believe and conclude that now he is ascended to the Father and is in the work of mediation he is much more exercised in that work of mediating by praying for them Reason 2. From the nearness of relation and that both to the Father and the Saints the onely Son of the Father and elder brother to the Saints John 20. 17. Go tell my brethren I ascend to my Father and your Father to my God and your God Now may we suppose that this onely son of God so near to Saints hath nothing to say to the Father in behalf of his poor people now he is in heaven with him that had so much to say for them when here on earth 3. This appears from the various titles given to the work of Christ in heaven as an Advocate that is one to plead for us an intercessor 1 John 2. 2. Heb. 7. 25. Which clearly demonstrates the truth that Christ mediates in way of praying for the Saints and on these grounds I do believe it in a measure with joy 3. He is a tender and faithfull Mediator one that the Saints may confide in and trust with their cause Men here on earth may and often do choose such Mediators or Umpires that they are much in doubt of their tenderness and faithfulness in the cause but Jesus Christ is both tender and faithfull to both parties in his mediation he will not he cannot be unfaithfull to either 1. The one is his dear and Almighty Father 2. The other are his Brethren his children flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone c. See both these to wit his tenderness and faithfulness stated in one Scripture Heb. 2. 17 Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a mercifull and faithfull high priest in things pertaining to God c. and cbap 3. 2. Who is faithfull to him that appointed him 4. He is a powerfull and prevailing Mediator he accomplishes what he mediates for he was never denied by the Father of what he asked nor fails in a title of all the good he undertakes to ask for his people Hence it is Christ saith John 11. 41. 42. Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me and I know that thou hearest me alwaies He is called a great high-priest Heb. 4. 14. Great in power able to give what he pleads for and therefore doubtless he will do it All power in heaven and earth is given to me saith Christ Matth. 28. 18. and John 3. 35. The Father loveth the son and hath given all things into his hand He is great in favor with God the onely beloved son of his bosom and therefore must needs be a powerfull prevailing Mediator He mediates by vertue of all his offices King Priest and prophet and therefore must needs obtain what he mediates for 5. He mediates particularly and distinctly for all Saints for all wants 1. For all his people he is no respecter of persons he respects not the rich more then the poor The poorest Saints are as near and dear to him as the richest He bears them all upon his heart before his Father A blessed word of comfort it is for poor Christians whether outwardly poor or spiritually poor Blessed are ye poor for yours is the kingdom of heaven Luke 6. 20. and Jam. 2. 5. Hearken my beloved brethren hath not God chosen the poor in this world rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom 2 For the particular wants of his people He mediates knowingly he knows the wants of all the Saints and all their various temptations He knows it first as it is their case distinctly and he knows it secondly by experience and therefore mediates sutable to their wants Heb. 4. 15. For we have not an High-priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin 6. He is a constant Mediator with the Father for his people he doth not mediate for a time and then have done but he waits upon the work continually it is his office he is thereunto appointed by the Father Heb. 3. 2. He is gone into heaven for that very end now to appear in the presence of God for us Heb. 9. 24. My friends Jesus Christ is not like unto a bad Lawyer that will plead suitable to his fee and it may be when it is most need be away about another business or forget his client no no beloved friends although he hath undertaken the cause of all the Saints in the world yet he will not forget one nor be away while any business is past for he waits on that very work but to proceed 6 The sixth particular is the Priviledges and advantages that comes to the Saints by the mediatorship of Christ and that is 1 Acceptance and through it boldness with the Father Oh my friends believers may come with boldness to the throne of grace Heb. 4. 15 16. Having such a high Priest let us come with boldness c. God hath given by Jesus Christ a liberty for a humble holy boldness to his people Therefore let them improve it 2 An assured care taken for the well being of Saints The Father hath taken care in appointing his Son to such a work Jesus Christ taketh care in the performance thereof See both these in Job 6. 39. This is the Fathers will which hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should loose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day Chap. 10. 27 28. My sleep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish c. and this is accomplished by the mediatorship of Christ Rom. 5. 10. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life Note we shall be saved by his life that is by his mediatorship for he ever lives to make intercession and his ability to save is stated upon his ever living to make intercession Heb. 7. 25. 3 Every thing that is good and best for them they shall have Know Christians that your Father yâ—â—r Mediator knows what is best for you and that you shall have assuredly Oh that Saints did all believe this how would it tend to quiet and comfort their hearts in all estates how would they learn that lesson in all estates wherewith to be contented Phil. 4 11. It is with the Lords people many times as it is with children they would fain have their own wills when it may be sometimes it would be to their hurt but their Father knows best what is good for them and therefore denies their will and gives what he will So doth the Lord the Mediator of the new Covenant mediate for and give that which is best to his people though it may be they murmur at it through
they shall never perish and chap. 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 This is the fathers will in the covenant and Christ accepts it it is his will too and so Christ comes into the world about the work and establisheth this covenant for the elect that they might be brought into it and have their share in it in his times And this is the truth we are upon That Christ hath established this covenant for his elect and doth manifest it to them in his times in the work of faith and now the covenant is said to be made with them for two Reasons 1 Because now they give consent to it and resign up themselves to the Lord in what he hath done for them and believe the grace and the covenant of grace now there is their acceptation of what Christ hath done and justifying him in the work together with their resignation of themselves up to him as their head and Lord in this blessed and holy covenant 2 They come now to claim a right in the covenant which before they could not do though God and Christ had a speciall right in them yet they could claim no right by covenant in the father and the son before or without believing and this is Christs work to work faith in all his elect He is the author and finisher of it I come now to the fifth particular namely the way by which Christ hath established this covenant and that is by his blood Oh friends in this undertaking of Jesus Christ for poor sinners this covenant must be by blood there must of necessity be the death of the Testator Hence it is called a Covenant that is by blood Zach. 9. 11. And the blood of Christ is called the blood of the covenant Heb. 10. 29. And Christ saith This is the Cup of the New Testament in my blood Luke 22. 20. And you will finde that the blood of Christ viz. Christ crucified his body and blood broken and shed hath its place in the whole work justification and remission of sins must be by the blood of Christ reconciliation and peace must be through his blood purging of the conscience must be by blood redemption must be by his blood Mediatorship Purchase of the Kingdom all by blood therefore it is called the blood of the everlasting covenant Heb. 13. 20. And by the shedding of his blood hath he established this covenant Oh learn hence to prize Christ crucified more have a high esteem of the blood of Christ and tremble in the thoughts of such horrid principles as tend to the trampling under foot the blood of the covenant counting ing it an unholy thing But 6th To proceed to the reasons or grounds why Christ hath taken away the first and established the second covenant Reason 1. That the Scripture might be fullfilled the many Promises of God in Scripture to this purpose to establish the new and make the first old as hath been already proved And this you will find to be the great end of Jesus Christ in his coming and work to fulfil Scripture So this covenant must be established by blood to fulfil Scripture Zach. 9. 11. See Acts 3. 19 21. The covenant made to Abraham that in his seed all nations should be blessed could not have been fulfilled if Christ had not established it Hence it is that Christ suffered himself to be betrayed and apprehended in order to his passion and would not make resistance Matth. 26. 52 53 54. How then shall the Scripture be fulfilled that thus it must be He makes the fulfilling of the Scriptures the ground of his yielding himself into the hands of sinful men Reason 2. Christ hath done this that so Gods special love might be made manifest unto the sons of men and that his grace even the blessing of the Gospel might come forth to us Gentiles through the establishment of this covenant In thy seed shall all the Nations be blessed Oh then let not us Gentiles argue out this covenant for assuredly there is no blessing to the Nations by that of the Law but by this of grace therefore let us learn to prize this special grace of this everlasting covenant of Gods special and everlasting love in his dear Son Reason 3. That salvation might be sure to all the seed therefore must this sure and unchangeable covenant be established for eternal salvation was not sure to any in the old covenant but in this covenant it is sure Rom. 4. 16. Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed c. Therefore it is that this covenant is called the sure mercies of David Isa 55. 3. This is the onely sure covenant here is grace and the truth of grace John 1. 17. The Law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ Reason 4. Because it was the great design of God so to do viz. the sending of Jesus Christ into the world to effect this work the taking away of the old and establishing of the new covenant If this had not been done there had been nothing in order to the accomplishing of Gods design in the great and good work of salvation done The design of God in sending Christ was that men through him might be saved he came into the world to save sinners and there could be no salvation but in this covenant so that had not Christ done this work he had not been the Christ for he must answer Gods design for he came to do his wil. And this was one great part of his will the establishing of this free powerful holy rich and everlasting covenant of grace and glory I come now to Application I shall pass by that of information let the doctrine and proof thereof serve for information of the judgement in this matter But Use 1. Here it is a strong ground of consolation for all true believers Jesus Christ hath taken away the first the old and established the second the new covenant of grace and peace Here lyeth the grace the love the peace the glory all blessedness in this covenant and it is sure to all the seed and God hath made it to the end it might be sure that the comers thereunto might have strong consolation Heb. 16 17 18. This is a covenant in which it is impossible for God to lie He hath covenanted and sworn to it that we might have strong consolation therein Oh therefore my beloved friends you I mean that are interested in this sure everlasting covenant let it be your work to be much in the meditation and consideration of the grace the love the glory of this covenant All true believers may truly say with the Apostle Gal. 4. 31. So then brethren we are not children of the bond-woman but of the free Not of the covenant from Mount Sinai which gendreth to
