The Ark of the Covenant Opened, Chapter 4

The Ark of the Covenant Opened · Chapter 4

p. 80CHAP. IV. Of the Tenor, Articles, and Subject-matter of the Covenant of Redemption; or of the Commands, Conditions, and Promiſes thereof.

THE Subject-matter and Articles of the Covenant of Suretiſhip, which were agreed and concluded betwixt Jehovah and Chriſt by an eternal Compact (which alſo may be divided into commands, conditions, and promiſes of that Covenant), were mainly theſe ſeven. Who ſhould be the Redeemed? Who the Redeemer? What his work? When to be done? How to be applied? What his reward? And what aſſurance given betwixt the parties for mutual performance?

Now becauſe ſome of theſe Articles may ſeem to be the ſame upon the matter, which I have before aſſerted to be ſuppoſed as antecedent in order of nature to the Covenant of Redemption; Let it be remembred, that they may well be ſuppoſed in our manner of conceiving thereof, as antecedent in God's purpoſe; and yet be Articles of this Covenant, and fall under Chriſt's actual conſent, which makes a cloſed Covenant about them for it is not repugnant, that the ſame thing be concluded in the eternal purpoſe of God's Will, and in his eternal agreement with Chriſt.

1. By this Covenant it was agreed betwixt Jehovah and Chriſt God-man, who ſhould be the Redeemed people; there was a definite certain number of Redeemed ones agreed upon, for whom Chriſt ſhould pay a price; he was not Surety and undertaker for all Mankind, nor for all the viſible Church to whom the Goſpel ſhall be preached; for his undertaking is no wider nor larger than his dying, purchaſing Redemption, bearing Iniquity, Praying, &c. theſe being of equal extent and efficacy: for whom Chriſt was undertaker to his Father, for them he dyed, and purchaſed Redemption by his death; for them he did pray and make interceſſion, &c. Now 'tis manifeſt p. 81that he did not purchaſe Redemption, and make interceſſion for all Mankind; but for a choſen people, Heb. 9.15, 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 who are called might receive the promiſe of eternal inheritance. Joh. 17.9, I pray for them, I pray not for the world, but for them that thou haſt given me; for they are thine. Neither was Chriſt undertaker for a people under any general notions or qualifications (ſuch as them that ſhould believe in him, or the like), not knowing definitely who the perſons were: but he was Surety and undertaker only for the elect, and for a definite number of people, who were by number and name given to him by his Father, and received by him, to be redeemed by his blood; which doth plainly appear by the deſcription of the Redeemed people, who are ordinarily called thoſe whom the Father gave unto Chriſt, Joh. 17.3, 6, 9, 11. & 6.37, 39. and who were choſen in him, Eph. 1.4. and whoſe names are written in the book of life, and in the Lambs book of life; as if the Father, who gave them to Chriſt, had kept one record of their number and names, and the Lord Mediator, who undertook for them, had kept another; Rev. 20.12. and 21.27.

2. By this Covenant it was agreed betwixt Jehovah and Chriſt, who ſhould be the Redeemer; I ſay, it was agreed who ſhould be the perſon to undertake this great work of Redemption and Salvation for theſe elect people; for although we may conceive that Chriſt was predeſtinated unto this work before his actual conſent; yet we muſt conceive the agreement is by his own actual conſent and compact with God. See the agreement and conſent of both the parties, that Chriſt ſhall be the Lord Jehovah his ſervant in this work, Iſa. 49.5, 6, And now ſaith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his ſervant, to bring Jacob again to him; though Iſrael be not gathered, yet ſhall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God ſhall be my ſtrength. And he ſaid, it is a light thing that thou ſhouldſt be my ſervant, to raiſe up the tribes of Jacob, and to reſtore the preſerved of Iſrael; I will alſo give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayſt be my ſalvation unto the end of the earth. And under this part of the agreement, I comprehend, 1. The deſignation of the perſon who ſhall be the redeemer, that it ſhall be the ſecond perſon, the Son of p. 82God only, not the Father, nor the Spirit, Iſa. 59.20, And the Redeemer ſhall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from tranſgreſſion in Jacob, ſaith the Lord. Act. 3.26, Ʋnto you firſt, God having raiſed up his Son, ſent him to bleſs you, in turning away every one of you from his Iniquities. 1 Joh. 4.9, God ſent his only begotten Son unto the world, that we might live through him. 2. The conſtituting of that Perſon, Surety and Mediator to take that place upon him, which the work of our Redemption did require, Heb. 7.22, By ſo much was Jeſus made a ſurety of a better teſtament. 3. The conſent and agreement of Chriſt to both theſe, to be the perſon that ſhall work this work, and to be ſubſtitute in this place for doing the work, Heb. 10.7, Then ſaid I, lo I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God; thus did the Creditor and the Cautioner ſtrike hands together.

3. By this Covenant it was agreed betwixt Jehovah and Chriſt, What ſhould be the Redeemer's work; or what ſhould be the price that he ſhould pay, and the ſatisfaction that he ſhould make to divine Juſtice, for the ſins of the elect that were given to him; under this, I take in, 1. The concluding betwixt the parties, that Chriſt ſhall take upon him our Law-place and room, and in order to that his taking our nature upon him, that Juſtice might reach him in our ſtead and place, Gal. 4.4, God ſent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the Law. 2. That Chriſt as our Surety ſhould dye, and lay down his life for us, that he ſhould pay for us the whole ſum that was owing; even all that the Law and Juſtice could exact of the broken man, Joh. 10.18, No man taketh is from me; but I lay it down of my ſelf. Rom. 8.3, God ſending his own Son in the likeneſs of ſinful fleſh, and for ſin condemned ſin in the fleſh. Gal. 3.13, Chriſt hath redeemed us from the curſe of the Law, being made a curſe for us; this is at length held forth, Iſa. 53.5, 6, 7, 10, 12. 3. That the payment and ſatisfaction that ſhould be made to Juſtice, by our Surety in our nature, and in our room, ſhould be accepted as our payment, and as a condign price for our right to Heaven, Heb. 9.15, 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.

4. By this Covenant it was agreed betwixt Jehovah and p. 83Chriſt, what ſhould be the term of paying this price, and making this ſatisfaction to Juſtice. A time and term-day is condeſcended upon, ſuch as ſeemed fit to infinite wiſdom to appoint, Gal. 4.2, 4,—until the time appointed of the Father.—but when the fulneſs of the time was come. Heb. 9.10, 11, until the time of reformation. But Chriſt being come, an high prieſt of good things to come. Dan. 9.26, And after threeſcore and two weeks ſhall Meſſiah be cut off; but not for himſelf. I ſay, though the price was agreed upon from eternity; yet God in his wiſdom thought fit to put off the time of actual paying this price, till the Redeemer that ſhould come out of Zion ſhould be long waited for, Luk. 2.38,—and ſpake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jeruſalem; but though the payment was ſuſpended till the fulneſs of time; yet neither Chriſt's acting as Mediator, nor the force of the blood of this Covenant; but in contemplation of the price to be payed at the time appointed by the Father, he was the Lamb ſlain from the foundation of the world, Rev. 13.8.

5. By this Covenant it was agreed betwixt Jehovah and Chriſt, how the Redemption wrought by him ſhould be applyed to his elect people. And under this, I comprehend, 1. The eternal appointment of the Goſpel-Ordinances, eſpecially the Covenant of Grace and Reconciliation, as means by divine appointment, fitted to give the knowledge of the Redeemer, and of the Redemption and Salvation wrought by him, Luk 1.77, 78, 79, To give knowledg of Salvation unto his people, by the remiſſion of their ſins: Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day-ſpring from an high hath viſited us; To give light to them that ſit in darkneſs, and in the ſhadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace. 2. The concluſion, that the Goſpel ſhould be preached to all Nations; that for the Elect's ſake it might come unto all the Societies of men in the world, among whom there are any of the redeemed ones, Pſal. 110.2, The Lord ſhall ſend the rod of thy ſtrength out of Zion, rule thou in the midſt of thine enemies. 3. The appointment of the times and ſeaſons, and of the particular Inſtruments that ſhould carry the Goſpel to the bounds of each elect Soul's habitation, that it might meet with them, Act. 17.26, 27, And hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation. That they ſhould ſeek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us. According p. 84as we ſee it brought to paſs in the execution, ſo it was concluded from eternity, Act. 8.29. and 2.6, 17. and 9.15. and 18.9, 10. 4. The pouring out of the Spirit to make the Goſpel-ordinances and means of Salvation effectual to the Redeemed people; this alſo was comprehended under this Article of the agreement, that this ſhould be procured by him, for his elect people, Joh. 16.7, 8, Nevertheleſs I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will ſend him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of fin, and of righteouſneſs, and of judgment. Pſal. 110.3, Thy people ſhall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holineſs from the womb of the morning.

