The Ark of the Covenant Opened, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Of the Perſon who is Mediator, and of the great diſcoveries of God which are made to us in and through Chriſt.
IN the next place I ſhall ſpeak ſomething of the Mediators Perſon, or of the Perſon who is Mediator, and his fitneſs and qualification for this work. When the perſon is known, his fitneſs for the Mediatorſhip will appear: for it is namely in order to that end that we ſpeak here of the Perſon who is Mediator, that his compleat qualifications for that Office, and the diſcoveries which are made of God to us through him, may be known.
And, 1. Before we ſpeak of the Mediators Office, let us conſider the Perſon who is Mediator of the new Covenant, Jeſus Chriſt, Heb. 12.24. Chap. 8.6. 1 Tim. 2.5. Chap. 3.17. Jeſus Chriſt Mediator carries three Names, which relate to three great diſcoveries and manifeſtations of God that are made to us in him. 1. As he manifeſts the will of God, he is called the word of God, Rev. 19.13. 2. As he manifeſts the nature and eſſence of God, he is called the brightneſs of his glory, Heb. 1.3. 3. As he manifeſts the perſons of the Godhead, he is called the expreſs Image of his Perſon. I do not ſay theſe names relate only to theſe diſcoveries; but mainly,
1. The Perſon who is Mediator of the Covenant of grace, is he whoſe name is called the word of God, Rev. 19.13. and that both in relation to Creation and Redemption. 1. He is the word by whom all things were made, Eph. 3.9, Who hath creatred all things by Jeſus Chriſt. Heb. 1.2, By whom alſo he made the worlds. Pſal. 33.6, By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the hoſt of them by the breath of his mouth. 2. He is the word in relation to the revealing all the will of God; he is medium revelationis, as well as reconciliationis. There is a new diſcovery of God after the f…ll; its a diſcovery of him in Chriſt: and this is a myſtery which the Angels dive into, with ſtupendious endeavours, 1 Pet. 1.12, Which things the angels deſire to look into. Chriſt is the word of God that reveals this myſtery, Mal. 11.27, Neither knoweth any man the Father ſave the Son, and he to whomſoever the Son will reveal him. Joh. 1.18, No man hath ſeen God at any time: the only begotten Son which is in the boſome of the Father; he hath declared him. 3. He is the word of God in relation to the fulfilling all the word of God, and accompliſhing his will, eſpecially that which relateth to himſelf: this Name is given him in the time of the ſeventh Trumpet, Rev. 11.15, with 19.13; When all the promiſes and threatnings are to be fulfilled, then he ſhall be acknowledged to be the word of God. The ordering of all things according to the word of God, and the accompliſhment of all his will ſince the fall, is committed to the adminiſtration of Chriſt Mediator, Joh. 5.22, 23, For the father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment to the Son, that all men ſhould honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. It was Chriſt that brought the flood upon the world: it was he that went down to Sodom, and deſtroyed it, 2 Pet. 2.5, 6, Jehovah did it, Gen. 7. and 21. The ſame name is given to Chriſt. It was Chriſt the Angel of the Covenant that appeared in the Buſh, and delivered his people out of Egypt, Exod. 3.2, And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midſt of a buſh: and he looked, and behold, the buſh burned with fire, and the buſh was not conſumed: Act. 7.30. An Angel of the Lord in a flame of fine in a buſh. It was he that brought all theſe Judgments on them in the Wilderneſs, 1 Cor. 10.9, Neither let us tempt Chriſt as ſome of them alſo tempted, and were deſtroyed of Serpents. It was he that brought them to Canaan, and out of Babylon, and built the Temple, and filled it after their return, Iſa. 63.9, By the angel of his preſence he ſaved them. Zech. 6.12, Behold the man whoſe name is the Branch, and he ſhall grow up out of his place, and he ſhall build the temple of the Lord. Chap. 9. v. 11, As for thee alſo, by the blood of thy Covenant, I have ſent forth thy priſoners out of the pit wherein is no water. Hag. 2.7, And I will ſhake all nations, and the deſire of all nations ſhall come, and I will fill this houſe with glory, ſaith the Lord of hoſts. And this contributes to make Chriſt a fit Mediator, and to ſupport the faith of Gods people, that the making of all things, the revealing of the will of God, and the fulfilling of it, even the whole government is upon his ſhoulders: which may aſſure our hearts that the work which he undertaketh ſhall be accompliſhed.
