The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant, Religious treatise · Part 1 · Chapter 7 · Section 1 – Section 2
SECT. I.
THat there is a neceſſity of a Mediatour between God and us: Man may be There is a neceſſity of a Mediatour betwixt God and us.conſidered two wayes,
Either as a righteous Creature ſo made by God, in which reſpect there is no neceſſity of a Mediatour for him; for as ſo he was in an eſtate of friendſhip with his God, and no difference nor provocation therefore requiring a Mediatour.
Or as a ſinning, offending and guilty Creature. By reaſon whereof friendſhip is broken off 'twixt him and God: God is infinitely offended and provoked, and ſinful man lies under his heavy wrath and curſe for ſinning voluntarily againſt him; all which was threatned in caſe of ſinfull tranſgreſſion and diſobedience; For,And thus he ſtands in need of a Mediatour; For
1. God is righteous, and muſt eſtabliſh his Law againſt ſin, by the puniſhing of God is righteous.ſin; he will certainly be repaired either in the ſinners eternal deſtruction, or in a Mediatours perfect ſatisfaction. He will be ſatisfied, or elſe never reconciled.
2. There is an abſolute impotency in the ſinner to make his own peace with God, either to ſatisfie the offended God, or to repaire his loſt ſelf; he hath nothing There is an abſolute impotency in the ſinner to ſatiſfie.either proportionable or available that way. So then, if God cannot in honour ſuffer ſin to paſſe unpuniſhed; and man cannot in any kind of obedience make a compenſation and ſatisfaction unto God; of neceſſity a Mediatour muſt be found who muſt ſtep in between both theſe parties, on whom the curſe due to ſin may be laid, and God (by his obedience) may be ſatisfied, he undertaking and laying down the ſame for the offendingand ſinning party, unto the offended and prowoked party.
3. It had utterly been in vain (be it ſpoken with reverence) for God to have There cannot be a New Covenant without a Mediatour.ſet up a Covenant (a New Covenant) if he had not ſet forth a Mediatour for that Covenant. Becauſe neither can a ſinner come into a New Covenant without a Mediatour (the ſinners acceſſe to God and union with him requires one) Nor can there be any acceptance of the perſon or of the ſervices of any ſinner without a Mediatour, who muſt bear his name before God, and take away the iniquity of his holy offerings. Nor can he continue in that Covenant without the preſence and help of a Mediatour; For if Adam who had a perfect righteouſneſs (ſuitable to his created condition) could not make good the Covenant with him, much leſſe can the ſinner by his own ſtrength either perform the duties, or perſevere in the performance of them againſt ſo many inward oppoſitions of his own ſinful nature, and ſo many outward temptations of Satan, without the power and ſufficiency of a Mediatour.
SECT. II.
2. THat Jeſus Chriſt is the Mediatour, and he only: There are two Branches Jeſus Chriſt, and he only is the Mediatour. Jeſus Chriſt is t…e Mediatour, proved by the … God,in this Aſſertion.
1. One that Jeſus Chriſt is the Mediatour, which will appear to be a truth, whether you conſider (ſix things.)
1. The counſel and purpoſe of God to ſave ſinners by Chriſt as Mediatour. Ye were redeemed with the precious blood of Chriſt, as of a Lamb without blemiſh, and without ſpot, who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world, 1 Pet. 1. 19, 20. Whoſe names are written in the book of Life of the Lamb ſlain before the foundation of the world. Rev. 13. 8. Him being delivered by the determinate counſel and for eknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and ſlain, Acts 2. 23.
2. The voluntary conſent and compact between God the Father and Chriſt. The The voluntary conſent and compact betwixt God and Chriſt.Father was willing to give Chriſt his Son to be the Head, and to be the Ranſome of the Elect; and Chriſt the Son of God preſented himſelf moſt willing to procure that ſalvation for them: The Father agreed with him for an obedience even to the death to bring this about, and promiſed him a Spiritual Kingdom and ſeed upon the performance; And the Son came up to this, Then ſaid I, Loe I come, in the volume of thy Book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will O my God, yea thy Law is within my heart.
3. The promiſe of this unto Adam. Gen. 3. 15. It ſhall bruiſe thy head, and thou The promiſe of this to Adam.ſhalt bruiſe his heele: This is directly meant of Chriſt, who as our Mediatour ſhould ſuffer death for us, &c. And unto Abraham in Gen. 18. 18. In thy ſeed ſhall all the Nations of the earth be bleſſed.
4. The Legal figures and ſhadows in Sacrifices and Offerings, all which Typified The Legal figures and ſhadows of it.Jeſus Chriſt the Mediatour who offered himſelf, ſhed his blood, took away ſinne, and made peace, as in the Hebrews is a bundantly expreſſed.
5. The actual exhibition and preſentation of Chriſt unto the world, and for this The actual exhibition of Chriſt.purpoſe to be a Mediatour, Gal. 4. 4. When the fulneſſe of time was come, God ſent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the Law. verſe 5. To redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of ſons.
6. The real executing of that Office of Mediatour, in fulfilling all Righteouſneſs, The real execution of that Office.and in giving himſelf for a Ramſome, and by his blood reconciling and making Peace.
2. And as Chriſt is that Mediatour, ſo he only is that Mediatour, 1 Tim. 2. 5. Chriſt only is that Mediatour.There is one God, and one Mediatour between God and Man, the Man Christ Jeſus, but one God, and but one Mediatour. Acts 4. 12. Neither is there ſalvation in any other; for there is no other Name under heaven given amongſt men whereby we muſt be ſaved. None was ever called to that Office but Chriſt; and none was ever fitted for that Office but Chriſt; and none were ever able to diſcharge that Office but Chriſt. Him the Father ſent, and gave, and ſealed; and on him was laid our iniquities, &c. Read you of Man or Angel called by God to be a Mediatour 'twixt him and ſinners? Was ever any ſo fitted for that work but Chriſt?
He who is a Mediatour, at leaſt three conditions muſt lie upon him.
1. He muſt not be of the number of thoſe who are to be reconciled: Therefore Three conditions in a Mediator, agree only to Chriſt.no ſimple man can be a Mediatour.
2. He muſt partake of the nature of them who are to be redeemed and reconciled; He muſt be of the ſame ſeed with them, Heb. 2. 16. and therefore no Angel can be a Mediatour.
3. He muſt be more than a meere Creature; For a meere creature cannot ſatisfie, nor can his righteouſneſs be imputed to any but himſelf; and he muſt be able to overcome ſin, and death, and raiſe himſelf, which no creature can do; therefore neither men, nor Angels can be Mediatours.