the Ministry will either soften or harden it will either work effectually by the Ministry of the Spirit according to the Nature of an Absolute Promise and unto such it becomes a Savour of Life unto Life or else it works only in the Letter and unto such it Kills or is a Savour of Death unto Death or an Aggravation of Death and Condemnation But all its Divine Efficacy is according to the Purpose Will and Good Pleasure of God But having occasionally spoken much before of the Absoluteness of the Covenant I shall say no more but Conclude at this Time SERMON IX Further opening the Nature of the Covenant of Peace that 't is a well-order'd Covenant a Glorious Covenant a Full Covenant a Seasonable Covenant c. ISA. Liv. x. Neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Doct. THAT there is a Covenant of Peace made or agreed on and stands firm in the behalf of all God's Elect. I am my Brethren upon the Third General Head of Discourse which is to open the Nature of the Covenant of Peace 1. I shewed you it is the Covenant of Grace And that as considered in it self 3. 〈◊〉 It is an Absolute Covenant Fourthly To proceed It is a well-order'd Covenant See 2 Sam. 23.5 Yet he hath made with me an Everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure c. I. This Covenant is well-ordered in all things in respect of the Revelation and Manifestation of all the Perfections and Glory of the Three Divine Persons in the Godhead 1. The Perfections Work and Glory of God the Father shines forth and is displayed in this Covenant 2. The Perfections Work and Glory of God the Son shines forth and is displayed herein also 3. The Perfections Work and Glory of God the Holy Ghost shines forth and is displayed in it likewise as hath been shewed II. This Covenant is well ordered in all Things respecting the Manifestation or Revelation of the Perfections and Glory of all the Divine Attributes of God and as they also in this Covenant appear to meet together in Sweet Harmony III. This Covenant is well ordered in all things to the utter Overthrowing Defeating and Destroying for ever the Design Devices Works and Kingdom of the Devil For to this End was the Son of God manifested IV. This Covenant is well ordered in all things to magnifie the Sanction and Honour of the Holy Law of God in that rather then the Law shall fall to the Ground or be violated or rendered contemptible in God's Saving lost Sinners the Son of God comes and takes our Nature on him and yields Perfect Obedience to it and to greaten its Glory he died the Cursed Death of the Cross to answer the Just Punishment it doth denounce upon Mankind for the Breach thereof Moreover V. This Covenant is well ordered in all things for our Good both in respect of Grace here and Glory hereafter or in respect of what by it we are delivered from and of those high Priviledges Dignities and of that Unchangeable and Eternal Honour we are raised up unto hereby But because I have lately upon another Text spoken unto these Things largely in two Sermons on the Covenant I shall not add any thing further on this Account Fifthly It is a Glorious Covenant I. It must needs be a Glorious Covenant in respect had to the Time when it was made or entered into between the Father and the Son and this was as you have heard before the World began even in Eternity 2 Tim. 1.9 Tit. 1.2 Hence Jesus Christ 't is said was a Lamb slain before the Foundation of the World Rev. 13.8 and what Pilate and the People of Israel and the Gentiles did to him was whatsoever God's Hand and his Counsel determined before to be done Act. 4.28 Certainly that Covenant that was so early even from Everlasting contrived by the Sublime Wisdom of God and entered into between such Glorious Persons as the Father and the Son must be a most Glorious Covenant and this I say in respect to the Time when and to the Persons who entred into it certainly it must be some great Thing that is contained in this Covenant that was so early and by the Eternal God concluded upon II. It must needs be a Glorious Covenant in regard that there was also a Council held about it in Eternity for it was made as the Result of a Great and Glorious Council Him being delivered by the Determinate Council and Fore-knowledge of God ye have taken and by Wicked Hands ye have Crucified and Slain The Father Son and Holy Spirit then agreed That the Second Person should assume the Nature of Man and die to make our Peace tho 't is true elsewhere it is said The Counsel of Peace was between them both viz. the Father and the Son yet since it is ascribed to God without distinction of Persons and also seeing the Holy Ghost hath his part in this Covenant to act and do in order to the actual and compleat Accomplishment of the whole Transactions agreed on in that Glorious Council I see no reason to exclude the Holy Ghost from being concerned therein Moreover let us consider the great Things Consulted about in that Glorious Council 1. It was how God might be Just or Magnifie his Justice and yet be Gracious and Magnifie his Mercy and Infinite Love and Goodness or how God might preserve his own Honour and yet become our Redeemer 2. How Sin might be punished and the Odious Nature and Infinite Evil that is in it be exposed and yet the guilty Sinner be acquitted III. It is a Glorious Covenant because in it there is a display of God's Highest and most Glorious Wisdom the Gospel contains the Manifestation of God's Hidden Wisdom and the Wisdom of God in a Mystery nay Paul calls it a Glorious Mystery To whom God would make known what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery There is much of the Wisdom of God seen in his Works of Creation and Providence yea and there is also great Mysteries hid in those Works of God but the Chiefest and most Glorious Wisdom of God is manifested in the Work and Covenant of Man's Redemption Without Controversie great is the Mystery of Godliness God manifested in the Flesh the Word was made Flesh. This is the Wonderment of the Holy Angels and 't is mervelous indeed how an Infinite Nature should be Personally united to a Finite Nature so as to make but one Person What Wisdom of God is here displayed O who can search out the depth of this Mystery IV. It must needs be a Glorious Covenant in respect of that display of God's Glorious Love therein God so loved the World that no Created Beings can conceive of it neither Men nor Angels And so I might speak of the Glory of his Justice Power Holiness c. which amazingly shine forth herein
