waited on before he fulfil his promise What wonder that he will be waited on for the promise of Christ longer even till the fulness of time this being the greatest promise that ever he made to his people He will have the consolation of Israel waited for and redemption in Jerusalem looked for Luke 2.25 38. Before we proceed to speak of Christs unction and his qualifications for his Mediatorship refulting thence let us first make some use of this union of the two natures in Christ this great fundamental qualification of him for the Office of our Mediator that he is God and Man that for his due qualification he hath taken our flesh into his person therein to subsist In the union of the two natures in the Person of our Mediator 1. As it holds forth his condescending who stooped to be made manifest in the flesh 1. Let us admire and wonder at his love It was love that made him condescend it hath been and will be the admiration of Angels Luke 2.13 14 And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace good will towards men 1 Pet. 1.12 Which things the Angels desire to look into And how is it that we want affections and admirations Beside what I have before said these things wonderfully set out Christs love 1. That he would not entrust our Redemption to Angels but he would come himself and work it Heb. 1.5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time Thou art my Son to day have I begotten thee 2. That for the payment of our debt and in order to his being in a capacity to do so he would be in the same condition of clay with us a worm and not a man Psal 22.6 3. That he would not buy us at a base ransom but at a great price he would breathe out his life for us 1 Pet. 1.18 19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things but with the precious blood of Christ 4. That he would condescend thus singularly to love man to love him so as that he loved not any other creature that sinned against him Heb. 2.16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham 2. Let this raise up our hearts to thankfulness when we think of Christs Incarnation 1. This is the greatest demonstration of his readiness to save sinners the principal errand Christ had unto the world and in taking our nature was to save sinners Mat. 9.13 I am not come to call the righteous but sinnâ—rs to repentance You may therefore be assured of his readiness to receive such when they come unto him 2. This is the Fountain of all the promises of the Covenant of Grace the three greatest promises in all the Covenant flow from Christs Incarnation I will be your God I will give you my Son and I will give you my Spirit All these and all the rest too flow from this Fountain for neither the Father the Son nor the Spirit are given to us but through a Mediator and through his assuming of our nature Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ 2. As the union of the two natures in our Mediator holds out the exaltation of our nature Hence 1. Let us wonder what is man thus to be exalted the eighth Psalm is written for this end that we may wonder at mans exaltation not in Creation only but in Redemption as Vers 2 shews which is applied to Christ Mat. 21.16 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise how should this provoke to admiration that in our nature the fulness of the Godhead should dwell bodily Col. 2.9 2. Let us take Christs coming in the flesh and the exalting of our nature by the personal union with the Godhead for a pledg of the fulfilling of all other promises and granting all other mercies and salvation to us the root and body of the promises is come the branches will follow also 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him are Amen Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things This pledg was used by Isaiah as a confirmation from God and a ground of assurance for delivering the Church from Ashur Isa 7.11 14 Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God ask it either in the depth or in the height above Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign Behold A virgin shall conceive and bare a Son and shall call his name Immanuel And shall we distrust him for granting any other petition or deliverance who hath granted the main one 3. Let us take boldness to come to God through Christs flesh the great Courtier in Heaven is of our kindred take courage and improve the favour and friendship that our brother hath in Heaven Heb. 10.19 20 21 22 Having therefore brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the vail that is to say his flesh And having an High-priest over the house of God let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith 3. As the union of the two natures in our Mediator holds out his due qualification and fitness for his office 1. Behold in him a general fitness to receive each Person whose nature he beareth I say a fitness to receive them even all sorts of persons without exception there is none who needs him and cometh to him needs to distrust him Heb. 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 2. Let this encourage such as are afraid to draw near to God for union and reconciliation with him because of their estrangement from him through loss of his Image Lo he is willing to unite himself to thee and hath given assurance of it in his Son by vertue of his union with our nature Rom. 8.3 3. When we find difficulty to draw near to God or languishing in the life of our faith toward God Let us draw near to God the flesh of our our Mediator for influences and searn to come to God through the vail of his flesh Heb. 10.20 Jesus Christ is not strange he is near to us and his graces cannot be far off Rom. 10.6 8 Say not in thine heart Who shall ascend into heaven The word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which we preach But it is with many and even with the most part as with the ten Tribes who pleaded kindred and blood to David yet
Office of the Mediator and 1. Of his calling to it p. 174. 2. By whom he was called by God the Father p. 175. 3. When he was called to it 1. In respect of his designation to the Office it is Eternal p. 176. 2. In respect of his Furniture for and being invested in his Office it is in time p. 177. Use 1. Wonder at Gods eternal Love in calling Christ and his voluntary submission to it Use 2. To establish our faith in the prevalency of Christs Mediation ibid. Use 3. Shews the necessity of receiving the Mediator Use 4. Is comfort to Believers Chap. XI Of Christs qualification for the Office of Mediatorship and 1. Of his taking our nature upon him p. 179. Where 1. Is to be considered the reality of it p. 180. 2. His condescending-love in it p. 181. 3. The exaltation of our Nature p. 183. 4. How Christ taking our Nature is the great qualification of him for his Mediatorship p. 185. 1. He must be God for man could not satisfie for sin p. 186. 2. He must be Man because he must stand in our stead and be one with us c. p. 187. 3. The reasons why he must be God and Man in one person p. 188. Chap. XII Several Questions resolved concerning Christs taking our Nature upon him Why God the Father or the Holy Ghost took not our Nature but the Son p. 189. 2. Why must the Son of God be not only Man but the Son of Man the seed of the Woman p. 191. 3 Why did not the Son of God take Adams nature in Innocency but when it was corrupted p. 192. 4. Why must our Mediator be born of the seed of Abraham and when p. 194. 5. Why must our Mediator be made under the Law p. 195. 6. Why was the Son of God born of a Virgin and not a married Woman p. 196. 7. Why is Christ made Man in the fulness of time and not sooner nor later p. 197. The Vses p. 198. Chap. XIII Of Christs Vnction another qualification of him for his Office the first part of which is his Anointing to these Offices of Prophet Priest and King p. 201. The necessity of them in him p. 202. The use of them in our Mediator p. 204. 3. The concurrence of them for the end of his Mediatorship p. 209. Vses p. 215. Chap. XIV The second part of Christs Vnction viz. as it relates to his qualifications for the work 1. Of his Vnction in general p. 221. 1. It was the same with the Vnction of Believers p. 224. 2. It was without measure p. 225. 3. As to the time of his Vnction it was from the first Vnion of his two Natures 4. The extent of his Vnction it reacheth to all the parts of his Mediatorship p. 226. Vses of it p. 227. Chap. XV. Of the Requisites in a Mediator which are eminently in Christ and 1. Of the Requisites of fitting him for his Trust as 1. A Mediator must be a person that must have interest in both parties 2. He must be trusted by both parties 3. He must be well affected to both parties p. 230. 4. He must have power over both parties 2 Requisites relating to the managing such a work As 1. He must be a condescending person p. 231. 2. He must be Mollifying p. 232. 3. He must be Affable p. 233. 4. Meek and long-suffering p. 234. 5. Merciful and tendr-hearted p. 235. 6. He must be potent enough to compass his undertaking p. 236. 7. Faithful to the interest of both parties in the Mediation p. 238. 8. He must be a wooer of both the parties to bring them in friendship together p. 239. 9. Couragious to undergo difficulties and oppositions p. 240. Some other properties in our Mediator qualifying him for his wrk not found in any other Mediator as 1. His Oneness with both parties between whom he mediates p. 242. 2. He never declines the work of Mediation for any 3. He is always at hand and ready p. 243. 4. A perpetual Mediator p. 244. Several Vses ibid. Chap. XVI Of Christs execution of the Office of a Mediator 1. He doth it according to both Natures proved by six Reasons p. 151. 2. Christ hath executed this Office ever since the beginning of the World p. 255. 3. Jesus the Mediator executeth his Office as well in his estate of Exaltation as Humiliation p. 257. A Question whether the Angels have any share in Christ Mediation Answered p. 259. The execution of Christs Mediatorship reduced to five Heads p. 262. 1. To prepare a way for mans covenanting with God p. 263. 2. To bring the Elect within the bond of the Covenant p. 264. 3. To enable whom he bringeth into the covenant of Grace to perform the Duty of the Covenant p. 266. 4. To keep them from falling away from that blessed Estate p. 207. 5. To bring them to the height of that blessedness he hath appointed for them p. 269. Chap. XVII Grounds of comfort and supports of Faith arising to Believers from Christs Mediatorship 1. To those who are convinc'd of enmity betwixt God and them and desire Reconciliation p. 272. 2. To Believers who are come to God through him p. 273. 3. It reacheth to all the evils wherewith Believers can be afflicted ibid. Grounds of comfort if we consider 1. The Person who mediates he is one with the Father 2. The Person with whom he mediates his relation to the Mediator and the persons he mediates for p. 277. 3. The Persons for whom he mediates our nearness to the Mediator and to God by him 4. The cause for which he mediates the righteousness and honourableness of it p. 278. Chap. XVIII Of the Relations that Christ sustaineth in the covenant of Grace viz. A witness of the Covenant 1. The Witness witnessed p. 299. 2. The Witness witnessing 1. An Eye-witness p. 302. 2. An acting Witness 3. He did declare all he saw heard and acted about it p. 303. Three Mysteries declared by him 1. The mysterie of the Gospel-covenant p. 304. 2. The mysterie of Christ p. 305. 3. The mystery of the Gospel-righteousness and the way of justifying Sinners p. 306. Several Mysteries in this Righteousness 1. The imputation of it 2. In the Instrument viz. Faith 3. In the imputation of it with reference to the Persons to whom it is imputed 4 Christ is the witness of the Covenant who confirmeth the truth of all that is contained in it p. 307. Viz. Commands Promises Conditions Threatnings Predictions and Exceptions p. 308. 5. Uses of this p. 313. Chap. XIX Another Relation Christ bears in the Covenant viz. the messenger of the Covenant p. 325. Where 1 The import of the name Messenger or Angel of the Covenant p. 326. 2 In what respects it is applicable to Christ p. 327. 1. In regard of the trust committed to him in the matters of the Covenant 2. In regard of his pains and travel in it p. 328. 3 Betwixt whom doth Christ travel as
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