6. By this Covenant it was agreed betwixt Jehovah and Chriſt, what ſhould be the reward and wages that he ſhould have for this great Service, for working the work of our Redemption; his reward and wages in the general Notation thereof, was, ask and have; it was a grant of whatſoever he would ask of God for ſo great a work and ſervice; his recompence was at his own asking, Pſal. 2.8, Ask of me, and I ſhall give thee, &c. and according to his own heart, full content and ſatisfaction, Iſa. 53.11, He ſhall be ſatisfied, &c. but more particularly, his reward and wages, which was all his own asking, compriſed theſe three things (which ſpeaks theſe particulars to have been much upon his heart, and in his deſign). 1. That he ſhould have a ſeed, and a people; that for all his labour he might have a redeemed people: when he had his reward and ſatisfaction at his own asking, he made the redeemed ones, his end, his asking, his ſatisfaction; this was the reſult of his tranſcendent love, that he might be Immunuel, God with us; that he might enjoy his poor worthleſs people, Iſa. 53.10, 11, Yet it pleaſed the Lord to bruiſe him, he hath put him to grief: when thou ſhalt make his Soul an offering for ſin, he ſhall ſee his ſeed, he ſhall prolong his days, and the pleaſure of the Lord-ſhall proſper in his hand. He ſhall ſee of the travel of his Soul, and ſhall be ſatisfied. 2. That he might have a Crown to himſelf; I mean, a peculiar glory of being Lord Mediator and Redeemer, and of working this great work; and this he had in Heaven before the foundation of the world, even ſince the eternal deſignation and deſtination p. 85of him unto this work; for thenceforward he was the Lamb of God ſlain from the foundation of the world, Rev. 13.8. And was ſet up from everlaſting, Prov. 8.23, and was glorified with the Father, not only with the eſſential glory that is common to all the three perſons, which was obſcured in his humiliation for the work of Redemption; but alſo with a peculiar glory, as Lord Mediator, which he had with him before the world began, Joh. 17.5. and this glory he ſhall have in Heaven, throughout eternity, even after the laſt Judgment, there ſhall be in Heaven a peculiar throne, and glory following, and a peculiar ſong to the Lamb; whereof read Rev. 22.3. and 7.10, 17. and 5.9. 3. That he might have a crown and throne for each of theſe redeemed ones, whom he took for a ſatisfaction to his Soul, their crown, and throne, and robes was part of the reward and wages that he wrought for, and asked of his Father, 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. And 14.3, I will come again and receive you unto my ſelf, that where I am, there ye may be alſo. Luk. 12.32, Fear not little flock; for it is your father's good pleaſure to give you the Kingdom. Rev. 3.21, To him that overcometh will I grant to ſit in my throne with me; even as I alſo overcame, and am ſet down with my Father in his throne.

7. By this Covenant it was agreed betwixt the parties, what ſhould be the mutual aſſurances given betwixt the parties for the performance of the Articles agreed upon. There needed no Solemnities betwixt parties who knew one another, and truſted one another ſo perfectly; but for our ſakes, that we might be helped to conceive of this eternal inviolable tranſaction: Therefore upon the one part, 1. Jehovah giveth his word and faithful promiſe unto Chriſt, Pſal. 110.1, The Lord ſaid to my Lord; and not his faithful promiſe only, but his oath alſo, Pſal. 89.35, Once have I ſworn by my holineſs, that I will not lye unto David. Heb. 7.21, For thoſe prieſts were made without an oath, but this with an oath, by him that ſaid unto him, The Lord ſwore, and will not repent, Thou art a prieſt for ever, after the order of Melchiſedee. 2. Upon the other part, Chriſt does not only give his word of promiſe and conſent to do this work, Pſal. 40.6, Sacrifice and offering thou didſt not deſire, mine ears haſt thou opened, burnt offering and ſin-offering haſt thou not required, p. 86&c. But he alſo comes under a Judicial and Law-act of Suretiſhip, whereby he did from eternity act himſelf, in the volume of the book of God's eternal Records, that he would fulfil all his undertaking, Heb. 10.7, Then ſaid I, lo I come, in the volume of the book it is written of me, to do thy will, O God. And under this act of Suretiſhip, I comprehend, 1. His eternal conſent to take our Nature and Law-condition upon him. 2. His plighting of his faith and truth to act our part, and to anſwer the Law, and Demands of Juſtice in our Law-place and condition. 3. His eternal agreement that by his own conſent a Judicial act ſhould be put upon him, and ſtand in record for ever in Heaven, and in the volume of books that are there, that this perſon had voluntarily undertaken, and promiſed by ſtriking hands with Jehovah, to anſwer all demands of Law and Juſtice againſt his elect people.

Having offered the before-mentioned ſum of the Articles concluded and agreed upon the Covenant of Redemption betwixt Jehovah and Chriſt; I come in the next place to diſtribute and divide that ſum, and the things compriſed under it, into the reciprocal and mutual engagements of the parties covenanting; to wit, 1. What were the commands and conditions laid upon Chriſt, and voluntarily yielded unto by him, in the Covenant of Redemption. 2. What the promiſes and engagements that were given to Chriſt by the ſame Covenant.

And, 1. Concerning the commands, conditions and engagements; which were required of Chriſt Mediator by the Covenant of Suretiſhip: I ſhall in theſe eight Aſſertions open the nature of them, and what they were.

Aſſert. 1. All the commands of the Covenant of Redemption, are conditions; and are to be conſidered as ſuch, when they are laid upon Chriſt, who came not under commands, but upon terms and conditions. It is not ſo in God's Covenant-dealings with us, all the commands of the Goſpel are not to us conditions of righteouſneſs and life (unleſs we underſtand conditions in a very large and improper ſenſe); neither is it of the eſſence of commands laid upon us to be conditions; for God oweth nothing to our obedience, nor is he obliged to make any promiſes to it; but the commands of the Covenant of Redemption are all of them conditions of that ſame Covenant: For, 1. They are commands, to the obedience whereof, promiſes p. 87are made, Iſa. 53.12, Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he ſhall divide the ſpoil with the ſtrong, becauſe he hath poured out his ſoul unto death, and he was numbred with the tranſgreſſors, and he bare the ſin of many, and made interceſſion for the tranſgreſſors. 2. They are commands unto which Chriſt yielded upon terms, Phil. 2.7, 8, But made himſelf of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a ſervant, and was made in the likeneſs of man. And being found in faſhion as a man, he humbled himſelf, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Croſs; therefore God hath highly exalted him.

Aſſert. 2. All the conditions of the Covenant of Redemption; both theſe more general of obeying the Law, and fulfilling all righteouſneſs, Mat. 3.15, For thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteauſneſs; and the more ſpecial condition of laying down his life, were voluntary free acts of Chriſt's will and infinite love, wherein he was acted by no neceſſity, without his own free conſent, Joh. 10.18, No man taketh my life from me; but I lay it down of my ſelf; I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this commandment have I received of my Father.

Aſſert. 3. All the conditions required of Chriſt, and undertaken by him in the Covenant of Redemption, were enſured and certain conditions, there was no hazard of failing, nor coming ſhort upon his part in any the commands or conditions of that Covenant: therefore it was ſaid of him, Iſa. 42.4, He ſhall not fail, nor be diſcouraged till he have ſet judgment in the earth. Three things evidence this. 1. The perſonal union of the two Natures, exempted the man Chriſt from all hazard and poſſibility of ſinning or coming ſhort in the obedience of any command or condition required of him. 2. Chriſt as man had the Spirit above meaſure, and the confirming Grace which is given to elect Angels in their head Chriſt; he had not only the promiſe of the Spirit and heavenly influences to all duties and conditions required of him; but he had theſe actually, even from his Mothers womb, Iſa. 42.1, I will put my ſpirit upon him: Iſa. 11.2, The Spirit of the Lord ſhall reſt upon him. 3. There were no threatnings in the Covenant of Redemption (though there were promiſes); becauſe there was no hazard of Chriſt's failing in the conditions thereof; nor poſſibility of his falling ſhort of the promiſed reward.

