36 POWER AND EFFICACY COMMUNICATED UNTO THE OFFICE OF CHRIST whatever they profess, when they come really to exa them, but that all things between God and their souls mine themselves, they will find them of no use unto are stated on natural light and common presumptions. CHAP. VII. POWER AND EFFICACY COMMUNICATED UNTO THE OFFICE OF CHRIST FOR THIS SALVATION OF THE CHURCH FROM HIS IT is by the exercise and discharge of the office of Christ, as the King, Priest, and Prophet of the church, that we are redeemed, sanctified, and saved. Thereby lothhe immediately communicate all gospel benefits un- to us, gives us an access unto God here by grace, and in glory hereafter. For he saves us as he is the Media- tor between God and man. But hereon an inquiry may be made, Whence it is that the acts and duties of this office of Christ in their exercise and discharge, should have such a power and pcacy with respect unto their supernatural and eternal ends: for thethingswhich depend upon them, which are effected by them, are all the principal means of the glory of God, and the only concernments of the souls of men. And this I say is his holy mysteriousperson; from thence aloneall power and efficacy is derived and transfused into his offices, and into all that is due in the discharge of them. A truth this is of that importance, that the declara- tion and demonstration of it, is the principle design of one entire Look of the holy scriptures, namely, ofthe e- pistle ofPaul the apostle to the Hebrews. Thatthe glo- rious excellencyof theperson ofChrist doth enable him in thedischarge of hisoffices, to accomplish those ends, which none other, though vested with the sameoffices, could in the exercise of them attain unto, is the sum and substance of the doctrinal part of that discourse. Here therefore we must a little fix our meditations: and our interest calls us thereunto. For if it be so, it is e- vident that wecan receiveno good, no benefit by virtue of any office of Christ, nor any fruits of their exercise, withoutanactualrespect offaith unto his person, whence all their life and power is derived. God gaveof oldboth kings, priests, and prophets un- to the church. He both anointed them unto their offi- ces, directed them in their discharge, was present with them in their work, andaccepted of their duties. Yet by none of them, nor by all of them together, was the PERSON. church supernaturally enlightened, internally ruled, or eternally saved, nor could it so be. Some of them, as Moses in particular, had as much power, and as great a presence of Godwith him, asany mere man could be madepartaker of. Yet was he not in his ministry, the Saviour of the church, nor could he be so any other- wise than typically and temporally. The ministry of them all was subservient unto that end, which by its own power it could not attain. It is evident therefore, that the redemption and sal- vation ofthe church do not depend merely on this, that God bath given onto be the king, priest, and prophet of the clinch, by the actings of which offices it is re- deemed and saved; but on the person of him who was so given unto us, as is fully attested, Is. ix. 6, 7, 8. This must be declared. Two things were required in general unto theperson of Christ, that his offices might beeffectual unto the sal- vation of the church, and without them they could not so have been. And they are such as that their contri- vance in the constitutionof oneand the same person, no created wisdom could reach unto. Wherefore, the in- finitewisdomof God is most gloriously manifestedthere- in. - 1. The first of these is, that he should havea nature providedfor him, which originally was not his own. For in his divine nature singly considered, he had no such relation unto them for whom he was to discharge his (Aces, as was necessary to communicate the benefit of them, nor could he discharge their principle duties. God could not die, nor rise again, nor be exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour in his divine nature. Nor was there that especial alliance between it and ours, as should give us an especial interest in what was done thereby. It was mankind in whose behalf he was to exercise these offices. He was not tobear them immediately with
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