he well knew that it would be a wretched hopeless condition for man to provide a Physitian to himself and to have him to seek when his sickness should be desparate he therefore by a foresight and providence of pure soveraign free transcendent Grace did provide one and indeed it was necessary for our good that it should be so for had man fallen sick of sin before this Covenant for sending a healer to him he had died ere the cure could come 8. This Covenant was necessary for cutting off all matter and occasion of self-gloriation from man in his own Redemption and Salvation for if the business of our Redemption and Salvation was transacted concluded done and ended betwixt Jehovah and Christ without our knowledg or consent before we had a Being what have we to boast of If the agreement ahout the price to be payed and accepted tarried not for man wherein can we glory that we have contributed to our own happiness 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began Eph. 2.10 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them 1 Joh. 4.10 19 Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins We love him because he first loved us CHAP. III. Of the Nature Properties and Parties of the Covenant of Redemption THE general Nature of this Covenant is common to it with all other Covenants whatsoever different peculiarity they have this is essential and common to all Covenants they are Agreements and this is an eternal transaction and agreement betwixt Jehovah and the Mediator Christ about the work of our Redemption The peculiar propriety of its nature will appear by enquiring a little into 1. The various eternal acts of the will of God that concurred to make up this agreement 2. The distinction and order of these eternal acts of his will and the right manner of our conceiving of them 1. Supposing as we have said before that God purposed in himself not to save man without a satisfaction to his Justice These eternal acts of the will of God or rather the things which we conceive under these various acts and their denominations among men for we need to multiply acts in this matter but for the helping our own understanding did concur and meet together in this agreement 1. The designation of a Person to do this work there must needs have been a Person set apart and designed from eternity unto the doing of the work of Redemption and this Person was the Son only not the Father not the Spirit 1 Pet. 1.20 Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for you 2. The preparation and fitting of the Person set apart to take our Law-place and room that Justice might smite him in our stead which also was by an eternal act of the will of God decreed that the Son of God should be Immanuel God with us or God made manifest in the flesh Isa 7.14 1 Tim. 3.16 and unto this incarnation of the Son of God his own words have reference as unto the grand qualification whereby he was destinated before-hand that he might be in a capacity to do this work Heb. 10.5 A body hast thou prepared me 3. The calling of the Person designed calling is an act different from designation 't is something further Christ was by an eternal act of God's will called to this work and that long before he came into the world Psal 89.19 Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy One and saidst I have laid help upon one that is mighty I have exalted one chosen out of the people And Isa 42.6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness and will hold thine hand and will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant of the people for a light of the Gentiles Heb. 5.5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest but he that said unto him Thou art my Son to day have I begotten thee 4. The investing of the Person designed with offices powers and authorities for the doing of this work such as his Mediatory-office and the powers and authorities thereunto belonging which was not suspended until the time of his actual discharge of the offices of King Priest and Prophet but by an eternal act of the will of God he was set up and vested with these offices and powers from everlasting and had the glory of the designed called invested Mediator as he plainly insinuates Prov. 8.23 I was set up from everlasting saith Wisdom several Expositors render it I was called or I was annointed Joh. 17.5 And now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was 5. The mission of the Son Christ designed sitted called invested for this work was also by an eternal act in the counsel of God sent to do this work he had a solema eternal authoritative mission a command to go and was bidden go he had the will of God by an eternal act or commission given out to him concerning all this work long before he was actually made under the Law to which he hath respect when he saith Lo I come to do thy will O God Heb. 10.7 even that will of God that was in the book of his eternal decrees Joh. 6.39 And this is the Fathers will which hath sent me And 10.18 This Commandment have I received of my Father But in all these we do not so much multiply the distinction of acts as we take notice of the distinction and difference of Phrase used by the Holy Ghost speaking of this mysterie in the Scriptures Upon the other part there concurred unto this agreement an eternal personal consent and compliance upon Christ's part unto all these eternal acts of the will of God for Christ God equal with the Father does not begin to consent and agree unto any thing in time nor can the eternal Son of God will any thing in time which he did not will and consent unto from eternity But Christ was present with the Father and did from eternity consent and agree to these eternal acts 1. To the designation of himself to be the person that should satisfie the Justice of God he heartily acquiesced and offered himself he said Lo I come to do thy will Heb. 10.5 7. He poured out his Soul unto death Isa 53.12 2. He consented unto the putting himself in that low capacity that the working of this work required Heb. 2.7 Thou madest him a little lower than the Angels to leave the throne of glory and come down to his footstool there to be in disgrace the Lord of the Law to be made under
Christ's answer bears a chearful consent to the Proposals made by God to him I delight to do thy will O God and thy law is within my heart because his heart was to the business and a design of love acted him all along his undertaking and performing the work of our Redemption Joh. 13.1 having loved his own therefore he took pleasure in the work therefore it was his delight Prov. 8.31 Rejoycing in the habitable part of his earth and my delights were with the sons of men Luk. 22.15 And he said unto them with desire I have desired to eat this passeover with you before I suffer I conclude then that this consent upon Christ's part to his Father's Proposals makes a Covenant betwixt Jehovah and Christ 3. Beside the former two which according to the opinion of Jurists amount to a Paction and a Contract or virtual Covenant and I think also to a formal explicite Covenant there is also vestiges to be found betwixt God and Christ of all things required unto explicite formal Covenanting Let us therefore enquire a little 1. What are the requisites of formal explicite Covenanting 2. What vestiges of these are to be found betwixt Jehovah and Christ 1. The peculiar propriety of formal explicite Covenanting stands in stipulation and restipulation in Conditional Proposals commands tenders or promises upon the one part and the accepting consenting or performing of conditions required upon the other part When the Proposals of whatsoever quality and kind they be are expresly conditional and the conditions propounded and required are expresly accepted and agreed unto there is a formal explicite Covenant even in the most strict and rigorous acceptation of the word Covenant Hence the Jurists confine mutual contracts and explicite Covenants within the compass of these few words Do ut des Soto de justitia Jure lib. 6. Quest 2. Art 1. Jo. Cal. lex Jurad in voce pactum facio ut facias do ut facias facio ut des 2. That there be clear footsteps of such dealing and Transactions betwixt Jehovah and Christ may appear from these instances all which evince stipulation and restipulation Conditions upon the one part and upon the other Conditions given and taken 1. Betwixt Jehovah and Christ there are Commands with Promises holding forth what was the Will of God to Christ in the matter of man's Redemption and what he should expect from his Father for doing that work and obeying his Will Joh. 6.39 40 This is the fathers will and this is the will of him that sent me Zech. 6.12 13 Behold the man whose name is the Branch and he shall grow up out of his place and he shall build the temple of the Lord and the counsel of peace shall be between them both Mich. 5.4 5 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God and they shall abide for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth And this man shall be the peace when the Assyrian shall come into our land Isa 42 1 2 3 4. He shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles He shall not cry nor lift up nor cause his voice to be heard in the street A bruised reed shall he not break and the smoaking flax shall he not quench he shall bring forth Judgment unto truth And if a command with a threatning annexed which had a promise in it implicitely did amount to a Covenant in God's dealing with man in his integrity by a Covenant of works as is acknowledged by all Civines Gen. 2.17 But of the tree of the knowledg of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die Sure commands with explicite promises such as are betwixt God and Christ do amount to a Covenant 2. Betwixt Jehovah and Christ there are Promises with Conditions I say Promises with Conditions not absolute promises read Isa 53.10 11 12 When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed he shall prolong his days and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied By his knowledg shall my righteous servant justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great and he shall divide the spoil with the strong because he hath poured out his soul unto death and he was numbred with the transgressors and he bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors Now Promises with Conditions are promises with re-promissions or conditions upon the one part and upon the other this is a declaration of what God will do and what he doth require which is a formal Covenant and is plainly reducible to that which the Jurists call Do ut facias facio ut des c. 3. There is betwixt Jehovah and Christ not only Commands with Promises annexed and Promises with Conditions annexed but which is yet more Conditions with consent a formal consent and voluntary yielding unto the Proposals which were made unto him by Jehovah and this is without question a formal explicite Covenant consisting of stipulation and restipulation propounding and answering or accepting demanding and yielding or consenting he receives a command from his Father to lay down his life and he willingly consents Joh. 10.18 No man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again This commandment have I received of my father His Father propounds his Will to him and makes offer of fair conditions and he accepts Isa 53.10 When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed he shall prolong his days and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand Heb. 10.5 7 Wherefore when he cometh into the world he saith sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not but a body hast thou prepared me Then said I Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will O God Here is a formal explicite Covenant 4. There is betwixt Jehovah and Christ Consenting with Performing not only a mutual agreement upon the things to be done by Christ and to be done to Christ but a real performance of the mutual conditions agreed upon betwixt them and this is more than a consummate Covenant this is the fulfilling of an explicite Covenant and the acknowledgment of both parties that it was mutually covenanted and that the conditions were observed and were performed on both sides Joh. 17.4 I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do saith Christ and his Father saith Isa 42.1 Behold my servant whom I uphold mine elect in whom my soul delighteth I have put my spirit upon him and he shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentilss Phil. 2.8 9 And being found in fashion as a
everlasting from the beginning or ever the earth was and which shall endure throughout eternity for the righteousness of this Covenant even the Surety-righteousness of Christ the Redeemer shall be worn in glory for evermore by all the redeemed people and through the force and vertue of the blood thereof shall the glorious Church stand and reign for ever Rev. 19.8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linnen clean and white for the fine linnen is the righteousness of Saints And 5.9 And they sung a new song saying thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation 4. Another Property of the Covenant of Redemption is equality They who distinguish Covenants into equal and unequal Covenants by equal Covenants they understand such wherein there is equality in the parties or conditions when the parties stand in equal terms and do agree upon equal or like conditions No Covenant betwixt God and meer Man ean properly and strictly be called an equal Covenant neither the Covenant of works made with man in his integrity nor the Covenant of Grace made with fallen man for beside the infinite distance and inequality of the parties there is no proportion betwixt the terms and conditions given and required in these Covenants And upon strict examination there are but few equal Covenants betwixt man and man for it is rare to find the condition and affairs of Parties entering in Covenant in such an equal poise as that the inequality of their condition and the moment and exigent of their affairs does not influence the terms and conditions of their Covenants so as to render them unequal But sure the Covenant betwixt Jehovah and Christ is an equal Covenant 1. This Covenant was betwixt parties equal I do not say that the Man Christ or Christ Mediator was equal with God for in this respect there was an inferiority and subordination unto which Christ humbled himself by giving his actual consent in this Covenant unto the designation of him to be the Person that should do the work of our Redemption but considering Christ as the eternal Son of God and antecedently to his actual consent to humble himself yea and after that consent too considering Christ the second Person as the natural Son of God the parties transacting this Covenant though not quatenus as they were considered in this Covenant-transaction were equal in Power Greatness Wisdom Honour c. as hath been before shewed from Phil. 2.6 Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God Joh. 10.29 30 My Father which gave them me is greater than all I and my Father are one 2. This Covenant was betwixt equal parties when they stood in equal terms and were at a perfect freedom to chuse or refuse to give consent to this Covenant or refuse it as pleased either party there may be sometimes equality betwixt parties covenanting yet the inequality of the condition and freedom at the time of transacting may render the Covenant betwixt them unequal as when the one party is not at freedom is concluded by some pressure or necessity that is not upon the other party hence often the terms are unequal but in the Covenant of Suretiship whatsoever inequality and subordination was subsequent by the tenor of this Covenant at the time when it was transacted from eternity the parties stood both on equal terms and were at perfect freedom to transact or not as pleased either as I have already proved there was nothing in the condition of either party abstracting from the purpose of the parties own will and the design that acted them which was common to both that could conclude either party to enter into such a Covenant If I may call a transaction that had no beginning by the name of entering a Covenant in regard of our manner of conceiving thereof for this Covenant was not only consented to by Christ a person equal with God but by him being in the form of God Phil. 2.6 7 that is while he stood in equal terms with God and was under no necessity to be found in the form of a servant till he humbled himself and made himself of no reputation c. 3. The design that acted both parties in this transaction was equal for it was one and the same a design of love acted both the Father and the Son the carrying on a purpose of Grace and design of love which God had laid upon his elect people acted Jehovah in sending Christ to do this work of Redemption and in making him Surety for his people and the same design also acted Christ in his consenting to take our Law-place and in his coming accordingly to act our part Joh. 