Catholic Theology Plain Pure Peaceable, Conference 11 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Whether Chriſt be the only Party in Covenant with God? and not Believers, or lapſed man?
Lib.
IV. Mr next Charge it, that you feign the Covenant to be made with us, which is made only with Chriſt. Do you not remember that even the Weſtminſter Aſſembly ſay in their larger Catechiſm, that [The Covenant of Grace was made with Chriſt as the ſecond Adam, and in him with all the Elect as his ſeed?] But you feign it to be made with the Elect, nay, to others immediately, and not only as Chriſts ſeed, in him, nor to Chriſt at all.
P.
I will not waſte time in expounding or cenſuring other mens words: but as to the matter, is it not a moſt ſhameful thing, that a man of your profeſſion and pretenſions to knowledge, ſhould confound thoſe two Covenants which children ſhould be taught in their Catechiſm to diſtinguiſh?
By [a Covenant] here we mean, 1. A Covenant offered and impoſed, which is alſo a Law: 2. A Covenant conſented to and mutual. And now tell me,
Queſt. 1. Was it not a diſtinct Law that was made to us, from that which Chriſt was obliged by? I mean the Law of Grace and Faith? Was Chriſt commanded to Repent of his ſin? or accept a Saviour? or pray for pardon? or mortifie his luſts? or truſt another to reconcile him to God? or be Thankful for ſuch mercies? or any ſuch like Remedying means and duties for himſelf?
Lib.
No: that muſt not be imagined.
P.
Queſt. 2. Is not all this commanded by the Law of Grace?
Lib.
Yes: If it be a Law.
P.
Queſt. 3. Was not Chriſt under a Law, which bound him, 1. To obey all the precepts of nature perfectly without ſin? 2. To obey all the Moſaical Law as far as he was capable? 3. To do all this a sa Mediator to reconcile God and man, And to dye for ſinners, to work Miracles, to ſend out Apoſtles, to gather a Chruch, to intercede for us, and to preſent us Juſtified and perfect to his father? And are we obliged to do ſo too?
Lib.
No one ſo imagineth.
P.
Queſt. 4. Did not Chriſt as a Covenanter undertake all this? And do we do ſo too? And do not we in Baptiſm our ſelves, conſent and promiſe, to take God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, for our Father, Saviour and Sanctifier, and to forſake the fleſh, the world and the devil? Is it Chriſt only that is Baptized? Nay did Chriſt ever receive ſuch a Baptiſm as this, to waſh away his ſins, and deliver him a pardon? Is it Chriſt or we that at Baptiſm make theſe promiſes to God? Is it to Chriſt or us that Chriſt himſelf ſaith, If thou believe and repent thou ſhalt be ſaved? Doth Chriſt as King make Laws and Covenants to bind himſelf only? Who ſeeth not, that hath any ſenſe of Scripture matters, that The Mediators caſe, office and work is one, and ours another: that It is one Law that was given him, and another to us: yea, that which ſeemeth the ſame was another, being not formally but materially only the ſame (and forma denominat:) For he was to fulfil the Law of Moſes and of Innocency, to ſuch ends (as a Redeemer) and with ſuch difference from our caſe, that it was not formally but materially (and that but in part) the ſame Law: and ſo his Baptiſm was formally another thing from any ones Baptiſm elſe in the World. It was one thing that Chriſt promiſed and undertook in his Covenant with the Father, and it's another thing that we undertake and promiſe. It's one thing that God promiſeth to Chriſt upon his Merits (that he ſhall ſee of the …ravail of his ſoul and be ſatisfied) and another thing that he promiſeth us (that our perſons ſhall be Juſtified, ſanctified and ſaved.) In a word, by the Law given to Chriſt, Chriſt himſelf is Governed as a Subject, and Juſtified and Rewarded by God as his Judge for fulfilling it. By the Law given to us, we are the ſubjects and Chriſt is the Governour, Lawgiver and our Judge, who will Juſtifie, reward, or condemn and puniſh us.
I know not how that man can preach the Goſpel that knoweth not the difference between the Law and Covenant made to and with Chriſt as Mediatour, and the Law and Covenant made to and with us, and in Baptiſm ſolemnly proſeſſed! Children ſhould not be ignorant of it.
Lib.
But it is the ſame thing which is promiſed to Chriſt and us, viz. that we ſhall be juſtified and ſaved; and this is promiſed firſt to Chriſt, and therefore the words cited may be juſtified: Chriſt is the ſeed of the woman who is firſt to break the Serpents head, Gen. 3. 15.
P.
1. The ſame thing may be promiſed to different perſons, in different Covenants: To promiſe to Chriſt that his elect ſhall be ſaved, and to promiſe Believers that they ſhall be ſaved, are two promiſes.
2. What one word do you find in Gen. 3. of a Covenant or promiſe made to Chriſt? It's true that he is the principal Seed there meant (though not the only:) But he is the Promiſed Seed: It's one thing for a promiſe▪ to be made to Chriſt, and another thing that Chriſt as the vi…torious ſeed … be promiſed to man. There is no promiſe in Gen. 3. to Chriſt mentioned … (and what can be meant by a Promiſe of God to God himſelf?) but a prophecy and promiſe of a Saviour to man: But if there had, that would not have proved theſe two to be one.
Underſtand the tenour and difference of theſe ſeveral Laws and Covenants of God, or pretend not to underſtand the Scripture: viz. 1. The Law and Covenant of Innocency made to Adam. …. The Law and Covenant made to and with the Mediatour for our Redemption. 3. The promiſe, Law or Covenant of Grace of the firſt Edition, made to Adam▪ and all in him, and renewed with Noe and mankind in him. 4. The Law▪ and Covenant both of Common Grace and of Peculiarity, at once given to Abraham, and perfected in the Law and Covenant of Works made by Moſes with the Jews. 5. The Law and Covenant of Grace made by the▪ Incarnate Mediatour (and the Father by him) in the ſecond perfect Edition, with eminent peculiarity.