Christ and the covenant the work and way of meditation
Christ and the covenant the work and way of meditation. : Gods return to the soul, or nation; together with his preventing mercy. : Delivered in ten sermons, (viz.) 1. Christs personal excellencies, the object of our love. 2. Christ crucified, the object of our faith. 3. The new covenant of grace opened. 4. Christ the mediator of the new covenant. 5. The way and spirit of the new covenant, or New Testament. 6. The blood of sprinkling. 7. The sweetness and profitableness of divine meditation. 8. The work and way of this meditation. 9. Gods return to the soul and nation. 10. Preventing mercy. / By W.B.
William Bridge 1600?–1670London: printed for N. Ranew, 1667
[4], 112, 353-501 p. · 83k words · Wing B4449A · ESTC R225773
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
6. Is it not a great matter for you to enter into the Holy of Holyest, and to have all your duties carried in to God the Father by the hand of Jesus? If he be your Mediator, so it is, Rev. 8.
7. Is it not a great matter, in case that you have to deal with enemies, either for Soul or Body, to have one by, that can and will interpose and rebuke them? Why, if Jesus be the Mediator of the Covenant, thus shall it be. He interposed between Laban and Jacob; when Laban followed Jacob, he rebuked Laban. He interposed in the case of Joshua, when Satan stood at his right hand: the Lord rebuke thee, as in the 3d Chapter of Zechary. The same word in the Hebrew, that Job useth for Days-man, comes from a root that signifies to rebuke.
7. Is it not a great matter, in case that you have to deal with enemies, either for Soul or Body, to have one by, that can and will interpose and rebuke them? Why, if Jesus be the Mediator of the Covenant, thus shall it be. He interposed between Laban and Jacob; when Laban followed Jacob, he rebuked Laban. He interposed in the case of Joshua, when Satan stood at his right hand: the Lord rebuke thee, as in the 3d Chapter of Zechary. The same word in the Hebrew, that Job useth for Dayes-man, comes from a root that signifies to rebuke.
8. And then to say no more in it but this, Is it not a great matter for one that is in trouble, or affliction of spirit, to have Christ to interpose between God the Father and him, when he lies under the sense of Gods wrath and displeasure? Why, if Christ be the Mediator of the New Covenant, then thus it is; Look into the 33. Chapter of Job, and see what a scheme and mould of Conversion-work there is, vers. 14. God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not: — Here is man in
his natural state and condition, going on in the way of his sin, living under the means; and God speaking once and twice, and he perceives it not. Well then at the 15th vers. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumbrings upon the bed, then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction. Here comes a work of Conviction and Conversion, suddenly, unexpectedly, — and what then? then trouble of Conscience, at the 19th vers. He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain, so that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat; his flesh is consumed away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out; his soul draweth nigh unto the Grave, and his life to the Destroyers: — What then? why then at the 23. vers. If there be a Messenger; Christ is the Messenger of the Covenant: If there be a Messenger with him, an Interpreter, an Advocate; if there be a Messenger with him, or an Advocate by him, one of a thousand, as Christ is, To show unto man his Righteousness, where his Righteousness lies, — What then? why then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a Ransom. And then, his flesh shall be fresher then a child's, he shall return to the days of his Youth, he shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him, and he shall see his face with joy, for he will render unto man his Righteousness. Thus now shall it be, if Jesus be the Mediator
⟨p. 103⟩
of the New Covenant. Oh what a comfortable thing therefore is it, for Jesus to be this Mediator of the Covenant! And thus you see in the 5th place what those benefits are that we do gain thereby.
8. And then to say no more in it but this, Is it not a great matter for one that is in trouble, or affliction of spirit, to have Christ to interpose between God the Father and him, when he lyes under the sense of Gods wrath and displeasure? Why, if Christ be the Mediator of the New Covenant, then thus it is; Look into the 33. Chapter of Job, and see what a scheme and mold of Conversion-work there is, vers. 14. God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not: — Here is man in ⟨p. 102⟩his naturall state and condition, going on in the way of his sin, living under the means; and God speaking once and twice, and he perceives it not. Well then at the 15th vers. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumbrings upon the bed, then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction. Here comes a work of Conviction and Conversion, suddenly, unexpectedly, — and what then? then trouble of Conscience, at the 19th vers. He is chastened also with paine upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong paine, so that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat; his flesh is consumed away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out; his soul draweth nigh unto the Grave, and his life to the Destroyers: — What then? why then at the 23. vers. If there be a Messenger; Christ is the Messenger of the Covenant: If there be a Messenger with him, an Interpreter, an Advocate; if there be a Messenger with him, or an Advocate by him, one of a thousand, as Christ is, To shew unto man his Righteousness, where his Righteousnesse lyes, — What then? why then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a Ransome. And then, his flesh shall be fresher then a childs, he shall returne to the dayes of his Youth, he shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him, and he shall see his face with joy, for he will render unto man his Righteousnesse. Thus now shall it be, if Jesus be the Mediator ⟨p. 103⟩of the New Covenant. Oh what a confortable thing therefore is it, for Jesus to be this Mediator of the Covenant! And thus you see in the 5th place what those benefits are that we do gaine thereby.
