The Best Treasure, Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
Shewing, what is the Work of Jeſus Chriſt, as he is Mediator.
WE come in the next place, to ſhew wherein the Office and Work of this Mediator lies: And it will much conduce to the Glory of Chriſt, to diſplay his Mediatorſhip.
Now we muſt conſider him in a double Relation. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath to deal with two different Parties, where there is a Breach.
1. His Work lies with reſpect to God the Father.
2. His Work lies with reſpect to fallen Man.
Firſt, His Work lies with reſpect to God the Father: And here his Office lies in ſeveral particulars.
Firſt, One great part of the Work of Chriſt, as Mediator, is, to mediate in the behalf of fallen Man, with the Father, ſo as to procure terms of Reconciliation: Thus a Mediator is to agitate with the offended Perſon, to bring to terms of Peace: This was the Work of Jeſus Chriſt, from before all time; He did act with God the Father, that there might be a way found out for agreement between him and poor Sinners. This was drawn up in the Covenant between the Father and the Son, as in Iſa. 42. 6, 7. I the Lord have called thee in Righteouſneſs, and will hold thy hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a Covenant of the People, for a Light of the Gentiles: To open the blind eyes, to bring out the Priſoners from the Priſon. Here's the reſult of Chriſts Mediation in the behalf of fall'n Sinners: He doth treat with the Father, that he would be pleaſed to ſhew pity to fall'n man; and the Father returns this Anſwer, That he will conſent to the terms of Jeſus Chriſt, for the ſaving of Sinners; that he ſhall be a Covenant for the People, and give out Salvation to periſhing Sinners: So Iſa. 49. 5. to the 10 verſ. The Perſons for whom the Lord Jeſus Chriſt mediates, are Jews and Gentiles, and under theſe are compriſed all the Elect of God: And the Father treats, and concludes with Chriſt, about the ſaving of theſe two Parties: In an acceptable time (ſaith he) have I heard thee, and I will give thee for a Covenant of the People. All the Elect of God, both among the Jews and Gentiles, ſhall be called and ſaved by this Mediation of Jeſus Chriſt.
But what are the terms upon which the Father conſents to the Mediation of Chriſt, that there ſhall be Peace for all that come to him?
Firſt, One thing concluded upon between the Father and the Son, is, That the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhall make up the Breach of the firſt Covenant: There's a Righteous Covenant of God broken, by the Sin of Adam, and upon the breach of this Covenant, God is bound, in Juſtice, to lay Death upon Adam, Condemnation upon all fall'n Mankind. Now, that this Bleſſing may be procured, which Chriſt mediates for, the Sentence of Death is to be reverſed; and this cannot be till the Puniſhment of the broken Covenant be borne. Now the Lord Jeſus Chriſt voluntarily undertakes to do this, Heb. 10. 7. Then ſaid I, Lo, I come. All other ways were ineffectual to make ſatisfaction to the Juſtice of God for Adam's Sin. Now, when no way could make up this Breach, then Chriſt comes, and conſents to pay the price himſelf, to be a Sacrifice for Sinners; Lo, I come to do thy Will. What is the Will of God? Why, that Mercy and Juſtice be reconciled. Juſtice was all for Puniſhment; Juſtice would not be ſatisfied till the Penalty was executed: Now Chriſt muſt come in the Sinners room, and undergo the Penalty of this broken Covenant. Sayes God, In the day thou breakeſt this Covenant thou ſhalt dye; therefore Chriſt muſt come and dye. This is one of the terms; If the Lord Jeſus Chriſt will be a Subſtitute in the room of the Offender, and undergo the Puniſhment, then he will take off the Condemnation, Rom. 8. 3. For Sin condemned Sin in the Fleſh, that is, in the Fleſh of Chriſt, Juſtice muſt be ſatisfied. The Law could not do this: God ſends his Son, and he muſt undergo the curſe, Gal. 3. 13. And this the Lord Jeſus Chriſt did conſent unto.
Secondly, Another thing required is, That the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhould obey the Precepts of this Covenant perfectly, in his own Perſon, in the behalf of all his Seed: That God might have no Quarrel with the Children of the Covenant, Chriſt muſt dye to make up the former Breach of this Covenant: He muſt obey, to fulfill the End of the Covenant; he was not only to undergo Sufferings, but he was to complete all active Righteouſneſs: and this the Lord Jeſus Chriſt conſented to▪ Hence he ſaith, It behoveth us to fulfil all Righteouſneſs, Mat: 3. 15. God ſent forth his Son, made of a Woman, made under the Law, Gal. 4. 4. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt, as Mediator, becomes obliged to the preceptive Law of God, and muſt in his own Perſon fulfil all the parts of this Law, and muſt work out a perfect Holineſs and Obedience, that the firſt Covenant might be fulfilled, if Salvation be obtained.
