The True Way to the Tree of Life, Part · Section 9 – Section 12
IX. Direction.
JEsus Christ, the alone eternal Son of God, who in the fulness of time became perfect man, is the only meritorious mean and way, by whom lapsed man can be recovered and redeemed out of his Natural state of sin and misery, into a supernatural state of grace and glory. Compare Act. 18. 28. Ioh. 1. 41, 45. Mat. 16. 16. Gal. 4. 4, 8. Mat. 1. 20, 21. with Luk. 2. 10. 1 Tim. 1. 15. Iob. 3. 16, 17. Rom. 5. 6, 8, 9, 10. and with Act. 4. 11, 12. 1 Tim. 1. 5.
Consider here, 1. Who and what the Recoverer of lapsed man is. 2. That this Jesus Christ is the meritorious mean of lapsed man's recovery. 3. That this Jesus Christ is the only meritorious mean of lapsed man's recovery.
I. Who, and what the Recoverer of lapsed man is. He is Jesus Christ, the alone eternal Son of God, who in the fulness of time became perfect man. Here note, 1. The Names. 2. The Natures of Christ in one Person. His Names, point out, 1. His Office. Iesus, denotes a Saviour. 2. His qualification for this Office. Christ, signifies Annointed, Psal. 45. 7. His Natures, Divine and Humane, declare both his matchless suitableness, and sufficiency for the effectual discharge of his Office.
1. His Names here expressed are two; Iesus, Christ. The first is a Hebrew Name; The second Greek. He came to redeem and save both Iews and Greeks, Jews and Gentiles.
(1). Iesus. He was so called at his Circumcision on the eighth day, Luk. 2. 21. He was so named by the Angel before he was conceived in the womb, Luk. 2. 21. Mat 1. 21, 25. Iesus, i. e. A Saviour. That's his Office. A most sweet and acceptable Office. Reasons why he was called Iesus, a Saviour, and in what sort he saves, I have elsewhere bIn my Treatise of Gods Covenants, Book 4. Chap 6. Aphorism 2. p. 1571, 1572. Lond. 1657.explained. There see.
(2.) CHRIST, i. e. Annointed. This Greek name is of the same signification with the Hebrew name Messiah, Act. 4. 26. from Psal. 2. 2. The New Testament appropriates this Name to him, Luk. 2. 26. Ioh. 4. 25. Mat. 1. 1, 16, 18. and 16. 16, 20. He was so called, because he was annointed with the Holy Ghost, that oyl of gladnest above all his fellows, and thereby designed and qualified for his Office, as I have elsewherecIbid. p. 1582. to p. 1589. showed. As also, That this Jesus is the true CHRIST, the promised Messiah, by ten Arguments.
2. His Natures in one Person are two, viz. 1. Divine, and 2. Humane.
(1.) He is God, the alone eternal Son of God, Mat. 16. 15, 16. Ioh. 1. 14, 18. and 3. 16, 18. 1 Ioh. 4. 9. Heb. 1. 2, 3. The Names, Attributes, works and worship, which peculiarly belong to God, are ascribed to him; as elsewhere dIbid. p. 1572, 1573, 1574.I have manifested.
(2.) He is man. The man Christ Iesus, 1 Tim. 1. 5. The Son of man, Joh. 6. 27. The Son of David, the Son of Abraham, Mat. 1. 1. The Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of the House and linage of David, Luk. 1. 27, &c. and 3. 23, 24, &c. and 2. 4, 5, 6, 7, &c. 21.
And this Jesus Christ is God and Man in one Person, Ioh. 1. 14. Gal. 4. 4. 1 Tim, 3. 16. Of, 1. His fitness to become Man: 2. The Union betwixt his two Natures: 3. The Oneness of his Person: 4. And why it was necessary he should be God and Man: 5. The Similitudes illustrating this Union: And 6. The effects or consequents resulting from it. Of all these, see what I have at large laid down elsewhere.eIbid. …. 1577 to 158….
