The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

For no man can deny but it is so far common, as the benefits are common: that is, so far as to procure and give to sinners a common conditional pardon as aforesaid (as Dr. Twice very often taketh notice.) And no man can affirm, that it is common to all, so far as absolutely or eventually to give them actual pardon and salvation, unless they dream that all are saved. But that some eventually and infallibly are saved, all confess: And we had rather think that Christ and the good pleasure of God, is the chief differencing cause, than we our selves.

For no man can deny but it is so far common, as the benefits are common: that is, so far as to procure and give to sinners a common conditional pardon as aforesaid (as Dr. Twisse very often taketh notice.) And no man can affirm, that it is common to all, so far as absolutely or eventually to give them actual pardon and salvation, unless they dream that all are saved. But that some eventually and infallibly are saved, all confess: And we had rather think that Christ and the good pleasure of God, is the chief differencing cause, than we our selves.

Direct. 5. Set not the several parts of the Office of Christ against each other; nor either depress or forget any one part, while you magnify and meditate only on the other,

Direct. 5. Set not the several parts of the Office of Christ against each other; nor either depress or forget any one part, while you magnifie and meditate only on the other,

It is most ordinary to reduce all the Office of Christ, to the Prophetical, Priestly, and Kingly part. (For it is more proper to call them three parts of one Office, than three Offices:) But it is hard to reduce his Incarnation, or his infant-humiliation, and his whole course of obedience, and fulfilling the Law to any one, or all of these, totally. Though in some respect, as it is his example, it is teaching, and as it is part of his humiliation, it may be called a part of his sacrifice; yet as it is meritorious, obedience and perfection, it belongeth indeed to our High-Priest, but not formally to his Priesthood: No nor yet as he himself is the sacrifice for sin: For it is not an act of Priesthood to be himself a sacrifice. But yet I think the common distribution intimateth to us that sense which containeth the truth which we enquire after: For the word Priesthood is applied to Christ in a peculiar notion, so as it is never applied to any other; and therefore is taken more comprehensively, as including all that good which he doth for us (as good) by the way of Mediation with the Father, and all his acts of Mediation with God; as the Prophetical and Kingly parts, contain his other acts toward men. But yet a more plain and accurate distribution should be made; in which it should be manifested also to what heads his many other assumed titles of Relation are to be reduced: But this is not a work for this place.