God said to Christ and the publishing or promulgation thereof Psal 2.7 I will declare the decree Dr. Hammond in locum or as as a late learned Annotator reads it I will tell of a decree or Covenant that is I will publish and manifest that which was sometime a great secret kept betwixt God and Christ but now is declared and opened up Psal 25.14 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant Col. 1.26 Even the mysterie which hath been hidden from ages and generations but now is made manifest to his Saints And what is the secret that is now declared plainly even that which follows The Lord said unto me thou art my Son ask of me c. i. e. God said to Christ or made this Proposal to him thou art the only fit petson for undertaking this work of Man's Redemption and I destinate and appoint thee for it Now therefore ask and have the noblest rewards that can be devised only do the work I say then here is but a declaration of that which was said and done concluded and transacted by Proposals 'twixt God and Christ in his Decrees and the Counsel of his Will 4. 'T is observable that the Hebrew word here used and translated Decree 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chok Vid. Paquin Thessarum in Rad. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chakak Conrad Kircher Concord in voce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chok cometh from a root that signifies originally scribere describere statuere to write engrave ordain appoint c. and so proportionably is the Noun signifying many things not only a Law Statute and Ordinance but also a Pact or Covenant a writing subscribed with the parties hands Vid. Bibl. Polyglot in locum c. And in this place it 's rendered a Covenant by the Chaldee Paraphrast Recitabo Pactum the LXX here render it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Order and Agreement and so most of the ancient Interpreters following the Targum render it God's Statute Buxtorf Lexic Rab. Talmud p. 818. his Pact or Covenant and 't is observed by a great Hebrean that this word among the Talmudists is often put for the quality condition or nature of any thing and if so here 't is the nature quality and condition of God's decretal Covenant with Christ But further besides the affinity that is among these notions of Statute Decree Agreement Pact Covenant c. the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is here used is in the Scripture sometimes promiscuously or synonimously used with the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is usually rendered Covenant Compare Jer. 31.35 36. with Jer. 33.20 c. In both which places God's Ordinance and Covenant with the day and night is spoken of to illustrate the stability of his Covenant with his people in Christ and there you will find the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Statute or Ordinance and Covenant promiscuously used and the same thing which is called God's Ordinance of the day and night or of the Sun and Moon Jer. 31.35 36. is called his Covenant with the day and his Covenant with the night Jer. 33.20 the meaning of both we are to gather from Gen. 1.16 Vid. Bibl. Polyglot in locum 8.22 9.11 12 13. the Chaldee Paraph. in both these places renders the different Hebrew words Pactum Pacta Paction or Covenant and the Syriack renders both the words administrationes a word comprehensive of both these notions of God's Oeconomy and dispensations Besides the Scriptures before-mentioned we read also of God's Proposals to Christ concerning the work of man's Redemption Isa 42.6 7 I the Lord have called thee in Righteousness and will hold thine hand and will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant of the people for a light of the Gentiles To open the eyes of the blind to bring out the prisoners from the prison and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house And 49.5 6 And now saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob again to him though Israel be not gathered yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord and my God shall be my strength And he said it is a light thing that thou shouldst be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles that thou mayst be my salvation to the ends of the earth c. which things no man can reasonably doubt to be spoken by Jehovah to Christ and to contain Proposals concerning the Redemption and Salvation of his elect people 2. Let us in the next place consider where we find Scripture proof for Christ's consent unto these Proposals made by Jehovah to him which amounteth to a Covenant We find Christ's consent and agreement and that before the beginning of the world unto the Proposals made to him by Jehovah concerning this work of Redemption and the office which he was called unto for that effect clearly insinuated Prov. 8.22 23 24 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way before his works of old I was set up from everlasting from the beginning before ever the earth was When there were no depths I was brought forth when there were no fountains abounding with water 30.31 Then I was by him as one brought up with him and I was daily his delight rejoycing always before him Rejoycing in the habitable part of his earth and my delights were with the Sons of men Where we find the substantial eternal wisdom of God Jesus Christ declaring such a plenary voluntary chearful consent to undertake the work of our Redemption that when he was in the Counsel of God set up and designed unto the office and glory of the Lord Mediator and Redeemer he took pleasure and satisfaction before-hand not only in his people not yet created above all the works of his hand who were to be the satisfying sight that should be given him for the travel of his Soul as the Lord saith Isa 53.11 but he took pleasure also in these parts which they were to inhabit in every bit of ground that was to be the bounds of their habitation in the times appointed Act. 17.26 But yet more explicitely read his consent to the Proposals made by Jehovah to his Son Christ Psal 40.6 7 8 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire mine ears hast thou opened burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required Then said I lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me I delight to do thy will O my God yea thy law is within my heart With Heb. 10.5 6 7 Wherefore when he cometh into the world he saith sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not but a body hast thou prepared me In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure Then said I lo I come
he well knew that it would be a wretched hopeless condition for man to provide a Physitian to himself and to have him to seek when his sickness should be desparate he therefore by a foresight and providence of pure soveraign free transcendent Grace did provide one and indeed it was necessary for our good that it should be so for had man fallen sick of sin before this Covenant for sending a healer to him he had died ere the cure could come 8. This Covenant was necessary for cutting off all matter and occasion of self-gloriation from man in his own Redemption and Salvation for if the business of our Redemption and Salvation was transacted concluded done and ended betwixt Jehovah and Christ without our knowledg or consent before we had a Being what have we to boast of If the agreement ahout the price to be payed and accepted tarried not for man wherein can we glory that we have contributed to our own happiness 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began Eph. 2.10 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them 1 Joh. 4.10 19 Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins We love him because he first loved us CHAP. III. Of the Nature Properties and Parties of the Covenant of Redemption THE general Nature of this Covenant is common to it with all other Covenants whatsoever different peculiarity they have this is essential and common to all Covenants they are Agreements and this is an eternal transaction and agreement betwixt Jehovah and the Mediator Christ about the work of our Redemption The peculiar propriety of its nature will appear by enquiring a little into 1. The various eternal acts of the will of God that concurred to make up this agreement 2. The distinction and order of these eternal acts of his will and the right manner of our conceiving of them 1. Supposing as we have said before that God purposed in himself not to save man without a satisfaction to his Justice These eternal acts of the will of God or rather the things which we conceive under these various acts and their denominations among men for we need to multiply acts in this matter but for the helping our own understanding did concur and meet together in this agreement 1. The designation of a Person to do this work there must needs have been a Person set apart and designed from eternity unto the doing of the work of Redemption and this Person was the Son only not the Father not the Spirit 1 Pet. 1.20 Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for you 2. The preparation and fitting of the Person set apart to take our Law-place and room that Justice might smite him in our stead which also was by an eternal act of the will of God decreed that the Son of God should be Immanuel God with us or God made manifest in the flesh Isa 7.14 1 Tim. 3.16 and unto this incarnation of the Son of God his own words have reference as unto the grand qualification whereby he was destinated before-hand that he might be in a capacity to do this work Heb. 10.5 A body hast thou prepared me 3. The calling of the Person designed calling is an act different from designation 't is something further Christ was by an eternal act of God's will called to this work and that long before he came into the world Psal 89.19 Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy One and saidst I have laid help upon one that is mighty I have exalted one chosen out of the people And Isa 42.6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness and will hold thine hand and will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant of the people for a light of the Gentiles Heb. 5.5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest but he that said unto him Thou art my Son to day have I begotten thee 4. The investing of the Person designed with offices powers and authorities for the doing of this work such as his Mediatory-office and the powers and authorities thereunto belonging which was not suspended until the time of his actual discharge of the offices of King Priest and Prophet but by an eternal act of the will of God he was set up and vested with these offices and powers from everlasting and had the glory of the designed called invested Mediator as he plainly insinuates Prov. 8.23 I was set up from everlasting saith Wisdom several Expositors render it I was called or I was annointed Joh. 17.5 And now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was 5. The mission of the Son Christ designed sitted called invested for this work was also by an eternal act in the counsel of God sent to do this work he had a solema eternal authoritative mission a command to go and was bidden go he had the will of God by an eternal act or commission given out to him concerning all this work long before he was actually made under the Law to which he hath respect when he saith Lo I come to do thy will O God Heb. 10.7 even that will of God that was in the book of his eternal decrees Joh. 6.39 And this is the Fathers will which hath sent me And 10.18 This Commandment have I received of my Father But in all these we do not so much multiply the distinction of acts as we take notice of the distinction and difference of Phrase used by the Holy Ghost speaking of this mysterie in the Scriptures Upon the other part there concurred unto this agreement an eternal personal consent and compliance upon Christ's part unto all these eternal acts of the will of God for Christ God equal with the Father does not begin to consent and agree unto any thing in time nor can the eternal Son of God will any thing in time which he did not will and consent unto from eternity But Christ was present with the Father and did from eternity consent and agree to these eternal acts 1. To the designation of himself to be the person that should satisfie the Justice of God he heartily acquiesced and offered himself he said Lo I come to do thy will Heb. 10.5 7. He poured out his Soul unto death Isa 53.12 2. He consented unto the putting himself in that low capacity that the working of this work required Heb. 2.7 Thou madest him a little lower than the Angels to leave the throne of glory and come down to his footstool there to be in disgrace the Lord of the Law to be made under
shall be satisfied c. but more particularly his reward and wages which was all his own asking comprised these three things which speaks these particulars to have been much upon his heart and in his design 1. That he should have a seed and a people that for all his labour he might have a redeemed people when he had his reward and satisfaction at his own asking he made the redeemed ones his end his asking his satisfaction this was the result of his transcendent love that he might be Immunuel God with us that he might enjoy his poor worthless people Isa 53.10 11 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief when thou shalt make his Soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed he shall prolong his days and the pleasure of the Lord-shall prosper in his hand He shall see of the travel of his Soul and shall be satisfied 2. That he might have a Crown to himself I mean a peculiar glory of being Lord Mediator and Redeemer and of working this great work and this he had in Heaven before the foundation of the world even since the eternal designation and destination of him unto this work for thenceforward he was the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world Rev. 13.8 And was set up from everlasting Prov. 8.23 and was glorified with the Father not only with the essential glory that is common to all the three persons which was obscured in his humiliation for the work of Redemption but also with a peculiar glory as Lord Mediator which he had with him before the world began Joh. 17.5 and this glory he shall have in Heaven throughout eternity even after the last Judgment there shall be in Heaven a peculiar throne and glory following and a peculiar song to the Lamb whereof read Rev. 22.3 and 7.10 17. and 5.9 3. That he might have a crown and throne for each of these redeemed ones whom he took for a satisfaction to his Soul their crown and throne and robes was part of the reward and wages that he wrought for and asked of his Father Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me And 14.3 I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also Luk. 12.32 Fear not little flock for it is your father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom Rev. 3.21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit in my throne with me even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne 7. By this Covenant it was agreed betwixt the parties what should be the mutual assurances given betwixt the parties for the performance of the Articles agreed upon There needed no Solemnities betwixt parties who knew one another and trusted one another so perfectly but for our sakes that we might be helped to conceive of this eternal inviolable transaction Therefore upon the one part 1. Jehovah giveth his word and faithful promise unto Christ Psal 110.1 The Lord said to my Lord and not his faithful promise only but his oath also Psal 89.35 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lye unto David Heb. 7.21 For those priests were made without an oath but this with an oath by him that said unto him The Lord swore and will not repent Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedee 2. Upon the other part Christ does not only give his word of promise and consent to do this work Psal 40.6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire mine ears hast thou opened burnt offering and sin-offering hast thou not required c. But he also comes under a Judicial and Law-act of Suretiship whereby he did from eternity act himself in the volume of the book of God's eternal Records that he would fulfil all his undertaking Heb. 10.7 Then said I lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will O God And under this act of Suretiship I comprehend 1. His eternal consent to take our Nature and Law-condition upon him 2. His plighting of his faith and truth to act our part and to answer the Law and Demands of Justice in our Law-place and condition 3. His eternal agreement that by his own consent a Judicial act should be put upon him and stand in record for ever in Heaven and in the volume of books that are there that this person had voluntarily undertaken and promised by striking hands with Jehovah to answer all demands of Law and Justice against his elect people Having offered the before-mentioned sum of the Articles concluded and agreed upon the Covenant of Redemption betwixt Jehovah and Christ I come in the next place to distribute and divide that sum and the things comprised under it into the reciprocal and mutual engagements of the parties covenanting to wit 1. What were the commands and conditions laid upon Christ and voluntarily yielded unto by him in the Covenant of Redemption 2. What the promises and engagements that were given to Christ by the same Covenant And 1. Concerning the commands conditions and engagements which were required of Christ Mediator by the Covenant of Suretiship I shall in these eight Assertions open the nature of them and what they were Assert 1. All the commands of the Covenant of Redemption are conditions and are to be considered as such when they are laid upon Christ who came not under commands but upon terms and conditions It is not so in God's Covenant-dealings with us all the commands of the Gospel are not to us conditions of righteousness and life unless we understand conditions in a very large and improper sense neither is it of the essence of commands laid upon us to be conditions for God oweth nothing to our obedience nor is he obliged to make any promises to it but the commands of the Covenant of Redemption are all of them conditions of that same Covenant For 1. They are commands to the obedience whereof promises are made Isa 53.12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great and he shall divide the spoil with the strong because he hath poured out his soul unto death and he was numbred with the transgressors and he bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors 2. They are commands unto which Christ yielded upon terms Phil. 2.7 8 But made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of man And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross therefore God hath highly exalted him Assert 2. All the conditions of the Covenant of Redemption both these more general of obeying the Law and fulfilling all righteousness Mat. 3.15 For thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteausness
ends which God hath before him in the work of our Redemption The glory of God the glory of Christ and the good of his people 1. Some Reasons there are which most directly respect God himself and his glory 2. Others respect Christ and his honour as Mediator in this employment The third sort respect the Creatures good and happiness And 1. The Reasons of establishing this Covenant in the hands of a Mediator which respect God himself and his glory may be 1. For the glory of his Greatness and Majesty it is his glory to be dealt with like himself throughout the whole business of our Salvation 1. It was for his honour that he should carry like a Superiour wronged it became the Majesty of the Lord to keep at a distance with sinners and not to be dealt with immediately by the parties who had done him the wrong but by the Mediation and Intercession of another great Person Mal. 1.14 For I am a great king saith the Lord. Heb. 7.25 Men must therefore come to God by him by a Mediator 2. It became the Majesty and Honour of God to be dealt with only by his own Son he being the greatest Courtier in Heaven and who knew most of his fathers mind Joh. 1.18 No man hath seen God at any time the only begotten Son which is in the bosome of the father he hath declared him 2. For the glory of his Wisdom This was a plot becoming the wisdom of God and much for the honour of it to find out this way of making up an union betwixt God and man Again by bringing down God to man and bringing up man to God and treisting both to meet in a Mediator wonderful did the wisdom of God appear in the Reconciling Justice and Mercy and making them meet together in this business in punishing sin and setting the sinner free in making a Covenant with us through a Mediator when there could be none without a Mediator Eph. 3.10 11 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. 3. It was for the glory of Gods Goodness and Free-grace that grace may be acknowledged and dealt with like Free-grace therefore there must be a Mediator who throughout the accomplishment of our Salvation shall deal with grace by way of entreaty and requests and shall obtain our Salvation as freely by requests as if there had been no purchase made of it through satisfaction to Justice Heb. 5.17 Who in the days of his flesh when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared Chap. 7. v. 25 Seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them 4. It was for the glory of his Justice which must be dealt with in a way of satisfaction grace will be dealt with by requests salva justitia which must be dealt with by a satisfaction therefore the Covenant is established in the hands of a Mediator who may tell down a price to Justice 1 Tim. 2.6 Who gave himself a ransome for all to be testified in due time These two the Apostle joyns Rom. 3.24 25 26 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God To declare I say at this time his righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus The highest Justice and the freest grace met together in the Mediator to save us by paying a price as fully as if there had been no grace and entreating of favour in the matter of our Salvation and yet as much entreaty and request is made to grace as if Justice had received no satisfaction Secondly Other Reasons respect Christ the Covenant is established in the hands of a Mediator for the glory of the Mediator in this employment whose honour and glory God had in his eyes as well as his own Joh. 5.23 That all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father And 16.14 He shall glorifie me for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you Now the constituting and appointing Christ Mediator of the new Covenant is for his honour 1. In respect of the honourable offices which are laid upon him as Mediator for it is as Mediator that he is constituted a King a Priest and a Prophet to his people Heb. 1 and 7 Chap. throughout which are honourable offices Heb. 5.4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron Joh. 5.22 23 But hath committed all judgment to the Son that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father 2. In respect of the exceeding great power which is put in his hand as Mediator no less than the administration of the whole affairs in Heaven and Earth and that every knee should bow to him Phil. 2.10 And the government shall be upon his shoulder Isa 9.6 Mat. 28.18 All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth Rev. 3.7 He that hath the key of David he that openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth 3. In respect of the great dependance that shall be upon Christ Mediator by many supplicants resorting to him and waiting on him for the representing and offering of their requests Joh. 15.16 Whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name he shall give it you Zeph. 3.10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my supplicants even the daughter of my dispersed shall bring mine offering 4. In respect of his sole and absolute working of the whole business of our Salvation from beginning to end every part of it being immediately from him as the Fountain and store-house and Great Lord Treasurer of all the blessings of the Covenant Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Act. 2.33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear The third sort of Reasons respecting the creatures good and happiness may be holden forth 1. Negatively 2. Affirmatively 1. Without Christ the Mediator we should have had no knowledg of God which is saving for since the fall God dealeth not with man immediately nor can man see him or hear him speak without a Mediator This was typified Exod. 20.19 And they said unto Moses Speak thou with us and we will hear but let not God speak with us lest we
shall walk and not faint If your legs fail and your warmness decay the undertakers arms and bosom shall supply that Isa 40.11 29 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd he shall gather the lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom and shall gently lead those that are with young He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength Deut. 33.27 The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlastings arms If you want a ransom to present to offended Justice if you be anxious about a satisfaction to God at any time Christs Suretiship answers that for thereby a satisfaction was found and is performed Job 33.24 Then he is gracious unto him and saith Deliver him from going down to the pit I have found a ransom 1 Joh. 2.2 And he is the propitiation for our sins If you want comfort or assurance his Suretiship is the ground of that you need not want it but through your own default Heb. 6.17 18 Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel confirmed it by an oath that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lye we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us Vse 6. Believers for whom Christ hath become Surety let me exhort you 1. To admire the love which made Christ undertake for you and come under an act of cautionry for you in every piece of his Suretiship you may clearly read that which was read upon a lighter occasion Joh. 11.36 Behold how he loved him Read a demonstration of his love in every thing which he acted as your Surety in every state wherein he carried your condition and in every act wherein he acted your part in his humbling himself in his sufferings in his actings for you and in you Gal. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Gal. 4.4 5 But when the fulness of the time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons It s strange that you who seek for demonstrations and proofs of his love should slight so great a proof of it and that you will not read it where he hath most legibly written it Joh. 15.13 Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friend Consider more of the person who was made Surety and the parties for whom he became Surety and of the motive and principle that acted him in this undertaking and of the special respect which he carried toward each of his people in this and the sweet spirit which waited on his discharging of so great undertakings that your hearts may be raised to admiration consider the extent of his Suretiship how it reacheth unto the whole Covenant and to every condition and command in it to every promise in it take it in the largest sense to fulfil all the promises to us to pay all our Debt and to perform all our Duty to work all our work and to undergo all our punishment 2. Consider how you are in Christs Debt and for what because of his Suretiship Believers you are in Christs Debt beyond all reckening that can be made of it 1. You are infinitely in his Debt you shall not be able while you live in this world once to reckon your obligations it shall be work throughout eternity to cast up the sum of this Debt of Grace Psal 40.5 Many O Lord my God are thy wonderful works which thou hast done and thy thoughts which are to us-ward they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee if I would declare and speak of them they are more than can be numbred 2 Sam. 7.18 to the end Eph. 3.18 19 That ye may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledg that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God Rev. 7.10 Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne and unto the lamb 2. You are eternally in his Debt you shall never be able to requite him nay though it be your duty to study thankfulness yet it would not become you once to think of recompencing him Psal 116.12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me Rev. 5.9 12 And they sang a new song saying Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kinred and tongue and people and nation Saying with a loud voice Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing You shall through all eternity remain his Debtors for his undertaking and engaging for you for his paying that which he undertook and for his discharging of the Debt to you yea and for reporting his fathers discharge of it all which come to us by Christs Suretiship 1. You are in Christs Debt for his undertaking that unrequested when there was none to sollicite him and when there was no necessity of nature upon him to answer for our Debt that then he did consent and agree to put his name in our bond and to subscribe a satisfaction to the violated Law Gal. 4.4 5 But when the fulness of the time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the law to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons Heb. 10.5 7 Wherefore when he cometh into the world he saith Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not but a body hast thou prepared me then said I Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will O God 2. You are in his Debt for paying so great a sum for you so great a ransome as you can neither count the Debt which was payed nor the price which was told down in satisfaction of the penalty which we had incurred Psal 40.12 For innumerable evils hath compassed me about mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to look up they are moe then the hairs of my head therefore my heart faileth me Luk. 7.47 Wherefore I say unto thee Her sins which are many are forgiven for she loved much but to whom little is forgiven the same loveth little 1 Pet. 1.18 19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot Isa
