A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 88 (Questions 23 cont.-24)
SERMON LXXXVIII.
WE have conſidered Chriſt's Anointing to His Great Office of a Mediator, by which, added to his Incarnation, He was compleatly fitted for the great Work which he undertook, for our Redemption & Salvation.
III. WE are now to proceed to the conſideration of the parts of this Office, or the ſeveral diſtinct Offices comprehended under it, in the execution whereof he went through this affair. We have an account of the number and names of them given us in the preſent Anſwer, together with the two ſtates in which he purſues them. The ſpecial work belonging to each of them, is expreſſed in the Three ſubſequent Anſwers. Here then, for an Introduction to that which follows, I ſhall only make ſome brief general remarks. v…z.
1. CON…ERNING the number and names of theſe Offices. T…ere are Three here mentioned, and we are told what they are: intimating to us that he had all theſe Three, and that he had no more belonging to his Mediatorſhip. The …akers find fault and quarrel with as upon this account, charging us with wronging Chriſt, and uſing arbitrarineſs in culling out theſe Three from ſo many Titles given him in Scripture, which they pretend equally to point us to a diſtinct Office, with theſe; ſuch as Light, Lamb, &c. but the charge is injurious. Let us then obſerve,
(1.) THAT all theſe Three Offices are expreſly mentioned in the word of God. Theſe therefore cannot be denied to belong to him. His Prieſthood, beſides that it was typified in the Levitical order, who were ſhadows of him that was to come, is mentioned, in Pſal. 110. 4. And is abundantly repeated in the Epiſtle to the Hebrews; the main drift of which Epiſtle is to clear it up, and to ſet forth the excellency and tranſcendency of it. For his Prophetical, it was predicted by Moſes, Deut. 18.15. The Lord thy God will raiſe up unto thee a Prophet from the midſt of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye ſhall hearken. Which Prophecy is by Stephen applied to him, as fulfilled in him, Act. 7.37, 38. And by Peter, Acts 3.22. And for his Kingly, the Pſalmiſt gives us the account of it in Pſal. 2.6. Yet have I ſet my King upon my holy hill of Sion. And Nathaniel acknowledged it to him. Joh. 1.49.
(2.) THAT all the other titles and names given to Chriſt in Scripture, are reducible either to his general Office of Mediator, or to one of theſe Three in particular. Every name and title is not an indigitation of an Office, much leſs of a diſtinct Office. And therefore we are not from each of theſe to aſſign a ſeveral Office to him. There are ſome titles which are given him that are only metaphorical; and it would be improper to make a peculiar Office out of them; He muſt then have the Office of a Lamb, and the Office of a Lion, &c. which how ſtrange would it be? There are other titles put upon him which expreſs either the gifts and graces, which he eminently received, or the efficacy of the operation of theſe in the work of Redemption, and ſo were the furniture of his Offices: and it would be impertinent to denominate theſe Offices. How unintelligible would it be, to ſay, that he hath the Office of, Light, the Office of Truth, of Wiſdom, of Righteouſneſs, of Meekneſs, &c. A diligent obſervation, will point us eaſily how to reduce theſe to the Offices we have mentioned; which would take up too much time to enumerate in particular. He is a Lamb in his Priestly, a Lion in his Kingly, Light in his Prophetical, &c. So that the imputation is injurious; and will further appear to be ſo in the next thing. viz.
2. TOUCHING the neceſſity & ſufficiency of theſe Three Offices. It was requiſite that o… Mediator ſhould be fully furniſhed for the great buſineſs that he came about. He muſt therefore have every Office requiſite to e… ble him thereto; and more he needed n…. Now fewer than theſe Three would not have done; and under theſe is comprized all that is needful. He needed theſe, and no more but theſe to be a compleat Saviour. And the… are three reſpects in which this will be evident,
(1.) IN reſpect of their neceſſary mutual dependance each on the other, in order to their reading of their great and. The deſign of them is to bring about the Salvation of ſinful men. When this is accompliſhed, they obtain; if this be fruſtrate, they are defeated. Now neither of theſe ſeparately … bring about this deſign: the fruit and benefit of one would ceaſe, if the other did not concur to render it beneficial: but the one attai… its end by the concomitancy of the other; and there needs no more but the co…operation of theſe Three for the compleating of … Chriſt could not have purchaſed Salvation … us, unleſs he had been a Prieſt, nor have … vealed the myſteries of it to us, except he had been a Prophet; nor advanced us to the glory purchaſed, unleſs he had been a King. He could not have communicated his royal vertues to us, had he not been a Prieſt firſt … purchaſe them. His Prieſtly & Kingly Offices could not have been revealed to us, but that he was a Prophet. His Prieſtly and Prophetical Offices could not have been ſuſtained, but by his being a King. Had he not been a Royal Propher, he could not have taught with authority; and had he not been a Kingly Prieſt, he could not have made ſuch near approaches to the majeſty of Heaven in our behalf. But theſe Three together render him compleat.