1. If Jesus be the Mediator of the New Covenant, what an evil thing is it, and unreasonable, for men to think, or speak, or do any thing that may reflect upon this Mediator of the New Covenant, or to sin against this New Covenant? There are some Opinions that do reflect and cast a black reflection upon Jesus the Mediator of the Covenant.
The Socinian tells us, that Jesus is a Mediator, such a one as Moses was, to declare the mind of God unto us; but not a Mediator in way of satisfaction, to satisfy Gods wrath.
The Socinian tells us, that Jesus is a Mediator, such a one as Moses was, to declare the mind of God unto us; but not a Mediator in way of satisfaction, to satisfie Gods wrath.
They say he is a Mediator, but deny the Deity of Christ, and so root up the very mediation of Christ; they cast a very black reflection upon this Mediator.
The Papists they say, that Christ is a Mediator, and our only Mediator in a way of Redemption, but we have many Mediators in a way of Intercession, Saints and Angels.
The Papists they say, that Christ is a Mediator, and our onely Mediator in a way of Redemption, but we have many Mediators in a way of Intercession, Saints and Angels.
They say that Christ is Mediator, but according to his humane nature only, whereas the Apostle saith expressly, that he offered up himself through the ⟨p. 104⟩Eternal Spirit: Thus they reflect upon this Mediator.
They say that Christ is Mediator, but according to his humane nature only, whereas the Apostle saith expresly, that he offered up himself through the ⟨p. 104⟩Eternal Spirit: Thus they reflect upon this Mediator.
And for practise, Is it not a great reflection upon this Mediator for us to think, that we our selves by our own Tears, and Fastings, and Humiliations, can reconcile God unto us, or pacify Gods Anger, or make an Atonement for a Nation.
And for practise, Is it not a great reflection upon this Mediator for us to think, that we our selves by our own Tears, and Fastings, and Humiliations, can reconcile God unto us, or pacifie Gods Anger, or make an Attonement for a Nation.
Is it not a very great reflection upon this Mediator to say, O my sins are greater then can be forgiven? Is not this a very blameable reflection upon this Mediator of the New Covenant?
First, by not looking into it, not studying it, not being acquainted with it. Shall the Lord Jesus be such a Mediator of such a Covenant, and shall we not look into the Covenant, and be acquainted with it? Yet Lord, how many poor souls are there that are ignorant of this Covenant? What unthankfulness is this, what a sin against the Covenant is this, that Jesus should be the Mediator of the Covenant, and men should not look into it, not study it, not be acquainted with it?
First, by not looking into it, not studying it, not being acquainted with it. Shall the Lord Jesus be such a Mediator of such a Covenant, and shall we not look into the Covenant, and be acquainted with it? Yet Lord, how many poor souls are there that are ignorant of this Covenant? What unthankfulnesse is this, what a sin against the Covenant is this, that Jesus should be the Mediator of the Covenant, and men should not look into it, not study it, not be acquainted with it?
2. Sometimes we sin against the Covenant, by altering the mould and the frame of the Covenant, by hanging our conditions upon Gods Covenant, our pad-lock upon Gods door.
2. Sometimes we sin against the Covenant, by altering the mold and the frame of the Covenant, by hanging our conditions upon Gods Covenant, our pad-lock upon Gods door.
3. Sometimes we sin against the Covenant, by slighting that Great Ordinance of the Lords Supper, concerning which Christ hath said, ⟨p. 105⟩This Cup is the New Testament in my blood: To slight it, saying, these are low things, we are above Ordinances, and these are carnal things, now thus to slight it, is to sin directly against the Covenant.
3. Sometimes we sin against the Covenant, by slighting that Great Ordinance of the Lords Supper, concerning which Christ hath said, ⟨p. 105⟩This Cup is the New Testament in my blood: To slight it, saying, these are low things, we are above Ordinances, and these are carnall things, now thus to slight it, is to sin directly against the Covenant.