of Egypt Exod. 3.2 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush and he looked and behold the bush burned with fire and the bush was not consumed Act. 7.30 An Angel of the Lord in a flame of fine in a bush It was he that brought all these Judgments on them in the Wilderness 1 Cor. 10.9 Neither let us tempt Christ as some of them also tempted and were destroyed of Serpents It was he that brought them to Canaan and out of Babylon and built the Temple and filled it after their return Isa 63.9 By the angel of his presence he saved them Zech. 6.12 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. Chap. 9. v. 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 Hag. 2.7 And I will shake all nations and the desire of all nations shall come and I will fill this house with glory saith the Lord of hosts And this contributes to make Christ a fit Mediator and to support the faith of Gods people that the making of all things the revealing of the will of God and the fulfilling of it even the whole government is upon his shoulders which may assure our hearts that the work which he undertaketh shall be accomplished 2. This is he who is called the brightness of his Fathers glory Heb. 1.3 As Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so he manifests Gods will here he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so he manifests the nature of God And here let us 1. See what the glory is I take it to be meant not of the essential glory which he had with the Father from all Eternity but of the manifestative Glory and Majesty of the Lord which shined forth in Christ for it is of Christ Mediator that the Apostle is here speaking it is the excellencies of God as they shine forth in the Mediator which otherwise had been invisible and could not have been seen discovered nor looked upon 2 Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord. Therefore the end of Christs being constitute Mediator is for this manifestative glory whereof we read Joh. 11.4 When Jesus heard 〈◊〉 he said This sickness is hot unto death â—â—ut for the glory of God that the Son of God might be glorified thereby Chap. 5. v. 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 2. The brightness or sent-forth Light here spoken of is a similitude taken from the Sun wherein there is the body of the Sun there is the light of the Sun and the shining splendor or beams of the Sun Interpreters think this to be an expression of the eternal generation of the Son proceeding from the Father as light from the Sun I take it rather to be the manifestation of the Father in Christ the Mediator who is otherwise invisible as the Sun is manifested by its own light so that if you would light all the Torches in the world you cannot see the Sun by the light of these without its own light No more can you see God but in Christ Jesus who is the brightness of his Glory the light whereby his excellencies are manifested Joh. 1.9 That was the true light which-lighteth every man that cometh into the world Mat. 11.27 Neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him 3. This is he who is called the express Image of his Fathers Person Heb. 1.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the imprinted form this similitude relates to the persons of the Godhead as the former did to the Divine Essence and Nature It is borrowed from the signets impression which represents all the lineaments of the Seal the Character is the perfect expressed Image Mark Christ is called the Image of Gods Person not of his Essence for he is the same Essence not the same Person There is in the God-head essentia subsistentia the Essence is but one but the Subsistences or Persons are different as is expressed in Scripture 1 Joh. 5.7 For there are three that bear record in heaven the Father the Word and the holy-Ghost I take not this to be meant of Christ as God principally for so he is the same in Nature Names and Atrributes rather than the Image of God but I understand it of Christ as Mediator in whom there is a full and perfect resemblance of the Fathers Attributes and Excellencies And here for our knowledg of the person who is Mediator I lay down two conclusions from that comprehensive description of him 1. That Jesus Christ hath in him a glorious resemblance and a perfect Character of all the glorious Excellencies and Attributes of the Father Col. 2.9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily 2 Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord. 2. That it is by Christ Mediator that all the glorious excellencies of God are revealed unto us 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 Consider 1. That Gods great end in all his goings forth towards the Creature in Predestination Creation Providence c. is his own glory and the manifestation of his excellency Prov. 16.4 The Lord hath made all things for himself yea even the wicked for the day of evil Rom. 11.36 For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for evor Rev. 4. last Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created But more especially this is his end in Redemption Eph. 1.6 To the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved Joh. 17.4 I have glorified thee on the earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do 2. That which is Gods end is our happiness even to have God manifested to us to see him and to have discoveries made to us of his excellencies Joh. 17.3 And this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Mat. 5.8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God 1 Joh. 3.2 But we know when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is To see him and be transformed by that sight 2 Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory
even as by the spirit of the Lord. 3. The way of Gods attaining his end and our attaining our happiness which are both one the way I say is also one it is in Christ the Mediator that God is manifested and in him do we see God the knowledg of his glory and our happiness are both in the face of Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 All the excellencies of God are manifested in Christ he revealeth the mysteries 1. Of his will as he is the Word 2. Of his nature as he is the brightness of his Glory 3. Of the subsistences and distinction of the Persons as he is the Image of his Person he only knows the Father and he only can reveal the Father Joh. 1.18 Col. 1.15 He is the image of the invisible God i.e. The excellencies of God otherwise invisible are revealed by him and to be seen in him These three things of God are discovered in Jesus Christ 1. The Attributes of God 2. The distinct subsistences of the persons of the God-head 3. The distinct offices of the three Persons 1. There is a full manifestation of the Attributes of God in Jesus Christ the Mediator of the new Covenant these Attributes that were never manifested before Mercy and Long-suffering are revealed in him and these that were manifested before shine mort brightly through Christ 1. The Wisdom of God there was great and infinite wisdom shewed in creating the world and ruling it by his wâ—â—â— providence but what is that to the wisdom that is shewed in Christ the wisdom that reconciled Justice and Mercy the wisdom that punished sin and pardoned the sinner how wonderful and unsearchable is that Wisdom that by the fall of man raised him to a greater height of happiness than ever he had before Rom. 11.33 34 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledg of God! how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out For who hath 〈◊〉 the mind of the Lord or who heth been his câ—uâ—seâ—â—â—r 〈◊〉 Eph. 3.10 To the intent that now unto the prinly 〈…〉 in heavenly places might be made known 〈…〉 the manifold wisdom of God this is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the manifold wisdom of God which yet doth not fully express the Greek word which signifies the manifold and various wisdom or the wisdom of God that is full of admirable varieties so Beza Erasmus Zanchius Stephanus 2. The Goodness of God is manifested in Jesus Christ his goodness and love to man appeared much at first in making him of the rank of the highest creatures on earth and putting all the rest of the Creatures under his feet Psal 8.5 6 For thus hasâ— made him a little fower than the Angels and hast crowned him with glory and honour Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands thou hast put all things under his feet This was penned to magnitie the nature of man but in Christ our nature is more magnified as we shall shew by and by Heb. 1.6 And again when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him This is a higher pitch of the love of God this is the goodness of God more manifested than ever before to give his Son Christ for man and his Son to become sin and a curse for man Joh. 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but haeve everlasting life 2 Cor. 5. last For he hath made him to be sin for us that 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 3. The Mercy of God is eminently manifested in Jesus Christ man is made to rise by his fall Mercy never saw the light before it was never revealed but in Jesus Christ for it respects the creature in its misery Luk. 1.72 78 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy Covenant Through the tender mercy of our God whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us When all the posterity of Adam were as fuel for the fire mercy rescues and reserves some to be sons and heirs Rom. 9.23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory 4. The Power of God is manifested in Christ God shewed his power in the Creation as we read Isa 40.12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and meted out heaven with the span and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance c. Job 38 c. But what is this to the taking of our nature and uniting it in a personal union with the Son of God that God should become man the Ancient of Days become a Child the Incomprehensible to become comprehensible Col. 2.9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the God-head bodily The invisible God to become visible and to dwell here as in a tabernacle with men 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 5. The Soveraignty of God is manifested in and through Christ great was the Soveraignty of God that was exercised in predestination in making of vessels of honour or dishonour according to the pleasure of his will Rom. 9.21 22 23 Hath not the potter power over the clay of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour and another unto dishonour What if God willing to shew his wrath and to make his power known endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy which he had before prepared unto glory But all this was Soveraignty over the creature but that Jesus Christ the Son of God should be appointed a Mediator of the new Covenant made a Servant commanded to lay down his life this is greater Soveraignty Joh. 6.38 For I came down from heaven not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me Chap. 10. v. 18 This commandment have I received of my Father 6. The Justice of God is manifested in Christ Justice was seen in casting off the Angels that fell without hope and in executing the sentence and curse of the first Covenant upon Adam for his transgression thereof but the world never heard of such manifestation of Justice as appears in the satisfaction of Christ to Justice That Christ the Son of God is made sin for us and being made so in obedience to his Fathers command Justice spares him not but he must be smitten to death that satisfaction may be made for sin in our nature Rom. 8.32 He that
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
