Page:A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (John Ball).djvu/283

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or how he is the Mediatour of the New Testament.
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Christ was primarily a Mediatour to the Father for us, and by consequence and secundarily to the whole Trinity, and so to himselfe as God.

It is further objected, if Christ be Mediator according to his divine nature, then all three persons in Trinity be Mediatours: but this is a meere deceit: for the divine nature is taken essentially for the divine nature common to Father, Son and holy Ghost: or personally for the divine essence considered distinctly in the Father, Son and holy Ghost: In the latter sence we say, Christ according to his divine nature is our Mediator, as he was incarnate, and did assume our nature unto his divine person, and not the Father or the holy Ghost.

But then (it will be said) he was inferiour to the Father: In office it is true, by voluntary dispensation he is inferiour, but in nature he is equall to the Father:Iun. ibid. not. 13. and nothing hinders but one equall to another in nature, may by voluntary and free choice under-take an office of inferiority. Being in the forme of God, he humbled himselfe.Phil. 2.6,7. The Scripture teacheth expressely,Joh. 1.18 & 3.16 & 3.13.
Rom. 5.8.
Ephes. 1.7.
Col 1.14.
1 Joh. 1.7. & 2.1. & 4.10.
Act. 20.28.
that God the Father gave his only begotten Son to death for us: and the only begotten or proper Son of God according to both natures, and in both states is said to administer his office, the property of either nature observed: as also the only begotten Son of God is said to descend from heaven to earth for our sakes, and to suffer death for us, and to have done and suffered other such things: and that by the bloud of his Son we are reconciled to God the Father.

This office of Mediation Christ hath performed. First, as the great Doctour of his Church by revealing unto us1 Cor. 2.7,8,9. the way to life, even the last, full, and perfect will of God concerning mans salvation; the wisdome of God in a mysterie, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world, unto our glory, which none of the Princes of this world knew: Such things as eye hath not seen, eare hath not heard, or ever entred into the heart of man to conceive: Such as the naturall inquirie of Angels could never have discovered. No manMat. 11.27. knoweth the Father but the Sonne, and he to whom the Sonne hath revealed him. No manJoh. 1.18. hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Sonne which is in the bosome of the Father, he hath declared him. He only it is that openeth the bosome of his Father, that is, who revealeth the secret and mysterious counsels, and the tender and compassionate affections of his Father unto the world. He is said to beJoh. 3.2. a teacher sent fromGod,