2._____ The Son of God, the second person in the Holy Trinity, being
very and eternal God, the brightness of the Father's glory, of one substance
and equal with him who made the world, who upholdeth and governeth all
things he hath made, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon
him man's nature, with all the essential properties and common infirmities
thereof, yet without sin; being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb
of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit coming down upon her: and the power
of the Most High overshadowing her; and so was made of a woman of the tribe
of Judah, of the seed of Abraham and David according to the Scriptures;
so that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined
together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion;
which person is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only mediator
between God and man.
(
John
1:14; Galatians
4;4; Romans
8:3; Hebrews
2:14, 16, 17;Hebrews
4:15; Matthew
1:22, 23; Luke
1:27, 31, 35; Romans
9:5; 1
Timothy 2:5 )
3._____ The Lord Jesus, in his human nature thus united to the divine,
in the person of the Son, was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit
above measure, having in Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge;
in whom it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell, to the end
that being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth, he might
be throughly furnished to execute the office of mediator and surety; which
office he took not upon himself, but was thereunto called by his Father;
who also put all power and judgement in his hand, and gave him commandment
to execute the same.
(
Psalms
45:7; Acts
10:38; John
3:34; Colossians
2:3; Colossians
1:19; Hebrews
7:26; John
1:14; Hebrews
7:22; Hebrews
5:5; John
5:22, 27; Matthew
28:18; Acts
2:36 )
4._____ This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake, which
that he might discharge he was made under the law, and did perfectly fulfil
it, and underwent the punishment due to us, which we should have borne
and suffered, being made sin and a curse for us; enduring most grievous
sorrows in his soul, and most painful sufferings in his body; was crucified,
and died, and remained in the state of the dead, yet saw no corruption:
on the third day he arose from the dead with the same body in which he
suffered, with which he also ascended into heaven, and there sitteth at
the right hand of his Father making intercession, and shall return to judge
men and angels at the end of the world.
(
Psalms
40:7, 8; Hebrews
10:5-10; John
10:18; Gal
4:4; Matthew
3:15; Galatians
3:13; Isaiah
53:6; 1
Peter 3:18; 2
Corinthians 5:21; Matthew
26:37, 38; Luke
22:44; Matthew
27:46; Acts
13:37; 1
Corinthians 15:3, 4; John
20:25, 27; Mark
16:19; Acts
1:9-11; Romans
8:34; Hebrews
9:24; Acts
10:42; Romans
14:9, 10; Acts
1:11; 2
Peter 2:4 )
5._____ The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself,
which he through the eternal Spirit once offered up unto God, hath fully
satisfied the justice of God, procured reconciliation, and purchased an
everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the
Father hath given unto Him.
(
Hebrews
9:14;Hebrews
10:14; Romans
3:25, 26; John
17:2; Hebrews
9:15 )
6._____ Although the price of redemption was not actually paid by Christ
till after his incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefit thereof
were communicated to the elect in all ages, successively from the beginning
of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices wherein he
was revealed, and signified to be the seed which should bruise the serpent's
head; and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, being the same
yesterday, and to-day and for ever.
(
1
Corinthians 4:10;Hebrews
4:2; 1
Peter 1:10, 11; Revelation
13:8; Hebrews
13:8 )
7._____ Christ, in the work of mediation, acteth according to both natures,
by each nature doing that which is proper to itself; yet by reason of the
unity of the person, that which is proper to one nature is sometimes in
Scripture, attributed to the person denominated by the other nature.
(
John
3:13; Acts
20:28 )
8._____ To all those for whom Christ hath obtained eternal redemption,
he doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same, making
intercession for them; uniting them to himself by his Spirit, revealing
unto them, in and by his Word, the mystery of salvation, persuading them
to believe and obey, governing their hearts by his Word and Spirit, and
overcoming all their enemies by his almighty power and wisdom, in such
manner and ways as are most consonant to his wonderful and unsearchable
dispensation; and all of free and absolute grace, without any condition
foreseen in them to procure it.
(
John
6:37;John
10:15, 16;John
17:9; Romans
5:10; John
17:6; Ephesians
1:9; 1
John 5:20; Romans
8:9, 14; Psalms
110:1; 1
Corinthians 15:25, 26; John
3:8; Ephesians
1:8 )
9._____ This office of mediator between God and man is proper only to
Christ, who is the prophet, priest, and king of the church of God; and
may not be either in whole, or any part thereof, transferred from him to
any other.
(
1
Timothy 2:5 )
10.____ This number and order of offices is necessary; for in respect
of our ignorance, we stand in need of his prophetical office; and in respect
of our alienation from God, and imperfection of the best of our services,
we need his priestly office to reconcile us and present us acceptable unto
God; and in respect to our averseness and utter inability to return to
God, and for our rescue and security from our spiritual adversaries, we
need his kingly office to convince, subdue, draw, uphold, deliver, and
preserve us to his heavenly kingdom.
(
John
1:18; Colossians
1:21; Galatians
5:17; John
16:8; Psalms
110:3; Luke
1:74, 75 )