himself What is the Lord of Heaven and Earth Born of a Woman The Ancient of Days became a Child of a Day old He that was in the Form of God found in the Form of a Servant Shall God purchase his Church with his own Blood This is amazing to think upon 4. We infer from hence also how wonderfully God hath hereby exalted and magnified Man Christ is a Man truly Man tho God as well as Man he that is God is a Man Forasmuch as the Children are made Partakers of Flesh and Blood he also himself took part of the same and by this means we are nearly related to God he is our Kinsman the nearest of Kin had under the Law the Right of Redemption to raise up Seed to the Dead Christ is our Kinsman our Brother and by this means the Inheritance even God and all he hath is setled on the whole Heavenly Family or on all his Seed or Elect What can exalt Man more than this O what greater Honour could be conferred on our Nature then for the Son of God to assume it into Personal Union with the Godhead 1. Hereby we are made near to God even nearer than the Holy Angels Verily he took not on him the Nature of Angels but the Seed of Abraham Angels are not the Spouse of Christ they are not Bone of his Bone and Flesh of his Flesh but Christ is flesh of our Flesh and Bone of our Bone and hereby also we have a nearer Union with God than Adam had in Innocency nay as I said nearer than the Angels have for Believers are Christ's Mystical Body Christ is the Head of the Church 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 2. Our Nature hereby as one observes is the Store-house or Treasury of all that good which God intends to dispense to Men and Angels Moreover Angels and Men Worship God in our Nature that is Jesus Christ God-man And how astonishing is this 3 Moreover God in our Nature shall be the Judge of Men and Angels the Man Christ is God's Equal God's Fellow And 4. What Dignity and Honour is it then to be espoused to such a Prince 5. This speaks great comfort to Believers Christ who is Mediator is near unto God and as near unto us the Father hath Called Chosen Anointed and Accepted of him in our behalf he can sympathize with us he knows our Infirmities and he hath always God's Ear and God's Heart and represents us and our Cause to the Father Exhortation Sinners Will not you accept of Peace 1. Shall such a Mediator make your Peace nay die to make your Peace with God and shall any refuse to accept of that Peace which he hath made 2. The Terms are not hard but easie it is to believe in him to trust in him to believe he hath made your Peace or that God in him is reconciled 't is to sue out your Pardon through Faith in his Blood Take a few Motives to stir you up thus to do 1. Consider that you cannot have Peace with God any other ways There is no other Name given under Heaven whereby you can be saved 2. That whosoever cometh to him receiveth him believeth in him resteth upon him shall not Perish but have Everlasting Life 3. Consider how able he is to save He is able to save all that come to God by him and to save them to the uttermost tho they are never such great Sinners abominable Sinners prophane Sinners 4. Consider the Necessity of the Application of his Blood or of that Atonement which he hath made He that Believeth not shall be Damned if ye believe not that I am he that is that I am the only Messiah the only Mediator the only Saviour and that I am able to save you Ye shall die in your Sins 5. Consider the woful Condition of such that reject Jesus Christ or lay not hold on his Strength or that slight his Mediation or that think to find Peace some other way some think to have Peace by the Law by the Moral Law either as it is written in the two Tables or as it is written in the Hearts of all Men or by the Light of their own Natural Conscience others by a new Law turning the Gospel into a Law and so bring in and seek to establish their own Righteousness Alas If there had been a Law as Paul shews that could have given Life then Christ is dead in vain These cast great Contempt upon the Mediation of Jesus Christ nay strive to frustrate the grand Design of God in contriving our Salvation by his Son Jesus Christ which was to magnifie his own Free Grace alone and to abase the Creature that no Man might boast or glory in himself but that all might be ashamed and confounded for ever Question What Offices doth Jesus Christ exercise as he is Mediator 1 Answ. I answer Divines generally assert That he exerciseth a threefold Office and this every one ought to know and also the Work of Christ in respect had unto each Office or what peculiarly relates to his Priestly Office and what to his Kingly Office and what to his Prophetical Office c. A little to each of these 1. He is a Priest and as a Priest he is the Propitiation for our Sins he hath satisfied Justice by a condign Price the Price of the Blood of him who is God he paid our Debts to the last Farthing as a Priest he laid down the atoning Sacrifice and thereby quenched the Flames of God's Divine Wrath and Vengeance which ootherways would have fed on us to an endless Eternity 2. And as a Priest he interceeds now in Heaven that all those for whom he died may be called and have the Merits of his Blood applied to their Souls and that all that are called and do believe may have all that Grace which they need bestowed upon them to help them to resist Temptations and to be supported under all Trials and Afflictions and be enabled to perform all Holy Duties and have all their Sins pardoned If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous he presents his Righteousness the Deserts Merits and Satisfaction of his Blood for Remission of all their Sins neither can Sin be charged at any time upon any Believer as to that Vindicative Wrath which is due to it because he pleads the Satisfaction of his own Blood as their full Discharge from the Guilt and Punishment thereof for ever for otherwise Justified Persons might again come under Condemnation which they cannot For there is now no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus c. And thus was Christ a Priest i. e. On Earth he eminently Sacrificed and Offered up himself to God How much more shall the Blood of Christ who
and also a false Break it should be 2. This Oath c. p. 114. l. 5. r. which the Law c. p. 119. l. 4. blot out thus and l. 7. for win r. will and l. 13. for Creatures r. Creature p. 120 l. 26. for great r. greater p. 152. l. 15. blot out the Father p. 184. l. 29. blot out the p. 184. in the Marginal Note for 't is read this p. 189. l. 17. there is a General Head left out r. 2. In opposition to that of Works and l. 18. blot out because the next General Head is false also for Fourthly r. Thirdly and so for Fifthly r. Fourthly c. p. 287. l. 20. for his r. his Wrath Wrath is left out THE TABLE OF The Chief Heads contained in this BOOK SERMON I. I. THE Occasion of the Author 's Preaching upon this Subject p. 1 2 3 4. II. The Text divided and the Terms explained p. 5 6 7 8. III. The Doctrine raised and the General Method proposed containing Six Heads viz. 1. Eight Explanatory Propositions laid down by way of premise 2. To open all the main Covenant Transactions concerning God's Reconciliation to Man and Man's Reconciliation unto God 3. Open the Nature of the Covenant 4. To shew what is given or granted to all Believers in the Covenant 5. To open the excellent Nature of the Peace of the Covenant 6. The general Application p. 9. I. Proposit. That God foresaw from Eternity that a Breach would arise between himself and Mankind p. 9. II. Prop. That this Covenant was entered into betwixt God the Father and God the Son in behalf of the Elect p. 10. III. Prop. That the Breach God foresaw would rise would be very great opened on Man's part in 4 Particulars on God's part in 5 Particulars