Messenger of the Covenant p. 330. 1. Christ is in some respect a Messenger betwixt God and all the visible multitude to whom the Covenant is offer'd and the Gospel preached p. 331. 2. More specially between God and his chosen 3. To many Hypocrites and Reprobates p. 332. 4. To the multitudes unto whom the Gospel is preached p. 333. 4 Whose Messenger whether of one or both parties in respect of delegation and mission and subordination but of one in respect of his business labour in it and Ambassage about it and correspondence with both he is a Messenger of both parties ibid. 5 About what business he is Messenger viz. all things appertaining to the Covenant 1. As to the making it p. 335. 2. The maintaining and preserving it p. 336. 3. The renewing and establishing of it p. 337. 6 Consider the Properties of the Angel of the New Covenant 1. He is faithful p. 338. 2. An active diligent Messenger 3. A sweet Messenger p. 339. 4. An accurate Reporter of his Message 5. Mortified to his own honour and credit p. 340. Two Vses of this ibid. Chap. XX. Another Relation Christ bears in the Covenant is that of a Servant p. 349. To understand this consider 1 In what respects this name is given to Christ 1. In regard of his Office 2. In regard of his condition of Humiliation 3. In regard of his Trust 4. In regard of his Work 5. In regard of his Wages 6. In regard of his Spirit of Fear he was subject to p. 350. 2 How he came under this Covenant-Relation 1. The Lords choice or Call 2. His own Love 3. His free Consent 4. His compact and Covenant engaged him p. 353. 3 Whose Servant Christ was in the business of the Covenant 1. Gods 2. Ours 3. Servant to both with some differences p. 354. 4 What kind of service belongs to Christ by his Covenant-relation 1. The greatest ever was put on man Redemption and Salvation 2. The hardest piece of work p. 356. 3. An honourable Service he served as King 4. The most kindly service from Love p. 357. 5 What was the service Christ did in the business of the Covenant it was all that Christ had in commission to do in our Nature from the time of his receiving a Commission to be the Mediator of the Covenant to the time of his delivering up the Kingdom to his Father p. 358. Two Vses of this p. 360. Chap. XXI Christ the Surety of the Covenant p. 368. To open this it is considered 1 Of the name and thing the several significations of the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ghnarab p. 369 which answers to the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 371. and Sponsor p. 372. The nature of this Suretiship 1. It is a ground of Trust p. 372. 2. It imports several things 1. Obligement for another and that 2. Voluutary 3. Vnion of parties p. 373. 4. Communion between the Debtor and Cautioner 5. The substitution of one in the room of another 6. A conjunct Obligation of Surety and Debtor to the Creditor p. 374. 7. Imports either irresponsableness in the Debtor or distrustfulness between Creditor and Debtor 3 Suretiship of divers kinds among men perfectly resembling Chists Suretiship p. 375. Assertions for clearing the Covenant Relation p. 379. 1. Man considered in the second Covenant hath as much need of a Surety as a Saviour 2. Christs suretiship was not only a voluntary act but an act also of absolute Soveraignty p. 379. 3. When man was broken Christ unrequested undertook for him to satisfie his Creditor 4. Christ died not only for our good but in our stead p. 380. 5. Christ the Surety and broken man the Debtor are one in Law p. 381. 6. Neither the Creditor nor Law can exact satisfaction of Surety and Debtor p. 382. 7. Christs suretiship was a mixture of justice and grace 8. Christs suretiship was not private 9. Christ in his undertaking had his Fathers Bond of relief and warrandize p. 383. 10. All Christs Offices are founded on his suretiship p. 384. 3 How came he to be surety of the Covenant God made him so which imports 1. Something in God viz. his decree 2. His anointing him 3. Investing him p. 385. 2. Something on Christs part viz. His condescending 2. His engaging his faith to do what he agreed 3. His performance of these things p. 387. From this suretiship of Christ for his people ariseth a fourfold Relation founded on it 1. A natural Relation 2. A legal Relation 3. A foederal Relation 4. A mystical Relation p. 388. 4 For whom Christ is engaged as Surety of the Covenant some premisses to the Answer p. 393. Answer 1. Negatively Not for all mankind 2. Nor for all those within the visible Church p. 395. Affirmatively Christ undertakes for the Elect only 5 For what Christ is engaged by his Suretishp Some distinctions speaking the extent of his undertaking 1. Christ is Surety for his people in his state and in his actions p. 397. 2. He was so in earth and is so in heaven p. 398. 3. In our stead and in our behalf p. 401. 4. On Gods part to man and mans part to God p. 402. 1. For God to man engaging to make good all the promises thereof to us p. 402. 2. For mans part to God which lies in three things The first relates to the violation of the Law and broken covenant of Works p. 404. which comprehends two things 1. His surrogation in ourplace 2. His satisfaction p. 405. The 2. Relates the condition and commands of the New Covenant 1. He is surety to God for our performance of the Commands of the New Covenant p. 406. 2. He is an engager to make these things that are required of us possible and certain in the performance p. 408. 3. He is engaged to give habitual Grace and actual Influences p. 409. 1. Bowing our will 2. To preserve these Habits p. 410. 3. For our exercising habitual Grace 4. For the liveliness of our Graces 5. For the increase of the habits of Grace p. 411. 6. To stir us up when heavy Five assertions clear this that Christ is engaged for our obeying the preceptive part of the Law p. 412. The third part of Christs Suretiship for man to God relates to his undertaking for the persons of the Elect 1. For the indempnity of all the Elect p. 418. 2. For their good behaviour 3. For their appearing before God at last 4. For compleating whatever concerns their salvation p. 419. 5. For compleatly delivering them 6 Some things that commend Christs Suretiship 1. That he rendered himself their Surety before they needed him 2. That he entred on it so freely 3. The great danger of his undertaking p. 420. 4. That he engaged for a party which deserved no pity p. 421. 5. That he engaged for a people he could expect no satisfaction from p. 421. 7 Wherein Christs Suretiship differeth from bonds of cautionry among men in eleven
with Christ's seed c. Ans We are not to conceive of the Covenant of Redemption in such an abstracted consideration and notion as if the things transacted in that Covenant made with Christ had no relation to nor connexion with the Covenant made with us but upon the contrary we are still to keep in mind the great affinity and connexion that is between these two Covenants and as the Apostle reasons from the one to the other 2 Cor. 6.2 For he saith I have heard thee in a time accepted and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee Where he looks upon what God said to Christ concerning us and the hearing of him for us as spoken for our encouragement to apply to him in the improvement of the day of Grace Yet I say of this Scripture 1. Here is nothing spoken of Christ's seed and people as parties with whom God deals in this Covenant and upon whom he layeth any commands nor to whom directly he maketh any promises except what may be gathered consequenter in obliquo which things must needs be in the Covenant of reconciliation 2. Whatsoever is spoken here concerning Christ's seed and people 't is only of the force of the Covenant made and sworn with Christ having influence towards the establishment of friendship with them and toward their perseverance in a Covenant-state because of God's transactions with Christ wherein they were comprehended and by which they and their interests were disposed of The third Proof I take from these Scriptures which hold forth all the essentials and requisites for making up a formal Covenant to be betwixt God and Christ which Texts though they speak not explicitely of the name of a Covenant yet they do explicitely hold forth the thing The Argument in form is this Where all things necessarily required unto the essence and being of a Covenant for matter and form are to be found there must needs be a Covenant But betwixt God and Christ in the matter of our Redemption all things necessary unto the essence of a Covenant are to be found Therefore there must needs be a Covenant betwixt God and Christ about the work of Redemption which we call the Covenant of Suretiship or Redemption The major is manifest and undeniable I come therefore to confirm the minor Concerning which I shall first tell you what are the necessary requisites unto the essence of a Covenant and then give plain Scripture-proof that these were betwixt God and Christ 1. It is generally acknowledged by the Doctors of the Law that the agreement or consent of two or more Parties upon the same thing maketh a Paction and that Proposals upon the one part Ulpian de Pollicit L. Pactum L. 1. F. de Pact and a consent upon the other makes a formal Covenant though there were no condition or restipulation Cic. 2. de invent Panormit 2a parte super Primo tit de Pact Cap. Antigonus But more particularly and above all question where there are Proposals Commands or Promises upon the one part with conditions required upon the other and a consent unto Panormit ubi supra Azor. instit Moral p. 3. l. 11. de Pollicit c. 1. l. 6. c. 3. or acceptation of these Proposals with the conditions required upon the other part or where there is a restipulation of conditions upon the other part there must needs be a Contract or Covenant not only materially and virtually because there is all the essentials of a Covenant but formally and explicitly because there are all the formalities of explicite Covenanting 2. It is manifest that all these things are to be found betwixt Jehovah and Christ concerning the work of Redemption 1. There is a consent and agreement betwixt God and Christ about this very thing which amounteth to a Paction Zech. 6.13 The Lord speaking of that ineffable mysterious Oeconomy and dispensation of the business of man's Redemption and Salvation as the same is transacted in the counsel of God's Will biddeth him tell us that the counsel of peace shall be between them both to wit See Pemble on Zech. 6.13 Jo. Cocc de foedere c 5. Sect. 88. between the Lord of Hosts and the man whose name is the Branch v. 12 betwixt them was the business plotted consulted and concluded to the same purpose are these Scriptures that tell us of the agreement of the Lord's Will and Christ's Will in this affair it was his Father's Will to send him Joh. 6.40 And this is the will of him that sent me And Act. 3.26 Vnto you first God having raised up his Son Jesus sent him c. and it was Christ's Will to be sent Heb. 10.9 Then said he Lo I come to do thy will Joh. 6.38 For I came down from heaven not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me it was his Father's will that he should lay down his life and it was his will also Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all Joh. 10.18 No man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again This Commandment have I received of my father it pleased the Lord to bruise him Isai 53.10 and it pleased him to be bruised Isai 50.6 I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair I hid not my face from shame and spitting Still there was an agreement 2. We find clear vestiges in the Scripture of Proposals made by Jehovah unto Christ concerning his Will about the work of our Redemption and of a consent and agreement upon Christ's part unto these Proposals whereby he declares his will to be consenting to his Father's Will The first to wit Proposals made by God to Christ we read Psal 110.1 The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool and Psal 2.7 8 I will declare the decree the Lord hath said unto me thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession That these Scriptures contain Proposals is manifest and that they are Proposals made by Jehovah to Christ appears by the Holy Ghosts asserting it Act. 13.33 God hath confirmed the same unto us their children in that he hath raised up Jesus again as it is also written in the second Psalm Thou art my Son this day have I begâ—tten thâ—◠〈◊〉 1â—5 For 〈◊〉 which of the Angels said he at any time Thou art my Sâ—n this day have I begotten thee But all the difficulty is to make it appear that these Proposals belong to the eternal transaction and Covenant of Redemption To this end 't is to be observed 1. That whatsoever is revealed in these Scriptures concerning the things that were between God and Christ
God said and propounded it unto Christ long before his coming in the flesh and therefore it must needs relate to such transactions as were betwixt God and Christ in the counsel of his Will from all eternity 2. Though the accomplishment of these things be applyed by the Holy Ghost unto the resurrection of Christ Act. 13.33 and to the exaltation of him in his humane nature Heb. 1.5 that doth not make against the transacting of them by an eternal Covenant where first these Proposals were made but on the contrary it doth streng then what is here asserted because the accomplishment of these things is declared to be that which God had revealed in the old Testament to have been said long before by him to Christ Therefore also the same Scripture is brought as an evidence of Christ's being consecrated by his Father unto the offices which he did bear for the worâ— of our Redemption Heb. 5.5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high Priest but he that said unto him thou art my Son to day have I begotten thee c. So that the declaration of the Sonship of Christ this day I have begotten thee is not to be understood of an hodie aternitatis a day of eternity and of the counal generation of the Son of God as many of the Ancients and of the Schoolmen understand it and indeed if it should be vielded to be spoken of an eternal Sonship I should understand it of that eternal adoption and designation of Christ by his own consent in the counsel of God's Will to a new Sonship for the work of Redemption whereby he voluntarily became the first born of many brethren and an obe ient Son even unto death Phil. 2.8 and whereby he consented to take a new Covenant-â—ight unto God as his Father and his Gâ—â— by Covenant Heb. 1.5 I will be to him a father 〈◊〉 be shall be to me a son And we know it is not unusual in Scripture to stile adoption unto a succession in office by a Sonship and a begetting therefore Salathiel is said to be begotten by Jethoniah Mat. 1.12 because he succeeded him in the Kingdom But since the Holy Ghost applies it distinctly to Christ's resurrection Act. 13.33 and to the exaltation of him in his humane Nature when he had humbled himself as an obedient Son unto the death of the Cross and having by himself purged our sins sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high Heb. 1.3 4 5. 't is safest for us to hold close to that meaning of the words This day have I begotten thee which was the accomplishment of that which God had said to Christ long before in the transaction of the Covenant of Redemption when Christ was set up from everlasting before his works of old c. Prov. 8.22 23. and when the Decree was passed which was not declared till long after Ps 2.7 Now this day of Christ's exaltation in his humane Nature at his resurrection which was the fulfilling of what God said to him when he was by eternal destination and decree called and set a part unto the work of Redemption and unto the offices which as Lord Mediator he did bear is fitly called the day wherein he was begotten upon several accounts 1. Because in this day he was declared to be the Son of God Rom. 1.4 And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Syriack reads it Qui cognitus est the word signifies demonstrated Chrysost Hom. in Rom. Esthi in locum Eras Beza c. manifested or defined to be the Son of God as most Learned men render it Though Bellarmine's rendering of the word with the vulgar Latine for which he contends would also fit our purpose who was predestinated to be the Son of God which must be meant of such a Sonship as he took upon him in time or rather of the execution of God's Decree containing his being manifested in the flesh by the terms of the Covenant of Suretiship if we read it predestinated and not of his eternal generation because as Esthius says upon the place Predestination does not relate unto that which was from eternity but to future things only 2. Because on this day of his resurrection there was in respect of Christ's humane nature a second entrance into life the Grave being a second womb See Dr. Haâ—â—mond Annot. on Ps 2. from which he came forth unto life as his Mothers womb was the first from which he came forth unto life in respect of his humane nature so he was begotten or brought forth in this day by a new birth out of the womb of the grave hence the resurrection is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 renascentia a new or second birth See Gerhard Hâ—rm in locum Matth 19.28 3. Because the day of Christ's resurrection was the day of vesting inaugurating and installing him in his Regal Office and Authority in our nature this is the day whereof it 's said Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee because this was a Coronation-day a day of exaltation of him in his humane nature and of constituting him and setling him in his offices in a most glorious manner against all opposition as the context of that Psalm bears v. 6 7 Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion I will declare the decree And Heb. 1.3 4 5 When he had by himself purged our sins sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high Being made so much better than the Angels as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they For unto which of the Angels said he at any time Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee It was a custom among the Romans that the Emperors had two Natales or birth-days kept the one was Natalis Imperatoris the birth-day of the Emperor to commemorate his coming into the world The other was Natalis Imperii the birth-day of the Empire to commemorate his advancement to the Imperial Dignity The feast of commemorating the building of Rome was called Palilia and this title was by decree given of Caius the Emperor Sueton in Calig c. 26. his advancement to the Empire Decretum est ut dies quo cepisset imperium Palilia vocaretur There is also mention made of anothers Spartianus in Adriano Natalis adoptionis the day of his adoption i. e. his civil birth-day V. id Aug. and then of Natalis Imperii the birth-day of his Empire III. id Aug. And of Vespasian 't is recorded Tacitus Hist lib. 2. that Primus principatus dies in posterum celebratus the first day of his Empire was celebrated afterwards 3. 'T is to be observed concerning the Proposals before-mentioned which I said are made by Jehovah to Christ that the Scriptures cited do distinguish betwixt the propounding of these things which
Trusts Powers and Authorities that Christ Mediator had concerning the work of his peoples Redemption how came his name to be in our bond and he to take upon him to perform the condition of the Covenant of works how came he to be under the Law and to fulfil the Law Sure it was not by nature nor by any necessity of nature but by divine appointment and by his own voluntary yielding to it which is Compact so Jesus was made surety Heb. 7.22 and made under the law Gal. 4.4 how came he to have the disposing of the eternal interests of all men Sure he had this trust and authority by agreement with his Father who laid it upon him and he freely received it Joh. 5.22 for the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son 17.2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him How came the keys of the house of David to lye upon his shoulder the great trust and management of all affairs relating to his Church and People undoubtedly this was by Compact with Jehovah who laid this trust upon him Isa 22.23 24 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder so he shall open and none shall shut and he shall shut and none shall open And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place and he shall be for a glorious throne to his fathers house And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his house the offspring and the issue all vessels of small quantity from the vessels of cups even to all the vessels of flagons Rev. 3.7 He that hath the key of David he that openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth 3. I affirm the same also of Christ's Covenant-relations to God and to his people Though God the Father was the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ by eternal generation and he is the natural Son of God yet who can declare how God is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ but by Covenant 1 Pet. 1.3 God foretold this Covenant-Interest of Christ's Psal 89.26 He shall cry unto me thou art my Father my God and the rock of my Salvation with Heb. 1.5 For unto which of the Angels said he at any time Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee And again I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son And Christ frequently owns that Covenant-compellation Mat. 27.46 My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Rev. 3.12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God and he shall go no more out and I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the City of my God which is new Jerusalem which cometh down out of heaven from my God and I will write upon him my new name Joh. 20.17 Jesus saith unto her touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my Father but go to my brethren and say to them I ascend unto my Father and your Father and to my God and your God From all which I draw but this one Argument Christ who did bear all these offices employments trusts and relations for the work of our Redemption he had all these things I say either by some necessity that could not stand with his own free consent or else he did bear these offices employments trusts and relations by his own willing consent and they were of his own voluntary taking up Now 't is sure he was not Mediator nor Surety nor Messenger of the Covenant nor a servant in that affair by any necessity that was repugnant to his own free consnt I say no necessity that was repugnant to his own free consent because there was 1. Some kind of necessity that Christ should travel in this work in regard of the DEcree of God and Divine Predetermination that a satisfaction should be made unto his Justice and that man should not be saved without this satisfaction interveening which decree is in order of nature and in that kind of priority that is in our way of conceiving of God's eternal decrees antecedaneous to God's Covenant with Christ Therefore the Scripture giveth us ground to say that God first chose Christ to this work of Redemption and then made a Covenant with him Psal 89.3 I have made a Covenant with my chosen 2. We find that Christ having taken upon him these offices trusts employments c. before-mentioned was under a blessed holy necessity to fulfil the things belonging to his offices and trusts and therefore the Scripture saith it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren Heb. 2.17 and it behoved Christ to suffer Luk. 24.46 and he must needs go thorow Samaria Joh. 4.4 I must work the works of him that sent me Joh. 9.4 But neither of these necessities was any ways repugnant to his own free confent and willingness to bear these offices and trusts For the first necessity in regard of the decree of God that decree being the counsel of his own will as well as his Fathers there was not thereby any necessity upon him repugnant to his own free consent And the second necessity of doing the works of him that sent him being a necessity which he voluntarily took upon him by his willing undertaking the trust of being Lord Mediator there was not thereby any imposing upon his free consent Joh. 10.17 18 Therefore doth my Father love me because I lay down my life that I might take it again No man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again Phil. 2.8 And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself unto death even the death of the Cross Yet I say there was not upon Christ any necessity repugnant to his free and willing acting in the taking upon him these offices trusts relations c. 1. Because there was no compellingnecessity such as is upon a man bound hand and foot there was no such necessity upon the Lord to send Christ and to lay these offices upon him for he is a most free foveraign Agent above counsel and much more above compulsion Isa 40.13 Who hath directed the spirit of the Lord or being his Counsellour hath taught him Psal 135.6 Whatsoever the Lord pleased that did he in heaven and in earth in the seas and all deep place And he was not bound to change the Law-dispensation into a new one of Grace Therefore is the thing that was laid upon Christ so often called the will of him that sent him Joh. 6.39 40. Neither was there any such necessity upon Christ to take these offices and employments he could not be compelled to lay down his life Joh. 10.18 No man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to
another whether Faith the eminent Gospel-condition or other Gospel-obedience required of us or to be performed upon our part all these were undertaken by Christ's act of Suretiship in the Covenant betwixt God and him and were ensured to him by Jehovah to be successfully performed See Eph. 2.10 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them 2 Thess 2.13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth Isa 53.11 And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied by his knowledg shall my righteous servant justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities 3. In personal Covenanting with God and the engaging of particular Souls to him in the way of the Covenant of Grace Christ's Suretiship is the ground of all proceeding till this be eyed and in some measure believed there is no possibility of advancing one step toward a new Covenant-state for how can fallen broken man who understands his condition to be such think of dealing with God unless he bring a Cautioner with him or how shall he bring to God Christ a surety of the better testament who hath not heard of and believed his eternal act of Suretiship Rom. 10.14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher This Covenant of Surtiship therefore must needs be the foundation of the Covenant of Grace and reconciliation hence 't is that David and Hezekiah flee to this act of Suretiship and lay the weight of their dealing with God on it Psal 119.122 Be surety for thy servant for good Isa 38.14 O Lord I am oppressed undertake for me 4. The Covenant made with us hath its stability from the Covenant of Suretiship made with Christ and therefore this must be the foundation of that I say upon the stability of the Covenant made with Christ doth depend the stability of the Covenant with us because that stands firm and sure therefore doth this stand fast also therefore the mercies of the Covenant with us are sure mercies and the promises of the Covenant are yea and amen because they are the sure mercies of David which were first promised to Christ Isa 55.3 and because the promises were made to us in him 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him are amen Therefore the Covenant made with us is an everlasting Covenant because of the Covenant by which he was given to his people Isa 53.3 4 I make with you an everlasting Covenant even the sure mercies of David Behold I have given him for a witness of the people a leader and commander of the people therefore our faith and perseverance and salvation are sure as sure as Heaven and Earth can make them because of the act of Christ's Suretiship and his undertaking for them because they hang upon Christ's fulfilling his Covenant of Suretiship with God and upon condition of his doing the work that his Father gave him to do Joh. 17.4 8.15.24 I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me and they have received them I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am Mat. 16.18 And upon this rock will I build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it 5. The Holy Ghost's leading us so frequently in the Scriptures from the Covenant made with us in all the force efficacy stability eternity standing and perseverance thereof to look up to the Covenant of Suretiship made with Christ is a clear demonstration that this Covenant made with us depends upon the Covenant made with him and that the Covenant made with Christ is the foundation and ground of the Covenant made with us Read Ezek. 16.60 61 Nevertheless I will remember my Covenant with thee in the days of thy youth and I will establish unto thee an everlasting Covenant Then thou shalt remember thy ways and be ashamed when thou shalt receive thy Sisters thine elder and thy younger and I will give them unto thee for daughters but not by thy Covenant Where the efficacy of the Covenant made with us is hanged not upon that same Covenant but another to wit that made with Christ And Isa 22.22 23 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder for he shall open and none shall shut and he shall shut and none shall open and I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house c. Where under a type of Eliakim's trust the fixing of Christ in the Covenant is stated as the ground of all the gracious efficiency thereof and Psal 89.33 34 Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail My Covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lye unto David The establishment of the Covenant with Christ's sinful seed there spoke of by the name of David and his seed is reduced to the Covenant the sworn Covenant with Christ as the ground and foundation thereof whom God laid in Zion for a sure foundation to the intent that he who believeth may not make haste nor be suddenly removed from his Faith and steadfastness Isa 28.16 CHAP. II. Of the necessity of the Covenant of Redemption And 1. What kind of necessity for the being of this Covenant 2. In what Respects or to what Intents it is necessary WHen we speak of the necessity of the Covenant of Redemption or Suretiship we are cautiously to understand that necessity The School-men distinguish a threefold necessity Aquin. Sum. 1. Part. g. 19. Art 3 Estius in Sentent li. 1. d. 38. Sect. 7. 1. A most perfect and absolute necessity or a simple necessity when a thing is so that it cannot not be nor be otherwise and that by the power of any Agent whatsoever This necessity belongeth not to the Covenant of Redemption nor to any other the free acts of the will of God for if so it had pleased God he might have not entered that Covenant with his Son for it was not absolutely necessary that man should be redeemed God might have passed by man as he did the Apostate Angels which choice of objects to be redeemed by Christ is mentioned for aggravating God's