p. 88Aſſert. 4. Although it was eminent pure Grace that made the Covenant of Redemption; yet the conditions thereof required from Chriſt, were works; it was doing, not believing, that was required of him, Rom. 5.19, By the obedience of one ſhall many be made righteous. Joh. 9.4, I muſt work the works of him that ſent me. I acknowledg there was a kind of faith required of Chriſt-man, which cannot be excluded the conditions of this Covenant (underſtanding conditions in that large ſenſe as comprehending all theſe tyes, obligations and duties which the man Chriſt took upon him, by taking on our Nature, and our Law-place); whereof he maketh profeſſion, Iſa. 50.7, For the Lord God will help me, therefore ſhall I not be confounded; therefore have I ſet my face like a flint, and I know that I ſhall not be aſhamed. And Pſal. 16.8, I have ſet the Lord always before me; becauſe he is at my right hand, I ſhall not be moved, &c. compared with Act. 2.25, for David ſpeaketh concerning him, I foreſaw the Lord always before my face; for he is on my right hand, that I ſhould not be moved. And Heb. 2.13, I will put my truſt in him. But, 1. This faith profeſſed by Chriſt, was faith of another kind, than that faith which is the condition of the Goſpel-covenant to us; it was the faith of dependance and relying on God, for aſſiſtance and acceptance in doing the work, which was the eminent condition of the Covenant of Suretiſhip; but not a faith whereby he went out of himſelf to rely on another for righteouſneſs; it was works, not Grace; not the Evangelical Inſtrument, but the act and work of faith. 2. This faith profeſſed by Chriſt, was upon another account, and for another uſe; it was a debt which the holy humane nature of Chriſt, being a creature, owed unto God; a debt, I ſay, ſuch as did not exclude that from being meritorious, and part of his ſatisfaction (ſince it was part of his obedience taken on by voluntary compact) no more than his being made under the Law, whereby he was debtor to ſatisfie the penalty thereof, did exclude his ſuffering from being ſatisfactory; yet he was not by this kind of believing juſtified, and conſtituted righteous, by any righteouſneſs received by his faith, or imputed to him; as we are juſtified by faith. 3. This faith profeſſed by Chriſt, was neither the whole condition of the Covenant of Suretiſhip, nor the chief and eminent part of it (as ſhall be made to appear); but at moſt it could amount to no more of the condition of p. 89his Suretiſhip, than ſuch a faith of dependency in Adam before his fall, ſhould have been in the conditional part of the Covenant of works that was made with him, and that was but one ſingle act and work of righteouſneſs; which was a ſmall part of the condition of that Covenant.

Aſſert. 5. The conditions of the Covenant of Suretiſhip made with Chriſt, did fully and perfectly anſwer the intent of the Covenant of works; and that in both the parts of it copulatively, which did but alternatively oblige man; for the Law does not oblige man in an abſolute ſenſe, both to perfect doing and ſuffering, but to one of them; for if we keepthe Law, we are not obliged to ſuffer, Gen. 2.17, But of the tree of the knowledg of good and evil, thou ſhalt not eat of it; for in the day thou eateſt thereof, thou ſhalt ſurely die. But Chriſt by the conditions of the Covenant of Redemption, 1. He is a full doer and obedient fulfiller of the commands thereof in all points, Mat. 3.15, For thus it behoveth us to fulfil all righteouſneſs. 2. He fully ſuffers the penalty of that Covenant, and ſatisfies for the broken commands thereof, Iſa. 53.5, 6, He was wounded for our tranſgreſſions.—The Lord laid upon him the iniquity of us all. Hence, 3. By the conditions of this Covenant which he performed, he had right to Law-juſtification, and life eternal, even by the Law of works; for the righteouſneſs which he wrought was perfect Law-righteouſneſs, though the imputation of it to us be an act of Grace; and our receiving it by faith, make it Goſpel-righteouſneſs to us, 1 Joh. 1.7, But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowſhip one with another, and the blood of Jeſus Chriſt his Son cleanſeth us from all ſin. Compared with Rom. 4.5, But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that juſtifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteouſneſs.

Aſſert. 6. Neither Chriſt's active nor paſſive obedience are to be excluded from making up the adequate condition of the Covenant of Suretiſhip: For, 1. The man Chriſt his paſſive obedience could not have amounted unto a ſatisfaction for us, if by his active obedience, his habitual and actual conformity unto the holy Law of God, he had not been ſuch a high prieſt as became us, as is holy, harmleſs, &c. Heb. 7.26. 2. Although Chriſt as man was obliged to obey the Moral Law; yet conſidering that he voluntarily took that obligation upon himſelf, p. 90and being Lord and Law giver, he made himſelf under the Law by this Covenant of Suretiſhip. I do not ſee how his obedience to the Law can be excluded from among the conditions of this Covenant. 3. The whole courſe of Chriſt's obedience, from his Birth to his Grave, by doing and ſuffering, is to be conſidered as the doing and ſuffering of ſo excellent a perſon who was God-man; and ſo all theſe being acts ſo excellent, and ſo undue (except by voluntary condeſcenſion), they muſt needs be ſuch conditions as were part of the price payed by him. 4. The obedience of Chriſt, and all that he did in obedience to the Law, being performed by him in the ſtate of his humiliation in which he was, whatſoever he was, for us, 2 Cor. 8.9, for your ſakes he became poor; all theſe muſt have reſpect of conditions of his Covenant with Jehovah, which he performed for us.

Aſſert. 7. The conditions of the Covenant of Redemption required from Chriſt, and performed by him, were meritorious; that is, they were not conſequent conditions, which denote only a connexion and order betwixt the thing promiſed, and the condition required; but they were antecedent conditions, when the condition is the cauſe of the thing promiſed; as in contracts of Juſtice, where one thing is given for another. So the conditions of this Covenant performed by Chriſt, did by order of ſtrict Juſtice, and jure emptionis, claim the reward that was promiſed and covenanted with him, to be given to himſelf the head, and to his elect people, in whoſe ſtead he ſatisfied Juſtice by paying their debt with a price of blood; hence it is that he craves the reward to be given, and that in Juſtice, for the work he had done, Joh. 17.4, 5, 24, I have glorified thee on the earth, I have finiſhed the work which thou gaveſt me to do. And now, O Father, glorifie thou me with thine own ſelf.—Father, I will that they alſo whom thou haſt given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold thy glory which thou haſt given me; for thou lovedſt me before the foundation of the world. Hence it is alſo, that his Advocation is grounded upon Juſtice, and he ſtands in Heaven, Jeſus the righteous, 1 Joh. 2.1. who being now juſtified and acquitted of the debt that he took upon him by his bond of Suretiſhip, whereby he was made ſin, and made a curſe for us, 2 Cor. 5.21. Gal. 3.13. He pleads now the merit of blood.

p. 91Aſſert. 8. The condition of the Covenant of Suretiſhip, is either more general and adequate, or more ſpecial and forwal; and accordingly we muſt anſwer the queſtion, when 'tis asked, what was the condition of this Covenant? Anſw. 1. The general adequate condition of the Covenant of Suretiſhip can be no narrower than Chriſt's whole undertaking; ſo that whatſoever he undertook to do, whether in his own perſon, or in his people; for carrying on, and perfecting the word of Redemption from beginning to end, muſt be part of the conditions required at his hand; whereof read Pſal. 40.6, to 11. compared with Heb. 10.5, to 11; all which may be ſummed up in ſix comprehenſive heads, 1. Chriſt's accepting the grand charge of this work of Redemption, even the Mediatory office that was put upon him; he receives the keys of the houſe of David, the truſt and weight of the loſt, but elect world; and all the burthen and care of them is devolved upon him, with this office, Iſa. 22.22, 24. And the key of the houſe of David will I lay upon his ſhoulder; ſo he ſhall open, and none ſhall ſhut; and he ſhall ſhut, and none ſhall open: And they ſhall hang upon him all the glory of his Father's houſe, the off-ſpring and the iſſue; all veſſels of ſmall quantity, from the veſſels of cups, even to all tho veſſels of flaggons. 2. His taking out nature upon him, and that not in its primitive virgin integrity, but when it was at the worſt; it was a condition of this Covenant, that Chriſt ſhould humble himſelf to take on him the likeneſs of ſinful fleſh, Rom. 8.3, that he ſhould take the ſame nature that offended divine Juſtice, even the ſame fleſh and blood, whereof the children are partakers, and no other, Heb. 2.14. 3. His taking our Law-place, was another condition; not our nature only, but our Law-place and room; that is, to put his Soul in our Soul's ſtead, that the Law of God might reach him, who otherwiſe could not be reached by the Law; and that Divine Juſtice executing the curſe and penalty of the Law, might ſmite him, as the guilty man being by his own conſent, and his bond of Suretiſhip become legally the debtor and ſinner (though not intrinſecally), Gal. 4.4, made under the Law, and made ſin for us, 2 Cor. 5.21. though he knew no ſin. 4. His acting our part, not in a ſcenick, but in a real manner; he came upon the ſtage to repreſent our perſon, and in our nature and Law-place he really acted our part; and this was another condition required of him, who p. 92perfectly obeyed the command of the Law, and ſuffered the threatning thereof for us, even all that Juſtice had threatned to inflict upon the offender and tranſgreſſour of the Law, Gal. 3.13. he was made a curſe for us, Iſa. 53.5, the chaſtiſement of our peace was upon him, &c. 5. His taking a new Covenant-right unto God his own Father, and not to God only, but to heaven, and glory, and all the New-covenant bleſſings, whereby the Covenant-right and rites of his redeemed people might be conſolidated in him, as their head; and whereby he might for ever carry their names and intereſts before his Father, as being there repreſented by him, Pſal. 89.26, He ſhall cry unto me, thou art my Father, my God, and the rock of my Salvation. Heb. 2.11.13, For both he that ſanctifieth, and they who are ſanctified, are all of one; for which cauſe he is not aſhamed to call them brethren. And again, I will put my truſt in him; and again, behold I, and the children which thou haſt given me. And 9.24, For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into heaven it ſelf, now to appear in the preſence of God, for us. 6. His effectual application of the Redemption purchaſed by his Suretiſhip unto all his redeemed ones. And under this, I comprehend Chriſt's undertaking for the pouring out of the Spirit, to ſend to them his Spirit, to draw them to him, to cauſe them to believe & receive his Surety-righteouſneſs, to keep them in his favour and love, to cauſe them to perſevere, to preſent them perfected, and without ſpot to God, 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. Joh. 12.32, And if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me. Joh. 6.37, All that the Father giveth me ſhall come to me: and him that cometh to me, I will in no wiſe caſt out. Joh. 6.39, 40, And this is the Father's will that hath ſent me, that of all which he hath given me, I ſhould loſe nothing, but ſhould raiſe it up at the laſt day. And this is the will of him that ſent me, that every one which ſeeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlaſting life, and I will raiſe him up at the laſt day. Joh. 14.3, And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto my ſelf, that where I am, there ye may be alſo.

