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the other too. (2.) That the New Testament is in Chrift's blood; fo that their communion of the benefits of the teftament, is by their communion of the blood of Chrift, 1 Cor. x. 16.

Now, from these texts compared, it appears, That the administration of the covenant of grace is devalved on Jefus Chrift the fecond Adam, for that end made a quickening Spirit, having the whole of the covenant in him.

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This conftitution, lodging the administration of the covenant in the perfon of the Mediator Chrift Jefus, is at once fuited to the glory of God, the cafe of finners, and the honour of Chrift himself.

1. It is fuited to the glory of God the offended party. In the face of Jefus the adminiftrator, fhines forth the glory of the God of the covenant, 2 Cor. iv. 7. His fpotless holiness, and tremendous justice, ap pear there; together with his matchlefs love, freeft grace and tendereft mercy. God is in Chrift reconciling the world to himself, with the fafety of his glory, giving forth his peace and pardons freely, without any merit of the receivers, and yet not without fufficient fatisfaction to his juftice, and compenfation of his injured honour: as from a throne of grace, eftablished upon juftice fatisfied, and judgment fully executed, the firm bases thereof.

2. It is fuited to the cafe of finners the offending party. In Chrift the adminiftrator of the covenant, they have to do with a God, whofe rays of majesty, that the guilty are not able to behold, are vailed with the robe of a spotlefs humanity. An inviting fweetnefs appears in the face of the administrator, full of grace and truth, John i. 14. In him they may fee their falvation fo dear to the God that made them, that he himself would put on their nature, to establish by his own blood a covenant of peace between Heaven and them. He is true man, of the fame family of Adam with themfelves; unto whom there

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fore they may confidently draw near, joining themfelves to him as the head of the covenant: and withal, he is the true God, undoubtedly able to make the covenant effectual for their falvation, notwithstanding of all their unworthiness,

3. It is fuited to the honour of Christ himself, the peace maker, who hath it as the reward of his work. Jofeph, being fold for a bond-fervant, behaved himself with all meeknefs, patience, and faithfulness in that low character; the which was afterwards by all ruling Providence, abundantly rewarded with honour, in his being advanced to be the prime minister of the kingdom of Egypt, having the adminiftration of the whole kingdom committed to him, Pfal. cv. 17,-22. Herein he was a type of Chrift. The Lord Jefus did voluntarily fubmit himself to the lowest step of reproach and difgrace, taking upon him the form of a bond-fervant, and humbling himself in that form, even unto the death of the cross; and that to perform the condition of the covenant, for the glory of God and the falvation of his people and therefore he was exalted to the highest pinnacle of honour, being advanced to the prime ministry of heaven, having the adminiftration of the covenant put into his hand, ruling over all under his Father; whereby is given him a name, which is above every name, whether of men or angels, all things being put under his feet, Phil. ii. 7, 8, 9. Eph. i. 20. 21. 22, 23. In refpect hereof, he is often called the Father's fervant, namely, his honorary fervant: and his honour in that character is often promifed to be made very great, Ifa. xlix 6, and lii. 13, 14, 15. Zech. iii. 8. with vi. 12. 13.

And forafmuch as the everlafting covenant will 'continue to be the ground and rule of God's difpenfation towards his people for evermore; by the conftitution lodging the adminiftration of the covenant in the person of Chrift, he is to enjoy that honour

and

and dignity for ever and ever. For unto the Son he faith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever, Heb. i. 8. Even of his kingdom which is given him, that is, his mediatory kingdom and administration, there Shall be no end, Luke i. 32, 33. The time comes indeed, wherein he will deliver up the kingdom to God even the Father; presenting to him at the last day, the whole church, and every member thereof, brought by his administration, according to his commiffion, into a state of perfection. And then cometh the end, I Cor. xv. 24. namely, the end of the world, but not the end of his administration: for being constitute adminiftrator of the covenant, there was given him dominion and glory, and a kingdom; and his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which Shall not pass away, (as the world fhall, 1 Cor. vii. 31.) and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, (as all the four monarchies have been), Dan. vii. 14.

