with regard to God or man: with regard to God, the justice which required and the mercy which gave Jesus; with regard to man, the depth of depravity into which he had fallen, or the height of holiness to which he may be raised.

Many persons, and indeed good men, when considering this topic, carry their minds to the cross, and there leave them; but this is not the most important. *** We have an Advocate !

I. Consider the character and qualifications of our Advocate above!

St. Paul never fails to set the Gospel before us in its most alluring point of view; at one time, beseeching us by the tender mercies of God, so abundantly displayed in the redemption scheme, and in our text by the tender compassion of our High-priest, Christ Jesus.

He is writing to Jews, whom he wished to wean from rites and ceremonies; but how tender of their prejudices! He was well conversant with the human heart; he knew its attachment to some one thing above others, and particularly when this was considered excellent in its own nature, and truly so with regard to its author; he was willing that, though the New Jerusalem is founded on the apostles of the Lamb, the gates should bear the names of the tribes of Israel; to have made a Babel of Judaism, and raise Christ's (Church) on its ruins would have been absurd; the Jew would always say, "We know that God spake by Moses." But man will always give up a lesser for a greater good; upon the priesthood the whole law depended; and if he could convince the Jew of the superiority of the claim of the new priesthood to that of Aaron, he might hope for success. He shows them that this most sacred office in the Jewish polity was continued in our dispensation (verse 14): "We have a great High-priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God; let us therefore hold fast our profession"-and now he describes his character and our privilege.

The high-priest was also the advocate with God for the people; he had not only to offer the sacrifice to God, but to make intercession thereon. In this latter part of his duty we

shall describe the High-priest of our profession-a comfortable character for believers to behold.

The necessary qualifications for an advocate are,

1. Wisdom. If an advocate is not possessed of this, he can never succeed; he must have the fullest information on every possible point, &c.-That he might enter the better into our state, he took our nature on him and was made man; he entered into our circumstances; though, as God, he "knew all our members ere they were formed," yet he would know them as man likewise, that he might be Jesus, more effectually-that we might not despondingly say, "Doth God know ?"-This wisdom our High-priest possesses in an eminent degree-himself "the wisdom of God" "Logos"-" In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom." -He knows whereof we are made, and reads the heart.

This was not possessed by the high-priest under the law; it made man that had infirmities. He was not "the very image," &c.—he knew not the dispositions of the people for whom he was sprinkling the blood, nor the sincerity of their humble claim for mercy; he could not read their hearts; but ours does; and with pure consciences we appeal to him and say, "Lord, thou knowest all things." Wonderful Counsellor! Well might Paul call him a Great Highpriest.

2. Influence. If not this, with all his wisdom, our advo cate could not succeed; he must be removed far above the transgressor in influence, and nearly allied to the offended; as the Son of Majesty!

The high-priest had no influence abstract from his office: he too was a sinner on a level with the party for whom he interceded, and had no dignity or worth to undertake our cause: a mere man; himself liable to punishment; nay, a son of man; confessed his own desert of the same punishment with the sinner by the sacrifice he offered for his own sins; he had no boldness therefore.

But Jesus is the Son of God! equal to the Father upon one side, and yet on the other allied to the offender! A kin ito both! We are his brethren! and yet he is the Father's well-beloved and only SON!-heir of all things! in whom

his soul delights. Such is his influence, that the Father will freely give all things for his sake: "Whatsoever ye ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."-He repeats it: Ask what you will. He has all power in heaven and on earth, and has been exalted in our nature to the Mediatorial throne; we have a friend at court! These two qualities of the High-priest are given in the 14th verse: "Seeing then that we have a great Highpriest, that is passed into the Heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession."

3. Sympathy. This quality is beautifully expressed: "We have not a high-priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."-Sympathy means love, ardent love to the creature arising from having experienced the same himself. * * * In vain the two former qualities constitute an effectual advocacy, unless he entered feelingly into the party's case; and this could not be unless he had been in like circumstances. An advocate may plead for a bribe, but his heart cannot compassionate.

The high-priest could not enter into the feelings of the people; his rank placed him far removed from many of those scenes in which they needed peculiar sympathy.