2. But if ye enquire after the formal condition of the Covenant p. 93of Suretiſhip, I ſay it was his whole obedience active and paſſive, even unto death, Phil. 2.8, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the croſs; though the ſpecial, principal eminent condition of this Covenant may be referred to the principal, eminent, laſt act of his obedience to that ſignal ſpecial command of laying down his life for the elect, Joh. 10.18, No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of my ſelf; I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this commandment have I received of my Father. For, 1. This Covenant being a bargain betwixt Jehovah and Chriſt, of buying a people to God; then the whole price and ranſom told down and payed for them, muſt be the formal condition of that Covenant, whereby we are bought with a price, 1 Cor. 6.20. 1 Pet. 1.18, 19, For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as ſilver and gold, from your vain converſation received by tradition from your Fathers: but with the precious blood of Chriſt, as of a Lamb without ſpot, and without blemiſh. 2. Chriſt was under a ſpecial explicite command for the performance of this condition of laying down his life; as is clear from Joh. 10.18, and Chriſt was under a ſpecial act to obey this command, as himſelf acknowledges, Heb. 10.7, Then ſaid I, lo I come, in the volume of the book it is written of me, to do thy will, O my God; and therefore we may well call it the ſpecial condition of the Covenant of Suretiſhip. 3. This ſolemn act of obedience, in offering himſelf a Sacrifice to death for our ſins, is the condition of his bond of Suretiſhip, that is moſt notiſed by the Holy Ghoſt, and frequently referred unto; as may be gathered from Heb. 9.14, 15, 26, How much more ſhall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himſelf without ſpot to God, purge your conſciences from dead works, to ſerve the living God. 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.—but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away ſin by the ſacrifice of himſelf. Rom. 8.3,—God ſending his own Son in the likeneſs of ſinful fleſh, and for ſin condemned ſin in the fleſh. And therefore when we ſpeak of the condition of the Covenant of Suretiſhip, this is to be held the ſpecial eminent condition thereof. 4. The Father of our p. 94Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſtates the condition of this Covenant upon this eminent ſolemn act of his obedience, even his making his ſoul an offering for ſin, &c. for-vent which he makes the great promiſes of his glorious reward, Iſa. 53. throughout. 5. Our Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelf does own this as the ſpecial condition of his Coovenant of Suretiſhip; and that both at his entring into the world, Heb. 10.5, 7, Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he ſaith, ſacrifice and offering thou wouldſt not; but a body haſt thou prepared me. Then ſaid I, lo I come, in the volume of the book it is written of me, to do thy will, O God: And about, or at the time of his leaving the world, when he had fulfilled, or was about to fulfil all his undertaking and conditions to his Father, Joh. 17.4, I have glorified thee on the earth, I have finiſhed the work which thou gaveſt me to do. With 19.30, When Jeſus therefore had received the vinegar, he ſaid, it is finiſhed, and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Theſe being the ſum of the conditions required from Chriſt,See Mr. Rutherf. Treat. of the Covenant, p. 2. ch. 11. And Mr. Robert's Medul. Bibl. b. 2. c. 2. and undertaken by him; let us enquire alſo after the promiſes made to Chriſt, and the encouraging-conditions that were made to him by Jehovah, for undertaking ſo hard a work as was the redemption and recovery of loſt man: Theſe were of eight ſorts.

The firſt kind of promiſes made to Chriſt in the Covenant of Redemption, were ſuch as relate to the offices, authorities, truſts and powers that were covenanted to him, for the doing of this work. 1. I ſay, Jehovah promiſeth to inveſt Chriſt with offices ſutable to that great work of Redemption, to make him Lord Mediator of the new Covenant; to make him great Lord Ambaſſador, that he might go and travel in that buſineſs of our Redemption; to make him a King, a Prieſt, and a Prophet, for effecting this buſineſs, Pſal. 110. throughout, The Lord ſaid to my Lord, ſit thou at my right hand,—he ſhall judge among the heathen,—the Lord hath ſworn, and will not repent, thou art a Priest for ever, Iſa. 49.6. And 42.6, 7, I will alſo give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayſt be my Salvation unto the ends of the earth,—to open the blind eyes, &c. Pſal. 2.6, 7, Yet have I ſet my King upon my holy hill of Zion; I will declare the decree, the Lord ſaid unto me, &c. 2. God did not only promiſe to inveſt Chriſt with offices and p. 95truſts; but with authorities and powers alſo, with headſhip and power of Judgment over Men and Angels, that ſhall make them all bow to him, Rom. 14.10.11, We ſhall all ſtand before the judgment ſeat of Christ; for it is written, As I live, ſaith the Lord, every knee ſhall bow to me, and every tongue ſhall confeſs to God. He was not a titular King or Prieſt, nor a ſcenick one, a King upon a ſtage; but a King upon a throne, Luk. 1.32, 33, And the Lord God ſhall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he ſhall reign over the houſe of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there ſhall be no end. A King that had power to bow the hearts of his Subjects, and to cruſh the greateſt Heads and Rulers in the world that oppoſe him, Pſal. 110.3.5, 6, Thy people ſhall be willing in the day of thy power.—The Lord at thy right hand ſhall ſtrike through kings in the day of his wrath. He ſhall judg among the heathen, he ſhall fill the places with the dead bodies, he ſhall wound the heads over many countries. And 2.9, Thou ſhalt break them with a rod of iron, thou ſhalt daſh them in pieces like a potter's veſſel. And 45.3, 4, 5, Gird thy ſword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majeſty. And in thy majeſty ride proſperouſly, becauſe of truth and meekneſs, and righteouſneſs, and thy right hand ſhall teach thee terrible things. Thine arrows are ſharp in the heart of the kings enemies, whereby the people fall under thee. A perſon in offices, who had all judgment committed unto him, who had power given him over all fleſh, Joh. 17.2. and all power in heaven and earth, Mat. 28.18. this was he to whom all the honourable offices and abſolute powers of his Father's houſe was promiſed, that he might act and give orders, and ſet up, and put down, and none to controul him, Iſa. 22.22, 24, And the key of the houſe of David, will I lay upon his ſhoulder, ſo he ſhall open and none ſhall ſhut, and he ſhall ſhut and none ſhall open. And they ſhall hang upon him all the Glory of his Father's houſe, the off-ſpring and the iſſue, all veſſels of ſmall quantity, from the veſſels of cups, even to all the veſſels of flaggons. 3. I ſay, the Lord Mediator had all theſe offices and authorities by Covenant; the Lord promiſed to him, and covenanted with him to give him theſe offices, for doing the work of Redemption; therefore we read Pſal. 89. that Chriſt (who there is called David) is conſtituted a King by Covenant, v. 3, 4, and by what Covenant? p. 96even by that Covenant whereby the help of God's elect people was laid upon him, v. 19. and this was the Covenant of Suretiſhip and Redemption; and in the ſame place we read of the ſtanding faſt of God's Covenant with him, v. 28. even that Covenant whereby he was made higher than the Kings of the earth, v. 27. And again, we find the ſame Covenant whereby he had a laſting Kingdom ſworn with him, v. 34, 35, My Covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips: Once have I ſworn by my holineſs, that I will not lye unto David. To the ſame purpoſe alſo, there is an oath interpoſed with the promiſe of his Prieſthood, to ſhew that he was in that office by a more unalterable Covenant than that which was made with Levi, Mal. 2.5, My covenant with him was of life and peace; compared with Heb. 7.21, For thoſe Prieſts were made without an oath; but this with an oath, by him that ſaid unto him, the Lord ſware and will not repent, thou art a Prieſt for ever. The ſecond kind of Promiſes made to Chriſt, are ſuch as relate to the gifts, endowments, and habitual furniture which was neceſſary unto the man Chriſt, for performing this great work; he had an inſtrumental fitneſs for this extraordinary work, Iſa. 11.2, 3, 4, And the ſpirit of the Lord ſhall rest upon him, the ſpirit of wiſdom and underſtanding, the ſpirit of counſel and might, the ſpirit of knowledg, and of the fear of the Lord. And ſhall make him of quick underſtanding in the fear of the Lord: and he ſhall not judg after the ſight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears. But with righteouſneſs ſhall he judg the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he ſhall ſmite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips ſhall he ſlay the wicked. And under this ſort of Promiſes, I comprehend, 1. The Sanctification of our nature to be aſſumed by him, and infuſion of habitual Grace in the holy humane nature of Chriſt, from the very firſt moment of his conception, and of the perſonal union of the two natures, Luk 1.35, Therefore alſo that holy thing which ſhall be born of thee, ſhall be called the Son of God. Heb. 7.26, For ſuch an high prieſt became us, who is holy, harmleſs, undefiled, ſeparated from ſinners, and made higher than the heavens. 2. The growth of Grace, whereof the man Chriſt was capable, who was made in all things like his brethren (except ſin); we muſt therefore p. 97conceive of his growth, to have been without ſinful weakneſs, and to have been in experience, and in phyſical intention, and bendedneſs of acts of obedience, which the Law does not require in like degree from the young as from the old, Luk. 2.52, And Jeſus increaſed in wiſdom and ſtature, and in favour with God and man. Heb. 5.8, Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he ſuffered. Zech. 6.12, Behold the man whoſe name is … …ranch, and he ſhall grow up out of his place, and he ſhall build the temple of the Lord. 3. The annointing in its fulneſs without meaſure, and above his fellows; whereby the man Chriſt was full of Grace, and had a fulneſs for this work, whereof no other creature was capable, Pſal. 45.2, 7,—Thou art fairer then the children of men; Grace is poured into thy lips; therefore God hath bleſſed thee for ever.—Thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladneſs above thy fellows. Joh. 1.14, And the word was made fleſh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. And 3. 34, for God giveth not the ſpirit by meaſure unto him. 4. The overflowings of his fulneſs, whereby the Spirit and All-ſaving Grace, being placed in him as in a Store-houſe and Treaſure, not for himſelf only, but for his elect people; did run down and flow out from the Mediator, from Chriſt God-man, as water from a fountain and freſh ſpring, as dropping ſhowers from full clouds, Joh. 1.16, And of his fulneſs have all we received, and grace for grace. Col. 2.3, In whom are hid all the treaſures of wiſdom and knowledg. And 1.19, But it pleaſed the Father that in him ſhould all fulneſs dwell. 5. The bodily inhabitation of the fulneſs of the God-head in him: By vertue of that unconceivable myſterie of the perſonal union, he had a perſonal fulneſs, Col. 2.9, for in him dwelleth all the fulneſs of the Godhead bodily.