2. This is he who is called the brightneſs of his Fathers glory, Heb. 1.3. As Chriſt is foreign, ſo he manifeſts Gods will: here he is foreign, ſo he manifeſts the nature of God.
And here let us, 1. See what the glory is: I take it to be meant, not of the eſſential glory which he had with the Father from all Eternity; but of the manifeſtative Glory and Majeſty of the Lord which ſhined forth in Chriſt: for it is of Chriſt Mediator that the Apoſtle is here ſpeaking; it is the excellencies of God as they ſhine forth in the Mediator, which otherwiſe had been inviſible, and could not have been ſeen, diſcovered, nor looked upon, 2 Cor. 3.18, But we all with open face beholding as in a glaſs the glory of the Lord. Therefore the end of Chriſts being conſtitute Mediator, is for this manifeſtative glory whereof we read, Joh. 11.4, When Jeſus heard …, he ſaid, This ſickneſs is hot unto death, …ut for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Chap. 5. v. 22, 23, For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment to the Son: That all men ſhould honour the Son, even as they honour the Father.
2. The brightneſs, or ſent-forth Light here ſpoken of, is a ſimilitude taken from the Sun; wherein there is the body of the Sun, there is the light of the Sun, and the ſhining ſplendor or beams of the Sun: Interpreters think this to be an expreſſion of the eternal generation of the Son, proceeding from the Father, as light from the Sun. I take it rather to be the manifeſtation of the Father in Chriſt the Mediator, who is otherwiſe inviſible: as the Sun is manifeſted by its own light, ſo that if you would light all the Torches in the world, you cannot ſee the Sun by the light of theſe, without its own light: No more can you ſee God but in Chriſt Jeſus; who is the brightneſs of his Glory, the light whereby his excellencies are manifeſted, Joh. 1.9, That was the true light which-lighteth every man that cometh into the world. Mat. 11.27, Neither knoweth any man the Father, ſave the Son, and he to whomſoever the Son will reveal him.
3. This is he who is called the expreſs Image of his Fathers Perſon, Heb. 1.3. foreign, the imprinted form, this ſimilitude relates to the perſons of the Godhead, as the former did to the Divine Eſſence and Nature. It is borrowed from the ſignets impreſſion, which repreſents all the lineaments of the Seal, the Character is the perfect expreſſed Image. Mark, Chriſt is called the Image of Gods Perſon, not of his Eſſence; for he is the ſame Eſſence, not the ſame Perſon. There is in the God-head eſſentia & ſubſiſtentia; the Eſſence is but one, but the Subſiſtences or Perſons are different, as is expreſſed in Scripture, 1 Joh. 5.7, For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the holy-Ghoſt: I take not this to be meant of Chriſt, as God principally: for ſo he is the ſame in Nature, Names and Atrributes; rather than the Image of God: but I underſtand it of Chriſt as Mediator, in whom there is a full and perfect reſemblance of the Fathers Attributes and Excellencies.
And here for our knowledg of the perſon who is Mediator, I lay down two concluſions from that comprehenſive deſcription of him: 1. That Jeſus Chriſt hath in him a glorious reſemblance, and a perfect Character of all the glorious Excellencies and Attributes of the Father, Col. 2.9, For in him dwelleth all the fulneſs of the Godhead bodily. 2 Cor. 3.18, But we all with open face beholding as in a glaſs the glory of the Lord. 2. That it is by Chriſt Mediator, that all the glorious excellencies of God are revealed unto us, 2 Cor. 4.6, For God who commanded light to ſhine out of darkneſs, hath ſhined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Jeſus Chriſt.
