First, /or that he is so near to God by the personal union.
And in regard likewise, that all others hare allfrom^ him. Of his fulness we receive grace for grace, John i. 16. Ours is but a derivative fulness. His glory and shining is as the shining of the body of the sun ; ours as the light of the air, which is derived from the glory of the sun. Ours is but the fulness of the stream, and of the vessel, but the fulness of the fountain and of the spring is his. Thereupon he is called ' the head of the church,' Col. i. 18 ; the head is the tower of the body which hath all the five senses in it, and wisdom for the whole body. It seeth, heareth, understandeth, and doth all for the body ; baring influence into the other parts of it. So Chiist is above all, and hath influence into all his church, not only eminence, but influence.
What is excellent in the heavens ? The sun. So Christ is the ' Sun of righteousness,' Mai. iv. 2. The stars. He is the ' bright morning star,' Rev. xxii. 16. The light. He is the ' light of the world,' John ix. 5, Come to all creatures ; you have not any excellent amongst them but Christ is styled from it. He is * the lion of the tribe of Judah,' Rev. v. 5, the ' lily,' Cant. ii. 1, and the 'rose,' Cant. ii. 1, and 'the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world,' John i. 29, * the tree of Life,' &c., Rev. xxii. 2, There is not a thing necessary to nature, but you have a style from it given to Christ, to shew that he is as necessary as bread and water, and the food of Hfe, John vi. 35 ; John iv. 14. When we see light, therefore, think of the ' true light,' John ix. 5. When the sun, think of the * Sun of righteousness,' Mai. iv. 2. So remember ' the bread and water of life,' in our common food. Therefore the sacraments were ordained, that as we go to the sea by the conduct of rivers, so we might go to the sea of all excellency and goodness by the conduct of these rivers of goodness, to be led by every excellency in the creature, to that of our mediator Christ, who is ' the chiefest among ten thousand.'
To come more particularly to speak of his excellencies, omitting his two natures in one person, God and man ; that we may consider his offices, a
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king, priest and prophet. He being the chief in all these, so all good kings be- fore him were types of him, as also the prophets and priests. He was all in one. Never any before him was king, priest, and prophet, as he was king, priest, and prophet in one. So in every respect he was incomparable above all.
1. Such a kiiuf, as is king of kings ; and subdueth things unconquerable to all other kings, even the greatest enemies of all ; such a king as con- quered the world, death, hell, and sin, all things that are terrible. Death you know is called ' the king of fears,* because it terrifieth even kings themselves. Christ is such a king as takes away these terrible greatest ills of all ; such a king as rules over the soul and conscience, the best part of man, where he settles and stablisheth peace ; such a king as sets up his kingdom in our very souls and hearts, guides our thoughts, desires, actions, and affections, setting up a peaceable government there. So he is an incomparable king even in regard of that office. ' He is the chiefest often thousand ;' such a king as carries the government upon his own shoulders, as it is Isa. ix. 6. He devolves not the care to another, to make it as he hst and so be a cj'pher himself, but he carries all upon his own shoulder. He needs not a pope for his \'icar.
2. Again, as a imest, such a high priest as offered himself a sacrifice hy his eternal Spirit. He as God offered up his manhood. Such a priest as hath satisfied the wrath of God, and reconciled God to man. All other priests were but types of this pi'iest, who is such a priest as never dies, ' but lives for ever to make intercession for us in heaven,' by virtue of that sacrifice which he offered in the days of his flesh. He was both priest and sacrifice. Such a ' priest as is touched with our infirmities ;' so mild and gentle, full of pity and mercy. No priest to this priest. God only smelt a sweet smell from this sacrifice.
3. And for his prophetical office, he is a projyhet beyond all others. Such a one as can instruct the soul. Other men can propound doctrines, but he can open the understanding, and hath the key of the heart, the ' key of David which can open the soul,' Luke xxiv. 45 . By his Holy Spirit he can make the very simple full of knowledge, Prov. i. 4. Such a prophet as hath his chair in the very heart of man ; this great ' Bishop of our souls,' 1 Pet. ii. 25, * the Angel of the covenant,' that Aoyog, ' the messenger of the Father.' So he is 'the chief of ten thousand,' consider him as king, as priest, or as prophet.