glory and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created Whereas natural necessity excludes freedom both in the principle of action and the act it self Having now shewed what kind of necessity there was for the being of the Covenant of Redemption betwixt God and Christ and that the necessity does mainly respect the final cause and ends which God had purposed in himself Let us in the next place consider particularly to what intents and purposes it was necessary that God should enter into a Covenant of Suretiship and Redemption with his own Son Christ These intents and purposes may be reduced to two chief heads supposing that God had purposed in himself to glorifie his mercy and Justice in procuring our Salvation the Covenant of Suretiship and Redemption was necessary for both these ends and purposes 1. For the honour of God 2. For the salvation and good of his chosen people both which were attained through the Covenant made betwixt God and Christ 1. For the honour and glory of God I mean the declarative glory of God that shines ad extra or the manifestation of his glory as the same is shewed forth and manifested in his dealings with the Creatures whereof see Psal 19.1 The heavens declare the glory of God Exod. 15.11 Who is like unto thee O Lord amongst the Gods who is like thee glorious in holiness fearful in praises doing wonders Not his essential glory that shines ad intra whereby he was infinitely and eternally glorious before any the works of Creation and Providence and should have been glorious eternally though these had never been Prov. 8.22 30 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way before his works of old Then I was by him as one brought up with him and I was daily his delight rejoycing always before him I say the being of this Covenant of Redemption was necessary for the declarative glory of God whether we consider God essentially or personally 1. For the glory of God considered essentially or in regard of his glorious nature and essence or his natural essential attributes I mean his wisdom goodness justice mercy faithfulness c. And that 1. For glorifying these universally even all and every one of his attributes all which received a new and glorious lustre through the Covenant of Redemption and God's sending of Christ to do that work which should never have been known nor manifested on Earth nor in Heaven but in the face of Jesus Christ and by virtue of God's Covenant-dealings with him about our Redemption therefore saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 4.6 For God who commanded light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ Therefore also Christ is called the brightness of his glory Heb. 1.3 Christ Mediator is the brightness of the glory of God in and through whom his glorious attributes and nature was made conspicuous and the declarative glory thereof had a more glorious lustre than by all the works of Creation and Providence beside upon the same account also Christ is called the Image of the invisible God Col. 1.15 because the glorious excellencies of God otherwise invisible are gloriously revealed by him and to be seen in him I pass this here in a word referring a more particular consideration thereof to that part of this subject-matter that concerns the Mediator's person and office 2. For the glorifying of these harmoniously that the harmony of attributes in God might be manifested in this transaction to wit how sweetly mercy justice did meet when peace and righteousness Law-demands and Gospel-condescentions Law-severity and Gospel-lenity did meet together and were made friends by this Covenant Psal 85.10.11 Mercy and truth are met together righteousness and peace have kissed each other c. For by this means God brought forth to heaven and earth and all the Creatures the glorious harmony of Justice Truth Mercy Power Wisdom Grace Rev. 5.12 13 Saying with a loud voice worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and wisdom and riches and strength and honour and glory and blessing And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea and all that are in them heard I saying Blessing honour glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the lamb for ever and ever 2. This Covenant of Redemption was necessary for the glory of God considered personally and that 1. In regard of the distinct subsistences and glorious persons of the blessed Trinity 2. In regard of the distinct offices of the three persons all which were gloriously manifested in God's Covenant-dealings with Christ I say the greatest declarative glory and clearest manifestation of the distinct subsistences and Persons of the Godhead and of the distinct offices of these Persons in the ever-glorious and blessed Trinity that ever the world saw or heard of was in God's Covenant-dealings with Christ about the work of our Redemption for where are there any such clear discoveries of these great mysteries to be found as in God's foederal dealings with Christ and the Scriptures which reveal the same God was but darkly known in the distinct subsistences and offices of the Persons of the Trinity till this light of his Covenant with Christ did break forth but in Gods sending his Son and the Son 's undertaking and offering himself willingly to his Father to do this work and the Holy Ghost's exercising the power of the Godhead fitting and enabling him the man Christ Jesus to do the work there was a glorious manifestation of the distinction of Persons in the Godhead and of the offices of these Persons whereof also more particularly afterward See Isa 42.1 Behold my servant whom I uphold mine elect in whom my soul delighteth I have put my spirit upon him he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God And 10.7 Then said I Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will O God Psal 2.7 8 I will declare the decree the Lord hath said unto me Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession Joh. 14.26 But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you Mal. 3.16 17 And he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him And lo a voice from heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased and such like
Scriptures Yea so much was the Covenant betwixt God and Christ about our Redemption for the glory of God even considered personally that thereby beside the glory that was common to all the three Persons there did accrue a peculiar glory to the distinct Persons of the Godhead in regard of their distinct offices and working in this business of Redemption a peculiar glory to the Father who gave Christ and who sent him upon this business and blessed us in him even a peculiar honour to the Father from the Lord Mediator and Redeemer Joh. 8.49 But I honour my Father saith Christ and a peculiar honour to the Father from the ransomed and redeemed People 1 Pet. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again into a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead A peculiar honour to the Son to Christ the Lord Mediator and that both upon earth and in heaven a peculiar glory to the Lamb that wrought the Redemption unto which his Father appointed him Joh. 5.22 23 For the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father which the Son claimeth Joh. 17.1 4 These words spoke Jesus and lift up his eyes to heaven and said Father the hour is come glorifie thy Son that thy Son also may glorifie thee I have glorified thee on the earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do And which is payed to him in heaven Rev. 7.10 Saying Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne and to the Lamb. And 5.9 And they sing a new song saying thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation A peculiar glory unto the eternal Spirit by whom the Son of God offered himself without spot to God Heb. 9.14 and to whom the effectual application of the purchased Redemption by peculiar office belongs 1 Cor. 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God Joh. 6.63 It is the spirit that quickeneth Gal. 4.6 And because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba father 2. The good of the ransomed and redeemed people required that their Redemption should be transacted in a Covenant betwixt God and Christ and to this intent and for this end it was necessary 1. To introduce and usher in the new way of life thorow the Gospel-dispensation which could never have come to light nor have appeared upon the stage to act any thing if God had not by his eternal transactions with Christ in whom he found a ransome made way for the taking down the transient-time-dispensation of Law and Works which was only to continue and stand a Court of righteousness for a short space and so opened a door for free Grace to take the Theatre and to act its part more nobly than the Law-dispensation that was first upon the stage And this I say was ushered in and it was necessary that way should be made for it by God's Covenant-dealings with Christ in whom his Justice had a satisfaction else the Law-dispensation of Works and Nature had kept the Stage for ever and there had been no Court wherein Grace sits upon the throne and wherein Sinners might plead righteousness and life on Gospel-terms Christ's saying from eternity Lo I come to do thy will O God Psal 40.6 And deliver him from going down to the pit I have found a ransom Job 33.24 Which words are upon the matter and originally true of Christ's dealings with his Father Jo. Cocc Dâ— foed c. 5. Sect. 88. and by some Expositors applyed to him This I say ushered in and made way for the Gospel-dispensation of a Covenant of free Grace Hence it is that the Apostle states the rise of life and immortality that is brought to light by the Gospel upon the eternal foederal dealings that were betwixt God and Christ 2 Tim. 1.9 10 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ before the world began But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel Rom. 8.3 4 For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh 2. The Covenant of Redemption betwixt God and Christ was necessary for our good that the Covenant of life and righteousness to us in the way of this Gospel-dispensation might be pure soveraign Grace Now the more of Grace and God's gracious will and heart is in the business and the less of the Creatures will and acting the better for us the sweeter and the surer is the Covenant But here all is of the Lord and of his gracious will all is transacted betwixt God and Christ and man is not so much is present at the first transaction of the Covenant as he was at the Covenant of works here he is neither at the beginning nor end of it I mean that end which it had in God's foederal dealings with Christ where the Redemption and Salvation of the elect was a concluded business and the conclusion tarried not nor was suspended for man's consent sure this was pure Grace this was all Grace eminent Grace when there was nothing of the Creature no not so much as acting in a vital formal manner as now we act under the application of this Covenant by these gracious acts which are efficiently from God but there all was the gracious free will of God without any thing of the Creatures will surely that was eminent signal Grace and the better for us 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began Eph. 2.10 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them Eph. 1.4 5 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love Having predestinated us unto the Adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will 3. A Covenant betwixt God and Christ about our Salvation and Redemption was necessary that the business of our Salvation might be far advanced ere it come to our working at it with fear
mansions c. And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also Mr. Ball Treat of the Covenant c. 2. p. 10. Camer de tripl foed Thes 9. Mr. Baxt. Aphorism p. 5. Whereas the blessedness and glory of man by the Law-Covenant if it was any thing beyond an immortality of blessedness and enjoyment of God in an earthly Paradise which is questioned by some should yet have been in this old or first heavens not in these new ones 2. It is the glory of a Paradise wherein is the tree of life and the river of the water of life which were not Ingredients of the Law-glory neither were placed in the first Paradise Rev. 2.7 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God And 7.17 and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters And 22.1 2 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life clear as cristal proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it and of either side of the river was there the tree of life which bare twelve manner of fruits and yielded her fruit every month and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the Nations 3. It is a heaven and glory where the new Song is sung and where the Musitians are all redeemed and where the meeting of these redeemed ones to sing together is the sweeter that they once were all lost and that they came out of tribulation and a Land of sighing Isa 35.10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away Rev. 5.9 And they sung a new song saying Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation But there should not have been any new Song nor redeemed Musicians in the glory and heaven of Law-dispensation 4. It is a heaven and glory wherein all the Inhabitants wear crowns for Christ hath made them kings unto God and to his Father Rev. 1.6 And 2.10 Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life but there should have been no crowns worn in the first Paradise nor should the happiness thereof have amounted so high as a crown and a throne there being no occasion for it nor any promise to that effects 5. It is a heaven and glory where the Inhabitants are all conquerors each hath a palm in his hand in sign of his victory Rev. 7.9 cloathed with white robes and palms in their hands this Garland should not have been in the first Covenant-glory where there was no fighting there could be no victory at least over the world and sin and death 6. It is a heaven and glory where all the Inhabitants are cloathed with long white robes and with fine linnen clean and white Rev. 7.13 What are these which are arrayed in white robes and whence came they And 19.8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linnen clean and white for the linnen is the righteousness of Saints but there should have been no such robes in the Law-heaven whatsoever shining-beauty and whiteness should have been on Adam's skin yet there should have been there no garments of glory no righteousness should have been worn there but that which should have been of our own working 7. It is a heaven wherein there is a throne for the Lamb where the man Christ in our nature is upon the throne where the greatest beauty of all the Kingdom and the most highly exalted person is the man Christ where the Lord Mediator is the glorious light of all the Land Rev. 3.7 he that openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth And 21.22 23 And I saw no temple therein for the Lord God almighty and the lamb are the temple of it And the City had no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it and the lamb is the light thereof And 5.12 Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and glory and honour and blessing there was no such glory in the first Covenant nor in the heaven thereof which no doubt should have made it less glorious and speaks forth the greater glory of this latter Covenant-happiness 8. It is a heaven that was purchased at a dear rate that was the price of blood for which Christ payed a condign price 1 Pet. 1.18 19 For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed will corruptible things but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot but the Law-heaven and glory should have been obtained at an easier rate working without the price of blood should have done that business the different price shews the different value 9. It is a heaven wherein is a lovely and numerous assembly a fair mystical body whereof Christ is the head and whereof each redeemed Soul is a member O so lovely a Company with the Captain of their Salvation so glorious a body with their glorious head so beautiful a bride with so fair a husband such a lovely couple such a body corporate such a compleat society when Christ mystical is perfected and all the members compacted together and joyned unto their glorious and blessed head Eph. 4.13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ And 5.27 That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Heb. 12.23 To the general assembly and church of the first born which are written in heaven and to God the Judg of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant Rev. 19.7 Let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her self ready But there should have been no such body-corporate in the Law-heaven no such mystical body of Christ no marriage of the Lamb nor any melodious rejoycing at that solemnity I conclude therefore that the glory and crown and heaven of the Covenant of Redemption is better and far more glorious than should have been the lot of man by Law-righteousness and works without Christ's Suretiship 7. This Covenant was necessary for having in readiness a Physitian before we should be sick God foresaw and had decreed man's fall and his rising again and
pleased him since he was no more tyed to Men than to Angels to whom he sent no Saviour when they fell nor hath designed any of the fallen Angels unto Redemption 2 Pet. 2.4 For if God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved unto the day of Judgment Heb. 2.16 For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels but he took upon him the seed of Abraham It remains therefore that the Covenant of Redemption is an act of soveraignty and freedom upon God's part who designed a Redeemer and upon Christ's part who consented unto the designation 4. This Property of the Covenant of Redemption is further confirmed by the negation and removal of all things contrary to soveraign freedom 1. There was nothing from himself abstracting from his own decrees and love-designs that could trench upon the freedom of this eternal act of his will for there was no necessity of nature upon Jehovah nor upon the Son of God that did determine God to enter in this Covenant as is already cleared 2. There was nothing from without that could trench upon the freedom of this eternal act as nothing could necessarily determine so neither compel nor constrain God to lay such a service upon his own Son Christ nor him to undertake it For 1. This transaction having been from eternity it was a concluded bargain before the creatures had a being Prov. 8.23 I was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the earth was 2. Put case they had then had a being what could the being of Men and Angels and all the works of his hands have trenched upon the soveraign freedom of their Makers will and actings for who hath resisted his will hath not the potter power over the clay Rom. 9.19 21. 3. The Father and the Son were not only free from all natural necessity and outward compulsion but also from all hire allurement or motive from any thing without their own will there was nothing in man no not foreseen that could allure or move far less hire the Father to give Christ to engage him in this work nor Christ to engage his name in our bond since he well foresaw what it would cost him It 's true he values his seed as a satisfying return of his travel Isa 53.11 He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied but beside that there is no proportion betwixt his work and this poor wages was man a price for the Lord of glory to work for or was he a reward for him to wrestle for could he be hired for so low a wager if the soveraign freedom of his own will had not acted him Consider I say who gave this price to the Lord did man give himself to the Lord or did the Lord give his elect people to Christ from eternity and afterward he is the first giver also Now there can be no hire given by man to the Lord unless he were the first giver Rom. 11.35 For who hath first given to him and it shall be recompenced to him again 1 Chr. 29.14 Of thine own have we given thee Jer. 30.21 And I will cause him to draw neer and he shall approach unto me for who is he that engageth his heart to approach unto me saith the Lord 2. Another Property of this Covenant is Graciousness it is not only the Covenant transacted with us the Gospel-Covenant that is pure Grace but this also that was transacted betwixt Jehovah and Christ even while it was yet in his purpose and as it was the eternal act of his will is frequently called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grace and his good pleasure or gracious pleasure Eph. 1.5 6 9. 2 Tim. 1.9 his purpose and grace Now Graciousness is attributed to the Covenant of Redemption in a far other sense than 't is attributed to the Covenant of reconciliation For 1. Graciousness is attributed to the Covenant of Redemption in regard of both Parties transacting it was pure Grace that determined both the Parties and engaged them both the Father to send and the Son to come and this Grace was equally in both the Parties and did shine equally and by way of efficiency in them both Zech. 6.13 The counsel of peace was between them both But graciousness is attributed to the Covenant of reconciliation because of the shining glory and activity of the Grace of God through Jesus Christ that is therein manifested which Grace is in us subjectively and though the acts thereof be ours in a vital formal manner yet it is from God by way of efficiency and it is his Grace not ours from which the Covenant hath its name of Grace Tit. 2.11 1 Tim. 1.14 Eph. 1.6 7. And 2.5 7 8. 1 Cor. 15.10 2. Graciousness is attributed to the Covenant of Reconciliation not only in regard of God's making such a Covenant with us but also in regard of the tenor of that Covenant and whole dispensation the promises conditions and reward therein is all pure Grace as the same is opposed unto and contra-distinguished from works which signifie nothing in that Covenant as it is a Court of Righteousness and Life Eph. 2.8 9 For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Not of works lest any man should boast But of this Covenant of Redemption Graciousness is a property thereof mainly because of the reasons following but not because the whole tenor thereof as well the conditions as promises were pure Grace considered as such and contra-distinguished from works For though pure Grace made this Covenant of Redemption yet the condition thereof upon both sides were works 1. Christ is a doer and fulfiller of the Covenant of works most exactly in all points both the command and the curse and penalty of the Covenant is satisfied by him this is works and this was the condition required upon his part Heb. 10.7 Then said I lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will O God Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us 2. Christ as a doer and obedient fulfiller of the Law hath a reward in Justice by the promise of this Covenant For I humbly conceive he had his reward of debt and merit having payed a condign price to the Justice of God therefore his reward is due to him by commutative Justice Phil. 2.7 8 But made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of man And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and is craved by him Joh. 17.4 5 I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do And now O
which was offended and doth receive the satisfaction 2. Christ God-man in one person having man's nature that offended united into a personal union with the Godhead was thereby fitted so to stand in our place and upon our side as a party different from God that he might therein satisfie wrath and therein merit by making a full and real compensation to offended Justice 3. Christ God-man who makes the satisfaction as he is God being one with the Father while he satisfies the Father's Justice he satisfies his own but as he is God-man being a party different from the Father he is by the Soveraignty of free Grace given to be a Surety and the satisfaction which he makes in our Nature as our Surety is accepted by his Father as by another party Assert 4. Christ was chosen and predestinated Lord Mediator and we are chosen in him before he is a party covenanting with Jehovah about the work of our Redemption I say 1. He is first in order in the eternal purpose of God designed and set apart to do this work before he gave an actual consent unto the Covenant of Suretiship This followeth necessarily upon the former Assertion for if the Covenant be made with Christ God-man with Christ Mediator betwixt God and man then he must needs be Mediator by some eternal act of the counsel of God antecedent in order of nature to this Covenant with him which is made with him considered as God to be made manifest in the flesh 2. I say not only Christ is chosen but we also are chosen in him unto the fruit of that great labour and service which he was designed to undergo for a Covenant of Suretiship and Redemption does not only suppose a Redeemer and Surety predestinated to be undertaker for a lost people but also a people designed to be partakers of the Redemption which he was to work So that I say this Covenant that was made with Christ God-man does suppose Christ's headship and our membership by eternal predestination and by a co-ordination which may be express'd in this order first the chosen head and then the body God did not not first chuse a body and then had a head to seek for them nor did he chuse a head to be without a body or as one that knew not of a body for that head but Election which was the first act of God's love in eternity fell first upon Christ whom God did chuâ—â— to be the head of his body the Church and the Captain of Salvation to all the chosen company and having chosen him he chused us in him as our head and as the first-born of the elect house and family Rom. 8.29 For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son that he might be the first born among many brethren Eph. 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love CHAP. IV. Of the Tenor Articles and Subject-matter of the Covenant of Redemption or of the Commands Conditions and Promises thereof THE Subject-matter and Articles of the Covenant of Suretiship which were agreed and concluded betwixt Jehovah and Christ by an eternal Compact which also may be divided into commands conditions and promises of that Covenant were mainly these seven Who should be the Redeemed Who the Redeemer What his work When to be done How to be applied What his reward And what assurance given betwixt the parties for mutual performance Now because some of these Articles may seem to be the same upon the matter which I have before asserted to be supposed as antecedent in order of nature to the Covenant of Redemption Let it be remembred that they may well be supposed in our manner of conceiving thereof as antecedent in God's purpose and yet be Articles of this Covenant and fall under Christ's actual consent which makes a closed Covenant about them for it is not repugnant that the same thing be concluded in the eternal purpose of God's Will and in his eternal agreement with Christ 1. By this Covenant it was agreed betwixt Jehovah and Christ God-man who should be the Redeemed people there was a definite certain number of Redeemed ones agreed upon for whom Christ should pay a price he was not Surety and undertaker for all Mankind nor for all the visible Church to whom the Gospel shall be preached for his undertaking is no wider nor larger than his dying purchasing Redemption bearing Iniquity Praying c. these being of equal extent and efficacy for whom Christ was undertaker to his Father for them he dyed and purchased Redemption by his death for them he did pray and make intercession c. Now 't is manifest that he did not purchase Redemption and make intercession for all Mankind but for a chosen people Heb. 9.15 And for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they who are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance Joh. 17.9 I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them that thou hast given me for they are thine Neither was Christ undertaker for a people under any general notions or qualifications such as them that should believe in him or the like not knowing definitely who the persons were but he was Surety and undertaker only for the elect and for a definite number of people who were by number and name given to him by his Father and received by him to be redeemed by his blood which doth plainly appear by the description of the Redeemed people who are ordinarily called those whom the Father gave unto Christ Joh. 17.3 6 9 11. 6.37 39. and who were chosen in him Eph. 1.4 and whose names are written in the book of life and in the Lambs book of life as if the Father who gave them to Christ had kept one record of their number and names and the Lord Mediator who undertook for them had kept another Rev. 20.12 and 21.27 2. By this Covenant it was agreed betwixt Jehovah and Christ who should be the Redeemer I say it was agreed who should be the person to undertake this great work of Redemption and Salvation for these elect people for although we may conceive that Christ was predestinated unto this work before his actual consent yet we must conceive the agreement is by his own actual consent and compact with God See the agreement and consent of both the parties that Christ shall be the Lord Jehovah his servant in this work Isa 49.5 6 And now saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob again to him though Israel be not gathered yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord and my God shall be my strength And he said it is a light thing that thou shouldst be my
