A Golden Chain

I. Christ must be considered of us as a king two ways. First as he is God: and so is he an absolute king over all things in heaven and earth, with the Father and the Holy Ghost by the right of creation. Secondly he is a king as he is a redeemer of mankind: and by the right of redemption he is a sovereign king over the whole Church, and that in special manner. Now as Christ is God with the father and the holy ghost, he hath his deputies on earth to govern the world: as namely kings and princes, who are therefore in Scriptures called Gods. But as Christ is Mediator, and consequently a king over his redeemed ones, he hath neither fellow, nor deputy. No fellow: for then he should be an imperfect mediator. No deputy: for no creature is capable of this office to do in the room and stead of Christ that which he himself doth: because every work of the Mediator is a compound work, arising of ⟨p. 998⟩the effects of two natures concurring in one and the same action, namely the godhead and the manhood: and therefore to the effecting of the said work there is required an infinite power, which far exceeds the strength of any created nature. Again, Heb. 7.24. Christ is said to have a priesthood which cannot pass from his person to any other: whence it follows, that neither his kingly nor his prophetical office can pass from him to any creature, either in whole or in part: because the three offices of mediation in this regard be equal. Nay, it is a needless thing for Christ to have a deputy, to put in execution any part of his mediatorship: considering a deputy only serveth to supply the absence of the principal: whereas Christ is always present with his church by his word & spirit: for where two or three be gathered together in his name: he is in the middest among them. It may be said that the ministers in the work of the ministry are deputies of Christ. I answer, that they are no deputies but active instruments. For in the preaching of the word there be two actions: the first is the uttering or propounding of it to the ear: the second is, the inward operation of the holy Ghost in the heart: which indeed is the principal and belongs to Christ alone: the action of speaking in the minister being only instrumental.

I. Christ must be considered of vs as a king two waies. First as he is God: and so is he an absolute king ouer all things in heauen and earth, with the Father and the Holy Ghost by the right of creation. Secondly he is a king as hee is a redeemer of mankind: and by the right of redemption he is a soueraigne king ouer the whole Church, and that in speciall manner. Nowe as Christ is God with the father and the holy ghost, hee hath his deputies on earth to gouerne the world: as namely kings and princes, who are therefore in Scriptures called Gods. But as Christ is Mediatour, and consequently a king ouer his redeemed ones, hee hath neither fellowe, nor deputie. No fellowe: for then hee should be an imperfect mediatour. No deputie: for no creature is capable of this office to doe in the roome and steade of Christ that which hee himselfe doth: because euery work of the Mediatour is a compound worke, arising of