2. The next object is Jesus Christ at his right hand. This is the second object in the text. Let us a little consider what this importeth. Properly speaking, God hath neither right hand nor left, for he is a spirit. It is a metaphor, therefore, which must be explained by the manner of earthly kings, who place those whom they highly esteem and honour on their right hand ; as Solomon did his mother in a chair of state on his right hand, 2 Kings ii. 19 ; and also such whom they put in chief authority and trust next themselves, as the mother of Zebedee's children made suit to Christ that her two sons might sit, one at the right hand, the other at the left of Clirist iu his kingdom, Mat. XX. 21. She falsely imagined it to be an eaithly kingdom, accompanied with worldly honour ; and therefore the purport of her request was, that her two sons might have the highest places of authority and profit under Christ, and next to Christ in his kingdom. So Christ's sitting at the right hand of God notetli the esteem he hath with God, and his being exalted to the highest degree of glory, and majesty, and authority, and honour, next himself. Pirst, let us see the things imported by it ; secondly, the ends of it.
[1.] The things imported by it
(1.) His great esteem with God, which is a ground of confidence ; for we have a friend in heaven, as David had Jonathan in Saul's court, to give him notice of danger, and to prevent displeasm'e from breaking
SERMON UPON ACTS YII. 55, 56. 75
out against him. Surely to have a friend in the court of heaven is a great privilege ; one who taketh up all differences between God and us, and answereth all accusations of Satan and his instruments, and preventeth wrath from breaking out upon us : 1 John ii. 1, ' If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the right- eous.' We should not abuse it to wantonness and wilful sinning : yet it is a comfort against failings, and also against the clamours and reproaches of the world, that we have an advocate and witness on high: ' My witness is in heaven,' saith Job.
(2.) The glory and majesty which is put upon him, next to God, more than any creature is capable of, by virtue of the unspeakable union between the two natures. Crowned with glory and honour. He hath the fulness of grace and glory given to him, to dispense to his redeemed ones, Acts v. 31, which is a great comfort, to consider his personal endowments as God incarnate.
(3.) The authority and power that is put upon him. It is said, 1 Peter iii. 22, that ' he is gone into the heavens, and is on the right hand of God ; angels, authorities, and powers being made subject to him ; ' so that he hath the highest glory, the highest power. And Eph. i. 20, 21, 'God hath set him at his 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 in the world to come ; ' that is, not only above earthly potentates, who are his vicegerents, but heavenly powers, who are his messengers and instruments, whom he employeth for the defence and comfort of the godly : Heb. i. 14, * Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? ' and for the terror and punishment of his enemies; Ps. Ixviii. 17, ' The chariots of the Lord are seventy thousand, even thou- sands of angels. The Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.' Mark there, thousands of angels are but as his chariot con- veying him from heaven to earth. And mark, ' The Lord is among them ;' that is, God incarnate ; for he presently speaketh of his ascending up on high, and leading captivity captive, ver. 18. And among them in his holy place ; that is, in heaven. As at the giving of the law in mount Sinai, there were then, so they still attend on the propagation of the gospel. Now this is a great comfort to the godly when they are oppressed ; especially when the authorities and powers of the earth are employed against them, as they were in the apostles' time. So that we cannot utterly fail while Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
[2.] The ends for which Christ was exalted to sit at the right hand of God are, to perform the several functions of his mediatoi'ial office ; therefore in such high esteem, such majesty, such authority. His oftices are three — his prophetical, sacerdotal, and regal office ; which he doth by three solemn acts —
(1.) The effusion of his Spirit, to promote the ends of his prophetical office, convincing the world of the truth of his doctrine, and converting them by it. Therefore the first news we hear of Christ after his ascen- sion, as soon as he was warm in the mediatorial throne, was his pouring out the Spirit, Acts ii. And presently the virtue of it appeared ; three thousand souls were added to the church that day. And this is a pledge of what is continually dispensed. There is still a Spirit sent forth, to