Goodwill Towards Men, Part 2 · Section 5
Gen. 17.4.
Behold my Covenant is with thee.
Sect. 5.
PROP. V. The Covenant of Grace is betwixt God and Man, not betwixt God and Christ.
NOte, I am not speaking of that which Divines call the Covenant of Redemption, or Mediatory Covenant. Though, whether that can be any thing, but the eternal deceree of God, concerning Man's redemption and Salvation by Jesus Christ, in which eternal decree, the will of the Son must needs be supposed in the will of the Father, both having one and the same essence, and will: (not only a likeness and agreement, but an indentity or oneness of will) let the Godly-learned consider. And whether those Scriptures that seem to hold forth a Covenant, or agreement betwixt the Father and the Son, are not to be taken as speaking after the manner of men; where there could no way possibly be any the least distrust on either side; where there was not the least need of engaging one another for the further satisfaction of either party, there would seem to be no occasion for formal entring into covenant. What ground we have to conceive a formal Covenanting betwixt the Father and the Son, where we cannot conceive how the proper end of covenanting could have place; Whether the promises in Scripture that run as made to Christ, might not be recorded as that voice came from Heaven, Joh. 12.30. for his peoples sakes, as one compares them: These are things I would leave to them that are able, to weigh and determine.
Yet I make no question of it, but those that hold a Covenant of Redemption betwixt the Father and the Son from all eternity, and others that see not how that can be so well maintained, but think it is a simple decree, in which decree the will of all the three Persons, Father, Son, and Spirit, is included; do however both agree in the thing aimed at, though their expressions vary. And they that think it is more properly a decree from eternity, than a Covenant from eternity; yet will say, in this decree the way and manner of our redemption and salvation is as surely, firmly ordered, determined, and provided for, as if it had been by way of Covenant, and the most solemn mutual engagement of both parties. So both come to one in the end.
But of this, (whether Covenant or Decree from eternity,) *Reader, since the writing of these notes, I am taught by one, whose judgment I cannot but highly value, and reverence, that Besides the eternal decree of God, there is a Lex Mediatoria (a Law of Mediatorship) that Christ is under as man, wherby God made his Mediatory Acts his dury, and promised him his reward, of which the certain Salvation of the Elect was much. And this Law was also a Covenant modally. And of this I suppose those Reverend and Learned men, that compiled the larger Catechism. must be understood to speak, when they say it [was made with Christ as the second Adam.] which they call the Covenant of Grace, taking in that other Covenant made with man (whereof faith and repentance are conditions) as being founded thereupon.I am not enquiring; but when I speak of the Covenant of Grace, I mean that which stands in direct opposition, and contra-distinction to the Covenant of works. And though I know many very reverend, eminently learned, holy and worthy men conceive otherwise, yet many cogent Arguments enforce me to conclude this Covenant made betwixt God and Man, not betwixt God and Christ. For,
1. Christ is the surety and Mediator of this Covenant, Heb. 7.22. and 12.24. And therefore not the party whom God here covenanteth with. For if so, he should be a surety for himself, and Mediator on behalf of himself. As for Moses he was not properly a Mediator, but improperly, a type of Christ, the true Mediator. Christ as a Mediator comes betwixt the two parties Covenanting. Upon his undertaking, upon account of Christ's satisfying, or undertaking to satisfie for our breach of the first Covenant made with Man, the Lord was pleased to enter into or make another Covenant with us. This Covenant indeed was confirmed in Christ. But I cannot see how it can be said to be confirmed with Christ. It was foreign, confirmed, ratified of God with respect unto Christ, looking at Christ, as some.
Some argue that the Covenant was made with Christ, because he is made the surety and Mediator of it; but I would argue on the contrary. Because he is the Mediator of the Covenant, therefore he is not properly a party wieh whom it is made. What place is left for Man in this Covenant if Christ be both principal, and surety? Or can the same person be both principal and surety in the same Bond?
2. If this Covenant was made with Christ, then it was made with him, either as God, or as Man, or as God and Man, or Mediator. But it was not made with Christ, as God: For so he makes one party with the Father. Consider him as God, and so the Father cannot be one party, and the Son another; but are both of them to be looked on as one and the same party. Nor was this Covenant made with Christ, as Man; none will say that. Christ as Man was under the Covenant of works, not under the Covenant of grace. Was the Covenant [Believe, and thou shalt be saved] made to the Man Christ? Or that which is sometimes called the new Covenant [I will give you a new heart, take away the stony heart, forgive your iniquities] was the Man Christ taken into this Covenant?
Nor was the Covenant made with him as God and Man, or Mediator; but rather was procured by him, so that in this respect, it is his Testament. His Testament, not made to him, but made or procured by him. The New Testament in his blood: Indeed if we consider Christ as Mediator, so he is properly no party: if we consider him as a party in this Covenant, so he and his Father are one party, and Man the other.
