Father; making intercession, not as he did on earth, _with strong cries and tears to God_—not as supplicating an angry Judge; but by shewing himself, as having done, as our Surety, all that Law and Justice could require—he is now our Advocate on high, offering up our prayers and praises, which become acceptable to God, through the sweet incense of his Mediation. Our spiritual holiness is derived from him as our Priest. We are anointed by virtue of union with him—the same divine anointing that was on him, as the Head, runs down, even to the skirts of his cloathing, on the meanest, lowest, and weakest of his saints; and it is the business of our faith to make use of him in every season of guilt and bondage. We feel the liberty of God’s children, as we are led by the Spirit to Jesus, as our atoning and interceding Priest, putting away sin; whilst the Spirit bears testimony to the conscience, _that the blood of Christ cleaneth from all sin_. Another office of vast importance to the Church of God, is the Kingly Authority of our Redeemer; this he sustains, and this he exercises—as God he is King by nature, and has a kingdom, common to the three divine Persons—hence he is called Lord of Hosts, or armies; the six armies—two in heaven, elect angels and spirits of just men—two on earth, the Church and the nations of the world—two in hell, fallen angels and reprobate characters; and it is a most awful consideration, that all who despise his Law, Gospel, and Grace, dying in such a state, he will make them feel his kingly power, in _breaking them to pieces_.—Psalm ii. This office is exercised in the Church of God; the Father himself says, _Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion_: the learned tell us it reads in the Hebrew, I have _anointed_ my King upon my holy hill of Zion—in allusion to their anointing kings at their inauguration—_anointed with the oil of gladness_, _above their fellows_.—In the Old Testament he was prophesied of and typified by pious kings.—The Church of God is Christ’s kingdom, and the members of it his subjects: the exercise of this office is first in the hearts of his saints, in rescuing them from the power of the Devil, by his almighty grace—the King of Glory opens the doors of their hearts; first destroys the Devil’s armour, even the veil of ignorance, (in which he trusts) then turns Satan out for ever. _He makes us willing in the day of his power_, to come out of the world; to chuse him as our _better part_; to love him, to serve him all our days, _in the newness of the Spirit_, _and not in the oldness of the Letter_—the throne he sits on is our hearts, and this will be for ever—_thy throne_, _O God_, _is for ever and ever_. He displays this office in our defence; _for upon all the glory shall be a defence from our enemies_; from the dominion and damning power of sin; maintaining our graces, continuing and preserving us in the faith, keeps us from falling, finally, and preserves us to his