Thirdly, Another thing which the Father and Jeſus Chriſt agree upon, about this Work of Reconciliation, is, That the firſt Covenant, to all its demands, being fulfilled, and there being nothing now to lay in againſt the Believer from this Covenant; that Salvation may be ſure, he concludes to make a new Covenant; which, that it may be faultleſs, Jeſus Chriſt ſhould now become the Surety of another, and better Covenant. The firſt Covenant God found fault with, and therefore he thinks upon a ſecond, that may be effectual to all the ends of Salvation-grace, Heb. 8. 7, 8. For if that firſt Covenant had been faultleſs, then ſhould no place have been ſought for the ſecond: for, finding fault with them, he ſaith, Behold, the dayes come, when I will make a new Covenant with the Houſe of Iſrael and Judah. As if the Lord ſhould ſay to his Son, The firſt Covenant will never anſwer thy Propoſals, to ſave fallen Man, and that thy Seed may be bleſſed, therefore there ſhall be a new Covenant drawn, that ſhall be effectual to the ends of Salvation; and thou ſhalt be the Head and Mediator of this Covenant; this was the agreement between the Father and the Son. Now Jeſus Chriſt becomes the Angel of this Conant: God agrees with Jeſus Chriſt for fallen man: Jeſus Chriſt covenants with the Father, in the behalf of all his Seed, that he will bring them to Life: He promiſes to work in them and for them all that is required to Salvation, and that they ſhall be ſaved to the uttermoſt, Heb. 7. 22, 25. By ſo much was Jeſus made a Surety of a better Teſtament: wherefore he is able to ſave to the uttermoſt. Thus he becomes an Engager to the Father in the behalf of all Believers. O Friends! this is a glorious Myſtery; I fear too few are inſighted in the glorious Work of the Mediatorſhip of Chriſt. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt becomes a Surety, not only to pay the Debt, but to perform the Condition. A Surety, or a Sponſor, is one that promiſes and undertakes in the behalf of another, to fulfill what he was bound to do. T…us the Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath performed this firſt Office of a Mediator, by drawing up an Agreement between God and fallen Man, by bringing the Father to terms of Reconciliation.
Secondly, The terms being thus concluded upon, the ſecond part of this mediatory work of Chriſt is, that he actually ſet about this Obedience and Suffering, and make good the Agreement between the Father and himſelf; and this he did in the fulneſs of time; he comes and actually accompliſhes all his Promiſes to the Father, in point of Merit and Satisfaction. There are two great things Jeſus Chriſt is to do, in order to the fulfilling of this Promiſe to the Father, in behalf of his Seed: Firſt, meritoriouſly procuring the things for them; and Secondly, efficaciouſly applying what he procures, Heb. 9. 15. And for this cauſe he is the Mediator of the new Teſtament, that by means of Death, for the Redemption of the Tranſgreſſions that were under the firſt Covenant, they which are called might receive the promiſe of eternal Inheritance. There could be no Redemption of them that were bound an I caſt by the Statute of the firſt Covenant, but by Chriſts Sufferings; therefore Chriſt did actually lay down his Life a Ranſom for all his Seed. 1 Pet. 3. 18. For Chriſt alſo hath once ſuffered for Sins the juſt for the unjuſt, that he might bring us unto God. 2 Cor. 5. 21. He hath made him to be Sin for us: By way of Stipulation and Agreement, he was made a Sin-offering, he did actually undergo all thoſe Sufferings while he was on Earth, which was a full ſufficient, equal, juſt, valuable, and proportionable Satisfaction to divine Juſtice, all that it could demand, in foro judicii; Juſtice hath nothing more to charge; the Extremity and Rigour of the Law was fulfillled; and whatever the Believer ſhould have ſuffered in his own perſon, was all born by Chriſt. 1 Tim. 2. 6. Who gave himſelf a Ranſom. foreign, as Gomarus obſerves, ſignifies an equal-price of Redemption, an Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth, caput capite redimo, ſaith Ariſt. So full is this Satisfaction made by Chriſt, that God declares himſelf well pleaſed. Math. 3 17. So great was the delight and Pleaſure that God took in his Sons Satisfaction, as that by an audible Voice from Heaven, in the Preſence of men and Angels, he diſcharges him, and gives him an Acquittance.