(2.) IN regard to the condition of theſe f… whom he bare theſe Offices. It is certain that he took them all upon him to do us good by them. He had therefore an eye to our neceſſary, that ſo he might accommodate himſelf thereto. His buſineſs was to ſave us, but there were three things in our natural ſtate which were obſtructive of this Salvation, and in which the ground of our miſery was comprized, 1. Our alienation from God, who is our objective happineſs, and in the fruition of when only can we be made truly bleſſed. 2. O… ignorance of the way of peace; by the knowledge whereof we can only be led into and guided in it. 3. Our utter impotency … return again; which can be in no other way, … by our compliance with the terms of the a… Covenant, unto which we have noſtrength. Now theſe Offices of his do anſwer to all thoſe neceſſities of ours. By vertue of his …ſhood he takes away that alienation, and opens the way of peace which ſin had ſhut … He is ſaid to pull down the pariſtion wall, Eph. 2.14. And to have conſecrated a new way, Heb 10.20. By vertue of his Prophetical Office, … lightens our underſtandings, and directs … in the right way to obtain this peace, not only preſcribing to us the rules, and telling us of them, but alſo opening our eyes, and …sing us to diſcern them. Act. 26.18. And by his Kingly, he carries us into, and leads us in this way, and gives us power to follow him. In him therefore we are ſaid to have our …gth, Iſai. 45.24. Yea the accompliſhment of … Salvation is aſcribed to this Office. Iſal. …3.12. For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is or Law giver, the Lord is our King, he will ſet us. By his Prieſthood he hath aboliſhed …: He hath brought life and immortally to light by his Prophety; and as King …ith brought us into fellowſhip with himſelf 2 Tim. 1.9, 10. We are ſaid to be poor, … blind, and naked, Rev. 3.17. Here is a …e fold miſery, and theſe Offices afford …dy to them all. To ſalve our poverty …a a King; and hath an infinite treaſure below. As a Prophet he hath eye ſalve …piont our eyes with; to take away out … theſe, and reſtore our fight. And as a … be is provided with a precious robe of … …ſneſs to cover our nakedneſs, and … as gloriouſly. But theſe things will … into more particular conſideration …rds.
(3.) RELATING to the Negociation or buſ… with be hath to deal in, and conſequently …les whom be hath to treat with in it. … comes under a double obſervation, … hath to deal with God for us. We have … that there is a treaty of Reconcili… …e is engaged in. Now God is the one … in it, whom he is to atone to ſinners, … in had made their enemy, and againſt … for ſin, his Juſtice was armed with … for their deſtruction; which Juſtice … ſatisfy in order to God's being at … with them. And for this was his Prieſt…od to be employed, in offering up ſuch an …tion as might be acceptable for them. Col. … And (having mode peace through the blood …ſs) by him to reconcile all things unto … by him I ſay, whether they be things in … things in heaven.
(4.) HE is alſo concerned with man, to re… him unto God. And there are two fa… which he hath mainly to do withal …, in order to the bringing of this about. … hath to do with his Underſtanding. It …ional treaty; man muſt be perſwaded …ply with the terms of peace, and for …nd they muſt be opened to him, and he … be made to underſtand them, and diſ… the rationality, and deſire ableneſs of them. And to this refers his Prophetical Office, by which he reveals himſelf to us.
2. HE hath work alſo with our wills, which are naturally perverſe, and full of enmity and oppoſition to all that is good. He muſt therefore frame us to a willingneſs to comply with his terms, and ſubdue our rebellious hearts, and make them obedient; powerfully to bring them into, and lead them in the way of peace; unto which his Kingly Office is accommodated.