p. 10 11 12 13 14. IV. Prop. That the Breach was occasioned by Man's breaking the Law of his Creation or the first Covenant p. 14 15 16. V. Prop. That there was none in Heaven or Earth that could make up this Breach save Jesus Christ p. 16. VI. Prop. God not irreconcileable yet acts in a way of absolute Soveraignty p. 17 18 19. VII Prop. That this Covenant alone proceeded from the Grace of God p. 20. VIII Prop. That it also results from God's Mercy to such as were consider'd in Misery p. 21 SERM. II. Secondly The Covenant Transactions proposed to be opened in 6 general Heads I. A Treaty held between God the Father and the Son about it II. An agreement between them in Eternity III. The Mediator of the Covenant chosen viz. Jesus Christ. IV. The Ratification of the Covenant V. The Proclamation or Proclaiming this Peace VI. When this Peace did commence and who are included in it p. 23 24. Of the first of these viz. the Treaty p. 24 25 26 Christ our Covenanting-Party or Representative in this Treaty shewing why he is called the Messenger of the Covenant in 4 Respects p. 25 26. Secondly Why a Mediator was chosen and the Necessity thereof opened in 6 Particulars p. 35 36. The Son of God did actually consent to answer all those Proposals made by the Father p. 30. Christ the Mediator must be God he must be Man he must be God-man p. 38. to 42. What a Mediator signifies p. 45. And how Christ was qualified with his whole Work and Office in 9 Partic. p. 41. 55. SERM. III. Further opening Christ's Work as Mediator in 5 particulars which makes the whole 14 p. 57 58 c. The Application p. 62 63 64. The Offices of Christ King Priest and Prophet c. opened p. 66. to 74. The Baxterian Errors what and also Answered Christ paid our Debts as a Surety and not as a Priest p. 71. Mr. Clark's Errors detected a Grand Baxterian p. 77. to 84. SERM. IV. The Suretiship of Christ opened in eight Things p. 84 85. Two Grand Objections Answered p. 90. 1. What Suretiship imports p. 86. to 89. 2. Why Christ became our Surety shewed for 5 Reasons p. 92. 3. What he was to do as our Surety shewed in nine Particulars p. 93. to 102. 4. Shewing how his Suretiship differs from Suretiship among Men in three things p. 102 103 104. A grand Objection answered p. 103. Our Debts are paid and yet freely forgiven shewed in 7 Respects p. 104 105. SERM. V. The Ratification of the Covenant 1. How between the Father and the Son p. 109 110. 2. By the Death of Christ p. 111 112. Christ a Testator what a Testator signifies p. 111. Shewing why the Covenant comes under the Notion of a Testament or Christ's Last Will p. 112. A Sevenfold Vse of Christ's Death p. 113 to 116. The Use p. 117 c. 1. The Proclamation of Peace what 2. Who God hath appointed to proclaim it 3. The Nature of the Proclamation 4. The Terms upon which it is proclaimed p. 119 120. 'T is the Gospel why it may be so called opened in 10 Particulars p. 120. to 125. What a kind of Book the Gospel is shewed in 7 Particulars p. 125 126. The Use p. 128 c. SERM. VI. Who the Ambassadors of Peace are viz. 1. Christ himself the Chief shewed in 6 Particulars p. 131 132 133. Christ excellently qualified for an Ambassador shewed in 6 Particulars p. 134. 2. Christ's Ministers are Subordinate Ambassadors Six sorts of Preachers are none of Christ's Ambassadors p. 135 136. Proving Christ's Ministers are his Ambassadors and what their Work is opened in 11 Particulars p. 135. to 144. Ambassadors when welcome shewed in 4 Respects p. 137. to 140. The Application p. 146 c. SERM. VII The Nature of the Gospel or Proclamation of Peace p. 151. 1. What it declares shewed in five Particulars p 152 153. 2. What it proclaims viz. Peace and good News by Jesus Christ God in him being Reconciled p. 155. 3. To be proclaimed to all Nations p. 156. 4. Free Pardon for all Sins save that against the Holy Ghost p. 157. 5. A Universal Proclamation An Objection Did not Christ die for all largely answered p. 158 159 c. Christ no Conditional Redeemer p. 160 161 Why the Proclamation runs so Universal p. 164. 6. Shewing on what Terms Peace is offered to Sinners p. 164 165 166. The Application p. 167. SERM. VIII 1. Shewing the Date of the Covenant or when it did commence p. 170 171. 2. And who comprehended in it 3. The third general Head of Discourse viz. The Nature of the Covenant opened I. Proving it is the Covenant of Grace as well as of Redemption p. 172 173. 1. In it self 2. In opposition to the Covenant of Works p. 175 176. The difference between the Covenant of Grace and Covenant of Works opened in 9 Particulars p. 177 to 182. II. 'T is an absolute Covenant shewed in 5 Things p. 182 to 185. SERM IX III. 'T is a well ordered Covenant shewed in 5 Things p. 190 191. IV. 'T is a Glorious Covenant shewed in 6 Things p. 192 193 194. V. 'T
eternal Wisdom of God so also it shews there was a voluntary and ready consent in our Lord to undertake in the Work of our Peace and Redemption that he was set up and did agree to undertake as our Mediator to make our Peace with God and also that he took pleasure in his so engaging on our behalf To this let me add what David in the Person of Christ speaks Sacrifice and Offerings thou didst not desire mine ears hast thou opened Burnt Offerings and Sin Offerings hast thou not required then said I lo I come to do thy Will O God This place is cited by the Apostle Wherefore when he cometh into the World he saith Sacrifice and Offerings thou wouldst not but a Body hast thou prepared me In Burnt Offerings and Sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure Then said I lo I come in the Volmn of the Book it is written of me to do thy Will O God Nothing can more fully shew Christ's chearful Consent What God the Father required Jesus Christ yielded to do which was to make satisfaction for Sin in his Body on the Tree and so to make our Peace with the Eternal Jehovah I. Consider who the Persons transacting and treating with each other were even God the Father and God the Son the Father stands upon satisfaction to his Law and Justice or demands the whole Sum or Price of our Redemption that so our Peace might be made and Christ engageth to give it II. The business or grand Matter transacted I say betwixt them was our Peace and Reconciliation unto God and so to recover all God's Elect from Sin Wrath and Misery and work about their Eternal Happiness the Elect tho not then in Being yet are here considered as fallen wretched and forlorn Creatures III. That the Manner or Nature of these Transactions were faederal or in a Covenant-way one Person mutually engaging and stipulating with the other The Father stands upon the strict demands of Law and Justice the Son consents to glorifie the Father therein and raise the honour of all the Divine Attributes which in time he did do I have glorified thee on Earth I have finished the work thou gavest me to do And now Father glorifie me with thine own Self As if he should say the Terms agreed upon or thy Demands are done therefore let me have my Reward and let mine Elect be made one in us Let me not only Personally be one with thee but also Mystically one and so be glorified as it is due to