XIV. Ninthly, they allege, seeing He ever
liveth to make intercession
for us. Heb. vii. 25. O, how
beautiful and mystical and kind. For to intercede does not imply
to seek for vengeance, as is most men’s way (for in that there
would be something of humiliation), but it is to plead for us by reason
of His Mediatorship, just as the Spirit also is said to make
intercession for us. Rom. viii. 26. For there is
One God, and One Mediator between God and Man, the Man Christ
Jesus. 1 Tim. ii. 5. For He still
pleads even now as Man for my salvation; for He continues to wear the
Body which He assumed, until He make me God by the power of His
Incarnation; although He is no longer known after the flesh 2 Cor. v. 16.—I mean, the passions of the flesh, the
same, except sin, as ours. Thus too, we have an
Advocate, 1 John ii. 1. Jesus Christ, not
indeed prostrating Himself for us before the Father, and falling down
before Him in slavish fashion…Away with a suspicion so truly
slavish and unworthy of the Spirit! For neither is it seemly for
the Father to require this, nor for the Son to submit to it; nor is it
just to think it of God. But by what He suffered as Man, He as
the Word and the Counsellor persuades Him to be patient. I think
this is the meaning of His Advocacy.