further and more significantly express this condescending-love Heb. 2.16 It was a favour which he denied to the Angels 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not at all or not in any wise he neither looked after nor sent nor went after the Angels he neither followed them nor took hold of their nature nor suffered them to take hold of him though these glorious spirits were incomparably far above us that Christ would manifest himself not in the most glorious Creatures but in our flesh was strange condescension 3. In Christs taking our nature we are to consider the honour and exaltation of our nature and of us in that union And 1. That it may appear what honour is conferred upon our nature by Christ assuming it into the personal union with the Godhead Consider 1. The nearer that any Creature is to God the greater honour is put upon it It is the honour of people that are under ordinances that they have God near to them Deut. 4.7 For what nation is there so great who hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for It is a more especial honour of those that have offices in the house of God Heb. 5.4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself Now there is a threefold union 1. Moral so were men and Angels united before the fall 2. Mystical so are Believers united amongst themselves and with Christ 3. Hypostatical so is our nature united with the divine nature in the Person of Christ there is a personal union of our nature with God this is the nearest union and therefore the highest honour and exaltation Heb. 1.4 Being made so much better than the Angels as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name then they 2. Consider the Sonship that Christ hath as Mediator whereby our nature is also highly exalted the Son of God and our nature have but one Sonship for siliatio est personae 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 3. Consider the glorious communion that our nature hath by this union with the Son of God 't is a high and great communion that Angels and the spirits of just men are made perfect have with God but the communion that our nature hath with Christ is far higher Joh. 3.13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven even the Son of man which is in heaven Even the man Christ is Gods fellow Zech. 13.7 This is high communion indeed whereby all the will of God is known to him and so to our nature Col. 1.19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell 4. What honour is it that our nature should be the Treasury and Store-house of all the good which God intends to dispense to men and Angels Col. 2.9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Divines call the humane nature Canalis gratiae Eph. 1.22 And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church 5. What honour is it that all the Creatures should worship God in our nature Heb. 1.6 And again when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him Phil. 2.9 10 11 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 earth and things under the earth And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Willingly or unwillingly by consent or by constraint all shall bow to the Lord Mediator to God in our nature even to the Son of man 6. What honour is it to our nature that God in the humane nature should dispose of the eternal estates of men and Angels for God shall even judg the world by the man Christ Act. 17.31 Joh. 5.27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also because he is the Son of man Yea by Christs taking our nature upon him not only our nature but we our selves are honoured 1. We have a nearer union with Christ than man in his innocency had with God a nearer union than the Angels have for believers make up one body with Christ he is the head and they are the members Col. 1.18 And he is the head of the body the Church Eph. 1.22 23 And gave him to be the head over all things to the Church which is his body Heb. 2.11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all one for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren 2. We are not beholden to one of another nature not to the Angels nor any other Creature you are independent of them all you have Salvation by one of your own nature Heb. 2.16 17 For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people 4. Let us consider how Christs taking our nature upon him or taking it into the union of his Person is the great qualification of him for the Office of Mediatorship Our Mediator behoved to be God manifested in the flesh to make way for clearing this I shall premise 1. That the Angels Covenant if any Covenant was made with the Angels as some think it was not made with the whole Angelical nature it was personal some of them fell and some of them stood and all fell not in them that fell Mans first Covenant was with his Nature and in Adam all fell 2. When Man and Angels fell God intended to raise the one and not to raise but to destroy the other 3. God will not restore man without a fit satisfaction to his Justice 4. There is an eternal impotency in man to give to God a fitting satisfaction the command of the Law man cannot obey the curse of the Law he cannot bear to his own advantage so as to make way thereby to his own restitution Here is obedience required that cannot be performed by man and a guiltiness contracted that cannot be taken away by man Therefore a Mediator must be had and he must be God and man in one person 1. He must be God for man could not make satisfaction to God for sin It was the union of the Divine nature with the human that made all Christs sufferings meritorious that made his shoulder fit for the burden and weight of the work of satisfying Divine Justice Psal 89 19 I have laid help upon one that is mighty I say therefore that it was absolutely necessary
our Mediator must be God 1. Because these evils which he was to expiate could never be taken away by any person that was not God sin done against an Infinite Majesty must have an equal satisfaction 2. Because the things with which he was to wrestle and the Enemies which he was to subdue could not be wrestled with nor subdued by any person who was not God Could a meer man wrestle with the infinite wrath of God subdue Satan and Death No the only human nature of Christ which in it self is finite and mortal could not bear up with that except the person had been God 3. Because the good things which he was to purchase could never have been purchased by any person who was not God a happiness far above Adam's eternal righteousness the image of God and communion with him in glory only the infinite worth of Christ the Son of God could compass that 2. He must not be God only for a Mediator is not a Mediator of one but he must be God manifested in the flesh He must be man 1. Because his name is to be put in our Bond he is to stand in our stead and to put his Soul in our souls room therefore he must be something else than God for God will have satisfaction to Justice of man the soul that sinneth shall die 2. Our Mediator must be a Mediator of satisfaction A Mediator of intercession may exalt grace and mercy by entreaties but cannot satisfie Justice this will not do the turn the Debt must be payed the principal Debt to obey the command he must be subject to the Law and the forfeiture must be satisfied he must bear the curse and die for without blood there is no remission he must then be a man and must have a body and soul the nature of Angels will not suffice Heb. 10.5 9 A body hast thou prepared me Then said he Lo I come to do thy will O God 3. He must be one with us else what he doth cannot be imputed to us as there must be an imputation of our sin to him so of his righteousness to us now imputation imports an union for union is the ground of imputation and it must be an union in nature and Covenant the Angels sin was not imputed to man but Adams was with whom we were one in nature and Covenant 4. Our Mediator must receive the Spirit without which we cannot be sanctified Joh. 17.19 And for their sakes I sanctifie my self that they also might be sanctified through the truth Chap. 3. v. 35 The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand Now the Father cannot receive the graces of the Spirit neither the Son as God for unto that which is infinite nothing can be added therefore our Mediator must have mans nature which is capable of receiving that which our Mediator must have 5. Our Mediator must convey to us the Adoption of sons and therefore must receive it himself and so become a man that he may receive it Gal. 4.4 5 6 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 And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Christ is the natural Son of God Luk. 1.35 That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God He is also as man a Son as is evident from the original Greek where the article is not prefixed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 4.3 And when the tempter came to him he said If thou be the Son of God Gr. if thou be a Son of God Because Christ owns us as brethren therefore God is not ashamed to own us as Sons Heb. 2.11 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 He must be of our kindred for if Christ had not been our born brother we could not have been Gods Children 6. Our Mediator must be such a Person from whom we may receive the inheritance he must therefore be man for it is from Christ-man as he is an heir appointed Heb. 1.2 that we receive the inheritance for the natural inheritance of Christ cannot be communicated Gal. 4.5 7 To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of Sons Wherefore thou art no more a servant but a son and if a son then an heir of God through Christ Rom. 8.17 And if children then heirs heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ 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 Covenant they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance 3. Our Mediator must be God and man in one Person Immanuel Isa 7.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both God and man sometimes denominated from one nature sometimes from another 1. That the great design and end of the Mediators Office might first be accomplished and made manifest in the Mediators own person union betwixt God and man was the design of a Mediator and this was done 1. In Christs Person for in him the houses of Heaven and Earth are allied 2. That he might be a person duly qualified for his Office he must be a Person equally distant from and equally drawing near unto both the parties this could not be a Person who was either God alone or man alone but God-man is a Person at some distance and in some nearness with both the parties having interest in both and participating of the natures of both he is a fit days-man to lay his hands on both Job 9.33 3. That he might have access to both parts of his work as Mediator he had two great transactions to go about 1. He was to deal with God for man 2. He was to deal for God with man unto these he could not have access without partaking of both the natures 1. That he may deal effectually with God for man he must be God for who can have access to deal with God but a Person who is God to deal with an angry God 1 Sam. 1.25 2. That he may deal with man from God and for God he must be man for man cannot endure the voice and presence of God immediately man unreconciled man without a Mediator cannot speak with God 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 die Heb. 12.20 21 For they could not endure that which was commanded And so terrible was the sight that Moses said I exceedingly fear and quake But of this more when I shall come to speak of the Requisites of a Mediator CHAP. XII Several Questions resolved concerning Christs taking
