faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me 3. His Service of love is commended from the lowness of the wager and price which he is to have for his Service and love Was man a crown and wager for Christ to work and to run for that he might win it how great a disproportion is there betwixt the Service and the Wages Can poor polluted nothings such as we are be a price for such Love for such Service for such transcendent infinite Love and yet such was the wager for which he served Joh. 13.1 Having loved his own which were in the world he loved them unto the end Joh. 17.19 And for their sakes I sanctifie my self that they also might be sanctified through the truth 4. His Service is commended from the largeness of his design of Love through which he did drive the serving of this Service that God the Son of God did drive this piece of Service through so deep and broad and long a design of transcendent love from everlasting to everlasting through so many decrees which at last could produce nothing in the result but this price To have his poor people engaged to him by a Covenant whereas we might think a lower design might compass sinners and a less price might buy poor man Jer. 31.3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me saying Yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee 1 Joh. 3.1 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 Eph. 3.18 19 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 5. His Service is commended for his performing of it and doing his work so long before he was to reap that low price of all the travel of his Soul to wit the enjoyment of his people Isa 53.11 He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied He served long ago for that wager which is not not yet payed to him and he knew when he served that Service that he should lie so long out of a great part of his satisfaction Joh. 17.20 Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word Vse 2. This Covenant-relation speaks sad things to them who will not serve Christ 1. Wo to them that will not serve him who refuse a consent of their Service to him who made himself a Servant for our sake Luk. 19.14 But his citizens hated him and sent a message after him saying We will not have this man to reign over us Psal 2.3 Let us break their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us We love to be Lords over our own liberty and wills and to break his bands 2. Wo to them that think shame to serve him there is a generation that think it is below them to serve Christ they judg his Service is not honourable though he was not ashamed to serve us Luk. 22.27 For whether is greater he that sitteth at meat or he that serveth is not he that sitteth at meat but I am among you as he that serveth 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 And though it be no shame but honourable to serve him Psal 116.16 O Lord truly I am thy servant I am thy servant and the Son of thine hand-maid thou hast loosed my bonds Psal 84.10 For a day in thy courts is better then a thousand I had rather be a dore-keeper in the house of my God then to dwell in the-tents of wickedness Ifa 58.13 And call the sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine own ways nor finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words 3. Wo to them that pretend to serve him and do nothing but Eye-service in his work though he was real and cordial in serving our Interest for his Soul travelled in the business but the spirits of such act nothing in his Service Eph. 6.6 Not with Eye-service as men-pleasers but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart Isa 29.13 Wherefore the Lord said Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth and with their lips do honour me but hath removed their heart from me and their fear toward me is taught by the precepts of men c. O Consider with your selves 1. What pride there is in refusing to serve him whose Service is so honourable an employment that it is not below the Kings of the Earth to bring their Glory unto Christ and to bow before him Psal 2.10 11 12 Be wise now therefore O ye kings be instructed ye judges of the earth Servo the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little Psal 54. throughout Who would not bow to him who shall break them all that will not bow unto him Isa 60.12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish yea those nations shall be utterly wasted Psal 2.9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potters vessel Psal 110.5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath 2. Consider what huge and monstrous ingratitude and unkindness it is not to serve him who hath voluntarily humbled himself to serve us who though he was our maker Heb. 1.2 3 yet made himself of no reputation for our advancement Phil. 2.7 Consider how he hath commended his Service unto us and be ashamed not to be found among his servants and followers See more of this Chap. 18. Vse 3. Exhortation 1. Consider and know what he hath done in this Covenant-relation after he hath served this Service and done all that was incumbent to him in this relation he may put the question to us which sometimes he put to his Disciples Joh. 13.12 Know ye what I have done to you 't is a pity that his Service is so little known and taken notice of among his own people for whom he hath done this Service 't is a pity that it should be met with doubtings whether he hath done Service for us or denials of our interest in it which occasion diminutive thoughts and expressions of it 2. Consider how ill Christ was used in this relation that you may be broken for it he was smitten by both the parties It pleased the Lord to bruise him Isa 53.10 Rom. 8.32 He spared not his own Son Zech. 13.7 Awake O sword against my shepherd and against the man that
53.5 But he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed 3. You are in his Debt for the fair acquittance and discharge which he hath obtained and received for you when he was justified in the spirit 1 Tim. 3.16 Rom. 4.25 And for his reporting of that unto you Luk. 7.48 And he said unto her Thy sins are forgiven And giving you an extract of it in your bosome to bear about with you and helping you to read it Eph. 1.13 In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise Isa 50.8 He is near that justifieth me who will contend with me let us stand together who is mine adversary let him come near to me Rom. 8.33 34 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us 4. You are in his Debt for all that he hath wrought in you from the time that first he bowed your will to believe unto this day for every piece of your obedience for all you fruit for every duty performed by you for all the influences of his spirit upon you c. you owed all these to Christs Suretiship Phil. 2.13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Rom. 9.16 So then it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy Hos 14.8 I am like a green fir-tree from me is thy fruit found Phil. 1.11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Christ Jesus unto the glory and praise of God Joh. 15.4 5 Abide in me and I in you as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the vine no more can ye except ye abide in me I am the vine ye are the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing 1 Cor. 15.10 But by the grace of God I am what I am and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain but I laboured more abundantly then they all yet not I but the grace of God which was with me Jer. 30.21 And I will cause him to draw near and he shall approach unto me for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me saith the Lord 3. Believers learn to deal with God in all things pertaining to his Covenant as having a cautioner whether you be under any doubtsulness about the promises or in any difficulty and perplexity about the commands and duties of the Covenant Let your dealing in these things declare that there is a Surety and this doth call for 1. More confidence and boldness 1. In your dealings with God and applications to him you need not flee from his face and presence as from a hard master since there is a Surety in the Covenant and he is content to take of his hand what you cannot afford when you are ashamed to be seen in his presence and cannot be seen where God is do but present Christ in your place and room present a Surety and he is satisfied Heb. 9.24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true but into heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us Present him to God and come to God through him and command him in a manner ask and have all your will Isa 45.11 Thus saith the Lord the holy one of Israel and his maker Ask me of things to come concerning my sons and concerning the work of my hands command ye me 2. In your dealings with Christ come unto him as unto a person already engaged for you as unto a Surety who hath already come under an act of cautionry for his people and consequently as unto one whose honour lieth at the stake for a performance of all things whatsoever are contained in the Covenant and do not come unto him and make use of him with doubtsulness whether he will do for you and work in you these things for which he stands already engaged by his Suretiship Heb. 10.19 22 Having therefore brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water Heb. 4.14 16 Seeing then that we have a great High-priest that is passed into the heavens let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need 3. In your dealings with your duty and with the Law which commandeth it you are not to flee the command as the divour Debtor fleeth the face of his Creditor as these which are not Law-biding but you are now through the Suretiship of Christ to welcom every command and charge of the Law as being in some near capacity to speak with it and to give it some satisfying answer Psal 119.97 O how love I thy law Isa 60.17 I will also make thine officers peace and thine exactors righteousness 2. This doth also call for more quietness of mind in you you are often disquietted anxiously that you do not reap the fruit of Covenant-promises and that Gospel-commands do not find that obedience in you which is acknowledged to be due unto them you have covenanted obedience to the Gospel and you are as an unjust Debtor through the non-performance of your Covenant and promises and this is your affliction and makes you walk in heaviness every day I say that Christs Suretiship doth call for quieting your minds and to lay more weight upon his free undertakings and less upon your own slippery performances be it spoken without giving any colour to slack your hand in the best and utmost endeavours after duty 1. Because what obedience the Gospel hath not yet had in you it shall have since he is engaged for it Psal 138. last The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me thy mercy O Lord endureth for ever forsake not the works of thine own hands Isa 26.12 Lord thou wilt ordain peace for us for thou also hast wrought all our works in us 2. What the Law and Gospel cannot find in you they shall have in him and 't is enough if it be sound either in the Surety or the Debtor Rom. 10.4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth Rom. 8.3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh Gal. 4.4 5 But when the fulness of the time
