A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 85 (Question 23 cont.)
SERMON LXXXV.
3. HEargeth thoſe Articles with ſtrong and perſuaſive arguments, and ſuch as are fai… to prevail with either party. This alſo belongs to a Mediator's work. viz. to plead as well as to propoſe. Here then he makes ſuch offers as theſe.
(1.) THAT be himſelf will become a mediaing Surety for them. That he will engage his …lity, and undertake that all the was, ſhall on each ſide be mutually performed, and fully attended without any …. Hence he is called a Surety, Heb. 7.22. This will be conſidered in the next; here only obſerve the proffer of it. When the … are fair, and good ſecurity is tendred for the performance, this gives a great ſi…ple towards the making of a Covenant. Chriſt ſaith, as he in another caſe, Gen. 43.9. I will be ſurety for him.
(2.) THAT neither God nor man ſhall ſuffer any loſs by the peace that ſhall be made. And this is a neceſſary argument. As for God, be is ſo deeply bound for his own Glory, that he will not, cannot comply with the Creature in loſing bargain. He muſt be …fied whatever becomes of the ſinner. This is his own great end, and he will not put with it. Chriſt therefore promiſeth him … glory to be paid him, as he could have gotten by the ruin and deſtruction of the Creature. Hence the Apoſtle equals the glory of grace with that of juſtice, Rom. 1.22, 23. And Chriſt ſaith on the accompliſhment of his work, John 17.4. I have …ſied the… on earth. And as for man he … ſo much by the light of nature, as … him unwilling to be engaged to his …ent. Hence alſo the Mediator en… that he ſhall be reſtored to as good condition as ever he was in, 1 Cor. 15.22. … in Adam all die, even ſo in Chriſt ſhall … he made alive. He promiſeth him ſalvation upon believing. Mar. 16.16. He that be… and is baptized ſhall be ſaved.
(3.) THAT both parties ſhall be advantaged … Covenant. They ſhall be great gainers by the bargain. God's glory ſhall be more …ted by it, than it would have been by …ing men under the firſt Covenant, and doing execution upon them according to it. In man's ruine, God had been no loſer, he ſhould have had the glory of his holineſs and juſtice; for he is known by the judgments that he executeth: but in this way, as proviſion is made, to give to theſe Attributes their full luſtre, and exalt them triumphantly, ſo beſides, way is made that the glory of his grace may be advanced, for which there was no room in the firſt Covenant, but there had been an everlaſting ſilence about it, but here it ſhall beam out its bright and reſplendent rays, to the admiration of Angels and men, and give occaſion for a new Song to be ſung in eternal Hallelujah's to the glory of his grace. Rom. 5.20, 21. Aloreover, the law e…tred, that the offence might abound: but where ſin abounded: grace did muſh more abound … as ſin hath reigned unto death: even ſo… gh…grace reign through righteouſneſs unto eter… …ſe, by Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. Man alſo ſhall in this way find that his firſt fall in Adam was in order to make his happineſs more glorious in Jeſus Chriſt; and his condition ſhall be rendred ſo much better than it could be by the firſt Covenant, as heaven is better than earth. John. 17.24. Father, I will that they alſo whom thou haſt given me, be with me where I am, that th…y may behold my glory which thou haſt given me. Where, being made a little lower than the Angels by creation, he ſhall, in his head, Chriſt, he exalted a degree above them.
(4.) UPON theſe terms and arguments, the Mediator brings about the paſineſs …f…ly. We read. Iſai. 53.10. When thou ſhall make his ſoul an offering for ſin, he ſhall ſee his ſeed, he ſhall prolong his days, and the preaſure of the Lord ſhall preſper in his hand. For,
(1.) HE prevails with God and man to come to a Treaty. They are now perſwaded to reaſon together; to confer about the buſineſs of Reconciliation. Sin had before kept them off, and put them at a vaſt diſtance one from the other; they had no converſe: but by Chriſt they are brought together, to argue out the caſe and matter of difference between them, to diſcourſe freely about it. Iſai. 1.18. Come now let us reaſon together, ſaith the Lord.
