BOOK I. declares the eternal counsel and distinct actual concurrence of the holy Trinity unto the work of redemption in the blood of Christ; with the covenanted intendment and accomplished end of God therein
Chapter I. treats in general of the end of the death of Christ, as it is in the Scripture proposed:— I. What his Father and himself intended in it. II. What was effectually fulfilled and accomplished by it:— 1. Reconciliation; 2. Justification; 3. Sanctification; 4. Adoption; 5. Glorification. III. A general view of the opposite doctrine
Chapter II. Of the nature of an end in general, and some distinctions about it:— I. The general distinction of end and means. II. Their mutual relation:— 1. In a moral sense; 2. In a natural sense. III. A twofold end noticed, viz.:— 1. Of the work; 2. Of the worker. IV. The end of every free agent is either that which he effects, or that for the sake of which it is effected. V. The means of two sorts, viz.:— 1. Such as have a goodness in themselves; 2. Such as have no goodness, but as conducing to the end. VI. An application of these distinctions to the business in hand.
Chapter III. considers, — I. The Father as the chief author of the work of our redemption; II. The acts ascribed to the person of the Father:— 1. The Father sending his Son into the world for the work of redemption:— (1.) By an authoritative imposition of the office of mediator upon him:— [1.] The purposed imposition of his counsel. [2.] The actual inauguration of Christ as mediator. (2.) By furnishing him with a fulness of all gifts and graces:— [1.] Christ had a natural all-sufficient perfection of his deity; [2.] He had a communicated fulness. (3.) By entering into covenant with him about his work:— [1.] With a promise of assistance; [2.] With a promise of success. 2. The Father laying upon him the punishment of sin.
Chapter IV. Of those things which, in the work of redemption, are peculiarly ascribed to the person of the Son:— I. His incarnation; II. His oblation; III. His intercession
Chapter V. The peculiar actings of the Holy Spirit in this business:— I. As to the incarnation of Christ; II. As to the oblation or passion of Christ; III. As to the resurrection of Christ
Chapter VI. The means used by the fore-recounted agents in this work:— I. The means used is that whole dispensation from whence Christ is called a Mediator:— 1. His oblation; 2. His intercession. II. His oblation not a mean good in itself, but only as conducing to its end, and inseparable from his intercession; as, — 1. Both intended for the same end; 2. Both of the same extent, as respecting the same objects; 3. His oblation the foundation of his intercession.
Chapter VII. contains reasons to prove the oblation and intercession of Christ to be one entire mean respecting the accomplishment of the same proposed end, and to have the same personal object:— I. From their conjunction in Scripture; II. From their being both acts of the same priestly office; III. From the nature of his intercession; IV. From the identity of what he procured in his oblation with what results from his intercession; V. From their being conjoined by himself, John xvii.; VI. From the sad consequence of separating them, as cutting off all consolation by his death.
Chapter VIII. Objections are answered, being a consideration of Thomas More’s reply to the former arguments for the inseparable conjunction of Christ’s oblation and intercession, viz.:— I. As to Christ being a double mediator, both general and special, alleged from 1 Tim. ii. 5, iv. 10; Heb. ix. 15. II. As to the tenor of Christ’s intercession, according to Isa. liii. 12; Luke xxiii. 34; John xvii. 21–23; Matt. v. 14–16; John i. 9. III. As to Christ being a priest for all in respect of one end, and for some only in respect of all ends, alleged from Heb. ii. 9, ix. 14, 15, 26; John i. 29; 1 John ii. 2; Matt. xxvi. 28.