1 Joh. 2.27 But the anointing that ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you c. Eph. 4.7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ And 1.23 The fulness of him that filleth all in all Acts 10.38 He is said to be anointed with the holy Ghost and with power having both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 given to him both might and authority Mat. 28.18 All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth Joh. 17.2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh 1 Cor. 1.24 Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God And Col. 1.19 It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell that is admirable perfection of Grace he hath all worth in his person nothing is wanting in him that may compleat his peoples happiness some short view of the Graces wherewith he was filled we have Isa 11.2 3 4 5 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 shall 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 righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins and faithfulness the girdle of his reins Rom. 15.12 And again Esaias saith There shall be a root of Jesse and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles in him shall the Gentiles trust And Col. 2.3 All the treasures of wisdom and knowledg not absolutely taken for infinite knowledg as the words relate to the human nature of Christ but relatively for a marvellous height of perfection of these things such as was requisite for his Mediatorship in order to our salvation Again Col. 2.9 it 's said of him The fulness of the Godhead dwells in him bodily i. e. personally by the union of the divine nature with the human in the unity of his person the perfect Deity of the Son with all his Attributes and not only in regard of particular gifts and graces as he dwelleth in the Prophets and Saints but as the soul dwelleth in the body personally or substantially in opposition to the shadows of the Old Testament But mainly by the anointing of Christ with the Holy Ghost we understand two things which we find joined with the Spirit promised to him 1. All the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit in copious and abundant measure and according to the highest pitch and degree that the human nature of Christ was capable to receive and so the Spirit put upon him is joined with the variety and eminency of excel-cellent gifts Isa 11.2 c. 2. The unutterable assistance and presence of the Spirit bearing his Human nature up in all that he was to do as Mediator that he should not serve on his own charges See Isa 42.1 2 Behold my servant whom I have chosen 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 cry nor lift up nor cause his voice to be heard in the street c. Psal 89.21 With whom my hand shall be established mine arm also shall strengthen him And both these the holy Human nature of Christ needed for these reasons 1. For the things which he was to suffer If Christ had nothing to do but active obedience the spirit of Adam or confirmed Angels might have done his turn but he had another work to do which would have crushed those excellent creatures to satisfie justice and lye under the infinite wrath of God and therefore needed more than they received Heb. 9.14 He is said to have offered up himself by the power of the eternal spirit which I take to signifie not only the Godhead which gave value to his suffering but the assistance of the Holy-Ghost whereby he was marvellously helped I mean his humane nature to go through those sufferings 2. Because his anointing was intended to run over to his people and the off-fallings of it was designed to fill them therefore it behoved to be without measure such a measure as cannot be comprehended by any other creature Joh. 1.16 Of his fulness do we receive Psal 133.2 It is like the precious oyntment upon the head that ran down upon the beard even Aarons beard that went down to the skirts of his garments Psal 68.18 Thou hast ascended on high thou hast led captivity captive thou hast received gifts for men yea for the rebellious also that the Lord might dwell among them with Eph. 4.8 He led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men Joh. 5.26 For as the Father hath life in himself so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself 3. Because God hath so contrived the business of Grace that no created thing can act without the spirit not Adam not the Angels not the holy humane nature of Christ that all creatures might be known to have no self-sufficiency but to be very depending things upon God and upon grace the assisting-grace of his Spirit that framed them and gave them being Mat. 3.15 And Jesus answering said unto him Suffer it to be so now for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness Rom. 11.36 For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever For a further clearing of this part of Christs Unction I lay down these four Positions 1. Concerning the Nature thereof that it was the same with the Unction of believers it was not one spirit which Christ received and another which believers receive grace in him and in them differ not in kind but in degrees See Joh. 1.14 16 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 of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace Psal 45.7 Thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladness above thy fellows Gal. 4.6 And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Rom. 8.9 11 But ye are not in the flesh but in the spirit if so be that the spirit of God dwell in you Now if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you For Consider the Unction of the
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
for our sins 2. Against the many challenges whether of an accusing-conscience or of the great accuser of the Brethren 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 dyed yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh Intercession for us 3. Against the more foul and gross stumblings of Believers for as much as it is also intended for the helping of these Luke 22 32 But I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not 4. Against the fear of their falling away from the blessed Covenant-state with which fear believers have often been buffeted Psal 51.11 Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me And 17.5 Hold up my goings in thy paths that my foot-steps slip not It is by Christ Mediation that we have establishment in Grace Joh. 6.39 And this is the Fathers will which hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the last day Rom. 5.10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life 5. Against the manifold afflictions wherewith Believers are tossed here the Mediator was sometimes an afflicted man and went through much suffering and hath the feeling of these Isa 53.3 7 A man of sorrow and accquainted with grief He was oppressed and he was afflicted Psal 22 throughout 6. Against the many temptations of all kinds which occasion much heaviness to Believers 1 Pet. 1.6 Ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations The Mediator had the experience of all sorts of temptations and now sympathizeth with his people like condition Heb. 2.17 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted And 4.15 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 7. Against the empty and needy condition unto which Believers are subject through the manifold wants wherewith they are daily pressed We have confidence through the Mediator to come-speed in every petition that is acceptable to God and profitable to us 1 Joh. 5.14 15 And this is the confidence that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us And if we know that he hear us whatsoever we ask we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him Joh. 14.13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son 8. Against the fear of death which is terrible to nature Joh. 11.25 Jesus said unto her I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live c. 1 Cor. 15.26 The last Enemy that shall be destroyed is Death Job 19.25 For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon 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 9. Against the second appearing of Christ which is sometimes terrible without cause to believers and the last Judgment that shall be given concerning the everlasting interests of the creatures the Man Christ whom you have owned for your Mediator shall sit as Judg Act. 17.30 31 And the times of this ignorance God winked at but now commandeth all men every where to repent Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judg the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained 2 Thes 7.10 And to you who are troubled rest with us When he shall come to be glorified in his Saints Then shall he perform a comfortable act of his Mediatorship Jude ver 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy c. And there is good ground for all Believers to be comforted from Christs Mediatorship if we consider 1. The person who Mediates 2. The Person with whom he Mediates 3. The Persons for whom he Mediates 4. The cause for which he Mediates 1. For the Person who Mediates Consider 1. His Graciousness with his Father O so great a Courtier with God as the Mediator is Joh. 11.41 42 Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me And I knew that thou hearest me alwayes and no wonder he be so being his Son his only begotten Son Joh. 1.18 His beloved Son Matth. 3.17 His obedient Son Phil. 2.8 2. His Greatness and absolute Power to do of himself whatsoever he Mediates for with his Father Matth. 28.18 All power is given unto me in Heaven and Earth Joh. 5.21 23 26 27 For as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickneth them even so the Son quickneth whom he will That all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father that sent him For as the Father hath life in himself so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself And Hath given him authority to execute Judgment also because he is the Son of Man Therefore he is called a Priest upon a Throne a Priest who is a King to command whatsoever he prayes for Heb. 1.3 and 8.1 Zech. 6.13 3. The oneness of his will with his Fathers which maketh sure the prevalency of his Mediation being sure to ask nothing but what is his Fathers will and all that he asks being his Fathers will as much as his how can it be ineffectual Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am 2. The Person with whom he Mediates Consider 1. His nearness of relation both to the Mediator and to the Persons for whom he Mediates He is Christs Father and our Father 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 2. His graciousness and affection both to Christ and to us he loveth Christ and he loveth us and therefore it is that he is as inclinable to hear Christ for his people as Christ is to mediate for them Joh. 16.26 27. At that day ye shall ask in my name and I say unto you that I will pray the Father for you For the Father himself loveth you because ye have loved me and have believed that I came out from God 3. In the Persons for whom he Mediates Consider 1. Our nearness of alliance with the Mediator Heb. 2.11 14 17 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all one for which cause he is not ashamed to call them Brethren For as much then as
be established in the faith of our Covenant-relation to God But I come to speak of the second which I take to be chiefly meant Christ is the Witness witnessing or the person who beareth witness of all that is contained in the Covenant For opening of this consider these four particulars Christ is the Beholding-witness the Acting-witness the Declaring-witness the Confirming-witness of the Covenant 1. Christ is an Eye-witness of the Covenant that is he was present and heard and saw the whole transaction of the Covenant from the beginning to the end in which respect the Scriptures call persons present at any thing and beholders of it witnesses 1 Tim. 6.12 2.22 1 Joh. 1.2 3 because they are fit to bear witness in that thing having certain grounds of knowledg of it Thus was our Lord Jesus a fit witness of the Covenant for he was present at the very first motion of it and heard and saw all the convey of it Prov. 8.22 23 30 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way before his works of old I was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the earth was then I was by him as one brought up with him and I was dayly his delight rejoycing always before him 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 So that we may say of him in reference to the Covenant-transaction that which John saith of him with reference to creation Joh. 1.2 3 The same was in the beginning with God all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made Nothing was done in that business without him neither indeed could it be he being not only present but the alone party with whom God had first dealing with reference to this Covenant 2. Christ is an Acting-witness of the Covenant who not only was present and did-see the whole transaction of that business but had an active hand in it yea it was acted upon his person when before Pontius Pilate he witnessed a good confession 1 Tim. 6.13 and in this sense it is that the Apostle Peter 1 Ep. 5 calleth himself a Witness of the sufferings of Christ because he had experience of them in his own person he was partaker of them and had them acted upon him 'T is beyond question that Christ was such a witness of the Covenant he had an active hand in it from beginning to the end in the making of it and in the fulfilling of it he was a prime actor and undertaker from eternity Hence it is that the Apostle Heb. 8.10 11 ascribes the making of the new Covenant to Christ for it s of him and his Ministry that the Apostle speaks in that place so Joh. 17.2 6 c. As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him 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 Joh. 15.15 for all things that I have heard of my father I have made known unto you yea I say the whole Covenant was acted upon him the union of the contrary disagreeing parties was acted upon his person the bringing of man near to God and Gods coming near to man the paying of the ransome and the acceptation of it it was acted upon him it was a bloody act upon his person Isa 53 throughout 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 2 Cor. 5.10 To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them 3. Christ is the witness of the Covenant who did declare and reveal the great secret of the Covenant even all that he heard and faw and acted about it he doth witness and declare even the whole Counsel of God concerning his Covenant his purpose and will of grace concerning his people which things we had never known had not the witness of the Covenant revealed and declared them Psal 25.14 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant 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 Eph. 2.17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off and to them that were near The reason is manifest because Natures light which can shew something of God yet it 's utterly blind concerning Christ and the Covenant of grace 1 Cor. 2.7 8 12. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory which none of the princes of this world knew For had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God Mat. 13.11 He answered and said unto them because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven but to them it is not given And in this sense it is that the Ministers of the Gospel who reveal and declare that mystery are called witnesses Act. 1.8 Rev. 11.3 10. There be three great mysteries and secrets of the Gospel and Kingdom of Heaven which had never been known unless Christ the witness of the Covenant had declared them but by him they are revealed and discovered unto us 1. The mystery of the Covenant the Gospel-Covenant is one of the greatest mysteries that ever the world heard of Eph. 6.19 To make known the mystery of the Gospel Col. 1.26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations but now is made manifest to his saints It 's a treasure of hidden mysteries of science and knowledg truly so called Psal 19.7 8 knowledg of God and of our selves Joh. 17.6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world Job 42.5 6 But now mine eye seeth thee wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes A treasure of mysteries of commerce and trade with the Land that is afar off I mean with Heaven Col. 3.1 2 3 If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God set your affection on things above not on things on the earth for ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God A treasure of the mysteries of State of the Kingdom of Heaven Matt. 13.11 He answered and said unto them Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven but to them it is
man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name There is a reciprocation of Covenant-performances 5. There is betwixt Jehovah and Christ asking and giving the Father asketh a satisfaction to his Justice for the sins of all the Elect Isa 53.10 It pleased the Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief and the satisfaction which his Father asked was that he should make his soul an offering for sin and Christ yieldeth and giveth the satisfaction which was asked Psal 40.6 Lo I come saith he to do thy will Isa 53.5 But he was wounded for our transgressions and he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed Again Christ asketh of his Father a reward and satisfaction for the travel of his Soul in that great work of our Redemption and Salvation And his Father gives it him according to the encouraging-Proposals whereby he had invited him to the undertaking so great a work 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 Isa 53.11 He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied 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 This kind of asking and giving on both sides amounteth to a formal explicite Covenant here is emptio venditio which is a Covenant strictly so called 6. There is betwixt Jehovah and Christ work and wages there is working propounded upon the one part and undertaken upon the other and a reward promised upon the one part and expected upon the other craved upon the one part and payed upon the other and this is a formal Covenant strictly so taken Ad similitudinem contractus inter operarium locatorem operis inter herum servum not unlike the manner of Covenants betwixt the work-man and work-master betwixt the Servant and his Lord. Here is indeed do ut faoias facio ut des I give this upon condition you do that and I do this upon condition you give that I fay there was working and rewarding 'twixt God and Christ and that by no necessity of nature but by a voluntary compact his work and reward are both propounded to him Isa 53.11 12 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 iniquity 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 transgressours and he bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressours And 49.3 6 And said unto me Thou art my servant O Israel in whom I will be glorified 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 maist be my salvation unto the end of the earth And agreed unto by him Joh. 10.17 Therefore doth my father love me because I lay down my life that I might take it again 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 Therefore we find upon the one part and the other God promising a reward and Christ expecting it Isa 53.12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great with Isa 49.4 Surely my judgment is with the Lord and my work with my God Again we find God proposing the reward for Christ's encouragement in so hard a work and Christ eying the reward under all discouragements Psal 110.7 He shall drink of the brook in the way therefore shall he lift up the head with Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God We find also Christ craving his reward and challenging it as due to him Joh. 17.4 I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do And his Father paying the promised reward Phil. 2.8 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him c. The fourth Proof of a Covenant betwixt Jehovah and Christ I take from the Offices Imployments Trusts Powers Authorities and Relations which Christ did bear and wherewith he was vested for doing the work of his peoples Redemption All and every of these prove strongly an eternal Covenant and Compact betwixt Jehovah and Christ I put these together that the proofs may be more ponderous than numerous I shall therefore 1. Reckon up some particulars that fall under this head each whereof might afford a particular proof and then draw an argument from them 1. His Offices and Employments Christ is Lord Mediator of the New Covenant Heb. 8.6 9.15 He is Lord Ambassador and Messenger of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 He is the Lord's Shepherd and his Servant in the work of Redemption Zech. 13.7 Isa 42.1 Not by nature but by condescension and agreement to be in these employments Christ Mediator is a King not by nature but by Covenant and Agreement he receives a dispensatory Kingdom Psal 2.6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill Zion Act. 2.36 God hath made the same Jesus both Lord and Christ Heb. 1.2 whom he hath appointed heir of all things by whom also he made the worlds Psal 89.27 Also I will make him my first born higher than the kings of the earth Christ is a Prophet and a Teacher of his people not by nature but by appointment Act. 3.22 For Moses truly said unto the Fathers a Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you Isa 55.4 Behold I have given him for a witness to the people Christ is a Priest not by nature but by divine appointment and that in the way of agreement and consent Heb. 5.4 5 6 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 And 7.21 The Lord sware and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec 2. The like I say of the
they are subordinate These I say are posterior in this kind of order among the decrees of God and eternal acts of his will but this rule holds also in respect of that subordination that may be conceived among these acts of the will of God about the creation and fall of man and the sending of Christ which are co-ordinate means in respect of the supream end before-mentioned yet because one of these may have the place of an end with respect to another of these same co-ordinate means which may be also a means for carrying on some next immediate end as well as the supream ultimate end as the Salvation of the elect is a mean subservient to the great end of glorifying Grace and yet may be and is also an end of God's sending Christ so that the sending of Christ is both a mean subordinate to the glory of Grace and the Salvation of God's elect people Now I say which way soever we look upon the acts of God's will about the glorifying of his justice and mercy on Mankind we are still to conceive of the eternal acts of his will that respect the ends which he has proposed to himself both supream and subordinate as first in order and these acts of his will that relate to the means as last for God first purposed the end then the means that lead to it By this time it may appear that there is no great cause to contend for the order and distinction of these eternal acts of the will of God that concurred to the making up this eternal transaction betwixt Jehovah and the Mediator since they are all co-ordinate acts of the counsel of his will and means for the carrying on the glory of his mercy and justice in saving man This much is manifest 1. That the Covenant of Redemption made with Christ doth suppose other eternal acts of the will of God about the saving of man in the way of satisfaction to justice c. whereof I have spoken before Chap. 2. 2. That the designation calling and eternal mission of the Son of God to do this work must in order be before the person designed and called gave his actual consent and closed the bargain from eternity And if any will contend about the order of these eternal acts before-mentioned I do not see why we may not fitly conceive of them in this order designing calling fitting investing sending of Christ these were the eternal acts of the will of God which were entertained by the Son of God with consent and delectation The Properties of the Covenant of Redemption are See Mr. Rutherf Treat of the Covinant p. 2. c. 12. Freedom Graciousness Eternity Equality Order and Stability 1. The Covenant that was transacted betwixt Jehovah and Christ was a most free Covenant it was an act of meer liberty and soveraign freedom There was eminent freedom upon both sides in both the parties Covenanting 1. Upon the Father's side abstracting from his own decrees and purposes it was free to Jehovah to have followed a strict Law-course according to the rigour of the Covenant of works or to follow a Gospel-way of mitigation and condescension as pleased him it was free to him to send or not to send a Saviour to suffer for man to take a satisfaction by a Surety or only in the Soul that sinned as pleased him 2. Upon Christ's part it was as free to him to be a suffering Redeemer and Surety or not as pleased him to undertake the work of our Redemption or not to undertake it to humble himself unto this service or not to go this errand or not as pleased him Hence 't is observed Jo. Cocc Summum Doct. de soed c. 5. Sect. 90. that it was otherwise with the second Adam than with the first for it was not free to Adam to withdraw from or to deny subjection to the first Covenant neither could he withdraw himself from the Law of Nature nor slight the promise thereof without the violation of that Law but the Son of God was free and tyed by no Law antecedent to his own consent This Property of the Covenant of Redemption is established and confirmed 1. From these Scriptures which attribute this transaction to the free pleasure and soveraign freedom of both parties the Father and Christ therefore the Scripture speaking of God's eternal transactions with Christ about our Redemption doth so frequently call them deeds and acts of will and of the Father's pleasure and that the whole procedure was according to his good pleasure and the pleasure of his will Eph. 1.5.9 And Col. 1.19 It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell 2 Tim. 1. 