the word but how for salvation that is in them but the believer finds something in them better than Salvation Joh. 6.68 Then Simon Peter answered him Lord to whom shall we go thou hast the words of eternal life Psal 73.25 26 Whom have I in heaven but thee and there in none upon earth that I desire besides thee My heart and my flesh faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever 4. Since God giveth Christ for all the Covenant be you perswaded to take him for all and to make use of him for all 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 1. To fulfil all the promises of the Covenant to you for in him they are yea and in him they are all Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 2. To fulfil and perform the condition of the Covenant in you to determine your wills to believe Joh. 6.37 All that the father giveth me shall come to me Song 1.4 Draw me we will run after thee Joh. 12.32 And I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me 3. To perform the duties in you which the Covenant requireth of you Phil. 4.13 Joh. 15.5 Eph 2.10 Vse 6. For comfort and encouragement to believers 1. Comfort your selves in the bargain which you have made upon this ground Christ is in the Covenant yea he is given for a Covenant of the people and therefore all shall be well and all shall be sure and firm Isa 22.23 And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place and he shall be for a glorious throne to his fathers house Zech. 10.4 Out of him came forth the corner out of him the nails Isa 3.10 Say ye to the righteous that it shall be well with him for they shall eat the fruit of their doings Comfort your selves 1. Against your being short of other men in worldly-injoyments Christ is given you for a Covenant but not unto them O wonder at it and be comforted with him who said Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self to us and not unto the world You can own Christ they cannot Psal 67.6 And God even our own God shall bless us Psal 73.26 My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever 2. Comfort your selves against all snares dangers tentations and storms that can blow against you in your way to heaven Christ is in the Covenant and that shall be your safety as the disciples were safe at sea against greatest tempests because Christ was in the ship with them Mat. 8.13 to 28. Consider he is imbarked with you and shall bring you to land 1 Joh. 4.4 Ye are of God little children and have overcome them because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world 3. Comfort your selves against all your wants and weaknesses and all the miseries of your present condition Christ is given for a Covenant of the people and though you be foolish he is wise 1 Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom Though you be weak he is strong Psal 89.19 I have laid help upon one that is mighty Mat. 12.29 Or else how can one enter into a strong mans house and spoil his goods except he first bind the strong man and then he will spoil his house Though you be faithless he is faithful 2 Tim. 2.13 If we believe not yet he abideth faithful he cannot deny himself Though you be nothing Christ is all Col. 3.11 Whatsoever is wanting in you is abounding in him and if you abuse not the grace of Christ by turning it into wantonness it is all one if it be betwixt you it s as good and much better it be in him than in you for if he be given to you all comes with him 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 2. Believers in Christ you who have received him who was given for a Covenant of the people take courage and boldness to God-ward in all that you have to do with him For 1. Having received Christ for a Covenant of the people you may pray and deal confidently with God as though Christ did beseech God by you Isa 45.11 Thus saith the Lord the holy one of Israel and his maker Ask me of things to come concerning my Sons and concerning the work of my hands command ye me 2. You have gotten Christ and therefore nothing shall be denied you 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 3. You have received more than you know of Joh. 14.4 5 20 And whither I go ye know and the way you know Thomas saith unto him Lord we know not whither thou goest and how can we know the way at that day ye shall know that I am in my father and you in me and I in you You have all the Covenant if you have him 4. You have received more than you want a greater thing than ever you shall be capable to need or want hereafter for how great soever your wants be you cannot conceive them to be so great as Christ who is given to you Phil. 4.19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus 2 Cor. 9.8 And God is able to make all grace abound towards you that ye always having all sufficiency in all things may abound to every good work FINIS Books Printed for and are to be sold by Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside SERMONS on the whole Epistle of Saint Paul to the Colossians by Mr. J. Daille translated into English by F. S. with Dr. Tho. Goodwin's and Dr. Joh. Owens Epistles Recommendatory A practical Exposition on the 3d Chapter of the first Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians with the Godly mans choice on Psalm 4. v. 6 7 8. by Anthony Burgess An Exposition of Christs Temptation on Mat. 4. and Peters Sermon to Cornelius and circumspect walking By Dr. Tho. Taylor Dr. Donns 4to Sermons being his 3 Volumes Pareus Exposition on the Revelations Choice and practical Expositions on 4 select Psalms viz. The fourth Psalm in eight The forty second Psalm in ten The fifty first Psalm in twenty The sixty third Psalm in seven Sermons By Tho. Horton D. D. Books 4to The Door of Salvation opened by the Key of Regeneration by George Swinnock M. A. An Antidote against Quakerism by Steph. Scandret An Exposition on the five first Chapters of Ezekiel by William Greenhil The Gospel-Covenant opened by Pet. Bulkley Gods holy-Mind touching matters moral which he uttered in ten Commandments Also an Exposition on the Lords Prayer by Edward Eston B. D. The Fiery-Jesuit or an Historical-Collection of the rise encrease doctrines and deeds of the Jesuits Horologiographia optica Dyalling universal and particular by Sylvanus Morgan A seasonable Apology for Religion by Matthew Pool Separation no Schism in answer to a Sermon preached before the Lord Mayor by J. S. The practical Divinity of the Papists discovered to be destructive to true Religion and Mens souls by J. Clarkson An Exercitation on a question in Divinity and Case of Conscience viz. Whether it be lawful for any person to act contrary to the Opinion of his own Conscience Certain considerations tending to promote Peace and Unity amongst Protestants The Saints triumph over the last enemy in a Sermon at the Funeral of Mr. James Janeway by Nath. Vincent The Morning Lecture against Popery preached by several Ministers of the Gospel in or near London Doctor Wilds Letter of Thanks and Poems A new Copy-Book of all sorts of useful hands The Saints priviledg by dying by Mr. Scot. The new World or new-reformed Church by Doctor Homes The Intercourse of Divine Love between Christ and the Church or the particular Believing soul in several Lectures on the whole second Chap. of Canticles by Joh. Collins D. D. Large 8vo Heart-Treasure or a Treatise tending to fill and furnish the head and heart of every Christian with Soul-inriching treasure of truths graces experiences and comforts The sure mercies of David or a second part of Heart-treasure Closet-prayer a Christians duty all three by O. Heywood A practical discourse of Prayer wherein is handled the nature and duty of Prayer by Tho. Cobbet Of quenching the Spirit the evil of it in respect both of its causes and effects discovered by Theophilus Polwheile Heaven and Hell in a Good or Bad Conscience by Nath. Vincent The re-building of London encouraged and improved in several meditations by Samuel Rolls The Sure way to Salvation or a Treatise of the Saints mystical Union with Christ by Richard Stedman M. A. Sober Singularity by the same Author Heaven taken by Storm
take it again this Commandment received I of my Father Phil. 2.6.8 Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross 2. There was no natural uecessity such as that of the Sun to give light and the fire heat sure there was no such necessity of God's sending of Christ God did not by any natural necessity send forth Christ nor was the Son of God under any natural necessity to undertake the work of our Redemption for God might have done otherwise he might in Justice have prosecuted the Covenant of works yea there was no kind of necessity upon God to send or upon Christ to go this errand abstracting from his own Decrees and the purpose of his Will Eph. 1.5 6 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of Children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will to the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved Rom. 9.20 21 Nay but O man who art thou that replyest against God shall the thing formed say to him that formed it why hast thou formed me thus Hath not the potter power over the clay of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour and another unto dishonour 3. There was no moral necessity not so much as any command motive or inducement without himself either upon God to lay this employment upon Christ or upon Christ to take it upon him and to undergo the work for God might have sent his Son or not sent him as pleased him there was not so much as a moral cause inducing him to it Joh. 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life Rom. 5.6 8 For when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly But God commendeth his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us And Christ might have refused to undertake the work or he might have agreed as pleased him for who could have laid a command upon him if the design of love that was in his heart had not acted him to a consent Phil. 2.6 8 Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself unto death even the death of the Cross It rests therefore that all these offices employments trusts authorities and Covenant-relations that Christ did bear were undertaken and undergone by his own free consent and if they were by his free consent this consent was either his own motion without the consent and agreement of Jehovah concurring in councel with him for the carrying on the work of our Redemption or this was transacted and done in the counsel of God by the knowledg will consent and agreement of God with Christ Now the Scripture is plain and express that all the offices trusts authorities employments and Covenant-relations which Christ did bear were not usurped were not taken upon him without divine ordination and appointment without his Father's consent and command but that he was designed chosen and called thereunto See Prov. 8.23 I was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the earth was Joh. 5.22 For the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment unto the Son Isa 42.1 6 Behold my servant whom I uphold I the Lord have called thee in righteousness And 49.1 3 The Lord hath called me from the womb from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name Thou art my servant O Israel in whom I will be glorified Heb. 5.5 6 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 Act. 3.26 Vnto you first God having raised up his Son Jesus sent him to bless you in turning away every one from his iniquities Psal 40.6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire mine ears hast thou opened burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required c. I conclude therefore that all these offices trusts powers and Covenant-relations which Christ did bear being upon him by mutual agreement and consent betwixt Jehovah and Christ all and every one of them doth prove a Compact and Covenant betwixt Jehovah and Christ He who desireth more proofs of this Covenant and to have further light therein let him read Jo. Cocc Summa doctrinae de foedere ch 5. and Mr. Rutherf Treat of the Covenant Part 2. ch 6. And Fr. Robert's Gods Covenants with Man Book 2. ch 2. Sect. 3. Now that this Covenant betwixt Jehovah and Christ was the foundation of the Covenant made with us may be evinced by these particulars 1. If this Covenant of Suretiship had not been concluded betwixt Jehovah and Christ there could never have been any Covenant-dealing with us upon terms of Grace for suppose this Covenant had not been the Lord should then have prosecuted the Covenant of works and followed a course of Justice against all Mankind the dore should have been shut for ever against all condescensions and all Gospel ways of Grace Therefore we find the Apostle reckons the change of Law-dispensation and life by the tenor of the Covenant of works into a new way of Grace to have its foundation original and rise from Gods gracious eternal transaction with Christ 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 2. God's Covenant-dealing with us upon the terms of Grace is nothing else but the execution of that which was from eternity decreed transacted and concluded by God's Compact with Christ and therefore the Covenant of Suretiship must needs be the foundation of the Covenant with us even as all Decrees and Laws are the foundation of the execution following thereupon this will appear more fully and clearly when we come to speak of the tenor of the Covenant of Redemption and the things therein transacted at present this may suffice 1. That whatsoever Covenant-favour and Grace is tendered to us by the Gospel-Covenant and effectually applyed unto us by the Spirit of the Lord that was promised to Christ and to us in him yea and plighted in him for our account by the Covenant made betwixt Jehovah and him as appears from the Scripture before-mentioned 2 Tim. 1.9 According to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ before the world began with Tit. 1.2 In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lye promised before the world began 2. Whatsoever Covenant-Conditions of one kind or
