(1.) Consider, we have gone a great step to prove that it is the peculiar right of God, common to the three persons. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and this in effect proves that Christ may execute it, for 'they are one/ 1 John v. 7. They have one common nature; and as to the operations that are without, the divine essence is common to them all. So that as the creation of all things is equally attributed to all, so also this act of judging the world. So that it belongs to all, for they are all equal in being, power, and glory. But as yet the thing is not explained enough, unless we grant it shall be exercised by all, or else prove out of scripture that one person is ordained by mutual consent, chosen out by the rest to exercise it for himself and for the other. But this I have proved already, God is the judge. And at first, when the doctrine of the Trinity was but sparingly revealed to the church, and not openl}', it was not needful to inquire more nicely after it, but this general truth was sufficient. And Enoch, when he prophesied, doth not tell us of Christ the judge, but tells us, Jude 14, ' Behold the Lord cometli with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all,' &c. And David speaks to God, Ps. xciv. 2, 'Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth ;' and Ps. 1. 6, 'God is judge him- self.' It was enough to understand it so, without any distinction of the persons ; but when once this mysteiy was most certainly mani-
VeR. 10.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. 59
fested by Grocl manifest in our flesh, now we must inquire a little further.
(2.) I answer, There is an order in the persons of the blessed Trinity ; as in the manner of subsisting, so also there is a certain order and economy according to which all their operations are produced and brought forth to the creature, according to which order the power of judging doth belong partly to the Father and partly to the Son.
(Isf.) In the business of redemption. There the act of judging was exercised upon our surety, he was substituted into our room and place, and ottered himself not only for our good, but in our room and stead, to bear our punishment, and to procure the favour of God to us. There the act of judging belonged to the Father, to whom the satis- faction was tendered, and before whom our advocate and surety must plead and present himself ; therefore it is said, in 1 John ii. 1, ' We liave an advocate with the Father, even Jesus Christ the righteous.' Thus our advocate pleads before the Father as before the judge.
(2dli/.) As to the judgment to be exercised upon us. Whoever partakes of that salvation which was purchased by the surety, or have lost it by their negligence, impenitency. and unbelief, there the second person is to be judge. In the former the Son could not be our judge, for then he would be our judge and party too, and tlien the plea of tliose heretics would have more countenance of reason. In the busi- ness of redemption the Son could not judge, because he made himself a party for our good, and stood in our room and place, and the same party cannot give and take the satisfaction, that cannot be ; therefore this order is constituted in this glorious mystery of the Grodhead, that the satisfaction is tendered to the Father, he j-tleads and represents himself to the Father in our behalf. And the Holy Ghost cannot be the judge, for in this mystery he hath another part and function and office, he being the third person in order of subsisting.
(Sdly.) In the Son there is a double relation or consideration ; one as he is God, and the other as he is mediator ; the one natural and eternal, which shall endure for ever, the other which he took upon himself in time, and which in the consummation of time he shall at length lay aside. In the former respect, as God, so Christ is judge with the Father and Spirit, as by original authority ; but in this latter respect, as Christ is mediator, he is judge by deputation. The prim- itive sovereignty belongs to God as supreme king, and the judge by derivation and deputation is the Lord Jesus Christ, as mediator, in his manhood united to the second person of the godhead ; so the judg- ment of the world is put upon him. In regard of the creature, as to us, his authority is absolute and supreme ; but in regard of God it is deputed ; so he is ordained and appointed to be judge. The scripture delights much in this notion, John v. 27. He hath power of life and death, to condemn and absolve ; the Father hath given him authority, as he is the Son of man, Acts x. 42. The apostles, when they were to preach, thought it not enough for them to say, God is judge ; no, but, ' He is ordained of God to be judge of quick and dead ;' so Acts xvii. 31, ' He hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained.' In all which Christ acts as the Father's vicegerent. And after he hath thus judged