Justification by Works springing from Faith is Justification by Faith in this Sense Again they say That we are made Partakers of the Benefits of Christ he having purchased this Grant or Law i. e. That they that do obey him to the end shall be saved that is Our Obedience doth both Justifie us and Save us Answ. The Vanity of which and how erroneous it is we have shewed some time since * 3. They say Christ hath merited a New Law or easier Terms and Conditions that our Faith Obedience and Good Works may Justifie and Save us but what saith Paul All boasting is excluded not legal boasting only but all boasting and cause of boasting but by their New Law boasting is let in Moreover he says If it be of Grace it is not of Works and if it be of Works it is not of Grace or else Grace is no more Grace and Works no more Works Brethren Works cannot mix with Free Grace they are directly contrary to each other in their Nature besides these Men forget that we are Justified alone by the Obedience and Righteousness of one even as we were made Sinners by the Disobedience of one and that is by the Righteousness of Christ imputed to us for it was by the Disobedience of Adam as imputed to us that we became Sinners In a word Christ hath wrought out a Righteousness for us which is put upon us or accounted or imputed to us and not that Christ merited a Law that a Justifying Righteousness might be wrought out in us or by us in conforming to that New Law Who of God is made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption Not only that his Righteousness is the Meritorious Cause of our Justification as Mr. Clark affirms p. 104. but the Material Cause thereof or that by which we are Justified no other Righteousness but his which is perfect being pleadable at God's Bar. 4. We say That Justification of a Sinner is the acceptance of his Person or the pronouncing him Just and Righteous in God's Sight through the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ whereby he hath a full Right and Title to Eternal Life They say That Justification is nothing else but the pardon of Sin i. e. the not executing the Punishment of Sin due by the Law of Works and an acceptance of a Man so long as he performeth the New Condition of Sincere Obedience For the Lord's sake and for your Souls sake beware of those Men and their new and strange Doctrine for it appears Salvation must be a Debt and not wholly of Grace if what they say were true because it is granted upon our fulfilling of the Conditions required which are indeed not light but weighty and difficult Conditions as Faith Regeneration and Perseverance even Mr. Dan. William's Baptismal Covenant which all they who do not fulfil it he says shall be damned the Violating of that Covenant being as he affirms the Damning Sin And this so far as I can see is that which is their Covenant of Grace not that Christ ingaged for us to the Father to do all for us and in us in the Covenant of Redemption even to reconcile God to us and us to God no but that that was a distinct Covenant from the Covenant of Grace which was to make way for us to enter into a Conditional Covenant of Grace i. e. of Faith Good Works or Gospel-Obedience Which Error and Mistake I purpose God willing to refute before I leave my Text and prove the Covenant of Peace is but one intire Covenant with that of Redemption Comfort and Consolation if my Brethren it is as you have heard that Jesus Christ as a Mediator is equally interested in both Parties then what Comfort is here for Believers 1. We have no ground to suspect him of partiality he will not fail us because he is so dearly and nearly related to us and also considering what he hath done and suffered for us And for their sakes I sanctifie my self that they also might be sanctified through the Truth 2. Consider his Ability not only to reconcile us to God but to continue us in that reconciled State we may depend upon his Power For I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that Day 3. Considering his Love and Faithfulness towards us in the Exercise of his Work and Office Faithful is he that calleth you and also he will do it 4. With what boldness also may we come to God by him Seeing we have such a great High-Priest that is passed into the Heavens Jesus the Son of God Having therefore Brethren boldness to enter into the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus This I say may encourage us to make our humble Supplications to God with boldness since we have such a Mediator between God and us the Man Christ Jesus SERMON IV. Wherein the Suretiship of Christ is opened ISA. Liv. x. Neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Doct. THAT there is a Covenant made or agreed on and stands firm in the behalf of all God's Elect. I am my Brethren a speaking concerning those Transactions betwixt God the