A TREATISE OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION OR THE WHOLE BODIE AND substance of Diuinitie By T. C. BY WISDOME PEACE BY PEACE PLENTY AT LONDON Imprinted by FELIX KYNGSTON for THOMAS MAN 1616. TO THE CHRISTIAN READER MAny haue bin sorrie good Reader to see some writings of this learned and godly Author come forth in publike since his death with so many defects and maimes To giue an instance hereof there is an exposition of the Epistle to the Colossians published vnder his name wherein hee hath had very much wrong done to him it being nothing else but a bundle of raw and imperfect notes taken by some vnlearned hearer neuer perused or so much as seene by the Author himselfe Wherein there is scant any good coherence of matter to be found or any perfect periods and sentences handsomly knit together or sutably depending one vpon another This Treatise of Religion now reprinted was the first whereof of there was much expectation and desire as of that which would be of more generall vse to all sorts of people in which respect the Author himself was known to make more account of it and would if God had prolonged his daies to haue perfected the same according to his own wishes haue giuen fuller satisfaction to his iudicious and impartiall Reader His purpose was to set downe in most plaine and familiar manner all the necessarie points of positiue Diuinity whereunto God in a gratious measure hath inabled him as may appeare euen by the first impression though it were published with many wants and imperfections What paines and faithfulnesse hath been vsed in this second edition for the supply of defects and amendment of the faults of the former will appeare to them that shall take time and paines to compare them together His helpe was principally vsed herein who was well acquainted with the Author and his purpose and who hath done no more herein in effect then what he had helpe in either from the Authors owne little Catechisme or from some directions in the best and last copie that he left behind him or which the necessitie of the method which he propounded did require The first edition as appeares wanted a beginning by meanes whereof the whole worke was as the trunke of a body without the head the reason whereof was the transposing of the doctrine of the Scripture wherewith he first began the Treatise into a more fit place this as neare as can bee according to the Authors mind and speciall direction is supplied in the first Chapter the like transposition of other particulars not well vnderstood by his seruant that copied forth the booke afterwards was a cause of the multitude of other errours also which wee hope are now sufficiently amended all particulars being brought to their proper places Only there is in the exposition of the last petition of the Lords Prayer a large discourse of Gods gouernment concerning sinne which were to bee wished had been brought backe to the tenth Chapter which is the first and fittest place for that argument to bee handled in and also whether by the Printers negligence or his that writ the copie there is one whole question and answere which belongs to the latter end of the seuenteenth Chapter placed out of order and set in the beginning of the eighteenth Chapter There are also to my griefe many other verball faults which the Printer and the transcriber must diuide betweene them which though they may bee easily discerned by the iudicious and aduised Reader yet may make others to stumble and therfore I earnestly pray thee good Reader which thou easily maiest doe that thou wouldest amend them in the first place according to the direction following Further thou art to be entreated that hereafter thou esteeme nothing to bee his but what shall bee published or approued by them to whom by his last will and Testament hee committed the perusall and examination of his writings Farewell W. B. THE CONTENTS OF THE SEVERALL CHAPTERS Ch. 1. Of Christian Religion and the parts thereof pag. 1. 2. Of the Essence of God 3. 3. Of the Attributes and properties of God 6. 4. Of the Trinitie 15. 5. Of the kingdome of God especially his Decree 18. 6. Of the execution of Gods Decree where of the creation in generall and speciall 22. 7. Of the creation of man 31. 8. Of Gods gouernment in generall 38. 9. Of his speciall gouernment and of the fall of man 42. 10. Of Originall and actuall sin and the guilt thereof 63. 11. Of the punishment of sinne 70. 12. Of the word of God 73. 13. Of the parts of Gods word and of the Couenant of Workes in generall 80. 14. Of the Couenant of workes in speciall 85. 15. Of the first Commandement 91. 