well pleased with their services their obedience in every duty done in faith according to his will and their Praises and Prayers that is made acceptable with the Father by Jesus Christ He it is that bears the iniquity of their holy things obtaining the pardon of all their defects 1 Joâ— 1. 9. with chap. 2. 1 2. He mixes much incense with their prayers or adds it to their Prayers Rev. 8. 3 4. even the incense of the precious worth of his death and suffering being offered up in his Mediatorship a sweet smelling favour to God Eph. 5. 2. Thus the services of the Saints are presented to God acceptable by Jesus Oh then let the Saints learn to know where in whom their acceptation is not in themselves but in another even in Jesus Christ who is with the Father for them But thirdly Christ doth not onely make the services of Saints acceptable but he himself who knows their wants better then they presents their wants for them which I shall more distinctly speak unto when I come to shew you the manner how he mediates for his People And as he is all to the father for his people so 2 He is all from the Father to his people that is He mediates for and brings down all from the Father to his people 1 He mediates for the spirit and the holy Spirit is the fruit of Christs mediatorship a special word to direct us to the right way of obtaining a greater measure of the spirit of promise it must be by virtue of the mediatorship of Christ if ever we have it Joh. 14. 16. I will pray the Father and he will give you another comforter even the spirit of truth c. But the comforter the holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name c. Mark you friends the Father will send the holy Spirit the comforter in the name of Christ in his authority by virtue of his mediatorship Chap. 16. 7. if I go not away the comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you You heard chap. 14. 26. The Father will send the holy Spirit c. Chap. 15. 26. He is said to proceed from the Father but here Christ will send the Spirit and what doth this teach us but first the unity of the Father and Son in the work of sending the holy Spirit The Father the head and fountain from whence he proceeds and is originally sent the Son in way of mediatorship by virtue of office and so both Father and Son sends the Spirit So likewise it s the same Ephes 4. 8. Wherefore he saith When he ascended up on high he laid captivity captive and gave gifts unto men He ascended up on high that he might do it that is by virtue of his mediatorship So that Jesus Christ brings down the holy Spirit to his people 2 He mediates for and brings down peace to his people from the God of peace that so he may perform his legacy and promise when he went away Joh. 14. 27. Peace I leave with you my Peace I give unto you c. and chap. 16. 33. These things have I spoken to you that in me you might have peace c. And this he doth by sending down the Spirit of Peace working in the Gospel of Peace 2 Cor. 1. 2. Grace to you and Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Peace comes from God and Christ from God as the Father and fountain of Peace from Christ the mediator for peace 3 He mediates and brings down comfort and consolation for and to his people according to his Promise Joh. 14. 18. I will not leave you comfortless c. and the way by which he comforts his People is by sending the comforter the holy Spirit a fruit of his mediatorship to lead them into truth and apply it to them for their comfort 4 He mediates and brings down the grace of sanctification for and to his people It is the work of the Father by degrees to work a through sanctification in his people that they may be holy in body and in spirit and meet to Possess their holy inheritance Hence is that prayer of the Apostle 1 Thes 5. 23. And the very God of Peace sanctifie you wholly c. Now Christ prays that his Father would do it Joh. 17. 15 16 17. I pray that thou shouldest keep them from the evil of the world Sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth So that the Lords peoples sanctification and universal conformity to his minde and will is a blessed fruit and effect of the Mediatory office of Jesus Christ 5 He mediates for and brings down the power and strength of upholding and persevering grace of performing duty of overcoming sin and temptations of holding on in the Lords way and holding out unto the end notwithstanding afflictions tribulations and persecutions that Saints meet with because of the word The Lord Jesus mediates for the strength of grace Joh. 17. 11. and now I come to thee Holy Father keep through thine own name those that thou hast given me v. 15. Luke 22. 31. 32. And the Lord said Simon Simon Satan bath desired to have you that he might sift you as wheat but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not Oh friends look to God for supporting sustaining supplying and renewing grace to be given down unto you through the mediation of Jesus Christ it s by him your strength is renewed continued and increased whereby you run and are not weary walk and are not faint 6 He mediates for and brings down the answers of all the Saints Prayers and a supply of all their necessities Joh. 14. 13. Whatsoever ye shall aske in my name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son Christ will do it that the Father may be glorified in the Son viz. the father will glorifie himself in and by the son in giving answers to his people by Jesus Christ Chap. 15. 16. that whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name he may give it you and 16. 23. Verily verily I say unto you Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you Phil. 4. 19. But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ Mark freinds God will supply the needs of his People but it must be by Jesus Christ as he is the Mediator of the New Covenant 7 And finally not to multiply any more particulars of this nature in this place Jesus Christ mediates for and brings down to his people all the blessings of the New Covenant of which he is the Mediator for on that account it is that he is the Mediator of the Covenant for the bringing down all the blessings of grace and glory that are contained in the Covenant and that is as hath been before proved all things which may tend to make them truely and eternally blessed
to him and rest upon him for salvation to come to him as to the Mediator of the New Covenant to come to him as your Lord and King to submit to him in all things To come to him so as to expect all good from God by him both in respect of grace and glory Thus are believers come to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant The third Part or Branch is that this is a high and glorious attainment To be come to Jesus Christ the Mediator of the New Covenant is a high and glorious attainment it is so However Satan hath prevailed over many poor souls of late to make them slight this heavenly attainment and to trample underfoot the man Christ Jesus and the blood of this Covenant yet know friends that you that are come to Jesus have attained to a high degree of favour with God Quest Wherein doth the heigth of this attainment appear Answ 1. It is high in comparison of what they came to in the old Testament and that is it which is particularly mentioned in this place We are not come to mount Sinai c. But to mount Sion to Jesus c. A more blessed Covenant a better Mediator a better Priesthood better Promises all is better in this day of grace in this covenant of Reformation 2 It s high being compared with the state of all others that are not come to Jesus They are low they must perish and be damned The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it But he that believeth on the name of Jesus Christ shall be saved There is no other name given under heaven among men whereby they must be saved but by the name of Jesus Acts 4. 12. 3 It is high in it self For first it hath given them â—n interest in and relation to a high God Who ever are come to Jesus they are come to God as a father and stand related to him as children They are come to great and precious priviledges and interested in great and precious Promises They are Come to the spirits of just men made perfect and to an innumerable company of Angels and to God the judge of all They are come to fellowship with the Father Son and Spirit to fellowship with Saints and Angels Here is the high attainment indeed of those that are come to Jesus 4 It is an high Attainment in that they are come into the way that will undoubtedly bring them to the kingdom to the everlasting life glory and blessedness promised in the covenant and mediated for by Jesus Christ This is the high attainment that all that are truly come to Jesus have attained Here is the standing and state of believers that are come to Jesus whatever the world thinks of them what ever Pharisees and Hypocrites think of them what ever the devil endeavours to perswade them to think of themselves yet they are come to Jesus c. Now I shall come to speak a few words in way of application to the whole and I shall have done Use 1. A word of trial whether you are indeed come to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant As its a truth of very great concernment so it very much concerns you to take a view of your own souls and spiritual states whether you are come to Jesus yea or nay I know every one will be ready to say yea I am come to Jesus I make no question of that when the truth is there are but few in comparison that are truly and savingly come to him Quest How shall we know may some say whether we are come to him or no Answ Those that have come to Jesus have seen a need of him and a worth in him above all the world besides They have left all for him and do account their own righteousness as a filthy cloath as dung and dross all their own wisdom to be foolishness and their own strength to be but weakness they loath themselves in their own eyes in the sight and sence of their own vileness and they are made willing to have all in Christ and to follow him apart from all their vanities and beloved lusts through all difficulties they meet withal Oh! how few are there that are thus come to Jesus Christ It s true the world is come to him in their own fancies and imaginations but it is but a cheat and delusion They are ignorant of him and strangers to him and enemies in their minds by wicked works and indeed and truth will none of him They will steal murder and commit adultery c. and yet come and stand before God as if they were his rebell against him and trample his blood and ordinances under their feet and yet pretend themselves Christians This is the common state and cheat of most in the world Use 2. Of consolation to believers The comfort is they are come to Jesus The consolation lieth mainly in these two things 1. They are come to the Mediator of the new Covenant 2. They are come to a high and glorious attainment 1 They are come to the mediator of the new Covenant A ground of sound and assured comfort for all true believers Quest But some will say wherein lieth the consolation of this estate that we may improve it for our comfort Answ It lieth in many things but I shall at present mention these two 1. Assured acceptation with the Father 2. Assured application of pardon of sin and all that is good for them 1 Assured acceptation with the Father and that both in respect of Christ himself and of his people in him Here is a ground of comfort indeed for all that in truth come unto God by him They may come with boldness there is assured acceptance persons services in him accepted as hath been before proved onely let the saints now improve it and apply it for their comfort Your persons accepted though in your own eyes poor wretched creatures your Mediator he is pure and perfect a fit Mediator for such poor impure creatures as we are See Heb. 7. 