〈◊〉 according to his purpose and grace c. And upon the other part Christ's concessions in this matter are attributed to his meer will and liberty Phil. 2.6 7 8 Who being in the form of God having the very same divine essence which the father hath thought it not robbery to be equal with God counted it no usurpation to carry himself as God equal with the Father made himself of no reputation freely and of his own accord he hionbled himself not using nor manifesting the glory that was competent to him and took upon him the form of a servant he took upon him a real service in the assumption of the humane nature for the ends he assumed it and was made in the likeness of men and in this service he did behave himself as other men and sutably to that employment and not as equal with God which was his natural condition and while he was in that habit and condition he obeyed unto the death of the Cross All this he acted with eminent freedom in time and consented to with like freedom from eternity where he freely took upon him whatsoever he acted within time 2. If it was free with God whether he would give to man a Being and whether he would conclude this in the counsel of his will from eternity or not as pleased him sure it was also free to God whether he would send a Saviour to him when he should be lost or not as pleased him Now 't is manifest that it was free with God whether he would so much as give to man a being for he was under no necessity to create the World or Men or Angels all which are for his pleasure and therefore are whatsoever they are by his pleasure Rev. 4.11 Thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created 3. If it was free to God from eternity whether he would chuse objects in Mankind to magnifie his Grace and Mercy upon when he had purposed to create Angels and men or whether he would let them all perish and not take any of their natures upon him then the Covenant of Suretiship hath this property of freedom but it is manifest that it was free with God from eternity whether he would recover any of the race of fallen man or not as
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
the doing and suffering of so excellent a person who was God-man and so all these being acts so excellent and so undue except by voluntary condescension they must needs be such conditions as were part of the price payed by him 4. The obedience of Christ and all that he did in obedience to the Law being performed by him in the state of his humiliation in which he was whatsoever he was for us 2 Cor. 8.9 for your sakes he became poor all these must have respect of conditions of his Covenant with Jehovah which he performed for us Assert 7. The conditions of the Covenant of Redemption required from Christ and performed by him were meritorious that is they were not consequent conditions which denote only a connexion and order betwixt the thing promised and the condition required but they were antecedent conditions when the condition is the cause of the thing promised as in contracts of Justice where one thing is given for another So the conditions of this Covenant performed by Christ did by order of strict Justice and jure emptionis claim the reward that was promised and covenanted with him to be given to himself the head and to his elect people in whose stead he satisfied Justice by paying their debt with a price of blood hence it is that he craves the reward to be given and that in Justice for the work he had done Joh. 17.4 5 24 I have glorified thee on the earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do And now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold thy glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world Hence it is also that his Advocation is grounded upon Justice and he stands in Heaven Jesus the righteous 1 Joh. 2.1 who being now justified and acquitted of the debt that he took upon him by his bond of Suretiship whereby he was made sin and made a curse for us 2 Cor. 5.21 Gal. 3.13 He pleads now the merit of blood Assert 8. The condition of the Covenant of Suretiship is either more general and adequate or more special and forwal and accordingly we must answer the question when 't is asked what was the condition of this Covenant Answ 1. The general adequate condition of the Covenant of Suretiship can be no narrower than Christ's whole undertaking so that whatsoever he undertook to do whether in his own person or in his people for carrying on and perfecting the word of Redemption from beginning to end must be part of the conditions required at his hand whereof read Psal 40.6 to 11. compared with Heb. 10.5 to 11 all which may be summed up in six comprehensive heads 1. Christ's accepting the grand charge of this work of Redemption even the Mediatory office that was put upon him he receives the keys of the house of David the trust and weight of the lost but elect world and all the burthen and care of them is devolved upon him with this office 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 tho vessels of flaggons 2. His taking out nature upon him and that not in its primitive virgin integrity but when it was at the worst it was a condition of this Covenant that Christ should humble himself to take on him the likeness of sinful flesh Rom. 8.3 that he should take the same nature that offended divine Justice even the same flesh and blood whereof the children are partakers and no other Heb. 2.14 3. His taking our Law-place was another condition not our nature only but our Law-place and room that is to put his Soul in our Soul's stead that the Law of God might reach him who otherwise could not be reached by the Law and that Divine Justice executing the curse and penalty of the Law might smite him as the guilty man being by his own consent and his bond of Suretiship become legally the debtor and sinner though not intrinsecally Gal. 4.4 made under the Law and made sin for us 2 Cor. 5.21 though he knew no sin 4. His acting our part not in a scenick but in a real manner he came upon the stage to represent our person and in our nature and Law-place he really acted our part and this was another condition required of him who perfectly obeyed the command of the Law and suffered the threatning thereof for us even all that Justice had threatned to inflict upon the offender and transgressour of the Law Gal. 3.13 he was made a curse for us Isa 53.5 the chastisement of our peace was upon him c. 5. His taking a new Covenant-right unto God his own Father and not to God only but to heaven and glory and all the New-covenant blessings whereby the Covenant-right and rites of his redeemed people might be consolidated in him as their head and whereby he might for ever carry their names and interests before his Father as being there represented by him Psal 89.26 He shall cry unto me thou art my Father my God and the rock of my Salvation Heb. 2.11.13 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 And again I will put my trust in him and again behold I and the children which thou hast given me And 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 6. His effectual application of the Redemption purchased by his Suretiship unto all his redeemed ones And under this I comprehend Christ's undertaking for the pouring out of the Spirit to send to them his Spirit to draw them to him to cause them to believe receive his Surety-righteousness to keep them in his favour and love to cause them to persevere to present them perfected and without spot to God 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 testifie of me Joh. 12.32 And if I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto me 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. 6.39 40 And this is the Father's will that hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the last day And this is the will of him that sent me that
the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travelleth in pain together until now 2. The promise of restoring all things to their primitive perfection all things were broken defaced and marred by man's sin insomuch that the beauty of them all is gone and nothing remains upon these inferiour creatures but the old ruines of glory but there shall come a time of the restitution of all things Act. 3.21 and who shall do this Christ mends and makes all things new again by his Surety-covenant that were broken by the rupture of the Covenant of works Rev. 21.15 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea And he that sate upon the throne said behold I make all things new 2 Pet. 3.13 Nevertheless we according to his promise look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness 3. The promise of restoring the broken league that was betwixt man and the rest of the creatures in their original condition when all obeyed Adam and were dependers upon him after the violation of which there was continual war and jarring betwixt man and the rest of the creatures sin did make a breach in the whole creation when man sinned all the creatures became enemies to him and one to another but now in Christ all the creatures are reconciled Eph. 1.10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth even in him Hos 2.18 And in that day will I make a Covenant for them with the beast of the field and with the fowls of heaven and with the creeping things of the ground and I will break the bow and the sword and the battel out of the earth and I will make them to lye down safely By Christ's Suretiship and the Covenant-promises through him the creatures are brought in a new league with man Job 5.23 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee Psal 121.6 The Sun shall not smite thee by day nor the Moon by night 4. The promise of removing the Law-curse out of all dispensations and writing the Gospel-blessing upon them that all and every of them may be blessings in Christ to his Redeemed people Deut. 28.4 5 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body and the fruit of thy ground and the fruit of thy cattel and the encrease of thy kine blessed shall be thy basket and thy store that even the rods and chastisements which are curses of the Law to the wicked Deut. 28.15 16 But it shall come to pass if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God to observe to do all his commandments and statutes which I command thee this day that all these curses shall come upon thee and overtake thee Cursed shalt thou be in the city and cursed shalt thou be in the field c. should be covenanted-mercies and written in the book of the Covenant of Grace to God's elect people Psal 89.30 31 33 If his children forsake my Law and walk not in my judgments If they break my statutes and keep not my commandments then will I visit their iniquity with the rod. Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail Heb. 12.6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth 5. The promise of establishing and setling all things that were set a reeling by the breach of the Covenant of works it is promised that Christ shall be the repairer it is he that establishes the earth so that the creatures that are for man's use are not destroved for Justice did require as speedy vengeance upon men as it did upon the Angels and the Sentence had been executed immediately had not the Covenant of Suretiship prevented it and in this respect the very reprobate have some temporal advantage by way of Concomitancy and for the elects sake 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 Col. 1.17 And by him all things consist Heb. 1.3 Vpholding all things by the word of his power All these and promises of like nature were made to Christ the first heir whom God appointed heir of all things Heb. 1.2 and for his sake they redounded unto them who shall be heirs of Salvation Heb. 1.14 and it is upon this very account that the whole Creation are commanded to sing because Christ the restorer of all things is come to the throne Psal 96.11 12 13 Let the heavens rejoyce and let the earth be glad let the sea roar and the fulness thereof Let the field be joyful and all that is therein then shall all the trees of the wood rejoyce before the Lord for he cometh for he cometh to judg the earth he shall judg the world with righteousness and the people with his truth And 98.7 8 9 Let the sea roar and the fulness thereof the world and they that dwell therein Let the floods clap their hands let the hills be joyful together before the Lord for he cometh to judg tht earth with righteousness shall he judg the world and the people with equity 6. The promise of the respecitive eminent change of the Government from the sole essential Government of Jehovah to the dispensatory Government of the Mediator Joh. 5.22 For the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment unto the Son 1 Cor. 15.25 For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet for supposing that the Covenant of works shall be broken the world cannot now any more be ruled according to the rules of that Covenant to wit by God the Father immediately for then he must destroy man therefore together with the change of the Covenant there must needs be a change of the Government Christ as Mediator must govern the world Isa 9.6 The government shall be upon his shoulder and he must judg the world in our nature Act. 17.31 The man whom God hath appointed and he reigns not only over the Church but also though in a far different way over all the Kingdoms of the world and all things in the world for the Churches sake Eph. 1.21 22 Far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church Heb. 2.5 7.8 For unto the Angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come whereof we speak Thou madest him a little lower than the Angels and thou crownedst him with glory and honour