glory and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created Whereas natural necessity excludes freedom both in the principle of action and the act it self Having now shewed what kind of necessity there was for the being of the Covenant of Redemption betwixt God and Christ and that the necessity does mainly respect the final cause and ends which God had purposed in himself Let us in the next place consider particularly to what intents and purposes it was necessary that God should enter into a Covenant of Suretiship and Redemption with his own Son Christ These intents and purposes may be reduced to two chief heads supposing that God had purposed in himself to glorifie his mercy and Justice in procuring our Salvation the Covenant of Suretiship and Redemption was necessary for both these ends and purposes 1. For the honour of God 2. For the salvation and good of his chosen people both which were attained through the Covenant made betwixt God and Christ 1. For the honour and glory of God I mean the declarative glory of God that shines ad extra or the manifestation of his glory as the same is shewed forth and manifested in his dealings with the Creatures whereof see Psal 19.1 The heavens declare the glory of God Exod. 15.11 Who is like unto thee O Lord amongst the Gods who is like thee glorious in holiness fearful in praises doing wonders Not his essential glory that shines ad intra whereby he was infinitely and eternally glorious before any the works of Creation and Providence and should have been glorious eternally though these had never been Prov. 8.22 30 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way before his works of old Then I was by him as one brought up with him and I was daily his delight rejoycing always before him I say the being of this Covenant of Redemption was necessary for the declarative glory of God whether we consider God essentially or personally 1. For the glory of God considered essentially or in regard of his glorious nature and essence or his natural essential attributes I mean his wisdom goodness justice mercy faithfulness c. And that 1. For glorifying these universally even all and every one of his attributes all which received a new and glorious lustre through the Covenant of Redemption and God's sending of Christ to do that work which should never have been known nor manifested on Earth nor in Heaven but in the face of Jesus Christ and by virtue of God's Covenant-dealings with him about our Redemption therefore saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 4.6 For God who commanded light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ Therefore also Christ is called the brightness of his glory Heb. 1.3 Christ Mediator is the brightness of the glory of God in and through whom his glorious attributes and nature was made conspicuous and the declarative glory thereof had a more glorious lustre than by all the works of Creation and Providence beside upon the same account also Christ is called the Image of the invisible God Col. 1.15 because the glorious excellencies of God otherwise invisible are gloriously revealed by him and to be seen in him I pass this here in a word referring a more particular consideration thereof to that part of this subject-matter that concerns the Mediator's person and office 2. For the glorifying of these harmoniously that the harmony of attributes in God might be manifested in this transaction to wit how sweetly mercy justice did meet when peace and righteousness Law-demands and Gospel-condescentions Law-severity and Gospel-lenity did meet together and were made friends by this Covenant Psal 85.10.11 Mercy and truth are met together righteousness and peace have kissed each other c. For by this means God brought forth to heaven and earth and all the Creatures the glorious harmony of Justice Truth Mercy Power Wisdom Grace Rev. 5.12 13 Saying with a loud voice worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and wisdom and riches and strength and honour and glory and blessing And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea and all that are in them heard I saying Blessing honour glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the lamb for ever and ever 2. This Covenant of Redemption was necessary for the glory of God considered personally and that 1. In regard of the distinct subsistences and glorious persons of the blessed Trinity 2. In regard of the distinct offices of the three persons all which were gloriously manifested in God's Covenant-dealings with Christ I say the greatest declarative glory and clearest manifestation of the distinct subsistences and Persons of the Godhead and of the distinct offices of these Persons in the ever-glorious and blessed Trinity that ever the world saw or heard of was in God's Covenant-dealings with Christ about the work of our Redemption for where are there any such clear discoveries of these great mysteries to be found as in God's foederal dealings with Christ and the Scriptures which reveal the same God was but darkly known in the distinct subsistences and offices of the Persons of the Trinity till this light of his Covenant with Christ did break forth but in Gods sending his Son and the Son 's undertaking and offering himself willingly to his Father to do this work and the Holy Ghost's exercising the power of the Godhead fitting and enabling him the man Christ Jesus to do the work there was a glorious manifestation of the distinction of Persons in the Godhead and of the offices of these Persons whereof also more particularly afterward See Isa 42.1 Behold my servant whom I uphold mine elect in whom my soul delighteth I have put my spirit upon him he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God And 10.7 Then said I Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will O God Psal 2.7 8 I will declare the decree the Lord hath said unto me Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession Joh. 14.26 But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you Mal. 3.16 17 And he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him And lo a voice from heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased and such like
Scriptures Yea so much was the Covenant betwixt God and Christ about our Redemption for the glory of God even considered personally that thereby beside the glory that was common to all the three Persons there did accrue a peculiar glory to the distinct Persons of the Godhead in regard of their distinct offices and working in this business of Redemption a peculiar glory to the Father who gave Christ and who sent him upon this business and blessed us in him even a peculiar honour to the Father from the Lord Mediator and Redeemer Joh. 8.49 But I honour my Father saith Christ and a peculiar honour to the Father from the ransomed and redeemed People 1 Pet. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again into a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead A peculiar honour to the Son to Christ the Lord Mediator and that both upon earth and in heaven a peculiar glory to the Lamb that wrought the Redemption unto which his Father appointed him Joh. 5.22 23 For the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father which the Son claimeth Joh. 17.1 4 These words spoke Jesus and lift up his eyes to heaven and said Father the hour is come glorifie thy Son that thy Son also may glorifie thee I have glorified thee on the earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do And which is payed to him in heaven Rev. 7.10 Saying Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne and to the Lamb. And 5.9 And they sing a new song saying thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation A peculiar glory unto the eternal Spirit by whom the Son of God offered himself without spot to God Heb. 9.14 and to whom the effectual application of the purchased Redemption by peculiar office belongs 1 Cor. 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God Joh. 6.63 It is the spirit that quickeneth Gal. 4.6 And because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba father 2. The good of the ransomed and redeemed people required that their Redemption should be transacted in a Covenant betwixt God and Christ and to this intent and for this end it was necessary 1. To introduce and usher in the new way of life thorow the Gospel-dispensation which could never have come to light nor have appeared upon the stage to act any thing if God had not by his eternal transactions with Christ in whom he found a ransome made way for the taking down the transient-time-dispensation of Law and Works which was only to continue and stand a Court of righteousness for a short space and so opened a door for free Grace to take the Theatre and to act its part more nobly than the Law-dispensation that was first upon the stage And this I say was ushered in and it was necessary that way should be made for it by God's Covenant-dealings with Christ in whom his Justice had a satisfaction else the Law-dispensation of Works and Nature had kept the Stage for ever and there had been no Court wherein Grace sits upon the throne and wherein Sinners might plead righteousness and life on Gospel-terms Christ's saying from eternity Lo I come to do thy will O God Psal 40.6 And deliver him from going down to the pit I have found a ransom Job 33.24 Which words are upon the matter and originally true of Christ's dealings with his Father Jo. Cocc Dâ— foed c. 5. Sect. 88. and by some Expositors applyed to him This I say ushered in and made way for the Gospel-dispensation of a Covenant of free Grace Hence it is that the Apostle states the rise of life and immortality that is brought to light by the Gospel upon the eternal foederal dealings that were betwixt God and Christ 2 Tim. 1.9 10 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ before the world began But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel Rom. 8.3 4 For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh 2. The Covenant of Redemption betwixt God and Christ was necessary for our good that the Covenant of life and righteousness to us in the way of this Gospel-dispensation might be pure soveraign Grace Now the more of Grace and God's gracious will and heart is in the business and the less of the Creatures will and acting the better for us the sweeter and the surer is the Covenant But here all is of the Lord and of his gracious will all is transacted betwixt God and Christ and man is not so much is present at the first transaction of the Covenant as he was at the Covenant of works here he is neither at the beginning nor end of it I mean that end which it had in God's foederal dealings with Christ where the Redemption and Salvation of the elect was a concluded business and the conclusion tarried not nor was suspended for man's consent sure this was pure Grace this was all Grace eminent Grace when there was nothing of the Creature no not so much as acting in a vital formal manner as now we act under the application of this Covenant by these gracious acts which are efficiently from God but there all was the gracious free will of God without any thing of the Creatures will surely that was eminent signal Grace and the better for us 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began Eph. 2.10 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them Eph. 1.4 5 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love Having predestinated us unto the Adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will 3. A Covenant betwixt God and Christ about our Salvation and Redemption was necessary that the business of our Salvation might be far advanced ere it come to our working at it with fear
