The Ark of the Covenant Opened, Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI. Chriſt the Teſtator of the new Covenant or Teſtament.
THE ſeventh relation which Chriſt ſuſtains in the Covenant of Grace, he is Teſtator, or he that makes the will and teſtament, Heb. 9.16, 17.
Now becauſe Teſtator and Teſtament are ſo nearly related, that the one is not underſtood without the other; I muſt here refer you to that which I have already ſpoken of Chriſts Teſtament, which being largely handled before, we ſhall not need to be large in ſpeaking of the Teſtator; but briefly of theſe particulars: 1. What this Name and Covenant-relation imports. 2. What was the deſign of this Covenant-relation. 3. How the thing deſigned in Chriſts being Teſtator in the new Teſtament or Covenant, is rendred effectual by his ſuſtaining this relation.
And, 1. Of the name and relation, foreign ſignifies a Diſpoſer or Teſtator, one that maketh his latter will and Teſtament; one who according to his own will and pleaſure diſpoſeth of his eſtate and goods, in contemplation of his death, and the leaving his poſſeſſion to be injoyed by others after his death.
This Covenant-relation, that Jeſus Chriſt is Teſtator, imports, 1. A perſon dying, or doing a deed in contemplation of the neceſſity of his own death, as being thereunto appointed: this relation ſpeaks Chriſt, under not only the common appointment unto death with all men, Heb. 9.27, but under a ſpecial appointment unto death, for that end for which he made his Teſtament, which he well underſtood, and did often contemplate and remember, when he acted in this Covenant-relation, Heb. 9.15, 16, Where a teſtament is, there muſt alſo of neceſſity be the death of the teſtator. And Joh. 13.1, Jeſus knew that his hour was come that he ſhould depart out of this world unto the father. 2. This relation imports a perſon veſted with poſſeſſion and right unto ſome eſtate or goods, whereof he makes a Diſpoſal and Will: for he that hath nothing in poſſeſſion nor in title, can diſpoſe of nothing to another perſon. Chriſt the Teſtator, is a perſon fully veſted with right unto, and poſſeſſion of all good things: for God hath made him both Lord and Chriſt, Act. 2.36. and 10.36, And him God hath appointed heir of all things. Heb. 1.2, It pleaſed the father, that in him all fulneſs ſhould dwell, Col. 1.19. 3. This relation imports a power in the Teſtator, to diſpoſe of the things poſſeſſed by him; a power of conveying his eſtate to others, elſe it were in vain to bequeath his eſtate real or perſonal; this relation ſpeaks Chriſt the Teſtator in power and authority, to convey all Covenant-bleſſings, which are his own, unto his people: for the father hath given all things unto his hands, and hath committed all judgment to the Son. Not a poſſeſſion only, but a power and authority, Joh. 3.35. and 5.22. And hath given him power foreign authority over all fleſh, that he ſhould give eternal life to as many as thou haſt given him, Joh. 17.2. 4. This relation imports a Deed which is the ſole will, and meer pleaſure of the Teſtator, not only a power to diſpoſe of that which he poſſeſſeth or hath right unto, but to do according to his meer pleaſure, and the Teſtators will to be the deviſing and conveying of whatſoever is his own; and therefore inaſmuch as Chriſt is Teſtator in the Covenant, it is declared that his will in his Teſtament, his grace and pleaſure, makes the title and conveyance of what we have from and by him, Joh. 17.24, Father, I will that theſe whom thou haſt given unto me, be with me, &c. Joh. 14.27, My peace I give unto you. Joh. 16.7, I will ſend the comforter unto you, 5. This relation imports the actual declaring of his will, and diſpoſing of his goods: for a Teſtator is not a Teſtator, but in relation to the inſtrument, or evidence by which he declares his will; to wit, his Teſtament. And therefore this relation holds forth Chriſt in the Covenant, as having actually already made his will by an authentick inſtrument and evidence; to wit, the old and new Teſtament: for Chriſt died not unteſted, and without a declaration of his will, and a diſpoſal of his houſe, and of his goods, but hath ordered and diſpoſed all of things, and left us this authentick evidence of his will, Luk. 22.29, And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my father hath appointed unto me. The ſame word that's uſed, Heb. 9.16, foreign, I diſpoſe or appoint by my will and Teſtament; and Heb. 10.16, I will make with you a covenant, foreign; to wit, this teſtamentary Covenant: I declare my will of grace to you in it. 2. What was the deſign of Chriſts ſuſtaining the relation of Teſtator in the new Covenant? 