me as the Hire or Reward of my Work IV. If any ask when this Covenant or holy Compact was made I told you and say again it bears Date from Eternity or before the World began when we had as I said before no Existence but only in the Eternal Decree and Purpose of God Moreover Remember this Covenant was made with Christ for us and in him with us for all that Grace which is given to us in time was promised unto us in Christ nay given to us in Christ from Eternity 2 Tim. 1.9 Tit. 1.1 2 3. as our Surety Covenanting-Head and blessed Representative As to the special and particular Articles agreed upon on which the Covenant of Peace was made and concluded I shall open them under the next Head of Discourse V. Commonly in all Treaties or Covenants of Peace amongst Men there is a Mediator chosen So God chose a Mediator of this Covenant yet his Work as Mediator greatly differs from the Work and Office of all other Mediators as I might make it appear For Christ is not only Mediator of the Covenant but Surety Messenger and Testator of it also And as he is considered Mediator he is invested with a Threefold Office more particularly which Offices he faithfully executeth in order to the making our Peace with God in reconciling God to us and us to God which I purpose to treat of and open in order The Work of our Mediator is not barely to see our Peace made or to labour by Intreaty to bring each Party to Moderation and pliable Terms and to see every thing done according to the Preliminaries agreed upon but the whole Work of making Peace is solely committed to our Lord Jesus Christ not to see others do it but he himself doth it all even all that God requires on his part and what is necessary to be done for us in us and by us also I. Let it be also considered That God would not make any Covenant of Peace with us without a Mediator without such a Mediator and that Jesus Christ alone is the Mediator is evident There is one Mediator between God and Man even the Man Christ Jesus I say God chose his Son to be the Mediator of this Covenant of Peace and hence he is said to be given for a Covenant unto the People that is as some conceive To be the Mediator thereof II. God the Father's Demands must be granted he will not suffer his Just Right and Honour to be invaded nor his Glory eclipsed therefore was this Mediator chosen besides the Sanction of his Holy Law must be preserved Private Persons may forgive Offences as they please but the Just and Holy Governour of the World will not cannot pass by Offences till the end of Government be secured that so his Holiness and Justice be not stained nor his Law fall to the Ground Hence one main Article proposed was That the Mediator of our Peace do make full Satisfaction and if he doth not this there could be no Covenont of Peace concluded this therefore was the result of that Counsel of Peace held in Eternity III. There was I say a necessity for the Son of God to be both Mediator and Surety of this Covenant I do not say that there was a necessity laid either upon the Father or the Son to enter into this Covenant of Peace for us No no! But if God will in a way of Free and Sovereign Grace enter into such a Covenant for Mankind there was a Necessity for Christ to be the Mediator and Surety of it I say Necessity so far as we can or are able to conceive in respect of this Matter 1. Because God hath not revealed or made known any other way by which our Peace could be made but by a Mediator I do not say that God could not any other way make our Peace but that he could not in reguard of his own Honour so far as it appeareth unto us Moreover if God hath not made known any other way then there is no other way for us to obtain Peace with him But no other way is made known 2. There could be no other way as we can conceive because the breach that was between God and us must be made up by a full satisfaction to the Law and Justice of God God being Just as well as Gracious and hence one end why Christ was made a propitiation through Faith in his
Night he prayed he feared he cryed with strong Crying and Tears the Pangs of Hell took hold of him no Man ever felt what he felt in his Soul he poured forth his Soul to Death or came under a Spiritual Death My God my God why hast thou forsaken me 2. Consider what an Ignominious Death he suffered to be hanged on a Tree was a Death which none but Slaves and notorious Malefactors endured the Lord of Heaven and Earth suffered the Punishment of a vile and cursed Offender and all this to make our Peace 3. Consider how painful this Death was â—y Brethren it was not only a shameful and igâ—ominious Death but also a very painful and â—ingering Death for from his Scourging by Pilot to his giving up the Ghost it is observed it was six Hours all which time he was in bitter Torture and Anguish both in Soul â—nd Body too he suffered from Heaven from Earth and from Hell 4. Consider it was also a cursed Death He was made a Curse for us as it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a Tree and all this to make our Peace 5. Consider when this was done even at such a time when Multitudes were come out of the Countries round about to Jerusalem to keep the Feast who no doubt had heard of the great Fame of Christ and of his mighty Miracles and longed it is like to see him and now for them to behold this Person thus Mocked Scourged and Hanged on a Tree as a Miserable Wretch must needs wound his tender Heart but all this he bore to make our Peace which abundantly proves he was inclined to Peace willing to make our Peace and appease God's Wrath. 6. Consider his most importutate Endeavours to bring poor Sinners to accept of that Peace which he hath made 1. What Arguments doth he use 2. How long he doth wait knocking at their Doors 3. And what Repulses doth he daily meeâ— withal and sustain and what abominable Affronts doth he suffer from Unbelieving and Hard-hearted Sinners O how much is he for Peace VI. A Mediator must be of a yielding and condescending Spirit one that can comply with each Party not Self-will'd nor seeking his own Honour c. Our Lord Jesus Christ condescended in every thing to do his Father's Will nevertheless Not my Will but thy Will be done tho he was a Son yet learned he Obedience by the things which he suffered He stuck at nothing I did not withhold my Face from Shame and Spitting No Mediator ever condescended as Christ did He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own Glory but he that seeketh his Glory that sent him the same is true and there is no Vnrighteousness in him All his whole design in his working about our Redemption and Reconciliation was to advance his Father's Glory and he complied to do whatsoever was requisite in order thereto VII A Mediator ought to be cloathed with Power I mean not only with a legal Authority for that I have spoken to already but to be one that hath Ability Wisdom and Discretion to make up the Breach that is between Parties at variance every one is not in a capacity to become a Mediator were they called to that Office for want of Ability Now our Lord Jesus Christ is mighty in Power He is mighty to save 1. He is every way