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
submission to it He knew well enough it would be too late to wait for our call He knew that we might dye in our sin before we sent for the Physician he did well foresee our slowness and backwardness to give him employment for making our peace and therefore he prevented us John 8.27 Heb. 10.9 2. This may establish our hearts in the faith of the weight and prevalency of Christs Mediation he being no Usurper but a called chosen person set in lawful Authority all whose travels receive weight from his Place and Calling for because he was sent and had a commandment to travel in the work of his peoples Redemption therefore the work that was set him to do must prosper and his travels with both the parties must prevail Joh. 10.36 Say ye of him whom the Father hath sanctified and sent unto the world Thou blasphemest because I said I am the Son of God Isa 53.10 11 By his knowledg shall my righteous Servant justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied 3. This should bear upon us a necessity of receiving the Mediator in his travels about Reconciliation He is in his Office and called to travel with you about this work take heed how you entertain and answer his propositions of peace now he is making proposals of peace to you by virtue of this Office which he bears 2 Cor. 6.2 Behold now is the accepted time behold now is the day of salvation Ch. 5. v. 20 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 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 Your slighting of the Gospel beside the neglect of so great salvation brought to you in the offer hath also in it great slighting of a chosen Officer and of a Person called and put in high authority by God to travel with you in the business of your peace Heb. 12.25 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 4. This speaks comfort to believers Christ is Mediator betwixt God and you by an eternal call from God his Father he needs not much entreaty to be about the Office whereunto he is called of God although it be no less your duty to entreat his favour as the Disciples did than if he had no other calling to it but your invitation Luke 24.29 But they constrained him saying Abide with us for it is towards evening and the day is far spent and he went in to tarry with them If you should at any time apprehend that he would refuse your entreaties which you have no ground to think yet he will not he cannot shake off his Father's calling to mediate for you he dealeth betwixt God and you by virtue of an Office which having taken upon him by voluntary submission the duties of that Office lye upon him through a blessed necessity as is written of the High-Priest who was a type of him That by reason hereof to wit of his Office he ought to offer for sins Heb. 5.3 And 8.3 For every High-priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer Comfort your selves believers in Christ that besides all the supports of your faith which you may have from his union of nature with you and his unction from his propriety in you and consanguinity with you from his gracious qualifications for that work you have this moreover That he is your Mediator by Calling by Office and can no more decline any thing that may be for your good than he can be unanswerable to his Fathers Calling or unfaithful in his Office and in the performing the duties thereof which is impossible CHAP. XI Of Christs taking onr nature upon him which is his grand qualification for the Office of Mediatorship CHrists qualification and fitness for this Office of Mediatorship may be considered 1. In his taking our nature upon him wherein consists the grand qualification and fundamental fitness of Christ for being Mediator of the New Covenant And 2. In other qualifications which result from the union of the two natures in him Or we may consider Christs qualifications for this Office in the union of these two natures in him 2. In his unction And 1. of Christs coming in the flesh and taking our nature upon him which I call the chief and grand qualification of him for Mediatorship This is a fundamental truth and yet a great mystery We think we know this so well that it is below us to study it to preach it and to hear of it but you are not at the bottom of your unbelief and ignorance if you know not that this mystery is little known and believed God manifested in the flesh seen of Angels with study and delight 1 Tim. 1.16 with 1 Pet. 1.10 11 12. We shall consider 1. The reality of his human nature and the assuming of it 2. The transcendent love and condescention shewed by the Son of God in the taking our nature upon him 3. The honour and exaltation of our nature yea and of us by Jesus Christ his taking it into a personal union with the Divine nature 4. How or in what respects the taking of our nature upon him did qualifie him to be Mediator of the New Covenant 5. Something for the clearing of some questions relating to this Mystery And 1. He took our nature really upon him Jesus Christ became truly man as kindly a man as ever lived verus sed non merus homo true man but not meer man That word Rom. 8.3 similitude of flesh is put for sameness as Augustine observes Non quia caro non erat caro sed quia peccati caro non erat Christs manhood was a true nature yet no sinful nature but had only the similitude or likeness of sinful flesh because he bare all our infirmities in which we lay through sin And it may appear thus 1. Jesus Christ hath taken mans nature upon him Heb. 2.16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels but he took upon him the seed of Abraham 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he catched at it took hold of it it properly signifies to catch one who is running away or falling in a pit to fetch back or recover again the same word that 's used of Christ's catching hold of Peter when he was like to sink Mat. 14.31 it is answerable to the word used Gen. 19.16 of the Angels laying hold on Lot's hand So did Christ in taking our nature upon him 2. He took all the parts of a man body and
our nature upon him WE come to clear some doubts and Questions about this mystery of Christs taking our nature upon him Quest 1. If we may soberly make it a Question without curiosity See Rog. pract catech p. 2. p. 26. Bal. treatise of the Covenant pag. 266. and enquire a little after so much of the Reasons of it as God hath been pleased to reveal Why did not God the Father or the Holy Ghost take on mans nature to be our Mediator but the Son The second Person Answ It might suffice for an answer That so it pleased God in the deep and unsearchable counsel of the Will of all the three Persons to order it Psal 80.19 20 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 I have found David my servant with my holy oyl I have anointed him And although I know not another satisfying-reason that can be given or that should be curiously enquired after yet I shall soberly propose a few considerations which may help us to adore the unsearchable depth of the counsel of Gods Will in this part of the mystery of Christ 1. Consider That the world was made by the word Christ Heb. 1.2 Joh. 1.3 All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was not made And who was so fit to restore all things and to amend the world to create the new World as he that created all things he by whom the world was made Act. 3.21 The Redemption that came by Christ and is to be perfected at the day of his coming again is called by the Apostle the restitution of all things 2. Jesus Christ the Son of God the second Person of the Trinity is appointed Mediator and takes our nature upon him that the order of the three persons of the Godhead and their working might in this be manifested unto us The Father is the first Person and Fountain of divine operation he works by the Son and the Father and the Son work by the Holy Ghost Our Mediator must be a person who must give satisfaction to the Father for us and who must be able to send the Spirit for our sanctification and therefore must be the Son and second Person 3. Consider the things which we lost in Adam we lost the Image of God our Sonship and Inheritance and who so fit to restore the Image of God as he who is the Image of the invisible God the express image of his person Col. 1.15 Heb. 1.3 Who so fit to restore us to a Sonship as the only begotten Son Joh. 1.18 Mat. 3. last Who so fit to restore man to the inheritance as the heir of all things and first-born of every creature Heb. 1.2 Col. 1.15 4. Consider the Offices which our Mediator behoved to carry he must be a King a Priest and a Prophet and who so fit to be our King as the Power and Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1.24 30 Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God Who of God is made unto us wisdom Col. 2.3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledg Who so fit to be our Priest as he who lieth in the bosome of the Father who can have such access to treat for us with God and such favour with him as he that lieth in the center and seat of love the beloved that lieth in the Fathers bosome Mat. 3. â—â— This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Joh. 1.18 Who so fit to be a Prophet to us as he who is the word of God who only knoweth and revealeth all his Will Rev. 19.13 Joh. 1.8 Mat. 11.27 5. Consider that reason given by B. Andrews Because Adams sin was most directly against the second Person Gen. 3. â—5 22. Man will be as God and have the knowledg and wisdom of God which is Christs prerogative Col. 2.3 And who so fit to pack up that injury as the second Person flesh would have been as the Word and the Wisdom and Word of God becomes flesh to raise up ruined man in a quite contrary way to his own sinful design a marvelous humble condescension to expiate so proud a plot Quest 2. Why must the Son of God be not only a man but the Son of man of the seed of the woman of the same lump with us Might not the taking of a created nature have fitted him to be our Mediator Gal. 4.4 He might have been man and yet had a body framed for him in heaven and not made of a woman Ans He must be of the same lump with us 1. The more to set forth his condescension and our exaltation in this his condescension was greater in taking a nature of the same lump with us than if he had taken our nature created as Adams was and the exaltation of our nature was the greater that Christs flesh was not only of the same kind but of the same lump with ours 2. That we might have the more comfort in his satisfaction for if he had taken a created nature that could have reached to a personal satisfaction only but he takes our nature and the flesh of our nature that he might satisfie for the sin of our nature and make a publick satisfaction for the sins of many The Covenant with Adam being with his nature not personal and his sin also being of the same kind the satisfaction must be in the same nature and by one of the same lump and not with a person having that kind of nature but not the same nature Heb. 2.14 9 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through â—eath he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the devil that he by the grace of God should tast death for every man 3. That he might be a fit Mediator one between two he behoved to â—raw as near to us in respect of his human nature as to God in respect of the Divine nature he must be a man and a man of the same lump that his brethren are of a Priest ordained for men and taken from among men Heb. 5.1 4. That the alliance with us might be the straiter and his right of Redemption the stronger for our Mediator behoved not only to be a Redeemer but a Goel one to whom belonged the right of Redemption Now this could not be except he were our own kinsman our brother of the same lump and stock Deut. 25.5 6 c. Christ came to raise up seed to his dead kinsman old Adam who dyed without issue of grace for ought that his seed had from him therefore he behoved to be our brother and kinsman and by this means Christ 1. as the kinsman not only may do it but he takes it on him as his duty v. 7 to perform the duty of a husbands brother
