The nature of the two testaments, or, The disposition of the will and estate of God to mankind for holiness and happiness by Jesus Christ ... in two volumes : the first volume, of the will of God : the second volume, of the estate of God / by Robert Dixon.

The CONTENTS.

Writing. Testimony. Confirmation. Execution. Christ the Executor. Executorship conditional. Flesh and Blood. Christ's Assention. Spirit's Mission.

TITLE VI. Of the Confirmation of the New Testament.

NOW the New Testament, though it were not written, as was the Old, with the finger of God upon Tables of Stone, but was Nun∣cupative; yet this Nuncupation was by God himself, not by a∣ny Angel, and that unto Christ himself only, to be published; and ac∣cordingly was published by him in his own Person, and by his Spirit in the persons of the Apostles, and their Disciples through the whole World, and afterwards committed to writing by the chief of the Apostles; and not only so, but written again after a better manner by the spirit of God himself upon the Tables of Mens Hearts.

And as for the Testimony given thereunto, to prove it to be the Will of God; Christ himself did testifie thereof with such mighty miracles as ne∣ver had been done before.

Besides the unquestionable Holiness of his life, and the solemnity of his death: Which things were not done in a corner, but in the full view of a greater Congregation than was at Mount Sinai; for he preached in their Temple and Synagogues, and did wonders in all Judea, and suffered death upon Mount Calvary. At which time the Vail of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; the Earth did quake, and the Rocks rent, and the graves were opened, and many bodies of the Saints which slept arose: The Sun also was darkned after an extraordinary manner, when the Moon was at the Full. And after all this, was added as the last, and greatest Proof of all, the glory of his Resurrection and Ascention into Heaven. He saith therefore of himself, To this end was I born, and for this cause I came into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. And the A∣postle said of him, that before Pontius Pilate he witnessed a good Confession. Hence he is called the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Martyr of the New Testament to testifie it with his Blood. His death was not only a Testimony, but a Confirmation of the New Testament; because his death doth wholly, and for ever extinguish in him all will or power to revoke it; and evidence, that immediately from that Death God's Testament was ipso facto in force, and began to take effect for the Justification of

Mankind, to all the Rights in that Testament contained by the Access of their Faith.

Thus the immortal God came as near to Death as he could, by the Death of his Son, in his Divine Nature immortal, but made a mortal man to dye in his Father's stead, and to demonstrate his own, and his Father's unconceivable Love, to lay down his Life for Sinners: Which thing de∣serves a perpetual Commemoration, so commanded by Christ in the Ho∣ly Eucharist, instituted by him for that purpose.

And as Wills are to be proved and confirmed, so they are to be exe∣cuted, and performed, or else the Will it self is as dead, as he that made it, and so was made to no purpose.

The publick Wills of Legislators are to be put in Execution by sworn Magistrates, or else the Law is in vain and a dead Letter.

And the private Wills of Testators are to be put in Execution by their Heirs, or Executors, covenanting and swearing so to do; else the Will, or Law of the Testator is frustrated.

Now of this New Testament Christ is the Executor, or Mediator, be∣tween God the Testator, and the Legataries in the Will expressed, to con∣vey unto them from God, as a Priest, the Expiation of their Sins, by his Sacerdotal offering up of himself to God in the Temple of Heaven, and the Mission of his Spirit to cleanse their hearts; and as a King sitting in the Throne of Heaven, to rule his Church, and protect them from their Enemies, and to raise them up from Death, and set them at his Right hand, and at his left in heavenly places, and as a Prophet to lead them into all Truth.

And Christ, as an Executor and Mediator, received to himself this be∣nefit, to be the universal Heir of God, who was so by Nature, and was so appointed by Grace to be Heir of all things: And for this purpose had all Power given unto him, both in Heaven and Earth, and universal honour also; wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name, which is above every name, That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of Persons in Heaven, and Earth, and under the Earth: For let all the Angels of God worship him, and he hath spoiled Principalities and Pow∣ers, and triumphed over them openly, and hath put all his Enemies under his feet.

The Reason is, because Christ's Executorship was conditional, [Reason 1] that is charged upon the Condition of his own Death, he must dye before he can enter upon it, and therefore dye, that he may perform it, because every Testament is a Decree of things to be done after Death; and this Testa∣ment of God, hath this strange Prerogative above the Testaments of men, that it is confirmed by the Death of a Man, who was God, and that the Ex∣ecutor, not the Testator, dyes; and that the Disposition of things to be had or done is made after the Death of the Executor, who for that purpose rose from the dead, that he might justifie the faithful to the Inheritance of Heaven. A Cause quite contrary to the Testaments of men, wherin the Testator only dies to confirm his Testament, and the Executor survi∣ving performs it.