1. That by this relation our Lord Jeſus might ſuper-add a new title to believers, unto the new Covenant-bleſſings, which he would have his people to hold of him, after all manner of the beſt ſecurity uſed among men; and therefore will not only convey theſe mercies to them by Covenant and promiſe, but by Teſtament and Legacy: therefore he ſuſtained the relation of a Teſtator, Joh. 14.27, Peace I leave with you: to wit, by Legacy. 2. He ſuſtained this relat on, to declare the abſolute freeneſs of his grace, in the conveyance of Covenant-bleſſings, which howſoever covenanted and promiſed to us condition-ways, yet are purely deeds of Grace, and of the pleaſure and will of God, as all teſtamentary deeds are, which are the ſole will and meer pleaſure of the Teſtator, Joh. 17.24, Father, I will: and Luk. 22.29, I appoint unto you a kingdom. 3. He ſuſtained this relation for the ratification of that title and intereſt which believers have unto Covenant-bleſſings: for their holding, being by a deed of will and pleaſure, ſo long as he who diſpoſeth of his eſtate and goods is alive, his will is ambulatory and alterable: therefore he is a Teſtator (which takes in the death of Chriſt, that his will of grace to his people declared in his Teſtament might be irrevocable): ſo the Apoſtle argues, Gal. 3.15, Though it be but a mans teſtament, yet if it be confirmed (to wit, by his death) no man diſannulleth or addeth thereunto. Heb. 9.16, 17, For where a teſtament is, there muſt alſo of neceſſity be the death of the Teſtator. For a teſtament is of force after men are dead: otherwiſe it is of no ſtrength at all, whilſt the teſtator liveth. 4. Chriſt ſuſtained the relation of a Teſtator in the new Covenant, to make way for a poſſeſſion of theſe Covenant-bleſſings, unto which his people have a right: he makes his Teſtament, and dies, that his will in his Teſtament might be executed, which could have no execution till by his death (typical or real) and contemplation thereof, he declared a ceſſion of his poſſeſſion: that this was his very deſign, the Apoſtle-proves, Heb. 9.15, That by means of death—they which are called might receive the promiſe of eternal inheritance. Joh. 16.17, If I go not away, the comforter will not come; but if I depart, I will ſend him unto you.
3. Let us conſider how this deſign hath its accompliſhment in Chriſts ſuſtaining the relation of Teſtator in the Covenant of Grace. And, 1. 'Tis unqueſtionable, that by this relation, Believers have a new active title to the Covenant-bleſſings; to wit, a teſtamentary title; they are his friends, and legators, and do hold their mercies as Legacies left to them by the latter will of Chriſt the Teſtator; his will of favour and grace is their title: ſo he often taught his Diſciples, to remember their teſtamentary title to their mercies, Mat. 26.28. and 1 Cor. 11.25, This is my blood of the new teſtament, ſhed for many, for the remiſſion of ſins, &c. Joh. 5.21, The Son quickeneth whom he will. Jam. 1.18, Of his own will begat he us. Here is that title of will acknowledged, and the deſign of abſolute free-grace, in the Teſtator accompliſhed. 2. The deſign of God in Chriſts ſuſtaining the relation of a Teſtator in the Covenant of Grace, is accempliſhed, in ſo far, as a ratification and confirmation of the teſtamentary Covenant is thereby intended: becauſe by Chriſts death, the right that believers have by this Teſtament receives a threefold confirmation: 1. A confirmation of the verity and reality of it; that it is a true and real deed, which by the ſtricteſt tryal, for probat of Wills, cannot be rejected: for 'tis confirmed, ſays the Apoſtle, Gal. 3.15. to wit, to be an authentick inſtrument and evidence, foreign, authenticatum, confirmatum & ratum habitum, Act. 3.15. And killed the prince of life, whom God hath raiſed from the dead, whereof we are witneſſes. Luk. 24.48, And ye are witneſſes of theſe things. 2. A confirmation of validity, it is made unalterable, ſo that it cannot be diſannulled or abrogated thereafter; ſo that no man can make it void, or put any alteration upon it, as the Apoſtle proves, Gal. 3.15, No man diſannulleth, or addeth thereunto foreign, Nemo abrogat; eodem ſenſu quo leges dicuntur abrogari cum vim ſuam amittunt, as Heb. 7, 18, Chriſts Teſtament cannot be made void, and of none effect: for 'tis foreign, teſtamentum ratum, Heb. 9.17. Firm and ſetled, as a pillar on its baſe. 3. A confirmation of efficacy; it is made available to our uſe, as our evidence in judgment; it is of ſtrength, ſays the Apoſtle, Heb. 9.17. foreign, valet: But the next and third accompliſhment of the deſign of God in this Covenant-relation, will clear this further; to wit, the executing of Chriſts Teſtament, by his ceeding the poſſeſſion. Let us therefore conſider how Chriſts being Teſtator doth make way for thoſe that are called to receive the inhenitance, Heb. 9.15.