he well knew that it would be a wretched hopeless condition for man to provide a Physitian to himself and to have him to seek when his sickness should be desparate he therefore by a foresight and providence of pure soveraign free transcendent Grace did provide one and indeed it was necessary for our good that it should be so for had man fallen sick of sin before this Covenant for sending a healer to him he had died ere the cure could come 8. This Covenant was necessary for cutting off all matter and occasion of self-gloriation from man in his own Redemption and Salvation for if the business of our Redemption and Salvation was transacted concluded done and ended betwixt Jehovah and Christ without our knowledg or consent before we had a Being what have we to boast of If the agreement ahout the price to be payed and accepted tarried not for man wherein can we glory that we have contributed to our own happiness 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began Eph. 2.10 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them 1 Joh. 4.10 19 Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins We love him because he first loved us CHAP. III. Of the Nature Properties and Parties of the Covenant of Redemption THE general Nature of this Covenant is common to it with all other Covenants whatsoever different peculiarity they have this is essential and common to all Covenants they are Agreements and this is an eternal transaction and agreement betwixt Jehovah and the Mediator Christ about the work of our Redemption The peculiar propriety of its nature will appear by enquiring a little into 1. The various eternal acts of the will of God that concurred to make up this agreement 2. The distinction and order of these eternal acts of his will and the right manner of our conceiving of them 1. Supposing as we have said before that God purposed in himself not to save man without a satisfaction to his Justice These eternal acts of the will of God or rather the things which we conceive under these various acts and their denominations among men for we need to multiply acts in this matter but for the helping our own understanding did concur and meet together in this agreement 1. The designation of a Person to do this work there must needs have been a Person set apart and designed from eternity unto the doing of the work of Redemption and this Person was the Son only not the Father not the Spirit 1 Pet. 1.20 Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for you 2. The preparation and fitting of the Person set apart to take our Law-place and room that Justice might smite him in our stead which also was by an eternal act of the will of God decreed that the Son of God should be Immanuel God with us or God made manifest in the flesh Isa 7.14 1 Tim. 3.16 and unto this incarnation of the Son of God his own words have reference as unto the grand qualification whereby he was destinated before-hand that he might be in a capacity to do this work Heb. 10.5 A body hast thou prepared me 3. The calling of the Person designed calling is an act different from designation 't is something further Christ was by an eternal act of God's will called to this work and that long before he came into the world Psal 89.19 Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy One and saidst I have laid help upon one that is mighty I have exalted one chosen out of the people And Isa 42.6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness and will hold thine hand and will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant of the people for a light of the Gentiles Heb. 5.5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest but he that said unto him Thou art my Son to day have I begotten thee 4. The investing of the Person designed with offices powers and authorities for the doing of this work such as his Mediatory-office and the powers and authorities thereunto belonging which was not suspended until the time of his actual discharge of the offices of King Priest and Prophet but by an eternal act of the will of God he was set up and vested with these offices and powers from everlasting and had the glory of the designed called invested Mediator as he plainly insinuates Prov. 8.23 I was set up from everlasting saith Wisdom several Expositors render it I was called or I was annointed Joh. 17.5 And now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was 5. The mission of the Son Christ designed sitted called invested for this work was also by an eternal act in the counsel of God sent to do this work he had a solema eternal authoritative mission a command to go and was bidden go he had the will of God by an eternal act or commission given out to him concerning all this work long before he was actually made under the Law to which he hath respect when he saith Lo I come to do thy will O God Heb. 10.7 even that will of God that was in the book of his eternal decrees Joh. 6.39 And this is the Fathers will which hath sent me And 10.18 This Commandment have I received of my Father But in all these we do not so much multiply the distinction of acts as we take notice of the distinction and difference of Phrase used by the Holy Ghost speaking of this mysterie in the Scriptures Upon the other part there concurred unto this agreement an eternal personal consent and compliance upon Christ's part unto all these eternal acts of the will of God for Christ God equal with the Father does not begin to consent and agree unto any thing in time nor can the eternal Son of God will any thing in time which he did not will and consent unto from eternity But Christ was present with the Father and did from eternity consent and agree to these eternal acts 1. To the designation of himself to be the person that should satisfie the Justice of God he heartily acquiesced and offered himself he said Lo I come to do thy will Heb. 10.5 7. He poured out his Soul unto death Isa 53.12 2. He consented unto the putting himself in that low capacity that the working of this work required Heb. 2.7 Thou madest him a little lower than the Angels to leave the throne of glory and come down to his footstool there to be in disgrace the Lord of the Law to be made under
Father glorifie thou me with thine own self But Graciousness is attributed to the Covenant of Redemption 1. Efficiently or in regard of the efficient cause thereof the spring whence it came was Grace pure Grace and nothing else made it and gave it a being it was not only an act of will pleasure freedom and soveraignty but an act of gracious will and the good pleasure of his will that made it Eph. 1.5 Col. 1.19 2. Graciousness is attributed to this Covenant ultimately in regard that the ultimate end and scope thereof is the manifesting the glory of the richness and freeness of Grace t is a design of Grace that is driven and carried on in the Covenant of Redemption Eph. 1.6 To the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved 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 3. Graciousness is attributed to the Covenant of Redemption because Grace was in it fundamentally the whole contrivance and dispensation of Grace is bottomed upon this eternal transaction and turns upon the hinge of this Compact betwixt Jehovah and Christ therefore all the mercies and faithfulness of the Lord that we are made to sing of within time are laid upon this foundation Psal 89.1 2 3 I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations For I have said mercy shall be built up for ever thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens I have made a Covenant with my chosen 4. Graciousness may be attributed to the Covenant of Redemption because Grace was here originally for here the first draughts of pure soveraign free Grace and the unsearchable riches thereof were drawn and portrayed here is fountain-Grace and from thence came the streams here were the beginnings of that noble design of Grace laid and from hence did they come forth Col. 1.26 27 Even the mysterie which had been hid from ages and from generations but now is made manifest to his Saints To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mysterie among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory 5. Graciousness is attributed to the Covenant of Redemption because Grace is here comprehensively even all that God hath been driving and acting upon the spirits of his people by the Gospel-covenant and Ordinances thereof and the work of his Spirit since the beginning of the world and all that he shall do until the day that the ransomed and redeemed company be perfected even the whole plot of Grace is all comprised in this eternal transaction with Christ and to it are we led as the comprehension of all Covenant-grace and mercy Isa 55.3 Incline your ear and come unto me hear and your soul shall live and I will make with you an everlasting Covenant even the sure mercies of David 6. Graciousness is attributed to this Covenant because Grace is here eminently and indeed if the comparison might be fitly made pure Gospel free Grace is more in the Covenant of Redemption than in the Covenant of Reconciliation for 't is in the Covenant of Redemption principally as water is in the fountain and in the Covenant of Reconciliation by participation and consequentially because God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself by that Covenant therefore he is now in Christ reconciling the world to himself by this Covenant of reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 20 21 God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trospasses unto them and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation Now then we are ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled unto God for he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be the righteousness of God in him 7. Graciousness is attributed to the Covenant of Redemption because Grace was therein exemplarily for hereby God did act Grace in Christ and made him a Samplar and the first copy of free Grace to all his brethren seed and heirs that they might share with him upon whom the first acts of eternal Covenant-love and Grace fell and that God might shew forth in him a pattern of Covenant-dealings and out letting of Covenant-favour and promises Psal 89.26 He shall cry unto me thou art my father my God and the rock of my salvation With Heb. 1.5 For unto which of the Angels said he at any time thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee And again I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son Gal. 4.6 And because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba father Col. 1.18 And he is the head of the body the Church who is the beginning the first-born from the dead that in all things he might have the preheminence Rom. 8.17 And if children then heirs heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together 3. Another Property of the Covenant of Redemption is Eternity For 1. Both the Parties are eternal the eternal God who is from everlasting to everlasting Deut. 33.27 and the eternal Son of God whose eternal power and Godhead Rom. 1.20 is equal with God his Father Phil. 2.6 And who shall declare his generation Isa 53.8 Joh. 1.1 2 In the beginning the word was and the word was with God and the word was God the same was in the beginning with God Rev. 1.8 I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end saith the Lord which is which was and which is to come 2. The union of the two natures in the Person of the Redeemer which was transacted in this Covenant is an eternal union I mean the humane nature which was from eternity designed unto a substantial union with God being once assumed stands in that substantial union for ever so that it is impossible that the personal union which was transacted in the Covenant of Redemption can be dissolved unto all eternity for 't is unquestionable that Christ shall stand glorified in our nature in heaven for ever for even there is a throne for the man Christ for the Lamb slain for ever Rev. 22.3 But the throne of God and of the lamb shall be in it Act. 17.31 3. The New Covenant-relations which were established betwixt Jehovah and Christ by this Covenant of Redemption are eternal relations which shall never cease 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 This Covenant-relation I say whereby God is the God and Father
