Page:Christ a complete saviour (1).pdf/5

 4thly To pray that their perſons may be preſerved unto his heavenly kingdom.

This is the interceſſion of Chriſt, or that for which he doth make interceſſion

1ſt He prays for all the elect that they may be brought home to God. and ſo into the unity of the faith &c This is clear, for that he faith. Neither pray I for theſe alone." that is, for thoſe only that are convertved," but for them alſo that ſhall believe on me through their word:" for all them that ſhall, that are appointed to believe; or a you have it a little above for all them which thou haſt given me." And the reaſon is for tha he hath paid a ranſom for them. Chriſt, therefore, when he maketh interceſſion for the ungodly, (and all the unconverted elect are ſuch) doth but petitionanily aſk for his own his purchased ones thoſe for whom he died before, that they may be ſaved by his blood.

2dly, When any of them are brought home to God, he yet prays for them; namely, that the ſins which through infirmity they after converſion commit, may alſo be forgiven them.

This is ſhewed us by the interceſſion of the high prieſt under the law, that was to bear away the iniquities of the holy things of the children of Israel; yea, and alſo by his atonement for them that ſinned; for that it is ſaid, "And the prieſt ſhall make an atonement for him for the ſin which he hath ſinned, and it ſhall be forgiven him." This