3. TOUCHING the extent of the application of theſe Offices: We may, alſo in general obſerve,
(1.) THAT they go together, and ruſt through the whole work that he is concerned in. Tho' they are diſtinct Offices, yet they do co-work in the buſineſs; and though there be an order and concatenation of them, as will preſently be obſerved; yet in their influence they run through all. He acts as a Royal Prieſt, as a Kingly Prophet; and when he was more peculiarly engaged in the execution of one, he exerciſed the other. And hence, when here he was making ſatisfaction, and purchaſing life for us as a Prieſt; yet he gave us a ſpecimen both of his Prophetical & Kingly Offices. And now when he …its on his Throne, he continues in the vertue of his Prieſthood, and Propheſy. Hence,
(2.) THAT all thoſe Offices diſplay themſelves in both parts of his mediation. Theſe are his Humiliation, and his Exe…ation, and we are here told that he executes them in both. He began it when he entred on his Office, and he continues in it till his mediatorial …ſineſs be compleated and he comes to make a reſignation. 1 Cor. 15.25, 28. Pſal. 110.4. The Lord hath ſworn, and will nor repent, thou art a Prieſt for ever after the order of Melchiſedeck. i.e. to the conſummation of this affair. In his Humiliation, he ſubmitted himſelf to the law, and ſuffered for us as a Prieſt, he taught as a Prophet, and he ſubdued our enemies for us as a King: and in his Exaltation, he makes interceſſion for us as a Prieſt; He reveals the will of God to our minds as a Prophet, and he governs and protects us as a King.
4. IN reference to the order of theſe Offices, though it may ſeem of little moment, yet it is worthy our obſervation; and it may help our ſaith to more diſtinctneſs. The generality of Catechiſts, and Syſtematical Divines, put them in the ſame order with our Catechiſm, putting his Prophetical Office in the firſt place, then his Prieſtly, then his Kingly. And the reaſon of this method is, partly, with reſpect to the order of the application of them to us by the Spirit of God; who firſt enlightens us by vertue of his Prophetical Office, and then his Righteouſneſs is imputed to us, which was wrought out for us in his Prieſtly; and then we are led in the way of truth and holineſs by his Kingly. Partly, becauſe Chriſt ſeems to have exerciſed them moſt illuſtriouſly in this order: firſt, teaching men in his public miniſtry in this world, and then ſuffering the wrath of God, in his offering himſelf a Sacrifice for us, at his Death; and then entring into Glory, where he ſits enthroned at his Fathers right hand, after he had appeared here in the form of a Servant.
BUT there is a greater reaſon why his Prieſtly Office ſhould be put in the firſt place Let us then conſider, that all theſe Offices were Aled…atw…l, and belong to the buſineſs of Reconciliation, in which he had to do both with God and man. Now in order of nature, the firſt addreſs muſt be to God, for he is juſtly offended, and muſt be ſatisfied, and it is vain to go about to reconcile man to God, till he be reconciled, and willing to entertain him upon his return. Beſides, all the buſineſs of Chriſts Prophetical and Kingly Offices, are built upon his Prieſtly, they have nothing to work upon, but what is prepared for them by that. Here the foundation of the peace between God and man is laid; here is the ground work of all the Goſpel; here is that Salvation procured for us, which Chriſt, as a Prophet makes known to us, and as a King brings us unto the enjoyment of. But I ſhall purſue the method before me; having thus premiſed. Here then,
QUESTION XXIV.
HOW d…th CHRIST execute the Office of a Prophet?
AN…WER.
CHRIST executes the Office of a Prophe…, by revealing to us, by His Word and Spirit, the Will of GOD for our Salvation.