It behooved Jesus then to be made in all things like unto his brethren; in all their afflictions he was afflicted; he entered into their sorrows before he would die for their sins, that he might be a merciful High-priest, &c. He knows whereof we are made; he had before him the view of the intercession he should have to make for us, and anticipating the advantages thereof, his heart rejoiced, his tongue was glad, and for the joy set before him, he endured the cross, that he might be able to succour them that are tempted. Thus also it behooved him to suffer; "he was a man of sorrows!"

The other ingredient in sympathy is love; ardent, burning. -Love induced him to undertake the task; and now that he has accomplished it, will his love abate? Nay, he loved them the more he suffered; yea, loved them to the end!O! the bowels of Christ!

Examine this a little more.

1. "He can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” This may mean the natural calamities, sufferings, heaviness, &c., consequent of our union to a body of flesh and blood! (Watson on the Resurrection-praying in a corner, &c.)

Poverty? He was poor indeed!-had nowhere to lay his head; often on the ground-sometimes he lodged at Bethany, even after the honours of his entry into Jerusalem. Family affliction? See him at the grave of Lazarus !— groaned! felt it acutely! he wept!

Suffering? Look at his !—The angels are yet pondering over it and remember, this was for you! In every state he can compassionate; in every case. you may hear him whisper, "I have felt the same." He knows how, the best way, to succour such.-(Dwell on a few instances.)

There is something infectious in sorrow; tears will communicate. See the woman with the issue of blood; no need now to say, "Who shall ascend into heaven? that is, to bring down Christ from above." He is nigh to all them that call upon him; a sigh can reach his heart; he can yet be touched.

2. But he was tempted as we are, and that in all points. Satan ejected all his darts at him; emptied the quiver; and at certain seasons He said emphatically, "This is your hour and the power of darkness."-Hell was let loose at his devoted spirit. No sinner was ever tempted as he was. Satan appeared in a tangible shape.-Tempted with riches, honours, pleasures; hard thoughts of God; fear of holding out; with anger" to call down fire," &c.-with pride, &c.-The world and Satan both allured; every bait was used; sometimes so sharp, he cried: "O Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me."-But so far from its passing away, it increased, and he cried, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" His confidence as his Father seemed tried to the uttermost; yet though he uses the term God, he cries my God, &c. He withstood them all-want of bread was tried-without sin!-he conquered for us; though he fainted, he never fell! ✶ ✶✶ It is no sin to be tempted,

and all may resist; for our strength is that of Christ. It rests on us!

Now, Christ feeling all these, pleads for us; how, we know not; it is hidden from us, and we ought not to ask; but we see his fitness.

II. Our duty, and the way of performing it. come boldly unto the throne of grace."

"Let us

This throne occu

pies all space. Jesus sits on it; it is his mediatorial throne. It is not a throne of justice; it has been sprinkled upon by the blood of the everlasting covenant, and is rendered a propitiatory, not a justice seat.-See the Holy of Holies."Come boldly," not like the rationalist, cold and unfeelingly; nor like those who cry, dear Saviour, sweet Jesus, &c.; but the middle path, having a sense of what we, the addressers, are, and whom we are addressing. 1. Come as Elias came, fervent prayer. 2. Remember it is a throne of grace; one to which we have no claim; and that our Jesus is now Lord of all!-yet exempt from tormenting fear, from a faith in our exalted advocate; for faith claims it through him, and fastens upon his worthiness.

Contrast the timidity of the high-priest under the law; the sacrifice he provided might not have been all attended to; but God himself provides the sacrifice here, and says, "Come, for all things are now ready."

1. And having approached it, what do we ask? Mercy! -love in action. Explain the word.-This adapts itself to our infirmity (verse 15). We want Jesus to sympathize, to compassionate. We join the cry of Bartimeus; we want to roll our cares on him; he has invited this! O! how sweet to feel now that Jesus is with us in the fire; to hear him say, "Fear not, I am with thee."

In all our temptations he keeps, &c.

But, again, our best actions cannot stand without mercy. -Jonah.

*

2. Grace to help. This must mean the Spirit of God. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered"-the Spirit supporting us in every trial