The Sum of Christian Religion 2, Part 2 · Subpart 2
THE SECOND PART OF THE CREED, OF THE SONNE THE REDEEMER.
IN the Second part of the Apoſtolique Creed, is intreated of the Mediatour. The doctrine concerning the Mediatour, conſiſteth of two partes: The firſt is, The perſon of the Mediatour: The ſecond, Of his office. Of his perſon the two former Articles ſpeake. And in Ieſus CHRIST his onelie ſonne our Lord; which was conceiued by the holie Ghoſt, borne of the Virgine Marie. His office is ſummarily expounded in the ſame two articles: but particularly in thoſe which folow, euen vntounto the third part of the Creed, wherein is entreated concerning the holy Ghoſt.
There are two parts of his office: humiliation, or merite: and glorification, or efficacie. Of his humiliation, whereby Chriſt hath promerited and deſerued for vsus his benefices, namely, remiſſion of ſinnes, and reconciliation and attonement with God, the holy Ghoſt, and life euerlaſting, theſe articles ſpeake; Hee ſuffered vnderunder Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, buried, deſcended into hell. Of his glorification, in reſpect whereof Chriſt is effectuall and worketh forcibly in vsus,The great wiſedome and order in diſpoſing the articles of our Creed. in applying his merited bleſſinges and benefites vntounto vsus by his ſpirite, theſe articles ſpeake; The third daie he roſe againe from the dead; he aſcended into heauen; Sitteth on the right hand of God the father almightie; From thence ſhall hee come to iudge the quicke and the dead. Hence it appeareth with how great wiſedome the articles were written, and applied to the queſtion of the Mediatour, For as it deſcendeth in order from the firſt to the laſt ſtep and degree of Chriſts humiliation, which is ſignified by his deſcention into hell, and is the feeling of the horrible iudgement, and wrath of God againſt the ſinnes of mankinde: ſo it aſcendeth from the leſſer glorie, which beganne from his reſurrection, to the higheſt and greateſt, which is betokened by his ſitting at the right hand of GOD the Father. The ſame order and the ſame wiſedome is ſeene in the firſt part of the Creede. It is alſo apparent in the third part, which is as it were the fruit of the articles going before, wherein are recited in moſt notable order the benefites which Chriſt promeriting by his paſſion, applieth to vsus by his ſpirite. For the benefites of Chriſt are different from his office. His benefites are the thinges themſelues, which Chriſt hath purchaſed for vsus and beſtoweth on vsus, to wit, remiſſion of ſinnes, or our reconciliation with God, the giuing of his holy ſpirit, and life euerlaſting. His office is, to promerit in thoſe things for vsus by his obedience, and to beſtowe them on vsus by his owne power and efficacie.
Moreouer the 29. 30. 31. Queſtions of the Catechiſme, which are concerning the ſonne, belong vntounto the common place of the office of the Mediatour, in reſpect of which office, the ſonne of God our Mediator, beareth the name both of Ieſus, and of Chriſt. And he is called Ieſus, that is, Our Sauiour, 1.Why Chriſt i… called Ieſus. Becauſe he deliuereth and ſaueth vsus from both euils, both of crime, and paine. 2. He doth it alone. 3. He doth it fullie and perfectlie. 4. He doth it by his merite and efficacie. What is to beleeue in Ieſus.Where fore to beleeue in Ieſus, is certainly to thinke and be perſwaded, 1. That there is a Sauiour of mankinde. 2 That the ſonne of God borne of the Virgine Marie is this Ieſus the Sauiour, whom God will hauehave vsus acknowledge, hearken vntounto, and worſhip: Mat. 1.22. & 17.5. Iohn. 5.23. & 37.3. 3. That he alone doth fullie and perfectlie deliuer vsus from the euils of pain and crime. 4. That he is not onelie the Sauiour of other the choſen of God, but mine alſo. 5. And that he is not our Sauiour by his merite onelie, but by his efficacie alſo and effectuall working, while by the imputation of his ſatisfaction hee iuſtifieth vsus, and regenerateth vsus by his holy ſpirite, and reſtoreth the righteouſnes or image of God in vsus, which reſtoring being here begun, he finiſheth and accompliſheth in the life to come.