The Christian Life Part 2 Volume 2, Section 2
SECT. II. Concerning the particular Offices of Christ's Mediation.
FOR the clearer stating what are the particular Offices of the Mediator, it will be necessary briefly to enquire into the state and condition of the Parties between whom he Mediates, as they stand related to one another. For he being to officiate for, and between God and Man, to be sure his Offices must be such as their respective states and conditions do require. For how can he officiate effectually between them, unless he performs all those good Offices on both sides, which, considering their states as they stand related to one another, are necessary to create a mutual accord and agreement between them? Now the state of God as he stands related to us, is that of a supreme and absolute Sovereign over blind and rebellious Subjects, who were so far depraved and degenerated, as that we neither understood his Will, nor were at all disposed to obey it. Wherefore that he might officiate effectually for God with us, his ignorant and rebellious Subjects, it was necessary, First, that he should perform the Office of a Prophet, in revealing God's Will and pleasure to us, of which the whole Race of Mankind was so deplorably ignorant. Secondly, That he should perform the Office of a King, in exacting our obedience to God, and subduing our stubborn Wills to his heavenly pleasure; so that in officiating for God with us, it was necessary that he should both teach us as God's Prophet, & rule us as God's King. And then the state of man as it respects God, is that of a most guilty and criminal Subject, who by a continued course of Rebellion had justly and highly incensed and provoked his Sovereign Lord against him, in which state of things it was highly necessary that in officiating for us with God, our Mediator should in the first place, render him some great and honourable reparation in our behalf, such as he in his infinite wisdom should think meet to exact for those high and manifold affronts and Indignities which we had offered to his Sacred Person and Authority. For without some such reparation he could not well have admitted of any reconciliation with us, without prostituting his own Authority, and rendring it cheap and vile in the eyes of bold and insolent Offenders. Now the greatest reparation he could make for us was to take our punishment on himself, by offering up his own life to God as a Sacrifice for the sins of the World. And then, secondly, it was necessary that having made this reparation for us, he should thereupon become our Advocate, and plead his Sacrifice to God in our behalf, that for the sake thereof he would be so far propitious to us as to admit us upon our unfeigned repentance, to his grace and favour. Both which are comprehended in the Priestly Office, which consists, as I shall shew hereafter, in atoning God with Sacrifice. So that the particular Offices which the respective states of God and Man require of him that Mediates between them, is to teach and rule for God, and to expiate and Advocate for men.
But for the better understanding of these particular Offices it is necessary we should briefly consider the Method and Oeconomy of them, and explain in what Order and Manner the Mediator hath proceeded and advanced in the exercise and administration of them. Which in short was thus; by Commission from God the Father he came down into this World, where the first Mediatorial Office he undertook was that of Prophet, in the discharge whereof he made a full revelation of God's Mind and Will to the World. And having performed this, at least so far as was needful in his own Person, he next enters upon the first part of his Priestly Office, which was to make an expiation for the sins of the World, by the Sacrifice of himself; and this being finished, he a little after proceeded to the other part, which was to make an Oblation of his Sacrifice to God in Heaven, and in vertue thereof to Advocate for us, and solicite our Pardon and admission into the divine favour; upon the performance of all which, and as a glorious reward of it, he was admitted to sit down at the right hand of God in the Throne of Regal Authority next and immediately to the Father. For so Phil. 2.8, 9, 10. the Apostle tells us, He humbled himself, and became obedient to the death, even the death of the Cross; wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name, that at the name of Iesus every Knee should bow. And in Heb. 12.2. his sitting down at the right hand of the Throne of God is the consequence of his enduring the Cross, and despising the shame of it. So that in short, the Order and Method in which he proceeded in his Mediatorial Offices was this; First, he Prophesied, then he made expiation for our sins on the Cross, then presented his Expiation in Heaven, and therein began to Advocate or intercede for us; and then he received that Regal Authority by which he is to reign till the Consummation of all things. And therefore for the more clear and distinct explication of these particular Offices, it will be most proper to treat of them in the same order wherein they are placed in the divine Oeconomy, beginning first with the Prophetick, thence proceeding to the Priestly, and thence to the Kingly Office.