WE have already obſerved, that Chriſt as a Prophet and King, hath to do with man, and his buſineſs by them is to reconcile them to God and bring them to the everlaſting enjoyment of him. Having ſatisfyed God's Juſtice, and appeaſed his anger, by his Prieſt heed, there is now way made to hold a treaty with man, for the bringing of him to participate in the benefit hereof. In this treaty he will deal with man as a reaſonable creature, and muſt therefore firſt apply himſelf to his Underſtanding. The underſtanding in fallen man is dreadfully ignorant of God, and his ways, and filled with erroneous principles, and wants a Prophet to teach it. The revelation of God's will to it, is neceſſary in order to the bringing of the will into ſubjection thereunto. The firſt ſtep towards the removing of the obſtinacy in the one is by taking away the ignorance and miſtakes which the other labours of. This Chriſt doth as a Prophet. Before I proceed to open the Office it ſelf, let us obſerve, That it is a diſtinct Office in it ſelf from the other. There are ſome who deny this, and will have it referred to his Prieſtly, as an Appendix belonging thereto: but there is no reaſon for it. I though ſome of the Prieſts were alſo … phets of old; yet teaching, was no pro… work of the Prieſts of old, belonging to the as Prieſts, who were of the houſe of … but was common to the Tribe of Levi. Be… that there were Prophets from time to t… raiſed and ſent by God, who were of the … Tribes. Iſ…ah was of the Tribe of Ju… A… was no Prophet, i. e. by Education nor Son of a Prophet, i. e. by birth. Now … thoſe ancient Prophets were Types of … in regard of th…s Office. And there is a … feſt difference between theſe two Offices, reſpect of the different object which … apply themſelves to. In his Prieſthood … applies himſelf to God, to appear before … for us, but in his Propheſy he deals with … Information or teaching, is the great d… of Prophecy, but he cannot teach God … thing; but we are the ſubjects of tea… whoſe darkneſs ſtands in need of … ealightned. In the diſplaying of this O… of Chriſt there are three things may o… under our conſideration.
1. The nature …
2. The neceſſity of it.
3. Its ex…lle …
1. TOUCHING the nature of this Office … gather it from the way whereit we are … be executes it. For when we know w… longs to him by vertue of this Office, we … thence diſcover what is the Office it …. Here then three things are to be takes … of,
1. The great deſign of this Office … that is revelation to us.
2. The ſubjects … ter about which it is emploved, the w… God for our Salvation.
3. The way of … net in which it doth this, by his Wo… Spirit.
1. THE great deſign of this Office, … Revelation to us. I need not here in… … two following things will give light … Only let us obſerve; The Underſtand … men are the ſubjects treated with in … this Office. Now that which the factl… concerned about is, information, enli… Truth is its proper object, and it is … to, by the making known of truth to … it: and this is done by Revelation. … tion is properly a diſcovering or decl… perſons ſomething which before th…y did not … And this is aſſerted concerning Chriſt, i… … 1.18. No man hath ſeen God at any times … only begotten Son, which is in the beſom … Father, he hath declared him. This was the … buſineſs of the Prophets of old; what … revealed to them, and ſent them to p… they declared as from him, to thoſe … they were directed unto: whether it … the praediction of future events, or … covery of ſome poſitive commands, … revival of ſome neglected or forgotten … or the interpretation of the mind of … things which were obſcure, or where is had gone out of the way; in all of … they were Types of Chriſt the great… …. But this will be more plain in that … follows. Obſerve then,
2. THE ſubject matter about which it is emph…l, viz. the will of God for …ar Sa…ton. …, a… the larger C…techiſae expreſſeth it, the … will of God in things that coucern our …; and ſalvation. The will of God, though it be but one and undivided in itſelf, you, … comes under a diverſe conſideration in … …ner of conception and expreſſion. In …, there is his decreeing will, and his per…ive will. This latter is not another from … forget, not contradictory to it, but in… an effect flowing from it; or a diſcovery … of it. God among other thines which … porpo…ſed from eternity, decreed what ſhould … duty, and in what way he ſhould be bought to the enjoyment of God; and hence to … reſpect he is ſend to will it. As Theſ. 4.9. … this is the will of God, even your …. Though poſſibly he hath not … that the man ſhall be wrought to … ſince there with. Hence all the truths … …o…cern the war in which fallen man … brought to obtain Salvation through … Chriſt, belong to this will, and are the … of that revelation which Chriſt as a …pher doth make unto us. And this Paul …ls in that, Act. 20.27. For I have not … to de…are unto we all the crunſel of …. Yet as to all God's counſels about his …s of efficiency, they were not revealed … …ove then ſhould he acquaint them with them? See ver 22. There is a way of ſ…ied; this no a…arel man knows, Rom. …lal the way of peace have they not knows. … any know it but ſuch to whom God … it. This therefore Chriſt as a Prophet … …anifeſt; this is that all m…ch that If … fed his Spirit to grade as in, Job. 16. … There are thoſe counſels of God which … ſecret, they belong not to us to …, not are needful to be known by us. … …am Salvation altho' we never … then. There are other things which … them not, we cannot be ſared. … more diſtinct knowledge we have … the better ſhall we be directed to … keep the way of life. And there is …wledge, the want whereof expoſeth to …ſton. Hoſ. 4.6. My people are deſtroyed … of knowlege. Theſe then are the truths, … revelation whereof this Office is em…ed, and theſe are theſe truths, which are … to us the treaty of Reconciliation, …irect us in thoſe ways which are ſuited …to. And they may be reduced to theſe …re…ds.
