Page:A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (John Ball).djvu/308

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296
How Christ hath fulfilled the office of Mediatour,

terof glory: the first performed once for all: the latter done continually: that the explatory Sacrifice or obtaining of redemption: this the application of redemption.Videtur etiam spectare consuetudines Regum & Iudicum inter homines. Reges enim foederati in suis aulis mutuo habent Legatos pacis obsides, qui quamdiu apparent in Regis conspectu, firma stat confoederatio. The Sacrifice consisted in the death of Christ alone, the application thereof is grounded upon Christs death as its merit, but effected by the life of Christ as its immediate cause. When the Apostle saith, Christ appeareth before the Father for us, the expression is borrowed from the custome of humane Courts; for as in them when the Plaintiffe or Defendant is called, their Atturney appeareth in their name and behalfe: so when we are summoned by the justice of God to defend our selves against those exceptions and complaints, which it preferreth against us, we have an Advocate with the Father, even Jesus Christ the righteous, who standeth out, and appeareth for us. 1 Joh. 2. 1.

It consisteth in two things; First, his appearing or presenting of his person in our nature and in his owne, as a publike person, a Mediatour, a sponsor and pledge for us; as Judah was both a Mediatour to request, and a surety to engage himselfe to beare the blame for ever with his Father for his brother Benjamin, Gen. 43. 8, 9. And Paul for Onesimus a Mediatour, I beseech thee for my sonne Onesimus, Philem. 9, 10. and a Sponsor, If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account, I will repay it, ver. 18, 19. So Christ is both a Mediator and surety for us, Heb. 7. 22. and 8. 6.

Secondly, the presenting of his merits as a publike satisfaction, for the debt of sin: for the justice of God would not be entreated or pacified without satisfaction, now that is for ever, because he shall not cease to appeare.

The Intercession of ChristHeb. 7.25,28.
Rom. 8.34.
Heb. 7.25.
is his gracious will, fervently and immoveably desiring, that for the perpetuall vertue of his Sacrifice, all his members might be accepted of the Father, whereunto answereth the consent of the Father, in whose bosome he is, who heareth him alwaies, Joh. 11. 42. and in whom he is well pleased, Mat. 17. 5. who called him to this office of being as it were master of Requests in the behalfe of his Church, and promised to heare him in his Petitions.Rom. 8.34.
1 Joh. 2.1.

This Intercession of Christ is generall and particular, for all and every faithfull man. I pray not for the world, but for all that thou hast given me, Joh. 17. 9. for all that shall beleeve, vers. 20.Simon,