Goodwill Towards Men, 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, though not for reconciliation (that they acknowledge were needless, because there was never any breach betwixt God and them.) Yet for confirmation; but 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 be granted, Christ is not to them a Mediator of reconciliation; viz. they need not such a Mediator. For 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 Men under the Covenant of works. His Creatures confirmation in a state of happiness (upon their good carriage in their probation-state) was Gods part of the Covenant, what he promised, and would have effected; no need of any to undertake for Gods part of the Covenant.
That this was Gods part of the Covenant is clear. The creature was not to expect confirmation in happiness, without performing the condition on his part, that is, carrying obediently, and as a creature ought to do in all respects towards its Maker in viâ, or in its state of probation. And this condition being performed, God would never have failed to perform the promise on his part; that is, to confirm such a creature in patriâ.
And to say otherwise, that a Mediator was necessary for confirmation under the first Covenant, without whom, Man, or Angel could not persist in Obedience, is interpretatively to deny, that they were 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.