A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 86 (Question 23 cont.)
SERMON LXXXVI.
2. THE things for which, …n the believers part, he is Surety God, …e who ſo …r is required of us in the Covenant of Grace. As for all thoſe things that reſpect the ſatisfying of the law for us, and making up all the b…eaches of the Covenant of Works; they belong to the Covenant of Redemption, and have been there taken notice of: but in relation to the Covenant of Grace, he now becomes Surety for us, that whatſoever is by this Covenant commanded us, and expected a… our hands, ſhall be performed in as, and by us. Now the new Covenant is built upon the Covenant of Redemption going before it, in which God, looking on himſelf as ſatisfied for the offences of his Flect by his Son, proceeds to other terms of capitulation with us. And there are divers things which God requires of us by the Goſpel, for which Chriſt becomes the undertaker.
(1.) In the making the Covenant …e engageth for our believing. We obſerved, that Chriſt's mediating Su…etiſhip appears in the ſtriking up the Covenant between God and us. Now the great term on which the new Covenant benefits are offered to us, is our believing. Joh. 3.10, 36. To this the promiſe of life is connected. Now when the awakened Soul hears this propoſal, he is at a loſs, he cannot believe of himſelf; and ſhould he promiſe it, he could never in his own ſtrength perform it; and ſo the treaty muſ break off, but that, Chriſt's mediation of Reconciliation, and that of Suretiſhip being interwoven, he is Sponſer on this account. Hence he tells us, Joh. 6.37. All that the Father giveth me ſhall come to me. And Jer. 31.33. But this ſhall be the covenant that I will make with the houſe of Iſrael, After theſe days, ſaith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they ſhall be my people.
(2.) HE undertakes alſo for our now-ch…dience. There is a ſanctification, which God requires of all his in the new Covenant. 1 Theſ 4.3. For this is the will of God, even your ſanctification. For the law ceaſeth to be a Covenant of works to the believer, yet it ceaſeth not to be a rule of life. Though Chriſt's active obedience ſtands for one part of our juſtification before God, yet our real and active conformity to the will of God is our habitual and practical holineſs, and ſo neceſſary in the new Covenant, that we cannot be happy without it. Rom. 8.13. Heb. 12.14. Though God in this Covenant accepts of truth and ſincerity, of the reality and univerſality of our obedience, notwithſtanding our many failings. This alſo Chriſt becomes Surety for. E…ck. 11 19, 20.
(3.) HE becomes bound for their perſeverance and abiding in the faith unto the end. That they ſhall not depart from God any more with a total backſliding. This alſo is required in the Goſpel Covenant. God hath ſaid, Heb. 10.38. If any man d…ow back, my ſoul ſhall have no pleaſure in him. Jeſus Chriſt engageth that he will keep them, and keep Grace alive in them. Hence that, 1 Pet 1.5. Who are kept by the mighty power of God, through faith unto ſalvation. And this alſo is part of the mearning of that promiſe, Joh. 6 39, 40. And this is the Fathers will which hath ſent me, that of all which he hath given me, I ſhould loſe nothing but ſhould raiſe it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that ſent me, that every one which ſeeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlaſting life: and I will raiſe him up at the laſt day. viz. That he ſhall not be loſt by any violation of the Covenant, but be preſerved to a glorious Reſurrection. And on this account it is that he had loſt none of all that had been given him by his Father.
(4.) HE is Surety for their fidelity to God in their ſpiritual warfare. They ſhall, as good Soldiers, be true to their Lord and Captain. Every believer, when he enters into Covenant with God, liſfeth himſelf in his ſervice againſt Sin & Satan. His heart is deceitful, and like a warping bow; but Chriſt engageth for this fidelity. Hence Paul aſcribes it to him, 1 Cor. 7.25. I give my judgment as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful. And depends upon him for it, 2 Tim. 4.18. In ſum, there is no duty enjoyned us by the Goſpel, but, if we are in this Covenant, we have Chriſt, a Surety with his Father, that we ſhall ſo do it, as ſhall be acceptable to him. So that, whatever we are called to and find our own ſtrength deficient in, we any repair to him, and humbly challenge his help as engaged for us, and place our … ance thereupon. Thus is he a Mediator of Suretiſhip.
Thirdly. He is a Mediator of I…ter…, to preſerve this Covenant invi…ble. The doctrine of Chriſt's Interceſſion, will o… to be diſtinctly treated of under his Pri… Office, ſo far as he intercedes with God. I ſhall not therefore here infiſt on it. Only let us here conſider how he acts the part of a Mediator in this work, by taking … how he maintains, and continues the Co… nant between God and us, ſo that there i… diſſolution made of it; and this he doth by always going between God and us, to pre… or make up breaches. And herein alſo … applies himſelf to both. Of which in peticular.