every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day Joh. 14.3 And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also 2. But if ye enquire after the formal condition of the Covenant of Suretiship I say it was his whole obedience active and passive even unto death Phil. 2.8 and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross though the special principal eminent condition of this Covenant may be referred to the principal eminent last act of his obedience to that signal special command of laying down his life for the elect Joh. 10.18 No man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again this commandment have I received of my Father For 1. This Covenant being a bargain betwixt Jehovah and Christ of buying a people to God then the whole price and ransom told down and payed for them must be the formal condition of that Covenant whereby we are bought with a price 1 Cor. 6.20 1 Pet. 1.18 19 For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your Fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without spot and without blemish 2. Christ was under a special explicite command for the performance of this condition of laying down his life as is clear from Joh. 10.18 and Christ was under a special act to obey this command as himself acknowledges Heb. 10.7 Then said I lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will O my God and therefore we may well call it the special condition of the Covenant of Suretiship 3. This solemn act of obedience in offering himself a Sacrifice to death for our sins is the condition of his bond of Suretiship that is most notised by the Holy Ghost and frequently referred unto as may be gathered from Heb. 9.14 15 26 How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God And for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament that by means of death for the Redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself Rom. 8.3 God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh And therefore when we speak of the condition of the Covenant of Suretiship this is to be held the special eminent condition thereof 4. The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ states the condition of this Covenant upon this eminent solemn act of his obedience even his making his soul an offering for sin c. for-vent which he makes the great promises of his glorious reward Isa 53. throughout 5. Our Lord Jesus Christ himself does own this as the special condition of his Coovenant of Suretiship and that both at his entring into the world Heb. 10.5 7 Wherefore when he cometh into the world he saith sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not but a body hast thou prepared me Then said I lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will O God And about or at the time of his leaving the world when he had fulfilled or was about to fulfil all his undertaking and conditions to his Father Joh. 17.4 I have glorified thee on the earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do With 19.30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar he said it is finished and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost These being the sum of the conditions required from Christ See Mr. Rutherf Treat of the Covenant p. 2. ch 11. And Mr. Robert's Medul Bibl. b. 2. c. 2. and undertaken by him let us enquire also after the promises made to Christ and the encouraging-conditions that were made to him by Jehovah for undertaking so hard a work as was the redemption and recovery of lost man These were of eight sorts The first kind of promises made to Christ in the Covenant of Redemption were such as relate to the offices authorities trusts and powers that were covenanted to him for the doing of this work 1. I say Jehovah promiseth to invest Christ with offices sutable to that great work of Redemption to make him Lord Mediator of the new Covenant to make him great Lord Ambassador that he might go and travel in that business of our Redemption to make him a King a Priest and a Prophet for effecting this business Psal 110. throughout The Lord said to my Lord sit thou at my right hand he shall judge among the heathen the Lord hath sworn and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever Isa 49.6 And 42.6 7 I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles that thou mayst be my Salvation unto the ends of the earth to open the blind eyes c. Psal 2.6 7 Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion I will declare the decree the Lord said unto me c. 2. God did not only promise to invest Christ with offices and trusts but with authorities and powers also with headship and power of Judgment over Men and Angels that shall make them all bow to him Rom. 14.10.11 We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ for it is written As I live saith the Lord every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God He was not a titular King or Priest nor a scenick one a King upon a stage but a King upon a throne Luk. 1.32 33 And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his kingdom there shall be no end A King that had power to bow the hearts of his Subjects and to crush the greatest Heads and Rulers in the world that oppose him Psal 110.3.5 6 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath He shall judg among the heathen he shall fill the places with the dead bodies he shall wound the heads over many countries And 2.9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel And 45.3 4 5 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh O most mighty with thy glory and thy majesty And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness and thy right hand
and didst set him over the works of thy hands Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet for in that he put all in subjection under him he left nothing that is not put under him But now we see not yet all things put under him 7. The promises of the service of all the world and of all the creatures God promiseth and will have the services of all the creatures brought about first to Christ and then to him by Christ he hath the service of all the world promised him and indeed he payed for it for he bought it with a price the service of some as Sons to live with him and enjoy him for ever Psal 110.3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning and the service of others as slaves Psal 2.9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potters vessel And 72.9 11 They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him and his enemies shall lick the dust Yea all kings shall fall before him and all nations shall serve him The whole vessels of this great house the world whether they are vessels of honour or dishonour Men or Angels elect Men or Reprobate elect Angels or Devils yet all must be for the Master's use 2 Tim. 2.20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver but also of wood and of earth and some to honour and some to dishonour Prov. 16.4 The Lord hath made all things for himself yea even the wicked for the day of evil CHAP. V. Of the Harmony of the Covenant of Suretiship made with Christ and the Covenant of Reconciliation and Grace made with Sinners 1. Wherein they agree 2. Wherein they differ 3. What Conjunction and Connexion is betwixt these Covenants THere is a great affinity between the Covenant of Redemption made with Christ and the Covenant of Reconciliation made with Sinners but it is not the same Covenant that is made with Christ which is made with us We are therefore to take heed to two extreams That we neither confound nor divide these two Covenants There is a likeness betwixt them but not a sameness there is an union here but not an evenness there is here a distinction but not a division a conjunction but not a confusion Let us therefore look upon these two Covenants 1. As agreeing in many things yet not being the same but still to be distinguished 2. Differing in many things yet not to be divided nor separated 3. Connected and conjoyned many ways yet not to be confounded 1. The Covenants of Redemption and Reconciliation agree together beside these things that are essential and so common to all Covenants which I do not here mention in the first rise of both pure soveraign free Grace was the fountain of both hence did both these Covenants spring There was no cause reason motive nor allurement from without nor any necessity of nature within that made Jehovah upon the one part nor Christ upon the other enter into this agreement of Suretiship it was his meer good and gracious pleasure as is already proved See Eph. 1.9 Having made known unto us the mysterie of his will according to his good pleasure which he purposed in himself 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began And the same is the fountain-cause the first spring and rise of God's Covenant of Reconciliation with us it is not from any reason cause or motive in us nor from any necessity upon God but meerly his gracious pleasure Eph. 1.7 In whom we have Redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace Deut. 7.7 8 The Lord did not set his love upon you nor chuse you because ye were more in number than any people But because the Lord loved you and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers Mat. 11.25 I thank thee O father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes even so father for so it seemed good in thy sight 2. These two Covenants agree in this That it is the same design and business that is carried on in both The Redemption of a lost or lapsed elect people or as the Apostle calls it Heb. 2.10 The bringing many sons to glory This was the business that Christ did undertake by the Covenant of Suretiship and which he doth prosecute and perfect by the Covenant of Reconciliation This was the thing that was treated and agreed betwixt Jehovah and Christ and is now over again treated and agreed betwixt Christ and us Tit. 1.2 In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lye promised before the world began 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed to us the word of Reconciliation Joh. 17.4 I have glorified thee on the earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do 3. These two Covenants agree in this That the grand Instrumentality of doing the work in both these Covenants is upon Christ he was to be the main Instrument of action in the work of these two Covenants and is therefore as for other reasons so also upon this account called the man of God's right hand Psal 80.17 whose instrumentality and service God did use from beginning to end in all this business both of Redemption and Reconciliation Eph. 1.7 In whom we have redemption through his blood Col. 1.20 And having made peace through the blood of his cross by him to reconcile all things to himself 4. They agree in this that both these Covenants are commensurable with Gods election of the parties with whom he made the Covenants He first chused Christ and by an eternal destination elected him to be the only person that should work the great work of Redemption and be the Captain of Salvation to his people and with him only he makes the Covenant of Redemption Psal 89.19 I have exalted one chosen out of the people Again he makes choice of an elect Company to follow this Captain to be a people saved by the Lord and with this elect company only chosen in Christ he makes a Covenant of peace and reconciliation in him Luk. 1.68 69 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his people And hath raised up an horn of Salvation for us in the house of his servant David In both I say the Covenant is commensurate to God's election the parties with whom God made both these Covenants were first chosen he first chuseth and then covenanteth with the elect head and with the elect body and members
justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities 4. By this Suretiship beside all that he hath fulfilled and done in his own person he is under a Covenant to work in his people what God requireth condition-ways of them 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 O how comfortable is it that Christ is under a Covenant to enjoy his Elect people not for any thing they can do for themselves but for the work that he hath wrought and the conditions that he hath fulfilled in his own person and is obliged to fulfil and work in them And indeed the promises are fulfilled to us not because we fulfil the condition but for Christ in whom they are made to us and who by his Suretiship did perform all conditions that the law doth require 9. That in the Covenant of Suretiship the Believer is undertaken for by both the parties 1. Jehovah undertakes forasmuch as he promises a redeemed seed to Christ and engages that he shall see them Isa 53.10 He shall see his seed Now he who undertakes for this must needs undertake that they shall be born again so that the Lord is undertaker for our believing Justification Perseverance and Salvation then Jehovah is engaged by Covenant with Christ to make sure our believing and Salvation as he will be true to his Son to whom he gave this promise and to himself and his holy nature for he cannot deny himself 2. Christ hath undertaken for us also He is made surety Heb. 7.22 He hath given Bond for our believing and Salvation he hath by an eternal act of cautionry acted himself for all them who shall believe on him body for body life for life soul for soul that his life shall go for theirs that his soul shall be in their souls stead Isa 53.10 When thou shall make his soul an offering for sin And by the Mediatory office that he took upon him he hath laid Bonds upon himself and made a necessary duty of his office to save his people to become a Captain of Salvation to them to bring many sons to glory Heb. 2.10 And that he will be faithful in this office he hath taken Bonds upon him that by vertue of his office and place he must do whatsoever is for his peoples welfare See Heb. 3.1 2 Consider the Apostle and High-priest of our profession Christ Jesus who was faithful to him that appointed him Chap. 2. v. 17 Wherefore in all thingsit behoved him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-priest in all things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people How comfortable is this to the weak Believer and how strengthening to Faith to consider that Jehovah gave Bond from eternity to Christ and stands engaged to him for the bowing of our rebellious