Conſider, 1. That Gods great end in all his goings forth towards the Creature, in Predeſtination, Creation, Providence, &c. is his own glory, and the manifeſtation of his excellency, Prov. 16.4, The Lord hath made all things for himſelf, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Rom. 11.36, For of him, and through him, and to him are all things, to whom be glory for evor. Rev. 4. laſt, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power, for thou haſt created all things, and for thy pleaſure they are and were created. But more eſpecially this is his end in Redemption, Eph. 1.6, To the praiſe of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Joh. 17.4, I have glorified thee on the earth, I have finiſhed the work which thou gaveſt me to do. 2. That which is Gods end, is our happineſs; even to have God manifeſted to us, to ſee him, and to have diſcoveries made to us of his excellencies, Joh. 17.3, And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom thou haſt ſent. Mat. 5.8, Bleſſed are the pure in heart, for they ſhall ſee God. 1 Joh. 3.2, But we know when he ſhall appear, we ſhall be like him, for we ſhall ſee him as he is. To ſee him, and be transformed by that ſight, 2 Cor. 3.18, But we all with open face beholding as in a glaſs the glory of the Lord, are changed into the ſame image, from glory to glory, even as by the ſpirit of the Lord. 3. The way of Gods attaining his end, and our attaining our happineſs (which are both one), the way (I ſay) is alſo one: it is in Chriſt the Mediator that God is manifeſted, and in him do we ſee God; the knowledg of his glory and our happineſs are both in the face of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 4.6. All the excellencies of God are manifeſted in Chriſt, he revealeth the myſteries, 1. Of his will as he is the Word. 2. Of his nature as he is the brightneſs of his Glory. 3. Of the ſubſiſtences and diſtinction of the Perſons, as he is the Image of his Perſon; he only knows the Father, and he only can reveal the Father, Joh. 1.18. Col. 1.15, He is the image of the inviſible God, i.e. The excellencies of God (otherwiſe inviſible) are revealed by him, and to be ſeen in him.
Theſe three things of God are diſcovered in Jeſus Chriſt. 1. The Attributes of God. 2. The diſtinct ſubſiſtences of the perſons of the God-head. 3. The diſtinct offices of the three Perſons.
1. There is a full manifeſtation of the Attributes of God in Jeſus Chriſt the Mediator of the new Covenant; theſe Attributes that were never manifeſted before, Mercy and Long-ſuffering, are revealed in him; and theſe that were manifeſted before, ſhine mort brightly through Chriſt. 1. The Wiſdom of God: there was great and infinite wiſdom ſhewed in creating the world, and ruling it by his w… providence; but what is that to the wiſdom that is ſhewed in Chriſt? the wiſdom that reconciled Juſtice and Mercy, the wiſdom that puniſhed ſin, and pardoned the ſinner? how wonderful and unſearchable is that Wiſdom, that by the fall of man, raiſed him to a greater height of happineſs than ever he had before? Rom. 11.33, 34, O the depth of the riches, both of the wiſdom and knowledg of God! how unſearchable are his judgments, and his ways paſt finding out! For who hath … the mind of the Lord? or who heth been his c…u…ſe…r … Eph. 3.10, To the intent, that now unto the prinly, … in heavenly places, might be made known …, the manifold wiſdom of God: this is, foreign, the manifold wiſdom of God, which yet doth not fully expreſs the Greek word, which ſignifies the manifold and various wiſdom, or the wiſdom of God that is full of admirable varieties: ſo Beza, Eraſmus, Zanchius, Stephanus.
2. The Goodneſs of God is manifeſted in Jeſus Chriſt; his goodneſs and love to man appeared much at firſt in making him of the rank of the higheſt creatures on earth, and putting all the reſt of the Creatures under his feet, Pſal. 8.5, 6, For thus haſ… made him a little fower than the Angels, and haſt crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madeſt him to have dominion over the works of thy hands: thou haſt put all things under his feet. This was penned to magnitie the nature of man: but in Chriſt our nature is more magnified, as we ſhall ſhew by and by, Heb. 1.6, And again, when he bringeth in the firſt begotten into the world, he ſaith, And let all the Angels of God worſhip him. This is a higher pitch of the love of God, this is the goodneſs of God more manifeſted than ever before, to give his Son Chriſt for man, and his Son to become ſin, and a curſe for man, Joh. 3.16, For God ſo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoſoever believeth in him ſhould not periſh, but haeve everlaſting life. 2 Cor. 5. laſt, For he hath made him to be ſin for us that knew no ſin, that we might be made the righteouſneſs of God in him. Gal. 3.13, Chriſt hath redeemed us from the curſe of the law, being made a curſe for us.
3. The Mercy of God is eminently manifeſted in Jeſus Chriſt: man is made to riſe by his fall: Mercy never ſaw the light before; it was never revealed but in Jeſus Chriſt: for it reſpects the creature in its miſery, Luk. 1.72, 78, To perform the mercy promiſed to our fathers, and to remember his holy Covenant.—Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day-ſpring from on high hath viſited us. When all the poſterity of Adam were as fuel for the fire, mercy reſcues and reſerves ſome to be ſons and heirs, Rom. 9.23, And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the veſſels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory.