every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day Joh. 14.3 And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also 2. But if ye enquire after the formal condition of the Covenant of Suretiship I say it was his whole obedience active and passive even unto death Phil. 2.8 and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross though the special principal eminent condition of this Covenant may be referred to the principal eminent last act of his obedience to that signal special command of laying down his life for the elect Joh. 10.18 No man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again this commandment have I received of my Father For 1. This Covenant being a bargain betwixt Jehovah and Christ of buying a people to God then the whole price and ransom told down and payed for them must be the formal condition of that Covenant whereby we are bought with a price 1 Cor. 6.20 1 Pet. 1.18 19 For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your Fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without spot and without blemish 2. Christ was under a special explicite command for the performance of this condition of laying down his life as is clear from Joh. 10.18 and Christ was under a special act to obey this command as himself acknowledges Heb. 10.7 Then said I lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will O my God and therefore we may well call it the special condition of the Covenant of Suretiship 3. This solemn act of obedience in offering himself a Sacrifice to death for our sins is the condition of his bond of Suretiship that is most notised by the Holy Ghost and frequently referred unto as may be gathered from Heb. 9.14 15 26 How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God And for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament that by means of death for the Redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself Rom. 8.3 God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh And therefore when we speak of the condition of the Covenant of Suretiship this is to be held the special eminent condition thereof 4. The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ states the condition of this Covenant upon this eminent solemn act of his obedience even his making his soul an offering for sin c. for-vent which he makes the great promises of his glorious reward Isa 53. throughout 5. Our Lord Jesus Christ himself does own this as the special condition of his Coovenant of Suretiship and that both at his entring into the world Heb. 10.5 7 Wherefore when he cometh into the world he saith sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not but a body hast thou prepared me Then said I lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will O God And about or at the time of his leaving the world when he had fulfilled or was about to fulfil all his undertaking and conditions to his Father Joh. 17.4 I have glorified thee on the earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do With 19.30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar he said it is finished and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost These being the sum of the conditions required from Christ See Mr. Rutherf Treat of the Covenant p. 2. ch 11. And Mr. Robert's Medul Bibl. b. 2. c. 2. and undertaken by him let us enquire also after the promises made to Christ and the encouraging-conditions that were made to him by Jehovah for undertaking so hard a work as was the redemption and recovery of lost man These were of eight sorts The first kind of promises made to Christ in the Covenant of Redemption were such as relate to the offices authorities trusts and powers that were covenanted to him for the doing of this work 1. I say Jehovah promiseth to invest Christ with offices sutable to that great work of Redemption to make him Lord Mediator of the new Covenant to make him great Lord Ambassador that he might go and travel in that business of our Redemption to make him a King a Priest and a Prophet for effecting this business Psal 110. throughout The Lord said to my Lord sit thou at my right hand he shall judge among the heathen the Lord hath sworn and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever Isa 49.6 And 42.6 7 I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles that thou mayst be my Salvation unto the ends of the earth to open the blind eyes c. Psal 2.6 7 Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion I will declare the decree the Lord said unto me c. 2. God did not only promise to invest Christ with offices and trusts but with authorities and powers also with headship and power of Judgment over Men and Angels that shall make them all bow to him Rom. 14.10.11 We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ for it is written As I live saith the Lord every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God He was not a titular King or Priest nor a scenick one a King upon a stage but a King upon a throne Luk. 1.32 33 And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his kingdom there shall be no end A King that had power to bow the hearts of his Subjects and to crush the greatest Heads and Rulers in the world that oppose him Psal 110.3.5 6 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath He shall judg among the heathen he shall fill the places with the dead bodies he shall wound the heads over many countries And 2.9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel And 45.3 4 5 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh O most mighty with thy glory and thy majesty And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness and thy right hand
shall teach thee terrible things Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the kings enemies whereby the people fall under thee A person in offices who had all judgment committed unto him who had power given him over all flesh Joh. 17.2 and all power in heaven and earth Mat. 28.18 this was he to whom all the honourable offices and absolute powers of his Father's house was promised that he might act and give orders and set up and put down and none to controul him Isa 22.22 24 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder so he shall open and none shall shut and he shall shut and none shall open And they shall hang upon him all the Glory of his Father's house the off-spring and the issue all vessels of small quantity from the vessels of cups even to all the vessels of flaggons 3. I say the Lord Mediator had all these offices and authorities by Covenant the Lord promised to him and covenanted with him to give him these offices for doing the work of Redemption therefore we read Psal 89. that Christ who there is called David is constituted a King by Covenant v. 3 4 and by what Covenant even by that Covenant whereby the help of God's elect people was laid upon him v. 19. and this was the Covenant of Suretiship and Redemption and in the same place we read of the standing fast of God's Covenant with him v. 28. even that Covenant whereby he was made higher than the Kings of the earth v. 27. And again we find the same Covenant whereby he had a lasting Kingdom sworn with him v. 34 35 My Covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lye unto David To the same purpose also there is an oath interposed with the promise of his Priesthood to shew that he was in that office by a more unalterable Covenant than that which was made with Levi Mal. 2.5 My covenant with him was of life and peace compared with Heb. 7.21 For those Priests were made without an oath but this with an oath by him that said unto him the Lord sware and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever The second kind of Promises made to Christ are such as relate to the gifts endowments and habitual furniture which was necessary unto the man Christ for performing this great work he had an instrumental fitness for this extraordinary work Isa 11.2 3 4 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the spirit of wisdom and understanding the spirit of counsel and might the spirit of knowledg and of the fear of the Lord. And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord and he shall not judg after the sight of his eyes neither reprove after the hearing of his ears But with righteousness shall he judg the poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked And under this sort of Promises I comprehend 1. The Sanctification of our nature to be assumed by him and infusion of habitual Grace in the holy humane nature of Christ from the very first moment of his conception and of the personal union of the two natures Luk 1.35 Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God Heb. 7.26 For such an high priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled separated from sinners and made higher than the heavens 2. The growth of Grace whereof the man Christ was capable who was made in all things like his brethren except sin we must therefore conceive of his growth to have been without sinful weakness and to have been in experience and in physical intention and bendedness of acts of obedience which the Law does not require in like degree from the young as from the old Luk. 2.52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man Heb. 5.8 Though he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered Zech. 6.12 Behold the man whose name is 〈◊〉 â—ranch and he shall grow up out of his place and he shall build the temple of the Lord. 3. The annointing in its fulness without measure and above his fellows whereby the man Christ was full of Grace and had a fulness for this work whereof no other creature was capable Psal 45.2 7 Thou art fairer then the children of men Grace is poured into thy lips therefore God hath blessed thee for ever Thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladness above thy fellows Joh. 1.14 And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth And 3. 34 for God giveth not the spirit by measure unto him 4. The overflowings of his fulness whereby the Spirit and All-saving Grace being placed in him as in a Store-house and Treasure not for himself only but for his elect people did run down and flow out from the Mediator from Christ God-man as water from a fountain and fresh spring as dropping showers from full clouds Joh. 1.16 And of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace Col. 2.3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledg And 1.19 But it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell 5. The bodily inhabitation of the fulness of the God-head in him By vertue of that unconceivable mysterie of the personal union he had a personal fulness Col. 2.9 for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily The third kind of Promises made by Jehovah to Christ and covenanted to him were such as relate to his actual support in the execution of this office and performing of the work which he undertook for the man Christ being a creature needed more than habitual Grace and anointing with gifts for such a work there was a necessity that he should not act independently without influence from God And to this kind of promises may be referred the promises of heavenly influences to all the acts of his Mediatory-office and his Surety-obedience so that as the man Christ needed the Spirit and Influences these were ensured by Covenant unto him so that it was impossible that the man Christ could sin or come short in performing all his Father's pleasure as Adam sinned and fell short of the command having actual influences ensured unto him as well as habitual Grace hence he saith of himself Joh. 16.32 and 8.16 I am not alone it was impossâ—â—â— that he could be left alone of his Father and to him was the promise made Isa 11.12 The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the Spirit and heavenly influences were his constant companions Isa 50.4 He wakeneth
morning by morning he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned The promise of help strength support and assistance which are the immediate effects of actual influences and in which the heavenly influences of the Spirit have a proper efficiency and causality there is a divine furniture of strength and assistance promised to him in the discharge of his office in every act of his obedience Isa 42.6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness and will hold thine hand and will keep thee Psal 89.21 With whom my hand shall be established mine arm also shall strengthen him The promise of confirming Grace the man Christ had the promise of the same confirming Grace in his obedience and office and covenant state of favour which is now given to the elect Angels in Christ their head Isa 49.1 2 3 Listen O Isles unto me and hearken ye people from far the Lord hath called me from the womb from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me and made me a polished shaft in his quiver hath he hid me And said unto me thou art my servant O Israel in whom I will be glorified And 42.4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have set judgment in the earth To him is the promise made that he shall never be bowed nor broken he shall not be turned off his work nor his way by any thing that he can meet with And this kind of Promises is made to Christ-man to encourage him as Mr. Roberts observes Medul Bibl. b. 2. c. 2. 1. Against the utmost extremity of his sufferings when he should make his Soul an offering for sin when the wakened up sword of divine Justice should smite him Zech. 13.7 Awake O sword against my shepherd c. and against the man that is my fellow saith the Lord of hosts Though he was forsaken for a time and wanted influences of consolation and felt-fruition of the presence of God Psal 22.1 Mat. 27.45 yet these promises were verified to him and God stood by him with influence of strength support assistance and preservation in all this Mediatory-administrations till he said the work is finished Joh. 19.30 Psal 22.9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb thou didst make me to hope when I was upon my mothers breasts 2. Against all oppositions and enemies There was much opposition made to Christ and many were against him but against all the rage plots combinations of Jews and Gentiles the Lord stood by him and set up his Kingdom Psal 2.2 6 The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Sion Act. 4.27 28 For of a truth against the holy child Jesus whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done 3. Against the deepest discouragements that he should meet with in the discharge of his office He is supported by these promises made to him and accordingly he encourageth himself Isa 49.4 5 6 Then said I I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for naught and in vain yet surely my judgment is with the Lord and my work wiith my God And now saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob again to him Though Israel be not gathered yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord and my God shall be my strength And he said it is a light thing that thou shouldst be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel I will also give thee for a light of the Gentiles that thou mayst be my salvation unto the end of the earth The fourth kind of Promises made by Jehovah unto Christ in the Covenant of Redemption were such as relate to the successfulness and prospering of the work of Redemption in his hand And unto this head I refer 1. The promise of God's making Christ the man of his right hand and that not only in respect of special love and honour but especially in respect of instrumentality whereby God promises to make him the main Instrument of action that should be made serviceable to his ends in the work of Redemption Psal 80.17 Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand upon the Son of man whom thou madest strong for thy self 2. The promise of a successful issue of his undertakings the Lord covenanteth to Christ and giveth to him assurances that he shall effect the work which he undertaketh as if Jehovah had been Surety for this he strikes hands with him that he shall go and prosper Isa 53.10 The pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand He shall see of the travel of his soul by his knowledg shall my righteous servant justifie many Isa 49.6 7 8 And he said it is a light thing that thou shouldst be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles that thou mayst be my salvation unto the end of the earth Thus saith the Lord the Redeemer of Israel and his holy One to him whom man despiseth to him whom the nation abhorreth to a servant of rulers Kings shall see and arise Princes also shall worship because of the Lord that is faithful and the holy One of Israel and he shall chuse thee Thus saith the Lord in an acceptable time have I heard thee and in a day of salvation have I helped thee and I will preserve thee and give thee for a Covenant of the people to establish the earth to cause to inherit the desolate heritages 3. The promises of victory over all his enemies the Lord covenanteth with Christ that whosoever maketh opposition to him in any of his offices in any part of his work of working Redemption and Salvation for his elect people shall be trodden down and shall fall before him Psal 110.1 5 6 Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath He shall judg among the heathen he shall fill the places with the dead bodies he shall wound the heads over many countreys Psal 89.23 Aed I will beat down his foes before his face and plague them that hate him 4. The promises of triumph God covenanteth with him not only to give him the victory but a most glorious publick triumph over Principalities and Powers and all oppositions and enemies to his undertakings Isa 53.12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great and he shall divide the spoil with the strong Eph. 4.8
Wherefore he saith when he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men Col. 2.15 And having spoiled principalities and powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in it It was in the faith of these Promises made to Christ concerning his Father's standing by him in this work and crowning it with success in his hand that he put on that holy hardness against all opposition and walked as unconcerned who stood in his way since his Father was with him engaged by so solemn an act of promise and covenant made with him Isa 50.6 7 8 9 I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair I hid not my face from shame and spitting For the Lord God will help me therefore shall I not be confounded therefore have I set my face like a flint and I know that I shall not be ashamed He is neer that justifieth me who will contend with me let us stand together who is mine adversary let him come neer to me Behold the Lord God will help me who is he that shall condemn me lo they all shall wax old as a garment the moth shall eat them up The fifth kind of Promises made by Jehovah to Christ in the Covenant of Redemption were those that relate unto his Fathers acceptance of the travel of his Soul in this work of our Redemption And under this I comprehend 1. Whatsoever was spoken to him of his Father's delectation and taking pleasure in the person of Christ God-man and in his Mediatory-transactions all delight ariseth from sutableness and this from Christ's sutableness unto the Lords ends and the service unto which he was chosen and his sutable actings unto these ends Luk. 3.21 22 Now when all the people were baptized it came to past that Jesus also being baptized and praying the heaven was opened And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him and a voice came from heaven which said then art my beloved Son in thee I am well-pleased Prov. 8.30 Then I was by him as one brought up with him and I was daily his delight rejoycing always before him Isa 42.1 Behold my servant whom I uphold mune elect in whom my soul delighteth 2. The promise of gracious acceptance to whatsoever he should act or request on the behalf of his Redeemed ones within the time of Grace Isa 49.8 Thus saith the Lord in an acceptable time have I heard thee and in a day of salvation have I helped thee Joh. 11.41 42 Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me And I knew that thou hearest me always Heb. 5.7 Who in the days of his flesh when he had offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared 3. The Promises of Justification there was some sort of Justification covenanted to him which he eyeth and wherewith he encouraged himself under hard and reproachful usage Isa 50.8 He is near that iustifieth me who will contend with me and accordingly it is said of him 1 Tim. 3.16 he was justified in the spirit and though he was not capable of remission of sin and justification from intrinsecal guilt for he had none being holy harmless undefiled and separate from sinners Heb. 7.26 because he had done no violence neither was there any deceit in his mouth Isa 53.7 Yet justification is promised to him and he is said to be justified 1. Because he was a perfect doer and obeyer of the Law 1 Joh. 1.7 But if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin Christ did in all things give consummate and perfect obedience to the Law and this is to be justified by a Law-justification and title to life which Adam should have had if he had obeyed the Law and Covenant of works 2. When his cause is justified he himself is formally justified in respect of these sins for which he undertook to satisfie the cause that he stood for in the Covenant of Redemption the action is win in Law that he stood for and that was his elect peoples cause for whom he stood when Justice smote him he is justified and acquitted from our sins though he had none of his own Rom. 6.9 knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more death hath no more dominion over him 3. He is justified as a publick person though in no private capacity as head of the party whom he represented and whose Law place he took upon him as one who personated and acted the part of another by allowance and warrant of Law Heb. 2.10.13 For it became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many Sons unto glory to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings And again I will put â—â—y trust in him and again Behold I and the children which God hath given me 4. He is justified declaratively in regard that he was declared by a Law act and Judicial-declaration to he Jesus the righteous 1. Joh. 2.1 who had fatisfied the Law Rom. 1.4 And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead he was declared justified by his resurrection even as he was declared condemned by his death 5. He is justified by cancelling his bond of Suretiship which he gave to Jehovah and now having compleatly satisfied for our debts which was the intent of that bond of Suretiship the right is cancelled according to the manner of the Creditor's delivering back the bond to the Debtor when it is satisfied And thus we are to conceive when he blotted out the hand-writing of ordinances that was against us Col. 2.14 that he had then a discharge of his bond of Suretiship for our debt for his bond could not lye for our debt when ours was cancelled And though the precise scope of that Scripture and Context lead us to understand the cancelling there mentioned as firstly relative to the Ceremonial-Law yet I know no reason why we should restrict it to that only but we may extend it to the sins against and threatnings of the Moral Law also in so far as that is a writing against us especially since the words immediately before speak of Justification and remission of all sins as a fruit of Christ's death and the words following declare the extent of his death in this glorious conquest and triumph over all his peoples enemies 6. He is justified because it is acted and recorded in the volume of the book of the written word that he hath fulfilled what was written of his undertaking in the book of God's eternal Decrees and in this sense a person may be said to be justified who being acted in the record of a book to perform any
and glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him his dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away and his Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed 5. The promise of glory a peculiar glory in heaven throughout eternity to the Lord Mediator and Redeemer to the Lamb that was slain who wrought this great and glorious work of our Redemption this glory he craveth as his wages Joh. 17.4 5 I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do And now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self This glory he eyed when he was at hard labour about the work Isa 49.4 5 Surely my judgment is with the Lord and my work with my God Though Israel be not gathered yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord and my God shall be my strength Heb. 12.2 Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross This glory was promised to him Zech. 6.13 He shall build the temple of the Lord and he shall bear the glory Isa 22.24 And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his Father's house this glory is actually payed to him in heaven where the Lamb has a throne Rev. 22.3 But the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it And 7.17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them where there is a new Song sung unto the Lamb Rev. 5.9 10 And they sung a new Song saying thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation And hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall reign on the earth Yea and a crown and glory for his redeemed seed was part of the reward promised to him and for which he wrought Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me Luk. 12.32 Fear not little flock for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom 2 Pet. 5.4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory The seventh kind of Promises made by Jehovah to Christ were these that relate to interest I mean the new contracted interests Covenant-interests that were promised to him as part of this agreement betwixt Jehovah and Christ Mediator out of which did spring all the new Covenant-interests and relations that we have to God And such were 1. The interest in God as his God by Covenant for to him was the great Mother promise of the Covenant made I will be his God Psal 80.26 He shall cry to me thou art my God This interest is bound up with him in the Covenant of Suretiship 2. The interest in God as his Father by Covenant to Christ was promised and with him was bound up a new Sonship and Covenant-title to God as his Covenanted Father Psal 89.26 He shall cry unto me thou art my Father Heb. 1.5 I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son and these Covenant-relations and interests and the compellations arising from them we find Christ own and acknowledg Joh. 20.17 I ascend unto my Father and your Father and to my God and to your God Hence he calleth us brethren children of the same Father who have one Covenant-relation with him to the same God Hell 2.12 I will declare thy name unto my brethren hence God is called the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1. 3. The interest of Saviourship for to the man Christ 't is promissed that Jehovah shall be the rock of his Salvation Psal 89.26 he shall cry to me Thou art my God and the rock of my Salvation hence he cryed Father save me from this hour Joh. 12.27 Jehovah was a Saviour to the man Christ from the things that he suffered as our surety he saveth the head and body therefore it is said Heb. 5.7 that he cryed to him that was able to save him from death 4. The interest of headship when Christ was given to be head of his body the Church he took upon him the man Christ the Mediator took upon him a new relation to God as his head which is founded and bound up in the Covevenant of Suretiship by which this comely order was established that Christ should be a head to his Church and God should be a head to the man Christ In this respect it is said that Christ is God's 1 Cor. 3.23 and how As ye are Christs and all things are yours that is in a subordination to do service 1 Cor. 11.3 and the head of Christ is God the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ must be the head of Christ a head by union to which Christ is united by bonds of union not natural only but foederal Joh. 10.30 I and my father are one Joh. 1.1 And the word was with God a head by influence of Spirit and Grace to the man Christ who liveth by the Father Joh. 6.57 As the living father hath sent me and I live by the father a head by way of order who is over Christ Mediator and to whom the man Christ is subject 1 Cor. 15.28 Then shall the Son also himself be subject to him that put all things under him 5. The interest of hearing Prayer Psal 89.26 He shall cry unto me this is bound up among the Covenant-interests which he took upon him by his Suretiship and by this relation when Christ should humble himself to pray Jehovah promiseth to hear him and he hath hearing by Covenant as his seed also have it Isa 49.8 In an acceptable time have I heard thee Joh. 11.41 42 Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me And I knew that thou hearest me always Heb. 5.7 Who in the days of his flesh when he had offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared These and the like interests and relations were covenanted to Christ and out of these Covenant-interests engaged unto him did our Covenant-relations spring The last kind of Promises made by Jehovah to Christ were these which relate to the whole design and intent of his Suretiship And the great and publick effects which it should produce in the whole frame of the creation for the elect redeemed peoples sake And such were 1. The promise of delivery of the whole creation from bondage and vanity unto which it was made subject for man's Sin and whereof the whole world is sick like a woman travelling in birth Rom. 8.20 21 22 For the creature was made subject unto vanity not willingly but by reason of him that hath subjected the same in hope Because the creature it self also shall be delivered from
