SERMON
ON VIII.

Gives an Account of the NATURE of CHRIST's MEDIATION.

I TIM. ii. 5. And one Mediator betwixt God and Man, the man Chrift Fefus.

God is most holy, Man a lump of iniquity. Extremes meet not but by their middle; finful man can never have communion with, or enjoyment of God, but in, and by a Mediator.

GREAT and long preparations befpeak the folemnity and greatnefs of the work for which they are defigned: A man that had but feen the heaps of gold, filver and brafs, which David amaffed in his time, for the building of the temple, might easily conclude before one ftone of it was laid, that it would be a magnificent ftructure. But lo, here is a defign of God as far tranfcending that, as the fubftance doth the fhadow. For, indeed, that glorious temple was but the type and figure of Jefus Chrift, John ii. 19, 21. and a weak adumbration of that living, fpiritual temple which he was to build, cementing the lively flones thereof together with his own blood, I Pet. ii. 5, 6. that the great God might dwell and walk in it, 2 Cor, vi. 16. The preparations for that temple were but of few years, but the confultations and preparations for this were from eternity, Prov. viii. 31. And as there were preparations for this work (which Chrift difpatch'd in a few years) before the world began; fo it will be matter of eternal admiration and praife, when this world thall be dissolved. What this aftonishing glorious work is, this text will inform you, as to the general nature of it: it is the work of mediation betwixt God and man, managed by the fole hand of the man Chrift Jefus.

In this fcripture (for I fhall not fpend time to examine the words in their contexture) you have a defcription of Jefus the Mediator; and he is here defcribed four ways, viz. by his work or office, a Mediator: by the fingularity of his mediation, one Mediator; and by the nature and quality of his perfon, imployed in this fingular way of mediation, the man; and lastly, his name, Jefus Chrift.

1. He is defcribed by the work, or office he is imployed a

SERM. VIII. bout, Mires, a Mediator, a middle perfon. So the word imports a fit, indifferent, and equal perfon, that comes between two perfons that are at variance, to compofe the difference and make peace. Such a middle, equal, indifferent perfon is Chrift; a day's man, to lay his hand upon both; to arbitrate and award juftly, and give God his due, and that without ruin to poor

man.

2. He is defcribed by the fingularity of his mediation, one Mediator, and but one. Though there be many mediators of reconciliation among men, and many interceffors in a petitionary way, betwixt God and man; yet but છ Μεσιτες; one only mediator of reconciliation betwixt God and man: and 'tis as needless and impious to make more mediators than one, as to make more God's than one. There is one God, and one Mediator betwixt God and men.

3. He is described by that nature and quality of his person, RvApuros Xpisos, &c. the man Chrift Jefus. This description of him by one nature, and that the human nature alfo (wherein, as you shall fee anon, the Lord especially confulted our encouragement and comfort); I fay, his being fo defcribed to us, hath through the corruption of men, been improved to the great dishonour of Jefus Chrift, both by the Arians and Papists *. The former took occafion from hence to affirm, that he was but hos avaros, a mere man. The latter allow him to be the true God, but on this weak ground affirm, that he performed not the work of mediation as God, but only as man. Thus what the Spirit ordered for our comfort, is wickedly retorted to Christ's dishonour: for I doubt not but he is defcribed by his human nature in this place; not only because in this nature he paid that random (which he speaks of in the words immediately following) but especially for the drawing of finners to him ; feeing he is the man Chrift Jefus, one that cloathed himself in their own flesh; and to encourage the faith of believers, that he tenderly refents all their wants and miferies, and that they may fafely truft him with all their concerns, as one that will carefully mind them as his own, and will be for them a merciful and faithful High Priest, in things pertaining to God.

4. He is defcribed by his names; by his appellative name Chrift, and his proper name Jefus. The name Jefus, notes his work about which he came; and Chrift, the offices to which he

* Wherefore, think ye, has he added the term, man; but to exprefs that nature, whereby Chrift is mediator. Bellarmine on the Mediation of Christ, book V. chap. 3. vol. 2.

was anointed; and in the execution of which he is our Jesus †. "In the name Jefus, the whole gospel is hid; it is the light, "the food, the medicine of the foul," as one fpeaks. The note from hence is,

Doct. That Jefus Chrift is the true and only Mediator betwixt
God and men.

"Ye are come to Jefus the Mediator of the new covenant," Heb. xii. 24. "And for this caufe he is the Mediator of the new "Teftament," &c. Heb. ix. 14. I might shew you a whole vein of fcriptures running this way; but to keep a profitable and clear method, I shall fhew,

First, What is the fense of this word Mets, a Mediator ‡.
Secondly, What it implies, as it is applied to Christ.

Thirdly, How it appears that he is the true and only Mediator betwixt God and men.

Fourthly, In what capacity he performed his mediatory work. First, What is the fenfe and import of this word Meritis, a Mediator? The true fenfe and importance of it, is a middle Perfon, or one that interpofes betwixt two parties at variance, to make peace betwixt them. So that as Satan is medium disjungens, a medium of difcord; fo Christ is medium conjungens, a medium of concord and peace. And he is fuch a Mediator, both in refpect of his perfon, and office: in respect of his person, he is a Mediator; that is, one that hath the fame nature both with God and us, true God, and true man; and in refpect of his Office or work, which is to interpofe to tranfact the bufinefs of reconciliation between us and God. The former forne call his fubftantial, the latter his energetical, or operative mediation. Though I rather conceive that which is called his fubftantial mediation, is but the aptitude of his person to execute the mediatorial function; and that it doth not conftitute two kinds of mediation.

