the State which he negotiates for And so doth Jesus Christ of all his Elect. For their sakes it was that he sanctified himselfe when he was upon Earth John 17.19 In all the services which here he undertook he had an eye unto them seeking their welfare more then his own And the like he doth now in Heaven He sitteth at the right hand of God as their Agents interceding for them This was shadowed out in the High Priest under the Law who when he went into the Holy Place there to appear before the Lord he had the Names of the twelve Tribes of Israel ingraven in stones first upon his Humerall then upon his Pectorall bearing them both upon his shoulders and upon his heart as you shall finde it Exod. 28.12 29. in both shewing that he entred into that place not onely or principally in his own behalfe but in the behalfe of the Tribes whom he represented and presented before the Lord to the end that they might be had in continuall remembrance with him as the 29th verse there explains it A lively Type of Christ's Intercession who being entred into the Heavens he there appeareth before God in the behalfe of his Elect whom he beareth as it were upon his shoulders and upon his Heart sustaining their persons and presenting their condition unto God his Father so causing them to be had in perpetuall memory And thus presenting them unto God he procureth their welfare by commending their estate and condition unto God Expressing his constant will and desire for their good that they may be delivered from evill that they may enjoy all the benefits whch he hath merited for them by his death And thus is he said most properly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to intercede for them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 significat Interpellationem quae fit cum postulatione Estius Com. in Heb. 7.25 viz. by making requests on their behalfe This saith Estius is the most proper signification of the word therein following Augustine with whom the Apostles Interpellare is the same with Postulare To Intercede is to make Request So our former Translation renders it in that place fore-named Rom. 8.34 Estius in Rom. 8.34 Heb. 7.25 Who also maketh request for us This Jesus Christ doth though not vivâ voce Orally and vocally by word of mouth as the same Jesuit would willingly have it drawing in Thomas though without any just ground to be of the same mind with him yet really and effectually viz. by the presenting of his merit and expressing his will and desire on the behalfe of his people in such a way as is congruous and sutable to that glorified state Thus doth he intercede make requests for them thereby impetrating and obtaining for them such things as they stand in need of and he hath merited for them As viz. that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Paul speaketh of Phil. 1.19 a continuall supply of the Spirit whereby they are strengthened and assisted against all Tentations comforted in all Tribulations delivered from every evill work inabled to the performance of every duty and finally preserved unto his heavenly Kingdom All which are fruits of Christ's Intercession though merited by his death upon the Cross yet impetrated and obtained by his Intercession in Heaven And thus we see how Jesus Christ this our Mediatour appeareth before God on the behalfe of his people as an Agent conserving their Peace maintaining their Intercourse and Communion with God reconciling their emergent differences and procuring their welfare Secondly He appeareth before God as an Advocate 2 As an Advocate being So Saint John calleth him 1 John 2.1 If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Originall A word generally and properly signifying any one that is invited and called in to the help and assistance of another That is also the proper meaning of the word Advocatus In Scripture we find it attributed sometimes to the Holy Ghost and sometimes to Christ To the Holy Ghost Then it is fitly rendred a Comforter So you find it Joh. 14.16 15.26 16.17 In this place and only this of St John it is attributed unto Christ and here it is most fitly rendred an Advocate An Advocate we know what he is One that is of counsel with another and pleadeth his cause in open Court at the Bar of Justice And such an Advocate is Jesus Christ unto his people 1. He is of Counsel with them 2 of Counsell with them That is one of the Titles given to him by the Prophet Isai Isai 9.6 Wounderfull Counsellour So Christ is to his people counselling them in the midst of all their straits and difficulties which he doth by his Word and Spirit 2. And as of Counsell with them so pleading for them 2 Pleading for them This he doth in the High Court of Heaven at the Bar of God's Justice In which respect he may be fitly said to appear for them Even as an Advocate appeareth for his Client and pleadeth his cause answering all Accusations and Allegations which are made against him vindicating his right So doth the Lord Jesus appearing before God he pleadeth the cause of his people answering what ever Accusations or Allegations are brought in against them by Satan or their own Consciences vindicating their right to Heaven and Eternall Life All which he doth by the continuall presentation of his Merit unto God his Father the Merit of his Death and Passion whereby he hath made a full satisfaction unto his Justice for all their sins This it is which pleadeth for them even the Blood of Christ which as the Authour to the Hebrews saith of it Heb. 12.24 Speaketh better things then the Blood of Abel Abel's blood pleaded against Cain crying for vengeance Gen. 4.10 But the Blood of Christ pleadeth for his Elect crying for mercy pardon for them even for all that shall believe on him For them the Blood of Christ speaketh a good word pleading the generall plea a Plenè satisfecit a full satisfaction made unto the Justice of God for them So as by this meanes they are freed from the Accusation and Condemnation of the Law wherunto otherwise every day by reason of their renewed transgressions they become obnoxious This is the ground of Paul's Triumph Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen who is he that condemneth c It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh Intercession for us This hee doth as an Advocate there pleading the cause of his Elect 3ly As he is an Advocate so also an Attourney 3. As an Attourny An Attourney wee know what in Law it means One that is authorized to appear for or to act in the name of another And such an Attourney is the Lord Jesus on the behalf of his elect people 1. Appearing before
where he telleth beleevers that they were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world Chosen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Christ or for Musculus Loc. Com. de Electione Cap. 6. by and through Christ In him as Members in their Head For by and through him as Mediator He being the Head of the Election the first born amongst many Brethren as the Apostle upon another account calls him Rom. 8.29 the first that opened the womb others were Elected in by and through him Thus was he a Mediator before his Incarnation yea before the worlds Creation Then was he a Mediator in the business of Election yea and then was he predestinated to be a Mediator of Reconciliation I was set up from Everlasting saith Wisdome Prov. 8.23 It is spoken of Christ the Wisedome of the Father who was designed and appointed to be a Mediator from Eternity Thus was he called to be a Mediator before time 2. In time 2. In time Then was he invested in this office put upon the undertaking and executing of it Which he did first virtually then actually 1. Virtually 1. Virtually and Inchoately So was he a Mediator even from the fall of Adam When God and Man were fallen at variance by reason of sin so as the First Covenant the Covenant of works was disolved and broken and an enmity through Satans artifice introduced Now did the Lord Christ for the disolving of that work of the Divell and the repayring in measure that breach which sin had made enter upon the exercise of this office of Mediatorship to which he was before designed Now did he undertake that great negotiation of Reconciling God to man and Man to God Now did that promise made unto our first parents being yet in Paradise take place Gen. 3.15 Now did the seed of the woman begin to break the serpents head So as from thenceforth he was a Mediator virtually How ever he was not of many ages after incarnate yet was he an Effectuall Mediator The vertue and efficacie of his Mediation extending it self even unto the first Ages of the world In which respect as also in the former Christ is said to be the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world as that passage is commonly read Revelation 13.8 So he was as in respect of Gods destination being designed before time to be offered up in time so in respect of the Efficacy of that his Sacrifice which extended to the first age of the world as far as Adams fall Even as it was with the Incense offering in the Tabernacle or Temple however it was burnt only in one place