OF THE NAME IESVS

Bvt, that it may the better bee vnderstoode, that by the name, Jesus, the office of the Sonne of GOD the Mediatour is designed, these foure questions are to be considered.

1 What is signified by the word Jesus.
2 From what euils he saieth or deliuereth.
3 How he saueth.
4 Whom he saueth.

1 WHAT THE NAME IESVS SIGNIFIETH

Iesvs is an Hebrewe worde, which signifieth a Sauiour and authour of safetie. This etymon or originall signication of this woorde is assigned by the Angel, Mat. 1.21. Luc. 1.31. The Sonne of God therefore is called IESVS in respect of his office, by an excellencie. For hee alone saueth from euils most perfectly, whether wee respect the number, or the degree. For hee performeth our deliuerie from all euils, and that such as is not onelie begunne, but also consummated.

¹1 Now that the Soone of GOD onelie is that Sauiour, is shewed by the places of Scripture following, John. 3.18. He that beleeueth not in the Sonne is alreadie condemned. Acts, 4.12. There is not saluation in anie other, for among men there is giuen no other name vnder heauen, whereby wee must bee saued. Romans. 5.19. By the obedience of one shall manie bee made righteous. 1. Tim. 2.5. There is one God, and one Mediatour betweene God and man, which is the man Christ Jesus. 1. Iohn. 5.11. God hath giuen vnto vs eternal life, and this life is in his Sonne.

Obiection. The Father and the holie GHOST also are Sauiours: Therefore not the Sonne alone. And so contrarie; The Sonne alone is Sauiour: Therefore not the Father, nor the holie GHOST. Aunswere, It is a fallacie affirming that to bee simplie so, which is in some respect so. For first, The Sonne alone saueth, namely, as Mediatour, by his merite and efficacie. The Father saueth, as the fountaine of our deliuerie: Because hee sendeth the Sonne into fleshe, by him to deliuer vs; but the Father himselfe is not sent. The holie Ghost saueth; as an immediate effectour or worker of regeneration sent from the Father by the Sonne into the heartes of the chosen. Wherefore this efficacie or effectuall woorking it selfe, is common to all three persons: yet the order and manner of woorking is different, and appropriate to eache. But the Ransome, the Sonne onely hath paied. Secondly, The Sonne is called the onelie Sauiour, in respect of the creature, to whom hee is opposed, and from whom hee is discerned; that is, from the woorke of saluation, not the Father and the holy Ghost, but the creatures onely are excluded. For no creature deliuereth from sinne and death. So 1. Corinth. 2.16. it is saide, The thinges of god knoweth no man, but the Spirite of god: But it followeth not hereof, that the Father and the Sonne knowe not themselues. For the Spirite in that place is compared with the creature, not with the Father and the Sonne. Replie. But there haue beene manie Sauiours of the people, and some of them also called by the same name, as Iosua. Therefore not CHRIST onelie is Sauiour. Aunswere. Other were termed Sauiours, but in a most diuers respect. First, Because they carried a type of this IESVS as our true, onelie, and designed Sauiour by GOD. Nowe albeit the Patents of Iosua when they gaue him this name, coulde not so much as suspect, that by him shoulde come the deliuerie of the people of Israell: yet was it decreed with GOD from euerlasting that hee, as also others, shoulde bee a type of the onelie Mediatour and Sauiour. Wherefore by his secrete and vnknowen prouidence hee so mooued and ruled his Parentes willes, that they shoulde call him Iosua. Secondlie, GOD by them bestowed onelie corporall, and temporall benefites, vpon the Israelites. But by this Jesus he saueth all the chosen dispersed through the whole world, from all euils both of bodie and soule, from sinne and death euerlasting. Thirdly, Christ is the author of all good things both temporal and eternall, and these he by his owne efficacie bestoweth on whom he will: They were onelie instruments and ministers, by whom Christ gaue safety and benefites temporal to the people.