and didst set him over the works of thy hands Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet for in that he put all in subjection under him he left nothing that is not put under him But now we see not yet all things put under him 7. The promises of the service of all the world and of all the creatures God promiseth and will have the services of all the creatures brought about first to Christ and then to him by Christ he hath the service of all the world promised him and indeed he payed for it for he bought it with a price the service of some as Sons to live with him and enjoy him for ever Psal 110.3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning and the service of others as slaves Psal 2.9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potters vessel And 72.9 11 They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him and his enemies shall lick the dust Yea all kings shall fall before him and all nations shall serve him The whole vessels of this great house the world whether they are vessels of honour or dishonour Men or Angels elect Men or Reprobate elect Angels or Devils yet all must be for the Master's use 2 Tim. 2.20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver but also of wood and of earth and some to honour and some to dishonour Prov. 16.4 The Lord hath made all things for himself yea even the wicked for the day of evil CHAP. V. Of the Harmony of the Covenant of Suretiship made with Christ and the Covenant of Reconciliation and Grace made with Sinners 1. Wherein they agree 2. Wherein they differ 3. What Conjunction and Connexion is betwixt these Covenants THere is a great affinity between the Covenant of Redemption made with Christ and the Covenant of Reconciliation made with Sinners but it is not the same Covenant that is made with Christ which is made with us We are therefore to take heed to two extreams That we neither confound nor divide these two Covenants There is a likeness betwixt them but not a sameness there is an union here but not an evenness there is here a distinction but not a division a conjunction but not a confusion Let us therefore look upon these two Covenants 1. As agreeing in many things yet not being the same but still to be distinguished 2. Differing in many things yet not to be divided nor separated 3. Connected and conjoyned many ways yet not to be confounded 1. The Covenants of Redemption and Reconciliation agree together beside these things that are essential and so common to all Covenants which I do not here mention in the first rise of both pure soveraign free Grace was the fountain of both hence did both these Covenants spring There was no cause reason motive nor allurement from without nor any necessity of nature within that made Jehovah upon the one part nor Christ upon the other enter into this agreement of Suretiship it was his meer good and gracious pleasure as is already proved See Eph. 1.9 Having made known unto us the mysterie of his will according to his good pleasure which he purposed in himself 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began And the same is the fountain-cause the first spring and rise of God's Covenant of Reconciliation with us it is not from any reason cause or motive in us nor from any necessity upon God but meerly his gracious pleasure Eph. 1.7 In whom we have Redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace Deut. 7.7 8 The Lord did not set his love upon you nor chuse you because ye were more in number than any people But because the Lord loved you and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers Mat. 11.25 I thank thee O father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes even so father for so it seemed good in thy sight 2. These two Covenants agree in this That it is the same design and business that is carried on in both The Redemption of a lost or lapsed elect people or as the Apostle calls it Heb. 2.10 The bringing many sons to glory This was the business that Christ did undertake by the Covenant of Suretiship and which he doth prosecute and perfect by the Covenant of Reconciliation This was the thing that was treated and agreed betwixt Jehovah and Christ and is now over again treated and agreed betwixt Christ and us Tit. 1.2 In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lye promised before the world began 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed to us the word of Reconciliation Joh. 17.4 I have glorified thee on the earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do 3. These two Covenants agree in this That the grand Instrumentality of doing the work in both these Covenants is upon Christ he was to be the main Instrument of action in the work of these two Covenants and is therefore as for other reasons so also upon this account called the man of God's right hand Psal 80.17 whose instrumentality and service God did use from beginning to end in all this business both of Redemption and Reconciliation Eph. 1.7 In whom we have redemption through his blood Col. 1.20 And having made peace through the blood of his cross by him to reconcile all things to himself 4. They agree in this that both these Covenants are commensurable with Gods election of the parties with whom he made the Covenants He first chused Christ and by an eternal destination elected him to be the only person that should work the great work of Redemption and be the Captain of Salvation to his people and with him only he makes the Covenant of Redemption Psal 89.19 I have exalted one chosen out of the people Again he makes choice of an elect Company to follow this Captain to be a people saved by the Lord and with this elect company only chosen in Christ he makes a Covenant of peace and reconciliation in him Luk. 1.68 69 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his people And hath raised up an horn of Salvation for us in the house of his servant David In both I say the Covenant is commensurate to God's election the parties with whom God made both these Covenants were first chosen he first chuseth and then covenanteth with the elect head and with the elect body and members
is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe for there is no difference 5. There is not only a commutation but a community of Writs betwixt Christ and the Believer for one Writ and Promise-wreats God the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and the God and Father of the Believer this Covenant-relation to him and us is by the great promises of the Covenant Heb. 1.5 I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son Psal 89.26 29 He shall cry unto me Thou art my Father my God and the rock of my salvation His seed also will I make to endure for ever One Writ makes Christ the first Heir and Son of the promise and the Believer a younger Brother coming in under Christ the first Heir Psal 89.27 Also I will make him my first-born Gal. 3.26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.17 And if children then heirs heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ One Writ and letter of acquittance dischargeth both Christ and the Believer from the curse and condemnation of the Law Rom. 8.3 4 God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin the flesh That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit O how comfortable and strengthening is this that Christ and we are in one Writ that our Covenant interests and relations to God and all his and our concernments are thus bound up in one Writ if his title to God to Heaven to promises be good and valid ours is so too if he acquit and defend his own Charters he doth the same for ours blessed are they who are united to him in this New Covenant-relation 6. By the Covenant of Suretiship Christ is constituted the grand Instrument and Actor of all things that appertain to his peoples Redemption and Salvation and that not only of eternal Salvation and Redemption which he alone brought unto his people Heb. 5.9 And being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him Heb. 9.15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament they who are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance Luk. 1.68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his people And of such part of that Redemption as is wrought within time Heb. 7.25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him But of whatsoever Salvation and other administrations are good for them in this life And therefore we find that Christ was the grand Instrument and had an active hand in the deliverance of his people from all afflictions and oppressions in all ages Isa 63.5 9 And I looked and there was none to help and I wondred that there was none to uphold therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me and my fury it upheld me In all their afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his presence saved them and in his love and in his pity he redeemed them and he bare them and carried them all the days of old It was Christ the Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 who delivered Jacob from all evil Gen. 48.16 It was he who brought the people out of Egypt and said to Moses And now come I mill send thee unto Egypt He it was who appeared unto Moses in the Bush and made him a ruler and a deliverer Act. 7.32 34 35. It was he that brought the people out of Babylon and built the temple Zech. 6.12 13 Behold the man whose Name is the Branch and he shall grow up out of his place and he shall build the temple of the Lord. Even he shall build the temple of the Lord and he shall bear the glory c. If the temporal Salvation of the Church and people of God lay upon men how cold a comfort were that Isa 59.16 And he saw that there was no man and wondred that there was no intercessor Psal 142.4 I looked on my right hand and beheld and there was no man that would know me refuge failed me and there was no man cared for my soul And if the working of that part of our Salvation which the Lord hath made the Believers Duty and hath commanded him to do for his own Soul if that lay upon us alone how heavy would it prove Phil. 2.12 Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling But O how warm how comfortable is it what a support to faith that Christ is by his Suretiship engaged to work all manner of Salvation for his people and to become the grand instrument and chief actor thereof Isa 63.13 I that speak in righteousness mighty to save I have trodden the wine-press alone and of the people there was none with me Phil. 2.13 For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith 8. By the Covenant of Suretiship all the hard conditions lay upon Christ all that the Law requires of Man condition-ways he was made under the law Gal. 4.4 that we might not be under the law but under grace Rom. 6.14 O how sweet and comfortable is it to the poor weak Believer who finds himself so very insignificant a creature at all Covenant-conditions to know that by Christs Suretiship 1. He did take upon him all conditions which the law requires of man to abide in every thing that it requires the Believer is yet under the commands of the Law but I say not under the conditions thereof for it is not to him a Covenant Christ also did bear the curse of the Law but that which the Believer suffers even of the things that were sometimes written in the book of the Law are now written in the book of Covenant-mercies 2. Christ did take upon him all the conditions that are works and nothing rests to the believer condition-wise but that which is grace Rom. 4.16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace It s true the Believer yet worketh and is created unto good works Phil. 2.10 But all working condition-ways was upon Christ by his Suretiship 3. The principal and most significant condition of Redemption Salvation and all Covenant-blessings and priviledges promised to us is Christs doing his part of the Covenant of Suretiship his laying down his life this was not only a condition of the reward that was to be given to Christ personal but even of all the promises that were made to him concerning his redeemed seed Isa 53.10 11 And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand He shall see of the travel of his Soul and shall be satisfied by his knowledg shall my righteous servant
there were but two tribes that clave to him and being nearer in kindred would not be beaten from him 1 Kings 12.16 17. Some talk-lustily and bear themselves boldly upon Christ in words others are near of kin to him and will not be beaten from him CHAP. XIII Of the Mediators Vnction as it relateth to the separating of him for his Offices THE second part of Christs qualification for the Office of Mediatorship is his Vnction this was consequent unto his personal union so that as we called the union of the two natures in Christ Person the principal and chief qualification of him for this Office so we are to look upon his Unction as carrying in it divers qualifications which result from the former The Unction of Christ comprehends two things 1. The separating of him unto these excellent Offices of being Prophet Priest and King of his Church 2. The endowing him with the Spirit above measure with gifts and graces of the Spirit and assistances meet to enable him for the Work The first Part of Christs Unction is that whereby he is anointed to these Offices Christ Mediator is anointed to be Prophet Priest and King of his Church Concerning which we shall speak 1. Of the anointing 2. Of the Offices And first by this Unction as it relateth to his Offices for of his Unction as it comprehends his Furniture we are not now speaking but shall in the next place we may understand according to the various use of anointing among men and the Scripture purport of the Word 1. His Designation for these Offices in the Counsel of God Isa 42.1 Behold my servant whom I uphold mine elect in whom my soul delighteth So the word is used 1 Sam. 16.13 of Davids first Designation to succed in the Kingdom to Saul long before he came to the Government 2. The declaration of his being designed unto these Offices Psal 2.7 I will declare the decree the Lord hath said unto me Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee So anointing is taken in the case of Gods declaring Jehu successor in the Kingdom 1 Kings 19.16 with 2 Kings 9.1 3. The separating of him or setting him apart for these Offices Psal 89.20 I have found David my servant with my holy oyl have I anointed him So the word is used 1 Chron. 29.22 1 Sam. 15.17 with Psal 105.15 4. The publick solemn investing him in these Offices with power and authority to exercise them Act. 10.38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy-Ghost and with power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil for God was with him Luk. 1.32 And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David And it s from his anointing that Christ hath his name Joh. 1.41 We have found the Messias which is being interpreted the Christ Luk. 9.20 The Christ of God 2. Concerning these three Offices of Christ we shall briefly touch upon 1. The necessity of them in our Mediators Person 2. The nature and use of them 3. The harmony and consent of these Offices in Christs person and in his execution of them And 1. The necessity of these Offices in our Mediator appeareth 1. From the evils under which we were lying man being under 1. Ignorance of God 2. Alienation from God Eph. 4.18 Having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their hearts 3. Impotency to come unto him Joh. 6.44 No man can come to me except the Father which sent me draw him Necessary it was that our Mediator be a person that carrieth Offices which may reach these evils His prophecy and teaching meets with our ignorance of God for he is a teacher come from God Joh. 3.7 A Prophet by whom all his people are taught of God Jer. 31.33 Isa 54.13 His Priesthood and Sacrifice meets with our alienation and estrangement from God for thereby the distance is removed and a friendship bound up with God Eph. 2.13 14 18 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ For he is our peace who hath made both one For through him we both have an access by one spirit unto the Father And his Kingdom meets with our impotency for thereby we are mightily wrought upon and determined so as our impotency proves no over-powering lett in the way of his grace Jer. 31.33 But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days saith the Lord I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my people 2. It appears from the work which he came to do which required this conjunction of Offices in his Person 1. He came to reveal a new way of happiness and therefore behoved to be a Prophet Act. 7.37 A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me him shall you hear Heb. 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord 2. He came to purchase and acquire this new blessedness and therefore behoved to be a Priest to offer Sacrifice for it Heb. 9.15 And for this cause he is the Mediator of the new Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions of the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance 3. He came to make application of his purchase and therefore behoved also to be a King Heb. 5.9 And being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation untâ— all them that they him 2. The nature and use of these three Offices in our Mediator we find in some measure let out in the promises of the Covenant at least a chief and material hint at something of all the three Jer. 31.33 34 with Heb. 8. and 10. 1. Christ Mediator as a Prophet travelleth in begetting a right understanding betwixt the two parties that are at variance betwixt God and man and to this effect being intimately acquainted with all his Fathers secrets 1. He publisheth and declareth all the mind of God to his people especially in revealing the gracious purpose of God concerning the way and means of reconciliation Mat. 11.27 Neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him Eph. 2.17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off and to them that were nigh 2. He worketh the effectual knowledg of God and of his will in his peoples heart See 2 Cor. 4.6 For God who caused the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ Luk. 1.77 79 To give knowledg of Salvation unto his people by the
a spirit Then 1. Let all his enemies be afraid and pack them out of his way and stand not in the way to hinder the work which he hath undertaken for his people he is of an unsubdued spirit and cannot be laid by pack you or he will ride over you Psal 110.1 5 The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy foot-stool The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through Kings in the day of his wrath Rev. 6.2 And I saw and beheld a white horse and he that sate on him had a bow and a crown was given unto him and be went forth conquering and to conquer Psal 45.3 4 5. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh O most Mighty with thy glory and thy majesty and in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the Kings enemies whereby the people fall under thee 2. Believers comfort your selves in Christs Heroick spirit he cannot be laid by nor turned from his purpose neither by the opposition made by the enemies of your happiness nor by the discouragements received from your selves 1 Joh. 4.4 c. Isa 42.4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged See an eminent example of this in his dealing with the woman of Samaria Joh. 4.10 c. 3. Let us make some use of the whole Properties and Qualifications of our Mediator taking in also those which are peculiar to him Hence a threefold Exhortation First Be exhorted to know what a Mediator Christ is A Mediator and such a Mediator the Apostle Paul hath many hints in his Epistle to the Hebrews which is written to set forth Christ in his Offices whereby he layeth a deal of weight upon the qualities of our Mediator being such a person such a High-priest c. as the like was never heard of ch 1.4 and 3.1 and 4.14 15. and 5.11 and 7.16 24 26. and 8.1 2. and 9.11 24. The ignorance of this or not considering these things is the cause why Christs Mediatorship is so little comfortable to Believers study to know this better that you may be comforted by it that you have such a Mediator one whose office interests relations engagements to you and qualities before enumerated may assure you that you have a Friend in Heaven one to whom you may come for pity and help in all your miseries and distresses 2. Be exhorted to more boldness in coming to the Throne of Grace Believers you dishonour your Mediator who having so great a Favourite at the Court of Heaven should not with greater confidence come to God yet this boldness ought to be humble and awful keeping in sight your own unworthiness and the awe of Gods Majesty but be confident of the prevalency of Christs Mediation Heb. 4.14 15 16 Seeing then that we have a great High-Priest that is passed into the Heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our profession for we have not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without Sin let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need And 10.19 20 Having therefore Brethren boldness to enter into the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus by a new and living way which he hath consecrated through the vale that is to say his flesh Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with open mouth Lay not weight upon your liberty but let the confidence you have in your Mediator give you boldness which would beget and draw forth liberty in Prayer for your selves and for others 1 Tim. 2.1 5 I exhort therefore that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men for there is one God and one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus 3. Be exhorted you who have the offer of so great salvation and of Christ Mediator to be a friend to you in Heaven to take heed that you slight it not Heb. 2.1 3 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that we have heard lest at any time we should let them slip How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him And 12.25 29 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven For our God is a consuming fire And 10.26 29 39 For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledg of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done despight unto the Spirit of Grace But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition but of them that believe to the saving of the Soul There is no sin nor judgment comparable to sins against the Mediator and judgment that follow these sins Joh. 15.22 If I had not come and spoken to them they had not had sin but now they have no cloak for their sin Matth. 11.21 Wo unto thee Corazin wo unto thee Bethsaida for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon they would have repented long ago in sackcloath and ashes CHAP. XVI Of Christs execution of the Office of Mediatorship IT remaineth now that something be spoken of Christs excution of the Office of Mediatorship into which he was called and for which he was fitted and furnished before I speak particularly how he carrieth on the work committed to him as Mediator I shall first lay down some general conclusions relating to his execution of the Office of Mediatorship Namely 1. That Christ executeth this Office of Mediatorship according to both natures 2. That he executed this Office from the beginning of the World before he came in the flesh 3. That he executeth this Office as well in the state of his exaltation as in the state of his humiliation And 1. Of that Question See Mr. Ball treat of the Covenant p. 266. And Mr. Brinsley of Christs Mediat p. 203. Aquin. 3. part quest 26. Act. 2. Bellarm. de Christ Mediat lib. 5. cap. 7. vid. etiam Bonavent Magistr sent August de Ovibus bom 12. Chamier de Mediat cap. 7. sect 2. Jun. contr l. 2. c. 5. not 29. paral l. 3. m. c. 9. ad Hebr. According to which Nature Christ is Mediator Whether according to his Divine Nature as God or according to his human Nature only as Man or according to both as God-man
Most part of the Popish Writers hold that Christ performeth the Office of Mediatorship not according to his Divine Nature but according to his Human Nature only as Man Orthodox Divines hold that Christ is Mediator according to both Natures and doth not execute that Office only as God nor only as Man but as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God-man For clearing whereof I shall premise a few things 1. The Question is not whether there be in the Mediator the concurrence of both natures in the unity of his Person for that is confessed by all But whether both Natures concur in the Works of Mediation or in the execution of that Office 2. Nor is the Question Whether the two Natures in Christ be distinct in their essence and properties and so in their operations for we yeild that the Human Nature doth that which pertaineth to the Humanity and the Divine Nature that which pertaineth to the Divinity yet so as the Natures being united in one Person so the operations concur to make up one Work of a Mediator the Human and Divine Natures concurring to produce one act or work of Mediatorship 3. Nor is the Question Whether all the Works of Christ the Mediator were the Works of both Natures For it is certain some of them were the Works of his Humanity some of his Divinity in respect of the thing done but Whether there were not a concurrence of both Natures acting jointly although distinctly in the performing of them 2. That Both Natures concur in Christs performing the Office of Mediatorship and what he doth as Mediator he doth as God-man may be confirmed by these reasons 1. According to what Nature Christ is the King Priest and Prophet of his Church accordingly he is Mediator for he carried these Offices as he was Mediator but according to both Natures Christ is King Priest and Prophet of his Church for according to the approved rule Names of Office which are given to Christ they agree to him according to both Natures therefore Christ executes the Office of Mediatorship as God-man according to both Natures 2. If the Godhead of Christ concurred with the Manhood in all the acts of Mediatorship then Christ performeth not the Office of Mediator as Man only but as God-man but we find the Godhead interested in every act which Christ did or doth as Mediator It is evident from the several acts of each of his Offices from his Obedience Suffering Resurrection Intercession Heb 9.14 How much more shall the Blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered up himself without spot to God purge your Conscience from dead works to serve the living God And 7.25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Eph. 1.19 20 According to the working of his power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places None of which could be performed by his Human Nature alone without concurrence of his Godhead True it is indeed we may conceive some Acts wherein the Humanity of Christ did not concur with his Divinity viz. Those that he wrought before his Incarnation but none wherein his Humanity acted without his Divinity It followeth therefore that Christ performeth this Office as God-man 3. If many chief essential acts of Christs Mediation are from the Deity of Christ as from the next proper formal and immediate cause then Christ performeth not the Office of Mediator as Man only but as God-man but many chief essential acts of Christs Mediation are from his Deity as the next proper formal immediate cause Ergo c. The Minor is proved by these instances The Incarnation of Christ is from the Deity which did assume the Humanity which when it was not could not assume it self The manifestation of God was a work truly divine which was from the Deity as the true cause though from the Humanity as an Instrument Joh. 1.18 No man hath seen God at any time the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him Matth. 11.27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father and no man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father fave the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him Christ as Man teacheth as an Instrument and Christ the Word teacheth as Mediator the works of Authority and Power were all performed by the Divine Nature 4. If Christ as Mediator performed many divine acts which cannot be from his Humanity alone Then Christ performeth not the Office of Mediatorship as Man only but as God also But Christ as Mediator performeth many Divine acts which cannot be from his Humanity alone such as his rising from the dead which was by the power of his Deity Rom. 1.4 And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurection of Jesus from the dead And 8.3 4 Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Eph. 1.19 20 Christ as Mediator hath power and authority to forgive sins and send the holy Spirit to enlighten the understandings to soften the hearts of men and that not only meritoriously but efficiently which are the proper works of God Mar. 2.10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins Joh. 15.26 But when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father even the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father he shall testify of me And 16.7 But if I depart I will send him unto you 5. If none of the works performed by Christ as Mediator whether the works of Ministry that were performed by him in the Nature of man or the works of Authority and Power performed by the Divine Nature were performed without the concurring of the other Nature in Christ Then Christ performeth the Office of Mediator not as God alone nor as Man only but according to both Natures as God-man but the former is true Ergo c. The Major is proved by parts 1. The works of Ministry which were performed in the Nature of man and were the works of Christs Humanity such as were his death upon the Cross c. yet the Divine Nature was concurring in these not only to support and sustain the Human but the thing done had its efficacy dignity and value from his Divinity in that they were the works of him that is God It was the Son of God the Lord of life that died on the Cross but it was the Nature of Man not of God wherein he died yet it was the Divine Nature that did support him and gave worth to his sacrifice 2. The works of authority and power such as the remitting of sins
