2. What this covenant is. I shall here show you the whole draught of this transaction. To a covenant there belong four things — two on the part of the proposer, and two on the part of the undertaker ; and so in this covenant you will find the scriptures fully discovering these four things — two on God's part, and two on Christ's. On God's j^art, there is the work proposed and the encouragements promised. And then, on Christ's part, the work is undertaken, and the terms and })roniises expected to be fulfilled.
[1.] To begin with that which is God the Father's part, who being the first in order of persons, is the first covenanter. In the motioning of a thing, something is required and something promised.
(1.) See what is required then, and what charge is given to Christ. Help is laid upon the shoulders of Christ. It may be referred to two heads : —
(1st.) He was to do something by way of merit and impetration, that so he might satisfy the creatures' engagement, and merit the favour of God for them, which they had forfeited ; and there were divers steps in this. He was to divest himself of his glory, to strip
378 A rUACTICAL EXrOSITION UPON [IsA. LIII. 10.
himself of all appearances of the Godhead. And therefore he is said to be employed as an instrument and servant in the execution of God's decrees. Hence it is said, Isa. liii. 2, ' He shall fjjrow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a diy ground, havinuj no form nor comeliness.' Before him ; that is, before God the Father : ver. 11, 'By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many : ' Isa. xlii. 1, 'Behold my servant, whom I uphold.' To this end he was to take a body : Heb. x. 5, 'A body hast thou prepared me.' And to take flesh of a woman ; and therefore it is said, (ial. iv. 4, ' God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.' He was to take an office of service and obedience, and then to work all our works for us. It is said he was made under the law, subjected to the first covenant of works. He was to be holy, and harmless, and undefiled, to be exercisc^l with divers sulferings, re]iroaches, and injuries; therefore called ' a man of sorrows,' Isa. liii. 3. And it became God in this regard to make the captain of our salvation perfect throngh sufferings. Then at length to humble himself to the very death, and in great consternation and agonies to lay down his life, and to ]X)ur out his soul as an offering for sin : and all by the command of the Father ; that is, by the charge laid upon him by God. And thus far the merit. He left his glory, taking our nature, our works, our dei)ts upon himself, and subjected himself to the wrath of God the Father, that he might make an atonement for the sins of the world, sufficient for all mankind.
(2dly.) God gave him something touching the application of his merit. God gave in the names of divers persons, anil bade him have a care over them. Therefore it is said, John x. 3, ' He calletli his own sheep by name.' He hath such a special care over them, as if every distinct name were given unto him, and there were a charge committed to him to have a care of that soul. And the elect of the Father are said to be given to Christ : John xvii. 6, ' Thine they were, and thou gavest them me.' Now what was he to do to them, i.e., to those of the world whom God had chosen as his ? He was to enlighten them ; he was to bring them into covenant with himself by enlightening them. God saith of Christ, Isa. xlii. G, ' I will give thee for a covenant of the ])eople, for a light to the Gentiles ; ' that is, to shine in upon them in the darkness of their natural estate, to bring them home to himself : John vi. 37, ' All that the Father giveth me shall come to me: and them that come to me I will in no wise cast out.' And the reason is given in the next verse ; it is ' the will of my Father.' And then he was to comfort them by the glad tidings of salvation : Lsa. Ixi. 1, 'The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek : he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to ])roclaim comfort to all that mourn, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening the prison to them that are bound.' And after this to bear with their weakness and waywardness ; for that is a part of his charge : Isa. xlii. 3, 'A brui.sed reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench.' Lovingly to bear with the ignorance and weaknesses of his children, and sup])ly all their diifects by his ^i)irit and .strength : Isa. xl. 11, ' He shall leed his ff(H;k like a shepherd ; he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in