capable to accomplish the Work of making Peace and Reconciliation with God He is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God He is called God's Arm and the Man of his Right Hand Let thy Hand be upon the Man of thy Right Hand upon the Son of Man whom thou madest strong for thy self Let thy Hand of Justice be upon him take Satisfaction in him Beloved whatever Justice required the Holiness of God required the Veracity of God required or the Law of God required in order to our Peace Christ is able to answer all I that speak in Righteousness mighty to Save 2. Moreover whatsoever our deplorable Condition and Necessities do require in order to our Peace and Restoration he is able to answer it fully also 1. He is able to encounter and overcome Satan and as he hath done this in his own Person for us so he also doth it in us for naturally we were in Satan's Chains even Captives to the Devil the strong Man armed held us fast but Christ being cloathed with greater Power hath delivered us out of Satan's Hands He was Anointed to set at Liberty those that were bound 2. He hath overcome Sin or destroyed that Enemy This was part of his Work i. e. To make an end of Sins and to make Reconciliation for Iniquity and to bring in everlasting Righteousness c. That is to make an end of Sin as to the Guilt Condemning Power and Punishment thereof and at last he will make an end of the very Being of Sin also in all his People 3. To overcome the World In the World yâ—â— shall have Tribulation but be of good chear I have overcome the World As he overcame the World in all its Snares Temptations Flatteries and Frowns for us so through him we shall overcome the World also We overcome in him and shall by him or through his Aid and Assistance at last and so sit down with him on his Throne 4. He is able to open blind Eyes This he was also Anointed to do even not only to proclaim Liberty for the Captives But the recovering of Sight to the Blind for we by Nature were all born Blind and none but Christ can give us Sight or open the Eyes of our Understanding 5. He hath Power to raise the Dead The Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live You hath he quickned that were dead in Sins and Trespasses Not one Soul could receive any benefit by his Mediation unless he had been cloathed with power to raise dead Lazarus from the Grave I mean every elect Sinner dead in Sin 6. To change our Rebellious Hearts or bow and bend our stubborn Wills or to make the Unwilling Will willing which he doth in the Day of his Power And so to take away that Enmity that naturally was in our Hearts against God or remove all our Vitious Habits or that averseness that was in us to God and to the things of God or to Circumcise our Hearts to love the Lord our God which could not be done by any but by one cloathed with a creating Power for it is he that forms the Image of God again in us 7. To cloath the naked Soul by putting on the Robe of his own Righteousness upon it 8. To raise us up from the Dead at the last Day I will ransom them from the Power of the Grave I will redeem them from Death O Death I will be thy Plague O Grave I will be thy Destruction Moreover 9. He
Trusted or whose Faithfulness or Ability is suspected Now my Brethren when Man had broken the Law of the first Covenant his Credit was gone or lost for ever God would not enter into Covenant any more with him without a Surety he knowing that Man's Inability and Unfaithfulness in his Fallen Estate therefore was graciously pleased to provide for us or in our behalf a Sponsor or Surety By so much was Jesus made a Surety of a better Covenant As Christ engaged to God for us to satisfie for our Sins and to bring us into a State of Grace and Peace with God and preserve us in that State to the end and to give Security to the Covenant of Peace which he is a Surety of he is call'd a Surety And as he gives all good things and Divine Blessings to us he is called a Testator for a Testator denotes one dying making his Last Will and Testament firm and bequeathing Legacies to his Friends some I know would not have Christ be a Surety of that Covenant that was made betwixt God the Father and himself which they call the Covenant of Redemption but of the Covenant of Grace made with us but I know no ground for such a distinction as I shall hereafter prove my Brethren evident it is that had not our Mediator engaged in this Covenant of Peace and Redemption for us there had been no Covenant nor Peace for us at all because all dependeth on Christ's Suretiship or on Christ's Obligation to the Father for us nor did God ever manifest more rich Grace to us than he did in providing of such a Surety for Man And hence God saith speaking of the Covenant of Grace My Mercy will I keep for him for ever and my Covenant shall stand fast with him I have laid help upon one that is mighty I have exalted one chosen out of the People one able to perform and do all his Pleasure one that he can trust who neither wants Ability nor Faithfulness 3. A Surety commonly engageth for one Party even for him whose Credit is suspected or who being poor the Creditor will not nor cannot Trust him the Lord Jesus is only a Surety for us unto God not for God to us for God had no need for any to engage or be a Surety for him he never failed any of his Creatures he broke not his Covenant with Man but Man with him Because they continued not in my Covenant I regarded them not saith the Lord. Therefore God will not Treat nor Trade with Man any more without such a Mediator and Surety as Christ is therefore I am not of his Opinion that saith That the Suretishâ—p of Christ was that Sinners might be induced to give God Credit and that he might have a Responsal Party to deal with for this is to cast Contempt upon the Holy and Faithful God as if he is not to be Trusted in without he gives us good Security that he will not fail nor deceive us 4. The end of Suretiship among Men is to give Stability and Security in case of Bonds or Covenants c. that such Bonds or Covenants may be firm and sure and to this end did Christ become the Surety of this Covenant of Peace Grace and Redemption My Brethren this Covenant depends upon the Suretiship of Jesus Christ upon whose Undertakings and Security God Promised and Covenanted with him to be our God again and to give to us all that good which was in his Heart to bestow upon his Elect from everlasting There being such things requisite to be done in order hereunto which God well knew we were not able to perform i. e. the Satisfaction of his Justice or Payment of all our Debts and Victory over all our Enemies and that this Covenant might not be broken as the first was My Covenant shall stand fast in him 5. Suretiship imports that the Obligation be free and voluntary for the Law forces none to be a Surety or to engage for others My Brethren tho God chose Jesus Christ to be the Surety of this Covenant for us yet Christ as a most free and voluntary act on his part undertook that Office for that Law we had broke laid no Obligation on him nor was he under any necessity of Nature to undertake herein because he was the Son of God but it is