Gods Love to Man and Mans Duty Towards God, Part 1 · Section 16
Sect. 16. PROP. XVI. In this firſt Covenant there was neither need of, nor place for a Mediator.
FIrſt I ſay, there was no need of a Mediator here, at the making of this Covenant, God and Man were very good friends.
Again, there was no place for a Mediator here. The condition required in this Covenant being perfect, perſonal obedience. If Adam obeyed not in his own perſon, this Covenant is broken, irreparably broken. And thus it becomes impoſſible that ever Man ſhould attain to life and happineſs by this Covenant, if once he faileth in the leaſt point of duty required of him, upon the leaſt breach of Gods Law, he is immediately ſentenced to death by the Tenor of this Covenant. And there is no thought of eſcaping condemnation in this caſe, except it pleaſe the Lord (of his infinite grace and mercy) to come upon new terms with Man.
There is a Queſtion whether Chriſt be not a Mediator on the behalf of the Angels that have kept their ſtation.
Some ſuppoſe Chriſt a Mediator to them, thoug… not for reconciliation (that they acknowledge were needleſs, becauſe there was never any breach betwixt God and them.) Yet for confirmation; bu… there is no probability, that I can ſee in that opinion▪ It appears altogether improbable for the like reaſon to that now mentioned, upon which it will b… granted, Chriſt is not to them a Mediator of reconciliation; viz. they need not ſuch a Mediator. Fo… if after ſuch a tryal as the Lord would pleaſe to make of the obedience of Angels and Men, they were to be confirmed in their happineſs and obedience for the future, to make good the promiſſory part of the Covenant of works, then there was no need of a Mediator for confirmation either of Angels or Me… under the Covenant of works. His Creatures confirmation in a ſtate of happineſs (upon their goo… carriage in their probation-ſtate) was Gods part o… the Covenant, what he promiſed, and would have effected; no need of any to undertake for Gods par… of the Covenant.
That this was Gods part of the Covenant is clea… The creature was not to expect confirmation in happineſs, without performing the condition on h… part, that is, carrying obediently, and as a creatu… ought to do in all reſpects towards its Maker in vi… or in its ſtate of probation. And this condition b… ing performed, God would never have failed t… perform the promiſe on his part; that is, to confir… ſuch a creature in patriâ.
And to ſay otherwiſe, that a Mediator was neceſſ… ry for confirmation under the firſt Covenant, withou… whom, Man, or Angel could not perſiſt in Obedience, is interpretatively to deny, that they we… created upright, and with ſufficient Abilities to have kept upright; which is to ſuppoſe their fall was from a debility of Nature, from a want of ſome inward principle and help neceſſary to their ſtanding, and not from the ill uſe of the liberty of their own wills. And this conſequently denies the goodneſs of God, which he vouchſafed to theſe his creatures in ſpecial; denies what he did for them, making them after his own Image, and caſts the fault upon God, that they fell neceſſarily, not being created with ability to ſtand.
Again, ſuppoſe Chriſt a Mediator for confirmation, to undertake on the Creatures behalf, to help them to perform the condition; then it would ſeem ſtrange, that Man was not confirmed. What? was Chriſt wanting, negligent, or unfaithful in his office? Surely no, therefore that Man was not confirmed, it ſeems ſufficient to clear it, that Chriſt was not intended of God to be a Mediator for confirmation to Angels, and Men, under the Covenant of works.