A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 84 (Question 23 cont.)
SERMON LXXXIV.
Q. 4. OUR next Enquiry may be … the Perſon of the Mediator?
A. CONCERNING. which this is … aſſerted, viz. THAT Jeſus Chriſt God … the one only Mediator between God and … And there are two concluſions contai… it, viz.
1. THAT Chriſt is Mediator with … a both his natures in conjunction. The P… …ow, 1 Ti…. 2.…. and other Scriptures in …tion mention is particularly made of his …, do ma…y o… them conclude his Me…inorſhip to belong only to his Humanity. …at we may obſerve, that the manhood is …amed with its relation to his Perſon, who is …e Son of God, and ſo includes both, only …iving us to underſtand, that his Humanity …ſo is concerned in it. So, Joh. 5.27. And …h given him authority to ex…ate judgment … becauſe he is the Son of man. Here therefore let us obſerve, that the divine nature …s to be conſidered under a double reſpects …ther eſſentially as it is common to the Three …erſons in the God head, being one, and un…vided; and ſo the divine nature doth not …ediate, but is mediated withal, as being …ne of the differing parties, who are in this …ore to be reconciled and made one again: …r perſonally, as it fulfills in each perſon of the Trinity, and ſo the Son is God equally with the Father, and yet as Son, ſubmitted to the economy of divine diſpenſation, according to which he aſſumed the humane nature into union with his Perſon, by vertue of which union all his Mediatorial actions were the actions of Chriſt God-man: and for this reaſon is the doctrine of his Incarnation put before that of his Office, becauſe by it he was fitted for the diſcharge of that office. There are therefore theſe two reaſons for the neceſſity of referring the work of Mediation to both his Natures.
(1.) THE ſeveral offices belonging to that of a Mediator cannot be diſcharged by one of theſe …ares alone, but require both. Theſe come afterwards to be particularly diſcuſſed. Here only let us remark, of the Prieſtly, in which he is to mediate with God for us; our high Prieſt muſt have a Sacrifice, he muſt therefore take part in our fleſh and …lood, he muſt have an Altar, and that could be no other but his divine nature, which alone could ſanctity the gift: there muſt be an offerer, which could be only the Son of God. Heb. 9.14. and his offering muſt be according to the law, therefore it was requiſite for him to be man. And he muſt be of a i…ficient value for an atonement, and ſo no other Humanity but that of him who is God could do: his blood therefore is called the blood of God, Act. 20.1…. The like might be inſtanced in his …ber two Offices; but this may ſuffice.
(2.) IT is alſo requiſite in regard of the par… between …bom be mediates. When we have conſidered what his buſineſs is in the diſcharge of this function, we ſhall be fully ſatisfyed in this point, which will follow preſently. Here o…ly obſerve that he hath to do with God and with man, he is to take hold on them back, and therefore is to participate in tho name or both. A Mediator muſt have an intereſt in him whom he undertakes to mediate …. A man an Angel could not challenge ſuch as intereſt in God as to undertake to …poſe the quarrel between him and man. Hath not a Mediator of one. Gal. 3.20. Now a …hat our is not a mediatour of one, but God is one. Hence he doth not mediate according to one nature alone.
2. THAT this O…ce belongs only to the Perſon of Jeſus Chriſt. The Papiſts have fa…fied many Mediators, and hence their prayers to Saints: but the word of God acquaints us with none but Chriſt. 1 Tim. 2.5. For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Chriſt Jeſus. And though he doth nor expreſly ſay there is no more but one, yet ſpeaking in the ſame ſenſe that no doth of God, it implies it. Nor indeed is this word performable by any but Jeſus Chriſt, ſince none but one who is both … and man can diſcharge it. It is then no leſs than blaſphemy to aſcribe it to a meer creature; nor will all the diſtinctions which ſome have coined ſalve the matter: ſince it will derogate from his glory to join any other merits to thoſe of his for the impetration or any favour for us from the hands of God.