ascribed wholly to his Infinite Love and Goodness and as a Sovereign Act of his own Free Grace to undertake for Man and not for Angels and also only for some of the lost Sons of Adam and not for all No Man taketh my Life from me but I lay it down freely I have power to lay it dnwn and I have power to take it up again Lo I come in the Volume of the Book it is written of me to do thy Will O God 6. Suretiship imports not only a voluntary Obligation for others or for another but also Union of Parties or Assumption of the Condition of that Person or Debtor In a Law sence it denotes a Foederal or Law Union the Surety and the Debtor are but one Party yet not so but that it is the Surety that pays it is his Money and not the Debtors My Brethren Christ by vertue of his Suretiship did not only take our Sins upon him but our Nature and put himself in our Law-place he took our Condition upon him He was made of a Woman made under the Law to redeem them Object I know it is objected If Christ and the Elect are but one Party and that his Righteousness be ours i. e. imputed to us or that he did and suffered all in our stead then we are our own Saviours we are Mediators as having a Mediator's Righteousness Ans. This as one well observes follows not for they may as well argue the Debtor is the Surety because his Surety's Payment is accepted for him Object Again they object If Christ our Surety and we are one and that his Righteousness is ours then we are as Righteous as Christ. Ans. They may as well affirm the Bankrupt is as rich as his Surety because his Surety pays his Debts 7. A Surety doth not only ingage for Debtors but also sometimes for Criminals Those that Christ became Surety for in the Covenant of Peace to Reconcile to God and to Redeem from Sin and Hell were Criminals and not only Debtors we all deserved Death and were under the Sentence thereof The Evangelists render the Words Sins and Debts promiscuously as Luke 11.4 compared with Matth. 6.12 the Laws of some Countries admit of a Surety for a Criminal i. e. that one Man shall die for another Thus did Christ obey the Law for us and die for us He was made a Curse for us Gave himself for us His Life a Ransom for us The Just for the Vnjust Made Sin for us All proves he was a Surety for Condemned Criminals and so died in our stead to satisfie the Law and Justice of
in him 2. To consider the Time allowed you is this present time Behold now is the accepted time behold now is the Day of Salvation 3. To consider the Danger of rejecting neglecting or refusing Peace and Salvation by Jesus Christ How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Know O Sinners that Ministers set Life and Death before you Hear and your Souls shall live but he that Believeth not shall be Damned He that Believeth hath Everlasting Life but he that Believeth not shall not see Life but the Wrath of God abideth on him What do you say Sinners Will you strive to take hold of Jesus Christ Believe in him cry to him for Faith resolve to lay down your Arms What Answer shall I return to my Great Master Do not make a Pause but speedily come to a Resolution your Lives are uncertain Lastly This severely reproves all that cast Affronts or Contempt through Pride Envy or Prejudice upon any one of Christ's Ambasdors or that abase deride or raise up evil Reports on him Christ takes it all as done to himself also it reproves such who account them as their Brethren and shew them no more respect than to others may be not so much but slight and despise them and hardly speak Friendly to them not considering the Place and Office they are in But no more at this time SERMON VII Shewing the Nature of the Proclamation of the Gospel and the Terms thereof ISA. Liv. x. Neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Doct. THAT there is a Covenant of Peace made or agreed on and stands firm in the behalf of all God's Elect. We shewed you that this Peace is proclaimed 1. What the Proclamation is 2. Who the Ambassadors are that Christ hath appointed to proclaim it I shall now proceed to the next thing under this Head 3. I shall open the Nature of this Proclamation And then 4. Shew you the Terms upon which Peace is offered Would you know what is contained in this Proclamation First Then know it contains a clear and full Declaration of all those Covenant Transactions between the Father and the Son about the Restoration of lost Sinners before the World began the Gospel reveals those Mysteries that were hid from Ages and Generations It is called The Revelation of the Mysteries which were kept secret since the World began Not only that Mystery that the Gentiles should be Fellow Heirs of the Inheritance but the Mystery of the Covenant Purpose and Design of God and also of the Incarnation Life Death Resurrection Ascention and Intercession of Jesus Christ. I say it contains the Revelation of the Mystery of these things and not only the History of them I. It reveals that Infinite Love Mercy Grace and Goodness of God 〈◊〉 to lost and undone Sinners which astonisheth the very Angels of God to behold 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 The Good Angels are not Teachers of these Mysteries but Learners and Admirers of them the Gospel is to them as a Mirror or Looking-glass to behold and contemplate the Divine Wisdom of God in every appearance of it but especially in this the last and great Revelation thereof II. It reveals the great Love of God the Father In this was manifested the Love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son that we might live through him That he might die to raise us to Life to be Crown'd with Thorns that we might be Crown'd with Glory to be made a Curse for us that we might be made the Blessing of God in him there could be no higher demonstration of God's Love than this is III. It reveals the Love of Christ which hath a Breadth a Length a Depth and a Heighth in it and passeth Knowledge Is it not an amazing Declaration or Revelation of the Infinite Love of Jesus Christ our Lord Who tho he was God should condescend to die for such vile Rebels and wretched Sinners as we were Hereby perceive we the Love of God because he laid down his Life for us from that near and intimate Union between the Divine and Humane Nature in the Person of Christ Christ's Life is here called the Life of God as elsewhere his Blood is called the Blood of God God is said to purchase the Church with his own Blood IV. This Proclamation is a Declaration or a Revelation that God in Christ is reconciled to his Elect that is the Price is paid tho the Blood may not be yet sprinkled When we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son Through the Blood of his Cross God is satisfied and his Wrath is appeased that the Atonement is madefully perfectly and for ever by one Sacrifice he hath perfected for ever them that we Sanctified V. It doth not only declare but also proclaim this Peace and Reconciliation Deliverance is proclaimed to the Captives The Lord hath Anointed me to Preach good Tydings to the Meek he hath sent me to bind up the Broken-hearted to proclaim Liberty to the Captives and the opening the Prison to