The Ark of the Covenant Opened, Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Of Chriſts Calling to the Office of Mediatorſhip.
THis being the Perſon who is Mediator of the new Covenant: We come in the next place to ſpeak of the Office. And, 1. Of Chriſts Calling to it. 2. Of his qualification for it. 3. Of his carriage in it. And firſt we ſhall enquire after Chriſts Calling to the office of Mediatorſhip, which we ſhall ſhortly diſpatch by anſwering of theſe three Queſtions.
Q. 1. How came Chriſt to undertake this work? A. He was called to it: he did not intrude himſelf in the Mediators Office, but was ſent and employed in the work: theſe things clear his calling to the work. 1. Several of his Names import it, Mal. 3.1, He is called the Angel or Meſſenger of the Covenant. Becauſe of his miſſion, and Gods ſending of him to do this work, &c. Iſa. 42.1. My ſervant, and mine elect. Becauſe of his being called, and employed by his Father: he was called a Servant or choſen Officer, formed for a ſpecial imployment, Iſa. 49.5, Thus ſaith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his ſervant, to bring Jacob again to him. Phil. 2.7, And took upon him the form of a ſervant. 2. He is about the work of Mediation by Office, and not by medling without his ſtation; which alſo ſheweth his calling to the Work, inaſmuch as he was about it by Office, as his duty, in his Calling, Heb. 3.1, Conſider the Apoſtle and High-prieſt of our profeſſion Chriſt Jeſus. Chap. 5.10, Called of God an High-prieſt, after the order of Melchiſidec. And this is pointed at by all theſe Scriptures which make mention of the things that Chriſt did as Mediator; he did them ex officio, by vertue of ſome tye and obligation to do them, as duties of his Office: hence we find the holy-Ghoſt uſing the words, muſt, neceſſity, became him, behoved, &c. Heb. 2.10, 17, For it became him, for whom are all things. Wherefore in all all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren. Chap. 8. v. 3, Wherefore it is of neceſſity that this man have ſomewhat alſo to offer. Joh. 4.4, And he muſt needs go through Samaria. 3. He is in Office not by intruſion, but by annointing, which imports lawful calling and miſſion, Pſal. 2.2, The Lord and his annointed. Joh. 1.41, We have found the Meſſias, which is, being interpreted, the Chriſt. So the Apoſtle to the Hebrews ſhews of all his three Offices. 4. The Scriptures plainly holds it forth, and the more ſtrongly, that it is held forth both Negatively and Affirmatively, denying any intruſion on Chriſts part, and affirming a calling from God to him, Heb. 5.4, 5, And no man taketh this honour unto himſelf, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So alſo Chriſt glorified not himſelf, to be made an High-prieſt: but he that ſaid to him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. Gal. 4.4, But when the fulneſs of the time was come, God ſent forth his Son, &c. Joh. 6.38, 39, 40, 44, Chriſt doth frequently make mention of the will of him that ſent him.
Q. 2. By whom was Chriſt called unto the Office of Mediatorſhip? A. By God his Father, not excluding the other two perſons of the Trinity, though for orders ſake it be attributed to the Father, the fountain of divine operations, Col. 1.19, For it pleaſed the Father that in him ſhould all fulneſs dwell. Joh. 6.27, For him hath God the Father ſealed, i.e. ſet apart, deſigned, and fitted for this Office: that he was called unto this Office by God, the Scripture ſpeaketh plainly, Pſal. 89.19, I have laid help upon one that is mighty, I have exalted one choſen o… of the people. Heb. 5.5, 6, 10, So alſo Chriſt glorified not himſelf to be made an High-prieſt, but he that ſaid unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. As he ſaith alſo in another place, Thou art a Prieſt for ever after the Order of Melchiſedec—called of God an High prieſt after the order of Melchiſedec. And 3.2, Who was faithful to him that appointed him. And that he could be called by no other, may appear, 1. From the Antiquity of his calling to this Office, which was before all created beings, Prov. 8.23, I was ſet up from everlaſting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. He was elected to this in order, before we were elected to ſalvation, Pſal. 89.3, I have made a covenant with my choſen. Eph. 1.4, According as he hath choſen us in him, before the foundation of the world. 2. From the end of the Office of a Mediator, which was Reconciliation: now who could find out a fit perſon, and call him to undertake this work, but he that had found out the way and means of Reconciliation; which was God only, for man did neither ſeek nor plot a peace with God, Col. 1.20, It pleaſed the Father by him to reconcile all things to himſelf. Pſal. 89.19, I have laid help upon one that is mighty. 3. From the nature of the Office of Mediatorſhip, which is an Office of Inferiority, a ſervice, Mat. 20.28, Even as the Son of man came not to be miniſtred unto, but to miniſter, and to give his life a ranſome for many, Iſa. 42.2. Chap. 53. v. 11. Now who could deſign Chriſt, call or ordain, and command him unto an Office of Inferiority, (although by voluntary diſpenſation), but God only? Joh. 10.18, For this commandment have I received of my Father. 4. From the Impoſſibility under which the creature ſtood to find any days-man, except God had found one, and called him to it; amongſt all the Creatures there was none that durſt undertake this cauſe, or could deſign another to undertake it, viz. To interpoſe betwixt the Creator and the Creature, Job 9.33, Neither is there any days-man betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us. 1 Sam. 2.25, If one man ſin againſt another, the judg ſhall judg him: but if a man ſin againſt the Lord, who ſhall intreat for him?