²2 Moreouer that this Jesus is the perfect Sauiour, and doth most perfectlie deliuer vs from all euils, these places testifie. Col. 2.9. In him dwelleth all the fulnes of the godhead bodilie: And verse 10. Yee are compleat in him: that is, Christ is that one and perfect God, the fountaine of all knowledge and good: therefore he is sufficient for your saluation; he who hath Christ, cannot bee ignoraunt or want any of those thinges which are necessarie to eternal blessednes, neither hath any need to aske them elsewhere. 1. John. 1.7. The bloud of Jesus Christ clenseth vs from all sin. Hebr. 7.25. Christ is able perfectlie to saue them that come vnto God by him, seeing he euer liueth to make intercession for them.

³Hereof in the 30. question of the Catechisme, is inferred a notable consequence against the Papists, who couple their owne woorkes and the intercessions of Saintes with Christes merite and intercession: namely, that they indeede spoile and robbe Jesus of this glorie, whereby hee is the perfect and onelie Sauiour. Which is also true of them, who seeke for but the least iot of saluation or felicitie in themselues, or other thinges without Christ. The collection is this. He is the perfect and onelie Sauiour, who bestoweth saluation neither iointlie with others, nor in part onelie, but full, intire, and whole. But this Jesus, the sonne of Marie, is that Sauiour, which is the onelie and perfect Sauiour, whereof demonstration hath beene made a little before. Wherefore hee bestoweth saluation neither iointlie with others, neither part thereof onlie, but he alone performes the whole: and by a consequent, they who ioine moe intercessours with Jesus, or craue and expect anie part of saluation elsewhere, doe indeede denie the onelie Sauiour Jesus.

Obiection. To pray for others is to make intercession. God will that one should pray for another, as the Saintes, for Saintes; Therefore he will that one make intercession for another. And by a consequent, the glorie of Christ is not impeached, if the intercessions of Saints be adioined vnto his intercession. Answere. There is an ambiguitie, both in the woorde Praier, and in the word Intercession. God wil that one pray and make intercession for an other: But this they must doe, not standing on the worthines of their owne intercession and merites: but on the worthines of the intercession and merites of the onely Mediatour Christ. Christ maketh intercession for vs, because he prayeth, will, and obtaineth, and effectuateth it himselfe, that for his owne sacrifice and prayers wee may bee receiued of God the father into fauour, and bee reformed according to his image. Christ therefore maketh intercession for vs by the vigour and vertue of his owne proper worthines and merite; for his own worthines be is heard, and obtaineth what be desireth. After this sort doe not the Saints make intercession one for another. Wherefore seeing the Papists faigne that the Saintes doe by their owne merites and praiers, obtaine for others grace and certain good thinges at Gods handes, they manifestly derogate from the glorie of Christ, and denie him to bee the onelie Sauiour.

2 From what euils he saueth vs

He deliuereth vs from all, euils of all both crime,⁴ and paine, most fullie and perfectly. Math 1.21. He shal saue his people from their sinnes. 1. Iohn. 1.7. The bloud of Jesus Christ clenseth vs from all sinne, that is, that it may not bee imputed vnto vs, and that it may not raigne in vs, but bee abolished, and so wee at length leaue off to sinne. Wherefore also hee deliuereth vs from all paine, and punishment. For the cause being taken away, which is sinne, the effect is taken away, which is punishment. Rom. 8.1. Now then there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. Iohn. 10.28. I giue vnto them eternall life. The saluation then, which this our Sauiour Iesus Christ bringeth vs, is righteousnes and life euerlasting. Dan 9 24. Seuentie weeks are determined to finish the wickednes, and to seale vp the sinnes. and to reconcile the iniquitie, and to bring in euerlasting righteousnes. 1. Cor. 1.30. He is made vnto vs wisedome, righteousnes, sanctification, and redemption.