they were created which was mutable More particularly The execution and work of Christs Mediatorship may be reduced to these Five heads 1. To bring the elect into a capacity of covenanting with God 2. To bring them within the bond of the Covenant after he hath thus prepared the way 3. To enable them whom he bringeth into this New-Covenant-state to perform the duties of the Covenant 4. To keep those whom he bringeth into this Covenant state from falling away from it or to enable them to continue in it 5. To bring those whom he hath brought up to the terms of a Covenant with God to that height of that Blessedness which is appointed for them and to Crown his work in them The first part of the Mediators work and execution of his Office is to prepare a way for mans covenanting with God to make the way of God accessible and to put man in a capacity to enter in terms with God For man by sin was made uncapable of covenanting with God until the Mediator cometh in to compose the difference and to restore the love and friendship that once had been betwixt God and man who to prepare a way for mans covenanting with God doth two things himself and worketh two things in us The first to make God accessible the other to make men capable of covenanting with God who is made accessible in Christs death 1. He taketh on mans nature that a Sacrifice might be among mankind who had sinned he putteth his name in our Obligation that the Law might reach him Gal. 4.4 5. God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law that we might receive the Adoption of Sons 2. In our nature he obeyeth the Law and suffereth he payeth a price for our Ransom 2 Cor. 5.21 He is made sin for us an offering for sin he stood in the sinners stead here he purchaseth a liberty to the elect and hath it in his just and legal power to set them free when he will Act. 20.28 being the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood 3. He convinceth men of their sin and of their bondage and impossibility to satisfy Justice and to this end he attacheth them before Divine Justice Joh. 16.8 And when he is come he will reprove the World of sin of righteousness and of judgment Rom. 7.9 For I was alive without the Law once but when the Commandment came sin revived and I died Gal. 3.24 Wherefore the Law was our Schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by Faith 4. He worketh their Hearts to a yielding-frame listning and ready to welcom the news of delivery which have not yet been actually spoken to their hearts to be content to come out of their bondage and to enjoy freedom by him to be content to come in his will and to yield the weapons to him and to change the state and righteousness whereof sometimes they had no small content Act. 9.6 Lord What wilt thou have me to do Arise and go into the City and it shall be told thee what thou must do They pant after a Saviour as Paul did for compleat Redemption Rom. 7.29 O wretched man that I am Who shall deliver me from the body of this death And when all this is done Sinners are but in a capacity of covenanting with God till more be done by Christ in the work of his Mediatorship for man he is not yet in a covenant with God all this is to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Luke 1.17 For though Christ hath payed the price of the â—â—ects ransom and hath purchased their liberty on the Cross yea and hath also convinced a man of his need of this ransom and made him toward and tractable to listen to accept of it yet till a man come in by faith and manifest his acceptance or rather actually accept of Christs proposals he is not yet actually in a Covenant with God but concluded under wrath Joh. 3.36 And he that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him The second part of the Mediators work and execution of his Office is to bring the elect within the bond of the Covenant And for bringing about this 1. Christ makes an offer of a New Covenant state with all suitable allurements and encouragements which may invite the Souls of the elect to accept of it And for this end he hath appointed the Ministry of Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 20 God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God And 6.17 18 Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you and will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord Almighty Isa 55.1 3 Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters Incline your ear and come unto me hear and your Soul shall live and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David 2. He shapeth and frameth the hearts of his people for acceptation of his offer and bringeth them unto a liking and satisfaction with the Covenant and the terms of it 2 Sam. 23.5 For this is all my salvation and all my desire although he make it not to grow Psal 73. last But it is good for me to draw near to God I have put my trust in the Lord God that I may declare all thy works 3. He actually maketh them to embrace it and enter into it for after he hath shaped their hearts for acceptation he actually engageth them by consenting and agreeing on their part Hos 2.14 19 Therefore behold I will allure her and bring her unto the Wilderness and speak comfortably unto her And I will betroth thee unto me for ever Ezek. 20.37 And I will bring you into the bond of the Covenant Joh. 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me And this he doth 1. By making us receive and welcom the Gospel and subject our consent unto it by taking on the very bonds and rebukes of the Word and yielding our selves captives unto it 2 Cor. 9.13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the Gospel of Christ And 10.4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds Rom. 6.17 But ye have obeyed from the heart that form of Doctrine which was delivered unto you 2. By making us receive and embrace the Promises Heb. 11.13 and take hold of the Covenant Isa 56.4 6. And this is a further step of the Mediators work in
â—0 10 For then with not leave my Soul in Hell neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption Luk. 23.43 Verily I say unto thee to day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Joh. 13.1 3. 14.2 Luk. 16.23 24 25. Heb. 12.23 24. 2 Thes 1.9 Rev. 21. 2â— 5. It 's a controversie to the world whether there be a God or a Providence that ruleth the world Psal 14.1 The fool hath said in his heart there is no God Isa 29.15 And they say who seeth us and who knoweth us The Witness of the Covenant hath decided this controversie Joh. 20.17 I ascend unto my father and 〈◊〉 father and to my God and your God Joh. 6.57 As thâ—◠〈◊〉 father hath sent me and I live by the father so he that â—ateth me even he shall live by me Dan. 5.21 23 Till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men and that he hath appointed over it whomsoever he will And the God in whose hand thy breath is and whose are all thy ways hast thou not glorified Rev. 15.3 4 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the lamb saying Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty just and true are thy ways thou king of saints Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy name for thou only art holy for all nations shall come and worship before thee for thy judgments are made manifest 6. It 's a controversie with the world yea and sometimes also with the saints whether the people of God or the wicked of the world have the better lot Psal 73.3 12 For I was envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked Behold these are the ungodly who prosper in the world they increase in riches But this also is decided by the Witness of the Covenant Psal 49.18 19 Though whiles he lived he blessed his Soul and men will praise thee when thou doest well to thy self He shall go to the generation of his fathers they shall never see light Joh. 3.18 36 He that believeth on him is not condemned but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him Isa 3.10 11 Say ye to the righteous it shall be well with hem for they shall eat the fruit of their doings Wo unto the wicked it shall be ill with him for the reward of his hands shall be given him Rev. 21.4 And God shall wipe all tears from their eyes and there shall be no mor death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for theâ—â—former things are passed away Again it is a controversie to doubting believers whether God hath chosen them and loved them with an everlasting love Psal 88.4 14 I am counted with them that go down to the pit Lord why castest thou off my Soul This controversie is decided by the Witness of the Covenant who giveth that double certainty of all these things whereby they are not only made sure in themselves because he 〈◊〉 â—â—ified them but are also made sure unto us Jer. 31.3 〈◊〉 Lord hath appeared of old unto me saying yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee Heb. 8.10 For this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after these days saith the Lord I will put my laws into their mind and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people Where the sayings of Jeremy are applied to Christ who made the Covenant Joh. 15.13 16 19 Greater love hath no man then this that a man lay down his life for his friends Ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain But because ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you Joh. 6.69 And we believe and are sure than thou art that Christ the Son of the living God 2. It is a controversie to doubting believers whether they be the Children of God and whether they be effectually called by the Grace of Christ Psal 22.6 But I am a worm and no man a reproach of men and despised of the people Christ decides the controversie by interposing his Testimony Joh. 13.35 By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another Rom. 8.16 The spirit it self beareth witness with our spirits that we are children of God Isa 43.1 Fear not for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine 3. It is a controversie to doubting-believers whether they shall ever see Christ and meet with him again when he doth but a little withdraw out of their sight Isa 49.14 But Sion said the Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me Whether they shall at any time again be comforted with his presence but he decides the controversie and witnesseth clearly that he and they shall meet again Joh. 16.22 And ye now therefore have sorrow but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoyce and your joy no man taketh from you Joh. 14.18 I will not leave you comfortless I will come to you Isa 54.8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a momeni but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee saith the Lord thy redeemer Isa 49.15 Can a woman forget her sucking-child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee 4. It 's a controversie to the doubting-believer whether there be any reality in his presence and in the fellowship of his company both when they enjoy it and when they want it Luk. 24.21 37 41 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel and beside all this to day is the third day since these things were done But they were terrified and affrighted and supposed that they had seen a spirit And while they yet believed not for joy and wondred 2 Chron. 6.18 But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth But by his Witness he decides that controversie Luk. 24.38 39 40 42 And he said unto them why are ye troubled and why do thoughts arise in your hearts Behold my hands and my feet that it is I my self handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have And when he had thus spoken he shewed them his hands and his feet And they gave him a piece of a broyled fish and of an hony-comb Joh. 6.20 But he saith unto them it is I
subordination and subjection as is the name Messenger but of the lowest and most abject condition of subordination I say 1. This name is given to Christ not in regard of his nature but in regard of his office as Mediator as he took upon him a Service this name is not a name of nature for in regard of his Divine nature he hath another style My Son is his name not my Servant Mat. 3.17 This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased And in regard of his Humane nature though the man Christ is by nature Gods Servant yet he is not by nature a common Servant to both the parties in the Covenant nor a Servant of the Covenant but a Free-man Mat. 17.26 Jesus saith unto him then are the children free Therefore I say it is not the name of the natural only begotten Son of God nor the name of the man Christ as it importeth any thing peculiar and not common to the rest of the creatures but it is the name of Christ Mediator God-man Heb. 12.24 2. This name is given to Christ mainly and eminently in regard of the state and condition of his humiliation Phil. 2.7 8 But made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross For though now when God hath highly exalted him he be still a Priest upon a Throne Heb. 8.1 and consequently promoting the same Trust and Service about which he was sent to the earth yet his way of carrying on that Service is so Princely as he carryeth condescendingly to men Phil. 2.9 10 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earrh and things under the earth If we should yet name him by this Covenant-relation we behoved to look upon him as a kinged and crowned Servant who for performing that notable Service that was committed unto him hath been exalted to a Glorious Throne and yet for all his preferment is as humble and affable and easie to be spoke with as when he was upon the earth for he beareth the same heart toward his people Heb. 4.15 16 For we have not an High-priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need 3. The name of Servant in the business of the Covenant is given to Christ in regard of his trust because the greatest trust that ever was put upon man was put upon him by the Covenant of Redemption he was entrusted with a rare piece of Service the saving of sinners the carrying through the work of Redemption the weight of the lost World being laid upon his shoulders Isa 49.6 And he said it is a light thing that thou shouldst be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth Joh. 17.2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him Joh. 5.22 For as the father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment unto the Son 4. This name is given to Christ in regard of his work for it is a name of work as well as of trust because he served a great Service in the business of the Covenant I have elsewhere shewed that the whole business of Redemption was his work therefore you find he speaks often of his work and labour and spending his strength and of the travel of his Soul Isa 49.4 Then I said I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for nought and in vain Isa 53.10 11 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief when thou shalt make his Soul an offering for sin 〈◊〉 shall see his seed he shall prolong his days and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand He shall see of the travel of his Soul and shall be satisfied Joh. 4.34 Jesus saith unto them My meat is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work Joh. 17.4 I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do Joh. 8.29 And he that sent me is with me the father hath not left me alone for I do always those things that please him 5. This name is given to Christ in regard of his wages and reward which redounded unto him by this great Service which he performed unto God by saving the elect world which yet must be understood of no servile reward for his love could not be hired but we read of a reward promised and compacted unto him Isa 53.11 12 He shall see of the travel of his Soul and shall be satisfied Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great and he shall divide the spoil with the strong because he hath poured out his soul unto death and he was numbred with the transgressors and he bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors Psal 2.8 Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession A reward expected and eyed by him Isa 49.4 5 Yet surely my judgment is with the Lord and my work with my God Though Isreal be not gathered yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord and my God shall be my strength A reward craved by him Joh. 17.4 5 I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do And now O father glorifie thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was A reward payed unto him as the fruit of his labours Phil. 2.8 9 And being found in fashon as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even unto the death of the cross Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name Heb. 12.2 6. The name of Servant is given to him in regard of the spirit of fear unto which he did subject himself for a season while he was here in our nature in the shape of a Servant I say though there were always in the heart of Christ a design of love which made him run and serve in the business of the Covenant yet there was something of the spirit of a Servant in the man Christ made under the law and having taken upon him our condition as well as our nature which yet must be understood
neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Joh. â— 1 2 Behold what manner of love the father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not Beloved now are we the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Yet let us glance at it by that dim light which we have of the Scriptures It is in general called by himself the work which his father gave him to do Joh. 17.4 By which we understand all that Christ had in commission to do in our nature from the time of his receiving a commission to be the Mediator of the Covenant unto the time of his delivering up the Kingdom to his father more particularly this Service which Christ did in the business of the Covenant it 's called the restitution of all things Act. 3.21 When Christ shall bring all things out of that disordered and ruined condition whereunto they were brought by the fall of man and shall restore them to the Primitive integrity when he shall restore fore-faulted man into his first estate of innocency and happiness by taking of the fore-saulture and bringing him out of his excommunicated exiled condition into the presence and fellowship of God Eph. 2.12 13 That at that time ye were without Christ being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenant of promise having no hope and without God in the world But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ And when the creatures shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Rom. 8.21 This Service is called the bearing the transgressions of many the making his soul an offering for sin Isa 53.10 12. It was the putting his Soul in our Souls stead that the law might overtake him that justice might smite him for us and might take satisfaction from him for the broken Covenant it was the offering up of himself in a Sacrifice the putting of his Soul in the flame of hot burning wrath for us that the furbushed and wakened-up sword of Divine Justice might be bathed in his blood until it was full of blood and satisfied Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God Zech. 13.7 Awake O sword against my shepherd and against the man that is my fellow saith the Lord of hosts smite the shepherd c. It 's called the reconciling of the world to God 2 Cor. 5.19 By which we understand all the travel of his Soul in the propounding treating and concluding of a peace 'twixt God and sinners for all that Service was laid upon him and was performed by him for he maketh the proposition of peace he carryeth on the treaty until his own hand lead our hand to sign the articles of peace propounded in the Gospel Eph. 2.17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off and to them that were nigh 2 Cor. 5.19 20 To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation 2 Cor. 9.13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorifie God for your professed subjection unto the Gospel of Christ This Service is called the saving of the lost world Luk. 19.10 And the bringing many Sons to glory Heb. 2.10 That was a great Service indeed to have the weight of the lost world upon his shouldiers to have the keeping and leading yea the bearing in his arms of all that numberless number of the ransomed and redeemed ones whom God had appointed unto Glory Joh. 17.12 While I was with them in the world I kept them in thy name those that thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost Isa 40.11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd he shall gather the lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosome and shall gently lead those that are with young In a word the Service which Christ did in the business of the Covenant was the the transacting of the Covenant he did all that business from beginning to end and without him was nothing done of all things pertaining to God and a new Covenant betwixt him and us whereof see more particularly what we have spoken of the Mediator of the Covenant Chap. 4. Vse 1. Think with your selves and consider the love that made him come under this Covenant-relation that made him a common Servant to both the parties for though he had wages and a reward propounded to him yet it was love that acted Christ in performing this great piece of Service His Service of love is much commended 1. From the infinite condescension that was in it O what condescension was it for a Son to become a Servant Heb. 5.8 Though he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered for the Son the only begotten Son and Heir to become a Servant Mat. 21.37 38 But last of all he sent unto them his Son saying they will reverence my Son But when the husbandmen saw the Son they said among themselves this is the heir come let us kill him and let us seize on his inheritance For the Son of God to become a Servant to the sons of men Phil. 2.6 7 Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation And took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men 2. From the voluntariness of his coming under this Covenant-relation when he was not a Servant by any necessity of nature that he made himself one that when nothing else was to do it his grace his love determined him to go and serve his enemies and make himself of no reputation Phil. 2.7 Rom. 5.8 But God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Heb. 10.9 Then said he Lo I come to do thy will O God O what strange love was that which made Christ so willingly leave the Throne and come down to the foot-stool and stand and serve Mat. 20.28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministred unto but to minister and to give his life a ransome for many Joh. 13.4 5 He riseth from supper and laid aside his garments and took a towel and girded himself After that he poureth water into a bason and began to wash the disciples feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded Gal. 2.20 And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the
Suretiship for thereby he plighted his promise and faith to God that he would undertake the bringing about of this conjunction and God plighted his faith to him that he should do the business and that this work should prosper in his hand Joh. 17.4 I have glorified thee on the earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do Isa 53.10 And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand 4. From his Suretiship proceeds a mystical relation betwixt him and his people whereby he is the head and they are the members he is the vine and they the branches he is the king and they are his subjects he is the husband and they are his bride and wife 1 Cor. 12.12 For as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so also is Christ Col. 1.18 And he is the head of the body the Church who is the beginning the first born from the dead that in all things he might have the pre-eminence Joh. 15.5 I am the vine ye are the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit Rev. 19.7 For the marriage of the lamb is come and his wife hath made her self ready Psal 45.10 Forget also thine own people and thy fathers house c. Yea if any relation can be more near and mystical that also is the result of his Suretiship See Gal. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me 1 Cor. 6.17 But he that is joyned unto the Lord is one spirit Joh. 6.57 As the living father hath sent me and I live by the father so he that eateth me even he shall live by me Joh. 17.23 I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one Think it not strange then that Justice should smite Christ for the transgressions of his people there being such nearness of relations and conjunction betwixt the person offending and the person suffering Grot. de satisfact cap. 4. and vaâ—â—â— max. lib. 6. c. 5. See Mr. Râ—â—â— on the Covenant pag. 2. c. 9. for even among men we find one man suffering for another upon the account of these and the like relations 1. Upon natural relations do not parents and children and kinsmen often justly suffer with and for one another Exod. 20.5 For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me Josh 7.24 And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son 〈…〉 and the silver and the garment and the wedg of gold and his sons and his daughters and his oxen and his asses and his sheep and his tent and all that he had and they brought them unto the valley of Achor c. 2. Upon Legal relations doth not the husband pay the wives debt doth not the heir suffer for his predecessor and the person to whom he is heir doth not the hostage and pledges given suffer for them who gave them doth not the Surety suffer for the Debtor because these are but one party in law Prov. 6.1 2 My Son if thou be Surety for thy friend if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger thou art snared with the words of thy mouth thou art taken with the words of thy mouth Prov. 11. â—5 He that is Surety for a stranger shall smart for it and he that hateth Suretiship is sure 3. Upon foederal relations do not people suffer for and in their confederates Ezek 16.37 Behold therefore I will gather all thy lovers with whom thou hast taken pleasure and all them that thou hast loved with all them that thou hast hated I will even gather them round about against thee and will discover thy nakedness unto them that they may see all thy nakedness Ezek. 30.8 And they shall know that I am the Lord when I have set a fire in Egypt and when all her helpers shall be destroyed 4. Upon mystical relations whether in the body natural doth not one member suffer for another doth not the head pay for what the hand acted or in the body politick and civil do not princes and people often suffer for one another 1 Sam. 12. last But if ye shall still do wickedly ye shall be consumed both ye and your king 1 Chron. 21.17 And David said unto God Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbred even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed but as for these sheep what have they done let thine hand I pray thee O Lord my God be on me and on my fathers house but not on thy people that they should be plagued Or in the Church and body politick and Ecclesiastical do not pastors and people often suffer for one another Ezek. 3.26 And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth that thou shalt be dumb and shalt not be to them a reprover for they are a rebellious house Rev. 2.5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first works or else I will come unto thee quickly and remove my candlestick out of his place except thou repent How much more may it stand with justice to smite Christ and to put him to suffer for his people having in him a complication of all these relations towards them and of all kind of relations that can import and express nearness conjunction union and oneness with them he also being willing to suffer for his people and absolute Lord of his own life Joh. 10.17 18 Therefore doth my father love me because I lay down my life that I might take it again No man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again this commandment have I receieved of my father Now the consideration of this point how Christ came under an act of Suretiship for his people to wit Brinst of the Mediator pag. 123 c. by a free consent and agreement betwixt God and Christ in a Covenant whereby God willingly made him the Surety and he willingly made himself the Surety this I say doth exceedingly commend this grace of God in the satisfaction made by Christ the Surety of the Covenant especially in these things 1. It was grace and favour in God that he was pleased to dispence so far with his own Law as to admit of satisfaction by a Surety and not to stand upon the rigour thereof which requires that the same soul that sinned might suffer and die and no other for him Gen. 2.17 But of the tree of the knowledg of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die Gal. 3.10 Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law
yet remain without a performance of some things which Christ hath undertaken for him whereof read Rom. 7.3 to 24. Heb. 2.14 15. Gal. 4.4 5 6. and 3.21 25. Eph. 1.13 And 1. Of Christs Suretiship for man to God as it relates to the violated Covenant of works this comprehends two things 1. Christs surrogation in our place whereby he put himself in our room and took upon him our Law-place and Condition Gal. 4.4 He was made under the law he put his Soul in our Souls stead so that he might be in that condition Legally wherein we had put our selves through our non-performance of the Covenant of works 2 Cor. 5.21 He was made sin for us He stood in the sinners Law-place for having by his Suretiship put his name in our bond then he was in our stead as the Scripture speaks of Sureties Gen. 44.23 2. This comprehends Christs satisfaction who being substitute in our stead and place did undergo the penalty and curse of the violated Law and so did perfectly satisfie the Justice of God for our non-performance of the Condition of the Covenant of works In regard of this satisfaction it is that the Scripture saith Isa 53.6 The Lord laid upon him the iniquities of us all that is not the evil and pollution of them for Christ was not intrinsecally and physically the sinner but the guilt and penalty belonging to them for he was Legally the sinner and God charged it upon him as the Creditor chargeth a Debt upon the Surety requiring a satisfaction of him The like equivalent expressions we find v. 7 8 10 11 12 He was oppressed and he was afflicted or as the words may be rendered it was exacted and he answered that is God required satisfaction for our sins and his Son as our Surety answered for us Lo I come Heb. 10.5 7. Their curse be upon me let the law exact and I will answer Sâ—b libâ—rtus â—oâ—tra Socin lib. 2. c. 7. Grot. de satis c. 9. let Justice smite and I will bear the punishment for them and unto this satisfaction do these Scriptures relate which so often mentions Christs dying for us suffering for us being made a curse for us a ransome for us a Sacrifice and propitiation for our sins c. 1 Pet. 2.21 and 3.18 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Heb. 2.9 Rom. 5.8 Mat. 20.28 Gal. 3.13 1 Joh. 2.2 Mr. Rutherâ— treatise of the Covenant pag. 2. c. 3. Briâ—sâ— of the Mediator pag. 72 c. Dr. Owen Now to die 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for us is to die in our stead vice nostra which is so abundantly proved in the learned treatises of other men more worthy to hold forth light in this point that I Judg needless to insist upon it but rather do refer you to them Only ere I leave this let me leave with you these three advertisements concerning Christs satisfaction for our violation of the Covenant of works 1. Though our punishment and suffering should have been eternal because we could never out-satisfie yet the sufferings of Christ because of the dignity of the person God-man were perfectly satisfactory in a short time 2. Christ payed not the idem but the tantundem not the same that was due but the value for he suffered not the same pain numero in number but specie in kind 3. Yet it s one and the same satisfaction in the Laws sense which Christ payed and which we owed in respect that the Law doth not require of the Surety to pay the same sum in number which the Debtor borrowed 't is satisfaction if the same in specie in kind or in value be paid 2. Another part of Christs Suretiship for man to God relateth to the condition and commands of the new Covenant for Christ is not only Surety for satisfying the violated Law and broken Covenant of works for us that is in our stead but he is also Surety for performing of the Condition and Commands of the Gospel and new Covenant in us that is for our performing of them through his grace working in us for the act is ours though we be acted by grace and for our obedience to the preceptive part of the Law which is not annulled nor repealed but stands yet in force towards believers 1. I say he is Surety to God for our performance of the condition and commands of the Gospel or new Covenant and this reacheth unto all things whatsoever which are commanded in the Gospel as conditions of righteousness and life all which he undertaketh to work in us and so far to inable us to endeavour these things that in the performance thereof we shall be accepted Phil. 2.13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Phil. 4 1â— I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me 2 Cor. 9.8 And God is able to make all grace abound towards you that ye always having all sufficiency in all things may abound to every good work And this is his undertaking for grace to be given unto us out of the store-house and treasury of his fulness Joh. 1.16 And of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace Col. 2.9 10 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily And ye are compleat in him which is the head of all principality and power More particularly by this part of Christs Suretiship for man to God he is engaged and he is undertaker 1. For our believing that we shall come and subject our consent unto the Gospel of Jesus Christ Joh. 6.37 All that the father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Joh. 12.32 And I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me 2 Cor. 9.13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorifie God for your professed subjection unto the Gospel of Christ 2. For our obedience that we shall bring forth the fruits of holiness and new obedience that we shall serve him from a principle of Love who was made Surety for us Ezek. 36.27 And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them Heb. 8.6 7 10 11. Joh. 17.6 Thine they were and thou gavest them me and they have kept thy word 2 Cor. 5.14 15 For the love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judg that if one died for all then were all dead And that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them and rose again 3. For our perseverance Christ as Surety stands engaged for the perseverance of the weak believer that his faith shall not fail but that he shall endure unto the end Luk. 22.32 But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not John 17.12 While I was with them in the world I kept them in thy name those that
