By John Cotton
The Lord Jesus Christ, to be the Mediator and Surety of the Covenant between God and Abraham
We now come to the third and last Branch of the Doctrine; which is,That the Lord took the chief of Abraham’s seed, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be the mediator and surety of the Covenant between God and Abraham: this is expressed, Gal. 3:16. To Abraham and his seed were the promises made: he saith not, And to his seeds, as of many, but as of one,
And to thy seed, which is Christ: so that he is the chiefest of the seed with whom the Covenant is established, as also the Prophet Isaiah testifies,chap. 42:6, and 49:8. I will give thee for a covenant of the people, and alight of the Gentiles, &c. and the Apostle speaketh fully, when he saith,Heb. 8:6, that he is the mediator of a better covenant: and a surety of the Covenant. Heb. 7:22. Christ is therefore the chiefest of the seed, and the Mediator and Surety of the Covenant.
Now a Mediator he is between both parties; partly in respect of his person, and partly in respect of his Office.
1. In respect of his person, as he is God and man, he is a fit person to be the ground of our union with God, and to maintain our communion with him: for what is a Mediator? But a middle person to bring two persons, that are at difference into one? Now Christ as he is God-man, is most fit for this work.
1. First, To be the ground of our Union: for being God-man, he hathunited both the differing natures into one; so he is a middle person, and fit to be the foundation of our union, and therefore he is called Immanuel, Isa.7:14. That is, God with us.
2. Secondly, By his person he is fit to maintain our communion; and there are two things requisite unto that:
1. First, The removal of all offenses; and Christ is most fit for that: for as he is the Son of man, he is most fit to suffer all punishment due unto sin; and therefore as man he became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him, 2 Cor. 5, ult. And as he is God, so he is fit to overcome sin, and to prevail against the wrath of God.
2. Secondly, He is fit to communicate all the good things of God unto us: as God, he is fit to bestow upon us all spiritual comforts, and heavenly gifts and blessings: as man, he knows what is most fit for the spirit of man, and so he is fit to communicate unto us all the good things of God: he hath suffered himself, and hath been tempted, and so he is fit to succor such as are tempted, Heb. 2:17,18, thus he is a fit Mediator in regard of his Person.
2. Secondly, He is fit to be a Mediator in respect of his Offices; he is a Priest, a Prophet, and a King; and in all these Offices he doth properly, and lively exercise the Office of a Mediator.
1. First, As a Priest, He doth offer Sacrifice for us, Heb. 9:12, even himself, Heb. 10:10. He gives his life a ransom for many, Matth. 20:28, and he doth not only thus give all this, but apply it also unto us, as it belongs unto a Mediator for to do. And as a Priest, he doth sit at God’s right hand, and makes intercession for us, Rom. 8:34, and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, which is Christ the righteous; by him God reconciles the world unto himself, 2 Cor. 5:19, thus he takes away the sins of the world, Joh. 1:29, and becomes a propitiation for us, Rom. 3:24,25, these things he doth, as he is a Priest.
2. Secondly, As he is a Prophet, he teacheth us all things, Acts 3:22, whatsoever things he hath done and suffered for us, those things as a Prophet he teachets us.
3. Thirdly, As a King, he doth apply all this grace unto us, subduing us by his Spirit unto himself, and all the creatures unto us. God by him as a Mediator, doth bring us on effectually unto himself, by the mighty power of his Word and Spirit, and keeps us with himself in spotless communion unto his heavenly kingdom These Offices give him power and authority to do it, as also faithfulness, and mercy, according unto his tender compassion on our necessities. Thus we see how the Lord Jesus is a Mediator.
In particular, he is a Mediator of the Covenant between God and us, and that in a threefold respect.
1. First, Because he is the Messenger of the Covenant: thus he is called, Mal. 3:1, he did first publish it unto our first Parents, Gen. 3:15, and unto Abraham, and by all the holy Prophets, and in the days of his flesh, and by the Apostles, and their successors, unto the end of the world.
2. Secondly, He is called the Mediator of the Covenant, as he doth ratify and confirm the Covenant by a threefold seal.
1. First, By his blood: for a Testament is confirmed by the death of him that made it, Heb. 9:15,16,17, he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, &c. that they which are called, might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. He made it sure on God’s part, and on our parts he doth seal it up with his blood, that it might be confirmed unto all Generations: and as no man altereth a Testament after a Testators death, so this is unalterable.
2. Secondly, As he hath confirmed it by his blood, so also by his Spirit, Eph. 1:13,14. &c. 4:30. Grieve not the holy Spirit, whereby you are sealed to the day of redemption: Christ is the Angel that ascended out of the East, having the seal of the living God, Rev. 7:2,3. And look as it was the manner of the Priest of old, to sprinkle the blood of the Covenant upon the book of the law, and upon the people: so doth the Lord Jesus sprinkles us, and that which is taught us, with his blood and Spirit, and thereby begets the experience of the savor of God in our hearts, and seals it up unto us.
