The saints pray for all the members of the body mystical, their prayers prevail
another. "Let us provoke one another to love, and to good works" (Heb. 10:24). How grace flourishes by holy conference! A Christian by good discourse drops that oil upon another, which makes the lamp of his faith burn the brighter.
7. Christ's intercession works for good.
Christ is in heaven, as Aaron with his golden plate upon his forehead, and his precious incense; and He prays for all believers as well as He did for the apostles. "I do not pray for these alone but for all those who shall believe in me" (John 17:20). When a Christian is weak, and can hardly pray for himself, Jesus Christ is praying for him; and He prays for three things. First, that the saints may be kept from sin (John 17:15). "I pray that you should keep them from the evil one." We live in the world as in a plague house; Christ prays that His saints may not be infected with the contagious evil of the times. Second, for His people's progress in holiness. "Sanctify them" (John 17:17). Let them have constant supplies of the Spirit, and be anointed with fresh oil. Third, for their glorification "Father, I will that those who you have given me, will be with me where I am" (John 17:24). Christ is not content till the saints are in His arms. This prayer, which He made on earth, is the copy and pattern of His prayer in heaven. What a comfort is this; when Satan is tempting, Christ is praying! This works for good.
Christ's prayer takes away the sins of our prayers. As a child says Ambrose, that is willing to present his father with a posy, goes into the garden, and there gathers some flowers and some weeds together, but coming to his mother, she picks out the weeds and binds the flowers, and so it is presented to the father: thus when we have put up our prayers, Christ comes, and picks away the weeds, the sin of our prayer, and presents nothing but flowers to His Father, which are a sweet smelling savour.
8. The prayers of Saints work for good to the godly.
The saints pray for all the members of the body mystical, their prayers prevail much. They prevail for recovery from sickness "Your prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up" (James 5:15). They prevail for victory over enemies. "Lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left" (Isa. 37:4). "Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and smote, in the camp of the Assyrians, an hundred and fourscore and five thousand" (Isa. 37:36). They prevail for deliverance out of prison. "Prayer was made without ceasing of the church to God for him. And behold the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a