26. For such an High-priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and made higher then the heavens And here is the Christians comfort that their High-priest their Mediator is holy and he is accepted for them into heaven it self there to appear in the presence of God for them 2. Their Prayers granted and whatsoever their Mediator sees good shall be given them Be encouraged to believe this God will nay he must keep nothing back from his people that may be for their good for they have a faithfull tender powerfull prevalent and holy Mediator with the Father for them Quest Wherein lies the prevalency of Christs Mediatorship Answ Not onely in his near relation to the Saints and so his love and faithfulness to them but in the excellent worth of his blood that pleads prevailingly and must have no denial Ephes 5 2. and likewise his near relation to him to whom he mediates that is his Father He
4. Acts 2. 30. made of a Woman and declared to be the Son of God with power by his resurrection from the dead I say it concerns us to know and have faith in this Jesus thus Promised and Born and Crucified and Raised and Ascended into Heaven who is at the right hand of God Angels and Principalities and Powers being made subject unto him A principle of truth it is being truly believed and lived in will preserve souls in life and truth and root out and vanquish the new Notions and imaginary fancies about Christ making Heaven and Christ and the right hand of God and all to be within them a bottomless fancy an imaginary Christ and salvation But to our work which is to exalt the true Christ whom God hath exalted and to honour him whom God the Father hath honoured John 5. 22 23. 2 Pet. 1. 16 17 18. In this Epistle our Apostle or Authour exalts Christ or rather discovers his exaltation by the father 1. Above Angels chap. 1 4. not onely above bad Angels but also good Angels 2. Above Moses chap. 3. 5 6. Moses a servant Christ a Son over his own house 3. Above the Priests or Priesthood under the Law chap. 5. and 7. and so consequently above the old Testament-Ministry and Ministration viz. in Authority Dignity and Excellency Hence he came to take away or put an end to that Ministry or Priesthood and Covenant which is the second special work of the Apostle in this Epistle and should be of all good men to exalt the New Covenant above the Old which is the truth declared in the Scripture read unto you viz. He taketh away the first that he may establish the second viz. The first or old Covenant or Testament that he might establish the second Now that it is the two Covenants that is here intended is clear for the word He and first and second are Relatives The word He relates to Christ chap. 9. v. 24. and 28. first and second relates to the first and second Covenants chap. 8. 6 7 8. called also the old and the new Covenants chap. 8. 13. So that the true sense and meaning of the words is this That God sent Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ came to take away the first the old Covenant that he might establish the second the new Covenant which we usually call the Covenant of grace because its the ministration of grace and all is grace from first to last in it So that the words afford us two lessons Doct. 1. That there is in Scripture held forth two Covenants the first and second or the old and new Covenant Doct. 2. That Jesus Christ hath taken away the first and established the second Covenant Or thus That it was the will of God that Jesus Christ should come to take away the first covenant and â—stablish the second 1. That there is in Scripture held forth two Covenants the first and second or the old and new c. And my beloved friends this is a truth of very great and special concernment for every Christian to be acquainted with the distinction of the Covenants â—hat there are two covenants is clearly evident old and new first and second Jer. 31. 31 32. Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judâ—h not according to the covenant I made with their Fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the Land of Egypt c. Mark you beloved it s a new covenant another covenant not such a covenant but a covenant distinct from that covenant where you have the first and and second the old and new in sense and substance So Heb. 8. 7. It s called the first and second for finding fault with the first he established the second where the Apostle makes application of Jer. 31. ver 8 9. For finding fault with them he saith Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will make a new covenant c. And vers 13 in that he saith a new he hath made the first old So that its a new covenant and not such a covenant a first and second a new covenant that hath made the first old And vers 6. the new covenant in opposition to the old is called A better covenant established upon better Promises But further Gal. 4. this truth is cleared by the Apostle in Sarah and Hager the free and Bond-women vers 22. which things are an allegory or these are the two covenants vers 24. And they are here held both to be two distinct covenants even as Hagar the Bond maid and Sarab the Free-woman were two And must be separated when the time was come so that the covenants of the Old and New Testament are not one as some imagine but two old and new first and second and that clearly to be distinguished and not confounded together no more then light and darkness The truth being thus cleared and proved by the Scritures of truth in my further proceeding I shall propose this method 1. To state the covenants as they are distinct both the old and new 2. Why they are called first and second old and â—â—w 3. To hold forth the difference between them 4. To answer such objections and queries as are or may be raised against or made concerning the truth in hand 5 The application To state the covenants as they are distinct both the old and new 1. Confirming the first or old covenant the quaere may be What we are to understand to be the first or old covenant In this I understand the Scripture to be clear that by the old covenant we understand the covenant that God made with the house of Israel when be brought them out of the Land of Egypt Jer. 31. 31 32. Where God promiseth to make a new covenant not such a covenant as he made with their Fathers when he took them by the hand to bring them out of the Land of Egypt So that the old covenant is that which God made with Israel when he brought them out of Egypt which was the covenant from Mount Sinai the Moral ceremonial and judicial Law The Moral Law being laid as the foundation of the whole for indeed that was the covenant in sum and substance the other was grounded on it the first table relating to God on which the ceremonial was built and was included the second to man on both which the judicial or political part of the Law was bottomed and so the whole indeed was moral in that ministration or Covenant And the moral Law viz. the ten commands or precepts are called the covenant answerable to Jer. 31. 31. in Deut. 5. 2. So that by the first covenant we are to understand the covenant or Law made with the children of Israel from Mount Sinai Exod. 19. and 20. chapters And this the Apostle clears Heb. 12. 18. We are not come to the mount that might not
manner of administring but in the matter likewise as hath been already proved as also in all those other particulars wherein the differences have been discovered But to the Scriptures mentioned I answer 1. I grant it to be true if we take the Scriptures in the largest sence in the words old and from the beginning that the commandmenr was old as I shall more fully clear before I have done and so was the new Covenant too but yet distinguished from the old But Secondly I answer that the words old and from the begnning are diversly to be understood in Scripture Sometimes they intend the beginning of the world Sometimes they intend the beginning of the old Testament ministration Psalm 119. 166. Thy word O Lord is true from the beginning Sometimes the beginning of the Gospel ministration John 8. 25. and 15. 27. And sometimes from the beginning of a peoples hearing and receiving of the truth and so it is in this place 1 John 2. 7 8. being compared with vers 24. Let that therefore abide in you which ye heard from the beginning If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you ye also shall continue in the Son and in the Father What was it they heard from the beginning It was the doctrine of the Gospel by which through believing they came into the Son and the Father which cannot be understood That which they heard from the beginning of the old Covenant They had not then received the new but it was that which made them one in the Son and in the Father Therefore The doctrine of the Gospel It s the very same words vers 7. An old Commandment which ye had from the beginning The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning So that the truth in this scripture is this That John did write no new commandment unto them but the same that he had given to them when they first heard and received the Gospel which if it did abide in them they should continue in the Son and in the Father It is in substance no more then what Peter saith 2 Pet. 1. 12. and the same 2 Epist John 2. 21. I have not written to you because ye know not the truth but because ye know it c. viz. They knew it of old from the beginning of their reception and believing of it And as for the terms of old and new they are not equivalent to the distinct terms about the covenants not onely old and new covenants as hath been minded but first and second the new hath made the first old Heb. 8. 13. The new is called a better Testament Heb. 7. 22. and 8. 6. All which plainly proveth two Covenants unless we dare give the lie to the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures of truth Obj. 2. The Covenant mentioned Gen. 17. is the Covenant of grace for it is applied to the Gospel by the Apostle Rom. 5. 17. compared with Gen. 17. 5. Therefore it appears that Circumcision was the Covenant of grace for it immediately follows Answ In this chapter are both Covenants 1. That of grace and the Gospel covenant promised And second that of circumcision made and established under which Abrahams natural seed was and therefore it much behoves us to be diligently enquiring after a right understanding of the will of God in Scripture that so we may rightly distinguish and not confound Truth together The want of distinction hath been and is the great cause of confusion We are to know that both covenants as hath been minded are stated in this 17. chapter The first or new covenant is vers 4 5. Behold my covenant is with thee and thou shalt be a father of many Nations c. And vers 5. For a father of many Nations have I made thee This is the new covenant in which Abrams name was changed from Abram to Abraham and answers to ch 12. 