16. Of the second Commandement 95. 17. Of the third Commandement 103. 18. Of the fourth Commandement 107. 19. Of the second table in generall 120. 20. Of the fifth Commandement 122. 21. Of the sixth Commandement 133. 22. Of the seuenth Commandement 140. 23. Of the eighth Commandement 147. 24. Of the ninth Commandement 153. 25. Of the tenth Commandement 157. 26. Of the summe of the Law 162. 27. Of the Couenant of grace 166. 28. Of Christs person 169. 29. Of the office of Christ 174. 30. Of his Propheticall office 179. 31. Of his Priestly office 182. 32. Of his Kingly office 187. 33. Of the excellency of his Kingly office in speciall 192. 34. Of the parts of Christs Kingdome 200. 35. Of the speciall working of Gods spirit in the Church by the word 205. 36. Of the Sacraments in generall 211. 37. Of Baptisme 218. 38. Of the Lords Supper 225. 39. Of Ecclesiasticall discipline 233. 40. Of Prayer or Inuocation 241. 41. Of fasting 247. 42. Of feasting 251. 43. Of the rule of Prayer and of the Lords prayer in generall 255. 44. Of the first Petition 261. 45. Of the second Petition 263. 46. Of the third Petition 267. 47. Of the fourth Petition 270. 48. Of the fifth Petition 274. 49. Of the last Petition 280. 50. Of thankes-giuing the second part of the second prayer 289. 51. Of Vowes 292. 52. Of the Church Militant 296. 53. Of the day of Iudgement in generall 308. 54. Of the day of Iudgment in speciall and of Antichrist 311. 55. Of the nearer signes before the day of Iudgement 327. 56. Of the Iudgement it selfe 341. Of the sentence of the Iudge 349. 57. Of the execution of Gods Iudgement 354. A TREATISE OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION CHAP. 1. Of Christian Religion in generall and the parts thereof Christian Religion treateth of the Nature of God therin of the Vnity of the God-head Where Of his Essence Chap. 2. Of his Attributes Chap. 3. Trinitie of Persons Chap. 4. Kingdome of God Chap. 5. IOH. Chap. 17. vers 1. 2. 3. 1. These words spake Iesus and lift vp his eyes to heauen and said Father the houre is come glorifie thy Sonne that thy Sonne also may glorifie thee 2. As thou hast
giuen him power ouer all flesh that hee should giue eternall life to as many as thou hast giuen him 3. And this is life eternall that they might know thee the onely true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent Q. WHat principall matter doe you learne out of this Scripture Answ I learne what is the chiefest most necessary knowledge Q. What knowledge is that A. The Christian Religion heere called the Knowledge of God and in the Schooles commonly called Theologie or Diuinitie Q. What is the Christian Religion A. A holy doctrine concerning God reuealed and taught by Christ shewing the principal meanes to glorifie God and thereby to come to life euerlasting and true Blessednesse Q. What are the parts of this doctrine concerning God A. They are two the first treateth of the Nature of God the other of his Kingdome Q. What is the Nature of God A. An absolutenesse of perfection infinitely excelling all other things Consisting in vnity of Essence and Trinity of Persons Q. Is there then but one God A. No verily but one only true God As sufficiently Exod. 20. 2. Deut. 5. 4. Psal 18. 32. 1. Cor. 8. 4. 5. appeareth by the third verse of this Scripture This is life eternall that they might know thee the onely true God And wheras this title is giuen to more then to one it is either abusiuely to Idols or false gods which are no gods or tropically and by a grace of speech to Magistrates who are the speciall deputies and Lief-tenants of God here vpon earth Q. What are we more specially to consider concerning the Nature of this one only true God A. His Essence and Attributes CHAP. 2. Of the Essence of God Herein consider his Name Primitiue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I AM. Deriuatiue IAH IEHOVAH Speciall Essence expressed by that name EXOD. Chap. 3. vers 13. 14. 15. 13. And Moses said vnto God Behold when I come vnto the children of Israel and shall say vnto them The God of your fathers hath sent me vnto you and they shall say to me what is his Name what shall I say vnto them 14. And God said vnto Moses I AM THAT I AM and he said thus shalt thou say vnto the children of Israel I AM hath sent me vnto you 15. And God said more ouer vnto Moses Thus shalt thou say vnto the children of Israel The Lord God of your fathers the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Iacob hath sent me vnto you this is my Name for euer and this is my memoriall vnto all generations Q. VVHat learne you out of this Scripture principally A. I learne in the first place two generall duties which are to be obserued in the question of Moses vers 13. One that we be carefull to be instructed in all things concerning our calling thereby to be able to answere al doubts that may be moued the other that being desirous to learne any thing concerning God we enquire it of God himselfe And because now hee vseth not to speake but in the Scriptures 2. Cor. 5. 