Q. 3. When was Chriſt called to be Mediator of the new Covenant? A. For the clearing of this: Conſider, that Chriſts calling to the Office of Mediatorſhip may import three things, his Deſignation, his Furniture, his Inveſtiture in the Office; Now according as the queſtion relateth to theſe parts of his Calling, ſo it requireth different Anſwers.
1. Chriſts Calling, or Deſignation to the Office of Mediator of the Covenant, is eternal; he was choſen and deſtinated hereunto before-time, even from all eternity, Prov. 8.23, Wiſdom was ſet up by the Father from everlaſting, deſigned and appointed unto this high and honourable Office and employment, to be Mediator of the new Covenant; yea, it muſt be ſo, 1. Since Gods Covenant with Chriſt is eternal, and his chuſing and deſignation of Chriſt to be Mediator, is in order of nature, before his Covenant with Chriſt: for it preſuppoſeth him to be Mediator, Pſal. 89.3, I have made a Covenant with my choſen. 2. Becauſe our election preſuppoſeth Chriſt firſt choſen before us as the head of the Elect, Eph. 1.4. Therefore we are ſaid to be choſen in Chriſt, i. e. as members of the head, or through him as Mediator, although Chriſt be not the cauſe of Election, or of Gods Love.
2. Chriſt's calling to be Mediator, in reſpect of his Furniture for executing that Office whereunto he was deſigned before time; and in reſpect of his being inveſted in the Office, it is in time, to wit, when he was anointed, which was at two times eſpecially:
1. When he took our nature upon him.
2. When he was to appear in the publick execution of his Offices; whereof more particularly when I come to ſpeak of his Unction.
Ʋſe. If Chriſt be called unto this Office of Mediatorſhip by God his Father from all eternity; Then 1. wonder at the eternal love of God, and let your hearts be raiſed up to adore the unſearchable riches of grace and wiſdom manifeſted in Gods early calling Chriſt to an Office and Service for our ſake, and Chriſts voluntary ſubmiſſion to it. He knew well enough it would be too late to wait for our call: He knew that we might dye in our ſin, before we ſent for the Phyſician: he did well foreſee our ſlowneſs and backwardneſs to give him employment for making our peace; and therefore he prevented us, John 8.27. Heb. 10.9.
2. This may eſtabliſh our hearts in the faith of the weight and prevalency of Chriſts Mediation; he being no Uſurper, but a called choſen perſon, ſet in lawful Authority, all whoſe travels receive weight from his Place and Calling: for becauſe he was ſent, and had a commandment to travel in the work of his peoples Redemption, therefore the work that was ſet him to do, muſt proſper, and his travels with both the parties muſt prevail, Joh. 10.36, Say ye of him whom the Father hath ſanctified and ſent unto the world, Thou blaſphemeſt, becauſe I ſaid I am the Son of God? Iſa. 53.10, 11, By his knowledg ſhall my righteous Servant juſtifie many, for he ſhall bear their iniquities. He ſhall ſee of the travel of his ſoul, and ſhall be ſatisfied.
3. This ſhould bear upon us a neceſſity of receiving the Mediator in his travels about Reconciliation. He is in his Office, and called to travel with you about this work; take heed how you entertain and anſwer his propoſitions of peace, now he is making propoſals of peace to you by virtue of this Office which he bears; 2 Cor. 6.2, Behold, now is the accepted time: behold, now is the day of ſalvation. Ch. 5. v. 20, Now then we are ambaſſadors for Chriſt, as though God did beſeech you by us, we pray you in Chriſts ſtead be ye reconciled to God. Heb. 2.1, 3, Therefore we ought to give the more earneſt heed to the things that we have heard, leſt at any time we ſhould let them ſlip—How ſhall we eſcape if we neglect ſo great ſalvation? Your ſlighting of the Goſpel, beſide the neglect of ſo great ſalvation brought to you in the offer, hath alſo in it great ſlighting of a choſen Officer, and of a Perſon called and put in high authority by God, to travel with you in the buſineſs of your peace, Heb. 12.25, See that ye refuſe not him that ſpeaketh; for if they eſcaped not who refuſed him that ſpake on earth, much more ſhall not we eſcape, if we turn away from him that ſpeaketh from heaven.
4. This ſpeaks comfort to believers, Chriſt is Mediator betwixt God and you, by an eternal call from God his Father; he needs not much entreaty to be about the Office whereunto he is called of God (although it be no leſs your duty to entreat his favour as the Diſciples did, than if he had no other calling to it, but your invitation), Luke 24.29, But they conſtrained him, ſaying, Abide with us, for it is towards evening, and the day is far ſpent: and he went in to tarry with them. If you ſhould at any time apprehend that he would refuſe your entreaties (which you have no ground to think), yet he will not, he cannot ſhake off his Father's calling to mediate for you; he dealeth betwixt God and you by virtue of an Office, which having taken upon him by voluntary ſubmiſſion, the duties of that Office lye upon him through a bleſſed neceſſity, as is written of the High-Prieſt who was a type of him, That by reaſon hereof, to wit, of his Office, he ought to offer for ſins, Heb. 5.3. And 8.3, For every High-prieſt is ordained to offer gifts and ſacrifices: wherefore it is of neceſſity that this man have ſomewhat alſo to offer. Comfort your ſelves, believers in Chriſt, that beſides all the ſupports of your faith, which you may have from his union of nature with you, and his unction; from his propriety in you, and conſanguinity with you; from his gracious qualifications for that work; you have this moreover, That he is your Mediator by Calling, by Office, and can no more decline any thing that may be for your good, than he can be unanſwerable to his Fathers Calling, or unfaithful in his Office, and in the performing the duties thereof, which is impoſſible.