What doth the Fathers Sealing of Christ to this work and §2office imply? There are divers things implied in it. As
First, The validity and efficacy of all his mediatory acts. For by virtue of this his Sealing, what ever he did was fully ratified. And in this very thing lies much of a believers comfort and security. For as much as all acts done without commission and authority, (how great or able so ever the person that doth them is) yet are in themselves null and void. But what is done by commission and authority, is Authentic and most allowable among men. Had Christ come from heaven and entered upon his Mediatory work, without a due call, our Faith had been stumbled at the very threshold, but this greatly satisfies.
Secondly, It imports the great obligation lying upon Jesus Christ to be faithful, in the work he was Sealed to. For the Father in this commission devolves a great trust upon him; and relies upon him for his most faithful discharge thereof. And indeed upon this very account, Christ reckons himself specially obliged to pursue the Fathers design and end, Joh. 9.4. I must work the works of him that sent me. And Joh. 5.30. I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which sent me. S•ill his •ye is upon that Work, and Will of his Father. And he reckons himself under a necessity of punctual and precise obedience to it. And as a faithful servant will have his own will swallowed up in the Fathers will.
Thirdly, It imports Christs complete qualification or instrumental fitness, to serve the Fathers design and end in our recovery. Had not God known him to be every way fit and qualified for the Work, he would never have Sealed him a commission for it. M•n may, but God will not Seal an unfit or incapable person for his work. And indeed what ever is desirable in a servant, was eminently found in Christ. For faithfulness, none like him. Moses indeed was faithful to a Pin, but still as a Servant: but Christ as a Son, Heb. 3.2. He is the faithful and true witness, Rev. 1.5, For Zeal, none like him. The Zeal of Gods house did eat him up, Joh. 2.16, 17. He was so intent upon his Fathers work, that he forgot to eat bread, ⟨p. 60⟩counting his work his meat, and drink, Joh. 4.32. Yea, and love to his Father carried him on through all his work, and made him delight in the hardest piece of his service. For he served him as a Son, Heb, 3.5, 6.
What doth the Fathers Sealing of Christ to this work and §2office imply? There are divers things implyed in it. As
First, The validity and efficacy of all his mediatory acts. For by vertue of this his Sealing, what ever he did was fully ratified. And in this very thing lies much of a believers comfort and security. For as much as all acts done without commission and authority, (how great or able so ever the person that doth them is) yet are in themselves null and void. But what is done by commission and authority, is Authentick and most allowable among men. Had Christ come from heaven and entred upon his Mediatory work, without a due call, our Faith had been stumbled at the very threshold, but this greatly satisfies.
Secondly, It imports the great obligation lying upon Jesus Christ to be faithful, in the work he was Sealed to. For the Father in this commission devolves a great trust upon him; and relies upon him for his most faithful discharge thereof. And indeed upon this very accompt, Christ reckons himself specially obliged to pursue the Fathers design and end, Ioh. 9.4. I must work the works of him that sent me. And Joh. 5.30. I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which sent me. S•ill his •ye is upon that Work, and Will of his Father. And he reckons himself under a nec•ssity of punctual and precise obedience to it. And as a faithful servant will have his own will swallowed up in the Fathers will.
Thirdly, It imports Christs compleat qualification or instumental fitn•ss, to serve the Fathers design and end in our recovery. Had not God known him to be every way fit and qualified for the Work, he would never have Sealed him a commission for it. M•n may, but God will not Seal an unfit or incapable person for his work. And indeed what ever is desirable in a servant, was eminently found in Christ. For faithfulness, none like him. Moses indeed was faithful to a Pin, but still as a Servant: but Christ as a Son, Heb. 3.2. He is the faithful and true witn•ss, Rev. 1.5, For Zeal, none like him. The Zeal of Gods house did eat him up, Ioh. 2.16, 17. He was so intent upon his Fathers work, that he forgat to eat bread,
