fhamed by the Lord's goodnefs, when he has condescended to bestow fpecial and needful mercies upon us, before we thought of afking for them? These are affecting proofs of our Interceffor's attention and care, and that he is always mindful of us. But

power.

II. Jefus, the High Prieft is upon a throne. He is a King, King of faints, and King of nations. He is not only a righteous advocate, but he poffeffes all authority and And it belong to his office as King, effectually to manage for those in whose behalf he intercedes. I have already obferved, that the original word, includes this fense.

1. He is the fource and fountain of their fupplies. All their fprings are in him. The fulnefs of wisdom, grace, and confolation, out of which they are invited to receive, refides in him. And, therefore, he fays, If ye afk any thing in my name, I will do it *. Not merely I will present your petitions, but I will fulfil them myself. For all things are committed into his hands, and it is he with whom we have to do +. He, therefore, enjoins us, If we believe, or trust in God, to believe alfo in him.

His invita

‡ John xiv. 1.

tions, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. Whofoever will, let him take of the water of life, freely † ; equally exprefs his fovereignty and his munificence. On him the eyes of all who know him, wait from age to age, and are not disappointed. He opens his hand, and fatisfies them with good. Nor is the ftore of his bounty diminished, by all that he has diftributed, for it is unfearchable and inexhauftible; like the light of the fun, which gladdens the eyes of millions at once, has done fo from the beginning, and will continue to do so, to the end of time.

2. He appoints and adjusts their various difpenfations, with an unerring suitableness to their several states, capacities, and circumstances. If a skilful gardener had the command of the weather, he would not treat all his plants, nor the fame plant at all times, exactly alike. Continual rain, or continual funshine, would be equally unfavourable to their growth and fruitfulness. In his kingdom of Providence, he fo proportions the rain and the funfhine to each other, that the corn is ufually brought forward, from the * John vii. 37. + Rev. xxi. 17. + Pf. cxlv. 17.

feed to the blade, the ear, and the full ripe ear. And I believe it would be always so, were it not for the prevalence of fin, which fometimes makes the heavens over our head brass, the earth under our feet, iron *, and turns a fruitful land into barrennefs. So, in his kingdom of grace, he trains his people up by various exercises. He delights in their profperity, and does not willingly grieve them. But afflictions, in their prefent ftate, are neceffary, and his bleffing makes them falutary. But this is their great privilege, that their comforts and their croffes are equally from his hand, are equally tokens of his love, and alike directed to work together for their good. He appoints the bounds of their habitations, numbers the hairs of their heads, and is their guide and guard, their fun and shield, even unto death. Here they meet with many changes, but none that are unnoticed by him, none that can feparate them from his love, and they all concur, in leading them on, to a state of unchangeable and endless joy †.

3. He is the Captain of their falvation ‡. They are his foldiers, and fight under his *Deut. xxviii. 23. † 2 Cor. iv. 17. ‡ Heb. ii. 10.

eye;

eye; yet the battle is not theirs, but his." Ifrael, of old, were to mufter their forces, to range themselves for the fight, to use every precaution and endeavour, as though fuccefs depended entirely upon themselves. Yet, they obtained not the victory by their own fword, but it was the Lord who fought for them, and trod down their enemies before them; and they had little more to do, than to pursue the vanquished, and to divide the fpoil. And thus it is in the warfare, which true Christians maintain, not against flesh and blood only, but against principalities and powers *; against the spirit of the world, and against fatan and his legions. They fight in his caufe, but he upholds them and conquers for them. Their enemies are too many and too mighty for them to grapple with in their own ftrength. But he rebukes them, and pleads the cause of his people. His gracious interpofition in their favour, is beautifully fet forth, together with its effects, in the vifion which the prophet saw, when he was fent to encourage the rulers and people of the Jews, against the difficulties they met with, when rebuilding the temple. Eph. vi. 12.

*

He faw' Joshua the high priest, who, in that character, represented the collective body of the people, ftanding before the Lord, clothed in filthy garments, and fatan standing at his right hand to refift him *. Such is our attire as finners, all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and fuch are the attempts of our enemy, to deter us from approaching to him who alone can relieve us, or, to diftrefs us when we appear before him. before him. But when Joshua could not fpeak for himself, the Lord fpake for him, claimed him for his own, as a brand plucked out of the fire, filenced his adversary, clothed him with change of raiment, and fet a fair mitre upon his head. Thus David acknowledged the Lord's goodness, in providing him a table in the midst of his enemies; who faw, with envy, his privileges, but were not able to prevent his enjoyment of them. Many a time, the Lord thus comforts and feeds his people, while waiting on him in fecret, or attending his public ordinances: and were our eyes opened, like the eyes of Elifha's fervant, to behold what is very near, though unfeen, we should feel the force of the Pfalmift's obfervation. + Pf. xxiii. 3.

* Zech. iii. I-4.

The