3. WE may note take an account of the way in which he came to be Mediator. Concerning which we may ſay as the Apoſtle about his Prieſthood, which belongs to it, Heb. 5.5. So alſo Chriſt glorified not himſelf to be made an high Prieſt: but be that ſaid unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. He did not thruſt himſelf upon it, but was called to it by divine Ordination. Hence he is called by ſuch titles as intimate his being authorized hereto: The Meſſenger of the Covenant, Mal. 3.1. God's Elect Servant, Iſal 42.1. An Apoſtle, Heb. 2.1. And is ſaid to be an…ted to it, Iſal. 61.1, 2. Whereupon the Name Chriſt was given him. Here then theſe poſitions,
1. THE office and commiſſion of Mediatorſhip was conferred on Chriſt by God. It is the work of the God-head, but particularly aſcribed to God the Father, Job. 6.27. H… hath God the Father ſealed. A metaphor from the c…ſtom in ratifying conveyances & commiſſions, which is done by ſealing them; and it implies the whole tranſaction denominated from the confirming act. This is a Royalty belonging to none but the ſupreme majeſty of Heaven; He being offended, and man fallen into his hand, who ſhould put any into the office of a Reconciler, or who durſt have undertaken this buſineſs without divine approbation? 1 Sam. 2.21. If one man ſin againſt another, the judge ſhall judge him a but if a man ſin againſt the Lord, who ſhall entreat for him?
2. THE occaſion of this appointment re… give neceſſitous condition of man by reaſon of ſin and miſery. God parpoſing man's recovery from this ſtate, and their being no other way in which it could be effected, need ſo requiring that either man muſt for ever periſh, or the Son of God muſt ſtep in and take up the controverſy & compoſe it: there was none ſound in heaven or earth capable of this undertaking, but the Son of God; God therefore called and conſtituted him Iſal. 63.5. And I looked, and there was none to help, and I wondred that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought ſalvation unto me, and my fury it upheld me. Heſ. 13.9. O Iſrael, thou haſt deſtroyed thy ſelf, but in me is thine help.
3. THE moving cauſe or that which wrought with God to depute Chriſt Medi…or was his even good pleaſure. And on this account is Chriſt's comming in fleſh ſo celebrated in Luk. 2.14. Glory it God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will reward men. This is in Scripture language called love, and ſaid to be the ſpring or original of man's Redemption, which fetch'd the Son out of his Fathers, boſome, Joh. 3.16. For God ſo loved the world, that be gave his …aly begotten Son: that whoſoever believeth in him ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life. And truly there was nothing in man that could move him to it: it muſt be either miſery or merit; the one is the object or mercy, the other of juſtice: not mans miſery, becauſe it was the proper reſult of his iniquity. Innocent miſery will move a wiſe man's …ay, and prompt him to afford help; but that …hich is the fruit of wickedneſs, hath Juſtice engaged to execute it; in which execution it is ſatisfyed, and men count pity here undue. Not merit; for in what ſenſe ſoever man may be ſuppoſed to have been once capable of meriting happineſs, he can in no ſenſe merit a Mediator, there being no room for one, till ſin hath put him out of a capacity of meriting any thing but hell. Rom. 5.6. For when we were yet without ſtrength, … time Chriſt died for the …ngedly.
4. THE great end of Chriſt;s Mediatorſhip is the glory of the free grace of God, in accompliſhing man's Salvation in ſuch a way. Eph. 1.4, 5.6. According a… he hath choſen …s it him before the foundation of the word, that we ſhould be b…y before him in love: Having predeſtinated us unto the adoption of children by Jeſus Chriſt to himſelf, according to the good pleaſure of his will. To the praiſe of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Man's Salvation is ſubordinate; the good redounds to the redeemed, but the praiſe belongs to God: and it is that of his grace which is here celebrated, which, that is might be made illuſtrious, it pleaſed God to make his own Son the Mediatorial diſpenſer of it, and for that end put him into this office. And thus we ſee God to be all in this great work.
6. IT may be asked for whom Chriſt was made Mediator? And the world is full of diſputes about this queſtion; the patrons of univerſal Redemption extending it to all mankind in point of ſatisfaction, and beyond thoſe that are ſaved as to the Treaty of Reconciliation. But I ſhall wave diſputes, and only offer a few aſſertions for the reſolution of this matter.
1. THAT there are ſome benefits which by may of redundancy flow from Chriſt's Mediatorſhip to the whole world in general; and ſome alſo more particularly to Hypocrites and Reprobates in the viſible Church. Reſpecting the world in general, among whom God's Elect are diſperſed, and out of whom in all ages to be gathered, it is certain that from this Mediation of Chriſt they do enjoy all the bleſſings and bounties of God in which they …. The world is ordered by Chriſt Mediator, and fares the better for the Elect ſake. M…. 24.22. And except theſe days ſhould is …s;… …, there ſhould no fleſh he ſaved: but for the … ſake theſe days ſhall be ſhort…ed. In the world, where fares are mixed with wheat, as it is in the viſible Church, there is a ſpecial Providential care of God which gives them peace and liberties, and they are under the e… of reconciliation, and under a conditioned promiſe, in caſe of their acceptance, and God exerci…eth much patience in waiting or his Vineyard for fruit, and this becauſe he … his choſen there, for whoſe good theſe favours are nextly aimed, and they flow … the other in way of concomitancy. Here we have ſuch a reaſon rendred in Act. 18.…. For I am with thee, and no man ſhall ſet … thee: for I have much people in this …ry.
