Fifthly, God the Father pi'omiseth to Jesus Christ rule, dominion, and sovereignty, Ps. ii. 8, 9. This sovereignty and rule is promised to Jesus Christ in Isa. xl. 10, ' His arm shall rule for him.' ' He shall sit in judgment in the earth, and the isles shall wait for his law,' Isa. xlii. 4- — not the Jews only, but the Gentiles also, the people of divers countries and nations shall willingly and readily receive and embrace his doctrine, and submit to his laws, and give up themselves to his rule. Micah iv. 3, ' He shall judge among many nations,' that is, rule, order, command, and direct as a judge and a ruler among many nations. The conquests that Christ shall gain over the nations shall not be by swords and arms, but he shall bring them to a voluntary obedience and spiritual subjection by his Spirit and Gospel : John iii. 35, ' The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand,' that is, God the Father hath given the rule and power over all things in heaven and earth to Jesus Christ. In carrying on the re- demption of sinners, as the matter is accorded betwixt the Father and the Son, so the redeemed are not left to themselves, but are put under Christ's charge and custody, who has ' purchased them Avitli his blood,' God the Father having given him dominion over all that may contri-
VERY CLEARLY AND LARGELY OPENED. 383
bute to help or hinder his people's happiness, that he may order them so as may be for their good. And this power he hath as God with the Father, and as man and mediator by donation and gift from the Father, Mat. xxviii. 18, and ii. 3 ; and thus every believer's happiness is most firm and sure, all things being wisely and faithfully transacted between the Father and the Son. As long as Jesus Christ has all power to defend his people, and all wisdom and knowledge to guide and govern his jDCople, and all dominion to curb the eneniies of his people, and a commission and charge to be answerable for them, we may roundly conclude of their eternal safety, security, and felicity, Col. i. 19, and ii. 1. But,
Sixthly, God the Father promiseth to accept ofJesics Christ, in his mediator!/ office, according to that of Isaiah, ' Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord,' Isa. xlix. 5 ; that is as if he had said, notwithstanding the infidelity, obstinacy, and impenitency of the greatest part of the Jews, yet my faithful labour and diligence in the execution of my mediatory office is, and shall be, greatly accepted, and highly esteemed of by my heavenly Father. Artaxerxes, the king of Persia, lovingly accepted of the poor man's present of water, because his good will was in it, and put it into a golden vessel, and gave him the vessel of gold, accounting it the part of a truly noble and generous spirit to take in good part small presents ofiered with a hearty aflection. Oh, how much more will God the Father kindly accept of Jesus Christ in his mediatory office : ver. 7, ' Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers. Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.' i God the Father, comforting of Christ, teUs him that though he were contemptible to many, yea, to the nation of the Jews, and used basely, like a servant, by their princes, Herod, Annas, Caiaphas, and Pontius Pilate, yet other kings and princes should see his dignity and glory, and submit to him, and honour him as the Saviour and Redeemer of the world. God the Father chose Jesus Christ to be his servant, and to be a mediator for his elect ; he designed him to that office of being a Saviour, both to the Jew and Gentile, and accordingly he accepted of him, ' Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee ; and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritage.' Here you see that God the Father still goes on to speak more and more comfortably and encouragingly to Jesus Christ ; for he tells him that he will be at hand to hear, and help, and assist him ; and he tells him that he will preserve him, both in his person, and in the execution of his office ; and he tells him that he will accept of his person, and of his services, and of his suits and intercession for himself and his people. So Mat. iii. 17, ' And, lo, a
1 Jerome saith that the Jews cursed Christ in their synagogues three times a day. Tliey so greatly abhorred the name Jesus that they would not pronounce it ; but if they did unawares happen to pronounce it, then they would punish themselves with a blow on their faces, &c.
384 THE COVENANT OF REDEMPTION
voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased/ The voice from heaven was doubtless the voice of his Father, in that he saith, ' This is my beloved Son,' my natural Son, by eternal and incomprehensible generation, and therefore dearest to me, and most acceptable with me; my judgment is satisfied in him, my love is settled upon him, and I have an inestimable value for him; and therefore I cannot but declare my approbation and acceptation both of him and his work. I am well pleased in him, I am infinitely pleased in him, I am only pleased in him, I am at all times pleased in him, I am for ever pleased in him ; I am so well pleased in him, that, for his sake, I am fully appeased with all them whom ' I have given him, and who come unto him,' John vi. 37-40.1 But,