Firft, IAM to produce feveral Expofitions of this Place, which are liable to fuch Objections as feem not capable of a clear and just Answer. 6

SOME there have been who have fo far perverted the Meaning of thefe Words, as to infer from them, that immediately after the Day of Judgment there fhall be an End both of the Reign and Perfon of our Bleffed Saviour; and that when all Things fhall be fubdued unto the Son, the Son himself fhall be refolv'd into the Father, and cease to exift diftinctly from Him*. Which abfurd and impious Te net is fo far from having any Foundation in the Text, that it is clearly confuted by it. Since the Apoftle expreffly tells us, That when all Things fhall be fubdued unto the Son, the Son himself fhall be fubject unto the Father; which neceffarily implies, That the Son fhall then continue to exift, and be a diftinct Perfon from the Father, to whom he fhall be fubject.

9

FEW, God be thanked, have embrac'd an Opinion of fo dangerous a Ten

Marcellus of Ancyra, and his Followers.

dency

SERM.

VII, VIII

SERM

dency as this. But very many, of more fober and pious Sentiments, have thought VII, VIII this Text a fufficient Warrant to believe, that the Kingdom of Chrift as Man shall have an End. They willingly acknowledge, That Chrift as God fhall live and reign together with the Father for ever more; but they maintain, that at the Confummation of all Things, He fhall refign to the Father that plenary Power with which as Man he was invefted after his Refurrection. This is what they understand by his delivering up the Kingdom to God the Father. And this they fay the Apoftle well proves by his Citation from the Pfalmift, He must reign till be bath put all Enemies under bis Feet which Words feem to them to im ply that He fhall reign till then, and no longer. And this they fuppofe to be very much confirm'd by what the Apoftle adds at the xxvi1th Verfe, That when all Things fhall be fubdued unto the San, then hall the Son alfo himself be Jub ject unto him that put all Things under him That is, fay they, the Son fhall

T

be

SERM.

be fo intirely fubject unto the Father, as not to exercife any Authority with or under him; that God may be all in all, VIV

i.e. That the Government of the Univerfe may no longer be in the Hands of a Mediator, but that the Deity confifting of Three Perfons, Father, Son and Holy Ghoft, may order and tranfact all Things immediately by itself.

THIS is the most common Expofition of thefe Words; but there are fuch confiderable Objections against it, that I can hardly think it to be the true one. For,

VII, VIII

Firft, THERE feems to be very clear and full Evidence for the everlasting Duration of that Kingdom, in which our Lord was inftated after his Refurrection. There are feveral plain and exprefs Tef timonies of Scripture to this Purpose. The Pfalmift addreffing himfelf to the Son of God (P. XLV. 6, 7.) fpeaks thus; Thy Throne, O God, is for ever and ever, Heb i. a Sceptre of Righteousness is the Sceptre of thy Kingdom: Thou hast loved Righteoufress, and hated Iniquity; therefore God even thy God hath anointed thee with the

8,9.

SERM.

ix. 7.

3

Oil of Gladness above thy Fellows. The Prophet Ifaiah fpeaks thus concerning VII,VIII the Perpetuity of the Meffiah's Kingdom. Ifaiah Of the Increase of his Government and Peace there fhall be no End, upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with Judgment and with Juftice, henceforth even for ever. Agreeable to the Prediction of Ifaiah was the Vifion of Daniel, Who Dan. vii. Jaw in the Night-Visions, and behold one 13, 14. like the Son of Man came with the Clouds of Heaven, and came to the antient of Days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him Domi nion and Glory, and a Kingdom, that all People, Nations and Languages should Serve him; his Dominion is an everlasting Dominion which shall not pass away, and his Kingdom that which shall not be deftroy'd. The Angel Gabriel exprefs'd the fame Senfe in Terms not capable of be ing evaded, (Luke 1. 32, 33.) The Lord God, faith he, fhall give unto him the Throne of his Father David. And be Shall reign over the House of Jacob for

SERM.

12.

ever, and of his Kingdom there fhall be no End. Wherefore in diverfe antient Creeds to the Article concerning Chrift's coming VII,VIIL to Judgment at the End of the World, were added thefe Words, Whofe Kingdom fhall have no End; with Reference no doubt to this Text, And that Jefus Chrift is actually entred upon that everlafting Kingdom, which was promised to him by the Prophets, we learn from St. Paul, who tells us, That after he had Heb.x. offered one Sacrifice for Sins, he for ever fat down at the right Hand of God. And in his Epistle to the Ephefians he affures us, That God hath fet him at his own Ephef. i. right Hand in the Heavenly Places, far above all Principality and Power and Might and Dominion, and every Name that is named, not only in this World, but also în that which is to come. Accordingly the Creeds compos'd by the Councils of An- Socrat. tioch and Sirmium, about the middle of Ecc. Hift. the fourth Century, exprefs this Matter c. 19. & thus, Who fat down at the right Hand of the Father, and fhall come again at the End of the World to judge the Quick

and

20, 21.

Lib. 2.

c. jo.