(1) THE v…ſt diſtance which ſin hath made … God and us, and the great miſery ariſing …, in which the whole race of fallen … and we in particular are involved. That … of prorocation, all enation, & …oparation … God, in which mankind are by reaſon … apoſtaſy. This is one thing that the … comes to convince men of viz Sin. in …ture, and woful effects. Job. 16.8. And … be is come, be will repr…ve the …old…el ſin. Which he doth by revelation. This in particular was done in and by the new Edition of the law, which was given to and by M…ſes, after mankind had by cuſtom in ſin almoſt obliterated the relic…s of the law of nature in their conſciences. The law was not revived by M…ſes, with a direct and ultimate intention to condemn men, but to be a medine of their peace; and that by diſcoveting in this glaſs, that was the woful depraration of the natuge of man, and pollution of his …e, to convince him of his dreadful miſery, and what abſolute need be had of a Saviour. Gil. 3.19. Moſes therefore was in this reſpect a Type of Chriſt.
(2) THE great myſ…ery of himſelf, …a that work of Redemptive which was wrought … by …. The world cannot receire him Joh. 14.17. Even the Spirit of …ath, when the … cannot notice, becauſe it ſe…th him …, neither know…th him. But to his own be makes the diſcovery of the-great ta…aes which he hath done for the bringing about a Roe …ciliation between God and ſinners. The everlaſting deſignation of him to this rock in the Covenant … Redemption; the deep things of his Incarnation and Unction, the great value of his Blood and Sufferings, and the mighty power of his Refutrection. Theſe are things which ſeem to be ſool …neſ… to the wiſe Greek, ſool contradictions to the ſcrupulous Je… either of them can tell what to make of all ſuch dark, and alie…e ſpeeches, that God … in the firſt, jaſtiſ…d in the Spirit, &c. and how all theſe ſhould ſay a foundation for the procuring and applying of reſtitation and peace to fallen man; but Chriſt tells his Diſciples that to them it is given, Mat. 13.11. He enj…ered and ſe…d into them. … couſe it is given unto you to have the m…ſicry of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not gorve. i.e He, by his Pro…hetical O…f…ce would enlighten them in the knowledge of theſe myſteries of Redemption.
(3.) THE great readineſs in God to receive and entertain in poor returning finners, that come to him by Jeſus Chriſt. Theſe inviting and engaging Attribute; whereby God is laid open to be taken hold of by an hand of faith, manifeſting how readily be receives ſuch as come to him repenting and believing in his Son. Theſe Chriſt procia…ms, Exod. 34.6, 7. The mercy gruce goodneſs pardon, that there is with God, to extend to miſerable men, which they ſtand in ſo much need of, and but for which they muſt needs be leſt to periſh for ever.
(4.) THE ternes of the unto Covenant or thoſe merciful Articles. upon which God is …iſing to embrace, maſ…eble ſinners in the … us of everlaſting mercy. Such as, Mat. 11.28, 29 Came unto me all…ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you reſt. Take my ſake upon …, and learn of me, for I am rock and … heart: and ye-ſhall find viſt … yoa… ſouds. Mat. 16.16. He that beliew… and is bepe…ed, ſhall be ſaved. The way how we come to have a good right, a ſure … the Salvation wrought out by Chriſt: the good pleaſure of God the Father, that all that come within the ſound of the Goſpel, and the hearing of a crucified Chriſt, ſhould come to him, and believe on him, that ſo they may have everlaſting life Job. 3.16. The whole new and living way by which we may have accel; to God, and obtain peace, and pardon, and ſalvation at his hands Mi… 6.8.
(5.) THE … in and by which me may … the … with the Goſpel terms of Salvation. We have to ſtrength of out on: to do it, but do tells us where out bel… is to he had; … it is that applies this Grace, and brings the … to a tree and willing ſubjection it the demands made in the Goſpel? by a pewerful operatice, in pulling down ſtrong holds and ſubduing all that is in us, to the obed…e…ce of ſaith. Who works all our works … helps our …mities and … as through faith unto Salvation, and directs us how to ſeel it of God, that ſo we may obtain it. Hence ſaid to bring li…e and immaturity to light, 1 Tim. 1.…, 10.
[OCTOBER …. 1695.]