The whole duty of a Christian: containing all things necessary, both as to what he is to know, and do, for the obtaining a happy eternity ; to which is added, More particular directions, how to prepare for a comfortable death ...

Of Man's Recovery.

ALL Mankind being fallen into an E∣state of Sin and Misery by the Breach of the First Covenant, and unable to help themselves; God out of his meer Love,

Mercy, and Compassion, for recovering and restoring us to his Favour, makes another Co∣venant with us through a Mediator; where∣in he promises us Grace, Glory, and all good things; and obliges us to Repentance, and Faith. 1. Repentance, i. e. A sincere Sorrow for, and forsaking of all our Sins. Or, a thorough Change of our Mind, and Pur∣pose of Heart and Life, from Evil to Good. 2. Faith, i. e. Such an unfeigned Belief of all that God hath revealed, as engages us to a sincere Endeavour to do all that he hath commanded. Firmly to rely on all his Pro∣mises, and faithfully to obey all his Com∣mands. Or, an Acceptance of our Media∣tor as he is offered unto us in the Gospel, as our Priest, Prophet, and King: not only to Satisfie, and Intercede with God, but to Teach and Guide, Rule and Govern us.

This Mediator is the Second Person in the Trinity: who being true God, became true Man, by taking upon him our Nature: God and Man united in One Person: That so, having Interest in both, he might be a a fit Mediator, or middle Person, to recon∣cile and bring together God to Man, and Man to God, whom Sin had separated. The God-head did not assume a Humane Person; for then only the Person h•• assumed had been the better for it. But the Divine Per∣son assumed to himself the Humane Nature.

So that the Manhood subsists in the God∣head; and they are so inseparably united, that the same Person which is God, is also Man. Thus, as God, he is Eternal; born in Time, as Man: Creator, as God; a Crea∣ture, as Man: Invisible, as God; visible, as Man: Immortal, as God: Died, as Man. Had he not been God and Man in One Person the Sufferings of his Humane Nature, could not have derived that Infinite Value and Merit from the Divine; nor his Bloud been called, the Bloud of God (l) i. e. It was the Bloud of that Man that was God. He was 1. God, That he might bear the Wrath of God without sinking under it. Give Worth and Efficacy to his Sufferings, Obedience and Intercession. Satisfie Divine Justice. Pur∣chase his Favour, and Eternal Happiness for his People. Overcome Death and the De∣vil. Be the Head of his Church. Recom∣mend Infinite Love in the Abasement of himself for us. 2. Man, that he might obey, suffer, and intercede for us in our Nature; have a fellow-feeling of our Temptations, Passions, Infirmities; that we might have Ac∣cess to the Throne of Grace, and receive the Adoption of Sons.

As Creatures, we were bound to the Pre∣cepts of the Law, which we had broken▪ and were (without strength) unable to per∣form:

And as Transgressors, under, (liable to) the Curse of the Law, the Wrath of God, which we were unable to bear. Christ by his Active and Passive Obedience (of In∣finite Merit) fulfilled all Righteousness, pur∣chased for us Pardon, Grace, and Eternal Life, satisfied Divine Justice, paid our Debt, wrought out our Redemption, procur'd our Liberty, by giving a satisfactory Ransome to the Justice of God for our Life and Deli∣verance, from the Captivity of Sin, Satan, and Death; according to the Covenant made between the Father and Him from Eternity.

Notes

• (l)

  Acts 20.28.