The third kind of Promiſes made by Jehovah to Chriſt, and covenanted to him, were ſuch as relate to his actual ſupport in the execution of this office, and performing of the work which he undertook; for the man Chriſt being a creature, needed more than habitual Grace, and anointing with gifts for ſuch a work; there was a neceſſity that he ſhould not act independently, without influence from God. And to this kind of promiſes may be referred the promiſes of heavenly influences p. 98to all the acts of his Mediatory-office, and his Surety-obedience; ſo that as the man Chriſt needed the Spirit and Influences, theſe were enſured by Covenant unto him; ſo that it was impoſſible that the man Chriſt could ſin, or come ſhort in performing all his Father's pleaſure (as Adam ſinned, and fell ſhort of the command), having actual influences enſured unto him, as well as habitual Grace: hence he ſaith of himſelf, Joh. 16.32. and 8.16, I am not alone; it was impoſſ… that he could be left alone of his Father; and to him was the promiſe made, Iſa. 11.12, The ſpirit of the Lord ſhall reſt upon him; the Spirit and heavenly influences, were his conſtant companions, Iſa. 50.4, He wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The promiſe of help, ſtrength, ſupport, and aſſiſtance, which are the immediate effects of actual influences, and in which the heavenly influences of the Spirit have a proper efficiency and cauſality; there is a divine furniture of ſtrength and aſſiſtance promiſed to him in the diſcharge of his office, & in every act of his obedience, Iſa. 42.6, I the Lord have called thee in righteouſneſs, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee. Pſal. 89.21, With whom my hand ſhall be eſtabliſhed, mine arm alſo ſhall ſtrengthen him. The promiſe of confirming Grace: the man Chriſt had the promiſe of the ſame confirming Grace in his obedience, and office, and covenant ſtate of favour, which is now given to the elect Angels in Chriſt their head, Iſa. 49.1, 2, 3, Liſten O Iſles unto me, and hearken ye people from far; the Lord hath called me from the womb, from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. And he hath made my mouth like a ſharp ſword, in the ſhadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a poliſhed ſhaft, in his quiver hath he hid me. And ſaid unto me, thou art my ſervant, O Iſrael, in whom I will be glorified. And 42.4, He ſhall not fail, nor be diſcouraged, till he have ſet judgment in the earth. To him is the promiſe made, that he ſhall never be bowed nor broken; he ſhall not be turned off his work nor his way, by any thing that he can meet with.

And this kind of Promiſes is made to Chriſt-man, to encourage him (as Mr. Roberts obſerves),Medul. Bibl. b. 2. c. 2. 1. Againſt the utmoſt extremity of his ſufferings, when he ſhould make his Soul an offering for ſin, when the wakened up ſword of divine Juſtice ſhould ſmite him, Zech. 13.7, Awake, O ſword, againſt my p. 99ſhepherd, &c. and againſt the man that is my fellow, ſaith the Lord of hoſts. Though he was forſaken for a time, and wanted influences of conſolation; and felt-fruition of the preſence of God, Pſal. 22.1. Mat. 27.45; yet theſe promiſes were verified to him, and God ſtood by him with influence of ſtrength, ſupport, aſſiſtance, and preſervation in all this Mediatory-adminiſtrations, till he ſaid, the work is finiſhed, Joh. 19.30. Pſal. 22.9, But thou art he that took me out of the womb, thou didſt make me to hope when I was upon my mothers breaſts. 2. Againſt all oppoſitions and enemies: There was much oppoſition made to Chriſt, and many were againſt him; but againſt all the rage, plots, combinations of Jews and Gentiles, the Lord ſtood by him, and ſet up his Kingdom, Pſal. 2.2, 6, The kings of the earth ſet themſelves, and the rulers take counſel together againſt the Lord, and againſt his anointed;—Yet have I ſet my king upon my holy hill of Sion. Act. 4.27, 28, For of a truth againſt the holy child Jeſus, whom thou haſt anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Iſrael were gathered together, for to do whatſoever thy hand and thy counſel determined before to be done. 3. Againſt the deepeſt diſcouragements that he ſhould meet with in the diſcharge of his office: He is ſupported by theſe promiſes made to him, and accordingly he encourageth himſelf, Iſa. 49.4, 5, 6, Then: ſaid I, I have laboured in vain, I have ſpent my ſtrength for naught, and in vain; yet ſurely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work wiith my God. And now, ſaith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his ſervant, to bring Jacob again to him: Though Iſrael be not gathered; yet ſhall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God ſhall be my ſtrength. And he ſaid, it is a light thing that thou ſhouldſt be my ſervant to raiſe up the tribes of Jacob, and to reſtore the preſerved of Iſrael; I will alſo give thee for a light of the Gentiles, that thou mayſt be my ſalvation unto the end of the earth.