them that are bound To proclaim the acceptable Year of the Lord c. or the Year of the Great Jubilee The Sinner is told his Debts are paid requiring him to believe this nay Proclamation is made of Free Pardon to all that believe That they shall not perish but have Everlasting Life and that God hath received the uttermost Farthing of our vast Debt and that Christ hath received a Discharge as our Surety for all the Elect and that he hath not done what he did in part or by halfs but that it is fully wholly and compleatly done and that for ever our Faith adding nothing to that Satisfaction The Gospel doth not proclaim a Conditional Peace or Reconciliation or that God is only reconcilable so that if the Sinner performs his part God will be fully reconciled that is if the Sinner repents believes is Regenerated or answers the Rule of the Promise as some speak I know no such Conditional Gospel or Proclamation but those Conditions which Jesus Christ was to perform which was not only to reconcile God to us but us also to God Can that be the Condition of Life on our part which Christ hath engaged in the Covenant to do viz. to bring us into a State of Peace Them I must bring Nay God hath promised to give us a new Heart and put a new Spirit into us Moreover Christ is exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour to give Repentance to Israel and Remission of Sins
and Wrath of God only but also from Sin or a vain Conversation and out of the Power and Kingdom of Satan which Christ by his Blood as poured forth and in applying it undertook to do in the Covenant of Peace which is called Christ's Covenant As for thee by the blood of thy Covenant I have sent forth the Prisonâ—rs out of the Pit wherein there was no water Reverend Charnock says Christ is the surety of the Covenant of Grace but the Covenant of Redemption had no surety the Father and the Son trusted one another the Covenant of Redemption was not Confirmed by Blood c. Answ. Had God only entred into Covenant with Christ as a single Person and for himself there had been no need of a surety but since he entred into that Covenant as a publick person and that for broken and fallen mankind whom God regarded not their Credit being for ever gone there was a necessity of Christ's suretyship in that said Covenant in respect had to those things which Christ was to do for us and also work in us which he then engaged to the Father to perform and if the Covenant of Redemption from Sin and Wrath was not confirmed by the Blood of that Covenant one grand part of our safety and security is gone for ever My Brethren Our Lord Jesus Christ when he first entred into the Covenant with the Father agreed to be the Mediator and Surety thereof also evident it is that there are some Transactions where suretiship is required which a Surety must undertake to do and readily agree unto even all such things which the Creditor requires and the nature of the Covenant calls for So that there are some things that peculiarly belong to him as surety even so and in like manner it was here about the compleat accomplishment of the Covenant of Grace entered into between the Father and the Son in behalf of the Elect. Yet all the good we receive through the applicatory part of the said Covenant are but the effects fruits or product of the same Covenant as it was made with Christ for us as our Surety Also among Men those things and Covenant Transactions betwixt the Creditor and the Surety which peculiarly appertain to him to perform and answer though the poor debtor nevertheless is mainly concerned therein they being such things that must be performed by the Surety for him or the Debtor can have no benefit by it yet the free grants to the Debtor in the said Covenant upon the Suretys engagement is never called a distinct Covenant in it self but as I said before 't is one and the same Covenant our Covenant therefore is but a branch of Christ's Covenant with God the Father in which he engaged to Spouse and Marry us to himself for ever Therefore I know not what these Mens nice distinctions signifies unless it be to amuse the world or except it be for the worser purpose just now hinted Brethren The distinction lies not in two distinct Covenants Essentially differing from each other but in the distinct parts of the said one intire Covenant I. One part as it refers to Christ viz. he is the Surety and we the Debtors whom he engaged for his money and not ours pays all and makes satisfaction to God Christ is the Redeemer in this Covenant and we the Redeemed Christ is the Saviour and we the Saved II. That part that appertains to Christ was upon conditions of what he was to do and suffer he hath obtained all for us wholly by Desert and Merit and we have all every way of meer grace and favour particularly in the applicatory part thereof Moreover let it be noted that there is a difference in respect of the time of the making of the Covenant and of the Revelation Execution and Application thereof Christ in the Covenant first Articl'd with the Father to be Mediator and Surety c. and in the execution of the Covenant actually discharges those Offices and all things that appertains to them one thing being his bringing of us home to God or into the bonds of his Covenant Moreover Take here what the Reverend Assembly of Divines have said about the Covenant of Grace viz. Q. 30. Doth God leave mankind to perish in a state of Sin and Misery Answ. God doth not leave all mankind to perish in a state of Sin and Misery into which they fell by the Breach of the first Covenant called the Covenant of works but of his meer love and Mercy delivereth his Elect out of it and bringeth them into a state of Salvation by the second Covenant commonly called the Covenant of Grace Q. 31. With whom was the Covenant of Grace made Answ. The Covenant of Grace was made with Christ as the second Adam and in him with all the Elect as his Seed Thus that Learned Assembly From hence it doth appear that this opinion of two distinct Covenants was not received by that Assembly they own but two Covenants i. e. that of Works and that of Grace and I am sure the Scriptures bear witness of no other Covenant of Redemption but that of Grace and Reconciliation which includes Redemption and all Covenant-Blessings My Brethren That very Covenant made between the Father and the Son was hidden or kept secret as to the clear manifestation of it till Christ came and then it was manifested and the clear revelation of it is in the Gospel which shows how God manifesteth the grace of this Covenant by offering Pardon and Peace to sinners by revealing of Christ who is called the Covenant and offering him to them for Life and Salvation so that this Covenant contains all Grace Mercy and Redemption Moreover Remarkable it is to see how that Learned Person that wrote the Book called The Ark of the Covenant who too boldly asserts the Covenant of Redemption a distinct Covenant from the Covenant of Grace doth in divers places contradict himself herein take some of his words viz. So that I take saith he the meaning of these words This is my Covenant with them my Spirit that is upon thee c. to be This is my Covenant that I have made with thee upon their account and for their behoof or the Covenant that I have made with them to wit virtully when I Covenanted with thee and made promises to thee for their behoof He confesseth that the Covenant of 〈◊〉 was made with Christ primarily and representatively and with the Elect in him and all promises of Grace was made to us in Christ in that Covenant And what do we say more but this is to overthrow his own Notion of two distinct Covenants Nay the same Author confesseth that the grand thing he argues for is to prove that there is nothing spoken of Christ's Seed as parties with whom God deals in this Covenant and upon whom he layeth any Commands Answ. We say so too Christ is only the Covenanting party for us and on
