for them." When the devil is tempting, Christ is praying. The
woman shall bruise the serpent's head." Gen 3:15. We are often in times of temptation, like a man who has his house attacked, and cannot find his weapons, his sword and gun; in which case Christ sends his Spirit, and brings things to our remembrance, which help us in our combat. The Spirit of Christ does for the tempted, what Aaron and Hur did for Moses, when they put a stone under him and held up his hands, and then Israel prevailed. The Spirit puts the promises under the hands of faith, and then the Christian overcomes the devil, that spiritual Amalek. The promise is to the soul—as the anchor to the ship, which keeps it steady in a storm.
2. Christ supports those who are tempted by "interceding for them." When the devil is tempting, Christ is praying. The prayer which Christ put up for Peter when he was tempted, extends to all his saints. "Father," says Christ, "it is my child who is tempted! Father, pity him!" Luke 22:32. When a poor soul lies bleeding of the wounds which the devil has given him, Christ presents his wounds to his Father, and, in the virtue of those, pleads for mercy. How powerful must his prayer be! He is heaven's favorite. John 11:42. He is both High Priest and a Son. If God could forget that Christ were a Priest, he cannot forget that he is a Son. Besides, Christ prays for nothing but what is agreeable to his Father's will. If a king's son petitions only for that which his father has a mind to grant—his suit will not be denied.
3. Christ supports his people, by taking off the tempter. When the sheep begin to straggle, the shepherd sets the dog on them to bring them back to the fold, and then calls off the dog. Just so, God takes off the tempter. He "will with the temptation make a way to escape;" he will make an outlet. 1 Cor 10:13. He will rebuke the tempter. "The Lord rebuke you, O Satan!" Zech 3:2. It is no small support, that Christ supports the tempted. The mother supports the