26o The ature of Chrift's Suretifhip. it better than without him. This none can be for God, no not the Lord Chrift himfelf, who in his whole work was the Servant of the Father. And the Apofrle doth not ufe this word in a general improper fente for any one that by any . means gives Affurance of any other thing, for fo he had aft cribed nothing peculiar unto Chrift. For in fuch a fenfe all the Prophets and Apofiles were fureties for God, and many of them confirmed the Truth of his Word and Promifes, with the laying down of their lives. But fuch a furety he intends as undertaketh to do that for others which they can- not do for themfelves ; or at leaft are not reputed to be able to do what is required of them. 3. The Apofile had before at large declared, who, and what was Godsfurety in this mattter of the Covenant, and how impofíìble it was that he íhould have any other. And this was himfelf alone, interpofing himfelf by his Oath. For in this caute, becaufe he had none greater to fwear by, he (mare by himflf , chap. 6. 13, 14. Wherefore if God would give any other furety befides himfelf, it milli be one greater than He. This being every way impoffible, he finears by himfelf only. Many ways he may and doth ufe for the declaring and teflifying of his Truth unto us, that we may know and be- lieve it tobe his Word ; and fo the Lord Chrift in his Mini - ftry was the principal roitnef of the Truth of God. But other furety than himfelf he can have none. And there- fore, q:. When he would have us in this matter not only come unto the full 411/trance of Faith concerning his Promifes, but alfo to have thong confolation therein, he refblves it wholly into the Immutability of his counfel, as declared by his Pro- mi f and Oath. chap. 6.. J8 , r g. So that neither is God capa- ble of having any furety properly fo called, neither do we Hand in need of any on his part for the confirmation of our Faith in the higheft degree. 5. We
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