The Sum of Christian Religion 2, Part 2 · Subpart 12
OF THE NAME IESVS.
BVT, that it may the better bee vnderſtoode, that by the name, Ieſus, the office of the Sonne of GOD the Mediatour is deſigned, theſe foure queſtions are to be conſidered.
1 What is ſignified by the word Ieſus.
2 From what euils he ſaieth or deliuereth.
3 How he ſaueth.
4 Whom he ſaueth.
1 WHAT THE NAME IESVS SIGNIFIETH.
IESVS is an Hebrewe worde, which ſignifieth a Sauiour and authour of ſafetie. This etymon or originall ſignication of this woorde is aſſigned by the Angel, Mat. 1.21. Luc. 1.31. The Sonne of God therefore is called IESVS in reſpect of his office, by an excellencie. For hee alone ſaueth from euils moſt perfectly, whether wee reſpect the number, or the degree. For hee performeth our deliuerie from all euils, and that ſuch as is not onelie begunne, but alſo conſummated.
1 The Sonne onelyonly is our …uiour.1 Now that the Soone of GOD onelie is that Sauiour, is ſhewed by the places of Scripture following, Iohn. 3.18. He that beleeueth not in the Sonne is alreadie condemned. Acts, 4.12. There is not ſaluation in anie other, for among men there is giuen no other name vnderunder heauen, whereby wee muſt bee ſaued. Romans. 5.19. By the obedience of one ſhall manie bee made righteous. 1. Tim. 2.5. There is one God, and one Mediatour betweene God and man, which is the man Chriſt Ieſus. 1. Iohn. 5.11. God hath giuen vntounto vsus eternal life, and this life is in his Sonne.
Obiection. The Father and the holie GHOST alſo are Sauiours: Therefore not the Sonne alone. And ſo contrarie; The Sonne alone is Sauiour: Therefore not the Father, nor the holie GHOST. Aunſwere, It is a fallacie affirming that to bee ſimplie ſo, which is in ſome reſpect ſo. For firſt, The Sonne alone ſaueth, namely, as Mediatour, by his merite and efficacie. The Father ſaueth, as the fountaine of our deliuerie: Becauſe hee ſendeth the Sonne into fleſhe, by him to deliuer vsus; but the Father himſelfe is not ſent. The holie Ghoſt ſaueth; as an immediate effectour or worker of regeneration ſent from the Father by the Sonne into the heartes of the choſen. Wherefore this e…icacie or effectuall woorking it ſelfe, is common to all three perſons: yet the order and manner of woorking is different, and appropriate to eache. But the Ranſome, the Sonne onelyonly hath paied. Secondly, The Sonne is called the onelie Sauiour, in reſpect of the creature, to whom hee is oppoſed, and from whom hee is diſcerned; that is, from the woorke of ſaluation, not the Father and the holy Ghoſt, but the creatures onelyonly are excluded. For no creature deliuereth from ſinne and death. So 1. Corinth. 2.16. it is ſaide, The thinges of god knoweth no man, but the Spirite of god: But it followeth not hereof, that the Father and the Sonne knowe not themſelues. For the Spirite in that place is compared with the creature, not with the Father and the Sonne. Replie. But there hauehave beene manie Sauiours of the people, and ſome of them alſo called by the ſame name, as Ioſua. Therefore not CHRIST onelie is Sauiour. Aunſwere. Other were termed Sauiours, but in a moſt diuers reſpect. Firſt, Becauſe they carried a type of this IESVS as our true, onelie, and deſigned Sauiour by GOD. Nowe albeit the Patents of Ioſua when they gaue him this name, coulde not ſo much as ſuſpect, that by him ſhoulde come the deliuerie of the people of Iſraell: yet was it decreed with GOD from euerlaſting that hee, as alſo others, ſhoulde bee a type of the onelie Mediatour and Sauiour. Wherefore by his ſecrete and vnknowen prouidence hee ſo mooued and ruled his Parentes willes, that they ſhoulde call him Ioſua. Secondlie, GOD by them beſtowed onelie corporall, and temporall benefites, vponupon the Iſraelites. But by this Ieſus he ſaueth all the choſen diſperſed through the whole world, from all euils both of bodie and ſoule, from ſinne and death euerlaſting. Thirdly, Chriſt is the author of all good things both temporal and eternall, and theſe he by his owne efficacie beſtoweth on whom he will: They were onelie inſtruments and miniſters, by whom Chriſt gaue ſafety and benefites temporal to the people.
