precious attributes of Jesus Christ; all which will affod to faith much matter of support under all our heart troubles whatever. And these are exceeding many, I shall mention only some. First, Jesus Christ is our advocate with the Father, 1 John ii. 1, 2. One that undertaketh for us to plead our cause, in that highest court of heaven. If a man be sued in law, or be accused of any crime in any court, it is a great privilege to have a solicitor there for him, that is skilful and faithful, and powerful with the judge in that court. Jesus Christ is such an advocate, or solicitor, for us in heaven, he will plead our cause; and he is wise, he is the wisdom of the Father; he is a great councellor, and the only councellor, none else can plead in that high court; and he is most faithful, he is a merciful and faithful high-priest in all things pertaining to God, Heb. ii. 17. He appears for us in heaven, Heb. ix. 24. When a man is indicted in a court, and hath none to appear for him there, he is in a bad case: but all poor believers are in a better case, they have a blessed advocate to appear in the presence of God for them: he continually presents his blood, his sacrifice to the Father for them, Heb. x. 10. And it is his will, to have that sacrifice accepted for our justification and sanctification, Christ prevails so with his father, that he always heareth him, John xi. 42. Now, if we can act faith on this blessed advocate in heaven, who is there always pleading for us, ever-living to make continual intercession for us, Rom iii. 25. presenting himself before God as our sacrifice and propitiation; when men accuse us, and our own consciences too: when we are deprived of our near and dear relations, distressed with pains

and sicknesses, pinched with wants and necessities I say, then for us to act our faith on this precious advocate at the right hand of God for us, interceding there for us, one who knows and feels all our misery, it must needs be a great support and relief to us, and the best remedy against our heart-troubles: O that we could act faithstrongly on this our advocate.

To have a friend in heaven, and such a friend, so wise, so powerful, so faithful, so merciful, so sensibly affected with all our misery, so tender, so able, and so willing to hear and help us; I say, this is infinitely better than all the friends that ever we had, or could have on earth: And this friend ever liveth, and maketh continual intercession for us. And as this is matter of comfort in case of suffering, so in case of sin too. If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins, 1 John ii. 1, 2. Faith acted on this blessed advocate, is the best remedy against. heart-trouble, in case both of sin and suffering.

Secondly, Jesus Christ is bread from heaven; the true bread for souls, the bread of life, the water of life, John vi. 35, 48, 51. Now when poor saints are fed with the bread of affliction, and with the water of adversity, let them look up to Christ, and act faith upon him, he will be living bread, life-giving bread, living waters to their souls, to revive their drooping, and to refresh their fainting spirits. By acting faithon this blessed Jesus the fountain of living waters, their souls shall be so satisfied, as that they shall never hunger more, never thirst more (that is, inordinately) after the things of this world. When your souls want strength to

bear your burdens, want comfort in your distresses, act faith on this Jesus, this bread of life, this water of life, and you shall be refreshed ; you shall have joy and peace in believing, Rom.

xv. 13.

Thirdly, Jesus Christ is called the son of righteousness and the bright morning-star, Mal. iv. 3. Rev. xxii. 16. He is the fountain of righteousness and life, as the sun is of light; he hath healing in his wings. He was wounded for our transgressions, that by his stripes we might be healed, Isa. liii. 4, 5. and lxi. 1, 2. He was appointed to heal the broken hearted, Luke iv. He will heal our back-slidings, Hos. xiv. 4. He is the great physician, he can heal all our spiritual and corporeal diseases. His blood, is an healing blood; his spirit, an healing spirit; his word, an healing word; his promises, healing promises. He hath all healing virtue in him: he is the true brazen serpent; could we but act faith on this Jesus, we sould be healed of all our diseases. He is the bright morning-star. We are in darkness, clouds and darkness upon our spirits; many dark providences befal us, we see not our way many times, know not what to do: Now, let us act faith on Jesus, he will bring light out of darkness: We are under black fears and sorrows, and all dark night sometimes with us; but if we can look up to this bright morning-star, he will enlighten our darkness, he will shine in upon our hearts, and scatter all those clouds, and give us a joyful morning.

Fourthly, Jesus Christ is called the captain of the Lord's hosts, and the captain of our salvation, Josh. v. 14, 15. Heb. ii. 10. He hath the command of all the creatures, for he is head over all things, Eph. i. 22. over men and

devils; all power in heaven and earth is his, Matth. xxviii. 18. O if we could act faith on this almighty Jesus, our hearts would not be troubled for any thing: What can hurt us? What should we fear? Our blessed Jesus, our saviour, our husband, commands all things; he rules, and over-rules all things: No creature, no man, no devil, can act any thing against us without our Lord's leave: Believe in this captain, and let not your hearts be troubled, He will tread satan under your feet shortly, Rom. xvi. 20. He will make all his and our enemies his foot-stool. Let us look by faith unto our captain, and keep our eye on him, and follow him wheresoever he goeth. Let us make him our leader, and by faith in him we shall be more than conquerors. He hath overcome the devil and the world for us, and he will overcome all our corruptions, fears and sorrows in us, and will shortly set his crown upon our heads. Christ is the captain of our salvation: And in bringing of many sons to glory, he was made perfect through, suffering, Heb. ii. 14. John xvi. last. Act faith in him who hath perfected our salvation for us; that work is done, and it was through suffering, to teach us to be willing to suffer also, to walk in his steps; for in the way of suffering he entered into his glory; and the very same way will he bring all his sons and daughters unto glory: So that while we are suffering for him, or from him, if we be his children, (which we may know if we have his spirit) we are in the right and ready way to glory. And then have we any cause to let our hearts be troubled with sinful fears, cares and sorrows? Have we any cause to be cast down and discouraged while we are following our captain, are making comform

able to him, travelling the same way to heaven that he went thither, the same way to glory, the way of reproach, shame, grief, sorrow, fear, poverty, persecution, tribulation, desertion, the same steps that our Lord went to glory? O that we could but still keep our eye on Jesus, and often consider what way he went to heaven; and being our captain, we should shew ourselves his good soldiers, and be content to go the same

way.

Fifthly, Jesus Christ is called the consolation of Israel, Luke ii. 25, a sweet name indeed. He is the only person that brings true comfort, being the fountain of the spring of all consolation; that one of a thousand, who gave himself a ransom for us. He it is that comforteth his people in all their tribulations, ii. Cor. i. 3, 4. He it is that speaketh and giveth his peace to his people; and when he giveth peace, none can cause trouble. And it is his promise, that when he hath brought his people into the wilderness of fears and troubles, that they know not which way to turn, that then he will speak comfortably to them, will speak to their hearts, as the word in the original signifies, Hos. ii. 14.

I might largely shew here that Jesus Christ is the consolation of his people many ways; as by his coming from his father into the world, to become our surety, to undertake for us, to take our sins upon him, and to make his soul an offering for our sins; and by his blood to purchase our remission, Ephes. i. 7. O how comfortable is a surety to one that is arrested, indicted, and arraigned! How comfortable is a redeemer to a poor miserable captive! How comfortable is a pardon to a condemned malefactor! All this is Jesus to his people, and infinitely more.