1. Chriſt the Teſtator is veſted with the right and poſſeſſion of all the Covenant-bleſſings: for he is the firſt begotten of many brethren, Heb. 1.6. And God gave him to be head over all things to the Church. Col. 1.15, 17, 18, Who is the image of the inviſible God, the firſt born of every creature. And he is before all things, and by him all things conſiſt. And he is the head of the body, the Church: who is the beginning, the firſt-born from the dead, that in all things he might have the preheminence.
2. The Teſtator by his Will and Teſtament, bequeaths, diſpoſes, and leaves in legacy the very ſame mercies, and Covenant-bleſſings that were his at the firſt-hand, and all treaſured up in the Mediator and Teſtator, as in a ſtore-houſe: Lo, ſays he, I give you the ſure mercies of David, Act. 13.34. with Iſa. 35.3.
3. The Teſtator dies: when Chriſt hath made his Will, he laid down his life, and by his death he opens a way, and gives Legal acceſs to his people, to have his Teſtament executed, and his will therein actually fulfilled. 1. He renders up the poſſeſſion, and by a ceſſion yields it unto his people, Heb. 9.15. The Mediator and Teſtator dies, that by means of death.—they which are called, might receive eternal inheritance: and Joh. 16.7, If I do not go, the comforter will not come unto you, &c. If the Teſtator had not died, there had never been room nor acceſs for them who are called, to receive the inheritance: though in this there be ſomething ſingular, and different from humane conveyances, becauſe Chriſt does ſo give up the poſſeſſion for his peoples acceſs to it, that he alſo keeps it for the ſame end, that he and they after ratifying his Teſtament by his death, may live and poſſeſs the inheritance together, as joint heirs with Chriſt, Rom. 8.17. Joh. 14.2, 3. But in humane poſſ…ſſions there is no room for two to poſſeſs the ſame thing by a compleat intire title to it; nor for a perſon that yields the poſſeſſion or inheritance to another, to return to it, without diveſting that perſon to whom it was reſigned. 2. The Teſtator himſelf pleads his Teſtament, and his making way through his death for his peoples coming at the inheritance, and the poſſeſſion of his goods: I ſay, he pleads that to be of force through his death, as a valid Legal right, that they alſo may now poſſeſs and injoy with him, Joh. 17.24, Father, I will that they may be where I am. And in Heaven he appears for us, and upon our account, in the force of the Teſtators death, Heb. 17.23, 24. 3. The Teſtator who before poſſeſt the inheritance upon his own right and title, does now poſſeſs the inheritance by a title ſuper-added to that; to wit, upon our account, as our Attorney, as one repreſenting the Elect, and having wrought for their heaven, Joh. 17.4, and come to heaven to be veſted with a poſſeſſion in their name, and for their account: for now he appears in heaven, in the preſence of God for us, Heb. 9.24. And by the Teſtators being in Heaven, God hath made us ſit together in heavenly places in Chriſt Jeſus, Eph. 2.6. And he as a fore-runner is for us entered, Heb. 6.20. 4. The Teſtator ſurrogates his ſpirit in his abſence, and after his death, to ſee his Will executed in all points, and to give real and actual poſſeſſion of his Teſtament-bleſſings unto thoſe to whom he left them, Joh. 15.26, But when the comforter is come, whom I will ſend unto you from the father, he ſhall teſtifie of me: and Joh. 16.7, 8. Which accordingly is fulfilled, and our poſſeſſion quo ad exequnta, is aſcribed to this Executor ſurrogate by the Teſtator, and doing his will in his name, 1 Cor. 6.11, But ye are waſhed, but ye are ſanctified in the name of the Lord Jeſus, and by the ſpirit of our God; the Executor of the Lord Teſtators will.
Ʋſe 1. This Covenant-relation does exceedingly magnifie the riches of the grace and love of Chriſt Jeſus the Teſtator: 1. That the king immortal, 1 Tim. 1.17. ſhould become a man ſubject to mortallity, Heb. 2.17. 2. That he ſhould act any thing in contemplation of mortality, and be a Teſtator, even he who was to ſee no corruption, Pſal. 16.11. with Act. 2.31. Joh. 13.1. 3. That he who could not ſee corruption, yet never theleſs ſhould die and give up the Ghoſt, for conveying a title and poſſeſſion of life and immortality to his people, Gal. 2.20.