2 Ieſus is the perfect ſauiour.2 Moreouer that this Ieſus is the perfect Sauiour, and doth moſt perfectlie deliuer vsus from all euils, theſe places teſtifie. Col. 2.9. In him dwelleth all the fulnes of the godhead bodilie: And verſe 10. Yee are compleat in him: that is, Chriſt is that one and perfect God, the fountaine of all knowledge and good: therefore he is ſufficient for your ſaluation; he who hath Chriſt, cannot bee ignoraunt or want any of thoſe thinges which are neceſſarie to eternal bleſſednes, neither hath any need to aske them elſewhere. 1. Iohn. 1.7. The bloud of Ieſus Chriſt clenſeth vsus from all ſin. Hebr. 7.25. Chriſt is able perfectlie to ſaue them that come vntounto God by him, ſeeing he euer liueth to make interceſſion for them.
Againſt the Papiſts merits, and interceſſions of ſaintes.Hereof in the 3…. queſtion of the Catechiſme, is inferred a notable conſequence againſt the Papiſts, who couple their owne woorkes and the interceſſions of Saintes with Chriſtes merite and interceſſion: namely, that they indeede ſpoile and robbe Ieſus of this glorie, whereby hee is the perfect and onelie Sauiour. Which is alſo true of them, who ſeeke for but the leaſt iot of ſaluation or felicitie in themſelues, or other thinges without Chriſt. The collection is this. He is the perfect and onelie Sauiour, who beſtoweth ſaluation neither iointlie with others, nor in part onelie, but full, intire, and whole. But this Ieſus, the ſonne of Marie, is that Sauiour, which is the onelie and perfect Sauiour, whereof demonſtration hath beene made a little before. Wherefore hee beſtoweth ſaluation neither iointlie with others, neither part thereof onlie, but he alone performes the whole: and by a conſequent, they who ioine moe interceſſours with Ieſus, or craue and expect anie part of ſaluation elſewhere, doe indeede denie the onelie Sauiour Ieſus.
Obiection. To pray for others is to make interceſſion. God will that one ſhould pray for another, as the Saintes, for Saintes; Therefore he will that one make interceſſion for another. And by a conſequent, the glorie of Chriſt is not impeached, if the interceſſions of Saints be adioined vntounto his interceſſion. Anſwere. There is an ambiguitie, both in the woorde Praier, and in the word Interceſſion. God wil that one pray and make interceſſion for an other: But this they muſt doe, not ſtanding on the worthines of their owne interceſſion and merites: but on the worthines of the interceſſion and merites of the onelyonly Mediatour Chriſt. Chriſt maketh interceſſion for vsus, becauſe he prayeth, will, and obtaineth, and effectuateth it himſelfe, that for his owne ſacrifice and prayers wee may bee receiued of God the father into fauour, and bee reformed according to his image. Chriſt therefore maketh interceſſion for vsus by the vigour and vertue of his owne proper worthines and merite; for his own worthines be is heard, and obtaineth what be deſireth. After this ſort doe not the Saints make interceſſion one for another. Wherefore ſeeing the Papiſts faigne that the Saintes doe by their owne merites and praiers, obtaine for others grace and certain good thinges at Gods handes, they manifeſtly derogate from the glorie of Chriſt, and denie him to bee the onelie Sauiour.
2 From what euils he ſaueth vsus.
HE deliuereth vsus from all, euils of all both crime,Chriſt ſaueth vsus from all euils both of crime and paine. and paine, moſt fullie and perfectly. Math 1.21. He ſhal ſaue his people from their ſinnes. 1. Iohn. 1.7. The bloud of Ieſus Chriſt clenſeth vsus from all ſinne, that is, that it may not bee imputed vntounto vsus, and that it may not raigne in vsus, but bee aboliſhed, and ſo wee at length leaue off to ſinne. Wherefore alſo hee deliuereth vsus from all paine, and puniſhment. For the cauſe being taken away, which is ſinne, the effect is taken away, which is puniſhment. Rom. 8.1. Now then there is no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Ieſus. Iohn. 10.28. I giuegive vntounto them eternall life. The ſaluation then, which this our Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt bringeth vsus, is righteouſnes and life euerlaſting. Dan 9 24. Seuentie weeks are determined to finiſh the wickednes, and to ſeale vp the ſinnes. and to reconcile the iniquitie, and to bring in euerlaſting righteouſnes. 1. Cor. 1.30. He is made vntounto vsus wiſedome, righteouſnes, ſanctification, and redemption.
