2. The glory of the human nature of Christ differs from that of the saints after the resurrection, in things which concern the degrees of it. For, —
(1.) The glory of his body is the example and pattern of what they shall be conformed unto : " Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the work- ing whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself," Phil, iii. 21. Our bodies were made vile by the entrance of sin; thence they became brothers to the worms, and sisters unto corruption. To
246: THE PERSON OF CHRIST.
death and the grave, with rottenness and coiTuption therein, they are designed. At the resurrection they shall be new-framed, fashioned, and moulded. Not only all the detriment and disadvantage they received by the entrance of sin shall be removed, but many additions of glorious qualifications, which they had not in their primitive, na- tm"al constitution, shall be added unto them. And this shall be done by the almighty power of Christ, — that working or exercise of it whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself But of this state whereinto we shall be changed by the power of Christ, his own body is the pattern and example. A similitude of it is all that we shall attain unto. And that which is the idea and exemplar in any state, is the rule and standard unto all others. Such is the glory of Christ ; — ours consists in conformity thereunto ; which gives him the pre-eminence.
(2.) As the state of his body is more glorious than ours shall be, so will that of his soul in itself be made appear to be more excellent than what we are capable of. For that fulness of the Spirit without measure and of all grace, which his nature was capacitated for by vir- tue of the h3qDostatical union, doth now shine forth in all excellency and glory. The grace that was in Christ in this world is the same with that which is in him now in heaven. The nature of it was not changed when he ceased to be viator, but is only brought into a more glorious exercise now he is comprehensor. And all his graces are now made manifest, the veil being taken from them, and light com- municated to discern them. As, in this world, he had unto the most neither form nor comehness for which he should be desired, — partly from the veil which was cast on his inward beauty from his outward condition, but principally from the darkness which was on their minds, whereby they were disenabled to discern the gloiy of spiritual things ; (notwithstanding which, some then, in the light of faith, " beheld his glory, as the glory of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and trath ;) " — so now the veil is removed, and the darkness wholly taken away from the minds of the saints, he is in the glory of his grace altogether lovely and desirable. And although the grace which is in believers be of the same nature with that which is in Christ Jesus, and shall be changed into glory after the likeness of his ; yet is it, and always shall be, incomprehensibly short of what dwells in him. And herein also doth his glory gradually [greatly ?] excel that of all other creatures whatever.
But we must here draw a veil over what yet remains. For it doth not yet appear what we ourselves shall be ; much less is it evident what are, and what will be, the glories of the Head above all the members, — even then when we shall " be made like unto him.'' But it must be remembered, that whereas, at the entrance of this discourse,
MEDIATORIAL EXALTATION OF CHRIST. 247
we so proposed the consideration of the present state of the Lord Christ in heaven, as that which should have an " end at the consum- mation of all things;" what hath been spoken concerning the glory of his human nature in itself, is not of that kind but what abideth unto eternity. All the things mentioned abide in him and unto him for evermore.
II. The second thing to be considered in the present state and con- dition of Christ is his mediatory exaltation. And two things with respect thereunto may be inquired into : 1. The way of his entrance into that state above ; 2. The state itself, with the glory of it.
1. The way of his entrance into the exercise of his mediatory office in heaven is expressed, 1 Tim. iii. 16, He was " received up into glory," or rather gloriously ; and he entered " into his glory," Luke xxiv. 26. This assumption and entrance into glory was upon his ascension, described Acts i. 9-11. " He was taken up into heaven," aviXrifdri h 86^'fi, by an act of divine power ; and he went into heaven, iiSiXdeiv iig rriv do^av, in his own choice and will, as that which he was exalted unto. And this ascension of Christ in his human nature into heaven is a fundamental article of the faith of the church. And it falls under a double consideration : (1.) As it was triumphant, as he was a King; (2.) As it was gracious, as he was a Priest. His ascen- sion, as unto change of place, from earth to heaven, and as unto the outward manner of it, was one and the same, and at once accom- plished ; but as unto the end of it, which is the exercise of all his offices, it had various respects, various prefigurations, and is distinctly proposed unto us with reference unto them.