THE RECOVERY OF MAN BY JESUS

CHRIST.

IN the preceding part we have been entertained

with a melancholy view of the ruin of our nature by the apostacy of our first parents. But we come now to take a view of the bright side of our subject, and to turn our thoughts upon the glorious discoveries of redeeming grace, manifested to us by God's sending his Son to save sinners. Known unto God are all his works. The fall of Adam was foreseen before the foundation of the world; and the plan was laid in the eternal counsels of the divine mind, for the redemption of fallen man by the mediation of the Son of God; who in due time was to take our nature on him, become man, and perform that work by which he might be the author of eternal redemption to all them that obey him. And although the real appearance of the Son of God amongst men, and his actual performance of the work of redemption, was not till many years after the fall; yet his mediation took place before his incarnation; and, in the acceptance of God, he was "The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." For when God came to our first parents after the fall, and had convicted them of their breach of covenant; he thereupon revealed to them the covenant of grace, in the promise of the seed of the woman that should bruise the serpent's head. Then it was, that the covenant of grace was introduced, the Redeemer's kingdom was set up, and the influence of his mediation took place between God and man, as the foundation of all his subsequent dealings with them. And for a distinct view of these important matters, I shall divide my subject into the following heads :

I. I shall represent the true character of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom this new dispensation is brought in.

II. Take a general view of this dispensation which is brought in by the Son of God.

III. Inquire into the state of mankind under this dispensation, and the tenor of God's various dealings with them.

I. The character of this glorious person, the Son of God, who hath brought in this new dispensation, is first to be attended to.

This wonderful person who appeared for the important purpose of sustaining the sinking world is IMMANUEL, God manifest in the flesh. The fall of man has perhaps been the occasion of revealing in a more clear light, the great mystery of a Trinity in the God-head, who are distinguished by the personal appellations of FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOSг. It is the second person in the Trinity, the SON, who came into the world, took our nature on him, and is truly God and man, in two distinct natures and one person; who has brought in the dispensation of redeeming grace for a lost world. Many questions both curious and important, might be moved concerning these gospel-doctrines of a Trinity in the God-head, and the incarnation of the Son; all which I purposely pass by, and take this character of the Son of God as it is clearly revealed in the gospel, which is sufficient for us to know, that we may form just thoughts of the present divine constitution under which we stand probationers for the rewards or pun. ishments of the eternal state.

The two natures in the person of the Son render him a meet person for the work upon which he came into the world. The human nature was necessary, that he might be under the law, might fulfil all righteousness, and might suffer the death due for sin. And the divine nature was necessary to prevent his sinking under the weight of his sufferings, and to render his obedience and sufferings truly meritorious. No one that was less than divine, was able to atone for sin, to overcome death, to ascend into the

heavens, to exercise all power in heaven and on earth, to judge the world, and to distribute rewards and punishments to every one according to their works.

Many things were necessary for the Son of God to perform in his prosecuting this great work; and many and various were the blessings to flow therefrom to the children of men. And that this all-sufficiency and complete fulness of our Almighty Savior might be represented to us in a clear and plain light, he is described in the gospel as being vested with, and executing various offices for us; the right understanding of which is necessary to the saving knowledge of him.

The first character under which I shall consider our Lord Jesus Christ, is that of a covenant-head. The headship of Christ is often mentioned, and variously represented; sometimes in a more extensive, and sometimes in a more limited sense.

He is sometimes represented as the head of his spiritual body, or of real saints. Thus is he spoken of in Col. ii. 19, where the apostle speaks of men of corrupt minds, as "Not holding the head, the Lord Jesus Christ, from which all the body by joints and bands, having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God."

This headship of Christ is also sometimes represented in a more extensive sense, or expressive of his relation to the whole visible church. Col. i. 18. "He is the head of the body, the Church."

This headship of Christ is also represented still more extensive, and expresseth his relation to the whole human race. Hence, he is styled the second Adam. As Adam stood in a covenant-relation to all his seed; so also is Christ, in some sense, related to and stands in the relation of a covenant-head to all mankind, as will more fully appear in the sequel.

Christ sustains the relation of a head to both an

gels and men. Eph. i. 10. "That in the dispensation of the fulness of time, he might gather together

in one, all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth.

Headship is also sometimes ascribed to Christ with respect to the whole creation. This is, in part, the import of that lofty character which the apostle gives him in Col. i. 15, 16, 17. "Who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature : for by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." The title and privileges of the first-born are headship and dominion; and in these respects Christ is the first-born of every creature.

And as

Thus then we see, that Christ is represented as the head of various and very different bodies. Christ stands in the relation of a head to such different bodies; there must be a proportionable difference in the relation itself, although expressed by the same title and there is a proportionable difference in the privileges which these different bodies receive from their head. Thus, when Christ is spoken of as the head of his body, the church, it is a headship in a different respect from what is intended when he is represented as the head of the whole human race, and very different privileges are connected with it.

Another character under which the Lord Jesus Christ is spoken of, is that of a Redeemer. A Redeemer is one that pays the price by which freedom is obtained for one that is captivated or enslaved. Thus, Christ redeems us from under the curse, with the price cf his own blood. And another title by which he is spoken of, nearly of the same import, is that of a Savior. This is the title by which he is most commonly spoken of, in the New Testament, and is the proper signification of his Hebrew name Jesus. Matt. i 21. "Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins." And the salvation that Jesus Christ is the author of is very great,

and includes a great variety of blessings; and all mankind share in them, in a greater or less degree, as I shall shew hereafter; for which cause he is styled "The Savior of all men; especially of them that believe." I. Tim. iv. 10.

and man,

Another important character by which Christ is described, is that of a Mediator. I. Tim. ii. 5. "There is one God, and one Mediator between God the man Christ Jesus." A Mediator is one that steps between two that arc at variance, to heal the breach, and make peace between them. This is the most significant and important character by which our Lord Jesus Christ is described to us in the gospel. Sin has made a wide breach between God and man; and the whole world must have sunk into ruin, had it not been for this glorious Mediator. And that we may have a just representation of Christ in his mediatorial character, we must attend to the sev eral offices which he executes in the performance of his mediatorial work; which are Prophet, Priest, Surety, Intercessor, Advocate and King.

The Lord Jesus Christ in mediating between God and us, executes the office of a prophet, in revealing to us by his word and spirit, the will of God for our salvation. He is the great prophet of his church, who by his spirit inspired the prophets under the Old Testament; and under the gospel-dispensation hath given gifts unto men. All divine revelation comes from him.

Christ mediates between God and man by executing the office of a priest. He is the great highpriest of our profession, who, in the execution of this office, has offered up himself a sacrifice for the sins of his people, in his shedding his blood, and laying down his life upon the cross; and in pursuit of this design, is passed into the heavens, now to appear in the presence of God for us.

Christ acted as a Mediator when he became a surety for us Heb. vii. 22. "By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament." A surety sig