remission of sins, and eternal salvation; and is called the Old Testament". VI. Under the Gospel, when Christ the substance", was exhibited, the ordinances in which this covenant is dispensed, are the preaching of the word, and the administration of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper"; which, though fewer in number, and administered with more simplicity and less outward glory, yet in them it is held forth in more fulness, evidence, and spiritual m Gal. iii. 7, 8, 9, 14. Know ye therefore, that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the Gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.-So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.-That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. VI. Coloss. ii. 17. Which are a shadow of things to come: but the body is of Christ. • Matt. xxviii. 19, 20. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Fly Ghost;-teaching them to observe all things whatsoever i have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 1 Cor. xi. 23, 24, 25. For I have received of the Lord, that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread: and, when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me After the same manner also, he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 2 Cor. iii. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. But if the ministration of death, writter. and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Is.. rael could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away;-How shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious?— For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more efficacy, to all nations, both Jews and Gentiles and is called the New Testament'. There are not, therefore, two covenants of grace differing in substance, but one and the same under various dispensations. CHAPTER VIII. Of Christ the Mediator. IT pleased God, in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.-For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.-For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. P Heb. xii. 22 to 28. See also Jer. xxxi. 33, 34. • See letter and Matt. xxviii. 19. Eph. ii. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. Having abolished in his flesh. the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace ;—And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby ;-- -And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.-For through him we both have an access by one Spirit unto the Father.-Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God. Luke xxii. 20. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you. Heb. viii. 7, 8, 9. Gal. iii. 14, 16. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.-Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. Acts xv. 11. But we believe, that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved, even as they. Rom. iii. 30.—Seeing it is one God which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 1 S to be the mediator between God and mana, the prophet, priest, and kingd; the head and saviour of his church, the heir of all things, and judge of the world; unto whom he did from all eternity, give a people to be his seed", and to be by I. a Isa. xlii. 1. Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my Spirit upon him; he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 1 Pet. i. 19, 20.-But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:-Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. 1 Tim. ii. 5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. See also John iii. 16. b Acts iii. 22. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things, whatsoever he shall say unto you. Deut. xviii. 13. • Heb. v. 5, 6. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made a high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec. d Psal. ii. 6. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. Luke i. 33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. e Eph. v. 23. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; and he is the saviour of the body. Heb. i. 2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things. s Acts xvii. 31. Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. John xvii. 6. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Psal. xxii. 30. A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. Isa. liii. 10. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorifiedi. II. The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance, and equal with the Father, did, when the fulness of time was come, take upon him man's nature, and all the essential properties and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin': being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, of her substance". Se he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. i 1 Tim. ii. 6. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Isai. lv. 4, 5. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.-Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee, because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. 1 Cor. i. 30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. II. John i. 1, 14. In the beginning was the Word,-and the Word was God.-And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 1 John v. 20. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true; and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Phil. ii. 6. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. Heb. ii. 17. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren; that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reLonciliation for the sins of the people. Heb. iv. 15. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. m Luke i. 27, 31, 35. To a virgin espoused to a man, whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion". Which person is very God, and very man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and man". III. The Lord Jesus, in his human nature thus united to the divine, was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit above measure"; having in him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge", in whom it pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell: to the end that being holy, harm was Mary. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God. Gal. iv. 4. See letter k immediately foregoing. Luke i. 35. See letter m immediately foregoing. Col. ii. 9. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Rom. ix. 5. Whose are the fathers, and of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. 1 Tim. iii. 16. And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh. Rom. i. 3, 4. Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 1 Tim. ii. 5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. III. P Psal. xlv. 7.-God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness, above thy fellows. John iii. 34. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. q Col. ii. 3. In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col. i. 19. For it pleased the Father, that in him should all fulness dwell. |