wills and for such a frame of heart to us as our Redemption and Salvation necessarily requires And that Christ stands engaged to be to all his own a merciful and faithful High-priest and that by the Bonds he hath laid upon himself it behoved him to be so Heb. 2.17 O consider he can no more be unconcerned with our concernments he can no more be untouched with and want a feeling of our infirmities than he can cease to be a merciful and faithful High-priest which qualifications he behoved to take upon him by taking on that office Heb. 5.2 3. Chap. 2. v. 17. Chap. 4. v. 15. Christ can no more fail in any thing pertaining to our peace with God and our Salvation than he can break his faith of Suretiship and fail in Covenant-faithfulness and the Bonds that he hath given to Jehovah 10. By the Covenant of Suretiship passed betwixt Jehovah and Christ the believer is in a sure confirmed state he is not in a tottering slippery mutable condition as were the Angels that fell and like to Adams first Covenant-state but the believer is in a sure confirmed state as sure as the Elect Angels who never fell 1. By the Covenant of Suretiship the believers help is laid upon one that is mighty Psal 89.19 A potent person is his helper for their Redeemer is strong Deut. 33.27 The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms Isa 40.28 29 Hast thou not known hast thou not heard that the everlasting God the Lord the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not neither is weary there is no searching of his understanding He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength 2. By this Covenant there is a great juncture of undertakings for the believers standing to wit by both the parties of that Covenant 3. By this Covenant the believers standing and perseverance is taken off the creatures mutable will and is now upon the gracious immutable counsel of Gods will Heb. 6.17 Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel c. Luk. 12.32 Fear not little flock for it is your fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom 4. By this Covenant-salvation the weight of Salvation is taken off the creatures acting and laid upon Christs Isa 49.6 That thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth Joh. 17.2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him 5. The same confirming-grace that is given to the Elect Angels is by Christs Covenant of Suretiship ensured yea given in Christ to the believer in whom ye are compleat Col. 2.10 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 6. The honour of Christ Mediator by this Suretiship of his lies at the stake for the weak believers standing Joh. 17.10 All mine are thine and thine are mine I am glorified in them How should this comfort the believers heart and support his saith that though he be not yet without the reach of dangers yet by Christs Suretiship he is in a confirmed state that he can no more fall quite away from his state of Grace and Faith than Jehovah can break to Christ or Christ break to his Father which is impossible Psal 89.35 36 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lye unto David His seed shall endure for ever Rev. 1.5 And from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness That the faith of the least of them that believe on Christ can no more fail than Christ can want his reward which is impossible Isa 53.11 He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied Christ cannot be left unsatisfied which he should be if the saith of any of his should fail in regard of Christs Suretiship the weak believers legs can
a fit person to mediate betwixt God and man until Heaven and Earth God and man be joyned in one person to make a fit Mediator a person equally distant from and equally near unto both parties A person who is Gods fellow Zech. 13.7 Awake O sword against my shepherd and against the man that is my fellow And who is our fellow made himself our companion and like unto his brethren Heb. 2.14 17. A person who is Gods Son and our brother Joh. 20.17 I ascend unto my father and your father and to my God and your God our Goel Job 10.25 For I know that my redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth Our kinsman who had the right of Redemption 4. He is called Mediator the midling person not only in regard of his fitness but upon the account of his actual interposing and stepping in betwixt the disagreeing parties because he acted and executed the Mediators Office which he took upon him and for which he was fitted he acted the day-mans part in the treaty of peace he through whom the whole Covenant of peace from beginning to end was transacted who stood in every passage of it as a middle person through whom God dealt with us and we with him 1. Through him was the Covenant with us first motioned and by him was the motion and overture entertained on our behalf there had never been a Covenant betwixt God and fallen men had not Christ stept in to overture the reconciliation of Justice and Mercy Prov. 8.30 31 Then I was by him as one brought up with him and I was daily his delight rejoycing always before him Rejoycing in the habitable part of his earth and my delights were with the sons of men He is Mediator Propositionis or rather proponendo the person through whom the first motion of it was made and entertained 2. Through him was the business done and ended in the Counsel of God he entertained the motion of a Covenant and agented it till it was a closed bargain in an eternal plot betwixt his Father and himself Psal 89.3 I have made my Covenant with a chosen I have sworn unto David my servant Chap. 40. v. 7 Then said I Lo I come He is Mediator Impetrationis who obtained and procured that the proposal of free Redemption should be a conncluded Agreement 3. Through him were we represented in Christs transaction with his Father he interposed and did the business by way of representation as the Head of the Church in the name and on the behalf of many Heb. 2.13 Behold I and the children which God hath given me 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 〈◊〉 Christ Jesus before the world began He is Mediator representationis the person that stood and represented many When God spoke with us in him as the Angels did with Israel in Jacobs loins for there he spake with us Hos 12.4 4. Through him did God strike hands with us the stipulation on our part was made by him whom God took as a responsal person and in our room to bargain with Heb. 7.22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better Testament Psal 89.19 I have laid help upon one that is mighty I have exalted one chosen out of the people He is Mediator fidei-jussionis the person who put his name in our Bond and stept in as a Sponsor and Surety for the broken man 5. Through him is the whole Covenant fulfilled and every word of it hath a being ex parte dei he fulfilleth all that is promised on Gods part 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him are Amen And ex parte hominis he worketh in us and for us whatsoever is required of us Phil. 1.21 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith He is Mediator impletionis the person in whom the whole Covenant is fulfilled and accomplished 6. Through him came the news of this second Covenant he proclaimed and published the glad tydings Isa 61.1 The spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord hath annointed me to preach good tydings unto the meek Eph. 2.17 And came and preached peace to you which are afar off and to them that were nigh Psal 40.9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation He is Mediator promulgationis the chief herauld and messenger the person by whom and by his appointed servants the Covenant was and is preached 7. Through him is the mystery made manifest in the hearts of his people he shines upon the mystery of the Covenant and makes it to be understood and this second discovery of God in Christ can never be revealed but by the Mediator himself Joh. 27.6 I have manifested thy name 2 Cor. 4.6 For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 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 He is Mediator illuminationis or the very medium of this new-Light the person by whom the Covenant is revealed 8. By him was a price told down to Justice on our behalf he interposed to satisfie Justice on the terms it stood upon and entered his person in prison for us till he payed the Debt by the price of his blood after which he was set at liberty Heb. 9.12 15 But by his own blood he entred in once into the holy place having obtained redemption for us And for this cause he is the Mediator of the new Testament that by means of death c. Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ He is Mediator redemptionis seu satisfactionis the person that made the satisfaction and payed the price to Justice to the full by his obedience to death 9. Through him is the difference actually composed and the peace made the disagreeing parties are brought together in him as a middle person and fit resting-place Eph. 2.13 14 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ For he is our peace who hath made both one Heb. 2.17 To make reconciliation for the sins of his people He is Mediator reconciliationis the person that made the peace and in whom the difference is composed 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself 10. Through him are all the blessings of the Covenant applied to us and the fruit of his purchase is drawn forth by his intercession as a Priest for ever which he doth as a Mediator Heb. 7.25
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
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
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
to do them It is grace that the same soul that sinned dieth not but another and yet more grace that every soul that sinneth dieth not but one for many one for all the Elect world Mat. 20.28 And to give his life a ransome for many 2 Cor. 5.15 And that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them and rose again 2. This was grace in God that he did not only admit this way of satisfaction but himself did find it out The finding out of a way of satisfaction to justice without the eternal punishment of the sinner this was Gods act and this was one act of special grace for it was not only above the reach of men and Angels but also before their being 1 Cor. 2.7 8 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 Prov. 8.23 30 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 daily his delight rejoycing always before him 3. This was pure grace in God that he did design provide and foresee a Surety and sactisfaction for us before we became broken men and needed one that he designed a Physician before we were sick 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 4. This was grace even singular grace in God that he neither did admit of this way of satisfaction for the sin of Angels nor did he find it out for them but unto men only did he indulge this dispensation Heb. 2.14 16 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham 2 Pet. 2.4 For if God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgment Jude vers 6 And the Angels which kept not their first estate but left their own habitation he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day There was no relaxation of the rigour of the law toward them but a strict execution of justice upon them 5. It was unspeakable grace in God that having admitted of such a way of satisfaction he should put his own Son upon the work and make him the Surety who should make satisfaction unto the justice of God by giving his life a ransome for us such an act of grace as this hath not been heard of Joh. 