SECT. 18. | THE FATHER AND THE SON, 93
I shall a little invert the order of these things, that I may not have occasion to return again unto them after we are engaged in our more peculiar design. We may therefore, in the first place, consider the promises that in this compact or covenant were made unto the Son upon his undertaking this work, although they more naturally depend on the prescription of duty and work made unto him, But we may consider them as encouragements unto the sus- ception of the work. And these promises were of two sorts:—(1.) Such as concerned his person ; (2.) Such as concerned the prosperity of the work which he undertook. Those also which concerned his person immediately were of two sorts:—[1.] Such as concerned his assistance in his work; [2.] Such as concerned his acceptance and glory after his work.
(1.) The person of the Son of God, not absolutely considered, but with respect unto his future incarnation, is a proper object of divine promises; and so was he now considered, even as an undertaker for the execution and establishment of this covenant, or as he became the minister of God to confirm the truth of the promises made after- wards to the fathers, Rom. xv. 8. And herein he had promises,—
[1.] As to his assistance. The work he undertook to accomplish, as it was great and glorious, so also it was difficult and arduous. It is known from the gospel what he did and what he suffered,—what straits, perplexities, and agonies of soul, he was reduced unto in his work. All this he foresaw in his first engagement, and thereon by his Spirit foretold what should befall him, Ps. xxii.; Isa. li; 1 Pet. i.11. Whatever opposition hell and the world,—which were to pre- vail unto the bruising of his heel,—could make against the Son of God acting in the frail nature of man, he was to encounter withal ; whatever the law and the curse of it could bring on offenders, he was to undergo it. Hence in that nature he stood in need of the pre- sence of God with him and of his divine assistance. This, therefore, was promised unto him; in respect whereunto he placed his trust and confidence in God, even the Father, and called upon him in all his distresses. See Isa. xlii. 4, 6; Ps. xvi. 10, 11, xxii, Ixxxix. 28; Isa. 1. 5-9. This God promised him, and gave him that assurance of, which at all times he might safely trust unto,—namely, that he would not leave him under his troubles, but stand by and assist him to the utmost of what had a consistency with the design itself whose execution he had undertaken.
[2.] Promises were given unto him concerning his evaltation, his kingdom, and power, with all that glory which was to ensue upon the accomplishment of his work. See Isa. li. 12; Ps. cx. 1, 6, ii. 8, 9; Zech. ix. 10; Ps. xxii. 8; Dan. vii. 14; Rom. xiv. 11; Isa. xly. 23; Phil. ii. 10. And these promises the Lord Christ had a
94 FEDERAL TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN [EXERC. XXVIII.
constant eye unto in his whole work; and upon the accomplishment of it, made his request, and expected that they should be made good and fulfilled,—as well he might, being made unto him and confirmed with the “oath of God,” Luke xxiv. 26; John xvii. 5; Heb. xii. 2. And these are an essential part of the covenant that he was en- gaged by.
(2.) The second sort of promises made unto him are such as concern his work, and the acceptance of it with God. By them was he assured that the children whom he undertook for should be delivered and saved, should be made partakers of grace and glory. See Heb. ii. 9-11, ete., and our Exposition thereon. And this is that which gives the nature of merit unto the obedience and suffering of Christ. Merit is such an adjunct of obedience as whereon a reward is reckoned of debt. Now, there was in the nature of the things themselves a proportion between the obedience of Christ the mediator and the salvation of believers. But this is not the next foundation of merit, though it be an indispensable condition thereof; for there must not only be a proportion, but a relation also, between the things whereof the one is the merit of the other. And the relation in this case is not natural or necessary, arising from the nature of the things them- selves, This, therefore, arose from the compact or covenant that was between the Father and Son to this purpose, and the promises wherewith it was confirmed. Suppose, then, a proportion in dis- tributive justice between the obedience of Christ and the salvation of believers (which wherein it doth consist shall be declared after- wards); then add the respect and relation that they have one to another by virtue of this covenant, and in particular that our salva- tion is engaged by promise unto Christ; and it gives us the true nature of his merit. Such promises were given him, and do belong unto this covenant, the accomplishment whereof he pleads on the discharge of his work, Isa. li. 10, 11; Ps. xxii. 30, 31; John xvii. 1, 4-6, 9, 12-17; Heb. vii. 26; Isa. xlix. 5-9; Ps. ii. 7; Acts xiii. 33.