may

A Mediator be confidered either un- SERM. der a more general, or a more particular

view.

1. A Mediator in general is one who interposes between two contending Parties, that by his Interest in both he may bring about a mutual Reconciliation between them. Under this general view it comprehends the notion of a Peace-maker.

2. A Mediator is fometimes confidered under a more particular view, as the Mediator of a Covenant, that is, a perfon appointed by one or both the Covenanting Par ties to stand engaged for the performance of those respective Stipulations they mutually enter into; that is to fay, for the perfor mance of the Condition on one part, and of the Promise on the other. And this notion of a Mediator implies that of a Surety.

Now in both these fenfes of the word Christ is our Mediator, and the only Mediator between GoD and Man, and accordingly is reprefented in Scripture both as our Peace-maker and our Surety. As our Peacemaker, Eph. ii. 14, 16. For he is our Peace, who hath made both one, and bath broken down the middle wall of Partition between us :

IV.

IV.

SERM. that he might reconcile both unto God, in one Body by the Cross, having flain the Enmity thereby and as our Surety, Heb. vii.

:

By fo much was Chrift made the Surety
better Teftament, or Covenant.

22.

of a

It is this latter notion of a Mediator, as the Mediator or Surety of a Covenant, that more directly falls under our prefent confideration. I fhall, however, have a regard' to both in the profecution of this Subject, wherein they are evidently connected.

2. Let us confider in what manner Chrift was peculiarly qualified for this high Office of Mediator between GOD and Man.

Now it is a neceffary Qualification of a Mediator, that he have an Intereft in both thofe Parties between whom he mediates; and that their respective Interests be equally dear to him. This, I fay, is neceffary in order to bring about the great Ends and Defigns of his Mediation between them; viz. their mutual reconciliation, as their Peacemaker; and the mutual Performance of their Engagements, as their Surety.

And in this refpect was Jefus Chrift peculiarly qualified for this extraordinary Office of Mediator between GoD and Man. The Interefts

Interests of both were equally dear to him; SERM. and he was equally interested in both, as be- IV. ing himself both GOD and Man.

1. He himself was GOD, the true GOD (a); over all, GOD Blessed for ever (b), who was in the Beginning with GOD, and who was GOD (c). The Irradiation of his Father's Glory (d); and in whom dwelt all the Fulness of the Godhead Bodily (e). And therefore none could be nearer or dearer to the Father than he was: none could have so great an Intereft in him as he had: and to none could the Honour of the Father be more dear than it was to him. He was therefore by far the fittest Mediator that could be on GOD's part. And then that he might be an equally fuitable Mediator on Man's part.

G3

2. He

(a) i John v. 20.

(b) Rom. ix. 5.

(c) John i. 1.

(d) Heb. i. 3. os âv åñaúyαoμa tñs dóns, the Effulgence or Emanation of his Glory, like that of the Beams from the Sun. A happy Metaphor to affift our Conceptions of this adorable Mystery, and of the commonly received Sentiments of it, viz. that Chrift eternally proceeded from the Father, and yet is of the fame Substance and Duration; distinct from and yet united to and one with him. And let it be remembered that this Simile (fo common among the Antients) is not founded in human Imagination but the Authority of Scripture,

(+) Col, ii. 92

SERM. 2. He became Man; or was God mani-
IV. feft in the Flesh: affumed our whole nature,

Soul, Spirit and Body; and thus, though
GOD, lived as a Man amongst Men for up-
ward of thirty Years. This without Contro-
verfy is (as the Apoftle calls it) a great My-
ftery, and is indeed one of the greatest and
most incomprehenfible Myfteries in the
Christian Religion: but a Mystery fo frè-
so
quently and fully declared, as to leave no
room for
any, who have a proper reverence
or regard for the Authority of a Divine Re-
velation, to deny it.

And by this means he became most fuitably qualified to be Mediator on the part of Man. He was now as fenfibly concerned for the Interefts and Salvation of Men, as he was for the Interests and Honour of his Father: moft fit to be an Advocate and Interceffor for them whofe very nature he bore, and whose Infirmities he fenfibly felt, having been in all points tempted as they are, yet without Sin (f).

As he is Man, we have no reason to doubt but that he will in the most faithful and af

fectionate manner intercede for us with the Father;

(f) Heb. iv. 15.

IV.

Father; and as he is GOD, we have the SERM. higheft reafon to believe that his Interceffion will prevail. Such a glorious and wonderful Perfon then, who was himself both GOD and Man, was the fittest to be appointed Mediator of that Covenant, which GoD was pleased to enter into with Man.

3. Let us now see how he accomplished this Office, as a Mediator of that Cove

nant.

The Office of a Mediator of a Covenant, I obferved, is to fecure to both Parties of the Covenant, the performance of thofe Engagements into which they mutually enter that is to say, to secure the performance of the Condition on one part, and of the Promife on the other.

1. Let us confider how Chrift, as Surety or Mediator of the new Covenant, ftands engaged for the performance of the Conditions of it on Man's part. And this he does in a manner altogether fuitable to the nature of moral Agents, for whom he ftands engaged, viz. by affording them the most effectual Affiftances in order thereunto; by the outward means of his Word, and the inward Grace of his Spirit.