had shewed them his last Sign of Rising from the dead and had given power to his Apostles to work Wonders when they left the World he sent no more Angels nor Prophets nor did no more Signs or Wonders nor left no more Oracles but the Scriptures and minds of the Faithful enlightned by his Spirit to lead them into all Truth and to be with them to the end of the World Therefore we may not expect any Angel or Prophet nor any Thundrings or Lightnings Sword Famine or Pestilence Peace Plenty Health or Prosperity particular or general Judgments or signal Deliverances upon any such account as formerly to manifest thereby God's special favour or wrath to particular Persons or Nations in general as to their Spiritual or Eternal condition For God goes another way to work more free easie natural and rational to the Souls of men and made sweetly convincing and attracting to a more sublime and holy Worship suitable and pleasing to the Majesty of Heaven and therefore we are not to be frighted by Judgments nor allured by Prosperities into Religion as Children but informed convinced and perswaded like men by sound reason and understanding through any good or bad condition in this life unto the hopes of a glorious and blessed Immortality It becometh not Christians adult that know their Fathers Will to be in fear and bondage all their life long because of temporal Plagues nor to be ravished with temporal Joys but to live above them all by faith and not by sight as Pilgrims and Strangers here declaring by their Conversation that they have no abiding City below but that they seek one that is above whose builder and maker is God Eternal in the Heavens The Fifth BOOK OF A MEDIATOR The CONTENTS Transition Mediator Reconciliation Moses TITLE I. Of the Name and Thing THE Dispositions of the Will and Estate in God's Testament are to pass through the hands of the Mediators or Executors of them both Transition who are Moses and Christ The word MEDIATOR is rarely Mediator if at all found in any Heathen Author being proper to the Holy Scriptures only Philo the Jew uses it whose form of writing resembles the Old Testament so familiar to that Nation The said Philo calls the High Priest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Jews had a High-Priest as a Mediator between two that by some middle Person they might appease God God dispenses his Graces to Men using as it were the Ministery and Subserviency of some certain Person Reconciliation CHRIST first obtained of God that to Mankind fallen into heinous Sins God would neither shut up the door of Repentance nor refuse to grant pardon to the Penitent which is that first Conciliation that was procured for all Mankind Rom 5.10 When we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son All things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 5.18 19. and hath given to us the Ministery of Reconciliation to wit that God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them c. So Job was a Mediator to God for his two Friends My Servant Job shall pray for you for him will I accept Job 42.8 The great Benefits that accrue to the World by Christ are not only obtained by his Prayers but by his vast obedience unto death who gave himself a Ransom for all Eph. 1.10 11. to be testified in due time That in the Dispensation of the fulness of time he might gather together in one all things in Christ In whom also we have obtained an Inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will A Mediator therefore is an Arbiter Herald or Messenger that intervenes between two Persons to relate their mutual minds and meanings to each other and to propound Articles of peace and agreement between them that are at variance or to propose and declare Rules and Laws for both Parties to consent unto Moses Moses was the Mediator or Intercessor between God and the Israelites to make and finish up a Covenant between them and this Covenant was the Law Gal. 3.19 20. Ordained by Angels in the hand of this Mediator Now a Mediator is not a Mediator of one but God is one Note that though the Law was ordained by Angels yet it was not immediately delivered by them to the People but by the intervention or means of the Mediator Moses who passed between the Angels and the People God gave the inheritance of Canaan to Abraham immediately by Promise but the Law that was added because of Transgressions four hundred and thirty years after till the Seed should come to whom the Promise was made was delivered by the ordination of Angels and the Mediation of Moses 1. Because Law was a Terror but the Inheritance was a matter of Grace As is the manner of great Princes to bestow their Graces and Favours by themselves but to execute matter of Law and Justice by their Officers and Judges Moses was the Receiver of the Law from the Angels and the Repeater of it to the People three daies together for the Commandments thereof but the Judgments were published by Moses only upon the Peoples request because of the terror of the Angels voice who first wrote them in a Book and afterward read them openly to all the Congregation So for the Ceremonies Moses had a Pattern delivered unto him in the Mount Exod. 22. Exod. 25.9 Deut. 5 5. Act. 6.11 called therefore the Law of Moses and Moses We have heard blasphemous words against Moses ye have one that accuseth you even Moses in whom ye trust So the Archangel was the Minister of God to the People not the Mediator 2. Because the Archangel sustained the very Person and Majesty of God and therefore spake not as an Embassador or Messenger for every Embassadour distinguisheth his own Person from the Person of his Master that sent him and speaketh not in his own name but in the name of the Prince or State that imployed him whom he also represents But the Archangel spake as if God himself were present without other Angels to attend him Whereas it is said that the Commandments were delivered by the hand of Moses it is as much as to say by his Ministery because the Hand is the greatest Instrument of working Exod. 32.15 and 34.29 So the two Tables are said to be written by the Finger of God and were delivered into Moses's hand But the Judgments and Ceremonies which made up the greater bulk of the Law so passed through Moses's hand as that he wrote them in a Book The hand writing of Ordinances which was against us Exod. 24.4 Heb. 9.19 Deut. 31.9 10. Col. 2.14 and contrary unto us was nailed to the Cross of Christ So they were written by Moses the Mediator of the first Testament and cancelled by
