The Fountain of Life Opened

and render him not only placable, but abundantly satisfied, and well pleased; even with those that before were Enemies. And so much is said of it, Coll. 1.21. And ye that were sometime alienated, and Enemies in your minds by wicked works; yet now hath he reconciled, in the body of his Flesh, through death; to present you holy, and unblameable, and unreprovable in his sight. Surely, that which can cause the holy God, justly incensed against Sinners, to lay aside all his wrath, and take an Enemy into his bosom; and establish such an amity as can never more be broken: but to rest in his love, and to joy over him with singing: as it is Zeph. 3.17. this must be a most excellent & efficacious thing. Fourthly, Christ being a Mediator of reconciliation, implies the ardent love, and large pity that filled his Heart towards poor Sinners. For he doth not not only mediate by way of entreaty, going betwixt both, and persuading and begging Peace; but he mediates (as you have heard) in the capacity of a surety; by putting himself under an obligation to satisfy our debts. O how compassionately did his Heart work towards us, that when he saw the arm of Justice lifted up to destroy us, would interpose himself, and receive the stroke, though he knew it would smite him dead. Our Mediator like Jonah his Type, seeing the stormy Sea of Gods wrath working tempestuously, and ready to swallow us up: cast in himself, to appease the storm. I remember how much that noble Act of Marcus Curtius is celebrated in the Roman Story, who being informed by the Oracle, that the great breach made by the Earthquake, could not be closed, except something of worth were cast into it; heated with love to the Commonwealth, he went and cast in himself. This was looked upon as a bold and brave adventure, but what was this to Christ? Fifthly, Christ being a Mediator betwixt God and Men implies as the fitness of his Person, so his authoritative call to undertake it. And indeed the Father, who was the wronged Person, called him to be the Umpire, and Arbitrator, trusting his honour in his hands. Now Christ was invested with this office and power, ⟨p. 89⟩virtually, soon after the breach was made by Adams fall; for we have the early promise of it, Gen. 3.15. ever since till his incarnation he was a virtual, and effectual Mediator, and on that account, he is called the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world, Rev.