(2.) FROM this treaty they are brought to proceed to entreaty. They mutually ask peace one of the other. God, who in the law had breathed threatnings of wrath and ruine againſt the ſinner, held no correſpondence with him, and had ſentenced him to hell, and deſtruction, now condeſcends to ſollicit, beg, entreat, pray the ſinner to be reconciled, and accept of his peace, which he freely makes tender of to him, and ſends his Ambaſſadors to treat about it. 2 Cor. 5.20. Yea comes with his Spirit, ſwears that he delights not in his death, begs of him to turn, tells him hi is a God of mercy. Ezek. 33.11. Jer. 3.12. And with theſe entreaties the ſinners heart is broken, and he is melted, and falls down at God's foot full of ſhame and confuſion, freely confeſſing the unreaſonable affronts and wrongs he hath offered to God, and begs of him for Chriſt'S ſake to pardon and paſs them by, and accept him in the beloved, and be at peace with him. Dan. 9.16, 1…. O Lord, according to all thy righteouſneſs, I beſeech thee, let thine anger and thy ſury b… turned away from thy city Jeruſa…, the holy mountian: becauſe for our fins, and for the … of our fathers. Jeruſalem and thy people or become are preach ſ…all that are about us. N…eeth…, O …ur God heat the prave… of thy ſervant and his ſupphemens, and …n…ſe thy feer t… ſhine up a thy ſancia…ry that is deſilate, for the Lords ſake.
(3.) NOW they ſtrike hands in on everlaſting Convenant. All obſtacles being removed, the matt…r is brought to an upſnot, a Peace is firmly made, a Covenant figned and ſealed; wherein God bindeth himſelf in a promiſe, that Eternity, which ſhould have been ſpent in evecuting his wra…h …pon them, ſhall be employed in the etertainment of them with the higheſt expreſſions of an infinite love, and nothing ſhall ever make a ſeparation between them. Rom. 8.28, 20. For I am perſweded, that … death, nor life, nor enge's, nor principalities, nor papers, nor things preſent, nor things t… come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, ſhall be able to ſeparate us from the love of God wh…l is in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord. And they on the other hand engage, that by the grace of God, then will live eternally to his pra…e, and glorify him in life, death, and for ever Pſal. 79.12. So we thy people and ſleep of thy paſture will give thee thanks for ever … we will ſhere forth thy praiſe to all generations. Thus are God and man atoned, and made one again, all diſtances removed, all differences buried in obl…vion. God hath caſt all their fins behind his back. blotted them out as a cloud; His heart is to them, they are as the fignet on his hand, as the apple of his eye, his jewels, his peculiar treaſure, Mal. 2.17. And God is precious to them, their hearts are engaged to him, de voted to his praiſe, and ſo fixt in their love to him, that all waters of affliction cannot extinguiſh it. Cant 8.7. And all this is brought about by Chriſt as Mediator of Rec…nciliation.
Secondly. CHRIST is a Mediator of Sureriſhip, for the ratiſying of this Covenant between God and them. Here alſo we may enquire after, 1 The notion and quality of a Surety among men. 2. The neceſſity of a Surety in the Covenant of Grace. 3. The quality of Chriſts Suretiſhip; or for what and how he ſtands Surety in this Covenant.
I. THAT we may underſtand the notion and quality of a Surety among men, We may take up theſe Concluſions.
1. THAT it is more to be a Mediator of Suretiſhip, than meerly of Reconciliation. So that this confideration will help us to further diſcoveries about the buſineſs of Mediation. A man may by the intereſts he hath in two different parties, ſo inſinuate into both, as by propoſals and perſwaſions, to bring them together, and engage them in a Cove…ant of amity, and ſo become a Reconeiler, and then his work is at an end: but the work of a Surety there begins, where the other is about to conclude. By the other the man acts … no perſonal obligation, but by this he ſtands firmly obliged. Prov. 6 1, 2. In the former a man may diſengage himſelf at pleaſure, in this he cannot go back, but is held fall, and muſt ſtand to it.
2. IT is not effential to the bring of a C… nant at ſuch, that there be a Surety in it. I Covenant may be plighted without one; and ſo was the firſt Convenant between God and man. Two parties are only abſelutely … ceſſary to the making of a Covenant; and … mutual engagement between thoſe, is the very form of it.