3. and 15. 5. and 22. 18. And the old covenant viz. that of circumcision with the natural seed follows from v. 6. to v. 14. That it is so is clear for circumcision as hath been already proved was the old covenant and that verse 4 5. is the new therefore it must be thus distinguished And further It s usual in the Scripture to have both covenants mentioned together and set side by side as it were sometimes one first and sometimes the other as not onely in this place but in chap. 22. 16 17 18. there is both covenants sworn to that is to the natural and spiritual seed the old and the new covenants And Deut. 32. 33. The last words of Moses in which he not onely confirms them in the old covenant and prophesieth their breach thereof viz. their sin and their judgement but likewise clearly states the new chap. 33. 26 27 28 29. compared with Jer. 23. 6. c. Object 3 The old covenant was also called an everlasting covenant as well as the new Gen. 17. 13. Psal 105. 10 11 12. 1 Chron. 16. 16 17 18 19. Therefore the same though differingly administred Answ It s true It was so called yet these three things must be considered for the right understanding of it 1. The terms of everlasting are given to the Priesthood as well as to the covenant Exod. 40. 15. Numb 25. 13. And none that understand any thing of the Gospel but will acknowledge that that priesthood is ended and that this of the Gospel is not the same therefore it is everlasting viz. during the continuance of that covenant and ministration 2 The term everlasting as well as the old covenant and all other promises in the old covenant were conditional and God did not promise to perform either covenant or promise without the condition was performed so that it was everlasting viz. while they performed the condition 3 The old covenant priesthood and promises were no other ways everlasting then as they led to Christ the new covenant and the everlasting rest so they were everlasting viz. represented and typed out everlasting things but when the substance was come the shadow did vanish away Object 4. The Gospel covenant is conditional as well as that of the law as at the first entring into it there is the condition of believing He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be damned Mark 16. 16. and persons continue in it on condition of continuing in the faith and obedience and persevering in a way of well-doing unto the end Heb. 3. 6. 14. Matth. 10. 22. Mark 13. 13. And the Gospel promises of life and glory are on condition Rom. 2. 7. 10. and chap. 8. 17. Answ It s true on one account it may be said to be so That as God never intended to save any but by Jesus Christ and that through faith in him and obedience to him in persevering in a way of well doing all these conditions God had in his eternal councel and therefore he is said
we need remission and in the new covenant it is administred to us according to the tenour therein exprest Heb. 8. 12. 1 Epist John 2. 12. and chap. 1. 9. In all which this blessing or blessed gift is clearly stated see Rom. 4. 6 7. Blessed is the man whose iniquity is forgiven and whose sin is covered Secondly Peace and reconciliation with himself is another blessing of the new covenant which the Lord gives to all his people and this peace is likewise first preached in the doctrine of the Gospel Hence it is that God saith Isa 57. 19. I create the fruit of the lips Peace Peace to him that is far off and to him that is near saith the Lord. And Christ sent his Disciples with the message of peace Luke 10 5. and the Apostles came preaching peace by Jesus Christ who is Lord of all Acts 10. 36. and this peace and reconciliation is applied and injoyed by faith Ephes 2. 13 14. Ye who sometimes were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ for he is our peace Rom. 5. 1. Being justified by faith we have peace with God c. Thirdly The blessing of the Spirit is another blessing of the new covenant and truly included in that blessing promised to Abraham for there is nothing that tends to make the Saints truly and eternally blessed but it must be included in that blessing promised to Abraham without which persons could not be blessed therefore this of the spirit is reckoned as one of the blessings promised to Abraham and not the least neither Gal. 3. 14. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the promise of the spirit through faith This is the great Gospel blessing and promise of Christ when he was to leave this world and go to the Father that he would send the holy spirit the comforter which promise believers now have a share in Isa 59. 21. As for me this is my covenant c. The refore let the Saints be encouraged to expect such a portion of his promised Spirit as may concur to the effecting of Gods covenant 4. The adoption of sons by the same spirit is another blessing of the new covenant for out of Christ men are strangers enemies but in Christ friends Sons and daughters to the Lord God Almighty Oh friends here is a blessing and a blessed priviledge the Lord hath given to his people in this new covenant John 1. 12. To as many as received him to them he gave power to become the Sons of God even to as many as believe in his name 1 John 3. 1. Behold what manner of love is this which the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God and if Sons then Heirs Heirs of God and Joynt-Heirs with Christ Rom. 8. 17. Oh learn to improve this priviledge and this interest in and relation to the Lord. 5. An interest in great and precious promises both of grace and glory This the Lord gives in this covenant to all his people 2 Pet. 1. 4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises c. Oh the great and precious promises relating both to grace and glory that God hath interested his people in in this covenant every New Testament Promise is a branch of the Covenant and must be performed Promises of pardoning and purging and supporting and preserving grace Promises of the kingdom and the glory that is yet to come this hath God promised in the new Covenant and given his people an interest in the godly have the promises of this life and of that which is to come Oh Therefore let them learn to acquaint themselves more with the promises and more to prize them and to live by faith in the expectation of Gods faithfulness in performing of them for they are his peoples portion till they come to enjoy the Promised possession 6. Free access to the throne of grace as Sons and Daughters in the name of Christ a great and precious favour too little prized and improved by the Lords people God delights to have his children come to him and call upon him in the spirit and faith of sons this is the Lords gift and it is marvellous that he should admit such worthless worms to come to him with acceptance Oh let us learn to prize it and improve it it s a new Covenant mercy that which none can claim a right in but believers It s their priviledge it s their duty let them therefore know it and be incouraged to come with boldness to the throne of grace Never a carnal man in the World can claim a right to this as a new Covenant mercy Psalm 50. 16. To the wicked God said What hast thou to do to take my covenant into thy mouth c. Let not the Lords people be found negligent in this work nor undervaluing it as a low and legal thing but know it is a high and precious priviledge be ye therefore faithful in the improving of it 7 Outward comforts of this life are given in as new covenant mercies although the great promises on which the covenant is established are spiritual and eternal and not such on which the old covenant was established yet the new covenant is not altogether without the promises of this life Godliness hath the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come See Matth. 6. 33. and Luke 12. 31. your heavenly father knoweth that ye have need of these things and all these things shall be added viz. added in with and to the kingdom It s true our Lord hath not promised great things in this life to his people but food and cloathing Therefore having that which God hath promised let us be therewith content for we brought nothing with us into this world and it is certain we shall carry nothing out And let us learn to enjoy all our mercies as handed to us in the new covenant upon the account of Christ and improve all for God not bestow it upon our Iusts but be faithfull in answering Gods precious ends in imbracing such worthless worms in such an inriching covenant as this is in which both grace and glory are included 3 I shall come to shew you the nature of this new covenant which is thus established by Christ 1 It is a free covenant Oh the freeness of Gods love in this covenant this covenant is free 1 Either as relating to God the Author or 2 Relating to man the receiver First relating to God it was free his own councel and purpose of grace freely conceived it in himself and brought forth by and of himself Such was the freeness of the love of God in this covenant that nothing could put a stop to him notwithstanding he foresaw what man would be and do yet this put no stop to the free coming forth of this covenant all the parts of it are free His doing for working
singly upon the account of believing because the covenant was not onely in Gods purpose but brought forth and made manifest in promise and oath long before the most of believers were either of Jew or Gentile Therefore Thirdly the truth lyeth here by the house of Israel we are to understand the elect and chosen of God in Christ before the world was according to the Scripture whether Jew or Gentile 1 Of the Jew consider and compare the Scripture and it will appear that although God hath made many promises unto the natural seed of Abraham to do them good and they are all branches of this covenant yet they are to them not as natural but spiritual even the elect of God Therefore not general to all the seed but to a remnant whom the Lord shall call Joel 2. 32. in Rom. 9. 27. a Remnant shall be saved and explains this remnant Chap. 11. 5. So then there is a remnant at this present time according to the election of grace ver 7. the election obtained it and the rest were blinded So that as there was a remnant at that time even so there shall be a remnant in a time yet to come that God will bring in of that people but not by their Covenant viz. as a nation from mount Sinai but by the covenant of grace where the elect obtains it according to the word of the Lord. Object It is said Rom. 11. 26. That all Israel shall be saved c. Answ That is all Israel the elect out of all the tribes which are the Remnant whom the Lord will call It can be no other For 1 It is so minded in relation to the Remnant then called of the two tribes but there is a time yet to come that God will gather in out of all the tribes And 2 We must so understand this as concording with other Scriptures which saith it shall be but a Remnant even a tenth the holy feed the substance thereof Isay 6. 13. And so among the Gentiles great are the Promises to the Gentiles and the grace revealed yet the elect obtains it and the sheep in Gods councel and Christs knowledge must be brought in Rom. 9. 23 24. Joh. 10. 16. So that in a word the covenant is made to the elect in Christ and effected in and with believers whether Jew or Gentile which is the Fourth particular with whom the covenant is established and that is with Jesus Christ and in him with all the elect and by him established for the elect and accomplished in and with them in his times 1 It is with Jesus Christ as the head he being the foundation of Gods election and choice Isay 42. 