Again, This Satisfaction muſt needs be full, becauſe upon the very Promiſe of this Ranſom, when the Concluſion was made between the Father and the Son, did the Lord let his Priſoner free, and give the purchaſed Poſſeſſion to the Seed of Chriſt, before ever Chriſt did fully pay the Debt: as much as to ſay, aſſoon as ever the Lord Jeſus Chriſt gave Bond for the payment of this Debt, the Father gives out the Fruit of it, and ſo all the Saints that were ſaved before Chriſt came, were ſaved by Virtue of this Promiſe of Chriſt to the Father, fully to pay the Debt; and the Spirits of juſt men, were made perfect with God before Chriſt came into the World, upon the account of this compleat Satisfaction afterwards to be made.
Again, A Proclamation is ſent out from Heaven, upon the Death and Reſurrection of Chriſt, that now Peace is made for fallen man, upon the terms of Sinners coming to and receiving of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: now God would never have ſent forth this Proclamation from Heaven, had not the Satisfaction Chriſt made, been compleat and full. Matt. 11. 28. Come unto me, whoever you be, let your Burdens be never ſo great, your Wearyneſs never ſo much, your Dangers never ſo many, come unto me, and I will give you reſt: thus he proclaims in the great Feaſt. Joh. 7. 27. If any man thirſt, let him come unto me and drink, be he what he will, here's enough to ſatiate his Soul, if he comes; here's Redemption procur'd: And upon this, by the joynt Agreement of the Father and Son, a Commiſſion is given to a certain number of men, to preach the Goſpel and tender Reconciliation to loſt Sinners, Luke 24. 47. And that Repentance and Remiſſion of Sins ſhould be preached in his Name among all Nations, Mark. 16. 15. And he ſaid unto them, go ye into all the World and preach the Goſpel to every Creature. O Friends! Theſe are glorious things, if they be but believed. Tenders of Life muſt be made to all the periſhing World, that all may know, that this was a full and ſufficient Ranſom which Chriſt gave, and that the Father was compleatly ſatisfied with it.
Again, Upon the Fathers actual Acceptance of Chriſts Redemption and Mediation, he doth give out begun Salvation to Believers, they are admitted to the actual Enjoyment of this purchaſe; ſo all Believers upon their Reception of Chriſt, have the Spirit of Chriſt given them, which to them is begun Salvation, a Seal of Glory, the firſt fruits of Heaven, 2 Cor. 1. 22. Who hath alſo ſealed us, and given the earneſt of the Spirit in our Hearts. Now ſeeing the Father, upon the receiving of this Payment made by Chriſt, delivers out Grace, and therein the Begi…nings of Glory, to all that ſavingly cloſe with Chriſt, therefore this price paid by Jeſus Chriſt, muſt needs be compleat and full
That's the ſecond thing that this Mediator doth, he doth actually pay down the price the Father demands, and this becomes a full Satisfaction to divine Juſtice, for every Soul that doth ſavingly cloſe with Jeſus Chriſt.