And thus we have seen Chrift to be the party on whom the administration of the covenant is devolved.

II. Sinners of mankind the Object of the adminiftration of the Covenant.

The object of the administration of the covenant, is, finners of mankind, indefinitely that is to fay, Chrift is impowered by commiffion from his Father, to adminiftrate the covenant of grace to any of all mankind, the finners of the family of Adam without exception: he is authorised to receive them into the covenant, and to confer on them all the benefits thereof to their eternal falvation; according to the fettled order of the covenant. The election of particular perfons is a fecret, not to be difcovered in the administration of the covenant, according to the established order thereof, till fuch time as the finner have received the covenant, by coming perfonally into it. And the extent of the administration is not found

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founded on election, but on the fufficiency of Chrift's obedience and death for the falvation of all; neither is it regulated thereby, but by the fullness of power in heaven and earth given to Jefus Chrift, as a reward of his becoming obedient even unto death.

For confirming of this truth, let the following things be confidered.

1. The grant which the Father hath made of Christ crucified, as his ordinance for the falvation of loft finners of mankind. In the cafe of the Ifraelites in the wilderness, bitten by fiery ferpents, God inftituted an ordinance for their cure, namely, a brazen ferpent lifted up upon a pole; and made a grant thereof to whosoever would ufe it for that purpose, by looking to it. No body whatfoever that needed healing was excepted: the grant was conceived in the moft ample terms, Numb. xxi. 8. It shall come to pafs, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, fball live. So all mankind being bitten by the old ferpent, the devil, and fin, as his deadly poifon, left in them; God hath appointed Jefus Chrift the ordinance of heaven for their faivation. There is a word of divine appointment paffed upon a crucified Chrift, making and conftituting him the ordinance of God for falvation of finners; and God hath made a grant of him as fuch, to whofoever of Adam's loft race will make use of him for that purpose, by believing on him; in the which grant none of the world of mankind is excepted. All this is clear from John iii. 14, 15, 16. And as Mofes lifted up the ferpent in the wilderness, even se must the Son of man be lifted up; that whofoever believeth on bim, fbould not perish, but have eternal life. For Ged fo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whefoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. Now, the adminiftration of the covenant being fettled, in purfuance of this grant therein made, for a reward of

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the Mediator's obedience, the object of the former, can be no lefs extenfive than that of the latter.

2. The Mediator's commiffion for the adminiftration, is conceived in the most ample terms: and he is clothed with most ample powers, with relation to that bufinefs. It carries his adminiftering the covenant, not only to the meek, the poor, the broken-hearted; but to the captives, blind, bruifed, prifoners, bond men and broken men, who have fold their inheritance and themfelves, and can have no hope of relief but by a jubilee, Luke iv. 18. 19. with Ifa. lxi. 1, 2. What fort of finners of mankind can one imagine, that will not fall under fome of these denominations? Chrift indeed is given for a covenant of people; not of this or that people, but of people indefinitely. All power is given him in heaven and in earth, Matth. xxviii. 18. So there are none on earth excepted from his adminiftering the covenant to them. He is impowered to fave the guilty law-condemned world, by administering it to them; For God fent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be faved, John iii. 17.; forafmuch as he is the ordinance of God for taking away the fin of the world, Chap. i. 29.; tho' many to whom he offers the covenant, do refufe it, and fo are not faved eventually, Accordingly, from this fullness of power he issues forth the general offer of the gofpel; wherein all without exception are declared welcome to come and fuck of the full breafts of the divine confolations in the covenant: Matth. xi. 27, All things are deliver. ed unto me of my Father. Ver. 28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you reft. Chap. xxviii. 18. All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Ver, 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations. Mark xvi. 15. Preach the gospel to every creature.

3. He executes his commiffion in an unhampered

manner,

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