viz. upon the golden Altar before the Arke of the Testimony Exod. 11.5 yet the perfume of it extended to every corner of the house Thus the Sacrifice of Christ however it was offered up onely at one time in one age in the End of the world as the Apostle hath it Heb. 9.26 and only in one place upon the Altar of the Crosse yet the vertue and efficacy thereof extended to all places and all ages as well to those who lived before his Incarnation as those who lived after Thus did Christ enter upon the exercise of this office immediately upon the fall of man so soone as there was need of a Mediatour From thence doth this his Mediatourship Commence From that time he was a Mediator vertually 2. Actually 2. Actually Thus was he a Mediator after his Incarnation When he had taken the nature of man upon him and was made man Then was he an Actuall and Compleat Mediator Marke the Text There is one Mediator betwixt God and men the Man Christ Jesus The eternall Son of God being made Man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God-Man now was he an Actuall and compleat Mediator Being thus manifested in the flesh now he was manifested to be what before he was Now did he act that part visibly upon earth which before he had acted secretly and invisibly in heaven Now was he every way furnished for the office of a Mediator Now was a Body prepared for him so the Apostle Heb. 10.6 following the Translation of the Septuagint citeth that of the Psalmist Psal 40.6 applying it unto Christ A Body hast thou prepared or fitted for me Thereby meaning the humane nature of Christ which was prepared fitted for the work of the Mediatorship Fitted through Sanctification of the Spirit Thus are all believers fitted for their worke of obedience as Saint Peter telleth them 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience And thus was the Lord Christ fitted for his great work of obedience which as Mediator he was to perform here upon Earth viz. through Sanctification of the Spirit the large effusion of the Spirit upon his humane nature And being thus fitted for it now he entred upon it upon the worke of his Active and Passive obedience discharging his Propheticall and Priestly office here upon earth which having done then he entred upon his Kingly administration in heaven But this I shall have occasion to cleare up unto you more fully in resolving of the next Question which now falleth in fitly And that is Question How and in what waies the Question 4 Lord Christ manageth and carrieth on this work of mediation for the effecting of this Reconciliation The Work of Mediation how managed and carried on Answer By divers steps typified by Jacob's Ladder Where Ans A Question of great use high concernment unto all those who desire to be acquainted with the mystery of Christ For the Resolution of it we must know that this work of Mediation it was begun and carried on by divers steps and and degrees not unlike that ladder which the Patriarch Jacob saw in his nightly vision Gen. 28.12 which I look upon as a Type carrying with it a lively representation of this our Mediatour and his blessed Mediation So our Saviour himselfe applieth it John 1.51 That ladder reached from Earth to Heaven uniting the one to the other So doth the Lord Jesus by his Mediation he uniteth Heaven and Earth God and man by the means whereof they come to have a sweet and blessed union and communion each with other So as all graces descend from God unto men upon earth and men come to ascend unto God in Heaven Now in this Ladder there are two things to be taken notice of viz. First The two Extremes or Ends of it the Bottome and the Top. Secondly The intermediate steps or staves betwixt them And the like may we observe in this our Mediatour and his Mediation 1. The two Extremes representing the two Natures in Christ 1. Here may we first take notice of the two Extremes viz. the two Natures of Christ his Humanity his Divinity fitly represented as some conceive it by the two ends of that Ladder the foot whereof was upon Earth and the top in Heaven the one aptly representing the Humanity of Christ
permanent impression upon the soul stamping the Image of God upon it making it partaker of the Divine nature as S. Peter calls the work of Grace which consisteth in those divine Qualities of Holiness and Righteousness 2. Pet 1.4 which is as a mark a Character wherby men may know whose children they are Even as the Spartans or Lacedemonians of old are said to know what stock linage they were of by a mark that was made upon their bodies by the head of a Lance G ot in Rom. 8.16 or Speer as Grotius illustrates it Not only so but besides this there is a more immediate witnesse of the Spirit sealing up that and other benefits unto the soul Thus it testifieth to the spirit and with the spirit of the Beleever The spirit of Christ and his own spirit they do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 witnesse together each bearing witnesse with the other His Spirit beareth witnesse with the Spirit of Christ viz. by observing the work of that spirit the work of grace and Sanctification wrought in upon the soul And the spirit of Christ beareth witnesse with his spirit by assuring him as of the truth of that work of Grace so of his Interest in that and all other benefits belonging to the Covenant of Grace Thus doth the Spirit notifie unto the soul of a Beleever it own interest in Christ and his Benefits So saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 2.12 We have received the spirit of God that we may know the things which are freely given us of God Those spirituall benefits and blessings which beleevers have by Christ whether in present possession or future expectation the Spirit causeth them to know them To know them not onely in a generall way in the Theory to know what they are but to know their owne right unto them and interest in them assuring them both of the one and of the other And in this respect again as judicious Diodate looketh upon it Christ may be conceived to be called the Surety of the Covenant Diodate annot in Heb. 7.22 in as much as he assureth the Grace of the Covenant the grace of God by his spirit unto the soul And thus you see this other Branch of this point opened and explained unto you How Christ is said to be a Surety on Gods part to Man Assuring him of the performance of the conditions of the covenant on God's part which he doth as you have heard by his Word by his Works by his Blood by his Spirit And thus am I at the length got off from this third Staffe also where we have seen how Christ is a Mediatour betwixt God and man Qua Sponsor as a Surety undertaking for man to God and for God to man Which being the middle and as I conceive the principall staffe of this mysteriall Ladder I have stood upon it the longer Which I have done as not without content to my selfe in the contemplation of these divine and sacred Truths so I trust not without some benefit to you to all you who desire to be clearly and fully informed concerning this great mystery of Christ I shall now in the Name and Fear of God passe on to those two other steps which I shall passe over with what convenient speed I may reserving the Application of all into the close The fourth Staffe of this mysticall Ladder Jesus Christ is a Mediatour betwixt God and men in the fourth place Quà Intercessor as an Intercessour Such a Mediatour was Job for his friends Job 42.8 My servant Job shall pray for you Christ an Intercessour for him will I accept And such a Mediatour is the Lord Jesus for his elect people So he was upon Earth and so he is in Heaven Upon Earth He was so upon Earth Then was he an Intercessour then did he performe a peice of this part of his Mediatorship interceding with God his Father in the behalfe of his elect People This he did in those many sweet and fervent prayers which he poured forth for them from time to time specially in that sacred and solemn one which we have recorded John 17. A prayer so divine so heavenly that whosoever hath ought of the Spirit of Christ cannot but be exceedingly affected and even ravished with it There have we a true Cygnea Cantio a Swan-like Song wherein our blessed Saviour being then to leave the world he commendeth his Elect in the present and succeeding ages to the care and custody of God his Father that he would conferre and bestow upon them all those benefits which himselfe had purchased for them As namely that he would sanctifie them ver 17. Sanctifie them through thy Truth That he would keep them in unity ver 11. Holy Father keep them through thine own Name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are i. e. joyned in the unity of faith and love one in him and one among themselves That he would deliver them from evill ver 15. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that thou shouldest keep them from evill 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from that evill one viz. Satan their grand Enemy That he would expresse his peculiar love to them ver 23. That the world may know that thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me So again ver 26. That the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them That he would fill their hearts with inward joy and comfort ver 13. That they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves And finally that in due season he would bring them to the participation of the same eternall glory with himselfe ver 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory And so beholding it might be transformed into it Thus did he then intercede for his Elect Praying for them This he did in his Life and this he did in his Death Even upon the Crosse whilest he was a Sufferer he was also an Intercessour So saith the Prophet Isai chap. 53. ver 12. He bare the sins of many and made Intercession for the transgressours So he did in that prayer of his which he poured out in the Paroxisme of his Passion the midst of his Agony in the behalfe of those that crucified him Father forgive them for they know not what they do Luke 23.34 Thus was he an Intercessour upon Earth And he is the same in Heaven He is so in Heaven There he performeth the same office stil interceding though not after the same manner that he did here upon Earth Grot. Com. in Heb. 7.25 Non submissâ ut olim sed potenti Interpellatione as Grotius citeth it out of Gregory not any longer in a submisse humble way with knees bowed down with hands and eyes lifted up as here he did in his state of humiliation but in a way sutable to his glorified condition In
God interceding for his people in as much as there is one continually interceding against them even that Accuser of the Brethren of whom I made mention even now who accuseth them before God night and day Satan is a Lidger ever at hand to make Intercession against us Great need that Jesus Christ whose designe it is to dissolve and destroy the works of the Divell 1 John 3.8 should be a Lidger also ever at hand at the right hand of God his Father to make Intercession for us Such is Christ's Agency in Heaven a Continuall Intercession which should it cease but for a moment Millenaries confuted what should become of all his people here upon Earth Should Christ cease to appear in Heaven for us as he must do if he shall come and abide here upon earth for a thousand years together as some imagine for he cannot in his Humane Nature appear both in Heaven and Earth at the same time all that time Heaven must be without an Agent without an Intercessour Which of what consequence it would be let it be considerd by those who are wedded to that opinion To go on Christ performeth the offices of a Lidger Ambassador in Heaven for his people on earth Christ appeareth in the presence of God interceding for us as an Agent as a Lidger-Ambassadour And very fitly may he be so called in as much as he performeth the like offices for us in Heaven that a Lidger-Ambassadour doth for those whom he represents upon Earth Of those offices I might reckon up divers I shall only single out three or four of them and those of the most obvious ones The chiefe worke and service of a State-Agent or Lidger-Ambassadour is as I apprehend it 1. To continue Peace and Unity 2dly To maintain Intercourse and Correspondency 3dly To reconcile and compose Emergent Differences And 4thly To procure the welfare of the State which he negotiates for And all these doth Jesus Christ our Mediatour performe on the behalfe of those for whom he appeareth in Heaven 1. Maintaining their peace 1. He continueth their Peace This do Lidgers So long as they continue and keep residence in a Kingdom and appear as Agents in the presence of the Prince with whom they negotiate so long the Confederation the League standeth firm and sure Like benefit have all beleevers by Christs appearing in the presence of God for them Thereby the League and Covenant betwixt God and them is continued and their Peace maintained So much the Apostle insinuateth Ephes 2.14 where speaking of Christ he saith he is our Peace id est the Authour of it of our Peace with God and that as the Purchaser and procurer so the Maintainer of it The one by his Death the other by his Intercession To the same purpose is that of the same Apostle Rom. 5.1 where he saith that Being justified by Faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Christ sitting at the right hand of God his Father as God and Man he maintaineth the Union betwixt God and Man So long as Christ appeareth in heaven there shall be peace for all beleevers upon Earth 2. As he preserveth Peace so he maintaineth intercourse betwixt God and them 2 Maintaining intercourse betwixt God and them This doth a State Agent so long as he resides in a Kingdome and appeareth before the Prince he keepeth Trade and Traffick open and free Like benefit have beleevers upon the Earth by Christs residing and appearing in heaven Hereby they have Intercourse and Communion with God So the Apostle setteth it down Romans 5.2 By whom also we have accesse in to this grace wherein we stand So againe Ephes 2.18 By him we both Jewes and Gentiles have an accesse unto the Father And again Ephes 3.12 In whom we have boldnesse or Liberty and Accesse with confidence by the faith of him In all which three places the word rendred Accesse is one and the same 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And it properly signifieth a Manuduction or leading by the hand Alluding saith Estius to the Custome in Princes Courts where none may come into the Presence Chamber unlesse they be led and brought in by some Favorite or Courtier Thus none have accesse into the presence of God unlesse they be brought in by this Favorite of Heaven the Lord Jesus whose office it is to bring men unto God as S. Peter hath it 1. Pet. 3.18 where stil the word is the same 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he might lead or conduct us to God This benefit have all beleevers by and through Christ They have a free intercourse in Heaven so as they may come into the presence of God upon all occasions They come unto God by him Heb. 7.25 They have liberty or Boldnesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to enter into the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus By that new and living way which he hath consecrated for them Hebrews 10.19 20. Hither may they come and that boldly Seeing then that we have an High-Priest that is passed into the Heavens Jesus the Son of God c. Let us therfore come with boldnesse to the throne of Grace that we may obtaine Mercy and finde Grace to help in time of need Hebrews 4.14 16. Thus Jesus Christ appearing in the presence of God for us not only continueth our peace but maintaines our intercourse and Communion with God 3. And 3ly he reconcileth and taketh up Emergent differences 3 Taking up emergent differences Such differences frequently arise betwixt confederate Princes and States In which case the Agents interpose for the composing of them that so they may not tend to a breach of the League betwixt them And the like office doth Jesus Christ our Agent in Heaven performe for his people upon Earth They through weaknesse and infirmity are subject to manifold failings and Errours which render them obnoxious to Gods just displeasure Which if not looked to might tend to the breach of the Covenant betwixt him and them But here Jesus Christ interposeth making intercessions for the Transgressours as you have it in that place forealledged Isaiah 53. last This did the High-Priest under the Law as the Apostle informes us Heb. 9.7 He went into the second tabernacle the Holy of Holies once every year not without blood which he offered for himself and for the Errours of the people A type of Christ and his Intercession He being entred into the Holy of Holies the Heaven of Heavens there presenting his blood the merit of his death unto God his Father he maketh Intercession for those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Errours of his people Those sins which they are daily subject to fall into through the infirmity of the Flesh so taking up the difference which they make betwixt God and them so as they do not proceed to a Breach of Covenant Fourthly and lastly He procureth their welfare 4. Procuring their welfare So doth a faithfull Agent of the people of
terrible to nature much more the second But this grace of God in Christ in this Mediatour may support the soul against both This was Job's consolation Job 19.25 I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth or as some others read it shall stand the last upon the ground like a Triumphant Conquerour which having vanquished all his enemies put them either to the sword or to flight keeps the field standeth his ground Thus shall the Lord Jesus at the last day having vanquished all his enemies put them all under his feet even the last enemy amongst the rest Death as the Apostle hath it 1 Cor. 15.25 26. then shall he stand upon the earth And what followeth Then though after my skin worms destroy this Body yet in my flesh shall I see God Such was Job's hope and confidence in this his Mediatour his Redeemer that however death might for a time bring and keep him under the power of it not only consuming his skin but his flesh yet he should be raised again by his power and vertue at the last day and made partakers of a blessed and glorious Resurrection so that he should both in soul and body enjoy that beatificall vision the presence of his God for evermore This benefit shall all those have by this their Mediatour who are given to him He will be to them the Resurrection and the Life Joh. 11 25. Resurrection to their Bodies and Life eternall Life both to Souls and Bodies So it there followeth He that believeth on me though he were dead yet shall he live and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die No living the life of grace here he shall live the life of glory hereafter Over such a one though the first death for a time may yet the second death shall never have any power This benefit shall all believers have by and through this their Mediatour to whom God the Father hath committed this dispensation that he should bestow eternall life upon them Thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him Joh. 17.2 6. Comfort against the last Judgement Sixthly and lastly Here is comfort against the terrors of that last and dreadful Judgment Such shall that day be when all men shall be brought before the Judgment Seat of Jesus Christ to give an account of what they have done in the flesh whether it be good or evil a dreadful Tribunall So the Apostle looked upon it 2 Cor. 5.10 where speaking of it he infers Knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord c meaning the terrour of that day the last and universall Judgment which shal be a day full of terrours to all wicked ungodly men all misbelievers such as have rejected the yoak Government of Jesus Christ would not stand to the Covenant which he had made would not have Christ to reign over them Then shall the Lord Jesus be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire rendring vengeance to them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Then shall they bee punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power as the Apostle thunders it out 2 Thessalonians 1.7 8 9. To them shall that day be a terrible day when they shall looke upon him whom they would not owne as their Mediatour and behold him sitting as a Judge to passe sentence upon them But so shall it not be to Beleevers those who have an interest in this blessed Mediatour let them know that his second appearing shall be to their salvation They being reconciled unto God by him here shall be saved by him there He will not undoe what he hath done Having satisfied for their sins and absolved them in the Court of their own consciences here he will then declare that satisfaction and publish that Absolution before the whole world Then shall they reape the full crop of those Benefits by this their Mediatour whereof they have here received only the first fruits Then shall the Lord Jesus perform the last Act of his Mediatorship on their behalf bringing them into the presence of God his Father presenting them faultlesse before the presence of his Glory with exceeding joy as the Apostle hath it Jude 24. These are some of those streames of Consolation which flow from this spiritual Rock this our blessed Mediatour The third and last head of Application is yet behind which is Vse 3 Exhortation Let not this grace of God be in vain A word of Exhortation Take it briefly Let not this Grace of God bee in vain to any of us This is Pauls obtestation to his Corinthians 2. Cor. 1.6 We then as workers together with Christ beseech you also that ye receive not this Grace of God in vain What Grace Why the grace of the Gospel The grace of God in Jesus Christ in giving him to be a Mediatour Of this grace he had spoken in the close of the chapter foregoing God was in Christ Reconciling the world to himselfe verse 19. This he there holdeth forth as the summe and substance of all his preaching He hath committed to us the word of reconciliation And concerning this grace he beseecheth them that they should not receive it in vain And let me in the name of God presse the same upon every soul that heareth me this day You have heard of the grace of God manifested unto Mankind in giving his Son to be a Mediatour betwixt him and them O let not this Grace of God be in vain to any of you So it is and so it shall be to many This grace of God is in vain to them So it is to 1 Ignorant persons 1. So it is in the first place to Ignorant persons Such as live under the sound of the Gospel where they hear the name of a Mediatour rung in their ears but yet they regard not to know him to have any acquaintance with him to know who he was what he was what he hath done how and in what way he hath discharged this office of his Mediatorship 2. And secondly all persons openly profane Such as cast off the yoke of Jesus Christ 1. Profane persons such as refuse to come into the Bond of the Covenant refuse to stand to the Covenant which Jesus Christ as Mediatour hath drawn up betwixt God and man which on man's part requireth faith and obedience Evangelicall Obedience for the conditions of it This they reject saying in their hearts with those rebellious ones in the Psalm Psal 2.3 Let us break their bonds asunder and cast away their cords from us As for such better they had never heard of the name of a Mediatour yea better for them there never had been a Mediatour This is and will be no small aggravation of their guilt that they should thus trample the Blood
as they alienate the soul from God And therefore lay them aside This is the Condition of the Covenant on our parts for which this our blessed Mediatour as our surety hath undertaken viz. that we shall deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts c As ever we desire then to be made partakers of the benefit of this his Mediation see that we performe this Condition Non-performance of the Condition nullifies the Covenant The non-performance of this Condition will make the death of Christ to be of none-effect to us So long as a Rebell continues in actuall Rebellion against his Prince whatever Treaties or overtures of Reconciliation there have been it maketh them all voide rendring him uncapable of his Soveraignes grace and favour So long as a poor sinner standeth it out against God and will not be reconciled with him he cannot expect that God should be reconciled to him No Men must first be turned from the power of Sathan unto God before they can receive remission of sinnes Acts 26.18 See then that in this way we be all of us reconciled unto God that our hearts be reconciled to him so as not willingly to offend or provoke him but to love him and to cleave unto him with full purpose of heart desiring to walke before him in all well pleasing This is that as I said which this our Mediatour in order to our Reconciliation with God hath undertaken that we shall do Let not us offer that wrong to our Surety as to violate the Covenant for performance whereof he stands ingaged Thus be we reconciled unto God 2. And being thus Reconciled 2. Come unto God by and through this Mediator who is now Come we unto him Seeing then we have such an High-Priest let us come boldly to the throne of grace Hebrews 4.14 16. Seeing that we have such a Mediatour make use of his Mediation coming unto God by him Such a Mediator I say What can be required in a Mediatour that is not to be found in him 1. He is a faithfull Mediatour 1 A faithfull Mediatour Hee that sate upon the white horse Revelations 19.11 was called faithfull and true Such is Jesus Christ the righteous Judge and triumphant Conquerour in all his Relations A faithfull witnesse Revelations 1 5. and 3.14 A faithfull High-Priest Hebrews 2.17 And so a faithfull Mediator dealing faithfully betwixt both parties God and Man Being faithfull in things pertaining to God as the Apostle there hath it Hebrews 2.17 viz. in executing his will and satisfying his Justice And faithfull in things pertaining to men dealing effectually with his Father on their behalf not seeking himself This do false and faithlesse Mediatours sometimes being betrusted to intercede for others they speak one word for them and two for themselves seeking themselves in their Mediations But so did not so doth not this our Mediatour In this his Mediation emptying himselfe and laying aside his own interest he sought the good and benefit of his Elect. As Paul saith of himself that in his Ministeriall transactions amongst the Churches he sought not theirs but them 2 Corinthians 12.14 a true patterne for all the Ministers of the Gospel who are not to seek the goods but the good of the people committed to them So did the Lord Jesus In all his transactions as Mediator he seeketh not ours but us not any benefit to himselfe Papists whil'st they contend so eagerly for Christs meriting for himself they do therein seem not a little to disparage this work of his Mediatorship but our Reconciliation and salvation 2 A Mercifull Mediatour 2. And 2ly a Mercifull Mediatour So the Apostle putteth them together in the place forenamed Hebrews 2.17 A mercifull and faithfull High-Priest A mercifull and pitifull Mediatour One that having in his humane nature had experience of our Afflictions our Tentations is ready to succour those which are tempted One that is soon touched with the feeling of our infirmities Such a Mercifull Mediatour he shewed himselfe in the days of his flesh when he wept over Jerusalem upon which he had bestowed so much fruitlesse paines in attempting to gather the inhabitants thereof under the wings of his gracious government and mercifull protection Luk. 19.41 And such a Mediator he stil is having carried the same bowels to heaven with him A Mercifull Mediatour 3ly A potent and prevalent Mediatour 3 A potent and prevalent Mediatour Able to do much with his Father for his people With his Father Being gracious with him so he is This is my beloved Sonne in whom I am well pleased he can impetrate any thing at his hand Father I know that thou hearest me alwayes John 11.42 For his People He is able perfectly to save them which come unto God by him as the former Translation reads that Text Hebrews 7.25 To save them from the wrath of God to save them from their sinnes from the Guilt Terrour Power of them to supply all their wants to do for them above what they are able to ask or think A potent Mediatour able to performe what ever he hath undertaken whether for Man to God or for God to Man Thus hath the Lord herein laid help upon one that is Mighty as the Psalmist speaketh Psalme 89.19 putting this office of Mediatorship upon one that was able to go through with it A potent Mediatour being El Gibbor the mighty God Isa 9.6 4. And 4th a Perpetuall Mediatour 4 A perpetuall Mediatour This Man the Man Christ Jesus continueth ever Heb. 7.24 Ever a Mediatour And so continuing now he is able to save them to the uttermost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for ever that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them ver 25. It is not with this our Mediator as with that Typicall Mediatour Joseph So long as he lived to intercede for his kindred it went well with them but when he was dead and there arose a new king which knew not Joseph then they went to wreck in their liberties estates lives It is otherwise with our Joseph our Jesus Hee liveth ever sitting continually at the right hand of God making Intercession for his people Hee is a permanent Mediator 5. And lastly a Present Mediator always at hand Absolom when he had a desire to be brought into his fathers presence his Mediator Joab was to seek and though sent for would not come at him 2 Sam. 14.29 It is not so with our Mediator the Lord Jesus he is ever at hand at the right hand of God so as they who would make use of him may know where to find him An Agent who lyeth Lidger in heaven ready to receive and present the suites the Petitions which his people shall at any time put into his hand So as by his means they may obtaine mercy and find grace to help in time of need Heb. 4.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Seasonable Succour sutable to their present necessities Now put all these together Such is this
ponunt 70. pro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 etiam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 placare propitiare significat Grot. ad Heb 9.2 The Cherubims shadowed the Mercie-seat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Originall the Propitiatory So called because from thence God shewed himselfe propitious and favourable to his people So he is through Jesus Christ of whom that Mercy-seat was a Type and figure He is the true Propitiation So we find him called by our Apostle Rom. 3.25 whom God hath set forth saith he speaking of Christ by whom we have Redemption as the verse foregoing hath it to be a propitiation through faith in his blood A propitiation the word in the Originall is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Propitiatorie alluding to that Typicall Propitiatorie under the Law Such is Jesus Christ the true Propitiatory the substance of that shadow the means of our Reconciliation with God by whom his anger is pacified and appeased and through whom his mercy and favour is communicated unto us And that through his blood which the Apostle there setteth forth as the meritorious cause of it being apprehended and applyed by faith which is the Instrumental cause wherby it becometh effectuall to that end for which it was shed And in this sense is he there called by Saint John the propitiation In as much as he Reconcileth God to men appeaseth his wrath procureth the exercises of his grace and favour so as God becometh actually propitious unto his people through him Which Christ effecteth 1. as their Surety standing in their room and stead interposing betwixt the wrath of God and the rigour of the Law A mystery excellently represented and shadowed out in the placing of the Mercy-seat betwixt the Tables of the Law and the Majesty of God appearing between the Cherubims Exod. 25.21 22. Shewing how Jesus Christ our Mediatour interposeth betwixt God and the Law in the behalf of his people So as God looking upon the Law through him he beholdeth it as fulfilled by him for their sakes and on their behalf and so becometh propitious unto them And 2ly Opera 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 torium Montanus this he doth by Covering their sins That is the proper and primary meaning of the Hebrew word Caphoreth which we render the Mercy-seat it properly signifieth a Covering which the Mercy-seat was to the Ark. And such is Jesus Christ unto his people a Covering covering their sins by his merit so as they appear not in the sight of God to the making their persons guilty before him Hereunto the Psalmist alludes Psal 32.1 Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven and whose sin is covered viz. by the obedience of Jesus Christ And thirdly This he doth by expiating their sins and making satisfaction for them This are we to understand by that unwonted phrase of the Apostle Heb. 2.17 borrowed from the Prophet Daniel Dan. 9.24 where this is set forth as one principall part of Christ's Priestly Office 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hoc quidem loco est purgare à peccato i. e. efficere ne peccetur vires suppeditando pro modo tentationum Grot. ad Heb. 2.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 2.17 significat expiatiationem sed eam quae fit placando Grot. de Satisfact cap. 7. To make Reconciliation for the sins of the people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to expiate and take away their sins To take them away not onely in respect of Power as Grotius comments upon it by giving them strength against them sutable to their tentations and so causing them not to sin but in respect of guilt by the Sacrifice of himselfe making satisfaction unto the Justice of God for them as the same Authour in his better minde expounds it Thus is Christ said to be the Propitiation being the means of reconciling his Elect unto God and that by the offering up of himselfe Offering up of himselfe Christ offered up himselfe That giveth me a hint of one Evidence more which is the Arg. 5 last I shall insist on in this Argument And that I shall take up from the Authour to the Hebrews who in that Epistle maketh frequent mention of this Oblation Christ's offering up himselfe And as else-where so especially in his 9th Chapter where he purposely discourseth of that Subject comparing the Sacrifice of Christ with those Typicall Sacrifices under the Law The summe and substance of which discourse you shall find bound up in one verse ver 26. of that Chapter where speaking of Christ Heb. 9.26 Opened and glossed upon he saith that Now once in the end of the world he hath appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himselfe A passage wherein there is not a word but hath his weight Give me leave briefly to glosse upon each of them Christ hath appeared 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ's appearing on earth Christus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. obtulit se ostendit Deo Patri in Sanctuario coelesti Grot. Com. ad loc Fuerat ante Abrahamum Jesus divinâ constitutione Grot. ad loc he was made manifest appearing not in heaven as the Socinian would have it but upon earth Christ was before Before Abraham was I am John 8.58 Christ was before Abraham not only in respect of God's Ordination as Grotius would elude that Text for in that sense all others were before Abraham as well as he yea Abaham was before himself having a being first in God's Ordination before he had an actuall existence in the World But he was so actually having a being in Heaven according to his Godhead There he was but there he was hidden hidden in the Bosome of the Father But in his Incarnation he was manifested The Son of God was manifested saith Saint John 1 John 3.8 God was manifested in the flesh saith Saint Paul 1 Tim. 3.16 Or He appeared Before he was hidden under those Legal Types and Ceremonies which were as a Vaile overshadowing him But now being incarnate that Vail was taken off from his face and he appeared being made conspicuous under the Gospel so as now all might with open face behold the Glory of God shining in the face of Jesus Christ as our Apostle speaketh 2 Cor. 3.18 and 4.6 Thus hath Christ appeared But when did he thus appear That followes In the end of the World In the end of the World 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is say some when the Jewish State the Temple Vide Grotium ad loc and their Common-wealth drew nigh to an end This is that end which our Saviour speaketh of Mat. 24.6 The end is not yet meaning thereby the finall destruction of the Temple and City of Jerusalem Before this time and not long before it was that Christ was manifested in the flesh that he appeared Or as it is more commonly and as I conceive more properly taken In the end of the world i. e. In the last dayes
such a way as is fit for him to act and his Father to accept Still he intercedes So much we may learn from the Apostle Rom. 8.34 where he addeth this to those other steps of that mysticall Ladder It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen again who also is at the right hand of God who also maketh Intercession for us This Jesus Christ being in heaven doth on the behalfe of all beleevers He intercedeth for them Not against them Christ interceding for beleevers Such Intercessours men sometimes meet with such as intercede against them Such Intercessours Paul met with more then a good many So Festus tels Agrippa and those with him Act. 25.24 Yee see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the Vulgar renders Interpellavit me they have Interceded with me viz. against Paul crying out that he ought not to live any longer so it there followeth Accusing him for a Pestilent fellow and a mover of sedition as you have it in the chapter foregoing cap. 24. ver 5. Such Intercessours the Prophets of old and the Ministers of God in all ages have met with And such Intercessours they themselves sometimes though with grief and sorrow of heart are faine to be against an ungratefull and a rebellious people So saith the Apostle concerning Elias Rom. 11.2 Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias How hee made intercession unto God against Israel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 viz. complaining against them accusing of them as it followeth in the next verse ver 3. Lord they have killed thy Prophets and digged down thine Altars And such an Intercessour is Satan against all the Saints of God Interpellans Interceding against them Accusing them before God night and day as you have it Rev. 12.10 But Jesus Christ Intercedeth for us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 True inded as for his Enemies Against his Enemies he intercedeth against them Those who will not accept him as their Mediatour his Blood crieth against them Thus Abels blood interceded against Cain as the Lord tels him Gen. 4.10 The voice of thy brothers blood crieth unto me from the earth viz. for vengance against him that shed it Even thus doth the voice of Christs blood cry unto God against all obstinate and impenitent unbeleevers such as Crucifie to themselves the Son of God afresh as the Apostle speaks of those Apostates Heb. 6.6 If Christ were upon Earth again they would shew themselves as bitter enemies to him as ever the Jews were Being now in Heaven they rereject him they oppose him they will not have him to reign over them They will not receive and acknowledge him for their King their Priest their Prophet As for such Christ Intercedes and Negotiates against them But as for his own people who are given to him to beleeve on him he intercedeth for them negotiating with God on their behalfe This he doth for all those who come unto God by him He ever liveth to make intercession for them Heb. 7.25 A Transaction very requisite and necessary Christs Intercession a necessary transaction without which all those other parts of Christs mediatorship would have been to little purpose This it is which putteth life into the death of Christ that maketh it effectuall for the good and benefit of his Elect. Without this the blood of this our Mediator had been spilt in vaine The Sacrifices under the Law had not been of such force and efficacie had not the high Priest entred into the Holy place there to appear before the Lord and to present the Blood therof unto him so making Intercession in the behalf of the people for whom he had offered that Sacrifice Heb. 9.7 What ever Christ had done or suffered upon Earth it had been ineffectuall unto us had hee not after the like manner entred into Heaven which the Apostle to the Hebrews tels us he hath done there to Appear in the presence of God for us Heb. 9.24 To this end it was that Jesus Christ our High Priest is entred into the Holy of Holies the Heaven of Heavens that hee might there appeare in the presence of God in the behalf of his Elect making intercession for them Which he doth divers waies Christ appeareth in heaven for his people divers waies Marke it Christ appeareth in the presence of God for us for all those whom he hath by his death reconciled unto God And this he doth in divers respects according to divers severall relations I shall take notice only of four of them which I shall present unto you in such obvious terms as you may more easily remember and carry away Christ appeareth in the presence of God interceding for his Elect 1. As an Agent 2. As an Advocate 3. As an Atturney 4. As a Solicitour Every of these is a kind of Intercessour appearing for and negotiating on the behalfe of others for their good and benefit And every of these wayes may Christ be said to be an Intercessour appearing before God for us Passe them over severally briefly 1. As an Agent A Lidger Ambassadour 1. As an Agent or Lidger Ambassadour Pareus Com. in Heb. 9.24 So Pareus looketh upon that fore-named expression Heb. 9.24 where Christ is said to appear in the presence of God for us An Allusion saith he to the Custome among Princes or States who being confederated have their Lidgers or Agents which upon all occasions appear in the presence of the Prince in the name and behalfe of all those whom they represent and negotiate for Thus may Jesus Christ be said to appear in the presence of God for us viz. as an Agent an Ambassadour Legatus foederis as Malachy cals him Mal. 3.1 the Messenger or Ambassadour of the Covenant So he was upon Earth Then he was an Ambassadour an Agent on God's part to declare and confirm the Covenant unto us And so he is being in Heaven He is now an Agent as it were on our part An Ambassadour a Lidger Ambassadour So I may not unfitly not improperly call him in regard of his constant residence there That is the difference as you know betwixt a Lidger and an Extraordinary Ambassadour The one is sent upon some particular emergent occasion the other maketh his abode in a place And such an Agent is Jesus Christ in Heaven A Lidger Embassadour that maketh his constant residence there Whom the Heavens must receive or contain untill the time of the restitution of all things Acts 3.21 i. e. untill the perfection and full accomplishment of his Kingdom Till then he shall appear in the presence of God ever living to make intercession for those that come unto God by him as the Apostle hath it Heb. 7.25 And great need there is that he should do so that he should be a Lidger in Heaven Great need that Christ should be a Lidger in Heaven that he should continually appear in the presence of
our Mediator a Faithfull Mercifull Potent Permaneant Present Mediatour what remains then but that having so many and great Incouragements we make use of his mediation coming unto God by him And that Boldly viz. with an awfull boldnesse Thus doe Suppliants come unto their Prince Come boldly to God through him making use of his Mediation having some speciall favourite to their freind standing at his right hand they come with an awfull confidence awed with the Majesty of the Prince but confident in the presence and prevalency of that their Mediatour And thus come wee to the throne of grace in an holy aw of the Majesty of God but with an holy confidence of this our Mediator Thus make we use of his mediation And this doe wee both for our selves and others 1 For our selves For our selves begging renewed pardons for our daily sinnes suing them out in his name presenting our daily wants begging that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that continuall supply of the Spirit with all other blessings requisite and convenient the dispencing wherof is committed to this our Mediator Thus make suit for ourselves 2. For others And in like manner for others For the Church of God for all who desire or stand in need of our prayers This the Apostle presseth in the entrance into this chapter I exhort that supplications prayers intercessions c. be made for all men And this he exciteth to upon this ground among others For there is one Mediatour betwixt God and men the Man Christ Jesus one who Intercedeth in the behalfe of such Intercessours ready to receive and present their Petitions on whose behalfe soever presented unto God his Father And thus have I at length through a gracious conduct finished the former of these conclusions which informs us that Jesus Christ is Mediator betwixt God and men Come we now to the later in the handling whereof I shall be very concise having already dispatched what I aimed at when I took this Text in hand Doctrine 2. The Man Christ Jesus is the onely Mediator betwixt God and men Christ the only Mediator So much is clearly insinuated by the Apostle here in the Text There is One Mediator One and but one So are we to understand this Particle here Calvin ad loc Exclusively As in the former part of the verse There is one God One and but One. So in this later There is one Mediator one and but one Pointing out Jesus Christ but excluding all others from sharing with him in this office So it is looked upon not onely by Protestant but also by some of the most ingenuous of the Romish Expositours Estius ad loc And thus it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is One and onely one Mediator betwixt God and men the man Christ Jesus Typified by Moses and Aaron Exod. 14.2 So much was not obscurely shadowed out in that pair of typical mediators under the law Moses and Aaron At the giving of the Law Moses was alone with God in the mount The Prohibition was expresse No man shall come up with thee Ex. 34.2 3. Then there was no Mediator betwixt God and the people but he The Law was given 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the hand of a Mediatour viz. Moses Gal. 3.19 In like manner Aaron and the High Priests successively after him when they went into the holy Place to present the blood of the Sacrifice before the Lord for the errours of the people which they did once every year they went in alone Heb. 9.7 Into the second tabernacle went the High Priest alone Herein both shadowing out this great and Archetypall Mediatour the Lord Jesus who is the alone Mediatour betwixt God and men A truth sufficiently confirmed by Christ's own attestation John 14.6 Confirmed by Scripture I am the way saith he the truth and the life Jesus Christ is the way whereby men come unto God to have union and communion with him here and hereafter So he is and that not onely Exemplariter as Grotius blancheth it Grotius Com. in John 14.6 in regard of his Example by the imitation whereof men come to heaven but also Efficienter in regard of his Mediation his Satisfaction and Intercession He it is who hath laid out unto us and paved for us a new and living way to God by his own meritorious blood Heb. 10.20 which he keepeth open by his continued Intercession Thus is he the way and the onely way So it followeth No man cometh unto the Father but by me John 14.6 Into the Holy of holies there was but one way no more is there into the Heaven of Heavens And that is by Jesus Christ his Mediation his Satisfaction his Advocation To the same purpose is that other Text John 10.9 where our Saviour seteth forth the same Truth though under a different similitude I am the door by me if any man enter he shall be saved Men enter into a house by the door and thus do we enter into Heaven by our prayers now and persons hereafter even by and through Jesus Christ and only through him who is the alone Mediatour betwixt God and man By Arguments That he is so may further be confirmed by divers Arguments which evince this Truth Arg. 1. This Mediatour must be a middle person betwixt both Arg. 1. The Mediatour betwixt God and men must be a middle Person having an interest in both parties partaking of both natures He must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both God and man otherwise he cannot be capable of doing and performing all mutuall offices betwixt them But this is proper and peculiar onely to Jesus Christ Arg. 2. He must be a righteous person Aug. l. 2. contra Epist Parmen cap. 8. Arg. 2. The Mediatour betwixt God and men must be an innocent a righteous person one that needeth none to mediate or intercede for himselfe So Augustine hath rightly determined it Pro quo nullus interpellat sed ipse pro omnibus hic unus verúsque Mediator est He that intercedes for all but needeth none to intercede for him he is the true and onely Mediatour Now such a one is Jesus Christ and onely he As for all other of the Sons of men being sinners by nature they stand in need of a Mediatour to reconcile them to God and to intercede for them Only Christ is such an High Priest as the Apostle speaketh of Heb. 7.25 One that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Holy harmless undefiled separated from sinners And therefore the only true Mediator Arg. 3. Christ onely able to perform the Office of a Mediatour Arg. 3. Again He onely is able to perform the office do the work of a Mediatour betwixt God and men None able to satisfie the Justice of God but he none able to pay an infinite price for an infinite guilt to an infinite Justice but that infinite person who being man was more then man God and man None
suppose it be directed to others men dead in trespasses and sins Such exhortations not uselesse to others yet such Exhortations are not uselesse unto them In as much as through those channels God is pleased to convey his grace and spirit wherby he enables them to do what hee requireth from them Thus in raising Jairus his daughter from the death-Bed our Saviour cals to her Talitha Cumi Damosell arise Mark 5.41 And in raising Lazarus from the grave he cries unto him Lazarus come forth Joh. 11.43 not that either the one or the other had power of themselves to do what was commanded but there was a power went forth together with the word like that which went forth with that Creating word at the first God said Let there be light and there was light Gen. 1. There was a power went forth with the word giving a being to that which was not Thus doth God cal things which are not as if they were Rom. 4.17 By his word making things to be what they were not And thus doth be call upon dead souls to awake and arise by and through his word conveying that spirit and power unto his Elect wherby they are inabled to do what of themselves they cannot The first Resurrection is a work of no lesse power no lesse difficulty then the second 5. To these adde in the fifth place Resemb 5. This spirituall resembles the corporall Resurrection in the Indisposition of the Subject In the indisposition of the Subject A dead Corps lying in the grave it hath no disposition no aptitude no inclination to rise again As it cannot raise it selfe so neither can it do any thing in a way of tendency towards its own resurrection It can no wayes fit or prepare it self for it Nay it cannot so much as will or desire it Even such an indisposition is there in a dead soul to this first Resurrection A soul dead in sin as it cannot raise it selfe to the life of grace so neither can it do any thing which tendeth that way Such an Impotency is there in man since the fall All are now by nature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without power When we were yet without strength Christ died for us Rom. 5.6 Not able to contribute ought towards this blessed change Not able to do any thing by way of preparation to fit themselves for the receiving of the grace of God no nor yet so much as will and desire it when the grace of God first meeteth with man it findeth him a meer patient like a dead body lying in the grave having only a passive capacity rendring him a subject capable of receiving the impressions of grace and so of having a new life put into him Man hath not only an outward but an inward Impediment to this Resurrection So indisposed is man naturally to the work of God's grace not only having an outward Impediment as Papists and Arminians would have it like a Prisoner as some of them frame the similitude who having fetters upon his legs cannot walk but yet he hath an inward power in himselfe so to do if that outward impediment were removed Not onely so but man hath also an inward impediment Being like a dead carkass lying in the grave which though all the grave-clothes be taken from it yet it cannot move nor stir untill a new life be put into it Until God doth breathe the breath of a new life into the soul the man is whole indisposed unto this blessed change I might go a step further Man not only indisposed but averse to this Resurrection and shew you how he is not onely indisposed to this life but averse to it In which respect the first Resurrection goeth beyond the second The second Resurrection meeteth with a Body which though of it selfe it be indisposed to live again yet it maketh no resistance no opposition against its own resurrection But in the first Resurrection when God cometh to raise up a dead soul from the grave of sin he findeth it not only indisposed but opposite to it making resistance against the work of his grace Ye stiffe-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears ye do alwayes resist the Holy Ghost As your fathers did so do ye saith Saint Stephen to the Jewes Acts 7.51 To these I might yet add one more 6. This spirituall resembles the corporall Resurrection in the efficient causes of it Resemb 6. The Efficient Causes of it and that both Principall and Ministeriall and Instrumentall In the second Resurrection the Resurrection of the body the Principall Efficient is God himselfe the Ministeriall the Angels the Instrumentall the sound of a Trumpet You have them all together 1 Thes 4.16 The Lord himselfe shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of an Archangel and with the Trumpet of God and the dead in Christ shall arise Now see a resemblance of all these in the first Resurrection The same Principall Efficient God God quickneth the dead Rom. 4.17 as dead bodies so dead souls The like Ministeriall and Instrumentall Cause Herein God maketh use of his Angels Revel 2. 3. and of his Trumpet His Angels the Angels of the Churches the Ministers of the Gospell whom he now sendeth forth to gather together his Elect from the four winds from one end of Heaven to the other Mat. 24.31 His Trumpet is his word in the mouth of his Ministers A spirituall Trumpet shadowed out by those silver Trumpets under the Law by the sounding whereof the Priests called the people to the publick Assemblies on earth Numb 10.2 Thus do the Ministers of the Gospel by lifting up their voice like a Trumpet as it is given in charge to the Prophet Isaiah Isai 58.1 by preaching and publishing the Gospell they call men to the Kingdom of God Hereby awakening and raising them up The hour is coming and now is saith our Saviour when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they which hear it shall live John 5.25 Men dead in sin hear the voice of Christ in the Ministery of his Word and thereby the Spirit concurring with the Ordinance and giving efficacy to it they are quickned and raised up to a new spirituall and heavenly life Even as dead bodies shall be at the last day raised from their graves by the voice of an Arch-angel and sound of a Trumpet Thus then you see this Generall made out How that the first resurrection the resurrection of the soul from the death of sin to the life of righteousnesse carries with it the resemblance of a Resurrection resembling it in the Order in the Nature in the Integrity in the Difficulty of the work in the Indisposition of the Subject in the Efficient Causes of it both Principall Ministeriall and Instrumentall Now come we in the second place to see how it resembleth the Resurrection of Christ 2. The spirituall Resurrection resembles the Resurrection of Christ So it doth
in this those who are his resemble him they are a people willing and obedient Isai 1.19 willingly obeying God for himselfe and those which are set over them under him for his sake 6. Love 6. Love Walk in love as Christ also hath loved us Ephes 5.2 He loved the Church and gave himselfe for it ver 25. Greater love hath no man then this that a man should lay down his life for his freinds John 15.13 This hath Christ done and more While we were yet sinners enemies Christ died for us Rom. 5.8 And herein are those which are Christs conformable to Christ in their measure They are all in a good sense of the Family of Love Such as love God above all with all their heart c and their neighbours as themselves Mat. 22.37 39. The true Christian is one that loveth the Lord Jesus in sincerity Ephes 6.24 One that loveth the Saints and that because they are Saints and so consequently all Saints Ephes 1.15 One that loveth and imbraceth the Image of God where-ever he meeteth with it One that loveth his enemies ready to do good to them that hate him praying for those which despitefully use him Mat. 5.45 Thus the same mind is in those who are engrafted into Christ which was in Christ himself Phil. 2.4 7. Mercy 7. Mercy Jesus Christ was and is a mercifull High Priest Heb. 2.17 In the dayes of his flesh he was ready to shew mercy both to the souls and bodies of all those that sought it from him The like bowels of mercy there are in measure to be found in all that are Christs they are such as have put on bowels of mercy Col. 2.12 The wisdome which is from above is full of mercy Jam. 3.17 8. Contempt of the world 8. Contempt of the world Christ was neither covetous nor ambitious He professeth his Kingdom was not of this world John 18.36 And therefore when a Crown was offered him and forced upon him he refused it John 6.15 Disdaining to do any homage to Satan though it were for all the Kingdoms upon earth Mat. 4.8 In this those which are Christs resemble him They looking upon the fashion of this world as transitory passing away they use it as not abusing it 1 Cor. 7.31 Not suffering their affections to run out inordinately after the things thereof not seeking great things for themselves not placing their happinesse here below 9. Heavenly-mindednesse 9. Lastly Heavenly-mindednesse In this sense though not onely in this as Grotius would have it Christ saith of himselfe that he was in heaven whilest he was upon earth so he tels the Jews Grotius Com. in John 3.13 John 3.13 The Son of man which is in heaven So he was properly according to his Godhead which still kept residence in heaven and so he was according to his Manhood having his affections and his conversation there So much his continuall discourse shewed which from earthly things still ascended up to heavenly And in this those which are risen with Christ resemble him in their measure having their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their cheife negotiation and businesse in Heaven as I shewed you lately from Phil. 3.20 Thus we see how they who are risen with Christ live the life of Christ expressing all the aforesaid vertues in the course of their lives and conversations Now put the Question to our selves Do we this in our measure Are the like fruits to be found in us If so surely these are no other but fruits and consequences of this first Resurrection But if otherwise If our lives carry no such but contrary impressions not expressing the vertues of the second but altogether the vices of the first and old Adam certainly we are as yet under the power of the first bound over unto the second death Many other Shibboleths might I give you whereby those which have any part in this first Resurrection may be differenced from them which have not But these may be sufficient This triall being made two sorts of persons will come now to be dealt withall Such as yet have no part in this first Resurrection Such as have Let me speak to them severally I begin with the former 1. Application to such as are yet in the grave of sin 1. Such as are yet in the grave of sin under the power of a spirituall death strangers to this first Resurrection let me speak unto you in the like language that our Saviour did once to Lazarus John 11.43 Let them awake and arise from the dead Lazarus come forth or as Peter did to Dorcas Acts 9.40 Tabitha arise Come ye forth of that grave of sin wherein your souls lie putrifying and corrupting Arise stand up from the dead So the Apostle cals upon those in your condition Ephes 5.14 Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead Awake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word as both Beza and Grotius note upon it properly signifieth the awakening of a drunken man that is somno vinóque sepultus buried as it were in sleep and wine his coming to himselfe again As it is said of Noah Gen. 9.24 Noah awoke from his wine And so the Prophet Joel speaking to the Drunkards of his time he bids them awake Awake ye drunkards Joel 1.5 In the like language the Apostle there speaketh to the Christians of his time who were corrupted in their judgements with that pestilent errour of Saducaisme denying the Resurrection of the dead affirming the Resurrection mentioned in Scripture to be no other but the renewing of the world by the Gospel and the spirituall Regeneration of the soul by the grace of God an errour hatched in those times and revived in ours even amongst our selves This errour the Apostle there looketh upon as we may do upon all errour as having in it an inebriating property intoxicating and stupifying the souls of them that were possessed with it and thereupon he calls upon them to awake from that drunkennesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Awake unto righteousnesse or righteously that is so awake as that you may henceforth live and walk as becometh Saints in holinesse and righteousnesse The same say I to all habituall and customary sinners such whose souls are cast into this dead sleep in whom custome in sinning hath taken away the sense of sin and I wish I could speak loud enough so speak as you might hear me Awake you Awake from sin unto righteousnesse Awake arise stand up from the dead that Christ may give you light and life Motives to presse this Motion Motive Better never rise then not thus arise I shall not use many Take one for all Except you thus arise better never arise Except you thus arise here better never arise hereafter Unlesse you have your part in this first Resurrection better you should never have your part in the second Resurrection This later you shall have your bodies shall be raised again at the last day O that you may then