see that such as are in necessity have right Help all them to right that suffer wrong and punish the wrong doer Do right to the poor use no force nor fraud against him to deprive him of his right but by a right Sentence give him his right The Italian renders it Faitte drito the French Faites justice it is the act of justice to give every one his right 1. Thus to justifie is to acquite or discharge one that is guilty by Favour and Grace 2. To justifie is to declare a Man free from guilt of which he was wrongfully charged and pronounced guilty by wrong Sentence of Law 3. To justifie is to create a right to a Man that had none before 4. To justifie is to restore a right to a Man that had lost it 5. To justifie is to make a Man a proprietary or an owner of something that had nothing or at least not that which he is now justified unto 6. To justifie is to assert and prove any thing to be true or any Person to be honest in word or deed SECT I. Accounting Thus to account any right to any Person is to justifie that Person or to impute righteousness unto him Rom. 4.6 Gal. 2.16 So to be accounted righteous or for righteousness to be accounted to us or for Faith to be accounted for Righteousness or to be justified by Faith are all one and the same thing And truly all Rights consist in imputing accounting or reckoning which is their force or essence As that the Usefruit or propriety of any thing is imputed or reckoned to appertain and belong to such a Person this is his right by some title or other And all accounting or reckoning is either 1. Of sayings or Propositions as in Logick 2. Of numbers as in Logistick 3. Of Rights or Dues as in Justice or Mercy So to be justified is to be imputed reckoned accounted declared pronounced or created righteous i. e. to have a present right to a future inheritance by the means of Faith and Title of Grace and Mercy in Jesus Christ Thus our justification makes no moral alteration in us that is makes us not just or righteous in doing moral righteousness much less does moral righteousness justifie but justification produceth in us a civil capacity to possess something investing us in an Estate and gives us a new right to have and hold something as our own The poor oppressed are justified not by making them morally righteous but by giving them right that is either declaring their right by a right Sentence or by hindring of that force and fraud which would deprive them of their right Thus Justification is opposed to Condemnation Rom. 8 33 34 It is God that justifies who shall condemn To justifie is to invest a Man with a right to condemn is to devest or deprive a Man of right If through the offence of one many be dead Rom. 5.15 16 c. much more the Grace of God and the Gift by Grace which is by one Man Jesus Christ hath abounded unto many The judgment is of one to condemnation but the free-gift is of many offences unto justification Therefore as by the offence of one Man judgment came upon all to condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free-gift came upon all Men unto justification of life For as by one Man's disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous He that is dead is freed from sin the Original is justified from sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is contrary to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or rather to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 SECT II. The Synonyma or Parallel names are these Synonyma Eph. 1.11 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. To obtain an inheritance 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To gather together in one all things in Christ which is properly our Incorporation or imbodying into Christ our Head 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To be reconciled unto God for Being justified by faith we have peace with God Rom. 5.10 2 Cor. 5.19 20. When we were his enemies we were reconciled to God God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation that he might reconcile both unto God in one Body by the Cross Eph. 2.16 Col. 1.12 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To be sufficiented or made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Col. 1.13 To be translated into the Kingdom of the dear Son of God from darkness to light i. e. to be justified 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To be accepted to the Beloved i. e. to be justified Eph. 1.6 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To be engraffed being a wild Olive Rom. 11.24 and to partake of the fatness thereof c. 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To be enfranchised If the Son shall make you free John 8.36 Eph. 2.19 then are ye free indeed i. e. justified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 1 Pet. 5.1 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Access or coming unto God 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Adoption As many as received him John 1.12 Rom. 8. to them gave he power i. e. right to be called the Sons of God We have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alliance to God Eph. 2.13 Ye who sometimes were afar off are made nigh by the Blood of Christ 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pardoning and forgiving Col. 2.13 And you being dead in your sin and the uncircumcisien of your flesh hath he quickened together with him having forgiven you all trespasses 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ransoming or redeeming Rev. 5.9 Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood By all these and the like expressions is declared a permanent state and stable condition wherein a person standeth as to Freedom and is the Base or standard of all Rights accounted to him SECT III. Bondage There are two Spiritual States the one of bondage the other of freedom 1. Spiritual Bondage which is a Restraint Pressure Closeness or Fastness of the Spirit whereby a man is tyed from good to evil is a drudge to sin and a slave to lust a captive to the Devil This is a State of wrath low base terrene and miserable a condition below the nature and quality of a man having no Right nor capacity of Right to any Spiritual Benefit a very death SECT IV. Freedom 2. Spiritual Freedome which is a gallantry fluency clearness or loosness of the Spirit an enlargement from