3. Thirdly, He doth seal it by the seals of the Covenant, which are Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper: so it is here said, He gave him the covenant of circumcision, which was a seal of the righteousness of faith; instead whereof he hath given us Baptism. And by the Lord’s Supper he sealeth it; for that is the blood of the New Testament, Matt. 26:28, by all these means he doth confirm the Covenant, Dan. 7:27.
3. Thirdly, He is not only the Publisher, and confirmer, but also the Prince, and Head of it; for you shall see that in all Covenants there are some that are Princes of the Covenant, as we read, Dan. 11:22, where speaking of the league between Egypt and Assyria, he makes mention of the Princes of the Covenant. So in this respect the Lord Jesus is called the Covenant itself: Isa. 42:6, 49:8, as being the Head and Prince of it; and that implies two or three things:
1. First, If he be the Prince of the Covenant, then all the Covenant is first made with him, Gal 3:16. To Abraham, and to his seed, even unto Christ: and to the Church his mystical body in him, and under him; and therefore all the promises are in him yea, and in him amen: 2 Cor. 1:20, that is to say, all the Promises, and all their conditions are fulfilled in him; as he saith, It behooves us to fulfill all righteousness. Matt. 3:15.
2. Secondly, He doth inherit the blessings of the Covenant, so far as his blessed nature is capable of them; he hath received the crown of inheritance of all the blessings both of this life and of another, Matt. 28:18, he sits at God’s right hand; having led captivity captive, he treads down Satan under his feet; therefore,
1. First, He hath fulfilled all the conditions of the Covenant; as this is one part of the Covenant, The redeemer shall come out of Zion, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob; as the Apostle, Rom. 11:26, expounds the words of the Prophet, Isa. 59:20, for he fulfilled in us all the conditions of the Covenant: he it is that turns us to the Lord, and undertakes to do all things in us and for us.
2. Secondly, He doth communicate the blessings of the Covenant to us,having himself exactly fulfilled all the Conditions of them.
3. He doth apply the comfort of the Promises unto us; and having done all these things, he leads us still to wait upon him for further and further blessings in his Ordinances: Thus we have seen in particulars how the Lord Jesus is the Mediator of the Covenant. He is the Publisher of it, the confirmer of it, by his blood, by his Spirit, by the seals of the Covenant: he is the Prince of it, and hath received all the promises from God; they are accomplished in him, he hath fulfilled all the conditions, and received all the blessings, and applied them unto us, and wrought all things in us, and for us, and still leads us on unto further and further fellowship with himself.
The Lord Jesus Christ, to be the Mediator and Surety of the Covenant between God and Abraham
We now come to the third and last Branch of the Doctrine; which is,That the Lord took the chief of Abraham’s seed, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be the mediator and surety of the Covenant between God and Abraham: this is expressed, Gal. 3:16. To Abraham and his seed were the promises made: he saith not, And to his seeds, as of many, but as of one,
And to thy seed, which is Christ: so that he is the chiefest of the seed with whom the Covenant is established, as also the Prophet Isaiah testifies,chap. 42:6, and 49:8. I will give thee for a covenant of the people, and alight of the Gentiles, &c. and the Apostle speaketh fully, when he saith,Heb. 8:6, that he is the mediator of a better covenant: and a surety of the Covenant. Heb. 7:22. Christ is therefore the chiefest of the seed, and the Mediator and Surety of the Covenant.
Now a Mediator he is between both parties; partly in respect of his person, and partly in respect of his Office.
1. In respect of his person, as he is God and man, he is a fit person to be the ground of our union with God, and to maintain our communion with him: for what is a Mediator? But a middle person to bring two persons, that are at difference into one? Now Christ as he is God-man, is most fit for this work.
1. First, To be the ground of our Union: for being God-man, he hathunited both the differing natures into one; so he is a middle person, and fit to be the foundation of our union, and therefore he is called Immanuel, Isa.7:14. That is, God with us.
2. Secondly, By his person he is fit to maintain our communion; and there are two things requisite unto that:
1. First, The removal of all offenses; and Christ is most fit for that: for as he is the Son of man, he is most fit to suffer all punishment due unto sin; and therefore as man he became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him, 2 Cor. 5, ult. And as he is God, so he is fit to overcome sin, and to prevail against the wrath of God.
2. Secondly, He is fit to communicate all the good things of God unto us: as God, he is fit to bestow upon us all spiritual comforts, and heavenly gifts and blessings: as man, he knows what is most fit for the spirit of man, and so he is fit to communicate unto us all the good things of God: he hath suffered himself, and hath been tempted, and so he is fit to succor such as are tempted, Heb. 2:17,18, thus he is a fit Mediator in regard of his Person.
2. Secondly, He is fit to be a Mediator in respect of his Offices; he is a Priest, a Prophet, and a King; and in all these Offices he doth properly, and lively exercise the Office of a Mediator.
