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Simon, Satan hath sought to winnow thee," Luke xxii,
31, 32. He minds him, that although he had called
him "Peter," for the unmoveableness of that rock
which his faith was fixed on; yet he would appear in
himself to be but "Simon" still; a man exposed to
danger and easy to be prevailed against: and therefore
he might do well in the midst of his confidence, to con-
sider his dangers, and the surprisals that he might be
overtaken with. No otherwise is the condition of all
professors, the best and meanest, the strongest and
weakest. Could we but take one view of that con-
stant preparation there is amongst principalities and
powers, those spiritual wickednesses in high places,
and in the deceitfulness of sin that dwelleth in us, to
oppose our profession, we would either constantly
stand upon our guard to defend it; or presently give
it up as that which is not tenable.
See Eph. vi,

10-13.

§14. Obs. 2. It is our duty in the midst of all op-
position, to hold our profession firm and steadfast
unto the end. The principle of this profession is, faith
in God by Jesus Christ; the fruits of it are the whole
obedience of faith, or a conversation becoming the
gospel, whereby we adorn the doctrine of God our
Savior in all holiness and godliness; a constant ob-
servance of all the ordinances and institutions of wor-
ship appointed by divine authority; with an open con-
fession of him at all times. We are to "hold" it, as
before noticed, with watchfulness, diligence, constan-
cy, and our utmost endeavor in all. And this duty
hath respect to the contrary sins of apostasy, or a to-
tal desertion of our profession; and of-declension, or
going back gradually from our diligence and progress,
Where growth is not, profession is not held firm,

$15. Obs. 3. Believers have great encouragement and assistance in the constancy of their profession, from the priesthood of Jesus Christ. For,

(1.) The Lord Christ is an High Priest; and we have a relation to him, he is "our High Priest," the High Priest of "our profession;" not only to direct us in our profession, but also to assist us in it. The difficulty of this duty lies in the opposition that is made to it by sin, and Satan, and the world, as we have shewn; and he that hath not found it, never yet knew what it was to "profess" the gospel. And we can never be jealous enough of our own hearts and ways, lest we should be an example unto others, as others have been to us: but herein lies our help; whilst we are in this condition our High Priest compassionately pitieth us. Chap. ii, 17, 18. From the habitation of his holiness he looks on his laboring, suffering disciples; is afflicted in all their afflictions, and is full of compassion towards them. "So, saith he, was I tempted, so was I opposed; and what thus befalls them is for my sake, and not for their own." Whose heart will not the consideration of this refresh? Whose spirit will it not revive? But he does more; he gives us actual help and assistance in this case. Our faith will be violently opposed by Satan; faith's overthrow is his principal design, Luke xxi, 31, 32. No such irreconcilable enemies as faith and the devil. But our High Priest hath contended with him-conquered him-bound him-spoiled him-bruised his head, and triumphed over him. Gen. iii, 15, Col. ii, 15, Heb. ii, 14, 15. And shall we suffer ourselves to be deprived of our profession by one thus dealt with in our behalf? No; Christ assisting, he shall not prevail in his attempt. Again, do our own corruptions "fight against our

souls, 1 Pet. ii, 11, and tend to death? Jam. i, 14. Against these also there is relief in our High Priest. For he was manifested to destroy the works of the devil, 1 John iii, 8, or all the effects of his first temptation in our hearts; there is a remedy provided in his grace, his blood and Holy Spirit. Moreover, does the world oppose? He hath overcome it for us, and he will overcome it in us. Who, therefore, would not be encouraged to contend earnestly, to persevere in that profession wherein they are sure they shall be assisted? Finally; is their faith assaulted with the thoughts of the sinfulness and unworthiness of their persons? Or do they find that even the duties themselves, wherein their profession consists, are so weak, so mixed, and imperfect, that it is hard for them to conceive how they should find acceptance with God? Against all these considerations believers have relief in their High Priest; for in this matter lies the principal part of his office, having undertaken to render our persons and duties accepted with God, both in his oblation and intercession.

§16. (2.) He is a "great High Priest:" he is so, not only in compassion of others so called, but also absolutely. If, therefore, God appointed destruction to him who forsook the worship and service of the law, under the guidance of Aaron and his sons, what must their portion be who shall desert the worship of the New Testament, when we have an High Priest far more excellent and glorious?—Our High Priest is "great," because he is one who hath triumphantly "passed through the heavens," and who hath been received into the special presence of God, or, as our apostle expresseth it, 1 Tim. iii, 16, "Received up into glory." He left the earth from the Mount of Olives. This was the mountain to which "the glory of the

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Lord went up," Ezek. xi, 23, when it left the temple and city of Jerusalem. And to this he who is the brightness of Divine glory, went up; there was his last bodily presence on the earth; with him the glory of God utterly departed from the temple and city. Here he was taken up, while his disciples were (TEVIČOVIES) earnestly, with care and love, with diligence and delight, looking on. Those who had not long before seen him hanging on the cross, between two thieves, bleeding and dying, now saw him gloriously and triumphantly taken up into heaven. He had now finished his work, having fully conquered the first apostate, the great enemy of God, and spoiled him of his power; and was returning into that glory which he had left for a season to engage in the difficult and perilous service of subduing all the adversaries of God. And now was all heaven prepared for his triumphant reception! As when a great conqueror of old returned from a far country, when he had subdued the enemies of his people, and brought home the leaders of them captives, all his citizens went forth with applauses, and shouts of joy, to meet him; Col. ii, 15, so was it with the glorious inhabitants of heaven, upon the return of this victorious Captain of Salvation. The everlasting gates were opened, and this King of Glory entered in. The psalmist, when treating of the glorious ascension of Christ into his kingdom and throne, Psal. Ixvii, 5, 6, expresseth it thus: "God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises." His attendants in his "passage through the heavens," are also described: Psal. lxviii, 17, 18, "The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels; the Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the holy place. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast

led captivity captive." And this our apostle expresseth, Col. ii, 18, "He spoiled principalities and powers," all the fallen apostate angels, "making a shew of them openly in his triumph." He took them along with him in chains, tied, as it were, to his chariot wheels, making a shew of them to the citizens of heaven. He shewed them openly, as conquered and fully subdued, remanding them to their prison, until the time of their final doom. Thus did he "pass through the heavens," and all the glory of God was laid open for his reception; all saints and angels coming forth to meet him, to congratulate that success, the fruits of which they had before enjoyed. He was received gloriously into the highest heavens, the habitation of the blessed; there had he his entertainment and refreshment, after the travail of his soul; then was the time of his espousals, the day of the gladness of his heart. This was the time of heaven's triumph! There is joy in heaven upon the repentance of one sinner; and what may we suppose was there when HE, the author of the old, and the head of the new creation, was received into his glory! No heart can conceive, much less can a tongue express, the glorious reception of his human nature in heaven, and its consequent exaltation!

§17. But who is this high Priest? He is "Jesus the Son of God." Here is another source of his "greatness," the consideration of his name and person. Before the entrance of sin, there was no need of the office of priesthood between God and man; if man, therefore had not continued in that state wherein he was made, there would have been no such office. For it is the office of a priest to represent them acceptably to God, who in their own persons might not appear before him. But sin being entered into the world, there was no more worship to be performed

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