Father and God the Son before the World began about the bringing in and establishing of the Covenant of our Peace in which Transactions I have shewed you the Son of God was chosen Mediator considered as God-man and as to that Office of his we have spoken distinctly but as he is Mediator so you have heard he is Surety of the Covenant of Peace and so more than a meer or simple Mediator And since the Covenant of Peace so much dependeth upon the Suretiship of Christ I shall here I. Shew what Surety doth import or open this Relation II. Shew why Christ came under this Relation III. Shew what Christ was to do and we were to receive as Christ's our Surety IV. Shew how his Suretiship differs from Suretiship among Men. V. Apply it 1. A Surety is one that undertakes for others wherein they are defective really or in Reputation in Latin Sponsor fide jussor a Surety is one that engages to make Satisfaction for one or more or ingageth for others Thus Ruben became Surety to his Father Jacob Gen. 43.9 to bring Benjamin again and Paul for Onesimus Philem. 18 19. If he hath wronged thee or oweth thee ought put that on mine Account I Paul have written it with my own Hand I will pay it In this Sense we take Christ to be a Surety 1. It signifies likewise to give a Pledge Isa. 36.8 2 Kings 18.23.3 2. Also to strike Hands Prov. 22.26 Thus Christ is our Surety i. e. he struck Hands with God for us in this Covenant I say a Surety is one that undertakes for one or more Persons whose Credit is gone or is not good one not to be
V. Also in that this Covenant sets forth the Glory Beauty and Personal Excellencies of Jesus Christ. 1. In respect of his Person as God-Man 2. In respect of his Offices of which I have already spoken VI. It is a Glorious Covenant in respect of those Things which we are hereby delivered from and are also invested with and raised up to possess Is not that a Glorious Covenant by the Blessings of which Sinners are delivered from Sin which is the greatest Evil and that brings them out of a State of Death Wrath the Curse and Condemnation And that which also gives them through the Application thereof an Interest in God the chiefest Good or which restores God to them to be their God forever Consider what Glorious Gifts and Priviledges are given and granted in this Covenant Is not that a Glorious Covenant in which God is given Christ is given to the Soul But this I shall open more largely under the next Head But O! what Glorious Priviledges are contained herein as granted to all true Believers Moreover What Glorious Grace is by this Covenant procured for all the Elect And what a Crown and Kingdom do they hereby obtain a true Title unto Sixthly The Covenant of Peace is a full Covenant there is nothing wanting in it either respecting the Glory of God or our Good and Eternal Happiness I. It is a full Covenant in respect of Satisfaction Merit and Righteousness my Brethren neither Divine Justice nor the Law of God can require any more than what Christ hath by his Active and Passive Obedience paid God saith This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Christ is called the Sun of Righteousness denoting that fullness of Righteousness which is in him as Mediator What is fuller of light than the Sun And who is fuller of Righteousness than Jesus Christ And as the Sun communicates its Light to all the Earth even so Christ communicates his Righteousness to all the Elect i. e. His Righteousness is imputed to all that Believe not the Effects of his Righteousness but his Active and Passive Obedience is the Material cause of our Justification and the Imputation of it is the formal cause thereof and from him by the Spirit an Inherent Righteousness is also infused into the whole Body to whom he is a Head of Influence to their Sanctification II. This Covenant is a full Covenant because in it or in Christ who is the Sum of the Covenant there is a fullness of Sufficiency and in the application of it by the Spirit There is a fullness of Efficacy to all the Elect He is the Head of the Body the Church the Fullness of him that filleth all in all Christ makes the Covenant Effectual or Efficatious to all his Members filling all who believe with all grace by the Spirit leaving not one believing Soul empty of what is truly good Doth the Soul want light Christ will give it He is the Light of the Gentiles The Light of the World Doth he want Liberty Christ releases the Captives Doth he need Rest Christ gives the weary and heavy-laden rest In a word Christ in the Covenant is Food to the Hungry Cloaths to the Naked Strength to the Weak Health to the Sick Courage to the Faint-hearted Succor to the Tempted Beauty to the Deformed Riches to the Poor Peace to the Troubled Life to the Dead Christ is all in this Covenant III. It is a Full Covenant because it answers not only all the wants