1. HE applies himſelf to God for us. For th… reaſon he is …aid to be gone into the he… to appear for us. Heb. …. 24. He is our Re… there. And here obſerve,
1. THAT the children of God do many … give him great provocation by their u…ſ…i… carriage. There are many things which they do, that diſpleaſe God. 2 Sam. 11. …. Th… he is reconciled to their perſo…s, yet th… are the remainders of fin in them, wi… through its own deceitfulneſs, and the ſai… ty of the adverſary is very apt to brea… ſ… into Act, at which God cannot but be … and that juſtly. And how many inſta… this are there ſtanding on Scriptute re…?
2. THAT the ſins and provocations of God own Children deſerve that his …ary ſhould … out upon them, and burn againſt th…. So wherever it is, hath the ſame nature. And … are told what reſentments God hath of it, …. 1.13. Thou art of purer eyes than to …, and c…nſt no… l…ok on iniquity. The beſt and moſt holy of men have therefore made f… confeſſion of this demerit, when they … thus defiled themſelves. Den. 9.5, 8. Iſ…. 130.3.
3. THAT God doth ſometimes …nife… … diſpleaſure in the fruits of it, upon his children. There are thoſe diſplays of his anger which are terrible. Did not David, did not So…, did not Aſa, and others experience this? He makes a way for his wrath caſt… a frow…ing look on them, puts them into terrors & … amazements, threatens as if he would deſtroy them; brings them very low, and hides his face away from them, as Iſai. 57.17. For the iniquity of his covetouſneſs was I wroth, & ſ… him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he … frowardly in the way of his heart.
4. IF now we had not a Mediator to app… for us, our caſe would be very ſad. If Chriſt were not in heaven, to ſpeak a good word … us, to ſtand between us, and the burning a… get of a jealous God, it would go ill w… us. He now therefore interpoſeth, takes … the quarrel, and pleads for us, and in th… way God is pleaſed to ſpare us. M…ſes was … …icent Type of this. Amd we have an ex…ellent deſcription at it, Numb. 14.13.1…. where he pleads every argument in the Cove…nt, and ceaſeth not till he heats God ſpeak a pardon. Thus Chriſt our Mediator preſents himſelf before God for his people, puts him is m…end that they are his people, ſuch whom be …ath choſen and redeemed to be his own. in whole deliverance from the bondage of S…, and ſlavery of ſin he hath wonderfully appeared; whom he hath often pa…do…ed …t…erto, and to whom he hath made known his glorious Attributes of grace and mercy, and with whom he hath made a Covenant. He preſents his own obedie…ce, a…d urgeth the Covenant that he made with him; that they are his Spouſe, that he …at… thed his blood for them, that he hath boug…t them, and ſaved them with an high hand, and outſtretched arm; that the h…nour of God's power, …uth and goodneſs is here co…cer…ed. A…d he who never was den…ed in any requeſt, is heard in this, and mercy is obtained for them. As to the glorious manner of Chriſt's doing this, it is above our pre…ent compreheaſion; but that he doth that which is anſwerable to ſuch a thing as this is, the Scripture gives us to underſtand. And did he not this plead for us with his Father, all our pleas in our prayers would be i…valid, and of to eſſ…cacy at all. Our acceſs to God is thro' this Mediator, out of whom he is a conſuming fire.
2. HE alſo applies himſelf to us from God. And this alſo is very …eedful in this part of his mediation: f…r Gods ways of Providence towards his people, are oftentimes abſtruſe and dark; and we, by reaſon of ignorance, are apt to miſinterpret them, and call God's love and fidelity in queſtion, and hereupon to be diſcouraged in our work, and ſtand ſtill is ou… way. We do not always know God's ends, and are ready to ſuſpect that his purpoſes are for hurt, a…d not for good. Thus D…i… in great perplexity is almoſt overwhelmed with his jealouſies, Pſal. 77.7, &c. Thus Job under his affliction, J…b 19.6, to 12. So Hezekiah in his ſickneſs, Iſai. 38.13, 14. And the Church, Iſai. 49.14. Pſal. 44.23, 24. Here therefore alſo Chriſt puts in, and takes p…s with his people to ſettle their hearts and thoughts, and perſwade them of the grace and good will of God to them; of his wiſe, holy, and loving ends in all the vifitations which he brings on them. And this he doth,
1. By be…ring witneſs of the intimate and in…p…reble love of God to his People. How he has in imprinted on his heart a perpetual remembrance of them Iſai. 49.15.
