natural right founded in his having the same essence with the Father; for he was " in the form of God," that is, the true God, and also manifested and known as such; "and he thought it not robbery to be equal "with God;" that is, he believed in conformity to truth, that without any sacrilege or unjust usurpation, of the divine glory, he might openly profess equality with God, although, for good reasons, he concealed it for a time. He has also an acquired right, founded in his voluntary obedience, according to the covenant. "He became obedient-WHEREFORE God also hath "highly exalted him." "Will they deny," says Vigilius,*" that all these honours have been conferred the Lord Jesus Christ, on account of the me ❝ upon Let them read the He humbled him"self and became obedient unto death, even the death " of the cross: WHEREFORE God also hath highly "exalted him,' &c." XXXI. Christ himself is said to have sat down, because availing himself of his own right, he rests in peace, after having accomplished his labours; and because he takes, asserts, and vindicates the glory, to which he has an unquestionable title, and which is entirely his own; and, suitably to his celestial condition, magnificently displays it, for the glory of the Father, and the salvation of his people. XXXII. THE GLORY OF THE FATHER, which cannot be separated from that of the Son, is concerned in this matter." That every tongue should confess, "that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the "Father." Here the Veracity and Power of God shine forth, in the effectual and constant performance of the promise of Christ's sitting at his right hand;— Justice, in giving the recompence and glory that are due;-Grace, in the elevation of the human nature of Christ far above all Angels, and in the accomplishment of our salvation by that means. But this is not all. The Father cannot be honoured, nor recognised as a Father, by sinful men, but in the Son. Hence that expression of our Lord,-" that the Father may be glorified in the Son." It is the glory of God, not only to be known as eternal, perfect, powerful, the creator, the chief good, and the chief end of man, worthy of obedience and of worship; but also to be known, loved, and honoured, as the righteousness of a sinner,— as a God who justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies the guilty. Now this glory is given to God, only in the Son, humbled in the first instance, and then exalted. 66 XXXIII. But OUR SALVATION also depends on this point. 1st, The whole of this glory of our Head, redounds to our honour. Since Christ himself in all that belongs to him is our's, it follows of necessity, that his glory is our's. The Father " gave him to be the "Head over all things to the Church, which is his 66 body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all." These words, as has been judiciously observed by a celebrated Interpreter, are to be understood in this sense. He gave him as Head to the Church, that through him the Church might be placed above all things. The Church, I say, "which is his body," namely, given and joined to Christ, that he might quicken it, and live in it by his Spirit: "The fulness of Him "that filleth all in all;" that is, the fulness of God so that it may be filled, not merely by God, but also with God. The design is, that God may be all in the Church, and that it may not consist as now, of one part flesh, and another part spirit; one part living and another part dying; but that all things may be changed into incomprehensible glory and joy. Or the expression may denote the fulness, by which Christ himself is filled and completed; as the other members of the body tend to the perfection of the Head, and the glory of the Head cannot be separated from the glory of the members. It is the scope of the Apostle, to show that God exerts the same energy towards us, which he exerted in placing Christ at his right hand. And indeed, the eighth Psalmd leads us to this interpretation. What is there said respecting the Son of man, must be understood not only of Christ, but also of the Church; that is, of Christ as the Head, and of the Church as the body. Of the man respecting whom it might be said, that he was unworthy that God should visit him, it may be affirmed also, after it has pleased God to visit him, that he is crowned with glory and honour. Now this belongs to the body, as well as to the Head. As all things, therefore, must be subjected to the Son of man, the Head; so must all things be subjected likewise to the Son of man, the body. To the same effect is the following expression of Christ in the Apocalypse: "To him that overcometh, will I grant, "to sit with me in my throne, &c." An observation of Ludovicus de Dieu throws no small light on this passage. He remarks, that in Eastern countries the throne of a King is large and broad, like a splendid d Verses 5, 6, 7. • Rev. iii. 21. couch, elevated somewhat above the ground by supports, and adorned with tapestry; so that, beside the seat appropriated to the King, there are seats in the same throne, to be occupied by others, whom the King is desirous to honour. With this may be compared the curious remarks of John Baptist Tavernier, an eye-witness, regarding the seven thrones of the Great Mogul, and, in particular, that exceedingly large one, which was erected by Tamerlane.* XXXIV. 2dly, Amidst the glory to which he is advanced, he makes continual intercession for us; nor is it doubtful, that he is always heard. Solomon, after having caused his mother to sit at his right hand, assured her that none of her requests should be fruitless. And it is far more impossible that the prayers of Christ, who sits at the right hand of the Father, can prove ineffectual; for he upholdeth all things by the word of his power, and having, in the first place, by himself purged our sins, he then sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. The Apostle nobly inculcates this consolatory truth, in the eighth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews.h xxxv. 3dly, From his throne of glory, he will maintain the right of his people, and powerfully and succesfully defend their cause against all their enemies. "He "rules in the midst of his enemies."i" And in mercy "shall the throne be established; and he shall sit upon "it in truth, in the tabernacle of David, judging, "and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness." i Vain are the detestable machinations of ungodly men, Itiner. Part ii. lib. 2. cap. 8. f 1 Kings ii. 20. h Verses 1, 2. • Heb. i. 3. i Ps. cx. 2. Is. xvi. 5. See also Ps. vii. 8-10. xlv. 5—7. "He and of infernal demons, against the Church. "that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord "shall have them in derision." In spite of the impotent fury of sinners, and of devils, Jesus reigns, and shall reign for ever: he shall" put down all rule, and "all authority, and power.' "1 The Church also reigns in and with Christ; and sitting together with him in heavenly places, she looks down from on high with scorn, upon the vain wrath of her adversaries; and, Superior to their rage in every form, Treads on the clouds, contemns the bursting storm; "The LORD reigneth; he is clothed with majesty; "the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he "hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that "it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of "old; thou art from everlasting. The floods have lift"ed up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice," &c.m XXXVI. The consideration of this glory, by which our Lord Jesus Christ is now exalted far above all creatures, is also of great efficacy for striking TERROR into the hearts of the WICKED. Accordingly, it was announced by himself for this purpose, to the Jewish Council.n"The LORD reigneth," says the Psalmist ; "... Clouds and darkness are round about him. - - . Fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies Celsior exsurgit pluviis, auditque ruenteis Sub pedibus nimbos, et sæva tonitrua calcat. * Ps. ii. 4. m Ps. xciii. * Mat. xxvi. 64. comp. Is. ii. 10, 11, 19. Acts ix. 3, 4. |