2. THAT the nation of a conditional … tor is inconſident with the nature of Chriſt Mediation. A Condition in a Covenant is the term of caution on which one party is obliged … do ſomething for the other; whereas the work of a Mediator is either … bring ſuc… … to covenanting, or to be come engag… … …em, or to maintain … reſpondence … them, by ſeeing that the Articles … performed. Now in neither of theſe is he conditional but abſolute, otherwiſe the deſign of his Mediatorſhip is …, which is properly to give ſecurity for the performance of covenant conditions. It is God the Fathers work to proffer the … of peace, and Chriſt doth this from him, … in his name, and theſe are conditional; … it is the Mediators work to effect the p…, and this is poſitive, certain and unfailing. For all thoſe whom he undertakes to be a Mediator for, he doth it abſolutely and will carry it through; elſe his office were invalid. He therefore ſpeaks on the account of this, Je…. 6.37. All that the Father giveth me, ſhall come to me.
3. HENCE only the Elect do conſtitute … party in his Mediation. He is properly and ſtrictly only a Mediator between God & his Elect. This is evident, in that,
1. THE proper fruits of his Medi… Offices are applied effectually to ſuch and us …. Theſe are ſuch as terminate in the reconciling God and us together, Rom. 5.10. For if what we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son. To this end was …e it ſatisfy Juſtice and purchaſe Salvation for … 1 Theſ. 5.9. and having ſo done, by the vertue of it, to bring us finally to the kingdom of Glory. Heb. 2.10. Now, though the would enjoy other common benefits, which are the overplus and additions of mercy, yet none but the Elect partake in thoſe, which all and whoſe Mediator Chriſt is.
2. BECAUSE Chriſt intexd… Medi… works for none but theſe. His Death, Reſurrection, Aſcention, Seſſion, Interceſſion, … for them Rom. 8.33, 34. Who ſhall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that ſuſti…: Who is he that condemneth? It is Chriſt that died, yea rather that is riſen again who is o… … the right hand of God, who alſo maketh i…ſſion for as. Yea, though he prayed for his enemies in way of duty, as he was under the law, Luk. 25.34. Yet in the prayer which is properly Mediatorial, and which always obtains the thing prayed for, he limies himſelf hither. Joh. 17.9. with 19.
3. BECAUSE his Father appointed him to be Action it for no…e but theſe. As he had his …miſſion from him, ſo the limits of it are ſet down by him: and he gave to Chriſt the names of thoſe for whom he would have been a Mediator. Hence we have ſuch limiting expereſſons, Joh. 17.2. As thou haſt given him power ever all firſt, that he ſhould give eternal life to as many as thou haſt given him. Joh. 6.37 All that the Father giveth me, ſhall come to me. God purpoſing that there ſhould be this article in his great love to his choſen, to raiſe it yet higher in the admiration of thoſe that were the ſubjects of it, viz. that it was a diſtinguiſhing love, not only between men and Angels, but men and men too.
7. IT may be thou asks, …h…n was Chriſt made …? And in reply to this let it be obſerved,
1. THAT with relation to the Convenant of …aption, Chriſt was a deſigned end covenanted Mediator from Eternity. We have obſeved that in this Covenant he was appointed to all that was neceſſary for the bringing th… the Salvation of fallen man; of which the office of a Mediator is the ſum & al…t…act: For under it are contained thoſe ſerveral functions, in the execution of which he diſcharged this whole affair. God the Father then propoſed this office to him, and he accepted of it, and promiſed to undertake the work of it. And thus he is ſaid to be ſet up ſ…e everlaſting, Prov. 8.23. in as much as the buſineſs, was then ſettled and unchangeably eſtabliſhed.