Thirdly, Another thing the Lord Jeſus Chriſt doth as Mediator, is this. By his ſhed blood, he ſeals to, and engages with the Father in the Behalf of Believers, that they ſhall abide with God in his Covenant, and ſhall no more wickedly depart from him: we have ſhewn before, that this was one of thoſe Terms agreed upon, between the Father and the Son; that Jeſus Chriſt ſhould be the Surety of another and better Covenant: and here the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſtands actually bound for the Preſervation of all the Saints to Glory. O if Souls had this Truth let into their Hearts, it would wonderfully prevent many ſtumbling Blocks by reaſon of their Unbelief: he ſtands bound to the Father, as a Sponſor or Surety, in the Behalf of Believers, that he will work all in them, and for them, that tends to the Salvation of their Souls: for in this new Covenant, God doth not deal with man, but by a Surety; mans ſingle Bond will never paſs more in the Court of Heaven; no, it was broken in Adam's Fall, and God made no more Covenant with man upon theſe Terms: there muſt be a Surety; hence he is ſaid to be the Surety of a better Teſtament, Heb. 7. 22. So that that which is to be wrought in and by Believers, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt undertakes to do, Rom. 8. 4. That the Righteouſneſs of the Law might be fulfill'd in us: That is, that Righteouſneſs which the Law requires, even a perfect Conformity to the will of God, might be fully found in Chriſt our Head, for us and in us, by way of Imputation and Application through Faith; by vertue of the Union between Chriſt and his Members, all the Righteouſneſs and Obedience, which was wrought in Chriſt's own perſon, as their Head, Redeemer, and Mediator of this new Covenant, is imputed to them as their Obedience and Righteouſneſs, and accepted of God the Father, as if it were done by them; and ſo it is fulfilled in Believers: ſo that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſtands engaged to the Father, for the Obedience of all his Seed, that it ſhall be wrought in them, and for them, in Truth, and Sincerity. And he begins to place this inward Conformity to God, in the Soul, when he doth new create it in the Image of God; there is ſomething in every part and Faculty of the believing Soul, that correſponds and anſwers to the Holineſs of God, though but in Part and Degrees, in their Underſtandings, ſomething of the true Light of God: in their Wills ſomething of real Conformity to the Will of God: a gracious Soul would be holy as God is holy. O ſays the poor Believer, I cannot evidence that Holineſs I ſhould, but God knows, I would be holy, I would caſt off every Sin, I would perform every Duty in a right manner: ſo in the Affections, there is the Seed of divine Love to God, his Will, and Holineſs; there is ſincere Love, though but in part, and imperfect: but ſeeing this Holineſs begun in the Saints in Truth, is but in part, and full of Spots; Chriſt comes, in the next place, and preſents his ſpotleſs Obedience in the Behalf of Believers, and by Vertue of this myſtical Union between Believers and Chriſt, this Holineſs of Chriſt is the Holineſs of Believers, and God accepts of it as their Holineſs: O if Souls did but ſee more into this, they would not take up all their ſtanding upon their own Legs, and ſee their Happineſs or Miſery lye in their compleat or incompleat Obedience, but they would ſee all Holineſs lye in Chriſt: hence you ſee the meaning of that Scripture, Rom. 5. 19. By the Obedience of one, many are made righteous. God looks upon ſincere Souls as preſented in Chriſt, that ſo far as Chriſt is holy, they are holy in him; for all the Obedience and Holineſs of Chriſt as Mediator, is the Obedience and Holineſs of his People; for what he did was not for himſelf, but for his people. And thus much of the firſt, how this Mediator deals with God the Father for fallen man.
Secondly, The Lord Jeſus Chriſt as Mediator, deals with men the other party too. Now this he doth.
Firſt, As an Interceder to Sinners in the Behalf of God the Father, he comes and treats with men, by virtue of his Mediatorſhip, to draw and perſwade them to Terms of Reconciliation, 2 Cor. 5. 18. All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himſelf by Jeſus Chriſt, and hath given us the Miniſtry of Reconciliation. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt comes as the Meſſenger of the Lord, and delivers over Counſel, and tenders God the Father to Sinners: this he doth in his perſon: verſ. 19. God in Chriſt reconciling the World to himſelf; By his Miniſtry, in opening the Goſpel to Sinners, diſcovering thoſe great Tranſactions between the Father and himſelf, and the great willingneſs of God to be reconciled, and inviting loſt Souls to himſelf. verſ. 20. We pray you in Chriſt's ſtead be you reconciled to God. You ſee the Errand of the Goſpel to you, (Souls) and the Buſineſs of Chriſt in every Sermon, it is to bring you to a willingneſs to accept of the Terms of Reconciliation, to come over to God by Jeſus Chriſt, that you may be ſaved.