of the Soul but of the Body also He will give meat to them that fear him he is ever mindfull of his Covenant Meat to the Soul and Meat to the Body Also Trust in the Lord and do good and so shalt thou dwell in the Land and verily thou shalt be fed All things both for the Body and Soul which God sees is good for us we shall have he will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withold from them that walk uprightly But yet we must not be the Judges of what is good but leave it to God We may think that is good for us which he may see to be hurtful IV. It is a Full Covenant because in it there is the Mediators Fulness Communicated to all such that are united to him as the effects thereof 't is not a Creature-Fulness that is in Christ no but the Fulness of God For it pleased the Father that in him all Fulness should dwell in him dwelleth the Fulness of the God-head Bodily The Fulness of the God-head dwells as truly in the Son as in the Father and of his Fulness do all Believers partake Of his Fulness all we receive and Grace for Grace 1. Therefore in this Covenant we do not only receive Light but the Fulness of Light 2. Not only Life but the Fulness of Life because Christ is our Life whom we receive in this Covenant 3. Not only Strength but the Fulness of Strength The Lord is the Strength of my heart and my Portion for ever 4. Not only Pardon of Sin but a Fulness of Pardon or the Fullest Pardon compleat Pardon 5. Not only Righteousness but the Fulness of Righteousness perfect and compleat Righteousness and you are compleat in him 6 Not only Peace but the Fulness of Peace Peace that passeth all understanding 7. Not only Beauty but the Fulness of Beauty For it was perfect thro' my Comliness which I put upon thee saith the Lord God 8. Not only knowledge but the Fulness of knowledge And ye also are Full of all goodness filled with all knowledge c. The parts may be weak yet where Christ dwells or hath taken possession of the heart there the Soul hath a Fulness of Spiritual knowledg Our Vessels may be full tho' but small And 9. Not only Joy but the Fulness of Joy These things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full Again he saith Ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full 't is called unspeakable joy and full of Glory 10. Lastly And not only Glory but the Fulness of Glory for the Fulness of the Glory of Heaven is contained in this Covenant or the perfect and full enjoyment of God even the Beatificial Vision Seventhly It is a seasonable Covenant I. In respect of God's early contrivance and making of it for us with Christ it was provided my Brethren before Man sinned or ready against the very time of need Poor Adam when he had sinned knew nothing of it But God provided the Plaister before we received the Wound he provided us a Physitian before we were Sick or a Saviour in this Covenant before we had sinned had not this Covenant been made before with Christ for us we had been lost no doubt for ever that very moment Man fell every thing being Beautiful in its time or proper season 'T is
and Teacher of the Church No Man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any Man the Father but the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will revâ—al him No Man knoweth the Essence of the Father or hath a perfect knowledge of the Godhead nor do they know the Councils Purposes and Dispensations of the Father of his saving of Men by Jesus Christ except Jesus Christ reveals these Mysteries to them all true and saving knowledge of God is in and through Christ as a Prophet But as Christ doth not Atone for our Sins as a King but as a Priest so he doth not give forth Laws c. as a Priest but as a King nor doth he teach instruct or reveal God and Salvation to us simply as a Priest or King but as a Prophet besides there are some things about the Covenant of Peace which he doth not simply as a King Priest nor Prophet but as simply consider'd a Mediator Surety and Testator c. I would therefore desire Mr. Sam. Clark for all his Confidence to consider of his great mistake in his late Treaty doth it follow should it be granted because Christ's Active Obedience doth not properly belong neither to his Kingly his Priestty nor to his Prophetical Office that therefore his Active Obedience to God's Law or Active Righteousness is no part of the matter of our Justification before God for may not some things be done by Christ as Mediator or as Surety or Testator that doth not properly relate to either of his other three Offices for evident it is that the whole of Christ's Work in this Covenant of Peace doth not strictly belong to these threefold Offices therefore the Scripture gives an account of other Offices besides these which he exerciseth But I will proceed a little further to open the Offices of Christ in the Covenant of Peace