being thus, the LORD Gon, the Shepherd, might well make that bold Challenge in the 18 Verfe, to whom will you liken Gon, or what likenes will you compare unto him? That is as if he should fay unto thofe that deny him to be God, if thefe are not the Properties of Gor, what are?

THUS I have proved the great Ability of Jefus Chrift, the Him in my Text. This was the Doctrine that abundantly fatisfied the Soul of our deceafed Friend and Brother; therefore no doubt but that as he was by this Ability kept from falling into Error in the foundation Doctrines of Salvation, fo alfo by, the fame Ability was kept from turning the Grace of GoD into Las feiyioufnefs while here, fo no doubt but he is now by this able One prefented faultless before the prefence of his Glory with exceeding Joy.

2dly. I SHALL a little fhew how he prefents them faultlefs before the Prefence of his Glory: And this he does two ways.

*

ift. MYSTICALLY in prefenting himself, that is the Man in the Office of the High Prieft, who going once a Year into the moft Hory Place with the Names of the Children of Ifrael upon two Stones upon his two Shoulders, for a Memorial, and on his Breaft-plate of Judgment on 12 Stones, (Ifrael here are tipically all the People of Gor.

So their Names upon two Stones hay typifie either few or Gentile, or all the People of Gon in Old and New Teftament Times, upon his

* Exo 29. 9, 10, 15. (1) Gal. 6. 16. Ejb. 2. 12. Røv 21. Ja.

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Shoulders, to type out Chrift's Ability, or to fhew his firm and perpetual Love, Memorial, Efteem and Suftentation of them: Upon his Breaft-plate of Judgment, to fhew that the People of GoD are always upon the Heart of Chrift, and that he knows all of them and their Cafes most perfectly, and has the moft indeared Affections always towards them; the Church feems to Eye: this, and cries out (m) fet me as a Seal upon thine Heart, as a Seal upon thine Arm, and therefore faid to have their Names written in Heaven and in the Lamb's Book of Life.

Now Jefus Chrift prefenting of Himself as out High Prieft, is his prefenting of us, or as the Apostle faith in the 9th of Heb. and 24th, to appear in the Prefence of God for us.

His prefenting of them faultless, is also plain, if we confider (n) two or three Texts in this Epiftle unto the Heb. 9. 12, 24. neither by the blood of Goats and Calves, but by his own blood. be entred in once, into the holy place having obtained eternal Redemption for us.

Note firft. Ir is his own Blood; this is the Price he carries, in his Hand, into Heaven with him.

Note 2dly. WHAT he obtains by his Blood, and that's Eternal Redemption, that is, an Eternal Freedom from Sin and Wrath.

Note, 3dly. Wнo it is for, us, that is, for us that are the Sanctified of GOD the Father, us

(m) Song. 8. 6. Luke 10 20. Rev. 13. §, ax 37.. (m) x Johr:

the

he preferved in Chrift Jefus, us that are called.. For Chrift is not enter'd into the holy place made with Hand's but into Heaven it self there to ap ear in the presence of God for us.

THUS he prefents us myftically as his Members, presenting himself as Head, he prefents us, as ne in him.

Secondly. He prefents us Perfonally.

AND this he doth at Death, in our most noble arts, our Souls, and at the Refurrection, and at e delivering up the Kingdom in our Souls and ody. Read the 2d. Cor. 4. 14. Eph. 5. 27. t. Cor. 15. 24. This is plainly fet forth by his ype Judah, Gen. 43. 9. I will be Surety for m, of my Hand fhalt thou require biw, if I ing him not and fet him before thee, then let e bear the blame for ever

FOR as certain as udah did become Surety r his Brother, fo Chrift for his; then Judah gageth to fet him before his Father, this was udah's prefenting of Benjamin. So will Chrift Death fet us (that is our Souls) before his Faer, therefore our Spirits or Souls are (0) per

Thirdly, WHAT is the Prefence of his Glory? Infwer, It is to be in the full Fruition of a State f Perfection of Life, Light, Wisdom, Knowledge, trength, Righteoufnefs, Holiness, Love, or whatever is moft excellent to make us happy. Lastly. AND that is done with exceeding Joy, oth to the Prefenter, and Prefented.

(0) Heb. 12. 23.

Firf

Firft. To the Prefenter, the Lord Jesus Chrift this will appear if we confider, firft, the Joy Chrift expreffeth he had in us, as chofen of the Father and given unto him, before they or the World was properly or wholly framed, even while it was in framing, and he the Man was then by him the Eternal GoD as one (p) brought up, o caufed to grow up with him, and was (q) daily Eis Delight,rejoycing always before him, rejoycing in the babitable part of his earth, and my de lights were with the Sons of Men.

First Note. HERE the Man is rejoycing befor or in the prefence of GoD, while he was framing the World.

Secondly Note. Jefus Chrift rejoyced in a cer Part of God's Work, even (r) his Earth, that is thofe that Cop had in Election chofen for his own in a special Manner of Angels and Men.

Thirdly Note. Chrift's peculiar Joy or De light was with the Sons of Men, even thofe of the humane Race, that was given unto him.

Secondly. I Felus Chrift (s) rejoyced in Spirit at the hiding of fpecial Grace from the Wife and Prudent, and revealing it to Babes; O how much muit his Joy exceed in his () prefenting or receiving of them to Himfelf, or into his Bofom at Death, and at the Refurrection, and at the delivering up the Kingdom, that God may be all in all.

(p) Prav. 8. 30. (g) Varse 50% (r) Vase 31. (5) Luke 10 21. (t) Eph. 5. 27.

The

(v) The Lord thy God in the mideft of thee is ughty, he will fave, he will rejoyce over thee with joy, he will reft in his Love, he will joy er thee with Singing.

I BELIEVE, the LORD GOD here, is God the Son, d that as Gop-Man the Mediator, becaufe he is led the King of Ifrael, which is one of his fices as Mediator.

AND therefore I will juft note a few things. Firft Note, THE LORD GOD here is near reed to Ifrael, that is to all he has chofen, he is ir GOD.

Secondly Note. WHERE this GOD refides, and it is in the midft of his People, or in their ais (w) and when gathered together in his

ime.

Thirdly Note. WHAT an One he is, for he is Mighty One, and fo able to fave unto the utand therefore,

Forthly Note. WHAT he will do, he will fave, will rejoyce over thee with Joy, he will,reft his Love, he will rejoice over thee with Singyor with exceeding Joy.

Now if Jefus Chrift had Joy or did rejoyce the foreviewing of them, as Prov. 8th, and Joy or did rejoyce in his State of Humilian, over them as Babes under all their Weaknefs, having Sin in them, and abundance of Fears, rows, and Temptations attending of them, as ke faith, how much it exceeds according to his mifesin Zephaniah when he prefents them fault

u) Zeph. 3: 1. (w) Mat. 18. 30.