( 373 ) NECESSITY OF HOLINESS FB,QM GOD'S SENDING JESUS CHRIST. CHAP. I V, The necessity ofholiness proved, from the designof God in sending Jesus Christ, with the ends ofhis mediation, WE haveyet other considerations and arguments to plead unto the same purpose with them foregoing: for one principal end of the design of God, in sending his Son into the world, was to recover us into a state of holiness, which we had lost: For this purpose was the Son ofGod manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil, 1 John iii. 8. The manifestation of the Son of God was his incarnation, t Tim. i. 16. in or- der to the work which he had to accomplish in our na- ture. And this was, in general, the destruction of the works of the devil. Among these, the principal was, the infecting of our natures and persons with a princi- ple of sin and enmity against God, which was the ef- fect of his temptation. And this is not done but by the introduction of a principle of holiness and obedience. The image of God in us was defaced by sin. The reno- vation or restoration hereof was one principal design of Christ in his coming. Unless this be done, there is no new world, no new creatures, no restorationof all things, no one end of the mediation of Christ fully accomplish- ed. And, whereas his great and ultimate design was to bring us unto the enjoyment of God, unto, his eternal glory; this cannot be, before,.by grace and holiness, we are made meet for that inheritance of the saints in light. But we shall consider this matter a little more distinctly. Sect. 2. The exercise of the mediation of Christ is confined unto the limits of his threefold office. What- ever he doth for the church, be Both it as a Priest, or as a King, or as a Prophet. Now, asthese offices, agree in all the general ends of hismediation, on theydiffer in their acts and immediate objecti. For their acts; it is plain, sacerdotal, regal, and próphetical acts and duties, are of different natures,, as the offices themselves are unto which they appertain. And for their objects; the proper immediate object of the priestly office is God himself as is evident both from the nature of the office, and its proper acts. For, as to the nature of the office, " every priest is taken from among men, and ordained " for men in things pertaining unto God, that he may .a offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins," Heb. v. 1. A priest is one who is appointed to deal with God, in the behalfof them for whom he executes his office. And the acts of the priestly office of Christ are two; oblation and intercession, of both which God is the immediate object. He offered himself unto God, and with him he makes intercession. But the immediateobject of Christ's kingly and prophetical offices are men, or the church. As a priest he acts with God in our name, and on our behalf; as a king and prophet, he acts towards us, in the name and authority of God. Sect. 3. This being premised, wemay consider how each of these offices of Christ hash an influence into ho- liness, and makes it necessary unto us. First, For the priestlyoflice of Christ, all the proper acts of it do immediately respect God himself, as bath been declared.. And, therefore, he doth not by any sa- cerdotal act immediately and efficiently work holiness in us. But the effects of these priestly acts, that is, his o- blation and intercession, are of two sorts: (1.) Imme- diate, such as respect God himself;. as atonement, re- conciliation, satisfaction, In these consist the first and fundamental end of the mediation of Christ. Without a supposition of these, all other things are rendered use- less. We can neither be sanctifiednorsaved by him, un- less sin be first expiated, andGod atoned. But they are not of our present consideration. (2.) The mediate ef- fectsof Christ'§ sacerdotal acting respectus, andare also oftwo sorts: I. Moral, as our justification and pardon ofsin. 2. Real, inour sanctification and holiness, And
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