4. The Power of God is manifeſted in Chriſt: God ſhewed his power in the Creation, as we read, Iſa. 40.12, Who hath meaſured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the ſpan, and comprehended the duſt of the earth in a meaſure, and weighed the mountains in ſcales, and the hills in a balance, &c. Job 38, &c. But what is this to the taking of our nature, and uniting it in a perſonal union with the Son of God? that God ſhould become man; the Ancient of Days become a Child: the Incomprehenſible to become comprehenſible! Col. 2.9, For in him dwelleth all the fulneſs of the God-head bodily. The inviſible God to become viſible, and to dwell here as in a tabernacle with men, 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.
5. The Soveraignty of God is manifeſted in and through Chriſt; great was the Soveraignty of God that was exerciſed in predeſtination, in making of veſſels of honour or diſhonour, according to the pleaſure of his will, Rom. 9.21, 22, 23, Hath not the potter power over the clay of the ſame lump, to make one veſſel unto honour, and another unto diſhonour? What if God, willing to ſhew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-ſuffering the veſſels of wrath fitted to deſtruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the veſſels of mercy which he had before prepared unto glory? But all this was Soveraignty over the creature: but that Jeſus Chriſt the Son of God ſhould be appointed a Mediator of the new Covenant, made a Servant, commanded to lay down his life, this is greater Soveraignty, Joh. 6.38, For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that ſent me. Chap. 10. v. 18, This commandment have I received of my Father.
6. The Juſtice of God is manifeſted in Chriſt: Juſtice was ſeen in caſting off the Angels that fell without hope: and in executing the ſentence and curſe of the firſt Covenant upon Adam, for his tranſgreſſion thereof: but the world never heard of ſuch manifeſtation of Juſtice as appears in the ſatisfaction of Chriſt to Juſtice; That Chriſt the Son of God is made ſin for us, and being made ſo in obedience to his Fathers command, Juſtice ſpares him not, but he muſt be ſmitten to death, that ſatisfaction may be made for ſin in our nature, Rom. 8.32, He that ſpared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all. Iſa. 53.8, For the tranſgreſſions of my people was he ſtricken.
7. The Holineſs of God is manifeſted in Chriſt: his Holineſs did appear in that holy Image which he put in Adam, and the holy Law which he gave to him under a penalty: but this holineſs of the Image of God ſtamped on the creature, was poſſible to be loſt, for both men and Angels were capable of ſin, and did fall: but herein is a greater manifeſtation of Gods holineſs, that a Creature, Chriſt-man, Chriſt Mediator, is made the Fountain of all Holineſs, Holineſs cannot be loſt in him; yea, it is derived from him, Joh. 1.14, 16, Full of grace and truth, and of his fulneſs have all we received, and grace for grace. Chap. 3. v. 34, For God giveth not the ſpirit by meaſure unto him. This is ſpoken of Chriſt man, of Chriſt Mediator; for one of the perſons of the Godhead cannot receive another. O what an impreſſion of Holineſs is this! what a communication and manifeſtation of the Holineſs of God! The fulneſs of the Godhead dwells bodily in the man Chriſt, Col. 2.9. Where there is the higheſt union, there is the greateſt communion; there was never ſuch another union as that perſonal union, and therefore there could never be ſuch a communication of God.
8. The All-ſufficiency of God appears more in Chriſt than ever before: the declarative glory thereof ſhines in the reſtoring of loſt man: for whoſoever can reſtore loſt man, can raiſe him to a higher happineſs than he fell from; he is All-ſufficient, and Almighty, and is thereby declared to be ſo, this did God in Chriſt the Mediator: this is a declaration of Gods All-ſufficiency, and of Chriſts, Gen. 17.1, I am God almighty. 2 Cor. 8.9, For ye know the grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that though he was rich, yet for your ſakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be made rich. Chap. 12.9, And he ſaid unto me, My grace is ſufficient for thee, for my ſtrength is made perfect in weakneſs: moſt gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Chriſt may reſt upon me.
9. The Patience and Long ſuffering of God was never heard of before, until it was manifeſted in Chriſt. God executed his Juſtice againſt the fallen Angels, without exerciſing any Patience and Long-ſuffering towards them, 2 Pet. 2.4, For if God ſpared not the Angels which fell, but caſt them down to hell. But in Jeſus Chriſt there is a diſcovery of the Patience of God, and his bearing with ſinners, Iſa. 49.8, There is a Covenant to eſtabliſh the earth, that Juſtice do not ruine it. Jeſus Chriſt obtained pardon and reprival for ſome ſinners, that they ſhould be ſpared, Exod. 34.6, And the Lord paſſed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful, and gracious, long-ſuffering, and abundant in goodneſs and truth. In him the Lord proclaims himſelf merciful, and gracious, long-ſuffering, &c. 1 Tim. 1.16, Howbeit, for this cauſe I obtained mercy, that in me firſt Jeſus Chriſt might ſhew forth all long-ſuffering, for a pattern to them which ſhould hereafter believe on him to life everlaſting. Yea, and by way of concomitancy, and for the Elects ſake, reprobates reap ſome benefit by the Patience of God thus manifeſted. He ſuffers the creatures to mock him, and ſay, Where is the promiſe of his coming? 2 Pet. 3.4. Rom. 9.22, Endured with much long-ſuffering the veſſels of wrath fitted to deſtruction.