2. WITH reſpect to his actual inveſtiture …, and initial execution of this province, it had been ever ſince the Convenant of Grace was …ed to fallen Adam. We before obſerved, that Chriſt's Mediatorſhip properly belongs to the Covenant of Grace, and is ſo eſſential … is, that there could no have been a Covenant between God and fallen man without …. In this reſpect is that. Gal. 3.19. Wherefore then ſerveth the law? It was added becauſe of tranſgreſſions, …till the ſeed ſhould come, to …h… the promiſe was made. The Son of God th… entred upon the purſuance of this office, when there was a treaty of Reconciliation between God and fallen man. Hence called the Lamb. &c. Rev. 13.8. For, though he had … yet actually taken our nature upon him, … upon the vertue of that Obedience which he had engaged in fulneſs of time to perform, … upon the credit of that undertaking of … he interpoſed and was accepted as Godman Mediator. And it was faith in him as revealed ſo to be, that ſaved the Patr…archs. Ab…cha… is ſaid to ſee has day, Joh. 8.16. He made their peace with God, and wrought upon their hearts to cloſe with him: it was his blood that ſprinkied them, his ſuretiſhip that ſtood for them, and gave them acceptance with God; his Spirit that ſpake … them by Prophets and holy men; his S…epter that trod down their enemies, and brought them Salvation.
3. REGARDING his compleat fitneſs, and ware ſolemn inanguration in this work, it …a… in fulneſs of time, when be come to … the work of Redemption in this world. And this was,
1. PREPARATORILY at his Incarnation. For, by taking of our nature into union with his Perſon, he became actually. God-man, which was requiſite in him who mediateth between God and man.
2. COALPLESTLY, when in our nature be received the unction of the Spirit; i. e. thoſe Mediatorial gifts; which was begun from his conception, and more fully accompliſhed, in the Holy Ghoſt deſcending and reſting upon him, when he received the Spirit of God not in meaſure. Of which afterwards.
3. DECLARATIVEL…, when there teas that vaice from heaven openly proclaiming, and witneſſing to his authoritation, and acceptance in this office: Which was done at his Baptiſm, immediately before his entrance on his publick work, as Mat. 3.17.
8. IT remains that we enquire into his Work as Mediator, or what it is in general that belongs to this office of his. For, as to the particular offices in it, they will follow to be ſpoken of diſtinctly. We have already conſidered the import of the word, and what belongs to ſuch an one among men. We may now obſerve how far they are applicable to this affair. Here then the Mediation of Chriſt may be reduced to three heads. He is a Mediator of Reconciliation, a Mediator of Sureriſhip, and a Mediator of Interceſſion. In the firſt he brings God, and man to a treaty, in the ſecond he ſtrikes up an everlaſting covenant between them, in the third he preſerves this Covenant inviolable. We may briefly glance on them ſeverally.
Firſt. HE is a Mediator of Reconciliation: to being about the grace between God and man; by bringing them to a treaty. And here two things may be look'd into, 1. What was the diſtance between God and man? 2. What he doth to bring about the treaty of Peace?
Q. 1. WHAT is the diſtance between God and Man? And the ſubſtance of it lies in this: When God had made man he placed him near to himſelf; having put his own image upon him, endowing him with ſuch Graces as fitted him for communion with this maker; and to bind him for ever to love and obey him, he plighted a precious Covenant with him, engaging his love & favour perpetually to him in caſe of his being faithful to his duty is but threatning him with his infinite diſpleaſure in caſe of his diſobedience. Matters thus ſtanding, Man by the inſtigation of Satan was allured and invited, and by the abuſe of his own free will led away to fall from his obedience, and became a Covenant-breaker; whereby a wall of ſeparation was ſet up between him and God; and the Peace thus broken, War was proclaimed between God and man, which controverſy cannot be compoſed without a Mediator. In ſum, fin hath armed God's holineſs and juſtice againſt the ſinner, and alienated man's heart from God.
Q. 2. WHAT Chriſt doth to bring about the treaty of Peace? or to reconcile the heart of God and man one to another? And here,
1. THIS Mediator applies himſelf both to God and man, making to both a motion of Reconciliation. For this the Son of God made that long journey from heaven to earth, and back again that he might tranſact this buſineſs, Deals with his Father immediately, and with man by the means. See, Eph 2.14. For he is our peace, who hath made both one. 2. Cor. 5.20. Now then we are ambaſſadors for Chriſt, as tho' God did beſeech you by us; we pray you in Chriſt's ſtead, he ye recenciled to God.
2. TOGETHER with this motion he propeſeth articles of agreement: And thoſe as are moſt ſuitable for a good accommodation between them. The deſign of the treaty is to bring them into a Covenant of peace and love. Now no Covenant is made without articles or terms on which it is to ſtand: and theſe muſt be ſuch as will give content to each party. For Chriſt is bound both for God's honour, and man's happineſs; ſuch then he makes offer of in the tranſaction; and we may conceive them to be ſome ſuch as theſe.