3 How he saueth

He saueth vs after two sorts: First, by his merite, that is, yeelding a sufficient punishment or satisfaction for our sinnes,⁵ whereby hee hath merited for vs remission of sinnes, reconciliation with God, the holy Ghost, saluation and life euerlasting. Vnto this beare many places of holy Scripture witnesse in plentifull sort. 1. John. 2.2. If anie man sinne, wee haue an Aduocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the iust. And hee is the reconciliation for our sinnes: and not for ours onelie, but also for the sinnes of the whole woorld. Rom. 3.25. Whom God hath set forth to be a reconciliation through faith in his bloud, to declare his righteousnesse by the forgiuenesse of sinnes. Rom 5 19. By the obedience of one manie shall bee made righteous. Isay. 53.5. Hee was wounded for our transgressions, hee was broken for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was vpon him, and with his stripes wee are healed. All wee like sheepe haue gone astraie, we haue turned euerie one to his owne waie; and The Lord hath laide vpon him the iniquitie of vs all. 2. Cor. 5.21. Hee hath made him to be sinne for vs, which knewe no sinne, that we should be made the righteousnesse of God in him. Gal. 3.13. Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the lawe; when he was made a curse for vs; that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, that wee might receiue the promise of the spirite through faith. Gal. 4 4. God sent forth his sonne made of a woman and made vnder the lawe, (that is, made an execration or curse, Gal. 3.13. For we are deliuered not from the obedience, but from the curse of the lawe) that hee might redeeme them which were vnder the lawe, that we might receiue the adoption of the sonnes. Heb. 9.14. How much more shall the bloud of christ, which through the eternall spirite offered himselfe without spot to god, purge your conscience from dead woorkes to serue the liuing god? Heb. 10.10. By the which will we are sanctified, euen by the offering of the bodie of Jesus christ once offered. By these and verie many the like places of Scripture, it is manifest, that for Christes merite wee are not onely freed from punishment, the remission of our sinnes being obtained: but are also reputed righteous before GOD, adopted of him to bee his sonnes, blessed, endewed with the holy GHOST, sanctified, and made heires of euerlasting life.

Nowe this so great force and power fully and perfectly to deliuer vs,⁶ and further to bestowe most perfectly saluation on vs, the death and punishment of Christ (which is a most perfect merite) hath, first by the worthinesse of the person: because hee that suffered it, is God, Acts. 20.28. God hath purchased the church with his owne bloud. Hebrewes 9.14 which through the eternall spirite offered himselfe. Hereof therefore is it, that the obedience of the Sonne in punishment, or satisfaction, surpasseth the righteousnes and punishment or satisfaction of all the Angels, and is a sufficient price, and merite for so many and so great blessinges. Againe, it hath this force by the greetiousnesse of the punishment: because hee susteined the torments and feeling of GODS wrath for all the sinnes of the whole woorlde. Hee descended into hell. For hee suffered so great torments, that euen those who are euerlastingly damned, cannot sustaine so great and so sufficient afflictions, and tormentes, and therefore cannot satisfie the wrath and iustice of God.

Obiection. The sufficient punishment for sinne must needes bee eternall. But the punishment of CHRIST for our sinnes was not eternall. Therefore was it not sufficient, neither dooth it merite. Aunswere. The Maior hath not a sufficient enumeration: either it must bee eternall, as the reprobates punishment; or equiualent to eternall, as was the punishment of Christ, for the causes euen now specified.

