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CHAP. VIII.
Of Christ the Mediator.
1. It pleased God in his eternal purpose,
to chuse and ordain the Lord Jesus his only begotten Son,
according to the Covenant made between them both, (a)
to be the Mediator between God and Man; the (b)
Prophet, (c) Priest and (d)
King; Head and Saviour of his Church, the heir of all things, and judge
of the world: Unto whom he did from all Eternity (e)
give a people to be his seed, and to be by him in time redeemed, called,
justified, sanctified, and glorified.
a Is. 42.1. 1 Pet. 1.19,20.
2. The Son of God, the second Person
in the Holy Trinity, being very and eternal God, the brightness
of the Fathers glory, of one substance and equal with him: who made
the World, who upholdeth and governeth all things he hath made: did when
the fullness of time was come take unto him (f)
mans nature, with all the Essential properties, and common infirmities
thereof, (g) yet without sin: being
conceived by the Holy Spirit in the Womb of the Virgin
Mary, the Holy Spirit coming down upon her, and the power of
the most High overshadowing her, (h)
and so was made of a Woman, of the Tribe of Judah, of the
Seed of Abraham, and David according to the Scriptures:
So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, were inseparably joined
together in one Person: without conversion, composition,
or confusion: which Person is very God, and very Man;
yet one (i) Christ, the only
Mediator between God and Man.
f Joh. 1.1.14. Gal. 4.4.
3. The Lord Jesus in his humane nature thus
united to the divine, in the Person of the Son, was sanctified,
& anointed (k) with the Holy
Spirit, above measure; having in him (l)
all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; in whom it pleased the Father
that (m) all fullness should dwell:
To the end that being (n) holy, harmless,
undefiled, and full (o) of Grace,
and Truth, he might be throughly furnished to execute the office
of a Mediator, and (p) Surety;
which office he took not upon himself, but was thereunto (q)
called by his Father; who also put (r)
all power and judgement in his hand, and gave him Commandement to execute
the same.
k Ps. 45.7. Act. 10.38 Joh. 3.34.
4. This office the Lord Jesus did most (s)
willingly undertake, which that he might discharge he was made under the
Law, (t) and did perfectly fulfill
it, and underwent the (u) punishment
due to us, which we should have born and suffered, being made (x)
Sin and a Curse for us: enduring most grievous sorrows (y)
in his Soul; and most painful sufferings in his body; was crucified, and
died, and remained in the state of the dead; yet saw no (z)
corruption: on the (a) third day
he arose from the dead, with the same (b)
body in which he suffered; with which he also (c)
ascended into heaven: and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father,
(d) making intercession; and shall (e)
return to judge Men and Angels, at the end of the World.
s Ps. 40.7,8. Heb. 10.5-11. Joh.
10.18.
b Joh. 20.25.27.
c Mark 16 19. Act. 1.9,10,11.
d Rom. 8.34. Heb. 9.24
e Act. 10.42. Rom. 14.9,10. Act. 1.10.
[Note]
5. The Lord Jesus by his perfect obedience
and sacrifice of himself, which he through the Eternal Spirit once
offered up unto God, (f) hath fully
satisfied the Justice of God, procured reconciliation, and purchased
an Everlasting inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven, (g)
for all those whom the Father hath given unto him.
f Heb. 9.14. ch. 10.14. Rom. 3.25,26.
6. Although the price of Redemption was not actually
paid by Christ, till after his Incarnation, (*)
yet the vertue, efficacy, and benefit thereof were communicated to the
Elect in all ages successively, from the beginning of the World, in and
by those Promises, Types, and Sacrifices, wherein he was revealed, and
signified to be the Seed of the Woman, which should bruise the Serpents
head; (h) and the Lamb slain from the foundation
of the World: (i) Being the same
yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
* 1 Cor. 4.10. Heb. 4.2. 1 Pet. 1.10,11.
h Rev. 13.8.
i Heb. 13.8.
7. Christ in the work of Mediation acteth
according to both natures, by each nature doing that which is proper to
it self; yet by reason of the Unity of the Person, that which is proper
to one nature, is sometimes in Scripture attributed to the Person
(k) denominated by the other nature.
k Joh. 3.13. Act. 20.28.
8. To all those for whom Christ hath obtained eternal
redemption, he doth certainly, and effectually (l)
apply, and communicate the same; making intercession for them, uniting
them to himself by his spirit, (m) revealing
unto them, in and by the word, the mystery of salvation; perswading them
to believe, and obey; (n) governing their
hearts by his word and spirit, and (o) overcoming
all their enemies by his Almighty power, and wisdom; in such manner, and
wayes as are most consonant to his wonderful, and (p)
unsearchable dispensation; and all of free, and absolute Grace, without
any condition foreseen in them, to procure it.
l Joh. 6.37. ch. 10.15.16. & ch. 17.9.
Rom. 5.10.
m Joh. 17.6, Eph. 1.9. 1 Joh. 5.20.
n Rom. 8.9.14.
o Ps. 110.1. 1 Cor. 15.25,26.
p Joh. 3.8 Eph. 1.8.
9. This office of Mediator between God and Man,
is proper (q) onely to Christ, who is the
Prophet, Priest, and King of the Church of God; and may not be either in
whole, or any part thereof transfer'd from him to any other.
q 1 Tim. 2.5.
10. This number and order of Offices is necessary;
for in respect of our (r) ignorance, we
stand in need of his prophetical Office; and in respect of our alienation
from God, (s) and imperfection of the best
of our services, we need his Priestly office, to reconcile us, and present
us acceptable unto God: and in respect o our averseness, and utter inability
to return to God, and for our rescue, and security from our spiritual adversaries,
we need his Kingly office, (t) to convince,
subdue, draw, uphold, deliver, and preserve us to his Heavenly Kingdome.
r Joh. 1.18.
s Col. 1.21. Gal. 5.17.
t Joh. 16.8. Ps. 110.3 Luk. 1.74.75.
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