And I. Of the Necessity of his exercising of these Offices as Mediator 1. Of his Priestly Office it was absolutely necessary that he should be a Priest and that in our Nature because he was to answer the Types under the Law the Priests of the Law that were ceremonially Sanctified and were to Sanctifie others were of the same Nature with the People And since they offered Sacrifices up to God it also behoved him to offer up the Antitypical Real and Wrath-appeasing Sacrifice And 2. Forasmuch that we were Slaves and Captives of Sin and Satan being in Chains and Fetters by such Enemies that none could redeem us out of their Hands but one cloathed with Almighty and Infinite Power It behoved Jesus Christ to be a King who is invested with God-like Power and Authority upon this Account And since it was the Father's good Pleasure to exalt and magnifie him with the sole Government of the World and of the Church it was necessary he should be Constituted and Invested with Kingly Authority likewise 3. And since we were ignorant of God and under deep alienation from God Having the Vnderstanding darkened being alienated from the Life of God through the ignorance in them because of the blindness of their Hearts It behoved Jesus Christ to be a Prophet yea such a Prophet that can not only teach the Knowing and Understanding Heart but can give Knowledge to the Heart which is without Understanding and seeing we were blind and ignorant of the way of Salvation it behoved him that was to make our Peace to bring us to the knowledge of that Peace and Reconciliation he hath made Moreover we were dead therefore he must quicken us we were Enemies therefore he must reconcile us to God as well as God to us we were Impotent and could not come to the Father therefore he as a Kingly-Prophet must draw us the Father draws us by Jesus Christ to himself also we were in Debt and Divine Justice will be satisfied and will not abate us one Farthing therefore Christ must be our Surety to engage and also actually pay all our Debts in respect of the Preceptory and Penal parts thereof for we owed Perfect Obedience unto God as well as Punishment Also he was to confirm the Covenant of Peace by his Blood and make his Last Will and Testament and bequeath many Legacies to all the Legatees therefore it was necessary that he should be a Testator yea the Testator of the New Testament or Covenant Furthermore we were Sick therefore it behoved him to be appointed our Physician we were as Sheep gone astray therefore he is our Shepherd II. As to the End and Excellencies of Christ's Offices I have lately opened them in a late Treatise upon Jacob's Ladder to which I shall direct you but know this the whole design and purport of all his Offices are that he might effectually be impowered with all things necessary in respect had to the Glory and Honour of God and for our good and to give us interest in all the Blessings of the Covenant of Peace Objection 'T is objected That Christ did not suffer for Sinners as a common Person Head and Representative of all the Elect or their Surety but did all meerly as a Mediator or as one indeavouring to compose the Difference betwixt God and Sinners 1 Answ. I answer Sad it is to see how in these Perilous Days Men are degenerated from the Apostolick Doctrine in this most important case and oppose all our Authoâ—â— Protestant Writers and deny Christ to be a Common Person Head Representative and Surety c. but that he as Mediator hath by his Death merited a new and mild Law of Grace i. e. of Faith and Sincere Obedience and hath made a Compensation to the Justice of God and Law of Works and so removed the Law of perfect Obedience or abolished it for ever so that now God deals with us not according to the strict Law of perfect Obedience but according to this New Law i. e. on easier Conditions viz. such that believe and sincerely obey shall be Justified even so far as they do Obey and are Sanctified not that Christ's Obedience to the Law or that his Active and Passive Obedience imputed to us and our trusting in him according to the Free Promise of God is the immediate and sole cause of Pardon by virtue of Christ's Satisfaction but that tho Christ hath made God a means for Legal Righteousness having satisfied that Law and took it away yet our Obedience to this New Law according to these Men is our Evangelical Righteousness whereby we fulfil the Gospel and that our Obedience is the Condition of our Justification before God Thus Mr. Baxter Mr. Williams Mr. Clark of Wickham and many others And thus is Popery revived amongst us and Justification by Works asserted by these Law and Work-mongers for I cannot call them Gospel-Ministe-s true they affirm that Christ died for our good but not in our stead the Doctrine we maintain is that he died for our good But how for our good Even so that he