Ʋſe 2. Let the friends and Legators of this bleſſed Teſtator, know, that your holding is of abſolute grace, and of the meer pleaſure of the Teſtator: your right and title is teſtamentary, and you have your mercies by Chriſts will of favour: you are Legatories, and he is the Teſtator, Joh. 5.21, The Son quickeneth whom he will. And yet you are not left at uncertainty: for there is nothing ſure to changeable creatures, but what is pure Grace, and hangs upon the free will of God, and the motions of his heart, Rom. 4.16, Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace, to the end the promiſe might be ſure to all the ſeed. Mal. 3.6, For I am the Lord, I change not: therefore ye ſons of Jacob are not conſumed. You may ſay to him, as he ſaid to his father upon your account, Mat. 11.25, 26, I thank thee, O father.—And even ſo, father, becauſe ſo it ſeemed good in thy ſight.
Ʋſe 3. Comfort to believers in Chriſt, whoſe names are written in this Teſtament: 1. That our Lord Jeſus died not unteſted, and without a plain declaration of his Will to whom he left his goods, and what the things be which he left unto them, Act. 13.34, And as concerning that he raiſed him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he ſaid on this wiſe, I will give you the ſure mercies of David. Joh. 14.27, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Joh. 13.1, Now before the feaſt of the paſſeover, when Jeſus knew that his hour was come that he ſhould depart out of this world unto the father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end, Joh. 15.11, 13, 14, 15. and 16.33. 2. That your right is teſtamentary, the Covenant betwixt God and Chriſt being turned unto a teſtament betwixt him and you, the bleſſings thereof are the abſolute will of the Teſtator, Joh. 14.27, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth give I unto you: let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Joh. 17.24, Father, I will that they alſo whom thou haſt given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou haſt given me. 3. That there is force and ſtrength in his latter Will, by vertue of his death, that we can bring his Will as a valid deed of Law now after his death, and can plead it with God, Heb. 9.15, 17, 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 teſtament, they which are called might receive the promiſe of eternal inheritance.—For a teſtament is of force after men are dead: otherwiſe it is of no ſtrength at all whilſt the teſtator liveth. 4. That he hath left one to execute his Will; that the Teſtator wants not an Executor of his Teſtament, Joh. 14.26, But the comforter, which is the Holyghoſt, whom the father will ſend in my name, he ſhall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatſoever I have ſaid unto you. Joh. 15.26, But when the comforter is come, whom I will ſend unto you from the father, even the ſpirit of truth, which proceedeth from the father, he ſhall teſtifie of me.
Ʋſe 4. For Exhortation, both to conſider of the deſign of Grace that lyes wrapt up in this Covenant-relation, and to ſearch into the experimental knowledg of the vertue and efficacy of Chriſts being the Teſtator of the new Covenant. 1. I ſay, ſtudy the deſign of grace which is wrapt up in this Covenant-relation, as it ſuper-adds a new title to Covenant bleſſings, as it declares the abſolute freeneſs of Covenant-mercies, as it ratifies Chriſts will of grace, and as it makes way for our poſſeſſion of the things bequeathed unto us in Chriſts Teſtament, wherof we have ſpoken. 2. Search (I ſay) after the experimental knowledg of vertue of Chriſts Teſtatorſhip, 1. Quo ad executionem, in the force and efficacy of it, that through the Teſtators death his Teſtament hath been executed and fulfilled as to thee, Heb. 9.17, For a teſtament is of force after men are dead: otherwiſe it is of no ſtrength at all whilſt the teſtator liveth. Zech. 9.11, As for thee alſo, by the blood of thy covenant, I have ſent out thy priſoners out of the pit wherein there is no water. 2. Quo ad executa, in the latitude of his Legacies, that nothing diſpoſed and bequeathed to believers in Chriſts Teſtament, hath eſcaped thee; that no part of his goods which is the portion of his people, be wanting with thee, 2 Pet. 1.5, And beſides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith vertue, and to your vertue knowledg, &c. 3. Quo ad executorem, in the kindly genuine work of his ſpirit; that the good which God hath done to thee, is the true execution of the Teſtators will of grace to his people, 1 Cor. 6.11, And ſuch were ſome of you, but ye are waſhed, but ye are ſanctified, but ye are juſtified in the name of the Lord Jeſus, and by the ſpirit of our God. Joh. 1.13, Which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the fleſh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Rom. 8.9, But ye are not in the fleſh, but in the ſpirit, if ſo be that the ſpirit of God dwell in you: now if any man have not the ſpirit of Chriſt, he is none of his.