Page:A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (John Ball).djvu/140

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128
A particular explication of the Covenant God made with Israel,

that Christ reserves himselfe to be a Mediatour of a better Testament. Heb. 8. 6. There is but one Mediatour true and spirituall, scil. Christ: but Moses was a Mediatour only typicall. The Mediation whereby men are truly and effectually united unto Christ, cannot fall upon any person who is not endued with infinite power and vertue, who is not God as well as man: but the Mediation of Moses was of this use, to shew what was the true manner of worshipping God, but did not inspire force and power to follow it, nor reconcile men to God, but propound those things, whence it might easily appeare, that there is need of another reconciliation.

Moses as an Israelite and part of that people with whom God made the Covenant, was comprehended under the one part confederate: but as he undertook the function of Mediatour imposed upon him of God, he was not now simply an Israelite, but a Mediatour interceding betwixt God and the people Israel, that he might be a more illustrious type of Christ; Moses was called in as a Mediatour on both parts: On Gods, when he called him up to receive the Law and all that message which God sent unto the people: on the peoples, when they desired him to receive the Law, and they would doe it. Deut. 5.5,27.Further, never was mortall man more neer unto God, to whom for this end he is said to appear face to face. He called Abraham friend, but Moses was Gods favourite. Againe, no man either in love, knowledge, authority so neere the people, which makes them idolize him unto this day. Moses thus constituted a Mediatour, did first as a Mediatour prevaile with God for the suspending of his justice, that it should not breake out upon the people for their failing in highest degrees in morall obedience. Exod. 24.4,5,6.Secondly, with the people he prevailed to bind them in Covenant unto God, and make profession of that obedience which the Lord did require and call for. Thirdly, he was never denied any thing from God, which was for the good of that people, though God denied some of his requests for himself: Deut. 9.18,
19,20,21.
and 10.10.
but what was needfull for the good of that people, specially spirituall and eternall, that was procured by the bloud and mediation of Christ blessed for ever.

Ezek. 16.8.The Law was given to one Nation, whom God did chuse to be his peculiar people, scil. Israel, with whom God entred into Covenant, and it became his. Psal. 147.19,20.He sheweth his Word unto Jacob: hisstatutes