And thus to be a Surety, is much more then simply to be an Intercessor, or Mediator, (as Pareus well observes.) God did ⟨p. 52⟩(as it were) say to Christ, What they owe me, I require it all at your hands; and Christ assented, and from everlasting struck hands with God, to do all for us that God could require, and undertook it under the penalty that lay upon us to have undergone. Yea, Christ became such a Surety in this for us, as is not to be found among men.1 On earth, Sureties are wont to enter into one and the same Bond with the Creditors, so as the Creditor may seize on which of the two he will, whether on the Debtor, or on the Surety, and so (as usually) on the Debtor first, for him we call the Principal; but in this covenant, God would have Christs single Bond: and hence Christ is not only called the Surety of the Covenant for us, but The Covenant, 2Isaiah 49. 8. and elsewhere. God making the Covenant of Grace primarily with him, and with him as for us, thereby his single Bond alone was taken for all, that so God might be sure of satisfaction: therefore he laid all upon Christ, protesting that he would not deal with us, nor so much as expect any payment from us, (such was his grace.) So Psal. 89. 19. where the mercies of the Covenant made between Christ and God, under the Type of Gods Covenant with David are set forth,3 Thou spakest in vision to thy holy One, and saidst, I have laid help on one who is [mighty.] As if God had said, I know that these will fail me, and break, and never be able to satisfy me; but you are a mighty and substantial person, able to pay me, and I will look for my debt of you. And to confirm ⟨p. 53⟩this, (then which nothing can give stronger consolation, or more advanceth Gods free grace) when God went about the reconciling the world in and by Christ, and dealt with Christ about it; the manner of it is expressed to have been, that God took off our sins from us, and discharged us, (as it were) meaning never to call us to an account for them, unless Christ should not satisfy him, and laid them all on Christ, so as he would require an account of them all from him first, and let him look to it; and this he did to make the Covenant sure. Thus 2 Cor. 5. 19.
And thus to be a Surety, is much more then simply to be an Intercessour, or Mediatour, (as Pareus well observes.) God did ⟨p. 52⟩(as it were) say to Christ, What they owe me, I require it all at your hands; and Christ assented, and from everlasting struck hands with God, to doe all for us that God could require, and undertook it under the penalty that lay upon us to have undergone. Yea, Christ became such a Surety in this for us, as is not to be found among men.1 On earth, Sureties are wont to enter into one and the same Bond with the Creditors, so as the Creditour may seize on which of the two he will, whether on the Debtour, or on the Surety, and so (as usually) on the Debtor first, for him we call the Principal; but in this covenant, God would have Christs single Bond: and hence Christ is not onely called the Surety of the Covenant for us, but The Covenant, 2Esay 49. 8. and elsewhere. God making the Covenant of Grace primarily with him, and with him as for us, thereby his single Bond alone was taken for all, that so God might be sure of satisfaction: therefore he laid all upon Christ, protesting that he would not deale with us, nor so much as expect any payment from us, (such was his grace.) So Psal. 89. 19. where the mercies of the Covenant made betweene Christ and God, under the Type of Gods Covenant with David are set forth,3 Thou spakest in vision to thy holy One, and saidst, I have laid help on one who is [mighty.] As if God had said, I know that these will faile me, and break, and never be able to satisfie me; but you are a mighty and substantiall person, able to pay me, and I will look for my debt of you. And to confirme ⟨p. 53⟩this, (then which nothing can give stronger consolation, or more advanceth Gods free grace) when God went about the reconciling the world in and by Christ, and dealt with Christ about it; the manner of it is expressed to have been, that God took off our sins from us, and discharged us, (as it were) meaning never to call us to an account for them, unlesse Christ should not satisfie him, and laid them all on Christ, so as he would require an account of them all from him first, and let him look to it; and this he did to make the Covenant sure. Thus 2 Cor. 5. 19
- 1A strange difference between Christs Suretyship, and that of men for others on earthA strange difference between Christs Suretiship, and that of men for others on earth
- 2God makes the Covenant of Grace principally with Christ for us.
- 3God requires payment of our debt from Christ first.