(1.) THAT God's righteous dealings with man in proceeding to condemn him for the breach of the firſt Covenant be acknowledged & juſtified. God ſtands upon his honour, and will be cleared. Pſal. 51.6. That thou mighteſt be juſtified when thou ſpeakest, & he cleared when thou judgest. Had not man dealt unjuſtly with God, there had been no controverſy. God did not leave man, till he without all reaſon forſook his God. Jer. 2.5. And as God is, ſo he will he confeſſed righteous in all his doings. Pſal. 145.17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. Chriſt knows that God muſt be acquitted, and he can convince man of his iniquity. This then is one Article.
(2.) THAT the ſinner ſhall freely and humbly confeſs all the indignities that he hath offered to God's glory. God hath done him no wrong at all, and ſo hath nothing to acknowledge, all the evil that hath befallen the ſinner is leſs than his deſerving; but the ſinner hath highly offended God, which he muſt be made to ſee, and confeſs, and be aſhamed of. Hence that inſerted in, Jer. 3.12, 13. and exemplified, Pſal. 106.6. We have ſinned with our fathers: we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
(3.) THAT due recompence and full ſatisfaction ſhall he made to God's juſtice, for all the injury and wrong done to his name by the ſame God's holineſs and juſtice ſtand upon this, he is bound for his own glory, and muſt be ſatisfyed for all the diſhonour that hath … done him by the creature. Juſtice car… atoned without a compenſation. Hence … propounds that an effectual courſe ſhall be taken that juſtice and mercy ſhall be agree Pſal. 85.10. Mercy and truth are not together righteouſneſs & peace have kiſſed each other.
(4.) THAT ſatisfaction being made, ſ… ſhall forgive and forget all the offenes is ſinner hath given him. He ſhall look as them as if they had never been offered his the … ſhall be reckoned guiltleſs a… puted as one without ſin. Jer. 31.34. … forgive their iniquity, and I will remember the ſin as more. 1 Joh. 3.9. Wh…ſoever is … God doth not commit ſin: for his ſeed … eth in him, and he cannot ſin, becauſe he is … of God Numb. 23.21. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob. There ſhall now an act of eternal oblivion paſs.
(5.) THAT God ſhall of an enemy be… Father to the ſinner, and put on the b…ch … j…ther to him. He ſhall no longer carry has ſtranger, but receive him into the …d amity; there ſhall be no remembra… former differences; this therefore God the Father hath promiſed to his Son in the … nal Covenant with reſpect to his ſpi… Seed. 2 Sam. 7.14. I will he his father, … ſhall he my ſon. His Covenant people are the fore to call him ſo. Iſai. 63.16. Doubtleſsths art our father, though Abraham he ignorants us: and Iſrael acknowledge us not: thou, O … art our Father, our Redeemer, thy Name … everlaſting.
(6.) THAT his people ſhall ſerve … obedient Children all their days. They … be for him, and no other; though they … rebelled againſt him, they ſhall do ſo no … but ſhall be firmly engaged in his ſer… Hence that, in Iſai. 26.13. O Lord our God, … lords beſides thee have had dominion … but by thee only will we make mention of … name. 1 Pet. 1.17.
(7.) THAT for the confirmation of all … Articles, there ſhall be a new and everla… Covenant plighted between them Iſai. 55.3 Encline your c…r, and come unto me: hea…, … your ſoul ſhall live, and I will make an … everlaſting covenant with you, even the ſure … of David. They ſhall be engaged in the … of a firm and inviolable love, a league will ſhall be ratified, and made unchanges forever. Col. 1.21. And you that were ſ… alienated, and enemies in your mind by … works, yet now hath he reconciled. Theſe … ſhall be ſigned, ſealed, delivered, entred … enrolled, for a perpetual Covenant never to be broken.
AND now, let every Sinner that hears … theſe things reflect and conſider with himſelf, What are the Articles on which a reconciliation is to be had between God and ye… and then meditate on your abſolute nece… of this reconciliation, without which you periſh for ever; and now ſay, what have you to except againſt any of them. Bleſs God then for Chriſt the great Mediator, and take heed to your ſelves that you do not neglect or deſpiſe the Salvation which is graciouſly ſet before and offered to you in the Goſpel …y, leſt you thereby provoke him to put an end to it; and ſo put your ſelves beyord all hopes of peace, which you will certainly …e to all eternity.
[MAY 14. 1695.]