West Port Experiment

The following are some passages from Scottish Presbyterian fathers on the Christological theme of our Lord’s mediatorial “stewardship.” Sublime:

“And if there be varieties of temperature of saints, some rough and stiff, some mild, some old men, and some babes, 1 John 2:13. And as there be some lambs, some fainting, weak and swooning tender things, that Christ feeds like kings’ sons, with wine of heaven: so there be others that are under the care of the steward Christ, who are heifers and young bullocks, like Ephraim not well broken yet, Jer.31:18, 19 and there be hoping and waiting saints, that must bear the yoke in their youth, Lam. 3:26, 27 and sundry kinds and sizes of children; every one must have their own portion and diet, 2 Tim.2:15; Mat. 24:45. One man’s meat is another’s poison, and yet they are both the sons of one Father.”

-Samuel Rutherford, Christ’s Dying and Drawing Sinners to Himself

“You have cause to hold up your heart in remembrance and hope of that fair long summer day, for in this night of your life, wherein you are in the body absent from the Lord, Christ’s fair moon-light in his word and sacraments, in prayer, feeling, and holy conference, hath shined upon you to let you see the way to the city. I confess our diet here is but sparing; we get but tastings of our Lord’s comforts; but the cause of that is not because our steward Jesus is a niggard, and narrow-hearted, but because our stomachs are weak, and we are narrow-hearted. But the great feast is coming, and the chambers of them made fair and wide to take in the great Lord Jesus . Come in, then, Lord Jesus to hungry souls gaping for thee!”

-Samuel Rutherford, Letters

“There is one thing more specially to be considered, according to these texts, belonging to the nature of this covenant, viz. that the party contractor on man’s side is the administrator of the covenant: The last Adam was made a quickening Spirit. As Christ was God he could not fail in the performance of his engagement; and therefore God took his single bond for sufficient security; and thereupon he was made administrator of the covenant, Matth. xxviii. 18. He entered on this office at the beginning, and intimated the covenant to fallen Adam in paradise, Gen. iii. 15. and will continue in that office till the last elect soul be brought in. The treasure put into his hand is the promises of the covenant, which are the reward of his own obedience and death. Col. i. 9. Hence he bequeaths all the promised benefits by testament, and lives to bo the executor of it. There is a fulness of the Spirit lodged in him, to be communicated to the elect dead in sins; and he is made a life-giving head unto them, John i. 4. Eternal life was lodged in him, 1 John v. 11.; and it is communicated by him, John xvii. 2. as the great trustee and steward of heaven. In the faith of this, Adam called his wife Life, or an Enlivener, Gen. iii. 20. No wonder he should be called the covenant itself, Isa. xlii. 6. since he is the head of the covenant, unto whom the elect are joined unto God in covenant, the condition of the covenant was performed by him, and the Father has put the promises of the covenant in his hand. This is good news to men, that the promised life is in the hands of the Mediator, who is of our flesh and bone.”

-Thomas Boston, Of the Covenant of Grace

“Sinners may have part with Christ in his fulness; it is lodged in him to be communicated. Hence our Lord himself says, Matth. xi. 27, 28, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He is the bowl on the top of the candlestick, (Zech. iv. 2.) the immediate receptacle of the oil, from whence it is conveyed to the seven lamps. Joseph was sent to Egypt, and exalted there, to provide for Jacob’s family in the dearth: so Christ is great Steward of heaven, for the behoof of poor sinners; that he having all in his hand, they may be happy in having part with him.”

-Thomas Boston, “The Mystery of Sanctification by Christ”

“That it belongs to him, and to him alone, to distribute that fulness: John v. 22, “For the Father jndgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” He is the great steward of the fulness of God. The keys hang at his girdle. Never any soul was filled, but whom he filled. The Father directs the hungry soul to his Son: Matth. xvii. 5, ” This,” says he, “is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him.” The Spirit points you to Christ. And Christ is saying to you what Joseph said to his Father and brethren: Gen. xlv. 9—11, ” Haste you, and go up to myfather, and say unto him. Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made the lord of all Egypt; come down unto me, tarry not. And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou and thy children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast. And there will I nourish thee, (for yet there are five years of famine), lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.”

-Thomas Boston, “God’s Gracious Call and Precious Promise Considered”

“And Paul saith, Phil. iv. 13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” So that Christ is our head of influence and store keeper.— The stock of our grace and strength, since Adam’s fall and mismanagement, is all put in Christ’s hand; he is the great steward of heaven, the key of the store-house is in his custody, and on him we must daily depend for necessary supplies.”

-John Willison, Balm of Gilead