Therefore as Christ, the principal Heir, was fitted to receive his Inhe∣ritance, ordained for him in that Testament whereof he was Executor: So we that are Christ's Co-heirs, must be fitted to receive the same Inheritance, ordained for us in that Testament wherein we are Le∣gataries.

[Reas. 2] 2. Because Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of heaven: And CHRIST, the Word, was made Flesh, but afterwards he was made Spi∣rit; For the last Adam was made a quickning Spirit: And JESUS, who was made a little lower than the Angels, for (or by) they suffering of Death, was crowned with glory and Honour. And so Christ was made perfect; For it became him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many Sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through Sufferings. And though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered, and being made perfect, he became the Author of Eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him.

And so Christians, they are first Flesh, For that which is born of the flesh is flesh; but afterwards they are made Spirit, For that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit: And except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven; which is the first Resurrection. And again, Christians must first die, as all Flesh must do; and afterwards must live, as all Spirits must do.

And as the Soul is alwaies Spirit, but not fully sanctified, nor fully glorified till after the Bodie's Resurrection: so the Flesh is alwaies Flesh, but yet made spiritual by Regeneration, but not fully Spiritual till the full Regeneration of Glory after death, which is the second Resurrection. For thiis Mortal must put on Immortality, and this Corruptible must put on Incorruption; and this Earth must put on Heaven, and this Flesh must put on Spirit, and this Terrestrial must be made Coelestial; for as we have born the Image of the Earthly, so we shall also bear the Image of the Heavenly. There are Natural Bodies, and there are Spiritual Bo∣dies; but first that which is Natural, and then that which is Spiri¦tual.

So, without Death Temporal we cannot be prepared for Life Eternal: For except we fall, we cannot rise; and except we rise from the Earth, we cannot ascend into Heaven; and except we ascend into Heaven, we cannot enter into the Inheritance of Glory.

SECTION I.

Christ therefore after his death and burial ascended in his own Person far above all Heavens, that he might as a King, Priest and Prophet, fully execute the Will of his Father and our Father which is in Heaven. Now he that ascended, what is it, but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? And he that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all Heavens, that he might fill all things, or more truly, that he might fulfil all things, that is, by a Plenary Administration, and dis∣charging all the Gifts and Legacies devised by God. For when he ascended up on high, he led Captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

And for the preparation of his Church Militant that they may be Tri∣umphant, He from thence gave some to be Apostles, and some to be Pro∣phets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers, for the perfect∣ing of the Saints, for the work of the Ministery, for the edifying of the Body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of Faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

Now to do these things is to execute and fulfil the Will of God. Wherefore it behoved him to be made like unto his Brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make Reconciliation for the sins of the People: For in that he himself hath suf∣fered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. Forasmuch then as the Children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the Devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage. And for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the Transgressions that were under the first Testament, they which are called might receive the Promise (i. e. the Promised Possession) of Eternal Inhe∣ritance.

This Doctrine was taught by Christ himself. Nevertheless I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart I will send him unto you. And after his death he said, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that Repentance and Remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations, begin∣ning at Jerusalem.

Thus Christ died for the Testification, Confirmation and Execution of the New Testament, and consequently for the Remission of sins, Mor∣tification, Justification, Sanctification, Resurrection and Glorification of all the Scripti haeredes, whose Names are written in the Book of Life.

Notes

• Writing.
• Testimony.
• Mat. 27.51.
• John 18.37.
• 1 Tim. 6.13. Rev. 3.14.
• Confirma∣tion.
• Execution.
• Christ Exe∣cutor.
• Heb. 1.2.
• Mat. 28.18.
• Phil. 2.9.
• Heb. 1.6.
• 1 Cor. 15.27.
• Executor∣ship Condi∣tional.
• Flesh and Blood. 1 Cor. 15.5. Joh. ••.14. 1 Cor. 15.45. Heb. 2.9.
• Heb. 2.10.
• Joh. 3.
• Christ's As∣cension.
• Eph. 4.9.
• Eph. 4.8.
• Spirit's Missi∣on. Eph 4.11, 12.
• Heb. 2.14.
• Joh. 16.7.
• Luk. 24.46.
• Coroll.