have not only Crucified the Flesh or are become dead to Sin but have Crucified the World also But God forbid that I should Glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the World is Crucified unto me and I unto the World The World careth not for them and they care not for the World they are dead to the Honours Pleasures and Riches of the World Moses contemned all the Glory of Pharaoh's Court yea all the Pleasures of Sin and Riches of Egypt and so do all God's sincere People contemn this World If any Man love the World the love of the Father is not in him 3. They that are God's peculiar People are become dead to the Law to that cruel Husband and to all their own Righteousness accounting it but Dung or a dead Carkase or Dogs-meat in comparison of Christ Ye also are become dead to the Law by the Body of Christ c. The Union with that Husband is dissolved they seek not Life and Justification by the Law or are not in love with Self-Righteousness but dead to it whilst others make an Idol of it and trust in it 4. They have renounced themselves also and confess they are not their own but that their Souls their Bodies their Substance their Graces their Gifts their Time their Strength their Lips and their Lives are all the Lord's and for him for as all that God hath which is communicable is theirs or freely imparted to them and for them so all they are and have they account it is the Lord's they being but only Stewards of all they have and do possess Shall such think that they are the Lord's who live to themselves seek themselves or only bring forth Fruit like empty Vines to themselves No they that are the Lord's People esteem all they have to be his and for his Service and are willing to render it up to him when he calls for it Nay they have given God their Hearts not their Lips only or their Tongues nor their Ears nor their Substance but their Hearts also My Son give me thy Heart God complains of some that drew near to him with their Lips and sate before him as his People sate and with their Tongues shewed much kindness but saith he their Hearts went after their Covetousness after the World these God's Soul abhors and he will not own them to be his People Some give their Hearts to Pleasures to strange Women and to Vanity and to meer Folly and others give their Hearts to Riches but God's Covenant-People give their Hearts to him not a part of the Heart but their whole Heart they love the Lord their God with all their Hearts with all their Souls and with all their Strength Others have their Hearts divided between God and the World between God and their Lusts but such that love not God with their whole Heart hate him for the lesser Love is accounted Hatred in Scripture II. They that are God's peculiar Covenant-People are Begotten and Born of God for they this way as you heard become his Children there are none my Brethren that are the Lord's People by Adoption but they are his also by Regeneration they have his Image formed in them they are like to their Father in Holiness Heavenliness in Humility Mercy Meekness Love Goodness Charity c. they partake of the Divine Nature every one resembles the Son or Daughter of a King Then said he unto Zeba and Zalmunna What manner of Men were they whom ye slew at Tabor And they answered As thou art so were they each one resembled the Children of a King They are nobly descended they have sublime Spirits Holy Hearts Desires Aims and Ends in all they do they are not meer Dunghil-Rakers like the Men of the World but far excel all others The Righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour he has an excellent Spirit Life and Principles in him III. They that are God's Covenant-People Trust in him as their God as well as Love him as their God all People trust in their God tho it be a God of Gold or Silver a Worldly Man's strong Confidence is his Wealth he makes Gold his Hope So they that have God to be their God trust in him depend upon him They that know thy Name will put their Trust in thee They trust in the True and Living God God is their Hope their Confidence they rely upon his Power his Mercy his Love his Faithfulness his Covenant and on his Blessed Promises and this at all times in Afflictions Desertion Temptations c. and when called to any hard Service in Prosperity and in Adversity in times of Want and Necessities and in Times of Fulness in Life and also at the Hour of Death This tends my Brethren to the Glory of God and by this they shew what a value and esteem they put upon God How often does David say he trusted in the Lord and because God was his God O my God I trust in thee Job says Tho he slay me yet will I trust in him Tho they see not feel not or have no sensible Comfort or Relief yet can and will trust in God tho God hides his Face or they walk in Darkness and have no Light IV. God's peculiar People highly love value and prize the Lord Jesus Christ They can say with David Whom have I in Heaven but thee Neither is there any on Earth that I desire besides thee They have tasted how good the Lord is and beholding his Beauty can say He is the chiefest among Ten Thousand they live upon Christ fetch all their Comfort and Hope of Salvation from him and rejoyce in him alone Serving God in Spirit and have no Confidence in the Flesh. Moreover when they have done all things that Christ hath commanded they look upon themselves Unprofitable Servants they live in him to him and by him their living in him shews Christ is their Life their living to him shews Christ is their ultimate End their living by him shews Christ is their Strength they receive the Spirit and so live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit they bring up the bottom of their Lives to the top of their Light they do not only know what is to be done but do what they know the Darkness of Carnal Professors will be the blackest because their Light seemed to be the clearest but these are better inwardly in substance than outwardly in appearance in a word they are as much in love with the Imployment of Holiness as with the Injoyment of Happiness or to be Holy here as well as Happy hereafter or to live to God on Earth as well as with him in Heaven V. God's Covenant-People ascribe all the Glory to him and take all the Shame to themselves Both Riches and Honour come of thee the Power the Glory and the Victory is thine and of thine own have I