1. The first born among many brethren Rom. 8. 29. That in all things he might have the preheminence That this covenant was first made with Christ is clear from the Scripture If we take it as given to Abraham the covenant was with his seed personally that is Christ as hath been before proved Gal. 3 16. The promise was made to Abraham and his seed he saith not seeds as of many but as of one to thy seed which is Christ so that the covenant is clearly stated to and with Jesus Christ and is with and in him hence it is that the Apostle saith that all the promises are in him yea and amen c. 2 Cor. 1. 20. now all the promises are branches of the covenant and the covenant being with and in him all the promises must be in him and in him sure yea and Amen to the praise and glory of God And farther if we consider David as personating Christ the covenant was with him God hath sworn by his holiness he will not lye to David viz. to Christ but his covenant shall stand fast for ever So that Christ stands head in this Covenant to his body the Church And as this covenant is made with Christ it is in behalf of all the elect Christ hath covenanted here in behalf of all the elect note this And that 1 For bringing in 2 For Preservation 3 For giving the kingdom and the glory 1 For bringing in Joh. 6. 37. All that the Father hath given me shall come to me c. Note here is a giving before coming which occasions coming they shall come a giving before believing And it is a giving by covenant as is clearly exprest ver 38. 39. For I came down from heaven not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me And this is the fathers will which hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing Here is the fathers will and Christ came to do it so that here is Christs will and the covenant and agreement between the father and the son and that before Christ came down from heaven For I came down from heaven saith Christ to do the wil of him that sent me The father purposeth the work and the termes on which it must be undertaken Christ accepts it and undertakes it The first part of it is to bring in all that the Father hath given him they shall come to me saith Christ Object All are given to Christ Answ It s true all are given to him but to differing ends See Psal 2. 8 9. Ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession But the gift we are speaking of is a gift by covenant in a way of grace so a remnant are given to Christ and shall come to him Joh. 10. 16. Other sheep I have that are not of this fold them also I must bring in c. That is his elect among the Gentiles yea all that Christ was to bring to God from among the Gentiles are here included and they were his sheep before they were born and before conversion How his but by gift in way of covenant and Christ must bring them in and why to answer the will the covenant on this behalf 2 For preservation Joh. 10. 28 29. They shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of mine hand My father which gave them me is greater then all and no man is able to pluck them out of my fathers hand They are in the sons hand by way of gift and covenant in the fathers hand in way of power the power of the father and the son being one and the same in working therefore the father worketh and the son worketh Christ holdeth them fast and the father holdeth them fast who is greater then all and his greatness is manifest in the son Joh. 6. 39. It is the fathers will that Christ should lose nothing of all that he had given him but that he raise it up and make it good at the last day and this is Christs will too this is the covenant 3 For the donation and giving of the kingdom and the glory this Christ hath undertaken Joh. 10. 28. and I give them eternal life and
faith As God by it works faith so he supporteth and powerfully effecteth the work of salvation by the exercise imploying or working of the same faith for faith is of a working nature it worketh by love Gal. 5. 6. Therefore as it is your duty so let it be your work to live by faith and remember that word Heb. 3. 12. Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God And that word Rom. 11. 20. Because of unbelief they were broken off thou standest by faith be not high minded but fear Remember thy duty as well as Gods Covenant and be faithful A second new Covenant duty is to live the life of love and that to God to his name to his word to his ordinances to his people and to all men enemies as well as friends this is the duty of the new Covenant And this faith and love where it is in truth worketh over the soul to a universal obedience to the whole will of Christ in the new covenant it saith Amen to eve y part thereof it dares not entertain thoughts of taking one part and leave another no that is carnal and too low for a new covenant spirited Christian It dares not change the ordinances of the everlasting covenant no nor trample the blood thereof underfoot But I forbear in this place because you will finde a more exact stating of the duties of the covenant in the end of this Treatise to which I refer you I shall close up the point in hand in answering two weighty Queries Q. 1. What should be the Causes or Reasons that God should adde a conditional ministry and several conditional Promises with positive duties to an absolute Covenant Answ 1. That therein he might hold forth as in the one the riches of his grace and absoluteness of his purpose concerning the salvation of his people so in the other he keeps up his authority as a father and the authority of Christ as our Lord and king That although the new covenant on Gods part be absolute yet had he not stated conditions on mans part his authority over his people must have fallen and they left without duty to God as a Father or to Christ as their Lord and King Joh. 5. 22 23. Mat. 7. 21. Luke 6. 46. Therefore it is conditional as to them that they might know their duty and have conscience of it And it is absolute on Gods part that so they might look to him and be comforted and live by faith in the stabillity and unchangeableness that is in the Father and the Son So that by this means the Saints are kept clear and conscientious of and to their duties in the covenant and comforted in looking up to the Lord from whence their strength comes 2 Because persons must be judged by the duties of the Covenant on mans part and condemned too for transgression of the conditions and duties of the covenant The absoluteness of Gods covenant shall not be the rule of judging Though that be the ground of all true happiness to the Saints yet the Saints themselves must be judged in the great day of the Lord and the conditions and duties of the Covenant shall be the rule by which they shall be judged See 2 Cor. 5. 10. Mat. 25. 34 35 36. we must not onely all appear before the judgement seat there to give an account but we must expect to give an account according to the things done in the body c. and the Lords own people many of them are like to have such an account to give as in which they may must suffer loss 1 Cor. 3. 12 13 14 15. and the eternal judgement of the wicked will be for the transgression of the rules conditions and duties of the covenant I mean such as have come under the sound of the doctrine of the covenant Mark 16. 15 16. Rom. 2. 7 8 9 10. So that by this means all the world shall stand guilty before God at that day Sutable to the preaching forth of the grace of the Gospel Whether in the works of creation and the daily good the world enjoys upon that account or the communications of God through the law or in the plain ministration of the Gospel And true believers shall then be acquitted and eternally pardoned by the grace of the covenant for then shall be the perfect and compleat administration of the grace of the covenant and in this manner and at this time it shall make the comers thereunto perfect Isay 33. 24. Heb. 8. 12. Then the inhabitant shall not say I am sick for the People that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity 3 That the Saints being justified and eternally saved by the grace of the covenant might have the reward of the kingdom promised dispensed to them sutable to their faithfulness in the performance of the conditions and duties of the covenant for thus it shall be Let none through ignorance account it Popish but keep clear in this That justification and a state of salvation is clear by the blood of the covenant our interest and claimed by faith and hope which faith if true is the faith of the operation of God Col. 2. 12. That is of the work of God but the reward so much spoken of shall be given sutable to the work either active in doing or Passive in suffering else what means those Scriptures Luke 19 17 18 19. with 1 Tim. 6. 17 18 19. 2 Cor. 4. 17 18. and the condemnation of the wicked shall be given to them sutable to the nature of their sin against Christ c. Luke 12. 47 48. Thus hath God stated conditions and duties in an absolute covenant that his own name and honour as a Father and Christs authority as a head and Lord might be preserved that he might be just and righteous when he judgeth and condemneth Fourthly That the persons who through faith come to profess an interest in this covenant might be manifest by their performance of the duties of the covenant The truth of faith in Christ and love to him is manifest by obedience to him and the people that have no heart to the duties of the covenant may justly suspect themselves to have no share in the grace in that Covenant Joh. 14. 15. If you love me keep my commandements ver 24. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings c. 5 That believers might be kept humble and heedful Rom. 11. 20. Thou standest by faith be not high minded but fear Ver. 21. Take heed lest he spare not thee Heb. 4. 1. Let us therefore fear lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest any of you should seem to come short of it God would that his peoples confidence and watchfulness should go hand in hand till they are fully possest of the promised rest Psal 2. 11. Serve the Lord with fear rejoyce with trembling Saints must rejoyce and yet tremble
