According to the ivorking whereby he is able even to subdue all things to himself.
The word that is translated ' working,' may and doth signify power; and so it was ti'anslated heretofore, and is to be [so] meant* {tld). But the words being plain, we will come to some observations.
Doit. 1. And first of all observe, TItat Christ hath a power able to subdue all tilings to himself ; and this he hath by virtue of his office of mediator- ship, and this in respect of God to reconcile and appease him. Secondly, In respect of opposite powers to overcome all of them. Thirdly, In respect of the persons to be saved, that he might free them from all ill, and raise them to all happiness ; and these things requires a power that must be above all created powers. For God could not be appeased but by an infinite price, the blood of one that is God. And we could not be defended from sin and hell^ — whose power is the gi'eatest of all finite power — but by a power beyond it ; and such a power as must regenerate and renew us, not- withstanding the opposite power of the devil, and our corruptions within us, which is a greater work than the work of our creation. And all this he hath done. ' He hath subdued him that had the power of death, the devil,' Heb. ii. 14. He hath subdued diseases and winds with a word, and with a word he smote his enemies to the ground. He hath subdued all ill of the body and mind, forgiving sins, opening our hearts, subduing our cor- ruptions, and death hath yielded to his power. ' 0 death, I wdll be thy death.'
Doct. 2. In the next place, as Christ hath this power, so he ivill use this power for the good of his saints ; and this he will do because whatever Christ is, he is for the good of his church. He is powerful, merciful, and loving for his church's sake. And secondly. Because our bodies do require it. For it must be an infinite power that makes the body of dust. And therefore though Christ was the Son of God, declared from the beginning, yet it was said he was mightily declared to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead, Kom. i. 4. For from a privation to a habitf there can be no regression by a natural course ; and therefore for our bodies to return from dust, must be by a supernatural infinite power of one that is God. Let those that are enemies to Christ Jiis members consider this. Against whom do ye strive ? even against the Almighty, who in his humiliation was able with a word to strike his enemies to the ground ; and now being in glory, how fearful and terrible should his power be to such ? who should learn betimes to kiss the Son, before they perish in the midway, Ps. ii. 12. And for his children, let them comfort themselves that are under the government of so powerful a majesty ; for he will bruise all their enemies under them. Nay, they are already all conquered. And let them consider of all his * That is, ' understood.' — G. t That is, ' a having.' — Ed.
PHILIPPIANS CUAP. Ill, VER. 21. 151
promises, and applj' them to his power. It is a powerful Saviour that said, ' Come to me, all you that are heavy laden, I will raise you up,' Mat. xi. 28. It is he that is able to subdtie all things to himself, that promises, ' My grace shall be sufficient for you,' 2 Cor. xii. 9. He is a prophet, to instruct fully; a priest, to satisfy God's wrath to the utmost; a king, to subdue all their coiTuptions. Thirdty, Let this encourmje us to set ourselves against our corruptions. Some there are that having a little strove with their lusts, and finding that they have not gotten any sensible ground against them, they as out of hope and heart sit down with this opinion, ' as good never a whit as not the better,'* and so j'icld up the bucklers. What a distrustful incredulous estate is this ! Is not he God that hath promised ? Is he not truth itself ? Hath he said, and shall it not come to pass ? Fear not these Anakims nor Canaanites. Depend on God in the use of the means, and let him alone with the performance of his promises. Fourthly, Despair of none, though never so iveak, so long as they use the means ; for Christ hath created all by his w^ord, he will raise us up by his word, and will change us by his word ; and by this word he is able to change others though never so obstinate. For so long as they are under the word and means, they are under the arms of an almighty power ; and therefore, if any be in our power, or if we wish well to any, we should persuade them to prize the word and to use the means. In the next place, this is a ground of trial cf our estates. Would we know whether we are of the number of those that shall be raised up hereafter and changed ? Then examine whether we have found this power changing us, and bringing us to gi-ace here ; for, Eph. i. 19, 20, the same power worketh in us to believe, that raised up Christ. Do we then find our understandings enlightened, our wills conformable to his will ? Do we find the strong- holds of sin in us rased, and new spirits, new thoughts, new desires in us? Oh, these are blessed evidences of Christ's almighty power in us, that will raise us up at the last day.