The Fountain of Life Opened

More particularly, we will next consider the Articles to which they do both agree, or what it is that each person doth for himself promise to the other. And to let us see how much the Fathers heart is engaged in the salvation of poor sinners, there are five things which he promiseth to do for Christ, if he will undertake that work.

First, he promiseth to invest him, and anoint him to a threefold office; answerable to a threefold misery that lay upon the elect; as so many bars to all communion with, and enjoyment of God: for if ever man be restored to that happiness, the blindness of his mind must be cured; the guilt of sin expiated; and his captivity to sin led captive: answerably, Christ must of God be made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, 1 Cor. 1.30. And he is made so to us, as our Prophet, ⟨p. 29⟩Priest, and King: but he could not put himself into either of these, for if so, he had acted without commission; and consequently all he did had been invalid, Heb. 5.5▪ Christ glorified not himself to be made an High-Priest, but he that said unto him, thou art my Son. A Commission there for to act authoritatively in these offices, being necessary to our recovery; the Father engages to him to seal him such a three-fold commission.

First, he promiseth to invest him, and anoint him to a threefold office; answerable to a threefold misery that lay upon the elect; as so many bars to all communion with, and enjoyment of God: for if ever man be restored to that happiness, the blindness of his mind must be cured; the guilt of sin expiated; and his captivity to sin led captive: answerably, Christ must of God be made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,