particular proposed namely 2. To prove that Jesus Christ is the middle person between God and man or the Mediator of the new covenant for proof see not onely the text which is full and clear but likewise chap. 8. 6. he is said to be the Mediator of a better Covenant that is of the new covenant which is established upon better promises c. and chap. 9. 15. And for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament c. and 1 Tim. 2. 5. There is one God and one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus Thus you see the truth lieth clear That Jesus Christ is the Mediator of the new covenant a truth of very great and special concernment for the Lords people to be acquainted with and established in it being the enemies design and great endeavour to ruine faith in this truth and hath gon very far in the work with many at this day 3. The persons for whom he is a Mediator and the matter for what and that not onely 1. Generally for men There is one God and one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2. 5. But secondly and more particularly and especially he is a Mediator of the new covenant so that then he is a Mediator for those included in the covenant between the Father and Christ I have before shewed that the covenant is made with Christ and in him with and for all the elect and chosen of the Father so that he mediates 1. For and in behalf of those given to him by the Father in order to the work of conversion and coming in to own the grace of the covenant My beloved friends I do believe that there is never a sinner converted from the evil of his way but it is by vertue of the Mediatorship of Jesus Christ at the right hand of God John 3. 3. Christ saith Except a man be born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God So the word in the Greek from above and Jam. 1. 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights And truly the work of conversion and faith in Jesus is a good work Therefore it s added ver 18. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth It is such a gift as he that hath it not must be damned it is a fruit of the spirit that is the earnest of our iâ—â—eritance the evidence of things not seen I suppose that none of knowledge and conscience dare deny but that all good is by vertue of Christ God gives it by him and that in way of Mediatorship It s true some there are who are so bold as to deny faith and conversion to be the gift of God that they would have to be beaten out of their own brains But as it is a gift from â—eaven so it is by vertue of Christs being there To deny this is to deny salvation by Jesus Christ for if saith and salvation be not by vertue of Christ his Mediatorship with the Father then salvation may be obtained without a Mediator and this absolutely destroys the Gospel and salvation by Jesus Christ But the new birth is a heavenly birth that is a birth from above Hence it is the Apostle saith Gal. 4. 26. Jerusalem which is above is free which is the Mother of us all and Psalm 87. speaking prophetically of the new covenant and of Jerusalem that City which is above and the flowing in of the Gentiles saith ver 4. 5. Of Zion it shall be said This and that man was born in her that is Jerusalem which is above from thence is the work wrought thence is the spirit given If I go away saith Christ I will send the spirit and he wil convince the world of sin of righteousness and of judgement John 16. 7 8. It s the spirits work to convince of sin c. that is to effect by the doctrine of the Gospel the whole work of conversion And the sending of the spirit is a fruit of Christs Mediatorship If I go not away the comforter will not come but if I go away I will send him and I will pray the Father and he will send you another comforter c. The Mediatorship of Christ and the doctrine of the Gospel concurs together and the spirit that is a fruit of Christs Mediatorship as well as the doctrine of salvation and is given to conversion in the preaching of the doctrine of the Gospel This I would learn of you received ye the spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith Gal. 3. 2. So that it is evident that Jesus Christ is a Mediator of the new covenant in behalf of unconverted ones for their conversion and work of faith that they might come to know the grace given to them in Christ and so come to receive the grace prepared for them Luke 23. 34. Then said Jesus Father forgive them they know not what they do 2 He is a Mediator for all his people believers to whom the covenant is revealed or made known he is with the Father for them He is between God and man viz. His people That is it the Apostle saith 1 John 2. 1. If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous c. Heb. 9. 24. He is now in the presence of God for us that is for his people believers if they sin he is their Mediator and Advocate Quest But what doth he mediate for for his people Answ In brief he is all to his Father for his people and brings down all good from the Father to his people he makes both the persons and services of his people acceptable with the Father and makes the Fathers goodness and will acceptable to and with his people This is the sum of all from whence every branch flows But more particularly as he mediates to the Father for his people so 1. He presents their persons and makes them accepted though they are poor and wretched in themselves yet to the Father they are lovely in his son a word of singular consolation for poor Saints who live in the sight and sence of their own poverty Matth. 3. 17. And lo a voyce from heaven saying This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased God is not onely well pleased with Christ but he is well pleased in him with all his poor people and that is it Christ saith Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven Matth. 5. 3. Jesus Christ is a Mediator for such and they are made accepted in the beloved Ephes 1. 6. Thus through the Mediatorship of Christ the persons of his people are accepted of the Father and so they stand in an acceptable justified state with God 2 Their services are by virtue of the Mediatorship of Christ accepted with God he is not onely well pleased with their persons but he is likewise
weakness and ignorance it may be they desire health and he gives sickness they desire riches and he gives Poverty c. why your Lord your Mediator knows sickness to be best and poverty to be best Therefore be content man with what the Lord gives down Paul prayes thrice that the thorne in the flesh might be taken away or depart from him c. God answers him in that which was best for him gives him another thing for the present and that is strength of grace to encounter with it resist and bear it till it should be removed My grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12. 8 9. And that was as good or better then the sudden removal of the tentation c. 4 Advantage is the preparation of the kingdom and the glory for them Christ is with his Father in heaven not onely mediating for present supplies and supports and giving a present acceptation to the persons and prayers of the Saints but he is preparing the kingdom for them that the Father giveth to them Joh. 14. 2. I go to prepare a place for you Hark you friends Jesus Christ is gone to prepare a Place for you a heavenly a glorious Place an inheritance that is incorruptible and uâ—â—efiled and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you 1 Pet. 1. 4. An house not made with hands but eternal in the heavens 2 Cor. 5. 1. and this is done by virtue of the mediatorship of Christ it s purchased by virtue of his death Hence it s called the purchased Possession Ephes 1. 14. But it shall be prepared and given to them by virtue of the mediatorship of Christ Joh. 17. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory c. 7 I come to the Reasons why the New Covenant which is free and absolute and all glorious must have Christ to be the Mediator of it The reasons are 1 Why it must be so 2 Why it is so 1 Why it must be so First because it was the Fathers eternal councel and will that although the fountain of love and all good was and is in God from all eternity yet he never intended to bring it forth to the sons of men any other way but by the death and mediatorship of Jesus Hence the Apostle saith 1 Pet. 1. 20. He was verily foreordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you who do by him believe in God c. 2 It being so there is a necessity that Christ should be the Mediator of this covenant without which it is impossible that his people should have the grace of the Covenant This being the way ordained by the Father for the conveyance of grace and glory to his people and the way for his people to come up to him Joh. 14. 6. Heb. 10. 19 20. So that here is a necessity for Christ to be the Mediator of the New Covenant 3 There was and is a necessity in respect of the fallen miserable state of man by nature and the weak poor state of believers through the remainders of the corruption of nature that without it there was no way of redemption from wrath nor of standing and persevering nor boldness to come to God but alone by and through the Mediator of the New Covenant So that it appears here was a necessity for Christ to be the Mediator of the New Covenant to wit for and in behalf of his people interested in the covenant for the giving forth of the good things of the covenant unto them 2 Why it is so First because he was thereunto appointed of God and it is his office and his work to be mediating in behalf of his People and therefore in it Christ answers the Fathers will and performs his office he is appointed unto And secondly it is so 1 because Christ hath accepted of and taken the office upon him and undertaken too for and in the behalf of all his poor people Loe I come to do thy will O God Christ came to undertake the office and to do the work for those that could not do it themselves 2 Christ was appointed by the Father and accepted of the office and work of Mediator That so salvation might be sure to all the seed this is the way of assurance that God hath given to his people that Christ hath undertaken he work for them and takes the care of them He is become their Good shepherd and Bishop to wit overseer of their souls He hath undertaken according to the Fathers will to take the care of all the sheep and to see that they do not perish and he is enabled to it by the very power of the Father that he might be able to accomplish it it is that salvation might be sure sure mercy Isay 55. 3. Sure support and preservation from enemies that they might be surely and safely kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation Quest If Christ hath undertaken the work of Mediatorship that is the bringing forth to his people and accomplishing all the blessings of the New Covenant why then do the Saints pray for it and endeavour after it as if it was their work to get every blessing c. Answ I must in my answer to this Question say as I have said before touching the Covenant it self viz. That although the Covenant be absolute yet there is the duty of the Covenant So I say although Jesus Christ be the Mediator of the New Covenant yet it is the duty of the Lords people to seek after every good thing they stand in need of what ever Christ hath undertaken to mediate for as far as they are enlightned in it they are to seek after it And indeed it is by virtue of the mediatorship of Christ that they have that liberty and priviledge and may have that boldness So that Christ is a Mediator to procure for the Saints whatever they pray for in faith according to the will of God to right ends and to procure all good for them even what they through ignorance pray not for The Saints prayers cannot be available but as in Christ their Mediator for out of him God is a consuming fire but in him and in him alone is he full of love and grace a God pardoning iniquity transgression and sinne Before I come to application I shall speak something briefly unto the two other Parts or Branches of the doctrine The second Part of which is That believers are come to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant and this is a happy state indeed to come to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant Quest What are we to understand by coming or being come to Jesus Answ 1. To come to Jesus is to believe in him He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Joh. 6. 37. To come to Christ by faith and to own him in all his offices to look