Secondly, By giving out the holy Ghoſt, by which Sinners are effectually called, and adopted into the Sonſhip of God; this is neceſſary in order to the Application of what the Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath done in his own perſon, whilſt on Earth: he promiſed when he left the World, to ſend the Spirit in his Room, ſeeing it is of neceſſity, he muſt go away and take poſſeſſion of the Kingdom of Glory for his people, and muſt go within the Veil, as the great High-prieſt; therefore that this Work might go on in his Abſence, the comforter muſt come. Jo. 16. 7. If I depart I will ſend him unto you. And what ſhall he do? He will reprove the World of Sin, of Righteouſneſs, and Judgment, verſ. 8. He will guide you into all Truth, verſ. 13. So that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſends the Spirit in the Goſpel, to make all the Adminiſtrations of it effectual, to ſuch as ſhall be ſaved. All that Miniſters can do, cannot remove the thick Veil, that is, upon the Minds of Sinners, we cannot give eyes to ſee, nor Ears to hear, it is the work of the Spirit, it muſt be an Almighty power, muſt open this two leafed gate, and let in Jeſus Chriſt into the Heart; it muſt be by the Almighty Power, and Energy of the Spirit, that the work becomes ſucceſsful to any Soul, we find it ſo. How many precious Sermons are caſt away upon flinty Hearts, they will not bow nor turn till the Spirit comes; therefore the Lord Jeſus Chriſt in the exerciſe of his Mediatorſhip pours out the Spirit, Gal. 4. 6. That we might receive the Promiſe of the Spirit through Faith. Gal. 3. 14. Or the promiſed Spirit through the Word of Faith; for Faith cannot be had till the Spirit be had: Faith comes by hearing; How received ye the Spirit, by the Works of the Law, or by the hearing of Faith? Gal. 3. 2. There's no ſuch Commiſſion given at all to the Law, to give out the Spirit; it is by the hearing of Faith, by the opening this Box of precious Ointment, this bleſſed ſavour comes to Sinners: till that be done, no Converſion-work can be done; till the Spirit enters the Soul, Jeſus Chriſt cannot enter the Soul: the Spirit of Chriſt is the harbinger, and goes before, and makes way for this bleſſed Mediator, to come into the Sinners heart: the Spirit is tendred to all, but the Lord gives it to whom he pleaſes; for it is as the Wind that blows, Jo. 3. 8. So is the way of the Spirit: thus the Lord Jeſus Chriſt gives the Spirit to all that come to him, and by this he carries on his Mediatory work.
Thirdly, Another thing Jeſus Chriſt doth with reſpect to men, in the exerciſe of his Mediatorſhip; He applies his Redemption-work to all thoſe that do believe in him, he makes over himſelf, and all that is his, by a free Donation, to all that receive him, Rev. 3. 20. If any man open the door, I will come into him, and will ſup with him: The great work is to get open this bolted door of the Heart to Jeſus Chriſt, and when the door ſtands open, and the Sinner conſents to take Chriſt, and eſteeming it a good Bargain to have him, upon the moſt coſtly Terms; then he makes over himſelf to the Soul, I will ſup with him, I will impart my Spiritual refreſhings to him, I will give my ſelf to him, he ſhall feed upon my Fleſh and Blood: we have an Overture made, Rev. 21. 6. I will give to him that is a thirſt of the Fountain of the Water of Life freely, So Rev. 22. 17. When once God hath brought the Sinner to a thirſt for Chriſt, to a ſenſe of his Miſery without Chriſt, that he cannot live without him; when the Sinner is perſuaded to believe in him, and give up himſelf to him; then the Lord Jeſus gives out himſelf, his Spirit, theſe Waters of Life, the Waters of Regeneration; then he puts the Believing Soul into the poſſeſſion of Life and Righteouſneſs, of Grace, and an earneſt of Glory. He gives to ſuch, a Right and Title to all that is his, Joh. 1. 12. He gives out to them the fruit of his Sweat and Bleeding, the fruit of his Groans and Dying, as they are capable to receive. He died that they might have Life, and have it more abundantly: He was made Sin for them, that they might be made the Righteouſneſs of God in him, 2 Cor. 5. 21. And now he is performing this, and ſtrips the poor Soul of his filthy Garments, and takes away the filth of Original and Actual Sin, and comes and cloaths the Soul with Righteouſneſs, and puts his fair Ornaments upon it, and makes it as a fair Jewel in the ſight of God; and when the Soul hath beſpotted his own Garments, Chriſt comes and cloaths him with pure Rayment: So that here's alwayes Work for Chriſt to do for his People, whilſt on Earth, to apply the fruits of his Purchaſe.
Fourthly, The Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in purſuing his Mediatorly Work, doth take upon him the Work of an Interceſſor in Heaven, and Advocates in the behalf of all his People; He hath done all that was needful for him to do on Earth, and now he is entred into the Heavens, and ſate down at the Right hand of God, and ever lives to make Interceſſion for the Saints, Heb. 7. 25, 27. That is his Work now in Heaven, to perform that part of his Prieſtly Office, as is needful for him to do, as a Mediator there.