2. BY diſcovering to t…em the deſign of all ſuch diſpenſations. He lets them ſee that the aim and end of them is not, as they miſinterprer, their harm, but their good and advantage: that be intends their benefit by all, and that therefore it ſhall certainly be ſo in the iſſue, ſince he was never defeated in bringing about of his purpoſes. Jer. 29.11.
3. BY making them … t…ere is live in …ſ…ti…ns, a… …span. That God ſometimes ſhews his deateſt love to his children in his afi…cting them …ic… 126. And this, both by ſhowing them the …ee… they ſtood in of them, and cauſing them to experience their gracious operation Pſal 119 71, 75.
4. BY giving them afara… that all his be…ings of his …, and …ſ…eys of his ſarber…y diſpleaſare, ſhall n…ver ſep…te them from …as l…ve, but ſhall …nd in their good and ſ…lv…. R…m. 6 26. And as he g…es them to underſtand the truth of theſe things in his word, ſo he ſeals up the belief of it on their Souis by his Spirit, and ſo he quiets them.
9. WE may in the la… place inquire, How long Chriſt's Medu… ſi…p is to con…?
4. WE may take a brief and yet full reſolution of this Inquiry in the following aſſertions.
1. THAT as Chriſt was deleg…ed to this Office before time, ſo the of…cy of is ſhall abode the, …et…nity. We before obſerved that he was ordained hereto from everlaſ…g; the matter was appointed and ra…ee in the Covenant of Redemption. N…w he is to have the fruits or this great wo…, and to rejoyce in them for ever. There ſhall be the endleſs monuments of this, which ſhall be to him for a name and for a pra…e; even all thoſe many Sons whom he ſhall by it being to glory. He ſhall be admired in them world without end. There are Songs of triumph which ſhall be ſong in acknowledgment of him. Rev. 5. 12, 13.14.
2. THAT, at there was … time wh…n be entred on the excecution of this O…ce, ſo there will be a time when be will have accompliſhed it, and be diſoberged of it. We obſerved, that he began this buſineſs, when man's neceſſity called for it, and that was, when upon his violation of the Covenant of Works, there was a new Covenant of Grace exhibited, in which he was to be the undertaker. And we are alſo told that there is a lay coming wherein he ſhall make a reſignation of this Mediatorial Kingdom, when he hath put an end to the whole affa…r of it. So we are aſſured, in 1 Or. 15.28.
3. THAT Chriſt will abide in the execution of this Office ſo long as there is any work for him to do in it. He is a perpetual Mediator; called a Prieſt for ever. Pſal. 110.4. where f…r ever is oppoſed to the Levitical Prieſſ…od, which was to expire in a while, but his was to laſt to the end. And on this account his Goſpel Kingdom is ſaid to be immoveable. Heb. 12.28. So that it cannot ceaſe ſo long as the deſign of it needs him to c…ry it on. When that is accompliſhed, and not ti…l then, will he lay it by; when the work is finiſhed. And by that we may reſolve when it is like to be
Here then,
(1.) THE ſpecial deſign of the new Covenant, whereof be is Mediator, is to brings God's …lect to glory. His Mediatorſhip hath an inſeparable reſpect to that Covenant. Heb. 12.24. Now whatſoever acceſs there is to the glory of God's revenging Juſtice from thoſe who have deſpiſed the offers of this Covenant; it is certain that it had never been opened but on the account of God's exalting the glory of his Grace on ſome whom he had appointed to it; and that is in bringing them to Salvation, and inveſting them with eternal life. It is in purſuance of that love which God hath to them in the days of Eternity.
(2.) HENCE, ſo long as there is any thing to be done for any of theſe on this account, he cannot ceaſe the purſuit of his Office. The buſineſs lies upon his hands, if he ſhould neglect it, it would fail. And then,
1. IT muſt laſt as long as there are any of God's Elect to be born. For they muſt be born in order to his doing this work for them, or at leaſt, conceived; they muſt have an actual being. Now God will have ſome of thoſe as long as the world ſtands in all ages; it is for their ſake that it continues. Chriſt therefore ſo expreſſeth himſelf in his mediatorial prayer, Joh. 17.20. Neither pray I for theſe alone, but for them alſo which ſhall believe on me through their word. And he tells his diſciples, Joh. 10.16. And other ſheep I have, which are not of this ſold: them alſo I muſt bring, and they ſhall bear my voice; and there ſhall be one fold, and one ſhepherd. He hath the ſame charge lying upon h…m for one that he hath for another; the ſame love to them, and the ſame faithfulneſs to his undertaking engageth him.