10. The Faithfulneſs of God is manifeſted in Chriſt: he was known to be true and faithful, in fulfilling the threatning and certification of the tranſgreſſion of the firſt Covenant, Gen. 2.17, In the day thou eateſt thereof, thou ſhalt ſurely die. And in keeping the Covenant with all the creatures, Gen. 8.22, While the earth remaineth, ſeed-time, and harveſt-time, and cold, and heat, and ſummer, and winter, and day and night ſhall not ceaſe, Jer. 33.20, Thus ſaith the Lord, If ye can break my Covenant of the day, and my Covenant of the night, and that there ſhould not be day and night in their ſeaſon, &c. But this was but a ſmall declaration of his faithfulneſs, being compared with the manifeſtation of his Faithfulneſs in Chriſt, which ſhines ſo brightly in keeping Covenant and Promiſes with him, and with his people upon his account, notwithſtanding all your unfaithfulneſs to him: hereby he is proclaimed to be the Lord, abundant in truth. Exod. 34.6. 2 Cor. 1.20, For all the promiſes of God in him are yea, and in him are Amen. Pſal. 89.34, 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 lie unto David, Mic. 7.18, 20, Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity.—Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou haſt ſworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
11. The Majeſty of the Lord, ſomething whereof is manifeſted in the Creation, Pſal. 19.1, The heavens declare the glory of the Lord, and the firmament ſheweth forth his handy-work. But much more in reſtoring man; if there be a Majeſty in Angels, Heb. 1.7, And of his Angels he ſaith, who maketh his Angels ſpirits, and his miniſters a flame of fire. And in godly men, which is but a little diſcovered here, &c. ſhall be more fully afterward, 2 Theſſ. 1.10, When he ſhall come to be glorified in his ſaints. O what excellent Majeſty muſt there be in Jeſus Chriſt? Heb. 1.13, But to which of the Angels ſaid he at any time ſit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy foot-ſtool. And what ſhall be revealed in him, when he ſhall come in glory? 2 Theſſ. 1.7, When the Lord Jeſus ſhall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels. Col. 3.4, When Chriſt who is our life ſhall appear, then ſhall ye alſo appear with him in glory. You ſee then all the Attributes of God are made more bright, and get a new luſtre in Jeſus Chriſt the Mediator: he is the brightneſs of his Fathers glory, and the expreſs Image of his Perſon.
2. The diſtinct Subſiſtences of the Perſons of the Godhead and bleſſed Trinity, are more brightly diſcovered in Jeſus Chriſt, than ever before: God was but darkly ſeen before in the diſtinct Subſiſtences of the perſons of the Trinity; but in the Goſpel, through Jeſus Chriſt, there is a glorious manifeſtation thereof, 2 Cor. 4.6, For God, who commanded the light to ſhine out of darkneſs, hath ſhined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Jeſus Chriſt.
1. The Eternal Son of God, the ſecond Perſon, his taking on our nature, doth clearly ſhew that there are diſtinct Subſiſtences or Perſons in the Godhead: There are two natures in one Subſiſtence or Perſon, which illuſtrates the three Subſiſtencies in one nature, or three Perſons in the Godhead.
2. By Jeſus Chriſt, from his own mouth, and in his carrying as Mediator, there were many bright diſcoveries of this great myſtery, as we may read, Mat. 3.16, 17, And Jeſus, when he was baptized, went up ſtraight-way out of the waters: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he ſaw the ſpirit of God deſcending like'd dove, and lighting upon him, And lo, a voice from heaven, ſaying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleaſed. Chap. 28. v. 28, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy-Ghoſt. Joh. 14.16, 26, And I will pray the Father, and he ſhall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.—But the comforter, which is the holy-Ghoſt, whom the Father will ſend in my Name, &c. And many like teſtimonies were from him, manifeſting this glorious myſtery.
