1. Because in the state and condition of sin, we are not capable of immediate dealing or Covenanting with God. There can be no Covenanting between God and sinners, unless there be some one to stand forth in our name, to receive the Terms of God, and to undertake for us. So when God began to treat immediately from Heaven with the people of old, they all jointly professed, that such was the Greatness and Glory of God, such the Terror of his Majesty, that it was impossible for them so to treat with him; and if he spake unto them any more, they should all dye and be consumed. Wherefore with one consent they desired that there might be one appointed between God and them, to transact all things and to undertake for them as to their Obedience, which God well approved in them. Deut. 5. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. Adam indeed in the state of innocency could treat immediately with God, as unto that Covenant wherein he was placed. For notwithstanding his infinite distance from God, yet God had made him for converse with himself, and did not despise the work of his own hands. But immediately upon the entrance of sin he was sensible of the loss of that Privilege, whereon he both fled and hid himself from the Presence of God. And hence those who of Old thought they had seen God, concluded that they should dye, as being sensible of their incapacity to treat immediately with him. So when the Prophet cried out that he was undone or cut off, because of the immediate Presence of God, his Eyes having seen the King the Lord of Hosts; Isa. 6. 5. He was not relieved from his Apprehensions, until his mouth was touched with a coal from the Altar, a Type of the Mediation and Sacrifice of Christ. Whilst we have any thing of sin remaining in us, we can have nothing to do with God immediately. Wherefore that there may be any Covenant between God and us, much more such an one as shall be ordered in all things and Sure, there must be one to stand before God in our stead, to receive the Terms of God, and declare them unto us, and to undertake for us that we shall stand unto them and make them good to the Glory of God. And in this sense was the New Covenant firstly made with Christ; not only as he undertook the work of Mediation, which he did upon the especial eternal compact which was between the Father and him;
1. Because in the state and condition of sin, we are not capable of immediate dealing or Covenanting with God. There can be no Covenanting between God and sinners, unless there be some one to stand forth in our name, to receive the Terms of God, and to undertake for us. So when God began to treat immediately from Heaven with the people of old, they all jointly professed, that such was the Greatness and Glory of God, such the Terror of his Majesty, that it was impossible for them so to treat with him; and if he spake unto them any more, they should all dye and be consumed. VVherefore with one consent they desired that there might be one appointed between God and them, to transact all things and to undertake for them as to their Obedience, which God well approved in them. Deut. 5. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. Adam indeed in the state of innocency could treat immediately with God, as unto that Covenant wherein he was placed. For notwithstanding his infinite distance from God, yet God had made him for converse with himself, and did not despise the work of his own hands. But immediately upon the entrance of sin he was sensible of the losse of that Priviledge, whereon he both fled and hid himself from the Presence of God. And hence those who of Old thought they had seen God, concluded that they should dye, as being sensible of their incapacity to treat immediately with him. So when the Prophet cryed out that he was undone or cut off, because of the immediate Presence of God, his Eyes having seen the King the Lord of Hosts; Isa. 6. 5. He was not relieved from his Apprehensions, untill his mouth was touched with a coal from the Altar, a Type of the Mediation and Sacrifice of Christ. VVhilst we have any thing of sin remaining in us, we can have nothing to do with God immediately. Wherefore that there may be any Covenant between God and us, much more such an one as shall be ordered in all things and Sure, there must be one to stand before God in our stead, to receive the Terms of God, and declare them unto us, and to undertake for us that we shall stand unto them and make them good to the Glory of God. And in this sense was the New Covenant firstly made with Christ; not only as he undertook the work of Mediation, which he did upon the especial eternal compact which was between the Father and him;