The fourth kind of Promiſes made by Jehovah unto Chriſt in the Covenant of Redemption, were ſuch as relate to the ſucceſsfulneſs and proſpering of the work of Redemption in his hand And unto this head, I refer, 1. The promiſe of God's making Chriſt the man of his right hand; and that not only in reſpect of ſpecial love and honour, but eſpecially in reſpect of inſtrumentality; whereby God promiſes to make him the main Inſtrument p. 100of action, that ſhould be made ſerviceable to his ends in the work of Redemption, Pſal. 80.17, Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the Son of man whom thou madest ſtrong for thy ſelf. 2. The promiſe of a ſucceſsful iſſue of his undertakings; the Lord covenanteth to Chriſt, and giveth to him aſſurances that he ſhall effect the work which he undertaketh; as if Jehovah had been Surety for this, he ſtrikes hands with him, that he ſhall go and proſper, Iſa. 53.10, The pleaſure of the Lord ſhall proſper in his hand.—He ſhall ſee of the travel of his ſoul.—by his knowledg ſhall my righteous ſervant justifie many. Iſa. 49.6, 7, 8, And he ſaid, it is a light thing that thou ſhouldst be my ſervant to raiſe up the tribes of Jacob, and to reſtore the preſerved of Iſrael; I will alſo give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayſt be my ſalvation unto the end of the earth. Thus ſaith the Lord, the Redeemer of Iſrael, and his holy One, to him whom man deſpiſeth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a ſervant of rulers; Kings ſhall ſee and ariſe, Princes alſo ſhall worſhip, becauſe of the Lord that is faithful, and the holy One of Iſrael; and he ſhall chuſe thee. Thus ſaith the Lord, in an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of ſalvation have I helped thee; and I will preſerve thee, and give thee for a Covenant of the people, to eſtabliſh the earth, to cauſe to inherit the deſolate heritages. 3. The promiſes of victory over all his enemies: the Lord covenanteth with Chriſt, that whoſoever maketh oppoſition to him in any of his offices, in any part of his work, of working Redemption and Salvation for his elect people, ſhall be trodden down, and ſhall fall before him, Pſal. 110.1, 5, 6, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord at thy right hand ſhall ſtrike through kings in the day of his wrath. He ſhall judg among the heathen; he ſhall fill the places with the dead bodies, he ſhall wound the heads over many countreys. Pſal. 89.23, Aed I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. 4. The promiſes of triumph: God covenanteth with him, not only to give him the victory, but a moſt glorious publick triumph over Principalities and Powers, and all oppoſitions and enemies to his undertakings, Iſa. 53.12, Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he ſhall divide the ſpoil with the ſtrong. Eph. 4.8, Wherefore he ſaith, when he aſcended up on high, he led captivity p. 101captive, and gave gifts unto men. Col. 2.15, And having ſpoiled principalities and powers, he made a ſhew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. It was in the faith of theſe Promiſes made to Chriſt concerning his Father's ſtanding by him in this work, and crowning it with ſucceſs in his hand, that he put on that holy hardneſs againſt all oppoſition, and walked as unconcerned who ſtood in his way, ſince his Father was with him, engaged by ſo ſolemn an act of promiſe and covenant made with him, Iſa. 50.6, 7, 8, 9, I gave my back to the ſmiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from ſhame and ſpitting. For the Lord God will help me; therefore ſhall I not be confounded; therefore have I ſet my face like a flint, and I know that I ſhall not be aſhamed. He is neer that justifieth me, who will contend with me? let us stand together; who is mine adverſary? let him come neer to me. Behold, the Lord God will help me, who is he that ſhall condemn me? lo, they all ſhall wax old as a garment, the moth ſhall eat them up.

The fifth kind of Promiſes made by Jehovah to Chriſt in the Covenant of Redemption, were thoſe that relate unto his Fathers acceptance of the travel of his Soul in this work of our Redemption. And under this I comprehend, 1. Whatſoever was ſpoken to him of his Father's delectation, and taking pleaſure in the perſon of Chriſt God-man, and in his Mediatory-tranſactions; all delight ariſeth from ſutableneſs, and this from Chriſt's ſutableneſs unto the Lords ends, and the ſervice unto which he was choſen, and his ſutable actings unto theſe ends, Luk. 3.21, 22, Now when all the people were baptized, it came to paſt that Jeſus alſo being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened: And the Holy Ghoſt deſcended in a bodily ſhape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which ſaid, then art my beloved Son, in thee I am well-pleaſed. Prov. 8.30, Then I was by him as one brought up with him, and I was daily his delight, rejoycing always before him. Iſa. 42.1, Behold my ſervant whom I uphold, mune elect, in whom my ſoul delighteth. 2. The promiſe of gracious acceptance to whatſoever he ſhould act or requeſt, on the behalf of his Redeemed ones, within the time of Grace. Iſa. 49.8, Thus ſaith the Lord, in an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of ſalvation have I helped thee. Joh. 11.41, 42, Father I thank thee that thou haſt heard me: And I knew that thou heareſt me always. Heb. 5.7, Who p. 102in the days of his fleſh, when he had offered up Prayers and Supplications, with ſtrong crying and tears, unto him that was able to ſave him from death, and was heard in that he feared. 3. The Promiſes of Juſtification: there was ſome ſort of Juſtification covenanted to him, which he eyeth, and wherewith he encouraged himſelf under hard and reproachful uſage, Iſa. 50.8, He is near that iuſtifieth me, who will contend with me? and accordingly it is ſaid of him, 1 Tim. 3.16, he was juſtified in the ſpirit; and though he was not capable of remiſſion of ſin, and juſtification, from intrinſecal guilt; for he had none, being holy, harmleſs, undefiled, and ſeparate from ſinners, Heb. 7.26. becauſe he had done no violence; neither was there any deceit in his mouth, Iſa. 53.7. Yet juſtification is promiſed to him, and he is ſaid to be juſtified, 1. Becauſe he was a perfect doer and obeyer of the Law, 1 Joh. 1.7, But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowſhip one with another, and the blood of Jeſus Chriſt his Son cleanſeth us from all ſin. Chriſt did in all things give conſummate and perfect obedience to the Law: and this is to be juſtified by a Law-juſtification and title to life, which Adam ſhould have had; if he had obeyed the Law and Covenant of works. 2. When his cauſe is juſtified, he himſelf is formally juſtified, in reſpect of theſe ſins for which he undertook to ſatisfie: the cauſe that he ſtood for in the Covenant of Redemption, the action is win in Law that he ſtood for, and that was his elect peoples cauſe, for whom he ſtood when Juſtice ſmote him; he is juſtified and acquitted from our ſins, though he had none of his own, Rom. 6.9, knowing that Chriſt being raiſed from the dead, dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 3. He is juſtified as a publick perſon (though in no private capacity) as head of the party whom he repreſented, and whoſe Law place he took upon him, as one who perſonated and acted the part of another by allowance and warrant of Law, Heb. 2.10.13, For it became him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many Sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their ſalvation perfect through ſufferings.—And again, I will put …y truſt in him; and again, Behold, I, and the children which God hath given me. 4. He is juſtified declaratively, in regard that he was declared by a Law, act and Judicial-declaration, to he Jeſus the righteous, 1. Joh. 2.1. who had fatisfied the Law, Rom. 1.4, And declared to be the p. 103Son of God with power, according to the ſpirit of holineſs, by the reſurrection from the dead; he was declared juſtified by his reſurrection, even as he was declared condemned by his death. 5. He is juſtified by cancelling his bond of Suretiſhip which he gave to Jehovah; and now having compleatly ſatisfied for our debts, which was the intent of that bond of Suretiſhip, the right is cancelled, according to the manner of the Creditor's delivering back the bond to the Debtor when it is ſatisfied: And thus we are to conceive, when he blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was againſt us, Col. 2.14. that he had then a diſcharge of his bond of Suretiſhip for our debt; for his bond could not lye for our debt, when ours was cancelled And though the preciſe ſcope of that Scripture and Context lead us to underſtand the cancelling there mentioned, as firſtly relative to the Ceremonial-Law; yet I know no reaſon why we ſhould reſtrict it to that only; but, we may extend it to the ſins againſt, and threatnings of the Moral Law alſo, in ſo far as that is a writing againſt us, eſpecially ſince the words immediately before, ſpeak of Juſtification and remiſſion of all ſins, as a fruit of Chriſt's death; and the words following, declare the extent of his death in this glorious conqueſt and triumph over all his peoples enemies. 6. He is juſtified, becauſe it is acted and recorded in the volume of the book of the written word, that he hath fulfilled what was written of his undertaking in the book of God's eternal Decrees; and in this ſenſe a perſon may be ſaid to be juſtified, who being acted in the record of a book to perform any thing, or to pay any debt, or to become baile for any perſon, when it is thereafter alſo recorded of him, that he ſatisfied and performed his undertaking. And thus we find that his undertaking and ſuretiſhip that was recorded ere he came into the world, Pſal. 40.6, Sacrifice and offering thou didſt not deſire, mine ears haſt thou opened, burnt offering and ſin offering haſt thou not required, &c. Is alſo recorded of him to have been ſatisfied by him, when he came into the world, Heb. 10.5, 6, 7, Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he ſaith, ſacrifice and offering thou wouldſt not; but a body haſt thou prepared me. In burnt offerings and ſacrifices for ſin thou haſt had no pleaſure. Then ſaid I, to I come, in the volume of the book it is written of me, to do thy will, O God. 7. He is juſtified, becauſe he is openly relaxed and diſmiſſed the p. 104Priſon, after that he had entered his perſon for payment of the broken man's debt: the Debtor being under laſh and execution of Law at the Creditor's purſuit, and let go again, is juſtified and acquitted. And thus was Chriſt judicially and by authority of God looſed from death, from the Priſon and Fetters; becauſe the Priſon could not hold him, nor the gripes and fetters of death detain him Priſoner, when the Sentence of the Law was ſatisfied, and the Judg declared him free, Act. 2.24, Whom God hath raiſed up, having looſed the pains of death, becauſe it was not poſſible that he ſhould be holden of it; 'tis a Phraſe like to that Pſal. 105.20, The king ſent and looſed him, even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. Rom. 6.9, Knowing that Chriſt being raiſed from the dead, dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

