FG THE PRINCIPLE OP THE ASSIGNATION OF Asiste. (f.) There is precedent nor example of any such thing, of tiny such prayer in the scripture. And itis not safe for us to venture on duties not exemplified therein. Nor can any instance of a necessary duty be given, of whose performance we have not an example in the scripture. (2.) In the invocation of Christ, we ho- nour the Son, even as we honour the Father. Where- fore his divine person is therein the formal object of our faith. 'We consider himnot therein as acting in his me- diatory officetowards God for us, but as he who bath the -absolute power and disposal of all the good things we pray for. And in our invocationof him, opr faith is fixed on him, and terminated on his person. But as he is in the discharge of his mediatory office, through him "our faith and hope is in God," 1 Pet. i. 21. He who is the Mediator, or Jesus Christ the Mediator, as God and man in one person, is the object of all divine honour and worship. His person, and both his na- tures in that person is the object of religious wor- ship. This is that which we are in the proof and de- monstration of. Howbeit it is his divine nature, and not his dischargeof .the office of mediation, that is the formal reason and object ofdivine worship. For it con- sists in an ascription of infinitely divine excellencies and properties unto him whom we so worship. And to do. this on any account but of the divinenature, is in itself is contradiction, and in them that do it idolatry. Had the Son of God never been incarnate, he had been the object of all divine worship. And could there have been a mediator between God and us, who was not God also, he could never have been the object of any divine wor- ship, or invocation. Wherefore Christ the Mediator, God and man in one person, is 'in all things to be ho- noured, even as we honour the Father; but it is as he is God equal with the Father, andnot as Mediator, in which respect he is inferior unto him. With respect unto his divine person we ask immediately of himselfin our supplications; as he is Mediator, we ask of the Fa- ther in his name. The different actings offaith on him, under the same distinction, shall be declared in thenext chapter. CHAP. X. THE PRINCIPLE OF THE ASSIGNATION OF DIVINE HONOUR UNTO TILE PERSON Or CF BRANCHES OF IT; WHICH IS FAITH IN í101. THE principle and spring of this assignation of di- vine honour unto Christ in both the branches of it, is faith in him. And tisis bath been the foundation of all acceptable religion in the worldsince the entrance ofsin. There are some who deny that faith in Christ was re- quired from the beginning, or was necessary unto the worship of God, or the justification and salvation of them that did obey him. For whereas it must begrant- ed, that without faith it is impossible to please God, which the apostle proves by instances from the founda- tion of the world, Heb. xi. they suppose it is faith in God under the general notionof it, withoutany respect unto Christ, that is intended. It is not my design to contend with any, nor expressly to confute such un- grateful opinions, such pernicious errors. Such this is, which being pursued in its proper tendency, strikes at the very foundation of Christian religion For it at once deprives us of all contribution of light and truth 1ST, IN BOTH THE from the Old Testament. Somewhat I have spoken be- fore of the faith of the saintsof old concerning him. I shall now therefore only confirm the truth, by some principles which are fundamental in the faith of the gos- pel. 1. The first promise, Gen. iii. 15. truly called IVZ7,s- ayíAt,t, was revealed, proposed, and given, as contain- ing and expressing the only means of delivery from that apostacy from God, with all the effects of it, under which our first parents, and all their posterity were cast by sin. The destruction of Satan and his work in his introduction of the state of sin, by a Saviour and deliv- erer, was prepared and provided for, in it. This is the very foundation of. the faith of the church, and ifit be denied, nothing of the economy or dispensation of God towards it from the beginning can be understood. The whole doctrine and story of the Old Testament must be
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