3. The very terms and tenor of the Covenant of Grace (hinted at even now) do plainly shew with whom it is made. [Believe, and thou shalt be saved] which is expressed in other words and phrases under the Old Testament, as Isa. 55.3. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, and your souls shall live. Is not this the Covenant that succeeded the Covenant of works [Do this, and live.] If the Covenant of Grace be made with Christ, then it follows what God requireth in the Covenant of Grace, is required of Christ. That he must believe, and must repent, and turn to God.
4. The benefits and blessings promised in the Covenant of Grace, are such as are proper to us men, us sinners, and are promised unto Us; not unto Christ. Will any say, that pardon, and free justification was ever promised of God to Jesus Christ? were it not blasphemy to say, that Christ had any sin to be pardoned? And though he was acquitted, and justified before God, yet not of free Grace; but he fully satisfied the highest demands of justice, before he received his discharge.
5. If the Covenant of Grace be betwixt God and Christ, not betwixt God and Man, then no Man upon earth can be charged with breach of Covenant here, or condemned, and punish'd, as a violater of the new Covenant.
Object. 1. We read Gal. 3.16. the promises were made to Christ, that Christ was the seed.
Answ. There we are to understand Christ mystical, not Christ personal. As Beza in his larger notes, they that think Paul disputes here of the Person of Christ, are in an errour, when rather he treats of two people, i. e. Jews and Gentiles, brought into one masse, or body of the seed of Abraham.
Object. 2. Tit. 1.2. we read of eternal life, promised before the world began; But there was none before the world began, to whom this could be promised, but Jesus Christ our Mediator.
Answ. 1. Some read foreign, not before the world began, but before ancient times. Eternal life was promised long agoe, Calvin. See Ball of Covenant, p. 40.à multis retro seculis, for many ages past.
2. Otherwise by [promised] we are to understand appointed, or decreed; purposed it was, but not promised before the world began.
3. How incongruous is it to say, Christ was Mediator from Eternity, before the world began? It's true, as God he is from Eternity, but not as Mediator.
4. If we could understand it no otherwise, than that Eternal life was promised before the world began; yet it will not follow, that this was promised to Christ Mediator: Dr. Kellet, Trican. p. 258.As one, Why may I not say, it is an holy Trialogisme of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, sweetly consenting and concording in the way of Man's Salvation before Man had a being; somewhat like that, Let us make man in our own Image, Gen. 1.26.
Object. 2. God promiseth to give Jesus Christ for a Covenant, Isaiah 42.6. and 49. of Isaiah 8. therefore the Covenant of Grace was made with him.
Answer. It follows not, but rather the contrary; if Christ was promised of God, as the great blessing of the Covenant, it implies the Covenant was made, not with Jesus Christ, but with them to whom he was so promised; the Covenant of Grace is a Covenant concerning Christ, a Covenant of him, shewing how, or upon what terms we may be interested in him, and made partakers of his saving benefits. How then can it be a Covenant of God with him? The promises are Yea, and Amen, in him, 2 Cor. 1.20. not to him. Or if when he is promised for a Covenant, we understand for a Mediator of the Covenant, that implyeth still the Covenant was not properly made with him, but betwixt God and those who have him for their Mediator.
Object. 4. But fallen Man was unworthy, and unmeet to enter into Covenant with God.
Answ. I do most freely grant it, I heartily yield this; yet without any prejudice to the Position I have laid down, methinks it is evident, this sets it off as a covenant of Grace indeed; that it is a covenant with fallen Man. O wonderful free Grace! that the Lord should make another covenant with Man after Man's violation of that covenant, made with him at first; it was not so wonderful gracious condescension, that God vouchsafed at first to take an innocent creature into covenant with himself, as that after Man hath proved false to God; yet the Lord should please to treat with him again, and enter into another covenant with him. That God should make a covenant with fallen men, with sinful creatures. Methinks no more need to be said, to prove it a Covenant of Grace. And certainly whatever covenant was made with Christ (as made with him) was not a covenant of Grace, but rather of Justice; and whatever we find promised to him, was but a just reward of his obedience and satisfaction. A reward not of Grace, but of Merit.
But that God should any more covenant with poor sinful creatures, as David sayes [Although my house be not so with God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant.] O this we can never enough admire! And verily I cannot foresee any inconvenience, or ill consequence like to attend this assertion, that the covenant of Grace is made betwixt God, and Men; (still supposing Christ to be the Mediator of it) but rather that it doth further advance, and set forth the free grace of God, and lay a stronger obligation upon Men, than that opinion doth, which it opposeth.