The ſixth kind of Promiſes made by Jehovah unto Chriſt, were theſe that relate to the reward that ſhould be given to him for this great work and ſervice in our Redemption: And ſuch were, 1. The promiſe of exaltation, after the debaſement and ignominy that he ſhould humble himſelf unto, in the execution of his Suretiſhip; Jehovah covenanteth with him to advance him to the greateſt height of dignity and honour that is in earth or heaven, Pſal. 89.27, Alſo I will make him my firſt born, higher than the kings of the earth. And 110.7, He ſhall drink of the brook in the way; therefore ſhall he lift up the head. Iſa. 53.12, Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he ſhall divide the ſpoil with the ſtoong; which was performed unto him, Phil. 2.8, And being found in faſhion as a man, he humbled himſelf and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Croſs; therefore God hath highly exalted him, &c. Heb. 1.3, When he had by himſelf purged our ſins, ſate down on the right hand of the Majeſty on high: Which promiſes and performances have a peculiar reſpect to the exaltation of Chriſt in his reſurrection from the dead, aſcenſion unto heaven, and ſeſſion at the right hand of God; whereof read Pſal. 16.8, 9, 10, 11, compared with Act. 2.25, to 32. And 13.32, 33. and Pſal. 110. 1. compared with Act. 2.34, 35. 2. The promiſe of ſatisfaction, a reward that ſhould ſatisfie him, a reward that ſhould be according to his own heart, and at his own asking and craving, Iſa. 53.11, He ſhall be ſatisfied. Pſal. 2.8, Ask of me, and I ſhall give. 3. The promiſe of a ſeed: Since a p. 105redeemed ſeed was one of Chriſt's ends for which he ſerved; he endured hard labour, he ſuffered, he died: which, next unto the honour of God, was upon his heart. The Lord by Covenant with him, promiſeth that he ſhall not want off-ſpring, he ſhall neither want children nor heirs, he ſhall have the ſatisfaction which he deſired, Iſa 53.10, 11, When thou ſhalt make his ſoul an offering for ſin, he ſhall ſee his ſeed.—He ſhall ſee of the travel of his ſoul, and ſhall be ſatisfied. Heb. 2.13, Behold, I, and the children which God hath given me. Eph. 5.25, 26, 27, Chriſt alſo loved the Church, and gave himſelf for it, that he might ſanctifie and cleanſe it with the waſhing of water by the word: That he might preſent it to himſelf a glorious Church, not having ſpot or wrinkle, or any ſuch thing; but that it ſhould be holy and without blemiſh; and if this was one of Chriſt's ends for which he wrought, and a part of his reward which his Father promiſed to him; then, 1. Sure he is Lord and Maſter of the will of man, and hath a forcible ſoveraignty and dominion over man's free well,See Mr. Rutherf. Treat. of the Covenant, p. 2. c. 9. p. 327, &c. to bow and determine it (which Arminians and Socinians deny), elſe how can he promiſe a ſeed to Chriſt, and undeclinably and inſuperably make that promiſe good, and cauſe them believe and perſevere unto the end, whereby they come and abide his ſeed? Then, 2. There is no more deſirable ſight to the eye of Chriſt, than to ſee all his Redeemed ſeed about him in his Father's houſe, fairly landed, and without the reach of all poſſible danger of periſhing, Joh. 17.24, Father, I will that they alſo whom thou haſt given me, be with me where I am. Heb. 2.13, Behold, I, and the children which God hath given me. Then, 3. There can be nothing more certain than the faith, perſeverance and ſalvation of Chriſt's elect and redeemed ſeed; in regard it is both undertaken by Chriſt in his part of the Covenant of Suretiſhip, and promiſed to Chriſt by his Father; and ſo undertaken by Jehovah alſo, in the articles of the Covenant of Redemption. 4. The promiſe of a large Dominion and Kingdom: the Lord promiſeth to Chriſt, that a large and flouriſhing Kingdom ſhall be given him, over many countreys, and that he ſhall have many ſubjects, and theſe conquering too, who ſhall ſtand laſt in the fields, and have a proſperous war until the day of their Redemption, Pſal. 2.8, Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen p. 106then for thy inheritance, and the uttermoſt parts of the earth for thy poſſeſſion. And 72.8, 9, 11, He ſhall have dominion from ſea to ſea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderneſs ſhall bow before him, and his enemies ſhall lick the duſt; yea, all Kings ſhall fall down before him, all Nations ſhall ſerve him. And 110.3, Thy people ſhall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holineſs, from the womb of the morning. Mal. 1.11, For from the riſing of the Sun, even unto the going down of the ſame, my name ſhall be great among the Gentiles, and in every place incenſe ſhall be burned unto my name, and a pure offering; for my name ſhall be great among the heathen, ſaith the Lord of hoſts Zech. 9.10, His dominion ſhall be from ſea to ſea, and from the river, even to the ends of the earth. Dan. 7.14, And there was given him dominion and glory, and a Kingdom that all People, Nations and Languages ſhould ſerve him; his dominion is an everlaſting dominion, which ſhall not paſs away, and his Kingdom that which ſhall not be deſtroyed. 5. The promiſe of glory, a peculiar glory in heaven, throughout eternity to the Lord Mediator and Redeemer, to the Lamb that was ſlain, who wrought this great and glorious work of our Redemption; this glory he craveth as his wages, Joh. 17.4, 5, I have glorified thee on earth, I have finiſhed the work which thou gaveſt me to do: And now, O Father, glorifie thou me with thine own ſelf. This glory he eyed when he was at hard labour about the work, Iſa. 49.4, 5, Surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.—Though Iſrael be not gathered; yet ſhall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God ſhall be my ſtrength. Heb. 12.2, Who for the joy that was ſet before him, endured the croſs. This glory was promiſed to him, Zech. 6.13, He ſhall build the temple of the Lord, and he ſhall bear the glory. Iſa. 22.24, And they ſhall hang upon him all the glory of his Father's houſe; this glory is actually payed to him in heaven, where the Lamb has a throne, Rev. 22.3, But the throne of God, and of the Lamb ſhall be in it. And 7.17, For the Lamb which is in the midſt of the throne, ſhall feed them; where there is a new Song ſung unto the Lamb, Rev. 5.9, 10, And they ſung a new Song, ſaying, thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the ſeals thereof; for thou waſt ſlain and haſt redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, p. 107and nation: And haſt made us unto our God Kings and Prieſts, and we ſhall reign on the earth. Yea, and a crown and glory for his redeemed ſeed, was part of the reward promiſed to him, and for which he wrought, 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. Luk. 12.32, Fear not little flock; for it is your Father's good pleaſure to give you the Kingdom. 2 Pet. 5.4, And when the chief Shepherd ſhall appear, ye ſhall receive a crown of glory.

The ſeventh kind of Promiſes made by Jehovah to Chriſt, were theſe that relate to intereſt; I mean, the new contracted intereſts, Covenant-intereſts that were promiſed to him, as part of this agreement betwixt Jehovah and Chriſt Mediator, out of which did ſpring all the new Covenant-intereſts and relations that we have to God: And ſuch were, 1. The intereſt in God as his God by Covenant; for to him was the great Mother promiſe of the Covenant made, I will be his God, Pſal. 80.26, He ſhall cry to me, thou art—my God. This intereſt is bound up with him in the Covenant of Suretiſhip. 2. The intereſt in God as his Father by Covenant, to Chriſt was promiſed, and with him was bound up a new Sonſhip and Covenant-title to God as his Covenanted Father, Pſal. 89.26, He ſhall cry unto me, thou art my Father. Heb. 1.5, I will be to him a Father, and he ſhall be to me a Son; and theſe Covenant-relations and intereſts, and the compellations ariſing from them, we find Chriſt own and acknowledg, Joh. 20.17, I aſcend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and to your God. Hence he calleth us brethren, children of the ſame Father; who have one Covenant-relation with him, to the ſame God, Hell. 2.12, I will declare thy name unto my brethren; hence God is called the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 1. 3. The intereſt of Saviourſhip, for to the man Chriſt 'tis promiſſed that Jehovah ſhall be the rock of his Salvation; Pſal. 89.26. he ſhall cry to me, Thou art my God, and the rock of my Salvation: hence he cryed, Father ſave me from this hour, Joh. 12.27, Jehovah was a Saviour to the man Chriſt from the things that he ſuffered as our ſurety; he ſaveth the head and body: therefore it is ſaid, Heb. 5.7, that he cryed to him that was able to ſave him from death. 4. The intereſt of headſhip: when Chriſt p. 108was given to be head of his body the Church, he took upon him the man Chriſt, the Mediator took upon him a new relation to God as his head, which is founded and bound up in the Covevenant of Suretiſhip; by which this comely order was eſtabliſhed, that Chriſt ſhould be a head to his Church, and God ſhould be a head to the man Chriſt: In this reſpect it is ſaid, that Chriſt is God's, 1 Cor. 3.23, and how? As ye are Christs, and all things are yours; that is, in a ſubordination to do ſervice, 1 Cor. 11.3, and the head of Chriſt is God; the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt muſt be the head of Chriſt; a head by union, to which Chriſt is united by bonds of union, not natural only, but foederal, Joh. 10.30, I, and my father are one. Joh. 1.1, And the word was with God; a head by influence of Spirit and Grace to the man Chriſt, who liveth by the Father, Joh. 6.57, As the living father hath ſent me, and I live by the father; a head by way of order, who is over Chriſt Mediator, and to whom the man Chriſt is ſubject, 1 Cor. 15.28, Then ſhall the Son alſo himſelf be ſubject to him that put all things under him. 5. The intereſt of hearing Prayer, Pſal. 89.26, He ſhall cry unto me; this is bound up among the Covenant-intereſts, which he took upon him by his Suretiſhip, and by this relation: when Chriſt ſhould humble himſelf to pray, Jehovah promiſeth to hear him, and he hath hearing by Covenant, as his ſeed alſo have it, Iſa. 49.8, In an acceptable time have I heard thee. Joh. 11.41, 42, Father, I thank thee that thou haſt heard me: And I knew that thou heareſt me always. Heb. 5.7, Who in the days of his fleſh, when he had offered up Prayers and Supplications with ſtrong crying and tears unto him that was able to ſave him from death, and was heard in that he feared. Theſe and the like intereſts and relations were covenanted to Chriſt; and out of theſe Covenant-intereſts engaged unto him, did our Covenant-relations ſpring.