20. Hos 12. 10. and by his Ministers interpretors of the Scriptures we must haue our recourse vnto them Q. What learne you else A. I learne more specially what the proper name of God is Q. What is that A. I am that I am or as the Hebrew soundeth I will bee that I will bee sauing that the Hebrewes vse the future time for the present as that which noteth a continuance Q. What is meant by these words A. Hereby is set forth the manner of the Being and Essence of God farre otherwise then is vsuall in the proper names of men which declare either nothing or very little of their nature and being Q. Is there nothing of God to be knowne besides that which is signified by this Name A. Nothing as touching the speciall manner of his Being falling vnder our weake and shallow capacity Q. What Names of God in the Scripture are deriued from these words A. Two the name Iehouah and the name Iah both which being drawne from the description of God doe set forth the manner of his Essence and Being Q. Can you from hence define what God is A. Hee must haue the Art and Logicke of God himselfe that can giue a perfect definition of God but he may in such sort be described as hee may bee discerned from all false gods and all creatures whatsoeuer Q. What is that description A. God is a Spirit which hath his being of himselfe Q. What meane you by that addition of himselfe A. It hath a secret opposition to all creatures which hath a being but not of themselues wheras God alone is hee in whom wee liue and moue and Act. 17. 28. haue our being which proueth that hee alone hath his Being of himselfe and therefore all other things haue no being in comparison whence the Prophet saith that all nations before him are nothing Esa 40. 17. yea to him lesse then nothing and if men be nothing for whom the whole world was made how much more are all other creatures in heauen and earth nothing before him and to him lesse then nothing Hitherto of the Essence of God it followeth to treate of his Properties and Attributes CHAP. 3. Of the Attributes and Properties of God The Properties or Attributes of God are either First and they Principall as Simplenesse Infinitenesse in Quantity as Immensity c. Quality as Time Secondarie Life Knowledge Will. Power Goodnesse Iustice Graciousnesse Loue. Mercy Holinesse Arising from the first Perfection Happinesse PSAL. 145. 1. I will extoll thee my God O King and I will blesse thy Name for euer and euer 2. Euery day will I blesse thee and I will praise thy Name for euer and euer 3. Great is the Lord and greatly to bee praised and his greatnesse is vnsearchable 4. One generation shall praise thy workes to another and shall declare thy mighty acts 5. I will speake of the glorious honour of thy maiesty and of thy wondrous workes 6. And men shall speake of the might of thy terrible acts and I will declare thy greatnesse 7. They shall abundantly vtter the memory of thy great goodnesse and shall sing of thy righteousnesse 8. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion slow to anger and of great mercy 9. The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are ouer all his workes 10. All thy workes shall praise thee O Lord and thy Saints shall blesse thee 11. They shall speake of the glory of thy kingdome and talke of thy power 12. To make knowne to the sonnes of men his mighty acts and the glorious Maiesty of his kingdome 13. Thy kingdome is an euerlasting kingdome and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations 14. The Lord vpholdeth all that fall and raiseth vp all those that be bowed downe 15. The eyes of all waite vpon thee and thou giuest them their meate in due season 16 Thou openest thine hand
