MEDIATORIAL EXALTATION OF CHRIST. 251
"voluntaries of the people," (those made willing in the day of his power, Ps. ex. 3,) " gathered themselves to the people of the God of Abraham," and were taken in his covenant, Ps. xlvii. 9 — margin. But he ascended graciously, as the high priest went into the holy place ; not to rule all things gloriously with mighty power, not to use his sivord and his sceptre — but to appear as an high priest, in a garment doivn to the foot, and a golden girdle about his paps, E.ev. i. 13, — as in a tabernacle, or temple, before a throne of grace. His sitting dowTi at the right hand of the Majesty on high adds to the glory of his priestly office, but belongs not unto the execution of it. So it was prophesied of him, that he should be " a priest upon his throne," Zech. \d. 13.
It may be added hereunto, that when he thus left this world and ascended into glory, the great promise he made unto his disciples — as they were to be preachers of the gospel, and in them unto all that should succeed them in that office — was, that he would " send the Holy Spirit unto them," to teach and guide them, to lead them into all truth, — to declare unto them the mysteries of the will, grace, and love of God, for the use of the whole church. This he promised to do, and did, in the discharge of his prophetical office. And although his giving " gifts unto men " was an act of his kingly power, yet it was for the end of his prophetical office.
From what hath been spoken, it is evident that the Lord Christ " ascended into heaven," or was received up into glory, with this de- sign,— namely, to exercise his office of mediation in the behalf of the church, until the end should be. As this was his grace, that when he was rich, for our sakes he became p)Oor; so when he was made rich again for his own sake, he lays forth all the riches of his glory and power on our behalf.
2. The glory of the state and condition whereinto Christ thus entered is the next thing to be considered ; for he is set down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. And as his ascension, with the ends of it, were twofold, or of a double consideration, so was his glory that ensued thereon. For his present mediatory state consists either in the glory of his power and authority, or in the glory of his love and grace, — his glory as a King, or his glory as a Priest. For the first of these, or his royal glory, in sovereign power and authority over the whole creation of God, — all in heaven and earth, persons and thmgs, angels and men, good and bad, alive and dead, — all things spi- ritual and eternal, grace, gifts, and glory ; — his right and power, or abihty to dispose of all things according unto his will and pleasure, I have so fully and distinctly declared it, in my exposition on Heb. i. 3, as that I shall not here agaia insist upon it. His present glory, in the way of love and grace, — his glory as a Priest, — will be manifested in what doth ensue.
252 THE PERSON OF CHRIST.
CHAPTER XX.
The Exercise of the Mediatory Office of Christ in Heaven.
III. The third and last thing which we proposed unto considera- tion, in our inquiry into the present state and condition of the person of Christ in heaven, is the exercise and discharge of his mediatory office in behalf of the church ; — especially as he continueth to be a " minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man."
All Christians acknowledge that his present state is a state of the highest glory, — of exaltation above the whole creation of God, above every name that is or can be named ; and hereon they esteem their own honour and safety to depend. Neither do they doubt of his power, but take it for granted that he can do whatever he pleaseth ; which is the ground of their placing all their confidence in him. But we must show, moreover, that his present state is a state of office- power, work, and duty. He leads not in heaven a life of mere glory, majesty, and blessedness, but a life of office, love, and care also. He lives as the Mediator of the church ; as the King, Priest, and Prophet thereof Hereon do our present safety and our future eternal salva- tion depend. Without the continual actings of the office-power and care of Christ, the church could not be preserved one moment. And the darkness of our faith herein is the cause of all our disconsola- tions, and most of our weaknesses in obedience. Most men have only general and confused notions and apj)rehensions of the present state of Christ, with respect unto the church. And by some, all consi- derations of this nature are despised and derided. But revealed things belong unto us; especially such as are of so great importance unto the glory of God and the saving of our own souls, — such as this is, concerning the present state of the person of Christ in heaven, with respect unto his office-power and care.