3 How he ſaueth.
HE ſaueth vsus after two ſorts: Firſt, by his merite, that is, yeelding a ſufficient puniſhment or ſatisfaction for our ſinnes,Chriſt ſaueth vsus … By his merit. whereby hee hath merited for vsus remiſſion of ſinnes, reconciliation with God, the holy Ghoſt, ſaluation and life euerlaſting. VntoUnto this beare many places of holy Scripture witneſſe in plentifull ſort. 1. Iohn. 2.2. If anie man ſinne, wee hauehave an Aduocate with the Father, Ieſus Chriſt, the iuſt. And hee is the reconciliation for our ſinnes: and not for ours onelie, but alſo for the ſinnes of the whole woorld. Rom. 3.25. Whom God hath ſet forth to be a reconciliation through faith in his bloud, to declare his righteouſneſſe by the forgiueneſſe of ſinnes. Rom 5 19. By the obedience of one manie ſhall bee made righteous. Iſay. 53.5. Hee was wounded for our tranſgreſſions, hee was broken for our iniquities; the chaſtiſement of our peace was vponupon him, and with his ſtripes wee are healed. All wee like ſheepe hauehave gone aſtraie, we hauehave turned euerie one to his owne waie; and The Lord hath laide vponupon him the iniquitie of vsus all. 2. Cor. 5.21. Hee hath made him to be ſinne for vsus, which knewe no ſinne, that we ſhould be made the righteouſneſſe of God in him. Gal. 3.13. Chriſt hath redeemed vsus from the curſe of the lawe; when he was made a curſe for vsus; that the bleſſing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Chriſt Ieſus, that wee might receiue the promiſe of the ſpirite through faith. Gal. 4 4. God ſent forth his ſonne made of a woman and made vnderunder the lawe, (that is, made an execration or curſe, Gal. 3.13. For we are deliuered not from the obedience, but from the curſe of the lawe) that hee might redeeme them which were vnderunder the lawe, that we might receiue the adoption of the ſonnes. Heb. 9.14. How much more ſhall the bloud of chriſt, which through the eternall ſpirite offered himſelfe without ſpot to god, purge your conſcience from dead woorkes to ſerue the liuing god? Heb. 10.10. By the which will we are ſanctified, euen by the offering of the bodie of Ieſus chriſt once offered. By theſe and verie many the like places of Scripture, it is manifeſt, that for Chriſtes merite wee are not onelyonly freed from puniſhment, the remiſſion of our ſinnes being obtained: but are alſo reputed righteous before GOD, adopted of him to bee his ſonnes, bleſſed, endewed with the holy GHOST, ſanctified, and made heires of euerlaſting life.
Nowe this ſo great force and power fully and perfectly to deliuer vsus,Why Chriſts death was of ſuch force, as fully and perfectly to ſaue vsus. and further to beſtowe moſt perfectly ſaluation on vsus, the death and puniſhment of Chriſt (which is a moſt perfect merite) hath, firſt by the worthineſſe of the perſon: becauſe hee that ſuffered it, is God, Acts. 20.28. God hath purchaſed the church with his owne bloud. Hebrewes 9.14 which through the eternall ſpirite offered himſelfe. Hereof therefore is it, that the obedience of the Sonne in puniſhment, or ſatisfaction, ſurpaſſeth the righteouſnes and puniſhment or ſatisfaction of all the Angels, and is a ſufficient price, and merite for ſo many and ſo great bleſſinges. Againe, it hath this force by the greetiouſneſſe of the puniſhment: becauſe hee ſuſteined the torments and feeling of GODS wrath for all the ſinnes of the whole woorlde. Hee deſcended into hell. For hee ſuffered ſo great torments, th…t euen thoſe who are euerlaſtingly damned, cannot ſuſtaine ſo great and ſo ſufficient afflictions, and tormentes, and therefore cannot ſatisfie the wrath and iuſtice of God.
Obiection. The ſufficient puniſhment for ſinne muſt needes bee eternall. But the puniſhment of CHRIST for our ſinnes was not eternall. Therefore was it not ſufficient, neither dooth it merite. Aunſwere. The Maior hath not a ſufficient enumeration: either it muſt bee eternall, as the reprobates puniſhment; or equiualent to eternall, as was the puniſhment of Chriſt, for the cauſes euen now ſpecified.