2. IT muſt continue till be hath fured all theſe for the Kingdom, and carried them over all the dangers of miſſing it. All that is needful to reconcile them and God in one, and to keep them from falling out of that love, and preſerve them from all their enemies who ſeek their ruine, belongs to this charge of his; and ſo long as they are in this world, and have ſin in them, and ſo many fly and potent adverſaries without them, they are not ſafe any further than he taketh care of them; till that which is perfect is come, and that which is imperfect be done away, he cannot be ſpared from this employment; it muſt therefore laſt till the end, and he hath put down all that oppoſeth. 1 Cor. 15.25. For he muſt reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
3. IT muſt continue till the great Judgment he finiſhed. God hath appointed the great Judgment to be managed by him, and it belongs to him as he is Mediator. And though the Judgment of the ungodly, and ſpecially of thoſe who never heard of the Goſpel Covenant, be an honorary added and conferred upon him; yet the laſt Judgment, as it reſpects his Redeemed, properly belongs to this diſpenſation, in as much as they are not perfectly glorified in all the complements of it, till they receive the bleſſed ſentence from him, and have the crown of righteouſneſs ſet upon their heads by his hands. 2 Tim. 4.8. when he hath delivered them from all their enemies, perfected them in holineſs, & brought them into, and poſſeſſed them of the everlaſting Kingdom; then the work is done, the Covenant compleated; they in full fruition of the love of God, and no more in danger of any breach between them world without end.
USE. THERE are ſeveral worthy Inferences may be drawn from the conſideration of Chriſt's Mediatorſhip.
1. IS Christ the Mediator? What need th… of Angels and Saints to mediate for us? The madneſs of Popery, in conſtituting many Mediators, is here diſcovered; and the idolatry of their invoking of them as ſuch. Their practice in this is too well known. Vain is their diſtinction, when they ſay, Chriſt is only Mediator of Redemption, but they alſo of Interceſſion; ſince the one of theſe equally belongs to his Office with the other. Reſides, when they apply themſelves not only to their perſons, but to their merits, do they not therein make them Mediators of Redemption too. Moſes indeed extraordinarily, and the High-Prieſt ordinarily, were Types of Chriſt the Mediator; and their oblation and interceſſion were typical, but his only ſ… ſtantial. And for men to direct their pray… to theſe as Interceſſors, is without wat…t and renders them guilty of ſuperſtition, and contempt of Chriſt, ſuppoſing him not ſe… cient, or at leaſt dividing his glory, & making others ſharers with him in it. What though we are here bound to pray one with and fo… another? we are not therefore to pray one to another. One Saint prays for another, … as a Mediator, but as we are brethren joyally concerned for each others good. We worſhip them not in asking their prayers. But praying to dead Saints is an act of worſhip and …renders contemptible the Mediation of Chriſt, as if he could not, or would … hear us. We are told, Act. 4.12. Neither i… there ſalvation in any other: for there is … other name under heaven given among …, whereby we muſt be ſaved.
2. DOTH fallen man ſtand in abſolute and of a Mediator? How great a diſtance then … Sin ſet us at from God? and how wonderful …s the love of God in providing us with ſuch a One? The breach made by ſin muſt ſ…ly be very great, and therefore we may in it diſcover the vile nature of Sin. Time … when God and man could ſpeak familarly one to another, but now there is a wall ſo high raiſed between them, the diſtance is ſo great that there is no intercourſe; & ſuch is the eſtrangedneſs betwixt them, as, had on the Son of God come to pull down the p… tition wall, and make peace, we could never have had liberty to ſpeak with God or … mercy of him. Eph. 2.14. Which ſhould teach us to loath all ſin, and abhor our ſelves in duſt and aſhes for it. The conſideration that there is a Mediator between God and man, tells us they are fallen out, & become enemies; which ſhould put us upon inquiring. into the ground of the controverſy and humble us for it. And withal it invites us to contemplate God's admirable kindneſs, in thus gratifying our neceſſity, by inveſting his Son with this Office. Job. 3.16. Neceſſity greatens a benefit. When we remember, that if the Son of God had not come to take up and compoſe the controverſy between God and us, he would have been our enemy for ever; and we muſt have ſuffered the impreſſions of his anger to eternity. And now to ſee God himſelf ſending his own Son out of his boſome, commiſſioned to become a da… man, to make peace, and bring about an everlaſting Covenant, well-ordered in all things, and ſute. What an unſpeakable obligation is hereby laid upon us to magnify and praiſe his great Name?
