WISDOM IN REDEMPTION BY THE PERSON OF CHRIST. 207
was not liis own, nor due unto him. And this being inconsistent with his o^vn divine nature, he performed it by taking our nature on him — making it his own. He descended as much beneath himself in his self-humiliation, as Adam designed to ascend above himself in his pride and self-exaltation.
The consideration of the divine gi-ace and wisdom herein the apostle proposeth unto us, Phil. ii. 6-8, " Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made him- self of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men ; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Adam being in the form — that is, the state and condition — of a servant, did by robljery attempt to take upon him the " form of God," or to make himself equal unto him. The Lord Christ being in the " form of God " — that is, his essential form, of the same nature with him — accounted it no robbery to be in the state and condition of God, to be " equal to him ; " but being made in the " fashion of a man," taking on him our nature, he also submitted unto the form or the state and condition of a servant therein. He had dominion over all, owed service and obedience unto none, being in the "form of God," and equal unto him — the condition which Adam aspired unto; but he condescended unto a state of absolute subjection and service for our recovery. This did no more belong unto him on his own account, than it belonged unto Adam to be like unto God, or equal to him. Wherefore it is said that he humbled himself unto it, as Adam would have exalted himself unto a state of dignity which was not his due.
This submission of the Son of God unto an estate of absolute and universal service is declared by the apostle, Heb. x. 5. For those words of the Psalmist, " Mine ears hast thou digged," or bored, Ps. xl. 6, he renders, " A body hast thou prepared me." There is an allusion in the words of the prophecy unto him under the law who gave up himself in absolute and 2:»erpetual service ; in sign whereof his ears were bored with an awl. So the body of Christ was prepared for him, that therein he might be in a state of alisolute service unto God. So he became to have nothing of his otun — the original state that Adam would have forsaken ; no, not [even] his life — he was obedient unto the death.
This way did divine wisdom find out and contrive, whereby more glory did arise unto the holiness and righteousness of God from his condescension unto universal service and obedience who was over all, God blessed for ever, than dishonour was cast upon them by the self- exaltation of him who, being in all things a servant, designed to be like unto God.
208 THE PERSON OF CHRIST.
2. Adam was poor in himself, as a creature must be. What riches he had m his hand or power, they were none of his own, they were only trusted with him for especial service. In this state of poverty he commits the robbery of attempting to be like unto God. Being poor, he would make himself rich by the rapine of an equality with God. This brought on him and us all, as it was meet it should, the loss of all that we were intrusted with. Hereby we lost the image of God — lost our right unto the creatures here below — lost ourselves and our souls. This was the issue of his attempt to be rich when he was poor.
In this state infinite wisdom hath provided for our relief, unto the glory of God. For the Lord Jesus Christ being rich in himself, for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich, 2 Cor. viii. 9. He was rich in that riches which Adam designed by robbery; for "he was in the form of God, and accounted it no robbery to be equal with God." But he made himself poor for our sakes, with poverty which Adam would have relinquished ; yea, to that degree that "he had not where to lay his head" — he had nothing. Hereby he made a compensation for what he never made spoil of, or paid what he never took. In this condescension of his, out of grace and love to mankind, was God more glorified than he was dishonoured in the sinful exaltation of Adam out of pride and self-love.
S. The sin of man consisted formally in disobedience ; and it was the disobedience of him who was every way and in all things obliged unto obedience. For man— by all that he was, by all that he had received, by all that he expected or was farther capable of, by the constitution of his own nature, by the nature and authority of God, with his relation thereunto — was indispensably obliged unto universal obedience. His sin, therefore, was the disobedience of him who was absolutely obliged unto obedience by the very constitution of his being and necessary relation unto God. This was that which rendered it so exceeding sinful, and the consequents of it eternally miserable ; and from this obligation his sin, in any one instance, was a total renunciation of all obedience unto God.