universal is his Suretiship that it reacheth all possible emergent transgressions of his people upon whatsoever occasion Jer. 3.5 Will he reserve his anger for ever will he keep it to the end behold thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest Jer. 31.37 Thus saith the Lord if heaven above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done saith the Lord. Heb. 7.25 Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost 7. Among men the Surety being by a Legal substitution the Debtor the broken man he pays the Debt Jo. Calv. lex jurid p. 362. Fide jussores a pretis ita disserint quod hi sue proprio morbe laborant illi vero alieno tenentur c. but doth not yea cannot take away the blot evil sin and unjustice of the Debtors breach of Covenant of his borrowing and not paying again but still the Debtor when the Law is satisfied and the Debt payed he remains the unjust man carrying the blot of a person who violated his Covenant in borrowing and not paying again but Christ is a Surety who doth not only by paying the Debt remove the punishment due unto the Debtor for his unjustice but he removeth also the blot and the evil of sin by infusing inherent righteousness and holiness by expelling of sin out of its subject and introducing the contrary form to wit the habit of grace which no other Surety but he can do Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works 1 Cor. 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God 1 Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption 8. Among men Justin ubi supra si quid autem fide jussor pro reo solverit ejusrecuperandi causa habet cum to mandati judicium the Surety hath repetition of the Debt payed and whatsoever satisfaction he hath made to the Creditor he is allowed repetition of that from the Debtor but Jesus the Surety of this Covenant hath no repetition of the satisfaction made by him for his people nay he never intended nor demanded any such satisfaction to be made to him by us as he made to God for us all the satisfaction desired by him from us is to accept of his free discharge and to thank him for it Isa 53.11 He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied by his knowledg shall my righteous servant justific many for he shall bear their iniquities Who ever heard of such a Surety who payeth Debt and seeks no repetition of it no restitution of his losses but to thank him for it and not to frustrate the grace of God which he intendeth to make conspicuous in his free gift of his own satisfaction 2 Cor. 5.14 15 For the love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judg that if one died for all then were all dead Add that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them and arose again Gal. 2.20 21 And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me I do not frustrate the grace of God for if righteousness come by the law then Christ is dead in vain 9. Among men usually the broken Debtors name stands still in the bond even after the responsal Surety hath intervened but here Jesus the Surety of the new Covenant when he put in his own name he puts out our names that the Law might reach him and might not at all reach us except in fo far as it is annexed to the new Covenant and established in the hands of a Mediator which hath no likeness to the old bloody bond he wrote himself the sinner Legally and wrote us the righteous persons 2 Cor. 5.21 For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him Jer. 50.20 In those days and in that time saith the Lord the iniquitie of Israel shall be sought for and there shall be none and the sins of Judah and they shall not be found for I will pardon them whom I reserve 10. Among men the Surety hath a bond of relief from the Debtor to keep him harmless of all that may follow upon his obligation and undertaking as Surety but it is far otherwise in this Covenant for here the Surety hath no bond of relief from the Debtor but he hath a bond of relief from the Creditor Christ had his fathers bond of relief to keep him harmless in that undertaking he had as it were a back-bond that he should not succumb in his undertaking but that when he went into the prison he should come out again with honour and victory and so should be kept harmless from the hurt of the broken mans Debt Read it at length Isa 53.10 11 12 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed he shall prolong his days and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied by his knowledg shall my righteous servant justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great and he shall divide the spoil with the strong because he hath poured out his soul unto death and he was numbred with the transgressors and he bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors Isa 42.1 4 Behold my servant whom I uphold mine elect in whom my soul delighteth I have put my spirit upon him he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have set judgment in the earth and the Isles shall wait for his law Psal 16.10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption Psal 110 throughout 11. Among men usually the discharging and performance of the Sureties undertaking how willing soever is a burden Sureties after striking hands with the Creditor could willingly desire to be freed from the engagement Prov. 6.1 2 My Son if thou be Surety for thy friend if thou hast stricken hands with a stranger thou art snared with the words of thy mouth thou art taken with the words of thy mouth But it is not so in Christs undertaking who dischargeth his Suretiship as willingly and chearfully as he undertook it Heb. 10.7 Then said I Lo
sweet facility and easiness which is found in all Gospel commands and obedience when endeavoured in the strength of Christs grace Mat. 11.30 For my yoke is easie and my burden is light Phil. 4.13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me 1 Joh. 5.3 And his commandments are not grievous This is the sweet fruit of Christs Suretiship who did undertake to work all these things in us and to give his spirit and influences toward the effecting of these things 5. By Christs Suretiship we have our holdness in all distresses to lay our weight upon him Isa 38.14 Like a crane or swallow so did I chatter I did mourn as a dove mine eyes fail with looking upward O Lord I am oppressed undertake for me Whensoever any duty or tentation is above our strength when any difficulty prevaileth against us then to come to Christ as unto one who is engaged with us and for us Isa 45.24 Surely shall one say in the Lord have I righteousness and strength even to him shall men come and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed 2 Cor. 3.5 Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God Psal 37.5 Commit thy way unto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass When the Law cometh with any hard commandment then to offer to God Christ the end of the law Rom. 10.4 Heb. 12.24 6. We owe to Christs Suretiship many things upon the head of tentations as namely 1. Our being prevented that many a tentation cometh not to our dore before which we should prove weak that we enter not into all tentations fitâ—â—â— for our humors Math. 26.41 Watch and pray that ye enter not into tempeation the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak 2. Our standing it out when tentation cometh that it doth not carry us quite away before it with a full consent Luk. 22.32 But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not 3. Our escaping and delivery from tentations 1 Cor. 10.13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man but God is faithful that will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it All these things we have by Christs Suretiship and undertaking for us Joh. 17.12 While I was with them in the world I kept them in thy name those that thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost but the son of perdition that the scripture might be fulfilled Rev. 3.10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth Vse 1. Behold we bring you glad tidings of great joy Luk. 2.10 Good news to broken sinners who have made themselves irresponsal who cannot fulfil the Covenant of works who cannot answer the charge of the Law themselves behold there is a better Covenant which hath a cautioner in it who hath stricken hands with God who hath undertaken the Debt and hath discharged it Isa 53.6 And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all Col. 2.14 Blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nayling it to his cross Here is in one word manifold grounds of comfort to believers and of encouragement to believe in Christ to come and thank him for his undertaking and to say Amen to that which he did without our request here is one ground to answer many objections and doubtings if you be by nature under a Covenant which hath no cautioner Christ doth tender a Covenant which hath a cautioner in it Heb. 7.22 By so much was Jesus made Surety of a better Testament Heb. 8.6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry by how much also he is the Mediator of a better covenant which was established upon better promises If the conditions of that be hard the conditions of this are easie Heb. 12.20 For they could not endure that which was commanded Rom. 10.6 8. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise That is the word of faith which we preach if thou shalt believe with thine heart thou shalt be saved If you stand alone in that Covenant you do not so here Heb. 2.13 Behold I and the children which God hath given me Isa 59.21 As for me this is my covenant with them saith the Lord My spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever If the charge of the Law be hard such as you cannot satisfie you have a Surety who hath both undertaken and made sufficient satisfaction to the Law Isa 53.8 He was taken from prison and from judgment and who shall declare his generation for he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people was he stricken Dan. 9.26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off but not for himself and the people of the prince that shall come c. If you be unresponsal creatures who have not only broken Covenant but disabled your selves to perform any thing that the Law even the new Law doth require of you your Surety is a responsal person one that is mighty Psal 89.19 Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one and saidst I have laid help upon one that is mighty I have exalted one chosen out of the people Heb. 7.25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him Vse 2. Here is a matter of expostulation with believers and with unbelievers and that upon divers grounds 1. Why do any of you think or say that the Gospel-conditions and commands are hard and heavy that they are unprofitable or impossible Rom. 10.6 7 8 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise say not in thine heart who shall ascend into heaven that is to bring Christ down from above Or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead But what saith it the word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which we preach Is there any cause to think so of a Covenant that hath a Surety in it nay 't is groundless to think so Deut. 30.11 14 For this commandment which I command thee this day it is not hidden from thee neither is it far off But the word is very nigh unto thee in thy mouth and in thy heart that thou mayost do it 1 Joh. 5.3 And his commandments are not
for them sure he knew for whom he did undertake he knew their number and names how many was in that company and who they were Joh. 17.6 12 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world Those that thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost 2 Tim. 2.19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal The Lord knoweth them that are his And if the matter of our Salvation stand upon Gods giving to Christ and his undertaking then sure there were none given by the father to the Son from eternity upon respect of faith or holiness for that should destroy Christs Suretiship and undertaking and lay the weight of that which is principal in the issue upon the creatures will that should make the creature a Surety for himself Rom. 9.11 16 For the children being yet not born neither having done any good or evil that the purpose of God according to election might stand not of works but of him that calleth c. So then it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy 2. Christs Suretiship is a confirmation of the dominion and Soveraignty of his grace and of the reality efficacy and irresistableness of the working of his spirit and the physical influences thereof for if Christ had not the power and dominion of our wills how could he undertake for us and if Salvation were not taken off the slippery yea and nay of free will how could our Lord be Surety for his people were it possible that he should undertake and discharge his undertaking for those over whose hearts and wills he hath not an absolute power and dominion Joh. 6.37 All that the father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Jer. 30.21 And their nobles shall be of themselves and their governour shall proceed from the midst of them and I will cause him to draw near and he shall approach unto me for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me saith the Lord Ezek. 36.27 And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them 3. Christs Suretiship is a confirmation of the perseverance of the saints and of the certainty of the the Salvation of all the Elect for if their perseverance and believing to the end be undertaken for by him how can it be uncertain if our heaven and happiness be in a surer hand than our own even in the keeping of Christ how can it be but well kept 1 Pet. 1.4 5 â—o an inheritance incorruptible undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time Jer. 32.39 40 And I will give them one heart and one way that they may fear me for ever for the good of them and of their children after them And I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from me Luk. 22 32 But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not It is the Suretiship of Christ which holds the Covenant fast with us and makes firm our Covenant-state that upon no breaches on our part it can be disannulled Psal 89.30 34 35 If his children forsake my law and walk not in my judgments my covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lye unto David Jer. 31.37 Thus saith the Lord if heaven above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done saith the Lord. Vse 5. The Doctrine of Christ Suretiship serves to answer all tentations discouragements and doubtings that arise in the hearts of believers concerning their Covenant-interests If there be any doubt with you about the performance of the precious promises Christs Suretiship answers it and assureth that there shall be a performance of all these things which are spoken by the Lord Luk. 1.45 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us If there be any thing too hard for you among all the commands and conditions of the new Covenant his Suretiship answers that Rom. 10.6 7 8. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise say not in thine heart who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above Or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead But what saith it the word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which we preach Phil. 4.13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me If your standing be doubtful since Adam and the Angels have fallen Christs Suretiship answers that he was never an undertaker for them but he is engaged for every believers standing Joh. 17.12 Those that thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost but the son of perdition Luk. 22.32 But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not Heb. 7.22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better Testament If you fear your our own frailty and sinfulness lest it should make void the Covenant with you his Suretiship answers that it must stand with him and if with him then with you also Psal 89.30 33 35 If his children forsake my law and walk not in my judgments Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lye unto David Jer. 31.37 Thus saith the Lord If Heaven above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath I will also cast off the seed of Israel for all that they have done saith the Lord. If you fear your own backsliding some decay and withering of grace in you his Suretiship answers that for he is engaged for influences to you Isa 44.3 4 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry grouud I will pour my spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine off-spring and they shall spring up as among the grass as willows by the water-courses Isa 27.3 I the Lord do keep it I will water it every moment lest any hurt it I will keep it night and day If your strength fail and decay his Suretiship shall renew strength unto you Isa 40.31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as eagles they shall run and not be weary and they
53.5 But he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed 3. You are in his Debt for the fair acquittance and discharge which he hath obtained and received for you when he was justified in the spirit 1 Tim. 3.16 Rom. 4.25 And for his reporting of that unto you Luk. 7.48 And he said unto her Thy sins are forgiven And giving you an extract of it in your bosome to bear about with you and helping you to read it Eph. 1.13 In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise Isa 50.8 He is near that justifieth me who will contend with me let us stand together who is mine adversary let him come near to me Rom. 8.33 34 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us 4. You are in his Debt for all that he hath wrought in you from the time that first he bowed your will to believe unto this day for every piece of your obedience for all you fruit for every duty performed by you for all the influences of his spirit upon you c. you owed all these to Christs Suretiship Phil. 2.13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Rom. 9.16 So then it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy Hos 14.8 I am like a green fir-tree from me is thy fruit found Phil. 1.11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Christ Jesus unto the glory and praise of God Joh. 15.4 5 Abide in me and I in you as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the vine no more can ye except ye abide in me I am the vine ye are the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing 1 Cor. 15.10 But by the grace of God I am what I am and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain but I laboured more abundantly then they all yet not I but the grace of God which was with me Jer. 30.21 And I will cause him to draw near and he shall approach unto me for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me saith the Lord 3. Believers learn to deal with God in all things pertaining to his Covenant as having a cautioner whether you be under any doubtsulness about the promises or in any difficulty and perplexity about the commands and duties of the Covenant Let your dealing in these things declare that there is a Surety and this doth call for 1. More confidence and boldness 1. In your dealings with God and applications to him you need not flee from his face and presence as from a hard master since there is a Surety in the Covenant and he is content to take of his hand what you cannot afford when you are ashamed to be seen in his presence and cannot be seen where God is do but present Christ in your place and room present a Surety and he is satisfied Heb. 9.24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true but into heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us Present him to God and come to God through him and command him in a manner ask and have all your will Isa 45.11 Thus saith the Lord the holy one of Israel and his maker Ask me of things to come concerning my sons and concerning the work of my hands command ye me 2. In your dealings with Christ come unto him as unto a person already engaged for you as unto a Surety who hath already come under an act of cautionry for his people and consequently as unto one whose honour lieth at the stake for a performance of all things whatsoever are contained in the Covenant and do not come unto him and make use of him with doubtsulness whether he will do for you and work in you these things for which he stands already engaged by his Suretiship Heb. 10.19 22 Having therefore brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water Heb. 4.14 16 Seeing then that we have a great High-priest that is passed into the heavens let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need 3. In your dealings with your duty and with the Law which commandeth it you are not to flee the command as the divour Debtor fleeth the face of his Creditor as these which are not Law-biding but you are now through the Suretiship of Christ to welcom every command and charge of the Law as being in some near capacity to speak with it and to give it some satisfying answer Psal 119.97 O how love I thy law Isa 60.17 I will also make thine officers peace and thine exactors righteousness 2. This doth also call for more quietness of mind in you you are often disquietted anxiously that you do not reap the fruit of Covenant-promises and that Gospel-commands do not find that obedience in you which is acknowledged to be due unto them you have covenanted obedience to the Gospel and you are as an unjust Debtor through the non-performance of your Covenant and promises and this is your affliction and makes you walk in heaviness every day I say that Christs Suretiship doth call for quieting your minds and to lay more weight upon his free undertakings and less upon your own slippery performances be it spoken without giving any colour to slack your hand in the best and utmost endeavours after duty 1. Because what obedience the Gospel hath not yet had in you it shall have since he is engaged for it Psal 138. last The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me thy mercy O Lord endureth for ever forsake not the works of thine own hands Isa 26.12 Lord thou wilt ordain peace for us for thou also hast wrought all our works in us 2. What the Law and Gospel cannot find in you they shall have in him and 't is enough if it be sound either in the Surety or the Debtor Rom. 10.4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth Rom. 8.3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh Gal. 4.4 5 But when the fulness of the time
14.8 Ephraim shall say What have I to do any more with idols Gen. 12.1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram Get thee out of thy countrey and from thy kindred and from thy fathers house unto a land that I will shew thee 2. Try it by your consenting to the mutual tye which the Covenant bringeth with it for it doth not only hold forth what God will be to you but what you must be to him it obligeth you to be the Lords as well as it maketh him yours Hos 3.3 It saith Thou shalt not be for another man so will I also be for thee If then you consent as willingly to be Christs as to have him made yours by this reciprocation and eccho of affection and ingagement to him you may know your being in him and so in the Covenant Rev. 22.17 20 And the spirit and the bride say come and let him that heareth say come Surely I come quickly Amen Song 2.16 My Beloved is mine and I am his 2 Chron. 30.8 Now be ye not stiff-necked as your fathers were but yield your selves unto the Lord and enter into his sanctuary which he hath sanctified for ever and serve the Lord your God that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you 3. Try it by your subjection and submission to Christ for they that are in Christ they do not only consent to be his but there is a subjection of their consent unto him as unto their Head Husband Lord and King as Wives and Subjects do in their Covenants with their Husbands and Kings 2 Cor. 9.13 The subjection of your consent There must be a through compliance with Christ in all his offices and in every part of each of his office for we must not comply with Christ as a Priest only but also as a witness a leadeer and commander of the people Isa 55.4 since he is given for these ends as well as for the former Neither must we submit only to that part of his Priesthood whereby he offered sacrifice and slight his internession Heb. 5.1 7. and 9.24 26. Nor only to the external part of his Prophetical and Kingly offices by subjecting our selves to ordinances as the manner of formal hypocrites is but to the soveraignty of his inward teaching and ruling also Jer. 31.33 34 I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will he their God and they shall be my people And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord. Nor to his inward teaching and ruling only as despisers of Ordinances pretend but to the external administration of his Covenant by Ordinances of worship and government also so long as his tabernacle is with men which must be till Christs giving up the kingdom Rev. 21.3 22 23. with Ezek. 43.11 4. Try it by your satisfaction with and acceptation of the whole bargain without division diminution addition or alteration of any clause in it Isa 55.3 Jer. 31.32 c. Those who are in Christ and so within the Covenant of Grace do not divide the promises of the Covenant from the condition and commands thereof neither do they reject any thing which God hath put in that bargain but on the contrary they close with it as it stands in the offer of the Gospel without bogling and skaring at the reservation of the cross and with a soul-satisfaction found in the offer 2 Sam. 23.5 saying with David this is all my desire And Psal 16.5 6 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup thou maintainest my lot The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places yea I have a goodly heritage Psal 73.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee 5. Try it by your accounting duties your priviledg which other men account their burden 1 Joh. 5.3 For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not grievous Mat. 11.30 For my yoke is easie and my burden is light By your experiencing that holy facility in duties which springeth from love to Christ and delight in God 2 Cor. 5.14 For the love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judg that if one died for all then were all dead Whereby it cometh to pass that the very work of believers is wages and hire in their hands that I say is demonstrative of one being in Christ and so of a new-Covenant-estate 6. Try it by your equal endeavours after holiness and heaven after conformity unto Christ and communion with him if thy endeavours after sanctification be as vigorous as after salvation if thou wouldst as gladly be made holy as be in heaven if thou desirest as really to be made like Christ as to have fellowship with him this speaketh thy being in him and if so thy being in the Covenant 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these promises dearly beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filâ—hiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 1 Joh. 3.3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure 7. Try it by your being humbled and provoked to holiness by the knowledg of your being in Christ and your reflections upon this great priviledg with humbling admiration for after this manner hath it wrought upon Gods children Rom. 3.27 Where is boasting then it is excluded by what law of works nay but by the law of faith Ezek. 16.36 That thou mayest remember and be confounded and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done saith the Lord God 1 Tim. 1.13 14 Who was before a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious But I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief and the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus Joh. 14.22 Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self to us and not unto the world 8. Try it by your superlative valuing of Christ the weakest faith which is precious doth value Christ above all 1 Pet. 2.7 To you therefore which believe he is precious Prov. 3.15 She is more precious than rubies and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her Christ is superlatively valued 1. When Christ alone without all other comforts is looked upon as enough when the soul taketh satisfaction in this portion Psal 73.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee Psal 16.5 6 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and my cup thou maintainest my lot The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places yea I have a goodly heritage When the soul reckons it self eternally made up in him and blesseth it self in him Lam. 3.24 The Lord is my portion saith my soul therefore will I hope in him 2.
are not capable such as a throne at the right hand of God a name above every name Dominion from Sea to Sea all power in Heaven and Earth and the like Heb. 1.8 13. Phil. 2.8 9. Psal 89.22.25 27. Isa 53.10 11. Mat. 28.18 7. There be many threatnings annexed to the Covenant of Reconciliation Threatnings of Gospel-vengeance to the transgressors of the Covenant Heb. 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation which at first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha But there are no threatnings in the Covenant of Suretiship nothing denounced against the man Christ if he should fail of his undertakings for there was no use nor place for threatnings in that Covenant in regard the undertaker was exempted from all possible failing in the performance the man Christ could not possibly sin nor fall short of that Covenant in regard of the personal union 8. The Commands and conditions of the Covenant of Redemption and the Covenant of Reconciliation are different For 1. There are commands in the Covenant of Redemption peculiar to Christ alone and such as are not required of us nor do belong to us such as the command of taking upon him our nature and laying down his life and making his soul an offering for Sin c. Heb. 10.5 7. Joh. 10.18 Isa 53.10 11. Again there are commands and conditions required in the Covenant of Reconciliation which are peculiar to us alone such as the commands of believing in Christ repenting and working out our Salvation with fear and trembling c. Act. 16.31 and 3.19 Phil. 2.12 The former is Christ's work not ours and these are conditions required of us not of Christ 2. All the commands of the Covenant of Redemption are conditions whatsoever work is put upon Christ to do is a condition of his Covenant with Jehovah but all the conditions of the Covenant of Reconciliation are not conditions of the righteousness and life therein promised else Justification should be of works Rom. 4.4 5 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt But to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousness Phil. 3.7 But what things were gain to me those I counted loss for Christ. 3. The conditions of the Covenant of Redemption are works down-right obedience doing and suffering Joh. 17.4 I have glorified thee on the earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do But the condition of the Covenant of Reconciliation is grace not works Rom. 4.16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed Not to that only which is of the law but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham who is the father of us all 4. The conditions of the Covenant of Redemption are antecedent meritorious conditions for which the reward and wages promised to Christ by that Covenant is given Joh. 17.4 5 I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do And now O father glorifie thou me with thine own self But the conditions of the Covenant of Reconciliation are not antecedent conditions such as are in civil contracts of Justice when one thing is given for another but they are consequent conditions such as hold forth the connexion and order of things Conditions which do not hold forth the cause for which God gives the things promised but the connexion of things the qualification of the subject or the way and means of conveyance by and through which he gives the things promised and without which he will not give them Rom. 3.24 25 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ Whom God hath sent forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood 9. The Covenant of Redemption tarried not for our consent to make it an actual Covenant neither had any dependency upon man or any act of his will but alone upon the free will and good pleasure of him who is Lord of our will and could give us away to Christ without our knowledg and consent when yet we were not because he hath power over the clay and can indeclinably bow the wills of Men and Angels therefore I say this Covenant tarried not for our saying Amen to it but was actually concluded and transacted with Christ who was set up from everlasting in Heaven as designed Mediator before we were in a capacity to know it or to say yea or no being a deed that was from everlasting as we have often hinted from Prov. 8.22 to 31. But the Covenant of Reconciliation made with us 〈◊〉 depends principally upon Christ's eternal transactions with Jehovah whereby we were virtually in Covenant with God through his undertaking for us to procure our consent unto such conditions of righteousness and life as his Father had fore-ordained Joh. 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out So also it cannot be an actual formal Covenant with us without our own consent before we are actually and formally in Covenant with God through Grace and before we receive any actual benefit by a new Covenant state not the Spirit only must say come but the Bride also Rev. 22.17 20 And the Spirit and the Bride say Come Amen even so 3. But although these Covenants are on this wise to be differenced and distinguished yet they are not to be divided and separated there is an observable conjunction and connexion betwixt the Covenant of Redemption made with Christ and the Covenant of Reconciliation and Grace made with us Sinners which doth demonstrate the dependance of this latter upon the former and that the Covenant of Reconciliation hath its rise and original from the Covenant of Redemption made betwixt Jehovah and Christ These two Covenants are conjoyned together by a five-fold connexion 1. By an inseparable connexion There is such a near and strict conjunction betwixt these Covenants that they cannot be separated take away the Covenant of Suretiship and the Covenant of Grace falls to the ground this can no more stand without that than a house without a foundation take away the foundation and the whole building and superstructure falls God hath founded the Covenant of Reconciliation made with us upon the eternal compact of Redemption which he made with Christ his Covenant with Christ is the key and corner-stone of the whole frame and building of his Covenant with us yea it is the very pillars of the house that wisdom hath built of that Master-piece of work that is worthy the wisdom of him that framed it and cannot be separated from the Covenant made with us Prov. 9.1 Wisdom hath built her house she hath hewen out her seven
pillars therefore the Lord gives the Name to Christ a precious corner-stone a sure â—â—â—ndation Isa 28.16 Hence also the whole building of Covenant-mercy and faithfulness with us is joyned with God's Covenant with Christ Psal 89.2 3 For I have said Mercy shall be built up for ever thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens I have made a Covenant with my chosen Isa 59.21 As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My Spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever 2. By an infallible connexion whereby one thing doth necessarily and certainly follow upon another for supposing that God hath made a Covenant of Redemption with Christ and hath from eternity given a people to him to be redeemed by him it necessarily follows that this redeemed people shall come under Covenant-dealings with Christ by faith in him for if that go before this must needs follow Joh. 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out And 17.6 8 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world thine they were and thou gavest them me and they have kept thy word For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me and they have received them and have known surely that I came out from thee and they have believed that thou didst send me The reason is manifest because as nothing is here transacted in time which was not from eternity concluded in the counsel of God's Will so nothing is there concluded nothing agreed betwixt Jehovah and Christ that can miss to take effect Act. 15.18 Known unto him are all his works from the beginning of the world And 4.27 28 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done And 13.48 And as many as were ordained to life believed Isa 53.10 And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand 3. These two Covenants are conjoyned by an Insuperable connexion such as the strength of no opposition can overcome for the Covenant of Suretiship made with Christ hath such strong influence on the Covenant of Reconciliation made with us that it regardeth no opposition in the way of that work but the people who are given to Christ by that first Covenant to be redeemed by him he doth redeem them out of all Nations by the mighty efficacious power and working of his Spirit he bows their wills indeclinably to believe to hearken that their souls may live and to make with him an everlasting Covenant Isa 55.3 Joh. 17.2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him the force of this Covenant with Jehovah draws so that nothing can keep back the Sinner from coming Song 1.4 Draw me we will run after thee Matth. 16.18 Vpon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it Zech. 10.8 I will hiss for them and gather them for I have redeemed them 4. By a secret and hidden connexion which natural eyes and carnal minds cannot see nor take up This secret and mystery of the Covenant was long hid in God's breast even after it had a being betwixt him and Christ yea and how great a secret was it in the world even after it began to break forth first in Paradise Col. 1.26 Even the mysterie which hath been hid from ages and from generations but now is made manifest to his Saints Psal 25.14 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant It is but one continued tract of Covenant-grace one current of the water of life that run along like a river under ground hidden in the secret counsel of God's Will and kept close betwixt God and Christ and at length brake out above ground in a Covenant of peace with believers Heb. 6.17 18 Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel confirmed it by an Oath That by two immutable things wherein it was impossible for God to lye we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us Joh. 17.7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee 5. These Covenants are conjoyned by a beautiful connexion which eminently shineth in the exact correspondency of the Covenant of Suretiship made with Christ and the Covenant of peace made with us which being laid together do perfectly quadrate and answer one another in all points O what a deal of beauty is to be seen in the connexion of the Covenants of Redemption and Reconciliation In the former all things relating to the Redemption and Salvation of Christ's elect seed were plotted and contrived in the latter the same things are executed by that Covenant they were ordered by this they are acted It is the same business in the hand of Christ by the Covenant of Reconciliation which was long before in his heart when he made a Covenant with Jehovah the same design of love acted him in both Now Christ negotiates the same business which was long before undertaken by his Suretiship Joh. 17.6 7 8 I have manifested thy Name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world thine they were and thou gavest them me and they have kept thy word Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me and they have received them and known surely that I came out from thee and they have believed that thou didst send me 2 Cor. 5.19 21 God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him Zech. 9.11 As for thee also by the blood of thy Covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water In a word there is such a connexion between the Covenant of Redemption made with Christ and the Covenant of Reconciliation made with us as is betwixt the cause and the effect God's Covenant with Christ is the cause his Covenant with us is the effect for it hath a proper efficiency in the producing of this such as is betwixt the root and the branch the fountain and the streams the Covenant made with us did
mouth and in his carrying as Mediator there were many bright discoveries of this great mystery as we may read Mat. 3.16 17 And Jesus when he was baptized went up straight-way out of the waters and lo the heavens were opened unto him and he saw the spirit of God descending like'd dove and lighting upon him And lo a voice from heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Chap. 28. v. 28 Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy-Ghost Joh. 14.16 26 And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another comforter that he may abide with you for ever But the comforter which is the holy-Ghost whom the Father will send in my Name c. And many like testimonies were from him manifesting this glorious mystery 3. The distinct Offices of the three Persons or their ordered administration and working and the various and distinct acts of the Trinity in the work of redemption are brightly discovered in and by Jesus Christ the Mediator 2 Tim. 1.9 10 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel But because these may be gathered from what hath been spoken of the Covenant of Suretiship or Redemption I shall only touch upon them in this place And 1. The Acts of the Father plotting and making the Covenant with Christ Mediator 1. He had a purpose to raise man through a Mediator Eph. 1.5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will 2. He chose the Son for the doing this work and us in him Eph. 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world Psal 89.19 I have laid help upon one that is mighty 3. He makes a Covenant with the Son Psal 89.3 I have made a Covenant with my chosen and promises were given to Christ and grace given to us in him before the world began Tit. 1.2 2 Tim. 19. 4. God the Father appoints who shall be saved and gives them to the Son that all that were written in Gods book may also be written in the lambs book of life Joh. 17.9 Them that thou hast given me for they are thine Rev. 20.12 15. Chap. 21. v. 27. 5. He appoints what measure of grace and glory every one of them shall have Eph. 4.7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Mat. 20.23 But to fit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father 6. He commits all Government to the Son for the Elects sake that he may do according to this appointment Isa 9.6 And the government shall be upon his shoulder Joh. 5.22 For the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all Judgment to the Son 2. The Acts of Jesus Christ undertaking 1. He consents to the Covenant Psal 40.7 Then said I Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me 2. He engageth himself to take the Creature into union with his Person Heb. 10.5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world he saith Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not but a body hast thou prepared me And to lay down his life according to his Fathers command Joh. 10.18 This commandment have I received of my Father 3. He undertakes to receive and keep and raise up at the last day all those given him by the Father Joh. 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Chap. 17. throughout 4. He undertakes the Government of the world and to Judg it at the last day Psal 2.8 Ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession Mat. 11.27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father Joh. 3.35 The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand 3. The Acts of the Spirit 1. He undertakes to unite the humane nature to Christ by a miraculous conception Luk. 1.35 The holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee 2. To joyn us with God in one spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 But he that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit 3. To be a Spirit of Unction first to Christ and then to us through him Joh. 3 34 For God giveth not the spirit by measure unto him Isa 61.1 The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach good tydings unto the meek 4. To act all our graces to blow upon them and to help our infirmities Song 4. last Awake O north-wind and come thou south blow upon my garden that the spices thereof may flow out Rom. 8.26 Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered 5. To shed abroad the love of God in our hearts Rom. 5.5 Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy-Ghost which is given unto us 6. To set a Seal upon our hearts and to bear witness of all the work of God in us Eph. 1.13 In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise Rom. 8.16 The spirit it self beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God Now all these things are discovered and manifested to us in Jesus Christ the Mediator of the new Covenant CHAP. X. Of Christs Calling to the Office of Mediatorship THis being the Person who is Mediator of the new Covenant We come in the next place to speak of the Office And 1. Of Christs Calling to it 2. Of his qualification for it 3. Of his carriage in it And first we shall enquire after Christs Calling to the office of Mediatorship which we shall shortly dispatch by answering of these three Questions Q. 1. How came Christ to undertake this work A. He was called to it he did not intrude himself in the Mediators Office but was sent and employed in the work these things clear his calling to the work 1. Several of his Names import it Mal. 3.1 He is called the Angel or Messenger of the Covenant Because of his mission and Gods sending of him to do this work c. Isa 42.1 My servant and mine elect Because of his being called and employed by his Father he was called a Servant or chosen Officer formed for a special
imployment Isa 49.5 Thus saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob again to him Phil. 2.7 And took upon him the form of a servant 2. He is about the work of Mediation by Office and not by medling without his station which also sheweth his calling to the Work inasmuch as he was about it by Office as his duty in his Calling Heb. 3.1 Consider the Apostle and High-priest of our profession Christ Jesus Chap. 5.10 Called of God an High-priest after the order of Melchisidec And this is pointed at by all these Scriptures which make mention of the things that Christ did as Mediator he did them ex officio by vertue of some tye and obligation to do them as duties of his Office hence we find the holy-Ghost using the words must necessity became him behoved c. Heb. 2.10 17 For it became him for whom are all things Wherefore in all all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren Chap. 8. v. 3 Wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer Joh. 4.4 And he must needs go through Samaria 3. He is in Office not by intrusion but by annointing which imports lawful calling and mission Psal 2.2 The Lord and his annointed Joh. 1.41 We have found the Messias which is being interpreted the Christ So the Apostle to the Hebrews shews of all his three Offices 4. The Scriptures plainly holds it forth and the more strongly that it is held forth both Negatively and Affirmatively denying any intrusion on Christs part and affirming a calling from God to him Heb. 5.4 5 And no man taketh this honour unto himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an High-priest but he that said to him Thou art my Son to day have I begotten thee Gal. 4.4 But when the fulness of the time was come God sent forth his Son c. Joh. 6.38 39 40 44 Christ doth frequently make mention of the will of him that sent him Q. 2. By whom was Christ called unto the Office of Mediatorship A. By God his Father not excluding the other two persons of the Trinity though for orders sake it be attributed to the Father the fountain of divine operations Col. 1.19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell Joh. 6.27 For him hath God the Father sealed i.e. set apart designed and fitted for this Office that he was called unto this Office by God the Scripture speaketh plainly Psal 89.19 I have laid help upon one that is mighty I have exalted one chosen oâ—â— of the people Heb. 5.5 6 10 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an High-priest but he that said unto him Thou art my Son to day have I begotten thee As he saith also in another place Thou art a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedec called of God an High priest after the order of Melchisedec And 3.2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him And that he could be called by no other may appear 1. From the Antiquity of his calling to this Office which was before all created beings Prov. 8.23 I was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the earth was He was elected to this in order before we were elected to salvation Psal 89.3 I have made a covenant with my chosen Eph. 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world 2. From the end of the Office of a Mediator which was Reconciliation now who could find out a fit person and call him to undertake this work but he that had found out the way and means of Reconciliation which was God only for man did neither seek nor plot a peace with God Col. 1.20 It pleased the Father by him to reconcile all things to himself Psal 89.19 I have laid help upon one that is mighty 3. From the nature of the Office of Mediatorship which is an Office of Inferiority a service Mat. 20.28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministred unto but to minister and to give his life a ransome for many Isa 42.2 Chap. 53. v. 11. Now who could design Christ call or ordain and command him unto an Office of Inferiority although by voluntary dispensation but God only Joh. 10.18 For this commandment have I received of my Father 4. From the Impossibility under which the creature stood to find any days-man except God had found one and called him to it amongst all the Creatures there was none that durst undertake this cause or could design another to undertake it viz. To interpose betwixt the Creator and the Creature Job 9.33 Neither is there any days-man betwixt us that might lay his hand upon us 1 Sam. 2.25 If one man sin against another the judg shall judg him but if a man sin against the Lord who shall intreat for him Q. 3. When was Christ called to be Mediator of the new Covenant A. For the clearing of this Consider that Christs calling to the Office of Mediatorship may import three things his Designation his Furniture his Investiture in the Office Now according as the question relateth to these parts of his Calling so it requireth different Answers 1. Christs Calling or Designation to the Office of Mediator of the Covenant is eternal he was chosen and destinated hereunto before-time even from all eternity Prov. 8.23 Wisdom was set up by the Father from everlasting designed and appointed unto this high and honourable Office and employment to be Mediator of the new Covenant yea it must be so 1. Since Gods Covenant with Christ is eternal and his chusing and designation of Christ to be Mediator is in order of nature before his Covenant with Christ for it presupposeth him to be Mediator Psal 89.3 I have made a Covenant with my chosen 2. Because our election presupposeth Christ first chosen before us as the head of the Elect Eph. 1.4 Therefore we are said to be chosen in Christ i. e. as members of the head or through him as Mediator although Christ be not the cause of Election or of Gods Love 2. Christ's calling to be Mediator in respect of his Furniture for executing that Office whereunto he was designed before time and in respect of his being invested in the Office it is in time to wit when he was anointed which was at two times especially 1. When he took our nature upon him 2. When he was to appear in the publick execution of his Offices whereof more particularly when I come to speak of his Unction Vse If Christ be called unto this Office of Mediatorship by God his Father from all eternity Then 1. wonder at the eternal love of God and let your hearts be raised up to adore the unsearchable riches of grace and wisdom manifested in Gods early calling Christ to an Office and Service for our sake and Christs voluntary
therefore there can be no ground for the Socinians charge against us that while we assert the satisfaction of Christ we derogate and detract from the Grace of God the Grace of God and the satisfaction of Christ being no ways repugnant but rather Grace is advanced and exalted by the satisfaction of Christ by the finding out of that way by his undertaking and his performing of that satisfaction and by Gods accepting thereof Rom. 5.7 8 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die But God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Assert 8. Christs Suretiship was not ptivate for the Debt of one or some few persons but of publick concernment for his engagement was for the safety of many yea it was for the elect world whose Debt he payed whose punishment he did bear Mat. 20.28 And to give his life a ransome for many Isa 53.6 8 And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all For he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people was he stricken 2 Cor. 5.19 To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them It was a noble act of Grace and favour on his part it was like a mans laying down his life for the safety of his kindred and of his Countrey he was given as an hostage who did engage his life for the performance of the conditions agreed upon for saving the lost world Assert 9. Christ in his undertaking and engagement as Surety of the Covenant had his fathers 〈◊〉 of relief and 〈◊〉 I say he had no relief nor warranâ—â—ie from the broken creatures whose Debt he paid neither could the restitution of his losses be expected from broken men but he had as it were a back-bond or a bond of relief from God his father that when he went into the prison his Soul should not be left in the grave but that he should come out with honour see Psal 16.10 For thou wilt not leave my Soul in hell neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption Isa 53.10 11 12 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed he shall prolong his days and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied by his knowledg shall my righteous servant justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities Therefore will I divide him a poâ—tion with the great and he shall divide the spoil with the strong because he hath poured out his soul unto death Psal 2.7 8 9 I will declare the decree the Lord hath said unto me Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potters vessel Assert 10. All Christs offices are founded upon his Suretiship for by that Covenant of Suretiship that is betwixt Jehovah and the Son he is King Priest and Prophet whatsoever he did by office and by compact and agreement with God he did because he had put his name in our bond having become Surety for his people As a King he suffers for his subjects and saves them because he was engaged to do so as a Priest he dies for them because by his Suretiship he was engaged to bear their punishment he performs also a Prophets office towards them because he was engaged to God to do so c. Joh. 17.4 6 I have glorified thee on the earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do I have â—anifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world Heb. 9.28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many 1 Joh. 3.5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins and in him is no sin And if that had not been for his engagement as a Surety we should never had the fruit of any of his offices The third thing to be considered is See Mr. Ruth treatise of the Covenant p. 2. c. 7. how Christ came under this Covenant-relation to be Surety of the better Testament To this the Apostle gives an answer Heb. 7.22 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He was made the Surety of a better Testament or Covenant If Jesus was made the Surety then 1. He was not Surety by nature nor by any natural necessity Then 2. He was not Surety by any necessity or constraint of Law he was not so made Surety because there was no Law that could exact upon him anteceding his bond of Suretiship neither could there be any necessity upon him there being no conjunction betwixt him and us antecedently to his act of Suretiship by any relations whether natural legal foederal or mystical until this voluntary conjunction and Covenant-relation of Suretiship was brought about upon which all his offices and all other relations 'twixt Christ and his people are founded I take therefore the making of him Surety spoken of by the Apostle to relate mainly to that eternal free transaction and Covenant of Suretiship that was betwixt God and Christ whereby he came under a judicial and Law act to satisfie for the sins of his people And this imports 1. Something on Gods part Heb. 7.21 He was made Surety by him that said unto him The Lord sware and will not repent c. God made him the Surety of the better Testament I say on Gods part the making of him Surety imports three things 1. His eternal decree whereby he was designed ordained and chosen in the counsel of God for this Suretiship he was made the Surety that is designed and ordained to this by an everlasting decree Heb. 5.4 5 6 10 And no man taketh this honour unto himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an High-priest but he that said unto him Thou art my Son to day have I begotten thee As he saith also in another place Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec Called of God an High-priest after the order of Melchisedec Psal 2.7 I will declare the decree the Lord hath said unto me Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Isa 42.1 Behold my servant whom I uphold mine elect in whom my soul delighteth 2. His annointing furnishing and fitting of Christ for this business he was made the Surety i. e. He was anointed and qualified for that work so the father saith of him Isa 42.1 4 6 I have put my spirit upon him he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles He shall not fail nor be
discouraged till he have set judgment in the earth and the Isles shall wait for his law I the Lord have called thee in righteousness and will hold thine hand and will keep thee and give thee for a covenant of the people for a light of the Gentiles And so Jesus saith of himself Heb. 10.5 A body hast thou prepared or fitted me to the same purpose also the Apostle tells us Gal. 4.4 That he was not only made of a woman but made under the law i. e. ordained and fitted for taking on our condition in Law or our Law-place and room as well as our nature 3. The investing of him in this relation he was maâ—e the Surety i. e. He was invested constitute and set ind that Covenant-relation unto which he was ordained and for which he was fitted therefore he was made with an oath And the Lord sware unto him Heb. 7.21 and Joh. 6.27 Him hath the father sealed i. e. invested him and constituted him under his commission and seal 2. This imports some things upon Christs part He was made Surety God made him Surety his father made him and he made himself the Surety he was willingly made Surety by his own free consent and Covenant the Scriptures speak frequently of his consent and of the making of himself whatsoever his father made him Phil. 2.7 8 He made himself of no reputation c. and he humbled himself Joh. 10.18 No man taketh my life from me but I lay it down my self I say on Christs part this doth import 1. His eternal condeseending to empty himself and to take on him our nature and our room and place under the Law he was made Surety he condescended and agreed to take upon him both our nature and our condition Heb. 2.14 16 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the devil For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham Phil. 2.6 7 Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men 2. His engaging and plighting his faith and truth to perform whatsoever he did condesceud and agree unto by his act of Suretiship so that whatsoever the law could exact of us he plighted his faith to fulfil that he was made Surety i.e. He did promise and strike hands to satisfie all that the Law could demand of his people for so the word Surety signifieth as I have already shewed you Prov. 22.26 to make satisfaction for the sins done against or under the first Covenant and Testament Heb. 9.15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance Rom. 3.25 Whom God had set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God Heb. 10.5 7 Wherefore when he cometh into the world he saith Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not but a body hast thou prepared me then said I Lo I come in the volume of the book it written of me to do thy will O God 3. His performance of all these things unto which he did agree and for which he plighted his faith by his act of Suretiship he was made the Surety i. e. He payed the debt he satisfied the Law he stood in the place of the broken men till Justice said It is enough and till he himself said It is finished Isa 53 throughout 2 Cor. 5.21 For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us Thus did Jesus the Surety of the better Testament 1. By an eternal transaction agree and condescend to put his name in the bond and writ of the Law that stood over our head Deut. 27.26 Gal. 3.10 2. Thus did he engage for us and act himself to answer at the demands of Law and Justice Heb. 10.7 Gal. 4.4 3. Thus did Jesus in due time discharge and perform and actually was made a curse for us Gal. 3.13 From this voluntary relation of Christs Suretiship for his people ariseth a fourfold relation which is founded on this which relations betwixt Christ and his people import a nearness of conjunction and union with them and do contribute to the clearing the justice of God in smiting Christ for our sin and in our place and room 1. From Christs Suretiship ariseth a natural relation betwixt him and us that he is our kinsman and our brother of the same nature of the same flesh and blood with us this resulteth from his Suretiship whereby he condescended and agreed to take our nature upon him for otherwise he and we had never been of the same lump Heb. 2.11 14 16 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham 2. From his Suretiship flows a Legal relation betwixt Christ and us that he and we are one party in the Law that his satisfaction and payment is ours and that our debt is his that what he did and suffered we did it Legally in him this proceeds from his Suretiship because when he was made Surety of the Covenant he put himself in the bond and writ of the Law and put in our names in the 〈◊〉 writ Gal. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ Nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me Rom. 6.5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we â—â—all be also in the likeness of his resurrection 3. From Christs Suretiship proceeds a foedenal relation betwixt him and his people whereby they are his and he is theirs by Covenant whereby he and his people have one God and Father by Covenant Psal 89.26 He shall cry unto me thou art my father my God and the rock of my Salvation Joh. 20.17 But go to my brethren and say unto them I ascend unto my father and your father and to my God and your God Heb. 1.5 For unto which of the Angels said be at any time Thou art my son this day have I begotten thee and again I will be to him a father and he shall be to me a son This also floweth from his