A Dry Rod Blooming and Fruit Bearing, Treatise · Part 2 · Section 11
SECT. XI. A third direction.
3. TO the ſoule that would be induſtrious in keeping cloſe to this ſpirituall exerciſe under chaſtening, the laſt word that I ſhould give for help is, To eye the Mediator of the rod, and make ſure of him to be ſiding with it. Jeſus the Son of God the Mediator of the Covenant, mediates alſo for his in reſpect of the rod, to make this worke together with that, for the eternall good and comfort of his choſen; There is no paſſage of providence from God to us, but it comes through the hand of a Mediator;1 Cor. 8.6. All things are therefore ſaid to be by him, and among thoſe all, chaſtenings of his people muſt fall in; O ſweet and bleſſed rod that falls upon any poore ſoule, through its Mediators hand; it cannot be evill, but good unto him. The very notion of a Mediator is full of ſweetneſſe; Some ſmattering light of this, that it is beſt to have to doe with God through a Mediator, ſome of the Gentiles had,Heroes, Damoues, Deaſtra, Mediantes dignitates notans. for which in their way they canonized ſuch as they conceived to be Heroicall Spirits while they lived, to be the Favourites of the High-gods when they died, by whom they expected to draw downe ſome favours upon themſelves. But the true light of God gives us to know, one Lord Jeſus Chriſt, by whom are all things, and we by him, one Lord Mediator indeed, Jehovah is in him, fulneſſe and goodneſſe of beeing, and that (quatenus) in the very reſpect of Mediatorſhip, that by Mediation he might bring downe all from the higheſt God to the loweſt creature: Now put what you will into the hand and power of a Mediator, it muſt turne to good unto them, for whom he hath undertaken this Mediation; His hand intends nothing els but help to the weaker part, for whom he mediates, as it obtaines nothing but grace from the mighty God, to whom he miniſters for them. Take we this inſtance; Nothing could be more contrary and hurtfull to Man a ſinner than the Law, that found him guiltie, and accordingly curſed him to death;Gal. 3.19. foreign. yet this ordained in the hand of a Mediator, though but an Earthly one, muſt be revealed with Evangelicall purpoſes; the hand or Miniſtry of a Mediator, muſt needs be gracious; how much more the hand of that heavenly Mediator, wherein is power and grace it ſelfe (more than commonly miniſteriall) can and will turne all within its reach, ſcourgings themſelves to the comfort of Gods chaſtened ones? Now nothing clearer than this, that the rod as well as Covenant is in his hand, therefore overruled, and tempered by him for the afflicteds comfort: He commands the ſpirit of the rod, and he takes out the ſting of it. Raviſh him with the piercings of the ſingle eye of faith, and you are ſure of him your Mediator, and he ſure ſo to order afflictions for good, that they ſhall not preſſe you out of your working frame. Two ſpeciall mediating helpes are obſervable.
1. The Mediator ſteps in between wrath and us, to interdict that; no fury nor effects of it, can iſſue from God upon the people of Mediation; he ſuffers nothing but love to proceed toward them, and if that love bring the rod to try or purge, he yet againe interpoſeth, either to hold off the ſmart, or to allay it that it ſhall not diſtract: no affliction comes but he ſweetens and meekens it. The rage of man could not aggravate a torment more,Dan. 3.19, 26, 27. than that proud Monarch did in his ſeven times over-heated fornace, for thoſe three valiant Confeſſors of the true God; yet throwne in and comming out, the ſmell of fire was not upon them, nor a finge upon their cloaths. How came this to paſſe? There was a fourth went in with them, and ſtood betwixt them and harme, the Son of God, whoſe hand maſter'd and cool'd the fire; The Mediator ſweetens the Croſſe.
2. The Mediator as he ſteps in againſt the rod, ſo for us, as to allay the bitternes of that, ſo to ſtrengthen our weakneſſe for bearing the remaining ſmart. It is marvellous that a creature ſhould doe and ſuffer that ſo triumphingly, which the Apoſtle profeſſeth of himſelfe;Phil. 4.11, 12, 13. I have learned in what ever ſtate I am, therewith to be content. He was able contentedly to goe on in his worke, under the hardeſt condition, not content onelyonly with a little, but whether he have any thing or nothing, it is all one with him, he hath ſufficiency within him; He can be abaſhed, and be hungry, and ſuffer need, and nothing turnes him out of his biaſſe to the worke of God. How comes he to be ſo unſhaken? He tells us, I can doe all things thorough Chriſt that ſtrengtheneth me. It was the Mediator that ſupported, putting his own neck into the yoke, & his own ſhoulder to the burden, that it might not over-charge this poore ſoule. Let us eye him, and overcome him by looking in faith to him as Mediator; he cannot deny but he will doe for us likewiſe. With a carefull eye to theſe directions, we may reach the marke that is ſet before us, even in the midſt of roaring Seas, tumultuous preſſures, ſcorching fires, and heart-breaking burdens, to give glory unto God, our bleſſing ſhall not then be far behind the fruit of righteouſneſſe and peace, with abundant following conſolations.