is the onely son the beloved son and you know how far an onely beloved son may prevail with his Father and not onely so but he is our Father likewise my Father and your Father saith Christ and the Father himself loveth you and therefore there is no question of prevailing for every good thing 2. There is assured application of the pardon of sin Christs sacrifice did purchase pardon but as he liveth in heaven a Mediator he applieth pardon by the purchase I saith Christ have given my life and blood for this poor sinner and therefore oh Father let him have pardon he shall have remission of all his sins 1 John 1. 9. and 2. 12. Therefore let it be your work beloved friends whose hearts are approaching to him to be by faith applying pardon and remission to your selves dayly for I know that you dayly need it and what ever is good for you believe it shall be done for the Father loves you and is as willing to do for you as your Advocate is to ask nay as you your selves can be to receive therefore no doubt of receiving what is good for you Onely here lieth the case your Father and mediator sees that to be good sometimes which you cannot see to be so and that makes you to dislike and it may be sees that would hurt you which you are willing to have and so denies you of it 1 In a word for the improving of the consolation of this doctrine call to minde the former truths viz. 1 The persons for whom he mediates 2 For what he mediates 3 The advantages that come thereby And make application to your souls and see if it fill not your hearts with all joy and peace in believing c. 2 Remember that it is a high and glorious state you are come unto above that under the law above all hypocrites formalists or notionists that trample underfoot this precious state In a word above all people in the world there is no higher estate attainable in this world then to come to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant and therefore Rejoyce in the Lord and again I say rejoyce and bless his name that hath brought you hither you are come to God to Christ to Angels to Saints to grace and shall come to glory 3 Improve this precious priviledge to the utmost come to God in the name of Jesus come with boldness to the throne of grace c. Let not thy imperfections and unworthiness keep thee back remember in all thy approches to God that Jesus the mediator is with him for thee and be even liveth to make intercession for thee be encouraged therefore to improve thy interest in this Mediator who will never fail thee nor forsake thee Object Oh! But may some poor souls say I am a sinner and am affraid and oft times to look up and am much discouraged by reason of the sinfull nature and the evil that doth attend me what may I do in this case Answ So much the more need man of a Mediator and so much the more need to be looking up and improving thy interest in heaven and know he is a Mediator for those that are sinners burthened with sin therefore let not that discourage thee from looking up to Jesus but rather look the more to him Object I know not oft times how to pray nor what to pray for as I ought Answ He knows what thy wants are and will pray for thee he is thy Mediator and he gives his spirit to intercede for thee with sighs and groans which cannot be uttered Rom. 8. 26. Therefore go to God in the name of Jesus be not discouraged but seek there and what ever you pray for let it be in the name of your Mediator In truth I do believe that the Lords people have failed much in this matter and to be much looking to God in our Mediator would be the way to prevail much with God John 16. 23. Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name he will give it you And above all take heed that ye be not ensnared by the adversary to turn your back upon this blessed Mediator that is in heaven for his people This I may say is the last and the great snare of the devil at this day to destroy faith in this great truth of the Gospel and to prevail on poor creatures to turn their back on Christ Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant Tremble at this abomination be it under never so glorious a pretence And lastly let this be a word to invite and engage poor sinners to come in to Jesus to this Mediator to this covenant a high and glorious estate Oh let not any poor souls content themselves in any estate short of this short of Jesus the Mediator is nothing but death Consider what your souls need is and that he invites all burdened and heavy laden sinners to come to him Oh therefore away to Jesus there is love there is life there is pardon there is peace and in a word the perfection of all good but short of him there is nothing but wo and misery and death indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish on every soul that doth evil New Covenant Principles OF Gospel or New Covenant principles of Truth necessary to be known and believed by all the Saints for their being established and standing stable and sound in the Faith 1 Concerning God THat God is in his being Heb. 11. 6. Psal 46. 10. Isay 43. 12. And that there is but one God who is the Father of all 1 Cor. 8 4. Ephes 4. 6. Deut. 6. 4. That this one God is a Spirit John 4. 24. Who made all things by Jesus Christ Joh. 1. 2 3. Heb. 1. 2. Ephes 3. 9. Col. 1. 15 16. and that he is infinite in power wisdom grace and glory Gen. 17. 1. Psal 147. 5. Exod. 34. 6. Holy just eternal by his Spirit present in all places John 24. 19. Isa 5. 16. Lev. 19. 2. 20. 7. 1 Pet. 1. 15 16. Isa 45. 21. Heb. 3. 5. Isa 40. 28. Deut. 33. 27. Rom. 1. 20. Psal 139. 7 8 9. That his glorious majesty is in heaven 1 Kings 8. 30. Psal 11. 4. Eccles 5. 2. Dan. 2. 28. Matth. 5. 16. 45. 48. 6. 1 9. 7. 11 21. 10. 32 33. 12. 50. 16 17. 18. 10 19. Mark 11. 25 26. John 20. 17. Heb. 9. 24. 1. 3. 8. 1. And this one God is distinguished into Father Word and holy Spirit which three the word being understood the divine nature the fulness of the God head that dwelt in Christ is this one eternal infinite God Job 1. 1. Joh. 15. 26. 1 Job 5. 7. 2 Concerning Jesus Christ That Jesus Christ is truly God Is 9. 6. Rom. 9. 5. 1 Jo. 3. 16. and that from eternity with God Joh. 1. 1. filled with the divine fulness Col. 1. 19. 2. 9. the eternal Word and Son by whom all things were made
Joh. 1. 2 3. Ephes 3. 9. Col. 1. 15 16. Heb. 1. 2. That this word was made or manifest in flesh Joh. 1. 14. 1 Tim. 3. 16. And so was truly man of the seed of David according to the flesh Rom. 1. 3. Act. 2. 30. Rom. 9. 5. The true Messiah promised in the Old Testament Gen. 3. 15. Gal. 4. 4. Joh. 1. 45. Gen. 12. 3. Gal. 3. 16. That he humbled himself and became obdient even to the death of the Cross for our sins Phil. 2. 7 8 9. 1 Cor. 15. 3. was raised from the dead Luke 24. 6 7. 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. and is ascended into heaven to the Father Joh. 20. 17. Acts 1. 10 11. and made Lord and Christ Acts 2. 36. head over all to and for the Church Ephes 1. 20 21 22 23. 3 Concerning the holy Spirit That the holy Spirit is of God Gen. 1. 2. Isay 61. 1. 1 Cor. 2. 12. Numb 24. 2. 1 Sam. 10. 10. 11. 6. 19. 20 23. Job 27. 3. Matth. 3. 16. Proceeds from him Joh. 15. 26. And is eternal Heb. 9. 14. present in all places Psal 139. 7 8 9. and admits of no cessation from the Father and the Son though of distinction in which he is one of the Three which distinction is safe enough to be retained and all that are to be baptized are first to be taught the knowledge of and faith in Father Son and holy Spirit Matth. 28. 18 19. 4 Concerning man That God made man upright Gen. 1. 26 27. Ecles 7. 29. but he fell from that estate into an estate of sin and death Gen. 3. 6 7. Rom. 10. 12. 5 Concerning mans recovery That is by faith in Iesus Christ crucified raised and ascended and not by any fancy whatsoever Joh. 6. 39. Acts 13. 38 39. Rom. 3. 22 23 24 25 26. Ephes 1. 6 7. Col. 1. 21 22. Rev. 1. 5. 6 Concerning faith Faith is to believe the truth and faithfulness of God in his word Rom. 4. 3. 1 Joh. 5. 10 11. and that he is able and will perform it Joh. 10. 28 29. Rom. 4. 20 21. Ephes 3. 10. Heb. 7. 25. 1 Cor. 10. 13. 1 Thes 5. 24. 2 Thes 3. 3. 7 Of the object of justifying faith Jesus Christ crucified as the gift of God to and for sinners is the object of faith Joh. 3. 16 36. 6. 29 47. Acts 26. 18. Rom. 3. 24. 1 Joh. 3. 23. And in and by Christ the Father is likewise the object of faith Joh. 5. 24. 12. 44. Rom. 8. 33 34. 1 Pet. 1. 21. and not the light within or any other fancy whatsoever 8 Concerning the ground of faith The goodness power wisdom and will of God made manifest in Christ and declared in the Scriptures of truth is the ground of faith Exod. 34. 6. Psal 34. 8. 36. 7. Gen. 17. 1. 2 Chro. 20. 6. 14. 11. Dan. 3. 17. Rom. 4 20 21. Ephes 3. 20. 2 Tim. 1. 12. Joh. 20. 31. 14. 6. Heb. 10. 19 20 21. 9 Of hope That hope is an unseparable companion of faith 1 Cor. 13. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 21. and when faith believes the truth of God declared in his word and the life that is in Jesus then comes in hope hoping for an interest in that grace and glory Acts 24. 15. Rom. 8. 24. 15. 4. Col. 1. 5. 23. Tit. 3. 7. 1 Pet. 1. 13. This of hope is an acceptable grace Psal 33. 18. 149. 11. It is the applying part of faith Heb. 6. 11. 1 Thes 5. 8. 1 Tim. 1. 1. Tit. 2. 13. So that the justifying faith of the New Covenant is when a soul truly believes the truth of God in his word and the life that is in Iesus Christ crucified hopes for an interest in this grace and cleavs to and trusts in the Lord. 10 Concerning works That works do undoubtedly accompany faith and that true faith is of a working purifying nature and that faith which is without works is a dead faith Acts 15. 9. Gal. 5. 6. Ephes 2. 10. 4. 17. to 32. Tit. 3. 8. Jam. 2. 17. 22. and that those works should be according to the mind of God in Scripture and not mens own fancies which leads to the 11. 11 Concerning the Scriptures That the Scripture is the true and faithfull word of God and is so to be believed Psal 93. 5. 111. 7. 119. 138. Joh. 5. 39. 1 Cor. 14. 37. Rom. 1. 2. 2 Pet. 1. 19 20 21. And that all believers actions are or ought to be ordered according to the Scriptures Isay 8. 20. 2 Tim. 3. 14 15 16 17. 2 Pet. 1. 19. 12 Concerning the Mediatorship of Christ That Jesus Christ is in heaven at the right hand of God in the performance of his great office and work of mediatorship for and in behalf of all his people Rom. 8. 34. Ephes 1. 20. Col. 3. 1. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Heb. 1. 3. 7. 25. 8 1 6. 9. 15. 24. 10. 12. 12. 2 24. 1 Pet. 3. 22. 13. That Jesus Christ shall assuredly come again from heaven at the time appointed Acts 1. 11. 3. 20 21. and shall raise the dead and judge the quick and dead 1 Cor. 15. 51 52. Joh. 5. 28. 1 Thes 4. 16. 2 Tim. 4. 1. Matth. 24. 30. and take to himself his great power and reign Rev. 11. 17. 14. That the Saints shall live and reign with Christ in eternal life Matth. 19. 29. 25. 34 46. Luke 12. 32. Isay 35. 10. Rev. 20. 4. 21. 4. and the wicked shall live in eternal misery Matth. 25. 41. Rev. 6. 15 16 17. 2 Thes 1. 7 8 9. 15. That the Covenant God made made with Abraham through faith in which he became the father of many nations viz. all belivers Gentiles as well as Jews was the Gospel Covenant Gen. 15. 5 6. 12. 3. 17. 4 5. 22. 18. 18. 18. Acts 3. 25. Rom. 4. 11 13 14 16 17 18. Gal. 3. 8 14 17 18. 16. That the Covenant by virtue of which infants in the Old Testament ministration had a right to be Church members or to ordinances was not this Covenant but that of circumcision which was one and the same with the law from mount Sinai the Covenant made with the children of Israel when God brought them by Moses out of Egypt and was a subservient Covenant added for that ministration till the seed was come to which the Gospel Covenant was made and is done away Gen. 17. 10. to 14. with Joh. 7. 22. Gal. 5. 2 3. 3. 19. Rom. 2. 25. 17. That who ever brings in Church members on the Old Testament membership makes null and void the Gospel covenant Rom. 4. 14. 2 Cor. 5. 16 17. Gal. 4. 21 to 31. 3. 19 29. 18. That Gods foreknowledge and choice in electing some men and women to salvation in Christ was before the beginning of the world Ephes 1. 4. Rom. 8. 29. 2 Tim. 1. 9.