P 2

+ In nomine JESU totum latet Evangelium; hoc nomen eft lux, cibus, et medicina animae. S. Glaffius.

The

We call one, a Mediator, who interpofes either between parties at variance, or in fome degree only united, fo as to reconcile the one, and unite the other more ftrictly by a new covenant. name of Mediator, in its proper fignification, is not the name of a fubftance, but the name of an office or employment; wherefore, the fubftance and execution of the office do not conflitute two kinds of mediation, but one and the fame. Amef. Bellarm. Enerv. lib. V.

P. 117.

His being a middle perfon, fits and capacitates him to stand in the midft betwixt God and us. This, Ifay, is the proper sense of the word; though M, a Mediator is rendered variously; fometimes an umpire or arbitrator; fometimes a messenger that goes betwixt two perfons; fometimes an interpreter, imparting the mind of one to another; fometimes a reconciler or peace-maker. And in all these fenfes Chrift is the MT, the middle perfon in his mediation of reconciliation or interceffion; that is, either in his mediating, by fuffering to make peace, as he did on earth; or to continue, and maintain peace, as he doth in heaven, by meritorious interceffion. Both thefe ways he is the only Mediator. And he manageth this his mediation.

1. As an umpire or arbitrator ; one that layeth his hands upon both parties, as Job fpeaks, chap ix. 33. fo doth Chrift, he layeth his hands (fpeaking after the manner of men) upon God, and faith, Father, wilt thou be at peace with them, and re-admit them into thy favour? if thou wilt, thou shalt be fully fatisfied for all that they have done against thee. And then he layeth bis hand upon man, and faith, Poor finner, be not discouraged, thou halt be justified and faved.

2. As a meffenger or ambaffador, fo he came to impart the mind of God to us, and fo he prefents our defires to God; and in this fenfe only Socinus would allow Chrift to be Media tor. But therein he endeavours to undermine the foundation, and to exclude him from being Mediator by a suretiship ; Which is,

3. The third way of his mediation. So the apoftle fpeaks, Heb. vii. he is sy foost, the furety, or pledge. Which, as the lear ned David Parcus well expreffeth it, is one that engageth to fatisfy another, or gives caution or fecurity by a pledge in the hand for it. And indeed, both thefe ways, Chrift is our mediator by fureti hip, viz in a way of fatisfaction, coming under our obligation to answer the law; this he did on the crofs and in a way of caution, a furety for the peace, or good behaviour. But to be more explicate and clear, I fhall,

* Chrift is called a Mediator, both as he is a middle perfon, and as he is one who mediates; he is middle in perfon; he mediates, by office. Trelcat. Inflit. p. 98.

+ Mains, An Umpire, Arbitrator, a midfman, a reconciler.

"Eylvos [Egguos] is a furety, one that engages for another, by pledge in hand. From quo, [guion] which fignifies hand, and [en] in, as if it were, vos, in hand; or, as Suidas would have it, from yun, [gue] or you [gaia] the earth, which is firm, ftable, immoveable.

Secondly, In the next place enquire, what it implies and carries in it, for Chrift to be a Mediator betwixt God and us. And there are, mainly, these five things in it.

1. At the first fight, it carries in it a moft dreadful breach and jar betwixt God and men; elfe no need of a Mediator of reconciliation. There was indeed a fweet league of amity once between them, but it was quickly diffolved by fin; the wrath of the Lord was kindled against man, purfuing him to deftruction, Pfal. v. 5. "Thou hatest all the workers of iniquity." And man was filled with unnatural enmity against his God, Rom. i. 30. 95fe, haters of God; this put an end to all friendly commerce and intercourfe between him and God. Reader, fay not in thy heart, that it is much, one fin, and that feemingly fo fmall, should make fuch a breach as this, and cause the God of mercy and goodness fo to abhor the works of his hands, and that as foon as he had made man: for it was a heinous and aggravated evil. It was upright, perfect man, created in the Image of God, that thus finned: he finned when his mind was moft bright, clear and apprehenfive; his confcience pure and active; his will free, and able to withstand any temptation; his confcience pure and undefiled; he was a public as well as a perfect man, and well knew that the happiness or misery of his numberless offspring was involved in him.

The condition he was placed in, was exceeding happy: no neceffity or want could arm and edge temptation: he lived amidst all natural and spiritual pleasures and delights, the Lord moft delightfully converfing with him; yea, he finned while as yet his creation-mercy was fresh upon him; and in this fin was oft horrible ingratitude; yea, a cafting off the yoke of obedience almost as foon as God had put it on. God now faw the work of his hands fpoiled, a race of rebels now to be propagated, who in their fucceffive generations would be fighting against God: he faw it, and his juft indignation fparkled againft man, and refolves to purfue him to the bottom of

hell.

2. It implies, a neceffity of fatisfaction and reparation to the juftice of God: For the very defign and end of this mediation was to make peace, by giving full fatisfaction to the party that was wronged. The Photinians, and fome others, have dreamed of a reconciliation with God, founded, not upon fatisfaction, but upon the abfolute mercy, goodness, and free will of God. "But concerning that abfolute goodness and mercy of God, reconciling finners to himself, there is a deep filence through