32. Not according to the couenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I tooke them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt which my couenant they brake although I was an husband vnto them saith the Lord. 33. But this shall bee the couenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those daies saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my people 34. And they shall teach no more euery man his neighbour and euery man his brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them vnto the greatest of them saith the Lord for I will forgiue their iniquitie and I will remember their sinne no more Q. THus much of the Couenant of Workes called the Law the Couenant of Grace followeth What doth this Scripture call it A. A new Couenant Q. Why is it called a new Couenant A. Because it succeedeth the former Couenant Heb. 8. 13. and was made vpon the breach thereof Q. Doth then the making of this Couenant disable the former A. Yea for the latter Couenant had not been Heb. 8 7. Rom. 3. 23. Galath 3. 21. made if the former had not bin broken so become insufficient And therefore they are conuinced of impiety by the very making of this couenant who seeke Iustification by the old Couenant Q. What is this new Couenant A. A free contract or Couenant betweene God Act. 16. 30. 31. Iohn 3. 16. 17. 18. and a sinner concerning the pardon of sinne and life euerlasting through faith in Christ Iesus Q. When did this Couenant begin A. Immediately after the Fall Gen. 3. 15. Q. What is specially to be considered in this Couenant A. First the parts and sorts thereof secondly the ground and foundation Q. What are the parts thereof A. The mutuall acts betweene God and a sinner Q. What is the act on Gods part A. A free offer of saluation vnto a sinner vpon this Iohn 3. 14. Act. 10. 43. condition that he will beleeue in Christ Q. What is the act on the sinners part A. An acceptance of this offer by submitting to the condition Q. What followeth hereupon A. That hee will be their God who are vnder this Exod. 3. 15. Couenant and will be surnamed by them and therefore in the third of Exodus a Heb. 11. 16. and else where he is called the God of our Fathers which noteth the singular priuiledge and glory of Gods people in that hee is content to be surnamed by them otherwise the proper name of God would bee fearfull vnto vs without the addition of some such Sur-name Q. Of how many sorts is this Couenant A. In substance it is but one but in regard of circumstance it is two the Old Testament and the New Q. What is the Old Testament A. It is the couenant of God a Heb. 8. 4. 5. which vnder types figures and shadowes did set forth Christ before his comming in the flesh and by vertue whereof life euerlasting was giuen by faith in Christ that was to come Q. What is the new Testament A. It is the couenant of God which since the comming of Christ in the flesh hath abolished those shadowes giueth life euerlasting by faith in Christ that is come by meanes whereof it is in a speciall respect called the Gospell Coloss 2. 16. 17. 20. Hebr. 9. 1. 2. 3. c. CHAP. 28. Of Christs person In Christ is to be considered his Person Consisting of two natures Diuine Humane Conioyned in one person Office Chap. 29. IOHN chap. 1. vers 14. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among vs and we beheld his glory as the glory of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and truth Q. THus much of the parts and sorts of the Couenant of Grace what is the ground and foundation thereof A. Christ Iesus aforesaid Ioh. 3. 14. Act. 10. 43. Q. Who is Christ Iesus A. The a Luk. 2. 11. 1. Tim. 2. 5. eternall Sonne of God the second person in the Trinitie that b Joh. 1. 45. 8. 56. Messias whom the Fathers vnder the Law expected and the Prophets foretold of Q. What are we more particularly to consider in him A. First his Person secondly his Office Q. What is to be considered in the Person of Christ A. The diuersitie of natures and vnion of them Q. What are the natures of Christ A. Two his Diuine and Humane Q. What haue you learned concerning the Diuine nature of Christ A. That he is the onely begotten and naturall Son Iohn 3. 16. 18. 1. 1. Heb. 1. 3. Coloss 1. 15. of God his Word Character and Image God co-essentiall and Coequall with the Father and the holy Ghost Ioh. 10. 30. Rom. 9. 5. 1. Ioh. 5. 20. Q. What is the Humane nature of Christ A. That nature by which he is also true man Q. Is Christ Iesus true man also A. a Gen. 3. 15. 1. Tim. 2. 5. Yea in all things b 1. Ioh. 2. 1. Matth. 1. 18. 20. sinne onely excepted Q. How did he become man A. Hee was conceiued by the holy Ghost in the wombe of the Virgin Mary and was afterward borne and brought forth into the world after the manner of other men Q. Did he not passe through the Virgin Mary without taking any thing of her substance A. No for hee is called the seed of the woman Gen. 3. 15. He is said to be made of the seed of Dauid according to the flesh Rom. 1. 3. To bee made of a woman Galath 4. 4. To be a plant that sprang out of the root of Iesse Esa 11. 1. 10. Q. How is he said to be conceiued by the holy Ghost A. Because the holy Ghost by his incomprehensible Mat. 1. 