3. A Surety in a Covenant doth not … third party in it, but becomes of the party for which he becomes Surety. The party engaged and his Surety, are but one in the … of a Covenant, as is herein evident, becauſe of the Oblipation be anſwered by any one of them, the Covenant is fulfilled on that put; and it was never expected that it ſhould … done by both ſeverally, for then one and the ſame condition ſhould be twice fulfilled.
4. THE proper notion of a Surety is to … bound to reſpond for anther, that is … …ly … cernal as a party in a Convenant. He is one that undertakes for another, that what he is oblighed to ſhall be performed, a…d becomes reſp…nſilde for him. And thus is the thing ever unde…ſtood in elvil law. A…d … when a man hath once brought himſelf … Suretiſhip, the Creditor, or the other … in the Covenant, hath as ſure hold on … as on the party himſelf: he may come upon him. and he cannot ref…ſe to anſwer all his Suits, any more than if he were the … firltly bound. Prov. 6. begin.
5. THE principal grounds or reaſons of subing in, and engoging a Surety in a … are …, viz.
(1.) WHEN one party may be ſuppoſed, at ſuſpected, not to be able of himſelf to perſon the condition required of him. For in nothing of Covenants, performance is expected; and there is no man that will engage thus … lemnly with another, …or take his bond for the doi…g of that, which he knows … perſwaded he cannot of himſelf do; except he bring ſome other perſ…on who is able … whom he may apply himſelf in caſe of … lure. For ſuch a Covenant would be a … thing.
(2.) WHEN there may be ſuſpicions and … louſier between the parties, one of another, … leaſt on the one party: when they done not truſt one another, without ſome one, whom the can better confide in, do medlate, and … Where there is neither of theſe caſes … is no need of Sureriſhip; but the frequent occurrence of ſuch occaſions hath … this way of Covenanting, for the … of intereſts.
6. A Surety is ſometime… only for one … for whom he is bound. As when, in eaſe … neceſſity, a man borrows money of his neigh…, he brings another, who is able, to be bound with and for him. Sometimes for b…th parties, as in Covenants of Reconciliation between parties at variance, when there needs … undertaker that each ſhall ſtand to the terms of agreement; or any other Covenant is which each party is under bonds.
7. A Surety …y ſtand bound for another two … of ways,
(1.) IN conſunction with him for when he becomes Sure…y. As when the party himſelf it as well bound as the ſurety, and the other petty may come either upon the one or the other, according to his own pleaſure, for the performance of the obligation: which is the more ordin…ry way of Suretiſhip.
(2) BY way of commutation or exchange. When the ſurety ſo undertakes for the paaty. as to remove his obligation wholly, a…d take it upon himſelf, ſo as to be alone liable to the ſuit of the Covenant, and legally called to account for the performance of it: a…d this may be done, either in the making of the Covenant, when the Surety manageta the whole matter, and becomes a repreſentative of the party: or after a Covenant is made, when he takes up the parties bond, & gives his own in room of it; and theſe are the …re common notion that men have of a Surety.
8. WE may now inquire, What neceſſity …re is of a Surety in the Covenant of Grace? Ac… this may be conſidered in two reſpects, … either reſpecting the defign of the Cor… it ſelf, or in regard of the parties Con…tating.
1. IN reſpect of the deſign of the Covenant it ſelf. God who is the deviſer and author of it, intended it to be, not like the firſt Co… made with Adam, and mankind in him, a mutable, frail, and ſhort liv'd Cove…, but everlaſting. Hence when he ſpeaks of it, he gives it that Attribute, Iſai. 55.3. As everlaſting Covenant. The mercies of it, were to be ſure mercies; it was to be like C…l's Cevenant of the day and night, Jer. 33. …. And there was no way for the ſecuring of this but by a Surety. When God firſt in…ted with Adam, there was all the advanage given him which could be thought re…ſite …or the enabling a mutable creature … ſtand to, and keep Covenant with God: … terms were fair and rational, nothing … required of him, but what it was his … and happineſs to have performed and he was fully furniſhed with concreated abi…, viz. the image of God: the promiſes … all encouragement in them; and the …nings were full of awe and terror: but … ſtanding alone by himſelf, loſt himſelf, … the Covenant, and ſo was undone, and all his with him. And if it ſo fell out in a green tree, what can be expected of …? If Adam in intergrity with a full … in his hand to trade with, yet brake, … can be expected from his bankrupt poſterity … God therefore, willing that his grace ſhould be unchangeably aſſured and ſecured to his people, by a new Cevenant, provided a Surety in whom to ratily it. Rom. 4.16. Therefore it is of ſaith, that it might he by grace; to the end the pr…miſe might be ſure to all the ſeed. Hence the promiſes have their ſtability in him. 2 Cor. 1.20. For all the promiſes of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the gl…ry of G…d by us. The Son of God by undertaking in the Covenant, makes it impoſſible to fail.