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life Rom. 5.8 But God commended his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us 1 Joh. 2.2 And he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world 1 Joh. 4.10 Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins 6. It is grace in God that when he hath found out this way of satisfaction and is content to admit of it and hath put his Son upon the work that he should be at the pains to reveal to us Christs Surety righteousness and to apply it unto us without which the satisfaction of the Surety could not avail us and what else can it be but grace in God that maketh the satisfaction of Christ effectual to one and not to another who hath also heard of this way of satisfying-justice Job 33.23 24 If there be a messenger with him an interpreter one among a thousand to shew unto man his uprightness Then he is gracious unto him and saith Deliver him from going down to the pit I have found a ransom Joh. 6.44 No man can come to me except the father which hath sent me draw him and I will raise him up at the last day Eph. 2.8 For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God And upon this account it is that justification and remission of sins are called free notwithstanding the satisfaction of Christ that the wonderful riches of Gods free grace might shine in the Suretiship of Christ Isa 43.25 I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for my own sake and will not remember thy sins Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus 4. For whom is Christ engaged as Surety of the Covenant I speak now of his Suretiship only as it relateth to his act of cautionry for his people remitting the consideration of it in a larger extent unto the next thing to be handled upon this Subject Before I answer this Question I shall premit some distinctions which make way for an answer to it 1. See Mr. Ruth treatise of the Covenant p. 2. c. 10. It is a necessary distinction of the Covenant of grace that it is considered either 1. As it is preached according to the commanding-will of God or 2. As it 's fulfilled in the Elect according to the Lords will of purpose the Covenant in the first consideration stands of promises commands threatnings c. And so it holds forth what is the command of God concerning our duty and the things which we may conditionally expect and puts nothing absolutely whether we perform it or not See Act. 2.38.39 Then Peter said unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Act. 16.31 And they said Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thine house In the second consideration the Covenant stands wholly in promises and those absolute promises and does not hold forth our duty and obligation and what is morally good or evil because God commands it or forbids it but what is Gods will of purpose and decree and what is his pleasure to act effectually upon the hearts of the Elect he over-ruling their corrupt wills so the Covenant is to be understood Jer. 31.31 c. Ezek. 11.16 c. and 36.25 c. 2. We must distinguish the parties of the Covenant according to this two-fold consideration thereof for the parties contracting with God in the
believe and to believe to the end to draw forth these habits to act lively sound faith the first act whereof is a performance of the condition of the new Covenant Joh. 6.37 All that the father giveth me shall come to me Joh. 12.32 And I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me 2. He stands engaged for the preservation of these habits of grace that howsoever they may be weakened and it may be also dimnished through our ill using of that stock yet they shall never be lost neither shall the stock of habitual grace come to nothing Luk. 22.32 But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not 1 Joh. 3.9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God 3. He stands engaged for our using and exercising habitual grace after that he hath freely given it that he shall by actual influences make us trade with those talents and not suffer them to lie by us without making use of them Ezek. 36.27 And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my Judgments and do them Psal 119.32 35 I will run the way of thy commandments when thou shalt enlarge my heart Make me to go in the path of thy commandments for therein do I delight 4. Christ is engaged for the liveliness of our graces that he shall not only keep them from dying but shall keep them in good condition fresh and green Psal 1.3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doth shall prosper Joh. 4.19 Yet a little while and the world seeth me no more but ye see me because I live ye shall live also Psal 92.12 13 14 The righteous shall flourish like the Palm-tree he shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God They shall still bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing 5. Christ is engaged for the encrease and growth of these habits of grace to make our stock to grow among our hands to make our faith love diligence in duty delight in God knowledg of himself c. to grow and our fruit to abound and to grow in quantity and quality in bigness and ripeness more fruit and sweeter fruit more savory to his taste 2 Cor. 9.8 And God is able to make all grace abound towards you that ye always having all sufficiency in all things may abound to every good work Joh. 15.4 5 Abide in me and I in you as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me I am the vine ye are the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing 2 Thess 1.3 We are bound to thank God always for you brethren as it is meet because that your faith groweth exceedingly and the charity of every one of you all towards each other abundantly 6. Christ stands engaged for our up stirring when we have given his work in us a back-set and brought grace to a low ebb when we have contracted laziness and a numness of spirit upon our selves so that we either drive heavily or cannot stir at all in his ways he is engaged to oil our wheels that we may recover a sweet facility and easiness in his ways and to blow upon us when we are calmed and cannot fetch the wind to our selves Song 4.16 Awake O North wind and come thou south and blow upon my garden that the spices thereof may flow out let my beloved come into his garden and eat his pleasant fruits Song 5.4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the dore and my bowels were moved for him Song 6.12 Or ever I was aware my soul made me like the charrets of Aminidab Isa 64.5 Thou mettest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness those that remember thee in thy ways Behold thou art wroth for we have sinned in those is continuance and we shall be saved I say that Christ stands engaged not only for our performance of Gospel-conditions and commands but also for our obeying and performing the preceptive part of the Law for clearing of this I shall lay down these five assertions 1. The Law as it commandeth and directeth obedience according to the will of the Law-giver is not repealed annulled or abrogated by Christ and by the Gospel though the Law considered as a Covenant holding forth obedience to the commands thereof as a possible way of Life be annulled and abrogated See Rom. 3.20 23 28 Therefore by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight for by the law is the knowledg of sin For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law Rom. 8.3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh c. 2. The Law which first commanded perfect obedience as a possible way of life may be and is continued for other uses and ends than for that such as to direct command prohibit promise threaten and to prove the loyalty even of Christs Subjects Rom. 3.27 31 Where is boasting then it is excluded by what law of works nay but by the law of faith Do we then make void the law through faith God forbid yea we establish the law Rom. 7.7 9 12 Nay I had not known sin but by the law for I had not known lust except the law had said Thou shalt not covet For I was alive without the law once but when the commandment came sin revived and I died Wherefore the Law is holy and the commandment holy and just and good 3. The Law as it is continued and in force towards believers is reduceable to the new Covenant and doth more properly appertain to it than to the Covenant of works For 1. It is the law as 't is delivered up and put into the hands of Christ to be managed and used by him for the advantage of his Subjects and Kingdom by the new Covenant and that is for other uses and ends than those for which it was first given Gal. 3.19 21 24 25 Wherefore then serveth the law it was added because of transgressions till the 〈◊〉 should come to whom the promise was made and it was 〈…〉 by Angels in the hand of a Mediator Is the law 〈◊〉 against the promises of God God forbid for if there hâ—â—â—een a law given which could have given life verily righteousness should have been by the law Wherefore the law was our School-master to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by
pardoned their disloyalty they shall never break forth in open rebellion again they shall never take up the arms again of enmity against God which once they laid down 2 Cor. 10.4 5 6 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledg of God and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ and having in a readiness to avenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled Psal 45.5 Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the kings enemies whereby the people fall under thee Christ is Surety for his peoples loyalty and keeping their peace treaties and Covenant with God inviolable Isa 54.9 10. 3. Christ is Surety for the appearing of his people before God that he shall present them all at the day appointed and not one of them shall be missing who shall not give his appearance at that day Eph. 5.27 That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot nor wrinkle nor any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Col. 3.4 When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory 4. Christ is Surety for compleating whatsoever concerns the Salvation of his people and their redemption from those evils which remain with them after that he hath fulfilled and satisfied the Law for them and hath also procured obedience to the Gospel in them 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 5. Because there are many things remaining with them from which they need a delivery for compleating the discharge of his undertakings for them Rom. 7.24 25 O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord so then with the mind I my self serve the law of our God but with the flesh the law of sin 1 Cor. 15.53 to 57. 6. We shall take a view of some things which do commend Christs Suretiship that the excellency thereof and the matchless love which shineth forth in it may the more appear 1. This commendeth Christs Suretiship that he rendred himself Surety and came under an act of cautionry for his people before they needed a cautioner that upon the fore-knowledg of this that it was to come to pass that man should become a broken creature and needing one to undertake for him he by an eternal transaction and agreement with his father did so early provide this remedy before man was broken and stood in need of a Surety Prov. 8.23 I was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the earth was 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 2. This commendeth Christs Suretiship that he came under this relation so freely unrequested and undesired according to his own heart he acted himself cautioner for us when there was none of the creatures once to hint such a motion that in the day when there was none found to help nor so much as to think of laying help on him then he freely offered himself and said Lo I come take me Surety for these poor broken men 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 Isa 63.5 And I looked and there was none to help and I wondred that there was none to uphold therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me and my fury it upheld me Isa 59.16 And he saw that there was no man and wondred that there was no intercessor therefore his arm brought salvation unto him and his righteousness it sustained him 3. The exceeding great reach and danger of his undertaking taking doth commend his Suretiship that he put his name in such a bond as he knew well should bring upon him the Debt of so many broken men and should oblige him to make satisfaction for the sins of all the Elect world Isa 53.5 6 11 12 But he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed All we like sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all By his knowledg shall my righteous servant justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities Because he hath poured out his soul unto death and he was numbred with the transgressors That he did knowingly put his soul in their souls stead that Justice might smite him and that the same eternal punishment of sin for kind that was due to us should be upon him Col. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree Zech. 13.7 Awake O sword against my shepherd and against the man that is my fellow saith the Lord of hosts The same sword of Divine Justice that should have smitten us did smite him 4. This commendeth Christs Suretiship that he engaged for a party which deserved no pity for man who had willingly forfeited a fair inheritance when it was possible for him and in his power to have performed the commands and conditions of life laid upon him who would pity and undertake for such a person who being put into a fair and free inheritance with power to perform the conditions upon which he holds it should notwithstanding forfeit his good estate and run himself under debt irrecoverably yet in this condition Christ pitied us and undertook for us Rom. 5.6 7 8 For when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly For scarcely for a righteous man will one die yet peradventure for a good man some will even dare to die But God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us 5. This commendeth Christs Suretiship that he engaged for the debt of a people from whom he could expect no satisfaction nor relief of all the debt which he payed for them that so potent and responsal a party joined interests with such impotent and unresponsal broken creatures how wonderfully doth this commend his Suretiship that he came under an act of cautionry for such as we are knowing us to be what we are a people that shall never requite his kindness yea doing all this for us the rather that we shall be eternally in his debt and never able to recompence the satisfaction which he made for us Luk. 17.10 So likewise ye when ye shall have done all these things which are commanded you say We are unprofitable servants we