The laſt kind of Promiſes made by Jehovah to Chriſt, were theſe which relate to the whole deſign and intent of his Suretiſhip: And the great and publick effects which it ſhould produce in the whole frame of the creation, for the elect redeemed peoples ſake. And ſuch were, 1. The promiſe of delivery of the whole creation from bondage and vanity, unto which it was made ſubject for man's Sin, and whereof the whole world p. 109is ſick, like a woman travelling in birth, Rom. 8.20, 21, 22, For the creature was made ſubject unto vanity, not willingly, but by reaſon of him that hath ſubjected the ſame in hope: Becauſe the creature it ſelf alſo ſhall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God: For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travelleth in pain together until now. 2. The promiſe of reſtoring all things to their primitive perfection: all things were broken, defaced and marred by man's ſin; inſomuch that the beauty of them all is gone, and nothing remains upon theſe inferiour creatures, but the old ruines of glory; but there ſhall come a time of the reſtitution of all things, Act. 3.21. and who ſhall do this? Chriſt mends and makes all things new again by his Surety-covenant, that were broken by the rupture of the Covenant of works, Rev. 21.15, And I ſaw a new heaven, and a new earth; for the firſt heaven, and the firſt earth were paſſed away, and there was no more ſea. And he that ſate upon the throne, ſaid, behold, I make all things new. 2 Pet. 3.13, Nevertheleſs, we according to his promiſe, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteouſneſs. 3. The promiſe of reſtoring the broken league that was betwixt man and the reſt of the creatures in their original condition, when all obeyed Adam, and were dependers upon him; after the violation of which there was continual war and jarring betwixt man and the reſt of the creatures; ſin did make a breach in the whole creation; when man ſinned, all the creatures became enemies to him, and one to another; but now in Chriſt all the creatures are reconciled, Eph. 1.10, That in the diſpenſation of the fulneſs of times he might gather together in one, all things in Chriſt, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him. Hoſ. 2.18, And in that day will I make a Covenant for them with the beaſt of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground; and I will break the bow, and the ſword, and the battel out of the earth, and I will make them to lye down ſafely. By Chriſt's Suretiſhip and the Covenant-promiſes through him, the creatures are brought in a new league with man, Job 5.23, For thou ſhalt be in league with the ſtones of the field, and the beasts of the field ſhall be at peace with thee. Pſal. 121.6, The Sun ſhall not ſmite thee by day, nor the Moon by night. 4. The promiſe of p. 110removing the Law-curſe out of all diſpenſations, and writing the Goſpel-bleſſing upon them, that all and every of them may be bleſſings in Chriſt to his Redeemed people: Deut. 28.4, 5, Bleſſed ſhall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattel, and the encreaſe of thy kine; bleſſed ſhall be thy basket, and thy ſtore; that even the rods and chaſtiſements, which are curſes of the Law to the wicked, (Deut. 28.15, 16, But it ſhall come to paſs, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to obſerve to do all his commandments and ſtatutes which I command thee this day, that all theſe curſes ſhall come upon thee and overtake thee. Curſed ſhalt thou be in the city, and curſed ſhalt thou be in the field, &c.) ſhould be covenanted-mercies, and written in the book of the Covenant of Grace to God's elect people, Pſal. 89.30, 31, 33, If his children forſake my Law, and walk not in my judgments; If they break my ſtatutes, and keep not my commandments, then will I viſit their iniquity with the rod.—Nevertheleſs, my loving kindneſs will I not utterly take from him, nor ſuffer my faithfulneſs to fail. Heb. 12.6, For whom the Lord loveth, he chaſteneth, and ſcourgeth every Son whom he receiveth. 5. The promiſe of eſtabliſhing and ſetling all things that were ſet a reeling by the breach of the Covenant of works: it is promiſed that Chriſt ſhall be the repairer; it is he that eſtabliſhes the earth, ſo that the creatures that are for man's uſe, are not deſtroved; for Juſtice did require as ſpeedy vengeance upon men, as it did upon the Angels; and the Sentence had been executed immediately, had not the Covenant of Suretiſhip prevented it; and in this reſpect the very reprobate have ſome temporal advantage by way of Concomitancy, and for the elects ſake, Iſa. 49.8, Thus ſaith the Lord, in an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of Salvation have I helped thee. Col. 1.17, And by him all things conſist. Heb. 1.3, Ʋpholding all things by the word of his power. All theſe, and promiſes of like nature, were made to Chriſt the firſt heir, whom God appointed heir of all things, Heb. 1.2. and for his ſake they redounded unto them. who ſhall be heirs of Salvation, Heb. 1.14. and it is upon this very account that the whole Creation are commanded to ſing, becauſe Chriſt the reſtorer of all things, is come to the throne, Pſal. 96.11, 12, 13, Let the heavens rejoyce, and let p. 111the earth be glad: let the ſea roar and the fulneſs thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then ſhall all the trees of the wood rejoyce before the Lord, for he cometh; for he cometh to judg the earth; he ſhall judg the world with righteouſneſs, and the people with his truth. And 98.7, 8, 9, Let the ſea roar, and the fulneſs thereof: the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands, let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, for he cometh to judg tht earth; with righteouſneſs ſhall he judg the world, and the people with equity. 6. The promiſe of the reſpecitive eminent change of the Government from the ſole eſſential Government of Jehovah, to the diſpenſatory Government of the Mediator, Joh. 5.22, For the Father judgeth no man; but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. 1 Cor. 15.25, For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet; for ſuppoſing that the Covenant of works ſhall be broken, the world cannot now any more be ruled according to the rules of that Covenant, to wit, by God the Father immediately; for then he muſt deſtroy man: therefore together with the change of the Covenant, there muſt needs be a change of the Government; Chriſt as Mediator muſt govern the world, Iſa. 9.6, The government ſhall be upon his ſhoulder: and he muſt judg the world in our nature, Act. 17.31, The man whom God hath appointed: and he reigns not only over the Church; but alſo (though in a far different way) over all the Kingdoms of the world, and all things in the world, for the Churches ſake, Eph. 1.21, 22, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but alſo in that which is to come. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church. Heb. 2.5.—7.8, For unto the Angels hath he not put in ſubjection the world to come, whereof we ſpeak—Thou madest him a little lower than the Angels; and thou crownedſt him with glory and honour, and didst ſet him over the works of thy hands. Thou haſt put all things in ſubjection under his feet; for in that he put all in ſubjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him: But now we ſee not yet all things p. 112put under him. 7. The promiſes of the ſervice of all the world, and of all the creatures; God promiſeth, and will have the ſervices of all the creatures brought about; firſt, to Chriſt, and then to him by Chriſt; he hath the ſervice of all the world promiſed him, and indeed he payed for it; for he bought it with a price; the ſervice of ſome as Sons to live with him, and enjoy him for ever, Pſal. 110.3, Thy people ſhall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holineſs, from the womb of the morning; and the ſervice of others as ſlaves, Pſal. 2.9, Thou ſhalt break them with a rod of iron, thou ſhalt daſh them in pieces like a potters veſſel. And 72.9, 11, They that dwell in the wilderneſs ſhall bow before him, and his enemies ſhall lick the duſt; Yea, all kings ſhall fall before him, and all nations ſhall ſerve him. The whole veſſels of this great houſe, the world; whether they are veſſels of honour or diſhonour, Men or Angels, elect Men or Reprobate, elect Angels or Devils; yet all muſt be for the Maſter's uſe, 2 Tim. 2.20, But in a great houſe there are not only veſſels of gold and of ſilver, but alſo of wood and of earth; and ſome to honour, and ſome to diſhonour. Prov. 16.4, The Lord hath made all things for himſelf; yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.