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life With Gal. 2.20 I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Even this Love-design which took up the delight and the thoughts of both the patties equally and wherewith both parties were solacing themselves in the works without themselves when as yet there was no world nor Inhabitants thereof created Prov. 8.31 Rejoycing in the habitable part of his earth and my delights were with the sons of men 4. This Covenant of Suretiship was made upon equal or like conditions and terms there was an equality betwixt the stipulation and restipulation the conditions promised to Christ and these required from him by this Covenant not that worthless man was a wager for God to work for for he was far below the price that love put upon him But understand it thus 1. There was an equality of Justice betwixt the conditions on the one part and the other punitive Justice could exact no more of man by the curse of the broken Covenant than that which Christ suffered as his Surety Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us and remunerative Justice could give no less to his perfect obedience unto the Law of works than the righteousness and life which he purchased Rom. 8.4 That the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us 2. There was an equality of proportion or merit betwixt the conditions required from and performed by Christ by vertue of this Covenant and the conditions promised and performed unto Christ by this Covenant Not a merit and satisfaction upon Christ's part de congruo as the Schoolmen speak whereby the friendship and love of the party injured doth accept of that which is not equivalent to the offence Durand lib. 3. dist 21. quest 2. which Vorstius calleth God's Divine acceptilation which properly had no place here though the friendship and love betwixt God and Christ be such as renders any thing done by him
and with them only See Psal 89.3 I have made a Covenant with my chosen 2 Thess 2.13 God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth 5. These Covenants of Redemption and Reconciliation agree in this that the principal ends of both are the same which were 1. The highest manifestation of all the Lords glorious attributes which were so manifested in Christ as they were never known before whereof in its proper place this was one of the principal ends which the Lord had before him both in the Covenant of Redemption and the Covenant of Reconciliation Eph. 3.9 10 11 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the Mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. 2. The highest and nearest union of man with God was one of the Lords ends in both these Covenants to make up such an union betwixt God and Man as might be a ground and foundation of sutable communion Joh. 14.20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my father and you in me and I in you 1 Cor. 6.17 But he that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit 3. Another principal end which God had before him in his Covenant-dealings was the highest and fullest communication of himself to man this end was proposed in both these Covenants of Redemption and Reconciliation God would dispense nothing of himself unto the creatures but by his Son and through his Covenant with him and with us he purposed to communicate himself to us 1 Joh. 5.11 And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son And 1.3 And truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 6. The Covenant of Suretiship made with Christ and the Covenant of Redemption and Grace made with sinners agree in this That the good and advantage of both these Covenants redounded unto us even as the honour of both accrues unto the Lord who after the opening of this subject of his Covenant-dealings with Christ and through him with us Isa 42.1 to 8 immediately subjoyns I am the Lord that is my name and my glory I will not give to another both these Covenants were transacted to the praise of the glory of his grace Eph. 1.6 But the profit and advantage of both is ours not his and if these words Psal 16.2 3 My goodness extendeth not unto thee but to the Saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight be the words of Christ or relating to Covenant-transactions betwixt Jehovah and Christ as most part of that Psalm is Jâ— Coce Dâ— soed c. p. p. 106. and some Expositors apply it and I do not see why it may not more fitly be applied to Christ than to David I say if these words be Christ's they speak the point in hand fully Besides see Rom. 5.15 The grace of God and the gift by grace which is by one man Jesus Christ hath abounded unto many 2 Cor. 4.15 For all things are for your sakes that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God 7. They agree in this That there is exchange of places betwixt Christ and his elect redeemed seed in both these Covenants In the Covenant of Suretiship he taketh our Law-place and room and putteth himself in the sinners stead as hath been said Heb. 10.7 Lo I come to do thy will And again in the Covenant of Reconciliation we take Christ's Law-place or rather have bestowed upon us that place and room with God which the Law allowed to him that obeyeth the Law and satisfieth the Law to the full Hence 't is said that we are made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 This is our place by the Covenant of Reconciliation to have that high righteousness of our Surety unto which the God-head gave excellency and the righteousness of the Law is said to be fulfilled in us Rom. 8.4 to wit the passive righteousness thereof in suffering for the breach of the Law and how was this only by commutation and exchange of places with Christ our Surety who put himself in our place and put us in his 8. The Covenant of Redemption and the Covenant of Reconciliation agree in many properties both these Covenants are free gracious everlasting ordered in all things sure c. as may fully appear by what is already spoken of the properties of the Covenant of Suretiship and by the second part of this Treatise which relates to the properties of the Covenant of Grace 2. In the next place let us take notice of the difference between the Covenants of Redemption and Reconciliation whereby it may appear that these are two Covenants and not one and the same These Covenants differ 1. In the rise although they agree thus far in the rise See Mr. Rutherf Treat of the Covenant p. 2. c. 8. that both these Covenants had the rise from Grace as I have shewed yet they differ in this that the Covenant of Redemption and Suretiship did spring out of Grace in both the parties for therein did the Grace of Jehovah and the Grace of Jesus Christ appear it was the gracious pleasure and good will of both the parties which equally gave it the first rise But the Grace that giveth the rise to the Covenant of Reconciliation is not shared between the parties but it stands all upon one side Grace in God and in our Lord Jesus Christ without any gracious disposition or qualification upon our part till it be wrought in us by the Grace of Christ giveth the first rise to the Covenant of Reconciliation and Grace made with sinners Tit. 2.11 For the grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto all men 1 Joh. 4.10 19 Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins We love him because he first loved us Rom. 5.6 8 For when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for us But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us 2. These Covenants differ in the property of eternity for although both are everlasting Covenants yet both are not eternal The Covenant of Redemption is eternal for the Lord does not begin in time to design Christ a Surety and Mediator nor does the Son begin in time to be a Consenter but we are to understand the Apostles saying he was made surety Heb. 7.22 by Christ's own saying I was set up from everlasting c. Prov. 8.23 1 Pet. 1.20 Who verily was
even as by the spirit of the Lord. 3. The way of Gods attaining his end and our attaining our happiness which are both one the way I say is also one it is in Christ the Mediator that God is manifested and in him do we see God the knowledg of his glory and our happiness are both in the face of Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 All the excellencies of God are manifested in Christ he revealeth the mysteries 1. Of his will as he is the Word 2. Of his nature as he is the brightness of his Glory 3. Of the subsistences and distinction of the Persons as he is the Image of his Person he only knows the Father and he only can reveal the Father Joh. 1.18 Col. 1.15 He is the image of the invisible God i.e. The excellencies of God otherwise invisible are revealed by him and to be seen in him These three things of God are discovered in Jesus Christ 1. The Attributes of God 2. The distinct subsistences of the persons of the God-head 3. The distinct offices of the three Persons 1. There is a full manifestation of the Attributes of God in Jesus Christ the Mediator of the new Covenant these Attributes that were never manifested before Mercy and Long-suffering are revealed in him and these that were manifested before shine mort brightly through Christ 1. The Wisdom of God there was great and infinite wisdom shewed in creating the world and ruling it by his wâ—â—â— providence but what is that to the wisdom that is shewed in Christ the wisdom that reconciled Justice and Mercy the wisdom that punished sin and pardoned the sinner how wonderful and unsearchable is that Wisdom that by the fall of man raised him to a greater height of happiness than ever he had before Rom. 11.33 34 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledg of God! how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out For who hath 〈◊〉 the mind of the Lord or who heth been his câ—uâ—seâ—â—â—r 〈◊〉 Eph. 3.10 To the intent that now unto the prinly 〈…〉 in heavenly places might be made known 〈…〉 the manifold wisdom of God this is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the manifold wisdom of God which yet doth not fully express the Greek word which signifies the manifold and various wisdom or the wisdom of God that is full of admirable varieties so Beza Erasmus Zanchius Stephanus 2. The Goodness of God is manifested in Jesus Christ his goodness and love to man appeared much at first in making him of the rank of the highest creatures on earth and putting all the rest of the Creatures under his feet Psal 8.5 6 For thus hasâ— made him a little fower than the Angels and hast crowned him with glory and honour Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands thou hast put all things under his feet This was penned to magnitie the nature of man but in Christ our nature is more magnified as we shall shew by and by Heb. 1.6 And again when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him This is a higher pitch of the love of God this is the goodness of God more manifested than ever before to give his Son Christ for man and his Son to become sin and a curse for man Joh. 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but haeve everlasting life 2 Cor. 5. last For he hath made him to be sin for us that knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us 3. The Mercy of God is eminently manifested in Jesus Christ man is made to rise by his fall Mercy never saw the light before it was never revealed but in Jesus Christ for it respects the creature in its misery Luk. 1.72 78 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy Covenant Through the tender mercy of our God whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us When all the posterity of Adam were as fuel for the fire mercy rescues and reserves some to be sons and heirs Rom. 9.23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory 4. The Power of God is manifested in Christ God shewed his power in the Creation as we read Isa 40.12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and meted out heaven with the span and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance c. Job 38 c. But what is this to the taking of our nature and uniting it in a personal union with the Son of God that God should become man the Ancient of Days become a Child the Incomprehensible to become comprehensible Col. 2.9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the God-head bodily The invisible God to become visible and to dwell here as in a tabernacle with men Joh. 1.14 And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth 5. The Soveraignty of God is manifested in and through Christ great was the Soveraignty of God that was exercised in predestination in making of vessels of honour or dishonour according to the pleasure of his will Rom. 9.21 22 23 Hath not the potter power over the clay of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour and another unto dishonour What if God willing to shew his wrath and to make his power known endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy which he had before prepared unto glory But all this was Soveraignty over the creature but that Jesus Christ the Son of God should be appointed a Mediator of the new Covenant made a Servant commanded to lay down his life this is greater Soveraignty Joh. 6.38 For I came down from heaven not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me Chap. 10. v. 18 This commandment have I received of my Father 6. The Justice of God is manifested in Christ Justice was seen in casting off the Angels that fell without hope and in executing the sentence and curse of the first Covenant upon Adam for his transgression thereof but the world never heard of such manifestation of Justice as appears in the satisfaction of Christ to Justice That Christ the Son of God is made sin for us and being made so in obedience to his Fathers command Justice spares him not but he must be smitten to death that satisfaction may be made for sin in our nature Rom. 8.32 He that