II. That this IESVS CHRIST God-man, is the meritorious Mean of lapsed man's Recovery. This will be evidenced abundantly many wayes, viz.
1. By the many Promises of Christ, under the Old Testament, as the Restorer and Recoverer of lapsed sinners. As, Gen. 3. 15. Gen. 12. 3. and 26. 4. with Gal. 3. 16. Psal. 110. 1, &c. Isa. 9. 6, 7. and 11. 1. to 10. and 42. 1. to 10. and 53. 4. to the end: and 55. 1, 2, 3, 4. and 61. 1. to 4. Dan. 9. 24, 25, 26. Act. 10. 43.
2. By the many Types of Christ, representing him as a Redeemer, Restorer and Deliverer of his people. Moses and Aaron, Types of Christ, as delivering Israel out of Egypt, Act. 7. 37, 38. The Judges and Kings, Types of Christ, as saving Israel from their enemies, Iudg. 16 30. Psal. 2. The Sacrifices slain, and their blood shed and sprinkled, Types of Christ, who by his death and blood should expiate our offences, &c. Heb. 9. 9. to the end. and 10. 1. to 19.
3. By the many Names and Titles given unto Christ, clearly declaring him to be the eminent Medium or Mean of lapsed man's Recovery. He is to this end stiled,
A Mediator betwixt God and man, 1 Tim. 2. 5. Heb. 9. 15.
A Redeemer, Isa. 59. 20. Rom. 11. 26. Redemption, 1 Cor. 1. 30.
A Ransom for many, 1 Tim. 2. 6.
A Sacrifice for sin, offered once for ever, Heb. 10. 12.
A Propitiation for our sins, and for the sins of the whole world, 1 Joh. 2. 2. A Propitiation through faith in his blood, Rom. 3. 25.
A Reconciler of the world to God, 2 Cor. 5. 18, 19, 20. We are reconciled to God, when we were enemies, by the death of his Son, Rom. 5. 10. By whom we have received the Atonement, Rom. 5. 11.
The Lamb of God, taking away the sins of the world, Joh. 1. 29.
The Deliverer, that shall come out of Sion, and turn away ungodliness from Iacob, Rom. 11. 26.
A Saviour, which is Christ the LORD, Luk. 2. 11. Who came into the world to save sinners, 1 Tim. 1. 15. Able to save to the uttermost, Heb. 7. 25. The chief Captain (or Arch-duke) of our salvation, Heb. 2. 10.
An Advocate with the Father, 1 Joh. 2. 1, 2. With divers such like Denominations.
4. By the many saving benefits which he hath meritoriously obtained and purchased of God for us, by his obedience, sufferings and death. As,
Satisfaction to Gods justice for our sins, Eph. 5. 2. Heb. 10. 5. to 22. 1 Tim. 2. 6.
Redemption from all our spiritual bondage. Eternal Redemption, Heb. 9. 12.
Reconciliation to God, Rom. 5. 10, 11. 2 Cor. 5. 18, 19, 20.
Adoption into Gods Family, Gal. 4. 4, 5, 6.
Remission of sins, and Justification, Eph. 1. 7. Rom. 3. 25. Heb. 9. 14. and 10. 12, 14, 17, 18.
Mortifying and crucifying of our old man, Rom. 6. 6, 7.
Conquering of death, and him that (as an Executioner) had the power of death, that is, the Devil, Heb. 2. 14, 15. Col. 2. 14, 15.
Appearing for us, as our Advocate, by representing the merit of his blood in Heaven, Heb. 9. 24. and 7. 25. 1. Ioh. 2 1, 2.
Making a new and living way for us, through the vail of his flesh, which was rent with sufferings, by his own blood, into the holiest of all Heaven it self, Heb. 10. 19, 20.
III. That this Iesus Christ is the only Mediator, the only Saviour of sinnetrs, the only meritorious Mean of lapsed mans Recovery out of his Sinful and wretched state of Nature. There is one Mediator betwixt God and man, the man Christ Iesus, 1 Tim. 2. 5. Neither is there Salvation in any other: For there is none other Name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved, Act. 4. 12.
