members and representatives of the church; and the line of his descent is likewise clearly noted: First. In general terms, as the "seed of the woman." Second. Through the descendants of Shem. Third. From among those descendants, through the separated family of Abraham. Fourth. From that family, through Isaac. Fifth. Of the sons of Isaac, through Jacob. Sixth. Of the sons of Jacob, through Judah. Seventh. From the descendants of Judah, through the line of David; the sceptre being restricted to his line till Shiloh should appear.

THE

MEDIATORIAL WORK OF CHRIST.

CHAPTER I.

THE MEDIATORIAL WORK CONSIDERED AS COMPRISING THE CREATION AND GOVERNMENT OF ALL CREATURES.

1. A Mediator is one who interposes between different parties.

There may be such difference in the nature, rank, or character of the parties, as to preclude all communication except through a mediator. The office of a mediator implies a covenant or agreement in which he is contemplated as the medium of relations and in

tercourse.

2. There is nothing in the nature of this office to hinder one party from binding himself by the terms of a covenant and appointing a mediator, without the previous concurrence or existence even, of the other party. He may do it in anticipation of a state of things contemplated and provided for in the covenant; especially if the difference on account of which a Mediator is foreseen to be necessary, is a difference in nature, rank and character.

3. Thus in the counsels of eternity the persons of the adorable Trinity entered into a covenant, in virtue of which the second Person was appointed Mediator with reference to creatures to be brought into existence by him. He accepted, and undertook to fulfil all the conditions of the appointment. Psalm lxxxix ; Eph. i; Heb. i., ii., iii.

4. The work which He undertook, comprised the bringing into existence, preserving and governing all creatures visible and invisible: the manifestation of the Divine perfections to intelligent creatures; the redemption of lost men ; the vanquishment of Satan, and subjection of all things to himself.

5. There does not appear to be, in the nature of His office, anything inconsistent with such extent and variety of objects, supposing them to have been contemplated in the counsels and covenant which were to be fulfilled. The office of mediator as represented in the Scriptures, is not restricted to the reconciliation by atonement or otherwise, of disaffected parties. Thus Moses, on the occasion of a covenant being Imade with the Israelites at Mount Sinai: "I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to show you the word of the Lord: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire and went not up into the mount." Deut. v. The Apostle, referring to this transaction, Gal. iii., speaks of the part performed by Moses as that of a mediator.

6. There appears to be no impropriety in considering the mediation of Christ as having relation to holy

angels. Their holiness can be no objection; since their creation is ascribed to Him, and must therefore have been contemplated in the covenant in which His official work originated. Doubtless there was that in their nature as creatures, in their relations to their Creator, and in the condition of their being by which they were liable to apostacy, which rendered His mediation originally and forever necessary to them.

7. They are accordingly required to worship Him: they are employed in executing the measures of His mediatorial administration: they attend his person; and join the redeemed of the human race in ascriptions of glory to Him for His official work, and in songs and doxologies of praise in view of his victory over the powers of darkness, and his triumphant reign as mediatorial King.

8. In harmony with this view, the saints under the Gospel Dispensation, are represented as having come into immediate relationship with the whole spiritual family and kingdom of Christ :-the heavenly Jerusalem, an innumerable company of angels, the general assembly and church of the first born, God the Judge of all, the spirits of just men made perfect, and Jesus, the Mediator of the New or Gospel Covenant.

9. In the passage last referred to, the privileges of the saints under the New Covenant, are, for their encouragement, contrasted with those of the Israelites under the covenant announced from Mount Sinai. This naturally involved a contrast between coming to Jesus as the visible Mediator of the New, and coming