18. 20. power wrought his conception supernaturally Q. Is he then the Sonne of God in respect of his Humane nature A. No for first the Apostle saith Hee is without Father and without mother that is without father as hee Heb. 7. 3. is man without mother as God Secondly then there should be in the person of Christ two sonnes one of the Father another of the holy Ghost Q. But is he not therefore called the Sonne of the highest Luk. 1. 32. because he was conceiued by the holy Ghost A. No but onely because hee that was so conceiued was the naturall sonne of God Q. Doth the humane nature of Christ consist of a reasonable soule as well as a body or was the God-head in stead of the soule vnto him A. It consisteth also of a reasonable soule as appeareth by that which he said My soule is heauie to the very Mat. 26. 38. death And our soules should haue perished euerlastingly except our Sauiour Christ had had a soule and had suffered in soule Q. Thus much of the two natures
of our Sauiour Christ what is to be said concerning the vnion of these two natures A. The manhood of our Sauiour Christ is inseparablie vnited to the person of the God-head and therin it subsisteth making but one person which neare vnion with the nature of man is so much the more wonderfull in that the very Angels which are much greater in glory then men are a Esa 6. 2. not able to abide the presence of God And indeed it is such b 1. Tim. 3. 16. a mysterie as neither Angels or men are able to comprehend Q. Then Christ though he consist of two natures is but one person A. It is truth he is true God and true man in one and the same person of the Deitie Luk. 1. 35. Ioh. 1. 14. Mat. 3. 17. Ephes 4. 10. Galath 4. 4. Q. Did not the inseparable vnion of the Humane nature to the person of the Deitie change the person thereof A. No verily but hee is the very same person that he was from all eternitie Q. Is it not said in the text that the WORD .i. the second person in Trinity was made flesh may it not seeme then that the God-head was turned into the Humane nature A. Nothing lesse no more then it can be said hee was turned into sinne or into a curse because it is said 2. Cor. 5. 11. Galath 3. he was made sinne or made a curse Q. Can you proue directly by the Scriptures that Christ after the vnion of the man-hood with the God-head is true God A. Yea verily for first the Scripture as hee is Christ the Messias absolutely calleth him God and giueth vnto him the name of Iehouah 1. Tim. 3. 16. Ioh. 20. 28. Act. 20. 28. Rom. 9. 5. 1. Ioh. 5. 20. Esa 9. 6. Ierem. 23. 2. Secondly the proper workes of God are attributed vnto him as the creation and gouernment of the world Ioh. 1. 3. 5. 17. Coloss 1. 16. Hebr. 1. 2. 3. The searching of harts Mat. 9. 4. Mark 2. 8. c. Thirdly the Essentiall Attributes of the Diuine nature are giuen to him he is said to be eternall Ioh. 1. 1. 17. 5. Micah 5. 2. Almighty in all places the King of Kings c. Ioh. 3. 31. Math. 18. 20. Apocal. 19. 16. Fourthly the Scriptures assigne Diuine honour vnto him Psalm 72. 11. Rom. 15. 12. Esa 11. 10. Ioh. 14. 1. Act. 7. 59. Q. But is not the God-head and man-hood at least mingled and confounded A. No by no meanes For then he should bee neither God nor man for things mingled doe not retaine the name of their simples as honey and oyle mixed together can neither be called honey nor oyle Further the properties of the two natures are such as cannot be mingled and confounded For neither can the Humane nature remaining a true humane nature partake or communicate of the properties and perfections of the Deitie or the Deitie of the defects of the Humanitie So that as the God-head cannot hunger thirst or be shut vp and circumscribed within the bounds of a place no more can the Humanity be infinite or in more places then one So that though the humane nature be no person of it selfe and hath no subsistance but in the person of the Deitie yet it continueth still distinct in substance properties and actions from the Deitie and both natures so vnited make but one Christ Q. Why was it necessary that Christ should bee both God and man in one person A. It was necessarie he should be man because he could not suffer as hee was God a Heb. 2. 14. 2. 16. 7. 4. 15. and it makes most for the glory of Gods Iustice to exact satisfaction from that nature that had sinned Secondly it was necessarie he should be God also that he might bee able to beare and ouercome all that was to be inflicted vpon him for our sinnes Thirdly it was necessarie also that the humane nature should in manner aforesaid be vnited to the person of the Deitie that the obedience which hee performed might bee of infinite merit as being the obedience of God Act. 20. 