sins 1 Joh. 2.27 And ye need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lye 2. How to apply Christs Priesthood at first for justification and how to apply it daily and continually for repeated pardon and forgiveness and how to improve it as our daily sacrifice 1 John 1.9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness And 2.1 2. My little children these things write I unto you that ye sin not and if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous c. 3. How to live by faith to depend upon Christ and to be guided continually by him as the ruler of his people Heb. 10.38 Now the just shall live by faith Psal 73.24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory 2. By removing mistakes and prejudices which are so rooted in our hearts that there can be no agreement till these prejudices be taken off and a good understanding be gotten betwixt the parties Thus Christ played the Prophet to the woman of Samaria by instructing her till he had removed her mistakes and prejudices and informed her judgment right and then he had access to deal further with her Joh. 4.3 By convincing of the need of his Priesthood and Sacrifice and of his Kingdom he doth teach his people as a Prophet till they know they need a Sacrifice and till he shew them where it is and till they know they need a King and the arm of Omnipotency for effecting a change of the Covenant-state John 16.8 And when he is come he will reprove the world of sin of righteousness and of judgment Job 33.23 If there be a messenger with him an interpreter one among a thousand to shew unto man his uprightness Consider 2. How the Priesthood of Christ concurreth with his Prophesie and Kingdom and is aiding to them 1. His Priesthood is aiding to his Prophesie 1. By making God accessible through the new and living way of Reconciliation taught by his Prophesie God having now accepted a sacrifice and we having a Priest by whom we may come to him Heb. 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 for us through the vail that is to say the flesh and an Advocate and Intercessor to pray for us 1 John 2.1 2 We have an Advocate with the father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins 2. By making that great Prophet more affable and condescending to us by how much he is come near to us in our nature and hath taken his Sacrifice from among his brethren I mean his flesh and body Heb. 2.17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren Chap. 5.1 For every High-priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God that they may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins Chap. 10. v. 5 Whererefore when he cometh into the world he saith sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not but a body hast thou prepared me 2. His Priesthood is aiding to his Kingdom and that in both the parts of it 1. In his sacrifice and satisfaction he hath doubled his right and title to his people and worketh their salvation by price which as a King he doth by power and conquest 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 1 Pet. 1.18 19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things but with the precious blood of Christ 2. In his Intercession he carrieth the same business of our Salvation by favour and entreaty which he hath also carried by Command as a King Heb. 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 With 1.3 When he had by himself purged our sins sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high John 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am 3. Consider how his Kingdom doth support his Priesthood and Prophesie and give vigour and efficacy to them both And 1. His Kingdom doth assist his Prophesie 1. By sustaining and keeping up the means of Salvation and Teaching by his Gospel and Ordinances against all the enemies that have risen up and bestirred themselves against the same ever since the beginning of the world Thus he keepeth these pillars of his Throne from ruine Psalm 110.2 5 The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion rule thou in the midst of thine enemies The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath 2. By making his Gospel and Ordinances have their full effectualness in the hearts of his people to convince and convert them and to pierce and condemn those that despise them John 9.39 And Jesus said For Judgment I am come into this world that they which see not might see a and that they which see might be made blind Isa 55.11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth it shall not return unto me void but it shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it 2. His Kingdom doth assist his Priesthood 1. By giving efficacy to his satisfaction to reconcile the persons of the Elect to God and to obtain forgiveness of their sins for it is his Kingdom that doth convey the power of his Priesthood into the soul 2. By giving Efficacy unto his Intercession for keeping all those that are given to him by his Father continually in a state of grace and favour John 17.11 24 Those that thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost but the son of perdition Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am 3. By making his Death and Resurrection effectual to subdue our lusts and to set up his Kingdom within us Eph. 1.19 20 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty 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 Rom. 6.4 5 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father even so we also should walk in newness of life For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection Vse 1.
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
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
and the people owning him he being the only person in heaven or earth who doth bear or is capable to bear the relation of God towards the people and again of the people towards God for he is God with us Mat. 1.23 He is God and the people united and owning one another and in some things he doth represent and carry forth God to us as ours 2 Cor. 5.19 And in other things he doth represent and carry in the people of God and present them before him as his own people Heb. 9.24 and 2.13 Eph. 2.6 2. In regard of causality for although Christ be not the cause of Gods love to the Elect but the effect thereof Joh. 3.16 yet he is the cause of the effects and acts whereby it runneth forth towards us Christ is the bottom of the relation betwixt God and his people for by his taking a new Covenant-right unto God as his God and Father by Covenant he is lay the foundation of Gods being our God by Covenant and of our being the people of God by Covenant which had never been were it not for Christs new Covenant-right Psal 89.26 He shall cry unto me Thou art my father my God and the rock of my salvation Gal. 4.6 And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father 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 3. In regard of conveyance or of the manner and way how we have access to this priviledg and Covenant-state to have God to be our God God is our God in Christ and we are Gods people in and through Christ and without an existence in Christ and union with him God is not ours neither are we his Eph. 2.12 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 For Covenant-relations as well as blessings come to us through Christ we come to God in Christ and God cometh to us and becometh ours in him 2 Cor. 5.19 To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself Heb. 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 3. The sum of the mutual stipulation is in Christ there are some mutual conditions and stipulations in this as in other Covenants But Christ may be well called the whole stipulation 1. Because 't is he who obtaineth the consent of both parties and receiveth in their Amen to that blessed transaction of friendship and union the consent of the one from everlasting Prov. 8.22 23 30. with 2 Tim. 1.9 Tit. 1.2 and of the other when we believe Joh. 6.37 Rev. 22.17 20. 2. Because the Covenant was given to him to be fulfilled on both sides by him it was fulfilled upon Gods side for he is the person which was sent to perform all that God had promised to his people Luk. 1.69 70 72 73 74 And hath raised up an horn to salvation for us in the house of his servant David as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets which have been since the world began to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant the oath which he sware to our father Abraham that he would grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without fear By him it was fulfilled upon our part for he is the person upon whom our help was laid even to perform whatsoever is required of us by the Covenant Psal 89.17 19 For thou art the glory of their strength Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one and saidst I have laid help upon one that is mighty 3. Because upon the matter Christ is the very thing which is mutually stipulated upon both sides Consider I pray God stipulates to give us Christ and that is the sum of what he stipulates Isa 55.3 4 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 Behold I have given him for a witness to the people a leader and commander to the people And again we restipulate to give Christ to God for all that the Covenant requires of us 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 Phil. 3.9 And be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith For this is the nature of the Gospel-Covenant it craveth conditions and duties from us but filleth the hand with Christ wherewith to pay the masters rent and we do answer all that is craved with Christ which maketh the craving gentle Isa 60.17 I will also make thine officers peace and thine exactors righteousness 4. Christ is the sum of all the promises and blessings of the Covenant Isa 42.6 And give thee for a covenant of the people for a light of the Gentiles This doth appear 1. From the first discovery of this Covenant which had but one promise in it and that was the promise of Christ Gen. 3.15 The seed of the woman 2. This appears from Gods explicating the sum of the promises and Covenant when it was more explicitely held forth to be Christ gifted to his people Gen. 12.3 And in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed Isa 55.3 4 And I will make an everlasting covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Behold I have given him for a witness to the people 3. This appears from the holy Ghosts accounting Christs coming to be the performing of the whole Covenant and promises Luk. 1.69 72 73 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David To perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant the oath which he sware to our father Abraham c. 5. Christ is the sum of all the properties of the Covenant not only because whatsoever these properties speak forth of the nature of that transaction that is to be found in him but also and chiefly because Christ is the foundation of all these properties as may appear by a short recapitulation of the particular properties thereof which are all comprised in Christ And 1. The freeness of the Covenant is comprised in him The Covenant of grace is free and indeed Christ is a free Christ or Christ freely given to his people is the sum of the free Covenant Joh. 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever