A Fiery Pillar of Heavenly Truth, Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Question.
VVHat is the second step by which God proceedeth in the worke of mans salvation?
Ans. Redemption. Ephes. 1.7.
Quest. What are we to consider concerning mans Redemption?
Ans. Sixe things.
1 Who wrought it.
2 Wherein it consisteth.
3 How it is made known unto us.
4 How it is imbraced, and received by us.
5 For what end we are redeemed.
6 What benefits we must see hereof in our selves.
Quest. By whom was our Redemption wrought?
Ans. Only by Christ. Gal. 4.5. 1 Cor. 1.30. Acts 4.12.
Quest. What is Christ?
Answ. He is the Sonne of God, by eternall generation, according to his God-head, and by grace of personall union, according to his manhood. Psal. 2.7. Luk. 1.35.
Quest. How is Christ distinguished from the Father?
Answ. Two waies:
1 According to his person, as he is the Sonne of God, the second Person in the Trinity. 1 John 5.7.
2 According to his office, as he is Mediator, both God and Man. Io. 17.5.
Quest. How is Christ said to be both equall and inferiour to the Father?
Ans. He is equall, according to his divine nature, but inferior, according to his office of Mediatorship. Philip. 2.6. Ioh. 10.29, 30. Iohn 14.28.
Quest. How is Christ distinguished in himself?
Ans. By his Person, by his natures, by his properties, by his actions: his Person is but one, his natures, properties, and actions are double, divine and humane. Matt. 1.23. Ioh. 1.14. Matth. 23.37. Ioh. 2.19.
Quest. Did he work our Rademption by one nature only, or else by both?
Ans. By both his Natures. 1 Cor. 2.8.
Quest. Whence doth it appeare, that Christ is our Redeemer, and Mediator, according to both natures?
Ans. 1 He did assume our flesh, that so being God, and man, he might be a fit Person to perform the office of a Redeemer, to reconcile both God and man together. 1 Timothy 2.5.
2 He was man, to suffer for man, and he was God, to make his suffering of an infinite value, a compleat satisfaction for mans Redemption. Heb. 2.14.15.17.
3 Christ so performed the office of a Mediator, according to both natures, that there was a communion in the worke, but a distinction of the vertue and manner of the work, in the natures working: Christ suffered in his humane nature, but sustained and overcame the things which he suffered by the Power of his Divine Nature: He satisfied in the humane nature, but the worth, dignity, efficacie, and application of the satisfaction proceeded from his Divine Nature. Heb. 9.14. Heb. 5.5. Act. 20.28.
Quest. How could the short sufferings of Christ satisfie the infinite Justice of God, and purchase his everlasting favour?
Ans. The infinit merit of Christs passion ariseth from his infinite Godhead; mans sin, though in it self finite, yet became infinite, by being committed against an infinite Justice: So Christs sufferings, though finite in regard of time, yet became infinite by divine merit. Acts 20.28.
Quest. But how doth this work of Redemption belong to the divine nature, seeing the divine nature could not suffer, because it was immutable, nor die, because it was immortall?
Ans. In regard of personall union, the divine nature manifesting it self in the flesh, and the humane nature being made one by personall union with the divine, whatsoever is done to either of the natures, is taken as done unto them both. Iohn 1.14. Phil. 2.7, 8.
Quest. How manifold is the office of Christ the Mediator?
Ans. Threefold, as a Prophet he teacheth, as a Priest he sanctifieth, as a King he governeth, as a Prophet he explaineth, as a Priest he obtaineth, as a King he applieth salvation to his people. Acts. 3.22. Heb. 10.10.14. Ephes. 5.25, 26, 27. Jsai. 9.6, 7.
Quest. Shew me yet more fully what he doth as a Prophet?
Ans. Hee sheweth us our misery by sin, and happinesse by grace. Ioh. 1.9.18. Mat. 17.5.
Quest. How doth he doe this?
Ans. Outwardly, by the preaching of the Law and Gospel, and inwardly, by enlightning the understanding. Mat. 4.17. Isai. 61.1. Ephe. 4.11. Ioh. 5.25. 1 Ioh. 2.27.
Quest. What doth he as a Priest?
Answ. Hee redeemeth us from evill, and purchaseth for us Gods grace and favour. Heb. 2.17. Psa. 110.4. 1 Pet. 2.24.
Quest. How doth he do this?
Ans. 1 By keeping the Law, Rom 8.34.
2 By offering himself a Sacrifice to God. Ephe. 5 2.
3 By making intercession for us. Heb. 7 25, 26, 27. Ioh. 17 9.
Quest. How doth he make intercession for us?
Ans. By presenting himself to God the Father, as our Mediator and Redeemer. Heb. 9.24 1 Jo. 2.1.
2 By promising obedience, and thankfulnesse on our behalfe Ioh. 17.6 25.26
3 By praying for us. Ioh. 17.9.
Quest. What doth he doe as a King?
Ans. He doth rule and defend his kingdome, and redeemed people from all evill, and doth continue them in the grace and favour of God, for ever. Psa 2.6.8, 9. Luke 1.32. Joh. 10.28. Matt. 2.8.20. Heb. 12.28.
Quest. How doth he doe this?
Ans. 1 By getting victory over his and our enemies. 1 Cor. 15.54, 55. Col. 2.15. Heb. 2.14. Hos. 13.14.
2 By calling and gathering together the people of his kingdome, and taking possession in their hearts. Ioh. 17.11.12. Io. 10.16. Ephes. 4.11. Ephes. 3.17.
3 By prescribing to them lawes of obeying, and beleeving. Matt. 17.5. Acts 17.31. Isai. 11.2, 3, 4.
4 By moving their hearts inwardly thorough the feeling of Gods present favour, and hope of future glory, to beleeve and obey. Rom. 8.14. Mat. 3.11. 2 Cor. 7.4, 5. 2 cor. 5.20.
5 By bestowing on them all things needfull to salvation. Psal. 45.13, 14. Ephe. 4.11, 12.
6 By restraining, and punishing the enemies which rise against them. 1 cor, 15.24, 25.
Quest. You said but even now, that Christs sufferings, in regard of his Godhead, were of an infinite value, did he therefore in the intention of God his Father, die for, and redeeme all men, as the Papists and their Adherents teach?
Ans. Hee redeemed men of all nations, and of all conditions, but not all particular persons. Rev. 5.9. Rom. 8.33, 34. Ioh. 17.19, 20. Joh. 10.15. Ephes. 5.23.
Quest. How doe you further make the truth hereof apparant?
Ans. By divers things:
1 The Father did not choose all, therefore neither did the Son die for, and redeem all: for the worke of the Son in Redemption doth not exceed the work of the Father in Election, because he worketh from the Father. Ioh. 17.2.4. Ioh. 15.15. Ioh. 12.49, 50.
2 The Spirit doth not sanctifie all, therefore neither did the Son redeem all: for the work of the Spirit in Sanctification, commeth not short of the work of the Father in Election, nor of the Son in Redemption; because hee worketh from the Father and the Son, taking possession of what the Father did choose, and the Son purchase, sanctifying whom the Son did redeeme. Io. 14.26. Io. 15.26. Io. 16.7.13, 14, 15. 1 Pet. 1.2.
3 The love of God and Christ, which was the moving cause of his death, doth not extend to all, neither was his death intended for all. Ioh. 3.16. Ioh. 13.1. Rom. 9.13.
4 Christ did not rise againe for all, therefore neither did he die for all. Rom. 4.25. 1 Cor. 15.20.
5 Christ doth not pray for all; therefore neither did he die for, and redeem all. Ioh. 17.9.
6 The death, resurrection, and intercession of Christ are inseparable, make him a compleat Redeemer, and are peculiar to Gods chosen people. Rom. 8.33, 34.
7 Christ doth not inwardly instruct all, as a Prophet. Matt. 13.13. nor spiritually rule in the hearts of all, as a King. Rom. 16.16. therefore neither did he die for all, as a Priest, for the offices of Christ are of equall extent.
8 For whom Christ died, to them are given the Spirit, Faith, Hope, Love, and every other saving grace. Rom. 8 31, 32. but this all men have not. 2 Thes. 3.2.
9 Had Christ laid downe his life a ransome for all men, then the Justice of God being once satisfied, a second punishment could not without injustice be inflicted. Mat. 20.28. Isai. 53.11, 12.
Quest. Wherein standeth this Redemption thus wrought by Christ?
Ans. In three things:
I. In satisfying Gods Justice by suffering the full punishment of sin. Mar. 10.45. Isai. 53.5.
II. In fulfilling Gods Law, by obeying perfectly. Mat 5.17. Ro. 10.4.
III. In delivering us from the power of sinne, and curse due to the same, by applying unto us the benefits of his active and passive obedience. Rom 8.2, 3. 2 Cor. 15.15.
Quest. Why must this punishment be suffered by Christ?
Answ. Because otherwise there is no escaping of eternall death. Heb. 9.22.
Quest. Why must the law be fulfilled by Christ?
Answ. Because otherwise there is no enjoying of eternall life. Rom. 5.18, 19.
Quest. Why must the benefits of Christs active and passive obedience be applyed?
Answ. Because otherwise our sin is not destroyed, our imperfections are not covered, our persons and actions are not accepted, neither is the wrath of God against us appeased. Phil. 3.8, 9, 10. Rom. 8.8, 9. Rom. 7.5. Rom. 6.22.23.
Quest. How is the Mysterie of our Redemption made knowne unto us?
Ans. By the preaching of the Gospel, Lu. 24, 25, 26. Acts 10.43.
Quest. How is this Redemption received, and imbraced by us.
Ans. Only by faith. Ioh. 3.16.
Quest. For what end did Christ redeeme us?
Answ. To serve God alwaies in true holinesse. Luk. 1.74, 75. Tit. 2.14.
Quest. What benefits of our Redemption must we see in our selves.
Ans. These seven:
I. Freedome from the bondage of Satan. Hebr. 2.14. 1 Ioh. 3.8, 9.
II. A death of Sin. Rom. 6.5, 6.
III. Newnesse of life. 1 Cor. 5.7, 8. Reve. 5.9, 10.
IIII. Reconciliation with God. Rom. 5.1. Col. 1.20. Ephes. 2.13.
V. An holy agreement between our hearts, and Gods Commandements. 1. Ioh. 5.3.
VI. An heavenly peace in our Consciences. 1 Io. 3.21. Rom. 5.5.
VII. An holy triumph over the feare of death. 1 Cor. 15.57.