28. Q. What further fruit haue we by this coniunction A. That whereas God hath no shape comprehensible either to the eye of the body or of the soule and the mind of man cannot rest but in a representation of some thing that his mind and vnderstanding can in some sort reach vnto If it consider God in the second person in the Trinitie as he hath taken our nature and whereby God is after a sort reuealed in the flesh he hath whereupon in some sort to stay his mind Q. How did then the Iewes before his comming which could not doe so A. They might propose to themselues the second Gen. 18. 1. 2. 19. 1. 2. person that should take our nature and the same also that had appeared sundry times in the shape of a man albeit herein our priuiledge is greater then theirs wee beholding him as he is whereas they did behold him as he should be Q. Haue men onely benefit by this vnion of the two natures or doth it reach also to the Angels A. It seemeth to reach no further then to man for God neuer meant to saue those angels that fell seeing they fell maliciously into rebellion against God without tentation contrary to the cleare light of nature reuealed in their Creation And if he had purposed either to saue them or to haue benefited the elect Heb. 2. 12. 16. Angels any otherwise then by confirming them hee would haue taken their nature vpon him Q. But why then is it said that God by Christ doth reconcile all things vnto himselfe whether in earth or heauen Coloss 1. 20. A. By things in heauen is there to be vnderstood not the Angels but the Saints then in heauen For although God did elect the Angels to eternal glory yet Christ did not redeeme them but onely the seed of Heb. 2. 16. Abraham Q. Hitherto of the person and natures of our Sauiour Christ is there any such great necessity that Christians should be grounded in the truth of this doctrine A. Yea else Satan would neuer haue laboured as he hath done to corrupt and depraue the same by raising vp so many damnable heresies about the same Q. Why what heresies hath hee raised vp about this point A. The heresie first of Macedonius and the Valentinians who maintained that Christ brought with him out of heauen a heauenly body Secondly of Apelles that held hee had an aëriall bodie and that hee passed through the Virgin onely as water through a pipe Thirdly of the Manichies who made him to haue onely an imaginarie body Fourthly of Apollinaris who denied that Christ had a reasonable soule and who held that his Diuinitie was in stead of a soule Fifthly of Eunomions who affirmed that Christ was a meere man and the Sonne of God onely by adoption Sixthly of Ebion who held that Christ was
borne of the seed of man Seuenthly of Nestorius who taught that as there was two natures in Christ so also there was two persons Eighthly of Eutiches that held that the humane nature after the vnion with the Diuine did partake of the properties of the Diuine Neare vnto which is the errour of the Vbiquitaries which attribute to the humanitie of Christ certaine essentiall properties of the Diuinitie viz. presence in all places c. CHAP. 29. Of the Office of Christ The Office of Christ is his mediatorship wherin is to be considered First That hee is the onely Mediatour Secōdly His Calling thereunto Faithfull discharge therof The parts thereof 1. TIM chap. 2. vers 5. For there is one God and one Mediator betweene God and men the man Christ Iesus Q. HItherto of the Person of our Sauiour Christ What is his office A. To be the onely Mediator betweene God and a sinner for the pardon of his sinne and life euerlasting 1. Tim. 2. 5. Q. Could not this be effected without Mediation A. No verily Q. Is Christ Iesus the onely Mediator betweene God and a sinner A. Yea verily as appeareth expressely by the text Q. How pooue you it otherwise A. First there is but one God and therefore but one Mediator as the text also affirmeth Secondly he onely is fit to be Mediator that partaketh of both their natures that are to bee reconciled and consequently hee onely that is both God and man Thirdly this was shadowed by the types of Moses who alone was in the mountaine and of Aaron or the high Priest who onely might enter in the holy of Holies Exod. 24. 2. Leuit. 16. 17. Heb. 9. 7. Fourthly this is set forth by diuers similitudes as where he saith a Ioh. 10. 9. 10. I am the way I am the doore Also hee is the b Gen. 28. 12. ladder whereby the Angels ascend and descend Fifthly hee onely c Heb. 7. 25. 9. 14. 1. Sam. 2. 