Aphorisms of Justification, Answer · Answer 5
To the fifth Objection.
YOur fifth is a mere demand of my proof, That Christ is not the only person with whom God the Father entereth Covenant. Which Question I confess I am ashamed to answer: Nor can I tell what to say to you, but [Read the Scripture] Doth not the whole scope of it mention Gods Covenants with man? Turn over your whole Bible, & see whether it speak more of covenanting with Christ, or with us? Nor can I imagine what should make you question this, except it be because Mr Saltmarsh (or some such other) doth deny it. How could Christ be the Mediator of the Covenant, if it were to himself, and not to us, that the Covenant were made? I know Dr Preston and other orthodox Divines do affirm, That the Covenant is made primarily with Christ, & then with us: But I confess I scarce relish that form of speech: For it seemeth to speak of one & the same Covenant; & then I cannot understand how it can be true. For is this Covenant made with Christ? [Beleeve in the Lord Iesus, and thou shalt be saved: and if thou beleeve not, thou shalt be damned?] This is the Covenant that is made with us: and who dare say, that this is made with Christ; Or is this Covenant made to Christ? [I will take the hard hearts our of their bodies, and give them he arts of flesh, &c. I will be mercifull to their transgressions, & their sins and iniquities will I remember no more?] Had Christ, think you, a hard heart to cure? I know some think the latter▪ clause belongeth to him first, and so to us; viz. as he was a sinner by imputation, and so had our transgressions upon him: but very ignorantly: For was God mercifull to him concerning the debt? Did he not deall with him in rigorous Justice? & upon the terms of the first severer Covenant? and make him pay the uttermost farthing? Sure the Covenant, whose curse Christ did bear, did know no mercy to transgressors.
Again, the Covenant is also a Law, and Christ himself is stiled the Law-giver; therefore can he not be under the Law, or under the Covenant: He is not King and Subject too. Moreover (as I said before) he is the Mediator, and therefore not he to whom the Covenant is made. Perhaps you will say, was not Moses both? To which I answer?: 1. Moses was but a Typicall improper Mediator. 2. Moses was in another respect a Subject to the Law whereof he himself was the Mediator; as he was one that had a soul and body to save, or lose, upon the same terms with the rest of the people: But it was not so with our Lord Jesus; He was only a Mediator, as being a middle Person betwixt the offended Majesty, and the offending Subjects: But Moses was one of the offending Subjects, chosen out to supply the place of a true Mediator, as his Type. So that though Moses was both Mediator, and also a Subject to that Law and Covenant; yet it is not so with Christ. But the words, and tenor of the Covenant it self, are so plain an Argument, that I need to say no more. Yet do I acknowledge that there are severall Promises in the Scriptures made only to Christ: As That he shall see of the travell of his soul, and be satisfied: and by his knowledge justifie many, Isai. 53. 10, 11. That the Heathen shall be given for his inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for his possession, &c. Psa. 2. But 1. These not be the Covenant made with us. 2. And for my part, I take it not to be any part of Gods Legislative Will, as it referreth to Christ, but only as it belongeth to us, as a prophesie, what God would do in the advancing of Christ and his Kingdom, and so of us; and so hath partly the nature of a promise to us also. For that which is commonly called the Covenant betwixt the Father and the Son, is part of Gods purpose or decree, rather then of his Law. The Covenant betwixt the Father and Son was from Eternity: So is not the Law, or Covenant written. The Divine Nature, which undertook the Mediatorship, could not be subject to Laws, or proper Covenants; Christ had no need of engagement from the Father by word or writing for his encouragement or confirmation. So that all the Promises to Christ in Scripture▪ are either meer Prophesies or do also intimate some Promise to the Church; and so are written for our sakes, and also for the spreading of the Meditators Glory; but not for proper Covenant ends betwixt the Father and him. And this interpretation Christ himself hath taught me, Iohn 12. 28. 30. Christ prayeth to the Father to glorifie his Name viz. in the Sons Death and Resurrection; He is answered by a voyce from Heaven, I have glorified it, and will glorifie it: Christ telleth the people that stood by, That this voyce came not because of him, but for their sakes.
I conclude therefore, That the Gospell-Covenant, properly and usually, so called, is made betwixt God and man by the means of a Mediator, and so delivered to us in the hands of a Mediator; and may also fitly be said to be betwixt Christ and us: But not properly that it is betwixt the Father and the Son: Much less is the Son the only person covenanted with. God doth indeed give up the World to Christ; and more especially the Elect to be saved by him: But these are not the work of a written or temporary Covenant, but of an eternall Decree.