his Legacy things pertaining to such persons c. Isa 42.1 53.10 Joh. 6.37 Joh. 17 throughout I proceed now to the third relation which Christ sustaineth in the Covenant of Grace he is the Witness of the Covenant Isa 55.4 Behold I have given him for a witness to the people Rev. 3.14 These thing saith the Amen the faithful and true witness Rev. 1.5 And from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness Christ may be considered as the witness of the Covenant in a double respect 1. He is the Witness witnessed 2. He is the Witness witnessing The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ghned is rendred and doth frequently signifie Testimonium as well as Testis and so the LXX render it Isa 55.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ is the Testimonium and the Testis the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 see Rev. 3.14 Write these things saith the Amen the faithful and true witness with 1 Tim. 2.6 Who gave himself a ransome for all to be testified in due time First I say Christ is the Witness witnessed or the great evidence and testimony of the Covenant betwixt God and his people and in this sense a Witness is used frequently in the Scripture to signifie not only a person that beareth testimony but for any thing that doth evidence as a witness Heb. 11.4 By which he obtained witness that he was righteous God testifying of his gifts Luk. 22.71 And they said what need we any further witness for we our selves have heard of his own mouth For First He is given of God as the great evidence of covenant-Covenant-love and of that special good-will to sinners which gave the first rise to the Covenant Joh. 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Luk. 2.10 11 And the Angel said unto them fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Secondly He is given as the great evidence of Covenant-interest and relations betwixt God and sinners as the sign and evidence that the disagreeing parties are made one in him Isa 7.14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call his name Immanuel Thirdly As the great evidence and witness of Gods fulfilling all the promises of the Covenant 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are Yea and in him they are Amen therefore Christ was of old given as the sign of fulfilling all promises and accomplishing all deliveries to the Church before his coming in the flesh Zech. 6.12 and he shall build the temple of the Lord Isa 7.14 Fourthly As the great evidence and witness of the standing-perpetuity of these Covenant-relations betwixt God and his people Psal 89.34 35 37 My Covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lye unto David It shall be established for ever as the moon and as a faithful witness in heaven Selah Fifthly As the great evidence of the nature and complexion of the Covenant he is so given of God for a witness that all the Covenant is comprised in him Isa 42.6 And will give thee for a Covenant of the people for a light of the Gentiles and therefore also when it was first revealed there was nothing heard of but this witness Christ in the promise of whom all the Covenant the union of God and man was simmed up Gen. 3.15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel If Christ be given to the people for a witness in this sense then 1. You who are under the Preaching of this Gospel qua faedus anunciatum consider the office of Christ and understand it as the great witness and evidence of Gods commanding and approving will that you should enter in Covenant with him and that you ought to believe on the Son of God and know for a certainty that if you obey not the command of believing and taking hold of this Covenant the offers of Christ that hath been made unto you shall be for a witness and evidence that shall acquit the Lord of your condemnation and shall cut off all excuse from you in as much as your Obligation and Duty to believe was revealed unto you and the offer of Christ is the witness of this to all the people who have heard the Gospel 1 Joh. 5.23 And this is his commandment that we should believe in the name of his son Jesus Christ Joh. 15.25 If I had not come and spoken unto them they had not had sin but now they have no cloak for their sin 2. To such as have the Covenant of grace acted in an effectual and powerful way upon their hearts according to Gods Decree and Will of purpose I mean such as have been brought under the bond of this Covenant upon their hearts Eze. 20.37 in which sense the Covenant is spoken of Jer. 31 and Ezek. 36 c. I would have you to understand Gods giving of Christ unto you as he doth intend it to wit as a witness and testimony of his Covenant with you as the greatest evidence and demonstration that can be of his Covenant-love to you of your Covenant-interest in him of the continuance of that Covenant-relation betwixt you and him and of the nature and substance of that Covenant you fearch for witnesses within you and from Heaven to testifie of your Covenant-state through grace you long for that which may evidence it satisfyingly unto you and it may be most of us sin more on the other hand through neglect of fearching after these witnesses which are attainable but it 's a pity that believers who have received Christ freely given to them by God should slight the greatest witness that ever God gave to his people a witness is at hand and you receive not the testimony thereof it may of this be said He that believeth on the son of God hath the witness in himself 1 Joh. 5.10 11 12. He hath Christ the great witness of the Covenant and who knows but we may be left of God to wander the more in the dark about our Covenant state because we lay so little weight upon the having of him whom God hath given for a witness to the people O let us not tempt God by slighting him thus but let us look upon the having of him given to us as the witness of all these things before-mentioned concerning a Covenant betwixt God and us he being given of God for this end so may we find the door and way which we grope for how to
miracles before them yet they believed not on him Joh. 15.23 24 He that hateth me hateth my father also but now have they both seen and hated both me and my father Luk. 7.30 But the Pharisees and Lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves being not baptized of him Psal 81.11 But my people would not hearken to my voice and Israel would none of me Mat. 22.5 6 But they made light of it and went their ways one â—o his fâ—rm another to his merchandise and the remâ—unt took his servants and intreated them spitefully and slow them Mat. 23.37 O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the prophets and stonest them which aâ—e sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not Isa 49.4 Then I said I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for nought and in vain Mat. 11.17 And saying we have piped unto you and ye have not danced we have mourned unto you and ye have not lamented Shall the Messenger of the Covenant have no good report to make of you like that which he made of his Disciples Joh. 16.27 For the father himself loveth you because ye have loved me and believed that I came out from God At least let him have that to say of you that he roported of Ephraim That you have lamented the frowardness of your own hearts under all his pains and travel Jer. 31.18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thou hast chastised me and I was chastised as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoak c. Vse 2. Suffer me from this Covenant-relation of Christs to exhort you 1. To employ him in that which is his trust he is the Messenger of the Covenant if there be any thing which you have to do with God relating to the making maintaining or renewing a Covenant with him there is a messenger appointed for negotiating in that matter and one who is willing to be employed by you Mat. 20.28 The Son of man came not to be ministred unto but to minister Joh. 6.37 All that the father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no ways cast out Heb. 2.17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people 2. Beware that you usurp not his employment neither intrude upon it take heed that you attempt not to send any Message to God and not by the Messenger of the Covenant Heb. 12.29 For our God is a consuming fire See that you go not any errant of the Covenant without him See that you send not your prayers and other performances to God or any Message without him in their own strength or by the hand of another Messenger beside the Angel of the Covenant Rev. 8.3 And another angel came and stood at the altar having a golden censer and there was given unto him much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne Joh. 16.23 Verily verily I say unto you whatsoever ye shall ask the father in my name he will give it you 3. Acknowledg Christ in this Covenant-relation and in the execution of it That ever you heard of the Covenant that it hath been declared revealed and interpreted to you you are debtors for that to the Messenger of the Covenant if he had not travelled in that business you had never heard of it Eph. 2.17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off and to them that were nigh Mat. 13.11 Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven but to them it is not given Much more you are his Debtors if the Covenant be acted upon your hearts Heb. 8.6 10 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days saith the Lord I will put my laws into their mind and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people Mat. 16.17 And Jesus answered and said unto him Blessed art thou Simon Bar-Jona for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my father which is in heaven Joh. 17.6 8 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world thine they were and thou gavest them me and they have kept thy word For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me and they have received them and have known surely that I came out from thee and they have believed that thou didst send me 4. Be requested to take notice and to listen what Message the Messenger of the Covenant bringeth to you it is the Message of a Covenant of a good and sure bargain that you would join your selves to the Lord and take hold of his covenant Isa 56.4 6. Whereunto if you would but listen it should prove a life-giving motion Isa 55.3 Incline your ear and come unto me hear and your soul shall live and I will make an everlasting covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Joh. 1.38 39 They said unto him Rabbi which is to say being interpreted Master where dwellest thou he saith unto them come and see they came and saw where he dwelt and abode with him that day It 's a Message of peace you need not stare at it nor be afraid of what we have in commission 2 Cor. 5 19 20 21 To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation Now then we are ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God for he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him Luk. 2.10 14 And the Angel said unto them fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace good will towards men Isa 60.17 For brass I will bring gold and for iron I will bring silver and for wood brass and for stones iron I will also make thine officers peace and thine exactors righteousness It 's a Message of love of the Fathers love and of the Sons 1 Joh. 3.1 Behold what manner of love the father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not Joh. 15.13 Greater love hath no man then this that a man lay down his life for his friends It 's a Message of
part is voluntary humbling of himself Joh. 13.13 14 Ye call me master and Lord and ye say well for so I am If I then your Lord and master have washed your feet ye also ought to wash one anothers feet Phil. 2.7 But made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men 3. He is God's Servant not for love only to the work wherein he Serveth but for wages as I have already shewed but he is our Servant for no wages nor reward which he could expect from us but purely for love Joh. 13.1 Having loved his own which were in the world he loved them unto the end Joh. 15.13 Greater love hath no man then this that a man lay down his life for his friends 4. He is God's Servant as a Son serveth his father yea as a Servant serveth his Master Mal. 1.6 A son honoureth his father and a servant his master Phil. 2.7 And took upon him the form of a servant Joh. 6.38 For I came down from heaven not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me But he is our Servant as a friend serveth his friend Joh. 15.14 Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you And as a man Serveth one whom he loveth and wooeth which he doth neither for fear nor reward but being wholly acted and determined to do so from a principle of love and a design of love within himself Joh. 3.29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom but the friend of the bridegroom which standeth and heareth him rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegrooms voice Song 5.2 It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh saying open to me my sister my love my dove my undefiled 4. What kind of Service is it which belongeth to Christ by this Covenant-relation Answ 1. It was the greatest piece of Service and trust that ever was put upon man no less then the whole work of our Redemption and Salvation the weight of the lost World and of all the elect was upon his shoulders in this Service Isa 22.24 And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his fathers house the off-spring and the issue all vessels of small quantity from the vessels of cups even to all the vessels of flaggons Joh. 17.2 3 4 As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him And this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent I have glorified thee on the earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do 2. It was the hardest piece of Service that ever was laid upon any person O what a hard Service was it to destroy the works of the Devil to bind the strong man and to spoil his house to fall into his quarters and to bring off the prisoners yea to go into the prison and to set open the dores and let the prisoners go free to enter his person in prison for them to pay the debt of so many broken men to bear their transgressions and the chastisement of their peace to endure the stroak of the wakened up sword of Divine Justice in our stead Heb. 2.14 Mat. 12.29 Isa 61.1 2. Zech. 9.11 Act. 2.24 Col. 2.15 1 Cor. 15.55 Isa 53. throughout It was the hardship of this Service that made him heavy and grieved that made him pray and cry and weep and sweat blood Joh. 13.21 Joh. 26.22 42 Heb. 5.7 Luk. 22.24 The Service of no labouring man of no slave that serveth for hire as a stranger in another country is to be compared with the hardship of his Service 3. This Service was an honourable place and Service he served as a King Heb. 8.1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum we have such an High-priest who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens Joh. 5.22 23 For as the father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment unto the Son that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the father He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the father which hath sent him Isa 22.23 24 And he shall be for a glorious throne to his fathers house And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his fathers house the off-spring and the issue Yea It 's a greater place than to be a King for by it the man Christ is exalted far above all principality and constituted Judg and Ruler of the Nations Prince of the Kings of the Earth head of the Church and King of Saints Phil. 2.8 9. Eph. 2.20 21 22. Col. 1.28 Isa 9.6 Act. 17.31 Rev. 15.3 and 17.14 4. It was the most kindly Service that ever was done by man for it was the Service of love the design of love that was in his heart made him with good will to serve Jer. 31.3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me saying yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee He Served not only as a hired man and a stranger in a far Country and as a King and great Lord Ambassador whose Service was a Rule and Government but he served also as a lover because of the design of love and of eternal enjoyment of his chosen people which was in his heart he wearied not to serve his father who had promised to give him the people whom he loved with an everlasting love and he wearied not to serve his people that he might court and woo them to himself he did serve for the satisfaction that he promised to himself in the enjoyment of the people upon whom he had set his heart and as low a price as poor sinners are yet he counted them worthy to be compassed with so high a design he reckoned them a wager and recompence for all his Service Isa 53.11 He shall see of the travel of of his soul and shall be satisfied Heb. 12.2 Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God His Service is not unfitly resembled by Jacobs who Served for a Wife whom he loved Gen. 29.15 21 27 And Laban said unto Jacob Because thou art my brother shouldst thou therefore serve me for nought tell me what shall thy wages be And Jacob said unto Laban Give me my wife for my days are fulfilled Fulfil her week and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years 5. What was the Service which Christ did in the business of the Covenant though this cannot be sufficiently answered by us who have not yet come to know and understand half of that which he hath done for his people 1 Cor. 2.9 But as it is written Eye hath not seen nor ear heard
faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me 3. His Service of love is commended from the lowness of the wager and price which he is to have for his Service and love Was man a crown and wager for Christ to work and to run for that he might win it how great a disproportion is there betwixt the Service and the Wages Can poor polluted nothings such as we are be a price for such Love for such Service for such transcendent infinite Love and yet such was the wager for which he served Joh. 13.1 Having loved his own which were in the world he loved them unto the end Joh. 17.19 And for their sakes I sanctifie my self that they also might be sanctified through the truth 4. His Service is commended from the largeness of his design of Love through which he did drive the serving of this Service that God the Son of God did drive this piece of Service through so deep and broad and long a design of transcendent love from everlasting to everlasting through so many decrees which at last could produce nothing in the result but this price To have his poor people engaged to him by a Covenant whereas we might think a lower design might compass sinners and a less price might buy poor man Jer. 31.3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me saying Yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee 1 Joh. 3.1 Behold what manner of love the father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not Eph. 3.18 19 may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledg that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God 5. His Service is commended for his performing of it and doing his work so long before he was to reap that low price of all the travel of his Soul to wit the enjoyment of his people Isa 53.11 He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied He served long ago for that wager which is not not yet payed to him and he knew when he served that Service that he should lie so long out of a great part of his satisfaction Joh. 17.20 Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word Vse 2. This Covenant-relation speaks sad things to them who will not serve Christ 1. Wo to them that will not serve him who refuse a consent of their Service to him who made himself a Servant for our sake Luk. 19.14 But his citizens hated him and sent a message after him saying We will not have this man to reign over us Psal 2.3 Let us break their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us We love to be Lords over our own liberty and wills and to break his bands 2. Wo to them that think shame to serve him there is a generation that think it is below them to serve Christ they judg his Service is not honourable though he was not ashamed to serve us Luk. 22.27 For whether is greater he that sitteth at meat or he that serveth is not he that sitteth at meat but I am among you as he that serveth Heb. 2.11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren And though it be no shame but honourable to serve him Psal 116.16 O Lord truly I am thy servant I am thy servant and the Son of thine hand-maid thou hast loosed my bonds Psal 84.10 For a day in thy courts is better then a thousand I had rather be a dore-keeper in the house of my God then to dwell in the-tents of wickedness Ifa 58.13 And call the sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine own ways nor finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words 3. Wo to them that pretend to serve him and do nothing but Eye-service in his work though he was real and cordial in serving our Interest for his Soul travelled in the business but the spirits of such act nothing in his Service Eph. 6.6 Not with Eye-service as men-pleasers but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart Isa 29.13 Wherefore the Lord said Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth and with their lips do honour me but hath removed their heart from me and their fear toward me is taught by the precepts of men c. O Consider with your selves 1. What pride there is in refusing to serve him whose Service is so honourable an employment that it is not below the Kings of the Earth to bring their Glory unto Christ and to bow before him Psal 2.10 11 12 Be wise now therefore O ye kings be instructed ye judges of the earth Servo the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little Psal 54. throughout Who would not bow to him who shall break them all that will not bow unto him Isa 60.12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish yea those nations shall be utterly wasted Psal 2.9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potters vessel Psal 110.5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath 2. Consider what huge and monstrous ingratitude and unkindness it is not to serve him who hath voluntarily humbled himself to serve us who though he was our maker Heb. 1.2 3 yet made himself of no reputation for our advancement Phil. 2.7 Consider how he hath commended his Service unto us and be ashamed not to be found among his servants and followers See more of this Chap. 18. Vse 3. Exhortation 1. Consider and know what he hath done in this Covenant-relation after he hath served this Service and done all that was incumbent to him in this relation he may put the question to us which sometimes he put to his Disciples Joh. 13.12 Know ye what I have done to you 't is a pity that his Service is so little known and taken notice of among his own people for whom he hath done this Service 't is a pity that it should be met with doubtings whether he hath done Service for us or denials of our interest in it which occasion diminutive thoughts and expressions of it 2. Consider how ill Christ was used in this relation that you may be broken for it he was smitten by both the parties It pleased the Lord to bruise him Isa 53.10 Rom. 8.32 He spared not his own Son Zech. 13.7 Awake O sword against my shepherd and against the man that
to do them It is grace that the same soul that sinned dieth not but another and yet more grace that every soul that sinneth dieth not but one for many one for all the Elect world Mat. 20.28 And to give his life a ransome for many 2 Cor. 5.15 And that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them and rose again 2. This was grace in God that he did not only admit this way of satisfaction but himself did find it out The finding out of a way of satisfaction to justice without the eternal punishment of the sinner this was Gods act and this was one act of special grace for it was not only above the reach of men and Angels but also before their being 1 Cor. 2.7 8 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory Which none of the princes of this world knew Prov. 8.23 30 I was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the earth was Then I was by him as one brought up with him and I was daily his delight rejoycing always before him 3. This was pure grace in God that he did design provide and foresee a Surety and sactisfaction for us before we became broken men and needed one that he designed a Physician before we were sick 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began 4. This was grace even singular grace in God that he neither did admit of this way of satisfaction for the sin of Angels nor did he find it out for them but unto men only did he indulge this dispensation Heb. 2.14 16 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham 2 Pet. 2.4 For if God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgment Jude vers 6 And the Angels which kept not their first estate but left their own habitation he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day There was no relaxation of the rigour of the law toward them but a strict execution of justice upon them 5. It was unspeakable grace in God that having admitted of such a way of satisfaction he should put his own Son upon the work and make him the Surety who should make satisfaction unto the justice of God by giving his life a ransome for us such an act of grace as this hath not been heard of Joh. 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life Rom. 5.8 But God commended his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us 1 Joh. 2.2 And he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world 1 Joh. 4.10 Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins 6. It is grace in God that when he hath found out this way of satisfaction and is content to admit of it and hath put his Son upon the work that he should be at the pains to reveal to us Christs Surety righteousness and to apply it unto us without which the satisfaction of the Surety could not avail us and what else can it be but grace in God that maketh the satisfaction of Christ effectual to one and not to another who hath also heard of this way of satisfying-justice Job 33.23 24 If there be a messenger with him an interpreter one among a thousand to shew unto man his uprightness Then he is gracious unto him and saith Deliver him from going down to the pit I have found a ransom Joh. 6.44 No man can come to me except the father which hath sent me draw him and I will raise him up at the last day Eph. 2.8 For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God And upon this account it is that justification and remission of sins are called free notwithstanding the satisfaction of Christ that the wonderful riches of Gods free grace might shine in the Suretiship of Christ Isa 43.25 I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for my own sake and will not remember thy sins Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus 4. For whom is Christ engaged as Surety of the Covenant I speak now of his Suretiship only as it relateth to his act of cautionry for his people remitting the consideration of it in a larger extent unto the next thing to be handled upon this Subject Before I answer this Question I shall premit some distinctions which make way for an answer to it 1. See Mr. Ruth treatise of the Covenant p. 2. c. 10. It is a necessary distinction of the Covenant of grace that it is considered either 1. As it is preached according to the commanding-will of God or 2. As it 's fulfilled in the Elect according to the Lords will of purpose the Covenant in the first consideration stands of promises commands threatnings c. And so it holds forth what is the command of God concerning our duty and the things which we may conditionally expect and puts nothing absolutely whether we perform it or not See Act. 2.38.39 Then Peter said unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Act. 16.31 And they said Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thine house In the second consideration the Covenant stands wholly in promises and those absolute promises and does not hold forth our duty and obligation and what is morally good or evil because God commands it or forbids it but what is Gods will of purpose and decree and what is his pleasure to act effectually upon the hearts of the Elect he over-ruling their corrupt wills so the Covenant is to be understood Jer. 31.31 c. Ezek. 11.16 c. and 36.25 c. 2. We must distinguish the parties of the Covenant according to this two-fold consideration thereof for the parties contracting with God in the
to your vertue knowledg c. 3. Quo ad executorem in the kindly genuine work of his spirit that the good which God hath done to thee is the true execution of the Testators will of grace to his people 1 Cor. 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God Joh. 1.13 Which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Rom. 8.9 But ye are not in the flesh but in the spirit if so be that the spirit of God dwell in you now if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his CHAP. XXII Christ a Covenant of the people or in what respects Christ is all the Covenant BEsides the many and various relations before spoken of which Christ sustaineth in the Covenant of grace he is the Covenant it self for to him doth the father speak Isa 42.6 and 49.8 I will give thee for a Covenant of the people things attributed in abstracto have a great signification Rom. 1.7 The carnal mind is enmity c. Christ is called the peace Micah 5.5 And our peace Eph. 2.14 This is more than the peace-maker Col. 1.20 'T is all the transaction of peace the whole business of reconciliation comprized in the Mediator and acted by him So here Christ a Covenant is more than the Covenant-maker or the Mediator of the Covenant the phrase imports two things 1. The abridging and summing up of the whole Covenant in Christ Mediator in whose person the two parties at enmity were united I will give thee for a covenant of the people that is I make a gift of thee to be to my people the summary and compend of all that blessed transaction and Covenant which I purpose with them 2. It imports the commitment of the whole business which God purposed to do with his people in the way of a Covenant unto Christ the Mediator to be managed by him I will give thee for a covenant of the people is a designation of Christs work unto which he was called and for the doing of which promises of assistance are made to him in the words preceding these as if it were said I set thee over the whole business of the Covenant between me and the people given to thee that from beginning to end it may be managed by thee Again Christ is not only given for a Covenant but for a Covenant of the people that is to be on the peoples side and to deal for them for the people alone are not capable of confederation with God but Christ stands jointly with them and is gifted of God to the people to be given back again to God for their part of the Covenant Psal 89.19 Heb. 2.13 Hence let us consider of these Propositions Christ is all the Covenant or all this Covenant is comprized in Christ or God by giving Christ doth give the Covenant of the people with him Christ is the Covenant 1. Originally and fundamentally he is the original and root out of which the Covenant sprang and he is the foundation upon which it is grounded the Covenant of grace took its rise and being from Christ Rev. 22.16 I Jesus have sent mine Angel to testifie unto you these things in the Churches I am the root and the off-spring of David and the bright and morning-star Isa 28.16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone a tryed stone a precious corner-stone a sure foundation he that believeth shall not make haste Judg. 14.14 And he said unto them Out of the eater came forth meat and out of the strong came forth sweetness 1. He is the ancient foundation of that which was revealed of the Covenant from the beginning of the world therefore God revealing this Covenant in Paradise presently after the fall bottomed it upon Christ the seed of the woman Gen. 3.15 And revealing it to Abraham he grounded it upon Christ Abrahams seed in whom all the families of the earth should be blessed Gen. 12.3 and 17.1 2. 2. Christ is the eternal foundation of this Covenant upon whom it was bottomed in the eternal decrees of God hence our vocation and salvation are said to be promised and given to us in him before the world began Tit. 1.2 And in hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie promised befor the world began 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began Eph. 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love 2. Christ is the Covenant primarily and by propriety as fire is hot for it self and all things hot for it and by participtation Because with him was the Covenant made as the chief party which believers it was made in subordination to him with him it was made at the first hand with us at the second hand with him it was made for himself with us it was only made for him therefore 't is his Covenant by propriety and ours only by participation and therefore all the promises are made first to him and fulfilled first to him and all the acts of Gods love terminate first upon him and come at us only in the second room and at the second hand Isa 59.21 As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever Psal 89.3 33 I have made a covenant with my chosen I have sworn unto David my servant Nevertheless my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail Isa 53.3 And I will make an everlasting covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ 3. Christ is the Covenant eminently because he is the chief blessing of the Covenant there being not such another promise and gift in all the bundle of promises contained in the Covenant therefore is he spoken of by way of eminence as being that transcendent gift of God matchless effect of Gods love besides which there is not another the like Joh. 4.10 Jesus answered and said unto her If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith unto thee give me to drink Joh. 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have
Office of the Mediator and 1. Of his calling to it p. 174. 2. By whom he was called by God the Father p. 175. 3. When he was called to it 1. In respect of his designation to the Office it is Eternal p. 176. 2. In respect of his Furniture for and being invested in his Office it is in time p. 177. Use 1. Wonder at Gods eternal Love in calling Christ and his voluntary submission to it Use 2. To establish our faith in the prevalency of Christs Mediation ibid. Use 3. Shews the necessity of receiving the Mediator Use 4. Is comfort to Believers Chap. XI Of Christs qualification for the Office of Mediatorship and 1. Of his taking our nature upon him p. 179. Where 1. Is to be considered the reality of it p. 180. 2. His condescending-love in it p. 181. 3. The exaltation of our Nature p. 183. 4. How Christ taking our Nature is the great qualification of him for his Mediatorship p. 185. 1. He must be God for man could not satisfie for sin p. 186. 2. He must be Man because he must stand in our stead and be one with us c. p. 187. 3. The reasons why he must be God and Man in one person p. 188. Chap. XII Several Questions resolved concerning Christs taking our Nature upon him Why God the Father or the Holy Ghost took not our Nature but the Son p. 189. 2. Why must the Son of God be not only Man but the Son of Man the seed of the Woman p. 191. 3 Why did not the Son of God take Adams nature in Innocency but when it was corrupted p. 192. 4. Why must our Mediator be born of the seed of Abraham and when p. 194. 5. Why must our Mediator be made under the Law p. 195. 6. Why was the Son of God born of a Virgin and not a married Woman p. 196. 7. Why is Christ made Man in the fulness of time and not sooner nor later p. 197. The Vses p. 198. Chap. XIII Of Christs Vnction another qualification of him for his Office the first part of which is his Anointing to these Offices of Prophet Priest and King p. 201. The necessity of them in him p. 202. The use of them in our Mediator p. 204. 3. The concurrence of them for the end of his Mediatorship p. 209. Vses p. 215. Chap. XIV The second part of Christs Vnction viz. as it relates to his qualifications for the work 1. Of his Vnction in general p. 221. 1. It was the same with the Vnction of Believers p. 224. 2. It was without measure p. 225. 3. As to the time of his Vnction it was from the first Vnion of his two Natures 4. The extent of his Vnction it reacheth to all the parts of his Mediatorship p. 226. Vses of it p. 227. Chap. XV. Of the Requisites in a Mediator which are eminently in Christ and 1. Of the Requisites of fitting him for his Trust as 1. A Mediator must be a person that must have interest in both parties 2. He must be trusted by both parties 3. He must be well affected to both parties p. 230. 4. He must have power over both parties 2 Requisites relating to the managing such a work As 1. He must be a condescending person p. 231. 2. He must be Mollifying p. 232. 3. He must be Affable p. 233. 4. Meek and long-suffering p. 234. 5. Merciful and tendr-hearted p. 235. 6. He must be potent enough to compass his undertaking p. 236. 7. Faithful to the interest of both parties in the Mediation p. 238. 8. He must be a wooer of both the parties to bring them in friendship together p. 239. 9. Couragious to undergo difficulties and oppositions p. 240. Some other properties in our Mediator qualifying him for his wrk not found in any other Mediator as 1. His Oneness with both parties between whom he mediates p. 242. 2. He never declines the work of Mediation for any 3. He is always at hand and ready p. 243. 4. A perpetual Mediator p. 244. Several Vses ibid. Chap. XVI Of Christs execution of the Office of a Mediator 1. He doth it according to both Natures proved by six Reasons p. 151. 2. Christ hath executed this Office ever since the beginning of the World p. 255. 3. Jesus the Mediator executeth his Office as well in his estate of Exaltation as Humiliation p. 257. A Question whether the Angels have any share in Christ Mediation Answered p. 259. The execution of Christs Mediatorship reduced to five Heads p. 262. 1. To prepare a way for mans covenanting with God p. 263. 2. To bring the Elect within the bond of the Covenant p. 264. 3. To enable whom he bringeth into the covenant of Grace to perform the Duty of the Covenant p. 266. 4. To keep them from falling away from that blessed Estate p. 207. 5. To bring them to the height of that blessedness he hath appointed for them p. 269. Chap. XVII Grounds of comfort and supports of Faith arising to Believers from Christs Mediatorship 1. To those who are convinc'd of enmity betwixt God and them and desire Reconciliation p. 272. 2. To Believers who are come to God through him p. 273. 3. It reacheth to all the evils wherewith Believers can be afflicted ibid. Grounds of comfort if we consider 1. The Person who mediates he is one with the Father 2. The Person with whom he mediates his relation to the Mediator and the persons he mediates for p. 277. 3. The Persons for whom he mediates our nearness to the Mediator and to God by him 4. The cause for which he mediates the righteousness and honourableness of it p. 278. Chap. XVIII Of the Relations that Christ sustaineth in the covenant of Grace viz. A witness of the Covenant 1. The Witness witnessed p. 299. 2. The Witness witnessing 1. An Eye-witness p. 302. 2. An acting Witness 3. He did declare all he saw heard and acted about it p. 303. Three Mysteries declared by him 1. The mysterie of the Gospel-covenant p. 304. 2. The mysterie of Christ p. 305. 3. The mystery of the Gospel-righteousness and the way of justifying Sinners p. 306. Several Mysteries in this Righteousness 1. The imputation of it 2. In the Instrument viz. Faith 3. In the imputation of it with reference to the Persons to whom it is imputed 4 Christ is the witness of the Covenant who confirmeth the truth of all that is contained in it p. 307. Viz. Commands Promises Conditions Threatnings Predictions and Exceptions p. 308. 5. Uses of this p. 313. Chap. XIX Another Relation Christ bears in the Covenant viz. the messenger of the Covenant p. 325. Where 1 The import of the name Messenger or Angel of the Covenant p. 326. 2 In what respects it is applicable to Christ p. 327. 1. In regard of the trust committed to him in the matters of the Covenant 2. In regard of his pains and travel in it p. 328. 3 Betwixt whom doth Christ travel as
morning by morning he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned The promise of help strength support and assistance which are the immediate effects of actual influences and in which the heavenly influences of the Spirit have a proper efficiency and causality there is a divine furniture of strength and assistance promised to him in the discharge of his office in every act of his obedience Isa 42.6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness and will hold thine hand and will keep thee Psal 89.21 With whom my hand shall be established mine arm also shall strengthen him The promise of confirming Grace the man Christ had the promise of the same confirming Grace in his obedience and office and covenant state of favour which is now given to the elect Angels in Christ their head Isa 49.1 2 3 Listen O Isles unto me and hearken ye people from far the Lord hath called me from the womb from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me and made me a polished shaft in his quiver hath he hid me And said unto me thou art my servant O Israel in whom I will be glorified And 42.4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have set judgment in the earth To him is the promise made that he shall never be bowed nor broken he shall not be turned off his work nor his way by any thing that he can meet with And this kind of Promises is made to Christ-man to encourage him as Mr. Roberts observes Medul Bibl. b. 2. c. 2. 1. Against the utmost extremity of his sufferings when he should make his Soul an offering for sin when the wakened up sword of divine Justice should smite him Zech. 13.7 Awake O sword against my shepherd c. and against the man that is my fellow saith the Lord of hosts Though he was forsaken for a time and wanted influences of consolation and felt-fruition of the presence of God Psal 22.1 Mat. 27.45 yet these promises were verified to him and God stood by him with influence of strength support assistance and preservation in all this Mediatory-administrations till he said the work is finished Joh. 19.30 Psal 22.9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb thou didst make me to hope when I was upon my mothers breasts 2. Against all oppositions and enemies There was much opposition made to Christ and many were against him but against all the rage plots combinations of Jews and Gentiles the Lord stood by him and set up his Kingdom Psal 2.2 6 The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Sion Act. 4.27 28 For of a truth against the holy child Jesus whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done 3. Against the deepest discouragements that he should meet with in the discharge of his office He is supported by these promises made to him and accordingly he encourageth himself Isa 49.4 5 6 Then said I I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for naught and in vain yet surely my judgment is with the Lord and my work wiith my God And now saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob again to him Though Israel be not gathered yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord and my God shall be my strength And he said it is a light thing that thou shouldst be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel I will also give thee for a light of the Gentiles that thou mayst be my salvation unto the end of the earth The fourth kind of Promises made by Jehovah unto Christ in the Covenant of Redemption were such as relate to the successfulness and prospering of the work of Redemption in his hand And unto this head I refer 1. The promise of God's making Christ the man of his right hand and that not only in respect of special love and honour but especially in respect of instrumentality whereby God promises to make him the main Instrument of action that should be made serviceable to his ends in the work of Redemption Psal 80.17 Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand upon the Son of man whom thou madest strong for thy self 2. The promise of a successful issue of his undertakings the Lord covenanteth to Christ and giveth to him assurances that he shall effect the work which he undertaketh as if Jehovah had been Surety for this he strikes hands with him that he shall go and prosper Isa 53.10 The pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand He shall see of the travel of his soul by his knowledg shall my righteous servant justifie many Isa 49.6 7 8 And he said it is a light thing that thou shouldst be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles that thou mayst be my salvation unto the end of the earth Thus saith the Lord the Redeemer of Israel and his holy One to him whom man despiseth to him whom the nation abhorreth to a servant of rulers Kings shall see and arise Princes also shall worship because of the Lord that is faithful and the holy One of Israel and he shall chuse thee Thus saith the Lord in an acceptable time have I heard thee and in a day of salvation have I helped thee and I will preserve thee and give thee for a Covenant of the people to establish the earth to cause to inherit the desolate heritages 3. The promises of victory over all his enemies the Lord covenanteth with Christ that whosoever maketh opposition to him in any of his offices in any part of his work of working Redemption and Salvation for his elect people shall be trodden down and shall fall before him Psal 110.1 5 6 Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath He shall judg among the heathen he shall fill the places with the dead bodies he shall wound the heads over many countreys Psal 89.23 Aed I will beat down his foes before his face and plague them that hate him 4. The promises of triumph God covenanteth with him not only to give him the victory but a most glorious publick triumph over Principalities and Powers and all oppositions and enemies to his undertakings Isa 53.12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great and he shall divide the spoil with the strong Eph. 4.8
store-house Christ given to them though they had a fair stock yet it was all in their own hand at adventure and the well head and fountain of life to them was placed in themselves or the streams were cut off from the fountain but to the weak believer the fountain of life and grace is placed in Christ Eph. 2.10 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works Joh. 1.26 And of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace 5. Nor was Christ an undertaker and Surety for the Angels that fell nor for Adam in his first Covenant state he gave no Bond nor came under any act of Suretiship for their standing Heb. 2.16 For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham God never said to them as he doth to the believer Psal 89.19 I have laid help upon one that is mighty 2. Learn hence to admire and study these eternal depths of love and wisdome that shine forth in Gods Covenant-transactions with Christ Eph. 3.18 19 That you may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledg This glorious mystery the Angels desire to search into though not so much concerned in it as we and shall not believers much more study it 1. The wisdom and knowledg that found out this way that was beyond the possible reach of men and Angels that lost man who was in as hopeless a condition as the Apostate Angels should be by a Surety by such a Surety undertaken for when Angels were passed by Heb. 2.16 2. The everlasting out-goings of that same eternal love which came forth in Covenant-transactions betwixt the Father and the Son when these objects of his love and eternal delight were not yet revealed nor knew any thing of it Prov. 8.23 to 31. What a wonder is this that the heart of God the delights of God should be taken up about such objects 3. The Soveraign graciousness and free preventing-grace of this Suretiship that Christ became Surety and undertaker and came to fulfil his Suretiship not sought for not sent for not so much as desired by us to undertake and act any thing for us Isa 65.1 I am sought of them that asked not for me I am found of them that sought me not I said Behold me Behold me unto a nation that was not called by my Name 4. The seasonableness of his sending the notice of this unto us the Lord provided a Physician before we were sick and sent him to us in due time 1 Tim. 2.6 Gal. 4.4 When fallen man was sick unto death when Justice with a fiery sword kept him out from happiness when he was running away and hiding himself at the voice of God Gen. 3.10 When the cure was desperate and the remedy impossible to our knowledg then came the news of a Surety to undertake for us in our low condition 5. The double tenure whereby the believer holds his pardon and life through Christs Suretishp by free-grace and by Justice Jam. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ The Covenant of Redemption has provided both that Free-grace should acquit wretched sinners and Justice also should discharge them for a full price laid down Christ hath said to Jehovah by his Covenant of Suretiship as Paul said to Philemon concerning Onesimus Philem. v. 18 19 If he hath wronged thee or owed thee ought put that on mine account I Paul have written it with my own hand I will repay it And this answers all that Law and Justice and the accuser can say and therefore the believer may well say with Paul Rom. 8.33 34 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect It is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth 3. Learn how needful the knowledg and perswasion of Christs Suretiship and undertaking for us is Nothing is more necessary than to believe this 1. For the right understanding of our Debt to him who did so freely being under no necessity of nature and not desired by us undertake for us and put his soul in our souls stead a worthy study indeed and well becoming a believer to know what we owe to Jesus the Surety of the Covenant who spoke for us behind our backs when we were absent and who laid down his Bond for ours 1 Cor. 6.19 20 Ye are not your own for ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit which is Gods 2. For the establishing our hearts in the faith of our Salvation and compleat Redemption is there any thing can so establish the heart of a believer as to know that Christ is an undertaker for him he that can believe that Christ became Surety for him in the eternal Counsel of God cannot reasonably doubt but he will fulfil all his undertaking and that he shall be saved by his Surety-actings Rom. 5.8 9 10 But God commendeth his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Much more then being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him 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 3. For silencing all the actings of unbelief in us and the perverse suspicious of our heart concerning Gods Covenant Good-will towards us all which do resolve upon some apprehensions of breach of the Covenant of Suretiship betwixt Jehovah and Christ for if that stand fast upon both sides what place is there for doubting and unbelief 2 Tim. 2.13 If we believe not yet he abideth faithful he cannot deny himself Rom. 3.3 4 For what if some did not believe shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect God forbid 4. Nothing more necessary for engaging our hearts in the study of faith and holiness and unto a walk becoming the redeemed of the Lord than the faith of Christs Suretiship Three ways does this engage unto holiness and becoming walking 1. Morally and by way of excitement and motive the faith of Christs Suretiship and undertaking for us is both an inviting and encouraging motive to be holy forasmuch as we are chosen in Christ to be holy and given to him to be made holy Eph. 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy c. Joh. 17.17 Sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth Heb. 2.11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all one 2. By way of obligement Christs Suretiship doth oblige us and lay on Bonds and Obligations to this duty that we should believe and be holy and he who hath the faith of Christs Suretiship cannot but judg so 2 Cor. 5.14 15 For the love of Christ constraineth us
imployment Isa 49.5 Thus saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob again to him Phil. 2.7 And took upon him the form of a servant 2. He is about the work of Mediation by Office and not by medling without his station which also sheweth his calling to the Work inasmuch as he was about it by Office as his duty in his Calling Heb. 3.1 Consider the Apostle and High-priest of our profession Christ Jesus Chap. 5.10 Called of God an High-priest after the order of Melchisidec And this is pointed at by all these Scriptures which make mention of the things that Christ did as Mediator he did them ex officio by vertue of some tye and obligation to do them as duties of his Office hence we find the holy-Ghost using the words must necessity became him behoved c. Heb. 2.10 17 For it became him for whom are all things Wherefore in all all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren Chap. 8. v. 3 Wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer Joh. 4.4 And he must needs go through Samaria 3. He is in Office not by intrusion but by annointing which imports lawful calling and mission Psal 2.2 The Lord and his annointed Joh. 1.41 We have found the Messias which is being interpreted the Christ So the Apostle to the Hebrews shews of all his three Offices 4. The Scriptures plainly holds it forth and the more strongly that it is held forth both Negatively and Affirmatively denying any intrusion on Christs part and affirming a calling from God to him Heb. 5.4 5 And no man taketh this honour unto himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an High-priest but he that said to him Thou art my Son to day have I begotten thee Gal. 4.4 But when the fulness of the time was come God sent forth his Son c. Joh. 6.38 39 40 44 Christ doth frequently make mention of the will of him that sent him Q. 2. By whom was Christ called unto the Office of Mediatorship A. By God his Father not excluding the other two persons of the Trinity though for orders sake it be attributed to the Father the fountain of divine operations Col. 1.19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell Joh. 6.27 For him hath God the Father sealed i.e. set apart designed and fitted for this Office that he was called unto this Office by God the Scripture speaketh plainly Psal 89.19 I have laid help upon one that is mighty I have exalted one chosen oâ—â— of the people Heb. 5.5 6 10 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an High-priest but he that said unto him Thou art my Son to day have I begotten thee As he saith also in another place Thou art a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedec called of God an High priest after the order of Melchisedec And 3.2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him And that he could be called by no other may appear 1. From the Antiquity of his calling to this Office which was before all created beings Prov. 8.23 I was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the earth was He was elected to this in order before we were elected to salvation Psal 89.3 I have made a covenant with my chosen Eph. 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world 2. From the end of the Office of a Mediator which was Reconciliation now who could find out a fit person and call him to undertake this work but he that had found out the way and means of Reconciliation which was God only for man did neither seek nor plot a peace with God Col. 1.20 It pleased the Father by him to reconcile all things to himself Psal 89.19 I have laid help upon one that is mighty 3. From the nature of the Office of Mediatorship which is an Office of Inferiority a service Mat. 20.28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministred unto but to minister and to give his life a ransome for many Isa 42.2 Chap. 53. v. 11. Now who could design Christ call or ordain and command him unto an Office of Inferiority although by voluntary dispensation but God only Joh. 10.18 For this commandment have I received of my Father 4. From the Impossibility under which the creature stood to find any days-man except God had found one and called him to it amongst all the Creatures there was none that durst undertake this cause or could design another to undertake it viz. To interpose betwixt the Creator and the Creature Job 9.33 Neither is there any days-man betwixt us that might lay his hand upon us 1 Sam. 2.25 If one man sin against another the judg shall judg him but if a man sin against the Lord who shall intreat for him Q. 3. When was Christ called to be Mediator of the new Covenant A. For the clearing of this Consider that Christs calling to the Office of Mediatorship may import three things his Designation his Furniture his Investiture in the Office Now according as the question relateth to these parts of his Calling so it requireth different Answers 1. Christs Calling or Designation to the Office of Mediator of the Covenant is eternal he was chosen and destinated hereunto before-time even from all eternity Prov. 8.23 Wisdom was set up by the Father from everlasting designed and appointed unto this high and honourable Office and employment to be Mediator of the new Covenant yea it must be so 1. Since Gods Covenant with Christ is eternal and his chusing and designation of Christ to be Mediator is in order of nature before his Covenant with Christ for it presupposeth him to be Mediator Psal 89.3 I have made a Covenant with my chosen 2. Because our election presupposeth Christ first chosen before us as the head of the Elect Eph. 1.4 Therefore we are said to be chosen in Christ i. e. as members of the head or through him as Mediator although Christ be not the cause of Election or of Gods Love 2. Christ's calling to be Mediator in respect of his Furniture for executing that Office whereunto he was designed before time and in respect of his being invested in the Office it is in time to wit when he was anointed which was at two times especially 1. When he took our nature upon him 2. When he was to appear in the publick execution of his Offices whereof more particularly when I come to speak of his Unction Vse If Christ be called unto this Office of Mediatorship by God his Father from all eternity Then 1. wonder at the eternal love of God and let your hearts be raised up to adore the unsearchable riches of grace and wisdom manifested in Gods early calling Christ to an Office and Service for our sake and Christs voluntary