25. is able to effect their saluation fully a that come vnto him Q. Then no man that is a man onely can bee Mediator betweene God and man Q. No verily for as Ely saith If one man sin against another the Iudge shall iudge him but if a man sin against the Lord who shall entreat for him viz. when one man shall offend against another the matter may be accorded by Iudges which are but men but if a man offend against God there is no meere man can make his peace Q. Is Christ then Mediator in respect of both natures A. Yea in respect of both ioyntly first because though he consist of two distinct natures Diuine and Humane yet hee is God and man onely in one and the same person Secondly because he that is our Mediator is a priest after the order of Melchizedeck without father and without mother which could not bee said if he were Mediator either in respect of his Diuine nature alone or of his Humane Thirdly seeing hee is by his office to reconcile God to man and man to God both natures ioyntly are necessarie to this worke hee hauing by that meanes affinity to both Fourthly the workes of his Mediation being of such an infinite price and value as they are with God they must needs bee the workes both of God and man Fifthly none could satisfie God for the sins of men but God and none ought to satisfie for them but man Therefore Christ that hath by his Mediation effected this being both God and man in one person is in and according vnto both those natures conioyned a Mediator betweene God and man Q. VVas hee not then a Mediator before hee became man A. Yes for though at the first hee had not actually taken our nature vpon him yet with God things to come being as if they were present or past he was in Heb. 13. 8. 1. Pet. 1. 20. Apoc. 13. 8. the eye and knowledge of God and in his acceptance as if hee had been from the beginning both God and man actually Hence hee is said to be a Lambe slaine from the beginning of the world Q. Wherein consists the office of his mediation A. In the performance of those workes whereby Rom. 8. 33. 34. 5. 1. 10. God is reconciled to sinners Whereupon dependeth the whole merit of their saluation Q. What are we more specially to consider in the mediation of Christ A. First his calling thereunto and his faithfull discharge thereof Secondly the parts Q. Who called him vnto this office A. a Esay 42. 1. 6. Heb. 5. 4. 5. 6. God Q. What learne you from hence A. Matter of great comfort vnto vs in that hee thrust not himselfe into this office but entred vpon the same by the will and appointment of God wherby wee may bee the more assured of the good will of God to saue vs seeing his Sonne hath performed nothing herein but what hee did being called thereunto by him and therefore he will certainly accept of all that hee hath done for vs as that which himselfe hath ordained Q. How did God call him thereunto A. By annointing him with an especiall oyntment By meanes whereof he is called * Of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to annoynt CHRIST which signifieth one annointed Which was a a 1. Sam. 24. 7. 2. Sam. 1. 14. Psal 105. 15. name also common to them that were types of any part of his Mediator-ship who also were annointed though not with the same oyntment Q. What was the oyntment wherewith hee was annointed A. The Spirit of God which was powred vpon Psal 45. 7. 8. Esay 61. 1. him without measure Q. VVherein consists his faithfull discharge of his calling A. In this that hee hath left nothing vndone that may be effectuall for our reconciliation with God in which respect he is compared with Moses who is said Heb 3. to be faithfull in all the house of God CHAP. 30. Of the parts of Christs mediation and in speciall of his Propheticall office The parts of Christs Mediation are First his Propheticall office Priesthood Chap. 29. Secondly his Kingdome HEBR. chap. 3. vers 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 7. Wherefore as the holy Ghost saith Today if ye will heare his voice 8. Harden not your hearts as in the prouocation in the day of tentation in the wildernesse 9. When your fathers tempted mee proued mee and saw my workes fortie yeeres 10. Wherfore I was griened with that generation and said They doe alway erre in their hearts they haue not knowne my waies 11. So I sware in my wrath they shall not enter into my rest 12. Take heede brethren lest there be in any of you an euill heart of vnbeliefe in departing from the liuing God 13. But exhort one another daily while it is called To day lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne Q. HOw many parts are there of his Mediation A. Two first his Propheticall office and his