19. That the effectual work of conversion and faith is a special work of grace wrought by the Spirit of Christ in the ministration of the Gospel Joh. 5. 21. 25. Rom. 9. 15. 2 Cor. 4. 6. Ephes 2. 5 6 8. Heb. 8. 8. 10. 10. 16. 12. 2. 20. That God hath a people that he owns in his unchangeable covenant that shall be kept by him and never fall away for this we have 1 The word of God Joh. 10. 28 29. 13. 1. Rom. 8. 29 30. Phil. 1. 6. Col. 3. 3 4. Heb. 12. 2. 1 Joh. 3. 9. 2 The Covenant of God Psal 89. 33 34. Jer. 31. 31 32 33. 32. 40. Heb. 8. 8. 3 The oath of God Psal 89. 35. Gen. 22. 16 17 18. Isay 44. 9 10. Heb. 6. 17 18. 21. That the Saints are to expect manifold tribulations while they are here in the spiritual warfare both within and without and through many tribulations to enter into the kingdom Jam. 1. 2. 12. John 16. 33. Acts 14. 22. 1 Cor. 10. 13. 22. That perfection is by the New Covenant of Gods grace in Christ Heb. 7. 19. 10. 1. 23. That this perfection is of two degrees the first is a perfection of justification and sanctification in way of imputation obtained by faith in Christ Rom. 5. 1. Acts 13. 39. Rom. 4. 5 6 7 8. 1 Cor. 1. 2. The second is personal righteousness holiness and glory begun here and shall be perfected at the coming of Christ and the resurrection and not before 1 Cor. 13. 9 10 11 12. Phil. 3. 20. Col. 3. 4. 24. That Jesus Christ is faithful in his house as a Son and hath left absolute rules for his people to walk by in the new Testament in their imperfect state till his coming again from heaven and that there is no need for the Saints to go back to the old Testament as from mount Sinai or to mens inventions or their own imaginations for Gospel rules to walk by Matth. 28. 19 20. Acts 3. 22 23. Heb. 3. 5 6. and whoever so doth dishonors Christ and commits a dangerous sin Job 5. 22 23 Acts 3. 22 23. Luke 19. 14 27. 25. That the Church of Christ according to the Scripture will admit of a two fold distinction 1 All the elect of God the first born whose names are written in heaven unto which all true believers are come and out of which there is no salvation Heb. 12. 22 23. Ephes 5. 25 26. 2 Particular congregations constituted according to Gospel order i. e. united to Christ their head by faith and each to other by love agreeing together to walk in all the ordinances of Jesus Christ in the new Covenant of his grace Acts 2. 41 42. 1 Cor. 11. 2. 2 Thes 2. 11. and it s the duty of all believers thus to walk Job 15. 14. New Covenant Duties I come now to the more particular and distinct stating of the duties of the Covenant and rules left by Christ for his people to walk by till his second coming as they are exprest and implyed in the new Testament 1 Of general Gospel duties for all Saints as believers 1. REpentance from dead works and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is a special duty of the New Covenant Heb. 6. 1. Matth. 3. 2. 4. 17. Mark 1. 15. 16. 16. Luke 24 47. Joh. 3. 16. 36. 6. 29 47. 8. 24. 20. 31. Acts 2. 38. 10. 47 48. 8. 36 37. 16. 33 34. 2. Baptism with water in the name of Father Son and Spirit or in the name of the Lord Jesus after believing Matth. 28. 18 19. Mark 16. 16. Acts 2. 38. 41. and 8. 22 37 38. and 10. 47 48. and 16. 33 34. 3. To walk holyly in all manner of conversation and godliness being thereunto called 1 Pet. 1. 15. 2 Pet. 3. 11. Levit. 20. 7 26. Psalm 93. 5. Luke 1. 75. Rom. 6. 19 22. 2 Cor. 7. 1. 1 Thes 3. 13. and 4. 3. 7. 4. To shine as lights in the world Luke 12. 35. Phil. 2. 15. Prov. 4. 18. 5. To cast away and depart from the most profitable and the most beloved sin or lust Matth. 5. 29 30. and 18. 8 9. Mark 9. 43. Isai 30. 22. Hose 14. 8. 6. To be humble and self denying a special new covenant frame of spirit and desireable duty to be prest after by every new man in Christ Matth. 5. 3. and 16. 24. and 18. 3 4. Luke 14. 10 11. and 9. 23. and 17. 10. Rom. 12 16. Psalm 34. 18. Isai 57. 15. and 66. 2. 7. To take Christ for our pattern 1 In meekness and humility Matth. 11. 28. Phil. 2. 5 6. 2 In love and services Ephes 5. 2. John 13. 13 14 15. Matth. 20. 26 27 28. 3 In obedience John 4. 34. and 15. 10. 1 John 2. 6. 4 In purity and holiness 1 Pet. 1. 15. 1 John 3. 3. Heb. 7. 26. 5 In patient suffering for him when called to it Acts 14. 22. Heb. 12. 2 3. 1 Pet. 2. 21. to 25. and 4. 1. 8. To walk worthy of that high and holy calling wherewith and whereunto we are called Ephes 4. 1 17. Phil. 1. 17. Col. 1. 10. Tit. 3. 14. 9. To be instant in prayer 1 Thes 5. 17. Matth. 7. 7 8. Luke 18. 1. and 22. 40. Rom. 12. 12. and this to be performed 1 Private Matth. 6. 46 2. with other believers Matth. 18. 17 20 3. without vain repetitions or much speaking Matth. 6. 6 8. and is to be made first for all Saints Ephes 6. 18 2. for all men 1 Tim. 2. 1. 10. To love God and Christ above all Matth. 10. 37. Luke 10. 27. Psalm 18. 1. and 116. 1. Cant. 1. 2 7. and 3. 1 2. To fear God with a son-like scar above all Luke 12. 5. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Heb. 12. 28. 1 Pet. 1. 17. Nehe. 5. 15. Psalm 5. 7. and 34. 11. and 111. 10. Isai 8. 13. Jer. 10. 7. 12. To love the Saints with a true love for the sake of Christ Rom. 12. 9 10. John 13. 34. and 15. 12 17. 1 Thes 4. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 22. and 4. 8. 1 John 2. 10. and 3. 11 14 16 17 18 23. and 4. 7 8 11 16 20 21. 2 epist 5. 13. To love enemies and pray for them and not to hate them Matth. 5. 44. Luke 6. 27 28 33. Rom. 12. 14 20. 14. To take heed and beware of coveteousness Matth 6. 19 20. Psalm 10. 3. Luke 12. 15. and 16. 9 10 14. Acts 20. 33. 1 Cor. 5. 10 11. and 6. 10. Ephes 5. 5. Col. 3. 5. 1 Tim. 6. 10 2 Tim. 3. 2. and not to lay up treasure in earth but in heaven Mat. 6. 19. 20. 15. To be watchful A great Gospel duty much neglected Mat. 24. 42. 25. 13. 26. 41. Mark 16. 33. 35. Luke 21. 36. 1 Cor. 16. 13. Col. 4. 2. 1 Thes 5. 6. 1 Pet. 4. 7. Rev. 3. 3. 16. 15. 16. To seek