2. IN regard of the parties in the C…venant. And here both th…ſe forementioned grounds ſtand as reaſons of this neceſſity.
(1.) The jeelouſie… which there are between God and man each of the other. I …e are ſuch, and ſo rooted, that they could never comply in any other way; and they are mutual. 1. GOD is, end that juſtly, …us of man. Since once man proved falſe in his Covenant with God, there is no more truſting of him. God k…ows that every man is a ſtar; that his hea… … deceitful and deſperately wicked … ma… … …le bond is of no value, it is worth no … all: man is alſo weak, and hath ma… …, a…d ſtrong temptations to … …o that of himſelf, he would … break Covenant every day: if … it do not paſs his word for him, G… …gards him not, nor any of his promiſes and …ows. 2 MAN alſo is j…a…cus of God. And that by reaſon of the it f…aited ſtance that ſin hath ſet between them, and knowing his own condemned ſtate, and the ſoverity of the law, ſo that he dares no to truſt God's word and promiſe of peace exhibited to him, but queſtions the veracity of all, Joh 9.10. if I ha… called, and he had anſwered me; yet would I not be…ieve that he had hear kened unto me. Theſe jealoufies make men afraid or coming to a treaty without a Mediator, and God cannot treat men without one; much more then will they obſtruct the plighting of a Covenant without a Surety. But,
(2.) SUCH are the terms of the Covenant, that they cannot be performed by the parties themſelves, without a Surety intervening. For 1. MERCY and Grace cannot ſlow down from God to a ſinner, to ſave him, till ſecurity be given that juſtice ſhall be ſ…ti…fud. Juſtice ſtops up the way of mercy, till it be ſecured of ſatisſaction. God is a conſ…ming five to ſinners in himſelf, he can only he gracious by pardoning fin, and ſaving the ſinner, in a Redeemer. 2. THERE is no one Article requiring ought of man, which of himſelf he is a…le to perform. As there are ſome things requiſite to his being reconciled, which he cannot he uſed in at all; but muſt he wholly done by another, and were therefore put into the Covenant of Redemption; ſo there are other things which he is concerned in, and muſt do, and a…s therefore articles of the Covenant of Grace, viz. Faith, Repentance, New Obedience, and theſ… he is not able of himſelf to do. As Chriſt muſt work for … in ſome things, ſo muſt he work in him in others, or elſe all would remain in him undone, and the ſecond Covenant would bec…ve as deadly to him as the fi…t. 2 Cor. 3. 5. Not that we are ſuff…ient of …ar ſelves I think any thing as of our ſelves: but not ſufficinecy it …f G…d. Yea, had we not a Surety to perform in and for us, it were a madneſs for us to engage in it. 3. NOW let us conſider the quality of Civi…t's Suretiſhip, or for what and ho… be ſtands Surety in this covenan…? And here we muſt enquire into, 1. What manner or Suretiſhip this is? 2. The parties for whom he ſtands ſurety. …. The things which he becomes Surety for. Of which in order.