Direct. X.
KNow also, O Natural Man, That Iesus Christ hath wrought Recovery and obtained Redemption for lapsed man from his sinful and wretched State of Nature into an Holy and Happy State of Grace, As he is God-man; Testator, Surety and Mediator of the New Testament, Executing his Mediatory office to this End as Prophet Priest and King both in his State of Humiliation and Exaltation.
The former Direction shows that Jesus Christ, and he alone, is Sinful man's Recoverer: This declares, How and in what way he hath Effected and obtained man's Recovery and Redemption. In an abstruse and most mysterious way. viz.
1. As he is God-man in one Person. This I have elsewherefIn my Treat. of Gods Covenants. Book. 4. c. 6. p. 1574, to 1589. and 1593. to 1598. abundantly cleared. There see.
2. As he is Testator, Surety, and Mediator of the New Testament, or New Covenant. This also see elsewheregIbid. p. 1599 to p. 1641. explicated and Confirmed, for brevity sake.
3. As he Executed his Mediatory office in a Prophetical, Priestly, (where his Satisfaction to Gods justice for our sins is at large handled pag. 1607. to 1618.) and Kingly way, both in his state of Humiliation and Exaltation. All these I have elsewherehIbid. p. 1599. to 1641. cleared. Consult the place: that I may not actum agere. Whereby I hope you will not lose your labour.
Direct. XI.
LEt this sink deep into shine heart, O Natural man, That this Iesus Christ, God-man, the only Mediator and Saviour's Most able, and Most willing … Receive and Save all Lapsed Sinners that come unto him, and to God by him.
1. Iesus Christ is most able and sufficient to save all unto the Uttermost that Come unto God by him. Heb. 7. 25. Mat. …8. 18. &c. Col. 1. 19. He is not an impotent, but an omnipotent Saviour, Rev. 1. 8. whether we regard his Person, or Office.
2. Iesus Christ is most willing to save all that come unto him. Both these I have already demonstrated.iIbid. p. 1662. to 1665. Consult them there at large, to avoid prolixity here.
Direct. XII.
MArk well, notwithstanding, O Natural man, That there's a vast difference betwixt Christs obtaining of Redemption and Recovery for lapsed man: and Christs applying of that obtained Recovery and Redemption so lapsed man. Betwixt these, there are two great differences.
1. Christ hath obtained eternal Redemption for us immediately by his own Person, and the merit of his obedience, Heb. 1. 3. and 9. 12. Eph. 5. 2. 1 Tim. 2. 5, 6. Eph. 1. 7, 8. Christ applies this obtained Redemption to us immediately by his Spirit, effectually working Faith and all saving grace in us, that so we may close with Christ, have union to him, and communion with him. Tit. 3. 4, 5, 6, 7. Eph. 2. 8, 9.
Gal. 5. 22. Ezek. 36. 26, 27. Deut. 30. 6. Eph. 1. 13, 14. 1 Ioh. 5. 12. 1 Cor. 1. 30.
2. Christ hath obtained Recovery and Redemption for his Elect joyntly, in fulness of time, by his blood, Gal. 4. 4, 5. Eph. 1. 3. to 9. The vertue of his sufferings extending it self to them all from the beginning to the end of the world: As the Sun in the Meridian line, in the fulness of the day, diffuseth his light, heat and influence backwards towards the East, as well as forward towards the West. Eph 1. 10. Col 1. 20. But Christ applies this Recovery and Redemption which he hath wrought and purchased, in due time to his Elect severally, as he calls them particularly unto the fellowship of his Son, 1 Cor. 1. 9. 2 Thes. 2. 13, 14. And he calls some in their youth, some in their manly-age, some (though very few) in their old age: some at the third hour, some at the sixth, some at the ninth, and some at the eleventh hour of their day, Mat. 20. 1. to 17.