submission to it He knew well enough it would be too late to wait for our call He knew that we might dye in our sin before we sent for the Physician he did well foresee our slowness and backwardness to give him employment for making our peace and therefore he prevented us John 8.27 Heb. 10.9 2. This may establish our hearts in the faith of the weight and prevalency of Christs Mediation he being no Usurper but a called chosen person set in lawful Authority all whose travels receive weight from his Place and Calling for because he was sent and had a commandment to travel in the work of his peoples Redemption therefore the work that was set him to do must prosper and his travels with both the parties must prevail Joh. 10.36 Say ye of him whom the Father hath sanctified and sent unto the world Thou blasphemest because I said I am the Son of God Isa 53.10 11 By his knowledg shall my righteous Servant justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied 3. This should bear upon us a necessity of receiving the Mediator in his travels about Reconciliation He is in his Office and called to travel with you about this work take heed how you entertain and answer his propositions of peace now he is making proposals of peace to you by virtue of this Office which he bears 2 Cor. 6.2 Behold now is the accepted time behold now is the day of salvation Ch. 5. v. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God Heb. 2.1 3 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that we have heard lest at any time we should let them slip How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation Your slighting of the Gospel beside the neglect of so great salvation brought to you in the offer hath also in it great slighting of a chosen Officer and of a Person called and put in high authority by God to travel with you in the business of your peace Heb. 12.25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven 4. This speaks comfort to believers Christ is Mediator betwixt God and you by an eternal call from God his Father he needs not much entreaty to be about the Office whereunto he is called of God although it be no less your duty to entreat his favour as the Disciples did than if he had no other calling to it but your invitation Luke 24.29 But they constrained him saying Abide with us for it is towards evening and the day is far spent and he went in to tarry with them If you should at any time apprehend that he would refuse your entreaties which you have no ground to think yet he will not he cannot shake off his Father's calling to mediate for you he dealeth betwixt God and you by virtue of an Office which having taken upon him by voluntary submission the duties of that Office lye upon him through a blessed necessity as is written of the High-Priest who was a type of him That by reason hereof to wit of his Office he ought to offer for sins Heb. 5.3 And 8.3 For every High-priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer Comfort your selves believers in Christ that besides all the supports of your faith which you may have from his union of nature with you and his unction from his propriety in you and consanguinity with you from his gracious qualifications for that work you have this moreover That he is your Mediator by Calling by Office and can no more decline any thing that may be for your good than he can be unanswerable to his Fathers Calling or unfaithful in his Office and in the performing the duties thereof which is impossible CHAP. XI Of Christs taking onr nature upon him which is his grand qualification for the Office of Mediatorship CHrists qualification and fitness for this Office of Mediatorship may be considered 1. In his taking our nature upon him wherein consists the grand qualification and fundamental fitness of Christ for being Mediator of the New Covenant And 2. In other qualifications which result from the union of the two natures in him Or we may consider Christs qualifications for this Office in the union of these two natures in him 2. In his unction And 1. of Christs coming in the flesh and taking our nature upon him which I call the chief and grand qualification of him for Mediatorship This is a fundamental truth and yet a great mystery We think we know this so well that it is below us to study it to preach it and to hear of it but you are not at the bottom of your unbelief and ignorance if you know not that this mystery is little known and believed God manifested in the flesh seen of Angels with study and delight 1 Tim. 1.16 with 1 Pet. 1.10 11 12. We shall consider 1. The reality of his human nature and the assuming of it 2. The transcendent love and condescention shewed by the Son of God in the taking our nature upon him 3. The honour and exaltation of our nature yea and of us by Jesus Christ his taking it into a personal union with the Divine nature 4. How or in what respects the taking of our nature upon him did qualifie him to be Mediator of the New Covenant 5. Something for the clearing of some questions relating to this Mystery And 1. He took our nature really upon him Jesus Christ became truly man as kindly a man as ever lived verus sed non merus homo true man but not meer man That word Rom. 8.3 similitude of flesh is put for sameness as Augustine observes Non quia caro non erat caro sed quia peccati caro non erat Christs manhood was a true nature yet no sinful nature but had only the similitude or likeness of sinful flesh because he bare all our infirmities in which we lay through sin And it may appear thus 1. Jesus Christ hath taken mans nature upon him Heb. 2.16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels but he took upon him the seed of Abraham 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he catched at it took hold of it it properly signifies to catch one who is running away or falling in a pit to fetch back or recover again the same word that 's used of Christ's catching hold of Peter when he was like to sink Mat. 14.31 it is answerable to the word used Gen. 19.16 of the Angels laying hold on Lot's hand So did Christ in taking our nature upon him 2. He took all the parts of a man body and
our nature upon him WE come to clear some doubts and Questions about this mystery of Christs taking our nature upon him Quest 1. If we may soberly make it a Question without curiosity See Rog. pract catech p. 2. p. 26. Bal. treatise of the Covenant pag. 266. and enquire a little after so much of the Reasons of it as God hath been pleased to reveal Why did not God the Father or the Holy Ghost take on mans nature to be our Mediator but the Son The second Person Answ It might suffice for an answer That so it pleased God in the deep and unsearchable counsel of the Will of all the three Persons to order it Psal 80.19 20 Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy One and saidst I have laid help upon one that is mighty I have exalted one chosen out of the people I have found David my servant with my holy oyl I have anointed him And although I know not another satisfying-reason that can be given or that should be curiously enquired after yet I shall soberly propose a few considerations which may help us to adore the unsearchable depth of the counsel of Gods Will in this part of the mystery of Christ 1. Consider That the world was made by the word Christ Heb. 1.2 Joh. 1.3 All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was not made And who was so fit to restore all things and to amend the world to create the new World as he that created all things he by whom the world was made Act. 3.21 The Redemption that came by Christ and is to be perfected at the day of his coming again is called by the Apostle the restitution of all things 2. Jesus Christ the Son of God the second Person of the Trinity is appointed Mediator and takes our nature upon him that the order of the three persons of the Godhead and their working might in this be manifested unto us The Father is the first Person and Fountain of divine operation he works by the Son and the Father and the Son work by the Holy Ghost Our Mediator must be a person who must give satisfaction to the Father for us and who must be able to send the Spirit for our sanctification and therefore must be the Son and second Person 3. Consider the things which we lost in Adam we lost the Image of God our Sonship and Inheritance and who so fit to restore the Image of God as he who is the Image of the invisible God the express image of his person Col. 1.15 Heb. 1.3 Who so fit to restore us to a Sonship as the only begotten Son Joh. 1.18 Mat. 3. last Who so fit to restore man to the inheritance as the heir of all things and first-born of every creature Heb. 1.2 Col. 1.15 4. Consider the Offices which our Mediator behoved to carry he must be a King a Priest and a Prophet and who so fit to be our King as the Power and Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1.24 30 Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God Who of God is made unto us wisdom Col. 2.3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledg Who so fit to be our Priest as he who lieth in the bosome of the Father who can have such access to treat for us with God and such favour with him as he that lieth in the center and seat of love the beloved that lieth in the Fathers bosome Mat. 3. â—â— This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Joh. 1.18 Who so fit to be a Prophet to us as he who is the word of God who only knoweth and revealeth all his Will Rev. 19.13 Joh. 1.8 Mat. 11.27 5. Consider that reason given by B. Andrews Because Adams sin was most directly against the second Person Gen. 3. â—5 22. Man will be as God and have the knowledg and wisdom of God which is Christs prerogative Col. 2.3 And who so fit to pack up that injury as the second Person flesh would have been as the Word and the Wisdom and Word of God becomes flesh to raise up ruined man in a quite contrary way to his own sinful design a marvelous humble condescension to expiate so proud a plot Quest 2. Why must the Son of God be not only a man but the Son of man of the seed of the woman of the same lump with us Might not the taking of a created nature have fitted him to be our Mediator Gal. 4.4 He might have been man and yet had a body framed for him in heaven and not made of a woman Ans He must be of the same lump with us 1. The more to set forth his condescension and our exaltation in this his condescension was greater in taking a nature of the same lump with us than if he had taken our nature created as Adams was and the exaltation of our nature was the greater that Christs flesh was not only of the same kind but of the same lump with ours 2. That we might have the more comfort in his satisfaction for if he had taken a created nature that could have reached to a personal satisfaction only but he takes our nature and the flesh of our nature that he might satisfie for the sin of our nature and make a publick satisfaction for the sins of many The Covenant with Adam being with his nature not personal and his sin also being of the same kind the satisfaction must be in the same nature and by one of the same lump and not with a person having that kind of nature but not the same nature Heb. 2.14 9 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through â—eath he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the devil that he by the grace of God should tast death for every man 3. That he might be a fit Mediator one between two he behoved to â—raw as near to us in respect of his human nature as to God in respect of the Divine nature he must be a man and a man of the same lump that his brethren are of a Priest ordained for men and taken from among men Heb. 5.1 4. That the alliance with us might be the straiter and his right of Redemption the stronger for our Mediator behoved not only to be a Redeemer but a Goel one to whom belonged the right of Redemption Now this could not be except he were our own kinsman our brother of the same lump and stock Deut. 25.5 6 c. Christ came to raise up seed to his dead kinsman old Adam who dyed without issue of grace for ought that his seed had from him therefore he behoved to be our brother and kinsman and by this means Christ 1. as the kinsman not only may do it but he takes it on him as his duty v. 7 to perform the duty of a husbands brother
waited on before he fulfil his promise What wonder that he will be waited on for the promise of Christ longer even till the fulness of time this being the greatest promise that ever he made to his people He will have the consolation of Israel waited for and redemption in Jerusalem looked for Luke 2.25 38. Before we proceed to speak of Christs unction and his qualifications for his Mediatorship refulting thence let us first make some use of this union of the two natures in Christ this great fundamental qualification of him for the Office of our Mediator that he is God and Man that for his due qualification he hath taken our flesh into his person therein to subsist In the union of the two natures in the Person of our Mediator 1. As it holds forth his condescending who stooped to be made manifest in the flesh 1. Let us admire and wonder at his love It was love that made him condescend it hath been and will be the admiration of Angels Luke 2.13 14 And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace good will towards men 1 Pet. 1.12 Which things the Angels desire to look into And how is it that we want affections and admirations Beside what I have before said these things wonderfully set out Christs love 1. That he would not entrust our Redemption to Angels but he would come himself and work it Heb. 1.5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time Thou art my Son to day have I begotten thee 2. That for the payment of our debt and in order to his being in a capacity to do so he would be in the same condition of clay with us a worm and not a man Psal 22.6 3. That he would not buy us at a base ransom but at a great price he would breathe out his life for us 1 Pet. 1.18 19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things but with the precious blood of Christ 4. That he would condescend thus singularly to love man to love him so as that he loved not any other creature that sinned against him Heb. 2.16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham 2. Let this raise up our hearts to thankfulness when we think of Christs Incarnation 1. This is the greatest demonstration of his readiness to save sinners the principal errand Christ had unto the world and in taking our nature was to save sinners Mat. 9.13 I am not come to call the righteous but sinnâ—rs to repentance You may therefore be assured of his readiness to receive such when they come unto him 2. This is the Fountain of all the promises of the Covenant of Grace the three greatest promises in all the Covenant flow from Christs Incarnation I will be your God I will give you my Son and I will give you my Spirit All these and all the rest too flow from this Fountain for neither the Father the Son nor the Spirit are given to us but through a