3 IS Chriſt the Mediator of the new Covenant? Learn hence,
1. THE miſerable eſtate of the greater part of mankind. It herein appears, in that they have no Mediator to ſtand between God & them, to put an end to the controverſy that ſin hath made: And ſuch are all thoſe who are ſtill under the Covenant of Works. Some there be who live out of the reach of the promulgation of the new Covenant, they never heard of this good news; and ſuch are all they who are ſtrangers to the Goſpel. And what multitudes are there of theſe in the world, who are not favoured with the glad tidings of peace? Theſe have no Mediator, and therefore muſt needs periſh. How ſhould we then condole their caſe, and pray earneſtly for them? But others there be who are both under the diſpenſation of the Goſpel Covenant; who …e had this great priviledge urged upon them, and been entreated to accept of Chriſt to be a Mediator for them, and poſſibly boaſt of their title to him, but they were never brought over to a cordial cloſure with him, by a tr… and living faith, but are ſtill unbelievers; and are therefore, as to their natural eſtate, under the firſt Covenant: theſe have no Mediator, none to plead with God for them, none to become their Surety, to ſtand between them and everlaſting burnings. And hence it comes to paſs, that, as Covenant-breakers they remain under the wrath of God. They ſtand condemned. Without a Mediator, God is a conſuming fire; there is no approaching to him. They have none to ſpeak … their behalf, none to make ſatisfaction for their offences, none to become Surety for them. No blood of ſprinkling to be applied to them. And thus they remain without hope, & muſt needs periſh for ever. They muſt anſwer for themſelves; they muſt bear the puniſhment of their own iniquities: they muſt either pleaſe God with their own righteouſneſs, which they can never do, or elſe they muſt ſuffer all the wrath and diſpleaſure of the Almighty, which is, by the ſentence of the firſt Covenant, denounced againſt ſinners. And for all thoſe that are not by faith, gotten into Chriſt, think of it, and look to it. You may think for the preſent to do well enough: but I aſſure you, When God ſhall enkindle his fury into a flame againſt ſinners, and you ſhall come in the way of it, and have no Mediator to interpoſe between it and you, you will rue it for ever.
2. WHENCE is it that any are won and perſwaded to be at peace with God, and enter into Covenant with him. Man is not only an enemy to God, but hath an enmity againſt God deeply rooted in him, which keeps him from being reconciled. Rom. 8.7. By vertue of this, none of Adam's children would ever enquire after God, or ſeek peace with him. So that if at any time, we ſee a ſinner throwing down his arms, confeſſing his ſins, juſtifying God, taking ſhame to himſelf, and imploring pardon and peace, we may truly conclude that the Mediator hath been at work on that Soul. The ſame means are uſed with others, who yet remain obſtinate. And for this reaſon we ſhall obſerve thoſe that are beſt diſpoſed morally, remain in their native rebellion; and the moſt ill diſpoſed, and rough hewn, wro't up to ſuch a compliance; which declares it to be his work on them, & it is to be acknowledged to the praiſe of the great Mediator.
3. THAT the new Covenant muſt needs be perpetual and unchangeable. It is called an Everlaſting Covenant. And the mercies of it are ſaid to be ſure, Iſai. 55.3. And whence comes it to be ſo, but becauſe it hath a Mediator, and ſuch a Mediator in it? Man is not leſs, but more like to fail under this, than the firſt, having then nothing in him, but mutability to expoſe him, whereas now he hath a body of death: but Chriſt is the undertaker: both God and the believer refer to him the management of all, and except he can fail, the Covenant muſt ſtand firm. He looks after all parts, and therefore till he can ceaſe to be a Mediator, the Covenant cannot poſſibly be made void.
4. THAT they muſt needs be in a good & ſafe ſtate that are gotten within the new Covenant. Whatſoever apprehenſion ſuch may have of ſin and wrath, and juſtice, and ſelf inſufficiency to do any thing that is required of them, and how ſenſible ſoever they may at ſometimes be of their fathers diſpleaſure, yet ſtill they have this comfort & ſupport, they have 2 Mediator, who is their Surety & Advocate, who hath undertaken for them in all the Articles of the new Covenant, who will interpoſe when they ſin. 1 Joh. 2.1. If any man ſin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the righteous. Who will perfume their prayers, and make them ſavoury. Rev. 8.2. who will ſecure for them all the good laid up in the promiſe, fulfil in them the condition of the Covenant, and bring them to eternal glory. Let it then be the great care of every one of us, to ſee that we are truly entitled to this Mediator; and reſt not till we have made it ſure. And now let us make improvement of him as ſuch, as for our help in doing the work of our generation, ſo for our confidence and comfort, in expectation to be brought ſafely home to the eternal Kingdom.
[… 6. 1695.]