(8.) The eighth proposition is this, — viz., That there loere command- ments from the Father to the Son ichich he must obey and submit to. God the Father did put forth his paternal authority, and lay his com- mands upon his Son, to engage in this great work of redeeming and saving poor sinners' souls. He had a command from the Father wh it to teach his people, as the prophet of the church : ' For I liave not spoken of myself,' saith Christ ; ' but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should si)eak,' John xii. 49. Christ declares that he had received a commission from the Father, who sent him, concerning his doctrine, and what to say and speak ; and that he was persuaded that this doctrine delivered to him by the Father points out the true way to eternal life ; and that he had exactly followed this commission in preaching, both for matter
VERY CLEARLY AND LARGELY OPENED. 367
and manner. The two words of saying and speaking may be taken comprehensively, pointing out all the ways of delivering his commis- sion, by set and solemn preaching, or occasional conferences, and the whole subject-matter of his preaching, in precepts, promises, and threat- enings ; and so it will import that his commission from the Father was full, both for matter and manner, and his discharge thereof answer- able.! Christ is a true prophet, who speaks neither more or less in the doctrine of the gospel than what was the Father's will should be delivered to us : ' For whatsoever I speak, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.' Christ keeps close to his commissipn, without adding or diminishing ; and herein Christ's practice should be every faithful minister's pattern. Again, Christ had a command to lay down his life for those that were given him : ' No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself; I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again ; this commandment have I received of my Father,' John X. 18. The Father is so well pleased with the reconciliation of lost sinners, that he loveth Christ for the undertaking thereof, and is fully satisfied with his suffering for attaining that end. In both these respects it holds good : ' Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life,' ver. 17. The Father is pleased with him that he un- dertook this service, and is content with his death as a sufficient ransom. Christ having laid down his life for the redemption of lost man, did take it again, as a testimony that the Father was satisfied with his sufferings. Now the way of the accomplishment of our redemption was agreed on betwixt the Father and the Son before the accomplish- ment thereof ; therefore saith he, ' This commandment have I received of my Father,' which makes it clear that he came into the world fully instructed about carrying on the work of redemption, [Ps. xl. 6, 7 with Heb. X. 6-8.] It pleased Christ to suifer death, not only voluntarily, but in a way of subjection to his Father's command, that so the merit thereof might every way be full and acceptable to the Father : ' For tliis commandment have I received! He was content to be a servant by paction, that so his sufferings might be accepted for his people. And so when Christ was going to die, he saith, ' That the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do : arise, let us go hence,' Joli^ xiv. 31. As if he had said. Power is permitted to Satan and his accomplices to persecute me to death, that dying for man's redemption, the world may see the obedience and love I bear to the Father, who hath thus determined. All that Christ suffered for the redemption of sinners was by the order, and at the command, of the Father, who did covenant with him concerning this work : ' For as the Father gave me a commandment, even so do I.' In this scripture, as in a crystal glass, you may see that Christ did enter the lists in his sufferings with much willingness and alacrity, with much courage and resolution, that so he might commend his love to us, and encourage us to do the like through him. Therefore, saith he, ' Arise, and let us go hence.' I am very free and ready, by my death and sufferings, to complete the work of man's redemption, according to the covenant and agreement that long since was made
1 Between saj-ing and speaking there is this difference, saith k Lapide : that to say, is to teach and publish a thing gravely; to speak, is familiarly to utter a thing.
368 THE COVEITANT OF REDEMPTION
between the Father and myself. If Christ should fail in complying with his Father's commands about suffering and dying for us, then not only the breach of articles, but high disobedience too, might be justly charged upon him ; but from all such charges Christ has bravely quitted himself. There was a special law laid upon Christ as he was our mediator, which law he was willing and ready to obey, in order to our redemption. That Christ should die was no part of the moral law, but it was a positive special law laid upon Christ Well, this law he obeys, he complies with : ' I lay down my life for my sheep ; this commandment have I received of my Father,' John x. 11, 15, 17, 18. Christ, as mediator, had a command from his Father to die, and he observes it ; hence God calls him his servant : ' Behold my servant whom I uphold,' Isa. xlii. 1. And in pursuance of God's royal law, will, and pleasure, he takes upon him the form of a servant; and frequently proclaims before all the world, that he ' came to do the will of him that sent him,' Phil. ii. 6, 7. Again, God the Father lays a special command upon Jesus Christ, to preserve and bring to glory all those that come unto him. Jesus Christ has not only leave to save the elect, but a charge to save the elect : ' All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me ; and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out' — where the doubled negatives, in the original, serve to make the assertion strong, and to carry their faith over all their doubts and fears — ' for I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose no- thing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life ; and I will raise him up at the last day.' i Christ is to be answerable for all those that are given to him, at the last day, and therefore we need not doubt but that he will certainly employ all the power of his Godhead to secure and save all those that he must be accountable for. In this blessed scrip- ture there are several special things that we may take notice of, that are pat to our present purpose : —