 1,2. with verf. 6, 7. This was the relief of the hunger-bitten Prodigal, That in his Father's houfe was bread enough, Luk. 15. 17. And it was the fpeech of a gracious Woman, of whom I have heard not long fince, that upon her Death-bed, being under great uncertainties, as to her Eternal condition. Did not ye tell me, faid he, to those that stood by her, that the blood of Fefus Chrift cleanfeth from all fins? And with that her Spirit Revived, and she slept fweetly in the Lord. This, indeed, may well fatisfie Confcience, for it fatisfies God himself; yea fo far fatisfie Confcience as to go boldly to the Throne of Grace, for what grace, or mercy foever is neceffary, for the life, and health, well-fare, and profperity of the Soul, Heb. 4. 16, Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace, that we may ob tain mercy, and find grace to help in time of

need.

2. As from Chrifts fatisfaction, which he made to the justice of God, whilst he was upon Earth; fo from the other act of his

Prieft

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Prieftly Office, his Interceffion which he makes in Heaven for finners, much Spiritual Food for the nourishment of our Souls may be had. What should hinder the re ceiving of it, but our daily repeated failings, and often renewed infirmities? But against the guilt of thefe, Chrift's appearing in Hea ven for us, prevails, that even when the Law is broken, the Covenant is not broken; fo that what Food for our Souls may be had from the Covenant (and there it is all to be had, 1 Joh. 2. 1, 2, If any Man fin, we have an Advocate with the Father, even Jefus Chrift the righteous. And he is the propitiation for our fins. His interceffion is as effectual as his fatisfaction, for he intercedes in the merits of his blood, Heb. 12.24, The blood of Chrift fpeaketh.

2. To fhew further, That all in Chrift is for the food and nourishment of the Soul, much, yea very much may be faid of that, which his Kingly Office affords, and likewise his Prophetical Office.

For his Kingly Office, he hath an abfolute Soveraignty over all, both Men, and Devils, Eph. 1. 21, 22. Far above all Principalities, and Powers, &c. He hath all things under his feet. He is head over all things to his Charch. Understand it of the Invifible Church especially, which is his Myftical Body, whereof he is the head. Eph. 5. 23, For

the