to your vertue knowledg c. 3. Quo ad executorem in the kindly genuine work of his spirit that the good which God hath done to thee is the true execution of the Testators will of grace to his people 1 Cor. 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God Joh. 1.13 Which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Rom. 8.9 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 CHAP. XXII Christ a Covenant of the people or in what respects Christ is all the Covenant BEsides the many and various relations before spoken of which Christ sustaineth in the Covenant of grace he is the Covenant it self for to him doth the father speak Isa 42.6 and 49.8 I will give thee for a Covenant of the people things attributed in abstracto have a great signification Rom. 1.7 The carnal mind is enmity c. Christ is called the peace Micah 5.5 And our peace Eph. 2.14 This is more than the peace-maker Col. 1.20 'T is all the transaction of peace the whole business of reconciliation comprized in the Mediator and acted by him So here Christ a Covenant is more than the Covenant-maker or the Mediator of the Covenant the phrase imports two things 1. The abridging and summing up of the whole Covenant in Christ Mediator in whose person the two parties at enmity were united I will give thee for a covenant of the people that is I make a gift of thee to be to my people the summary and compend of all that blessed transaction and Covenant which I purpose with them 2. It imports the commitment of the whole business which God purposed to do with his people in the way of a Covenant unto Christ the Mediator to be managed by him I will give thee for a covenant of the people is a designation of Christs work unto which he was called and for the doing of which promises of assistance are made to him in the words preceding these as if it were said I set thee over the whole business of the Covenant between me and the people given to thee that from beginning to end it may be managed by thee Again Christ is not only given for a Covenant but for a Covenant of the people that is to be on the peoples side and to deal for them for the people alone are not capable of confederation with God but Christ stands jointly with them and is gifted of God to the people to be given back again to God for their part of the Covenant Psal 89.19 Heb. 2.13 Hence let us consider of these Propositions Christ is all the Covenant or all this Covenant is comprized in Christ or God by giving Christ doth give the Covenant of the people with him Christ is the Covenant 1. Originally and fundamentally he is the original and root out of which the Covenant sprang and he is the foundation upon which it is grounded the Covenant of grace took its rise and being from Christ Rev. 22.16 I Jesus have sent mine Angel to testifie unto you these things in the Churches I am the root and the off-spring of David and the bright and morning-star Isa 28.16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone a tryed stone a precious corner-stone a sure foundation he that believeth shall not make haste Judg. 14.14 And he said unto them Out of the eater came forth meat and out of the strong came forth sweetness 1. He is the ancient foundation of that which was revealed of the Covenant from the beginning of the world therefore God revealing this Covenant in Paradise presently after the fall bottomed it upon Christ the seed of the woman Gen. 3.15 And revealing it to Abraham he grounded it upon Christ Abrahams seed in whom all the families of the earth should be blessed Gen. 12.3 and 17.1 2. 2. Christ is the eternal foundation of this Covenant upon whom it was bottomed in the eternal decrees of God hence our vocation and salvation are said to be promised and given to us in him before the world began Tit. 1.2 And in hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie promised befor the world began 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began Eph. 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 2. Christ is the Covenant primarily and by propriety as fire is hot for it self and all things hot for it and by participtation Because with him was the Covenant made as the chief party which believers it was made in subordination to him with him it was made at the first hand with us at the second hand with him it was made for himself with us it was only made for him therefore 't is his Covenant by propriety and ours only by participation and therefore all the promises are made first to him and fulfilled first to him and all the acts of Gods love terminate first upon him and come at us only in the second room and at the second hand Isa 59.21 As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever Psal 89.3 33 I have made a covenant with my chosen I have sworn unto David my servant Nevertheless my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail Isa 53.3 And I will make an everlasting covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ 3. Christ is the Covenant eminently because he is the chief blessing of the Covenant there being not such another promise and gift in all the bundle of promises contained in the Covenant therefore is he spoken of by way of eminence as being that transcendent gift of God matchless effect of Gods love besides which there is not another the like Joh. 4.10 Jesus answered and said unto her If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith unto thee give me to drink 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 have
14.8 Ephraim shall say What have I to do any more with idols Gen. 12.1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram Get thee out of thy countrey and from thy kindred and from thy fathers house unto a land that I will shew thee 2. Try it by your consenting to the mutual tye which the Covenant bringeth with it for it doth not only hold forth what God will be to you but what you must be to him it obligeth you to be the Lords as well as it maketh him yours Hos 3.3 It saith Thou shalt not be for another man so will I also be for thee If then you consent as willingly to be Christs as to have him made yours by this reciprocation and eccho of affection and ingagement to him you may know your being in him and so in the Covenant Rev. 22.17 20 And the spirit and the bride say come and let him that heareth say come Surely I come quickly Amen Song 2.16 My Beloved is mine and I am his 2 Chron. 30.8 Now be ye not stiff-necked as your fathers were but yield your selves unto the Lord and enter into his sanctuary which he hath sanctified for ever and serve the Lord your God that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you 3. Try it by your subjection and submission to Christ for they that are in Christ they do not only consent to be his but there is a subjection of their consent unto him as unto their Head Husband Lord and King as Wives and Subjects do in their Covenants with their Husbands and Kings 2 Cor. 9.13 The subjection of your consent There must be a through compliance with Christ in all his offices and in every part of each of his office for we must not comply with Christ as a Priest only but also as a witness a leadeer and commander of the people Isa 55.4 since he is given for these ends as well as for the former Neither must we submit only to that part of his Priesthood whereby he offered sacrifice and slight his internession Heb. 5.1 7. and 9.24 26. Nor only to the external part of his Prophetical and Kingly offices by subjecting our selves to ordinances as the manner of formal hypocrites is but to the soveraignty of his inward teaching and ruling also Jer. 31.33 34 I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will he their God and they shall be my people And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord. Nor to his inward teaching and ruling only as despisers of Ordinances pretend but to the external administration of his Covenant by Ordinances of worship and government also so long as his tabernacle is with men which must be till Christs giving up the kingdom Rev. 21.3 22 23. with Ezek. 43.11 4. Try it by your satisfaction with and acceptation of the whole bargain without division diminution addition or alteration of any clause in it Isa 55.3 Jer. 31.32 c. Those who are in Christ and so within the Covenant of Grace do not divide the promises of the Covenant from the condition and commands thereof neither do they reject any thing which God hath put in that bargain but on the contrary they close with it as it stands in the offer of the Gospel without bogling and skaring at the reservation of the cross and with a soul-satisfaction found in the offer 2 Sam. 23.5 saying with David this is all my desire And Psal 16.5 6 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup thou maintainest my lot The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places yea I have a goodly heritage Psal 73.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee 5. Try it by your accounting duties your priviledg which other men account their burden 1 Joh. 5.3 For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not grievous Mat. 11.30 For my yoke is easie and my burden is light By your experiencing that holy facility in duties which springeth from love to Christ and delight in God 2 Cor. 5.14 For the love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judg that if one died for all then were all dead Whereby it cometh to pass that the very work of believers is wages and hire in their hands that I say is demonstrative of one being in Christ and so of a new-Covenant-estate 6. Try it by your equal endeavours after holiness and heaven after conformity unto Christ and communion with him if thy endeavours after sanctification be as vigorous as after salvation if thou wouldst as gladly be made holy as be in heaven if thou desirest as really to be made like Christ as to have fellowship with him this speaketh thy being in him and if so thy being in the Covenant 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these promises dearly beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filâ—hiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 1 Joh. 3.3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure 7. Try it by your being humbled and provoked to holiness by the knowledg of your being in Christ and your reflections upon this great priviledg with humbling admiration for after this manner hath it wrought upon Gods children Rom. 3.27 Where is boasting then it is excluded by what law of works nay but by the law of faith Ezek. 16.36 That thou mayest remember and be confounded and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done saith the Lord God 1 Tim. 1.13 14 Who was before a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious But I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief and the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus Joh. 14.22 Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self to us and not unto the world 8. Try it by your superlative valuing of Christ the weakest faith which is precious doth value Christ above all 1 Pet. 2.7 To you therefore which believe he is precious Prov. 3.15 She is more precious than rubies and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her Christ is superlatively valued 1. When Christ alone without all other comforts is looked upon as enough when the soul taketh satisfaction in this portion Psal 73.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee Psal 16.5 6 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and my cup thou maintainest my lot The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places yea I have a goodly heritage When the soul reckons it self eternally made up in him and blesseth it self in him Lam. 3.24 The Lord is my portion saith my soul therefore will I hope in him 2.