3. The diſtinct Offices of the three Perſons, or their ordered adminiſtration and working, and the various and diſtinct acts of the Trinity, in the work of redemption, are brightly diſcovered in and by Jeſus Chriſt the Mediator, 2 Tim. 1.9, 10, Who hath ſaved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpoſe and grace which was given us in Chriſt Jeſus, before the world began; but is now made manifeſt by the appearing of our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, who hath aboliſhed death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Goſpel. But becauſe theſe may be gathered from what hath been ſpoken of the Covenant of Suretiſhip or Redemption, I ſhall only touch upon them in this place. And, 1. The Acts of the Father plotting and making the Covenant with Chriſt Mediator. 1. He had a purpoſe to raiſe man through a Mediator, Eph. 1.5, Having predeſtinated us unto the adoption of children, by Jeſus Chriſt to himſelf, according to the good pleaſure of his will. 2. He choſe the Son for the doing this work, and us in him, Eph. 1.4, According as he hath choſen us in him before the foundation of the world. Pſal. 89.19, I have laid help upon one that is mighty. 3. He makes a Covenant with the Son, Pſal. 89.3, I have made a Covenant with my choſen: and promiſes were given to Chriſt; and grace given to us in him, before the world began, Tit. 1.2. 2 Tim. 19. 4. God the Father appoints who ſhall be ſaved, and gives them to the Son, that all that were written in Gods book may alſo be written in the lambs book of life, Joh. 17.9. Them that thou haſt given me, for they are thine, Rev. 20.12, 15. Chap. 21. v. 27. 5. He appoints what meaſure of grace and glory every one of them ſhall have, Eph. 4.7, But unto every one of us is given grace, according to the meaſure of the gift of Chriſt. Mat. 20.23, But to fit on my right hand and on my left, is not mine to give, but it ſhall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. 6. He commits all Government to the Son for the Elects ſake, that he may do according to this appointment, Iſa. 9.6, And the government ſhall be upon his ſhoulder. Joh. 5.22, For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all Judgment to the Son.
2. The Acts of Jeſus Chriſt undertaking: 1. He conſents to the Covenant, Pſal. 40.7, Then ſaid I, Lo, I come, in the volume of the book it is written of me. 2. He engageth himſelf to take the Creature into union with his Perſon, Heb. 10.5, Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he ſaith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldſt not, but a body haſt thou prepared me. And to lay down his life according to his Fathers command, Joh. 10.18, This commandment have I received of my Father. 3. He undertakes to receive, and keep, and raiſe up at the laſt day, all thoſe given him by the Father, 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. Chap. 17. throughout. 4. He undertakes the Government of the world, and to Judg it at the laſt day, Pſal. 2.8, Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermoſt parts of the earth for thy poſſeſſion. Mat. 11.27, All things are delivered unto me of my Father. Joh. 3.35, The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
3. The Acts of the Spirit: 1. He undertakes to unite the humane nature to Chriſt, by a miraculous conception, Luk. 1.35, The holy Ghoſt ſhall come upon thee, and the power of the higheſt ſhall overſhadow thee, 2. To joyn us with God in one ſpirit, 1 Cor. 6.17, But he that is joyned to the Lord, is one ſpirit. 3. To be a Spirit of Unction, firſt to Chriſt, and then to us through him, Joh. 3, 34, For God giveth not the ſpirit by meaſure unto him. Iſa. 61.1, The ſpirit of the Lord is upon me, becauſe he hath anointed me to preach good tydings unto the meek. 4. To act all our graces, to blow upon them, and to help our infirmities, Song. 4. laſt, Awake, O north-wind, and come thou ſouth, blow upon my garden, that the ſpices thereof may flow out. Rom. 8.26, Likewiſe the ſpirit alſo helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we ſhould pray for as we ought, but the ſpirit it ſelf maketh interceſſion for us, with groanings that cannot be uttered. 5. To ſhed abroad the love of God in our hearts, Rom. 5.5, Becauſe the love of God is ſhed abroad in our hearts by the holy-Ghoſt which is given unto us. 6. To ſet a Seal upon our hearts, and to bear witneſs of all the work of God in us, Eph. 1.13, In whom alſo after that ye believed, ye were ſealed with that holy ſpirit of promiſe. Rom. 8.16, The ſpirit it ſelf beareth witneſs with our ſpirit, that we are the children of God.
Now all theſe things are diſcovered, and manifeſted to us in Jeſus Chriſt the Mediator of the new Covenant.