Secondly, Chriſt ſaueth vsus by his efficacie, power,2 Chriſt ſaueth vsus by his efficacie, and powerful working. & operation, whereby hee effectually applieth vntounto vsus his merited & deſerued benefits, that is, 1. He iuſtifieth vsus by imputing vntounto vsus that ſatisfaction, which he performed vntounto the law for our ſins. 2. He giueth vsus by the miniſterie of his word the holy ghoſt, by whom he worketh in vsus both faith, whereby we appling Chriſts merite vntounto our ſelues maie be aſſured of our iuſtification in the ſight of god through the force thereof; & alſo conuerſion, or the deſire & louelove of new obediēce, and ſo by his word & ſpirit he gathereth his Church. 3. He confirmeth this his collected & gathered Church, defendeth and preſerueth it in this life againſt the force of Diuels and the world, and againſt all the corporal and ſpiritual aſſaultes of all enimies, euen to the end, ſo that not one of thoſe, which are conuerted, periſheth. 4. And at length, their bodies being raiſed from the dead, he fullie deliuereth his church, aduanced vntounto euerlaſting life and glorie, from all ſinne and euill. The efficacie therefore, whereby the ſonne ſaueth vsus, compriſeth the whole benefit of our redemption, which hee beſtowed on vsus by faith through the vertue and woorking of his ſpirite. For what benefites he merited by his death, hee dooth not retaine them vntounto him-ſelfe, but beeſtoweth them on vsus. For ſaluation and life euerlaſting (which him ſelfe had before) hee purchaſed, not for him-ſelfe, but for vsus, as beeing our Mediatour.
The gift of the holy Ghoſt is part of our ſaluation.Hereby wee may vnderſtand, that the giuing of the holie Ghoſt is a part of our ſaluation or deliuerie by Chriſt Ieſus our Mediatour. For the holy Ghoſt is hee, by whom Chriſt effectually performeth this, which hee, beeing our interceſſour with his Father, hath promiſed his Father in our behalfe, that is, hee teacheth vsus, by illuminating our mindes with the knowledge of GOD and his diuine will; and regenerateth, or ſanctifieth, and guideth, and eſtabliſheth vsus, that we may begin the ſtudie of holines, perſiſt and profit therein, vntil ſinne be fully aboliſhed in vsus; and ſinne being aboliſhed, death muſt alſo needs be aboliſhed; which that hee might together with death deſtroy, Chriſt was ſent of his Father into the woorlde. Of this efficacie or effectuall operation ſpeake theſe places, Coloſ. 1.14. In the Sonne wee hauehave redemption through his bloud, the forgiueneſſe of ſinnes. Iſai. 53.11. By his knowledge ſhall my righteous ſeruaunt iuſtifie manie. Iohn. 1.9. That was the true light, which lighteth euerie man that commeth into the world; that is, hee is the author and fountaine of all light, both naturall in all Angels and men, and ſpirituall in his elect and choſen. Iohn. 5.21. As the Father raiſeth vp the dead and quickeneth them, ſo the Sonne quickeneth whom hee will. Iohn. 15.26. I will ſend vntounto you from the Father the ſpirite of truth. Matthew. 3.11. Hee that commeth after me, will baptize you with the holie Ghoſt, and with fire. Epheſ. 4.8. When hee aſcended vp on high, hee gaue giftes vntounto men. Hee aſcended that hee might fill all thinges. Luc. 10.22. No man knoweth who the Father is, ſaue the Sonne, and hee to whom the Sonne will reueile him. Iohn. 1.18. No man hath ſeene GOD at anie time: the onelie begotten Sonne, which is in the boſome of the Father, hee hath declared him. Matthew. 28 2. I am with you alway, vntill the ende of the woorld. Iohn. 14.18. I will not leaue you comfortles. Iohn. 10.28. My ſheepe ſhall neuer periſh, neither ſhall anie plucke them out of mine hand. 1. Iohn. 3.8. For this purpoſe app…ed the Sonne of God, that hee might looſe the woorkes of the Diuel. Iohn. 16.54 I will raiſe him vp at the laſt daie. Eph. 5.27. That he might make it vntounto himſelfe a glorious Church, not hauing ſpot or wrincle, or anie ſuch thing.
4 Whom he ſaueth.
HE ſaueth all and onelie the elect and beleeuers,Hee ſaueth the elect and beleeuers onelyonly. which hauehave beene, are, or ſhall bee, euen from the beeginning to the ende of the woorlde; and that both by his merite, and by his efficacie. For in them onelyonly, which embrace the benefite of Redemption with a true faith, hath GOD his ende, euen his worſhip and glorie. Therefore vntounto them onelyonly it doth befall. Iohn. 3.16. GOD ſo loued the woorld, that hee hath giuen his onelie begotten Sonne, that whoſoeuer beleeueth in him ſhould not periſh, but hauehave euerlaſting life. Iohn. 17.20. I pray not for theſe alone, but for them alſo which ſhall beleeue in mee through their woorde, that they all maie bee one &c. Iohn. 6.51. I am the liuing bread which came downe from heauen: if anie man eate of this bread, hee ſhal liue for euer. Epheſians. 1.4.12. Hee hath choſen vsus in CHRIST, that wee ſhoulde bee holie and without blame before him in louelove; and that wee ſhoulde bee vntounto the praiſe of his glorie.