Secondly, Christ saueth vs by his efficacie, power,⁷ & operation, whereby hee effectually applieth vnto vs his merited & deserued benefits, that is, 1. He iustifieth vs by imputing vnto vs that satisfaction, which he performed vnto the law for our sins. 2. He giueth vs by the ministerie of his word the holy ghost, by whom he worketh in vs both faith, whereby we appling Christs merite vnto our selues maie be assured of our iustification in the sight of god through the force thereof; & also conuersion, or the desire & loue of new obediēce, and so by his word & spirit he gathereth his Church. 3. He confirmeth this his collected & gathered Church, defendeth and preserueth it in this life against the force of Diuels and the world, and against all the corporal and spiritual assaultes of all enimies, euen to the end, so that not one of those, which are conuerted, perisheth. 4. And at length, their bodies being raised from the dead, he fullie deliuereth his church, aduanced vnto euerlasting life and glorie, from all sinne and euill. The efficacie therefore, whereby the sonne saueth vs, compriseth the whole benefit of our redemption, which hee bestowed on vs by faith through the vertue and woorking of his spirite. For what benefites he merited by his death, hee dooth not retaine them vnto him-selfe, but beestoweth them on vs. For saluation and life euerlasting (which him selfe had before) hee purchased, not for him-selfe, but for vs, as beeing our Mediatour.

⁸Hereby wee may vnderstand, that the giuing of the holie Ghost is a part of our saluation or deliuerie by Christ Jesus our Mediatour. For the holy Ghost is hee, by whom Christ effectually performeth this, which hee, beeing our intercessour with his Father, hath promised his Father in our behalfe, that is, hee teacheth vs, by illuminating our mindes with the knowledge of GOD and his diuine will; and regenerateth, or sanctifieth, and guideth, and establisheth vs, that we may begin the studie of holines, persist and profit therein, vntil sinne be fully abolished in vs; and sinne being abolished, death must also needs be abolished; which that hee might together with death destroy, Christ was sent of his Father into the woorlde. Of this efficacie or effectuall operation speake these places, Colos. 1.14. In the Sonne wee haue redemption through his bloud, the forgiuenesse of sinnes. Isai. 53.11. By his knowledge shall my righteous seruaunt iustifie manie. Iohn. 1.9. That was the true light, which lighteth euerie man that commeth into the world; that is, hee is the author and fountaine of all light, both naturall in all Angels and men, and spirituall in his elect and chosen. John. 5.21. As the Father raiseth vp the dead and quickeneth them, so the Sonne quickeneth whom hee will. Iohn. 15.26. I will send vnto you from the Father the spirite of truth. Matthew. 3.11. Hee that commeth after me, will baptize you with the holie Ghost, and with fire. Ephes. 4.8. When hee ascended vp on high, hee gaue giftes vnto men. Hee ascended that hee might fill all thinges. Luc. 10.22. No man knoweth who the Father is, saue the Sonne, and hee to whom the Sonne will reueile him. Iohn. 1.18. No man hath seene GOD at anie time: the onelie begotten Sonne, which is in the bosome of the Father, hee hath declared him. Matthew. 28 2. I am with you alway, vntill the ende of the woorld. Iohn. 14.18. I will not leaue you comfortles. Iohn. 10.28. My sheepe shall neuer perish, neither shall anie plucke them out of mine hand. 1. Iohn. 3.8. For this purpose appeared the Sonne of God, that hee might loose the woorkes of the Diuel. Iohn. 16.54 I will raise him vp at the last daie. Eph. 5.27. That he might make it vnto himselfe a glorious Church, not hauing spot or wrincle, or anie such thing.

4 Whom he saueth

He saueth all and onelie the elect and beleeuers,⁹ which haue beene, are, or shall bee, euen from the beeginning to the ende of the woorlde; and that both by his merite, and by his efficacie. For in them onely, which embrace the benefite of Redemption with a true faith, hath GOD his ende, euen his worship and glorie. Therefore vnto them onely it doth befall. Iohn. 3.16. GOD so loued the woorld, that hee hath giuen his onelie begotten Sonne, that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish, but haue euerlasting life. John. 17.20. I pray not for these alone, but for them also which shall beleeue in mee through their woorde, that they all maie bee one &c. John. 6.51. I am the liuing bread which came downe from heauen: if anie man eate of this bread, hee shal liue for euer. Ephesians. 1.4.12. Hee hath chosen vs in CHRIST, that wee shoulde bee holie and without blame before him in loue; and that wee shoulde bee vnto the praise of his glorie.