1. FOR what manner of Suretiſhip it is, that the Mediator ſtands engaged in. We may reflect on what was but now obſerved, viz. that there are two ways in which one becomes a Surety, viz. in conjunction, or by way of commutation or exchange. Such as obſerve not the difference between the Covenant of Redemption and that of Grace, aſcribe both theſe to him in different reſpects under the new Covenant. But the matter is abundantly more clear, when we aſcribe to each Covenant that which belongs to it, and by this means all ſeeming contradiction is taken off. Obſerve then, That Chriſt's Suretiſhip by way of exchange belongs to the Covenant of Redemption, and it is called Suretiſhip Catachreſtically; for by it he becomes the debtor, and properly the party. For he that takes up anothers bonds, and gives his own in the room, is the only one obliged, and ſo is not in the propriety of ſpeech, a Surety. Now Chriſt is, in the Covenant of Redemption, a common perſon repreſenting all the Elect; and hence is called in Scripture, the ſecond Adam; being the Head of his people, and Repreſentative of them: and ſo God looks for and expects all the buſineſs of their redemption to be performed by him. So that all ſuch expreſſions in Scripture are applicable to this Covenant. But now in the Covenant of Grace, in which there is a Mediator, and where Suretiſhip properly conſidered, is propounded to us, matters ſtand otherwiſe: for, as we obſerved, this Covenant is between God & man by a Mediator; ſo that we are properly bound, and Chriſt is bound with us: and God not only ſtands engaged to Chriſt for us, but to us is Chriſt. And hence it is that in the Goſpel, new-Covenant duties are required of us, and the promiſed is made to us on condition and performance, and we are threatned if we perform them not. Rom. 8.13. For if ye live after the fleſh, ye ſhall die. Heb. 12.14. Follow peace with all men, & holineſs, without which no man ſhall ſe… the Lord. Not that we can of our ſelves do them, but to ſhew us, how much we are concerned to fly …o our Surety. And it is God's wiſdom that it ſhould be ſo, that ſo we be not careleſs and negligent in the work of our Salvation. We are not by Chriſt's Suretiſhip, left to l…ve as we … are in the Goſpel Covenant firmly bou… … believe, and ſerve God in newneſs of like, and all holy converſation, as we would … a good hope in our ſelves of being made … takers in the good purchaſed by Chriſt, and offered in this Covenant.
2. CONCERNING the parties for … ſtands Sarery; obſerve. That in the Convenant of Redemption be ſtand surety … …ſe that … …ur Repreſentative, and hence was not … i… …e…cha geable Surety: but in the C… …f Grace (of which we are now ſpeaking … ing a mediating Surety; hence) … is ſ…equ…l … with the object of … … or he is Surety for thoſe for … mediates: and that is for both God … believer.
(1.) HE is Surety for God to the be… … is the undertaker that all the proffe… … raiſes held out in the Goſpel Covem… … be fulfilled. He gives in his bond for … people, that nothing ſhall fail. Ma… … ſuſpicions of God, and hard to believe … he will ſhew him mercy, when …e co… deed to know his own fin, the curſe … law, the holineſs of God and how edio… … to him, hereupon there is need of a … Not becauſe God is unfaithful, but … man is unbelieving. Hence Chriſt is … the Surety of a better Covenant, Heb. … and Med…ator of it, Chap. 8.6. And what … Mediator and Surety of? See, ver. 1…. … may read the promiſes in, Jer. 31 34. Ch… 39, 40. Chriſt is called Mediator of … becauſe he engageth to ſee them per…
(2.) HE is Surety for the believer … I mention the term, believer, becauſe … not ſpeaking of the Covenant of Red … where he is Surety for all the Elect, but … of Grace, there the Covenant is … us on our believing, or in the … faith in us. And we do by believing … into Covenant with God whence ar… Relation to him as children, Gal. 3. … whiles, as Mediator of Reconci… … pleading with, and bringing God & … the…, and bowing their hearts to … each with other, he puts himſelf in as … … ty; and he is not a Surety for any … new Covenant till then. I alſo ſay … l…iever, becauſe Chriſt is not actual … all who are viſibly or externally withi… … comprehenſion of the Goſpel Cove… … gatory to the Goſpel, and cont…a…i …ory … nature of Suretiſtrip. It were rid…en… … any to give in his bond that ſuch an … pay ſuch a debt, if he will pay it. Though… is true, that Chriſt in the exhibition … Goſpel, doth make tenders to them th… … under it, on their acceprance of the … Grace, and coming up to the terms of … Covenant, to ſtand Surety for them …
3. THE things for which he becomes … are, either ſuch as on God's part he … to the believer, or ſuch as on the believer … be undertakes in to his Father.