Mediator and through his assuming of our nature Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ 2. As the union of the two natures in our Mediator holds out the exaltation of our nature Hence 1. Let us wonder what is man thus to be exalted the eighth Psalm is written for this end that we may wonder at mans exaltation not in Creation only but in Redemption as Vers 2 shews which is applied to Christ Mat. 21.16 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise how should this provoke to admiration that in our nature the fulness of the Godhead should dwell bodily Col. 2.9 2. Let us take Christs coming in the flesh and the exalting of our nature by the personal union with the Godhead for a pledg of the fulfilling of all other promises and granting all other mercies and salvation to us the root and body of the promises is come the branches will follow also 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him are Amen Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things This pledg was used by Isaiah as a confirmation from God and a ground of assurance for delivering the Church from Ashur Isa 7.11 14 Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God ask it either in the depth or in the height above Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign Behold A virgin shall conceive and bare a Son and shall call his name Immanuel And shall we distrust him for granting any other petition or deliverance who hath granted the main one 3. Let us take boldness to come to God through Christs flesh the great Courtier in Heaven is of our kindred take courage and improve the favour and friendship that our brother hath in Heaven Heb. 10.19 20 21 22 Having therefore brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the vail that is to say his flesh And having an High-priest over the house of God let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith 3. As the union of the two natures in our Mediator holds out his due qualification and fitness for his office 1. Behold in him a general fitness to receive each Person whose nature he beareth I say a fitness to receive them even all sorts of persons without exception there is none who needs him and cometh to him needs to distrust him Heb. 7.25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them 2. Let this encourage such as are afraid to draw near to God for union and reconciliation with him because of their estrangement from him through loss of his Image Lo he is willing to unite himself to thee and hath given assurance of it in his Son by vertue of his union with our nature Rom. 8.3 3. When we find difficulty to draw near to God or languishing in the life of our faith toward God Let us draw near to God the flesh of our our Mediator for influences and searn to come to God through the vail of his flesh Heb. 10.20 Jesus Christ is not strange he is near to us and his graces cannot be far off Rom. 10.6 8 Say not in thine heart Who shall ascend into heaven The word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which we preach But it is with many and even with the most part as with the ten Tribes who pleaded kindred and blood to David yet
neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Joh. â— 1 2 Behold what manner of love the father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not Beloved now are we the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Yet let us glance at it by that dim light which we have of the Scriptures It is in general called by himself the work which his father gave him to do Joh. 17.4 By which we understand all that Christ had in commission to do in our nature from the time of his receiving a commission to be the Mediator of the Covenant unto the time of his delivering up the Kingdom to his father more particularly this Service which Christ did in the business of the Covenant it 's called the restitution of all things Act. 3.21 When Christ shall bring all things out of that disordered and ruined condition whereunto they were brought by the fall of man and shall restore them to the Primitive integrity when he shall restore fore-faulted man into his first estate of innocency and happiness by taking of the fore-saulture and bringing him out of his excommunicated exiled condition into the presence and fellowship of God Eph. 2.12 13 That at that time ye were without Christ being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenant of promise having no hope and without God in the world But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ And when the creatures shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Rom. 8.21 This Service is called the bearing the transgressions of many the making his soul an offering for sin Isa 53.10 12. It was the putting his Soul in our Souls stead that the law might overtake him that justice might smite him for us and might take satisfaction from him for the broken Covenant it was the offering up of himself in a Sacrifice the putting of his Soul in the flame of hot burning wrath for us that the furbushed and wakened-up sword of Divine Justice might be bathed in his blood until it was full of blood and satisfied Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God Zech. 13.7 Awake O sword against my shepherd and against the man that is my fellow saith the Lord of hosts smite the shepherd c. It 's called the reconciling of the world to God 2 Cor. 5.19 By which we understand all the travel of his Soul in the propounding treating and concluding of a peace 'twixt God and sinners for all that Service was laid upon him and was performed by him for he maketh the proposition of peace he carryeth on the treaty until his own hand lead our hand to sign the articles of peace propounded in the Gospel Eph. 2.17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off and to them that were nigh 2 Cor. 5.19 20 To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation 2 Cor. 9.13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorifie God for your professed subjection unto the Gospel of Christ This Service is called the saving of the lost world Luk. 19.10 And the bringing many Sons to glory Heb. 2.10 That was a great Service indeed to have the weight of the lost world upon his shouldiers to have the keeping and leading yea the bearing in his arms of all that numberless number of the ransomed and redeemed ones whom God had appointed unto Glory Joh. 17.12 While I was with them in the world I kept them in thy name those that thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost Isa 40.11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd he shall gather the lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosome and shall gently lead those that are with young In a word the Service which Christ did in the business of the Covenant was the the transacting of the Covenant he did all that business from beginning to end and without him was nothing done of all things pertaining to God and a new Covenant betwixt him and us whereof see more particularly what we have spoken of the Mediator of the Covenant Chap. 4. Vse 1. Think with your selves and consider the love that made him come under this Covenant-relation that made him a common Servant to both the parties for though he had wages and a reward propounded to him yet it was love that acted Christ in performing this great piece of Service His Service of love is much commended 1. From the infinite condescension that was in it O what condescension was it for a Son to become a Servant Heb. 5.8 Though he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered for the Son the only begotten Son and Heir to become a Servant Mat. 21.37 38 But last of all he sent unto them his Son saying they will reverence my Son But when the husbandmen saw the Son they said among themselves this is the heir come let us kill him and let us seize on his inheritance For the Son of God to become a Servant to the sons of men Phil. 2.6 7 Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation And took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men 2. From the voluntariness of his coming under this Covenant-relation when he was not a Servant by any necessity of nature that he made himself one that when nothing else was to do it his grace his love determined him to go and serve his enemies and make himself of no reputation Phil. 2.7 Rom. 5.8 But God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Heb. 10.9 Then said he Lo I come to do thy will O God O what strange love was that which made Christ so willingly leave the Throne and come down to the foot-stool and stand and serve Mat. 20.28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministred unto but to minister and to give his life a ransome for many Joh. 13.4 5 He riseth from supper and laid aside his garments and took a towel and girded himself After that he poureth water into a bason and began to wash the disciples feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded Gal. 2.20 And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the
is my fellow saith the Lord of hosts And his own people smote him and used him very ill Mat. 21.38 But when the husbandmen saw the Son they said among themselves This is the heir come let us kill him and let us seize on his inheritance Joh. 1.11 He came unto his own and his own received him not Isa 53.3 He is despised and rejected of men a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief and we hid as it were our faces from him he was dispifed and we esteemed him not Yet his love did bear him through all this cold encouragement 3. Consider how you entertain his Service 2 Cor. 6.1 We then as workers together with him beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain Do not slight it do not refuse it upon whatsoever pretext but if he will do you Service and condescend to do you good suffer him to do it 't is no presumption to let him take his will of you he took it ill to be otherwise dealt with Joh. 13.6 8 And Peter saith unto him Lord dost thou wash my feet Peter saith unto him Thou shalt never wash my feet Jesus answered him If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me And no wonder he take it very ill to have his Service slighted and refused for his Service is the heighth of his love which he â—annot endure to have slighted his Service offered is slighted â—y all those who will not give their consent to let him do unto them all the good offices which are mentioned in the Gospel by all who do not subject their consent unto it Joh. 5.40 And ye will not come to me that ye might have life Mat. 22.5 But they made light of it and went their ways one to his farm another to his merchandise 4. Consider what advantages we have by his Service 1. His condescension was the cause of our exaltation if he had not served we had not reigned if he had not come down to the footstool we should never have come up to the Throne Heb. 5.8 9 Though he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered and being made perfect he became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him Rom. 8.17 And if children then heirs heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together 2. It was the hardship of his Service which makes ours so easie he left us little to do when he was made under the law he did bear away the bondage of our Service and Duties Rom. 7.4 Wherefore my brethren ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ that ye should be married to another even to him who is raised from the dead that we should bring forth fruit unto God He did hear the hard and insupportable yoke and left us nothing to do but to serve for love he brake the force and power of the adversary and left us only a broken party and routed forces to deal with 1 Cor. 15.55 O death where is thy-sting O grave where is thy victory Yea he hath not left us alone to deal with these 3. By his Service we have our liberty and can be no more Servants but Friends and Children of the house See Gal. 4.4 5 6 7 But when the fulness of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the law to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of Sons And because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba father wherefore thou art no more a servant but a Son and if a Son then an heir of God through Christ Joh. 8.36 If the Son therefore shall make you free ye shall be free indeed Joh. 15.15 Henceforth I call you not servants for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doth but I have called you friends for all thinâ—s that I have heard of my father I have made known unto you Rom. 8.2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death Gal. 4.31 So then brethren we are not children of the bond-woman but of the free We were slaves and condemned under perpetual bondage married unto an angry tyrant so was the law become to transgressors but by his becoming a Servant under the law by his putting on our condition we became sharers of his liberty and Sonship 4. By his Service we have wages and a reward for our Service even for our poor worthless endeavours after duty about which there are so many questionings in the hearts of believers whether they shall be accepted and but few thoughts of a recompence I say our Service could never have been rewarded but for his Service this brought with it not acceptation only but a reward to ours upon his account being done in his name Luk. 17.10 So likewise ye when ye shall have done all these things which are commanded you say We are unprofitable servants we have done that which was but our duty to do Heb. 11.6 And that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Isa 45.19 I said not unto the seed of Jacob Seek ye me in vain Isa 56.6 7 Also the sons of the stranger that join themselves to the Lord to serve him and to love the name of the Lord to be his servants every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it and taketh hold of my covenant even them will I bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people 5. By his Service we have that honourable marriage with him which was the price of the travel of his Soul even to have our Souls engaged to him for the Service of love which he served that he might have his people for his reward as Jacob served for the Wives that were given him in Laban his house Gen. 29.20 28 29. Isa 53.11 He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied 5. Consider what this relation calleth for at our hands That Christ was a Servant in the business of the Covenant this calleth us 1. To yield our selves to be his Servants upon the terms of that Covenant wherein he served even to subject our consent to serve him in â—â—ke relations 2 Cor. 9.13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorified God for your professed subjection unto the Gospel of Christ 2 Chron. 30.8 Now be ye not stiff-necked as your fathers were but yield your selves unto the Lord Isa 56.6 2. His Service calleth us to serve all his interests and relations his people especially the people who are nearly related to him Mat. 12.40 50 And he stretched forth his hand toward