Words Berith and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Hebrew and Greek are sometimes used for a Covenant to which as to Laws a Sanction doth belong but Testamentum in the Latin never but only for a Last Will. And so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the New Testament ought to be interpreted a Testament and it is to be admired that it is so frequently translated Covenant Sanction It is vulgarly asserted That the Word Covenant is most proper in the Gospel sense Because as in Laws that Part is called a Sanction which consecrates the Blood of the Offender to the Law for his Transgression so in Covenants especially Publick as Leagues and Truces between Nation and Nation The Establishment of old was by the slaying of some beast which is called a Sanction from Sanguis or Blood and Foedus a League â ferendo and foedus percutere to strike a League because they used to strike a Hog or other beast to death at the time of the making of the League with a solemn asseveration of both Parties Confederate That if either of them should offer to violate the Articles of the Peace or War agreed upon between them then Jupiter should so or more destroy those Covenant-breakers as they did then and there destroy that beast and more also The old Form runs thus Si prior defecit Tu illum Jupiter sic ferito ut Ego hunc Porcum nunc feriam tantóque magis quantò magis potes pollesque Not much unlike the Hebrew Form God do so to me and more also Asseveration 1 Sam. 25 22. As David threatned Nabal for denying relief to his men saying God do so and more also unto the enemies of David if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the Wall As Abner threatned Ishbosheth the Son of Saul So do God to Abner and more also except 2 Sam. 3.9 as the Lord hath sworn to David even so I do to him to translate the kingdom from the house of Saul and to set up the throne of David c. As Ruth Covenanted with Naomi Ruth 1.17 The Lord do so to me and more if ought but Death part thee and me As Cushi answered David concerning Absolom 2 Sam. 18.32 The enemies of my Lord the King and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt be as that young man is As David promised Amasa God do so to me and more also 2 Sam. 19.13 if thou be not Captain of the Host before me continually in the room of Joab 1 Sam. 20.13 As Jonathan Covenanted with David saying If there be good toward David and I then send not unto thee and shew it thee The Lord do so and much more to Jonathan 1 Sam. 20.16 and let the Lord even require it at the hand of David 's Enemies The like Imprecation is in Homer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So for the confirmation of the Old Testament Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people and said Exod. 24.8 Behold the blood of the Covenant which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words Hence that severe threatning on those that count the Blood of the Covenant an unholy thing Heb. 10 29. So that of the Prophet alludes to this As for thee also by the Blood of thy Covenant I have sent forth thy Prisoners c. Zech. 9.11 So in the Covenant between God and Abraham Gen. 15.10 the Beasts and the Birds were divided in the midst c. So that these Words Berith and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are so large that they denote a Law Covenant and Testament but principally a Testament These three Significations agreeing well together in this great Disposition of God in the Gospel which is his Testament Law and Covenant because every Testament absolute is a Law but this Testament of Gods is conditional which makes it a Covenant as well as a Law Therefore the Word Testament is and hath Title of the Scriptures ever been the Common Title of the Scriptures of the Law and Gospel and the ancient Christians chose rather to call the Gospel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 than 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gal. 6.2 Jac. 2.8 Jac. 1.25 Ro. 3.27 though it be the New and Royal Law of Jesus Christ and the Law of liberty and the Law of Faith Because Christ himself hath given it that Name this is my Blood of the New Testament and the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews doth most accurately describe the Nature of it saying Heb. 9.15 He is the Mediatour of the New Testament that by the means of Death for the Transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternal Inheritance for where a a Testament is there must also of necessity be the death of the Testator For a Testament is of force after men are dead otherwise it is of no strength at all while the Testator liveth c. The Apostles also observing the true Idiome of this Word call themselves accordingly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 3 6. God hath made us able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit for the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life Neither can there be any just Exceptions made against this Title of the Old and New Testament for who dares call the Gospel by any other Name than Christ hath given it at his solemn Supper and than the Apostles have given and all the antient Christians both Greek and Latine There were many other Testaments or Covenants of God in Scriptures Other Covenants Jer. 33.20 Gen. 6.18 so called or rather Ordinances Laws and Decrees as the Covenant made with Adam for the Revolution of the day and of the night and the Covenant with Noah in the Ark for his coming into the Ark with his Sons his Wife and his Sons Wives with him and also Gen. 9.9 That the Earth should never be destroyed with a flood any more there is besides Acts 7.8 the Covenant of Circumcision and the Covenant of the Sabbath Exod. 16.19 Exod. 31.16 And besides these Promises many and Covenants many But the main Covenant Old Covenant which for the Promises thereof was made to Abraham and for the Precepts thereof to Moses in Mount Sinai and began to be executed when the Children of Israel departed out of Egypt and was fully performed when Joshua in Moses stead put the people in actual Possession of the Land of Canaan I say this main Covenant swallowed up all other Covenants and took in Sabbath and Circumcision and carried away the Name of the Covenant of God from all the rest New Covenant But when the Gospel came which was the New Covenant or Testament made by God to Christ this being the last and most perfect that ever God did make it carries away