2. That he is the Surety also of the Covenant, is expressly said, Heb. 7.22. and the Mediator thereof, Heb. 8. Nor can it be said that the death of the Testator does properly give faith and authority to the Testament,1 for the authority and justice of the just or unjust will of the Testator, addeth unto, or diminisheth from the authority of the Testament; for the Testators will is the principal efficient cause of the Testament, the death of the man is only a necessary condition, by which the right of the Testator to these goods is transferred from him (who now being dead, needs them not) in to friends, to whom they are left in Legacy;2 and so death is but an antecedent condition of the right to the goods. 3. Christs dying to bear witness to his own Gospel is only the secondary end of his death, in so far as secondarily remission of sins is made known to us after the principal end of his death, to wit, reconciliation, remission, pardon, redemption, and life is purchased to us by way of merit: And sure the truth of pardon and redemption is hugely more confirmed and sealed by the whole company of the Martyrs, and made known to the sons of men, then by the death of one single man, Mary's Son: Nor does the Scripture ever commend Christs love to us in sealing the Gospel with his blood as the only way to life, or making this the most strong Argument to move us ⟨p. 284⟩to believe in God, and obey Christ, because Christ died for sinners, and rose again to make the Gospel true like, and worthy to be believed, as the Martyrs do: but love shined in this, that in dying we have redemption and forgiveness and life in his blood; And since Godly and sound believing Martyrs died for this end, especially to glorify God, and seal the truth, Joh. 21.19. Rev. 2.13. Mat. 10.32. Luk. 12.8. Mar. 8.38. Luk. 9.26. 2 Tim. 2.12. Rev. 12.•1. we must have most properly forgiveness of sins in the blood of S•even, and Antipas, and the rest of the Martyrs. And miracles do abundantly seal the truth of the Gospel; And so doth the holiness of profession, Joh. 20.32. Mar. 16.20. Joh. 5.35, 36. Matth. 5.16. but never are we redeemed, justified, saved by Christs and the Apostles miracles and holy life, for any thing we read in Scripture; but we have life by Christs blood as by a ransom, a price to buy us.
2. That he is the Surety also of the Covenant, is expresly said, Heb. 7.22. and the Mediator thereof, Heb. 8. Nor can it be said that the death of the Testator does properly give faith and authority to the Testament,1 for the authority and justice of the just or unjust will of the Testator, addeth unto, or diminisheth from the authority of the Testament; for the Testators will is the principal efficient cause of the Testament, the death of the man is only a necessary condition, by which the right of the Testator to these goods is transferred from him (who now being dead, needs them not) in to friends, to whom they are left in Legacie;2 and so death is but an antecedent condition of the right to the goods. 3. Christs dying to bear witnesse to his own Gospel is only the secondary end of his death, in so far as secondarily remission of sins is made known to us after the principall end of his death, to wit, reconciliation, remission, pardon, redemption, and life is purchased to us by way of merit: And sure the truth of pardon and redemption is hugely more confirmed and sealed by the whole company of the Martyrs, and made known to the sons of men, then by the death of one single man, Maries Son: Nor does the Scripture ever commend Christs love to us in sealing the Gospel with his blood as the only way to life, or making this the most strong Argument to move us ⟨p. 284⟩to beleeve in God, and obey Christ, because Christ died for sinners, and rose again to make the Gospel true like, and worthy to be beleeved, as the Martyres do: but love shined in this, that in dying we have redemption and forgivenesse and life in his blood; And since Godly and sound beleeving Martyrs died for this end, especially to glorifie God, and seal the truth, Joh. 21.19. Rev. 2.13. Mat. 10.32. Luk. 12.8. Mar. 8.38. Luk. 9.26.
- 1The death of the Testator how it confirms the Covenant.
- 2It is true that the death of the Testator, to wit such a death of one who is more then a Testator or only man, even God man, procures as a meritorious cause, life, remission, &c▪ but this it does not as the death of a Testator and dying friend, but as such a so excellent, so satisfactory a death, which no Martyrs death can do. There is a far other thing in Christs blood then power of sealing and witnessing the truth which is in the Martyrs blood.It is true that the death of the Testator, to wit such a death of one who is more then a Testator or only man, even God man, procu•es as a meritorious cause, life, remission, &c▪ but this it does not as the death of a Testator and dying friend, but as such a so excellent, so satisfactory a death, which no Martyrs death can do. There is a far other thing in Christs blood then power of sealing and witnessing the truth which is in the Martyrs blood.