1. First, As a Priest, He doth offer Sacrifice for us, Heb. 9:12, even himself, Heb. 10:10. He gives his life a ransom for many, Matth. 20:28, and he doth not only thus give all this, but apply it also unto us, as it belongs unto a Mediator for to do. And as a Priest, he doth sit at God’s right hand, and makes intercession for us, Rom. 8:34, and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, which is Christ the righteous; by him God reconciles the world unto himself, 2 Cor. 5:19, thus he takes away the sins of the world, Joh. 1:29, and becomes a propitiation for us, Rom. 3:24,25, these things he doth, as he is a Priest.
2. Secondly, As he is a Prophet, he teacheth us all things, Acts 3:22, whatsoever things he hath done and suffered for us, those things as a Prophet he teachets us.
3. Thirdly, As a King, he doth apply all this grace unto us, subduing us by his Spirit unto himself, and all the creatures unto us. God by him as a Mediator, doth bring us on effectually unto himself, by the mighty power of his Word and Spirit, and keeps us with himself in spotless communion unto his heavenly kingdom These Offices give him power and authority to do it, as also faithfulness, and mercy, according unto his tender compassion on our necessities. Thus we see how the Lord Jesus is a Mediator.
In particular, he is a Mediator of the Covenant between God and us, and that in a threefold respect.
1. First, Because he is the Messenger of the Covenant: thus he is called, Mal. 3:1, he did first publish it unto our first Parents, Gen. 3:15, and unto Abraham, and by all the holy Prophets, and in the days of his flesh, and by the Apostles, and their successors, unto the end of the world.
2. Secondly, He is called the Mediator of the Covenant, as he doth ratify and confirm the Covenant by a threefold seal.
1. First, By his blood: for a Testament is confirmed by the death of him that made it, Heb. 9:15,16,17, he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, &c. that they which are called, might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. He made it sure on God’s part, and on our parts he doth seal it up with his blood, that it might be confirmed unto all Generations: and as no man altereth a Testament after a Testators death, so this is unalterable.
2. Secondly, As he hath confirmed it by his blood, so also by his Spirit, Eph. 1:13,14. &c. 4:30. Grieve not the holy Spirit, whereby you are sealed to the day of redemption: Christ is the Angel that ascended out of the East, having the seal of the living God, Rev. 7:2,3. And look as it was the manner of the Priest of old, to sprinkle the blood of the Covenant upon the book of the law, and upon the people: so doth the Lord Jesus sprinkles us, and that which is taught us, with his blood and Spirit, and thereby begets the experience of the savor of God in our hearts, and seals it up unto us.
3. Thirdly, He doth seal it by the seals of the Covenant, which are Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper: so it is here said, He gave him the covenant of circumcision, which was a seal of the righteousness of faith; instead whereof he hath given us Baptism. And by the Lord’s Supper he sealeth it; for that is the blood of the New Testament, Matt. 26:28, by all these means he doth confirm the Covenant, Dan. 7:27.
3. Thirdly, He is not only the Publisher, and confirmer, but also the Prince, and Head of it; for you shall see that in all Covenants there are some that are Princes of the Covenant, as we read, Dan. 11:22, where speaking of the league between Egypt and Assyria, he makes mention of the Princes of the Covenant. So in this respect the Lord Jesus is called the Covenant itself: Isa. 42:6, 49:8, as being the Head and Prince of it; and that implies two or three things:
1. First, If he be the Prince of the Covenant, then all the Covenant is first made with him, Gal 3:16. To Abraham, and to his seed, even unto Christ: and to the Church his mystical body in him, and under him; and therefore all the promises are in him yea, and in him amen: 2 Cor. 1:20, that is to say, all the Promises, and all their conditions are fulfilled in him; as he saith, It behooves us to fulfill all righteousness. Matt. 3:15.
2. Secondly, He doth inherit the blessings of the Covenant, so far as his blessed nature is capable of them; he hath received the crown of inheritance of all the blessings both of this life and of another, Matt. 28:18, he sits at God’s right hand; having led captivity captive, he treads down Satan under his feet; therefore,
1. First, He hath fulfilled all the conditions of the Covenant; as this is one part of the Covenant, The redeemer shall come out of Zion, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob; as the Apostle, Rom. 11:26, expounds the words of the Prophet, Isa. 59:20, for he fulfilled in us all the conditions of the Covenant: he it is that turns us to the Lord, and undertakes to do all things in us and for us.
2. Secondly, He doth communicate the blessings of the Covenant to us,having himself exactly fulfilled all the Conditions of them.
3. He doth apply the comfort of the Promises unto us; and having done all these things, he leads us still to wait upon him for further and further blessings in his Ordinances: Thus we have seen in particulars how the Lord Jesus is the Mediator of the Covenant. He is the Publisher of it, the confirmer of it, by his blood, by his Spirit, by the seals of the Covenant: he is the Prince of it, and hath received all the promises from God; they are accomplished in him, he hath fulfilled all the conditions, and received all the blessings, and applied them unto us, and wrought all things in us, and for us, and still leads us on unto further and further fellowship with himself.
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