1. THE things which in God's part it is S…ry for to the believer, are all th…ſ… th…ngs … God … the Covenant, pr…ſed to be… in his people Hence all the promiſes are ſaid to be made ſure and ſirm in him. … Cor. 1.…0. For all the promiſes of God in b… are y…, and in him A…, unto the glory of God by us. For, as they were made firſtly to him as the great heir of them, in the Covenant of Redemption, as the reward of that work which be there undertook and engaged is, ſo are they made to us in and through him in the Covenant of Grace. And theſe are,
(1.) THAT great promiſe of Salvation which is made to believing: Which is ſo often repeated in the Goſpel. When Chriſt, upon his aſcenſion, ſent …rth his Diſciples to preach the Goſpel in the world, he had them to make that promiſe from him to all ſuch, Mar. 16.15, 16. And he ſaid unto than, Go ye into of the world and preach the…ſpel … every creature. He that …eth and is bapti…ed … all be ſ…ed; but he that be…eveth not …ll be dammed. And be himſelf hath confirmed the truth of it with a double Amen. Joh. 5.24. Verily, …ly I ſay unto you, He t…t beareth my …rd, … be…eveth in …im that ſent me, hath ever leſt … life, and ſ…ail no… come into …ond…nation: … paſ…ed from death to liſe. And truly, this promiſe, if there were no more doth …p all in it that is requiſite to the reſtoring of man from miſery to felicity, but there are many others comprehended under it, which are expreſly declared in the word of God. Hence,
(2.) THE giving of his Holy Spirit: To guide and comfort them; to direct them in their way, and give them the conſolation they aced, to lead them into all truth, and eſtabliſh their hearts on God: to enlighten their minds, incline their hearts, and keep then from falling away. Joh. 16.7. Nevertheleſs, I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you: but if I depart, I will ſend him unto you. ver. 12, 13. I have yet many things to ſay unto you, but ye cannot … them now: Howbeit, when the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for be ſhall not ſpeak of himſelf: but whatſoever …e ſhall hear that ſhall he ſpeak. 1 Pet. 1.5. Who o… kept by the power of God through ſaith unto ſolvation, ready to be revealed in the laſt time.
(3.) THAT their prayers ſhall be heard: And anſwers of peace ſhall be returned to them, in all things that are agreable to his will, and ſhall tend to their good and ſalvation. He ſhall hear them when they call. Joh. 14.13. And whatſoever ye ſhall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the …e…. Hence that, 1 Joh. 5.14. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us.
(4.) THAT he will pity their frailties, pardon the… follies, and heal their backſlidings. They are full of ſinful imperfections, but he knows their frame, and will not take advantage againſt them. Hence that, Iſai. 103.3, 13. … forgive all t… iniquities: who heale… all thy diſeaſes. Like as a father pitieth his …hadren: ſ… the Lord pitieth them that fea… him.
(5.) THAT all the enemies of their ſalvation ſhall …e …q…red & …d…ed under t…m. And none of them ſhall be able to ſtand againſt them. …om. 16.20. And the God of …ea…e ſ…ll b…iſe S…nder your ſ…et …rt…y. Joh. 1…. …. Theſe things …ve ſpoke… … yo… … nigh… have peace, in the world ye ſhall …ve tri…a…: but be of g…od chear, I have overcome the world. All the united force of earth and hell ſhall never make a breach between God and them neither S… within, nor S… & … without, ſhall diſſolve the Covenant. Rom. 8.3…, 20.
(6.) THAT they ſhall be r…ſed up as the … da…, & being delivered from death and the grace. If all in…er… the …ur…ſed …, and … with him in glory for ever. Joh. 6.30, …0.
IN one word, there is never a promiſe made in the whole book of God, but a believer may take this for his comfort and ſecurity, that he hath Jeſus Chriſt become Surety for and from his Father for the fulfilling of it, according as he ſhall have real occaſion for it. So that, except He who is the truth, can prove falſe and unfaithful, there is no ground for him in the leaſt to queſtion or doubt about the certain accompliſhment of it.
[JULY 9. 1695.]