Chap.4. and the Covenant of Grace. that God and min might once more be at one ; all of theft (Thrift undertakes and effec`fs, and fo is the Mediatour in this work. This work of Chrift in his Mediatouríhip} I fuppofe may fitly be reduced to three heads. Firft, to bring man into a capacity of covenanting with God. Secondly, to bring man into thebond of the Covenant profef- fedly to accept it. Thirdly, to enable thofe whom he brings to glory, to performe the duties of the Covenant, to be feady and upright in it. Fourthly, to crown thofe with glory,whom by grace he brings up to the termes of the Covenant, I. He is to bring man into a capacity of covenanting of which fin had made mankinde uncapable,for though it be grant - ed,that God in abfolute juffice is not bound to punifh fin where - foever he findes it; and that it is not againft his Efl'ence (as fotne would have it) to pardon fin without fatisfaetion ; yet his ordi- nate juftice is thus bound , that law of his being prefuppofed, (l he day that thou eutef, thou 'halt furely die) he cannot recede from it, the penalty of this law muff be born, in order to recon- ciliation and juftice fatisfied for mans tranfgreflion; which mull be done by one that anfwers the claime of divine juftice. The beafts of the Forelfs, and cattell of a thoufand hills (which were yet often given to God in facrifice) could not do it.. The Apoffle tells us, that it u impof ble that the bloud of Bolls and Goats fhotrld ' take away.. fin,Heb. lo_ 4. They were never guilty, and they are no valuable cónfideration, nor yet the Angels who are above mankinde,as the brute creatures are below. Man had finned, and a facrifice from among mankinde is to be found, neither can man in fin and under the taint of it be accepted, all that he can fuffer is due for himfelf, and therefore can be no other mans difcharge. In the payment of my own debt, I fet free no other debtor; nei- ther can any that is meer man go thorow with it : here is pure ju. !lice without relaxation as to the value, confeft by thofe who yet contend whether idem or tantundem be paid by Chrift, the fame . in kinde, as was owing by man, or the like in value and elfimate; He that is brought under a Divine attachment, mull not come out till he have paid the uttermoft farthing, which nip in torments is ever in_difcharging, and never can dilcharge; it is as.eafieto make a= world, Worksincutr. - -1 bent upon the 1 Mediatour of the Covenant of grace.. Chrift ,brings man into a ca- pacity of co- venanting with God.:
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