IN HIS EXALTATION. 345
that he hath the same rational soul and the same body, is a funda- mental article of the Christian faith,
(2.) This nature of the man Christ Jesus is filled with all the di- vine graces and perfections whereof a hmited, created nature is capa- ble. It is not deified, it is not made a god ; — it doth not in heaven coalesce into one nature with the divine by a composition of them ; — it hath not any essential property of the Deity communicated unto it, so as subjectively to reside in it; — it is not made omniscient, omni- present, omnipotent ; but it is exalted in a fulness of all divine per- fection ineffably above the glory of angels and men. It is incom- prehensibly nearer God than they all, — hath communications from God, in glorious light, love, and power, ineffably above them all; but it is still a creature.
For the substance of this glory of the human nature of Christ, be- lievers shall be made partakers of it ; for when we see him as he is, we shall be like him ; but as unto the degrees and measures of it, his glory is above all that we can be made partakers of " There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; and one star differeth from another in glory," as the apostle speaks, 1 Cor. xv. 41. And if there be a difference in glory among the stars themselves as to some degrees of the same glory, how much more is there between the glory of the sun and that of any star what- ever! Such is the difference that is, and will be unto eternity, be- tween the human nature of Christ and what eiorified behevers do attain unto. But yet this is not that properly wherein the glory of Christ in his exaltation, after his humiliation and death, doth consist. The things that belong unto it may be reduced unto the ensuing heads.
1. It consisteth in the exaltation of the human nature, as subsist- ing in the divine person, above the whole creation of God in power, dignity, authority, and rule, with all things that the wisdom of God hath appointed to render the glory of it illustrious. I have so largely insisted on the explication and confirmation of this part of the present glory of Christ, in the exposition of Heb. i. 2, 3, that I have nothing more to add thereunto.
2. It doth so in the evidence given of the infinite love of God the Father unto him, and his delight in him, with the eternal approba- tion of his discharge of the office committed unto him. Hence he is said " to sit at the right hand of God," or at " the right hand of the Majesty on high." That the glory and dignity of Christ in his exal- tation is singular, the highest that can be given to a creature, incom- prehensible ; — that he is, with respect unto the discharge of his office, under the eternal approbation of God ; — that, as so gloriously exalted, he is proclaimed unto the whole creation, — are all contaiaed in this expression.
346 THE GLORY OF CHRIST
3. Hereunto is added the full manifestation of his own divine wisdom, love, and grace, in the work of mediation and redemption of the church. This glory is absolutely singiilar and peculiar unto him. Neither angels nor men have the least interest in it. Here, we see it darkly as in a glass ; above, it shines forth in its brightness, to the eternal joy of them who behold him.
This is that glory which our Lord Jesus Christ in an especial manner prayed that his disciples might behold. This is that whereof we ought to endeavour a prospect by faith ; — by faith, I say, and not by imagination. Vain and foolish men, having general notions of this glory of Christ, knowing nothiug of the real nature of it, have endeavoured to represent it in pictures and images, with all that lustre and beauty which the art of painting, with the ornaments of gold and jewels, can give unto them. This is that representation of the pre- sent glory of Christ, which, being made and proposed unto the ima- gination and carnal affections of superstitious persons, carrieth such a show of devotion and veneration in the Papal Church. But they err, not knowing the Scripture, nor the eternal glory of the Son of God.
This is the sole foundation of all our meditations herein. The glory that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the real actual possession of in heaven can be no otherwise seen or apprehended in this world, but in the light of faith fixing itself on divine revelation. To behold this glory of Christ is not an act of fancy or imagination. It doth not consist in framing unto ourselves the shape of a glorious person in heaven. But the steady exercise of faith on the revelation and description made of this glory of Christ in the Scripture, is the ground, rule, and measure, of all divine meditations thereon.
Hereon our duty it is to call ourselves to an account as unto our endeavour after a gracious view of this glory of Christ: — When did we steadfastly behold it? when had we such a view of it as wherein our souls have been satisfied and refreshed? It is declared and re- presented unto us as one of the chief props of our faith, as a help of our joy, as an object of our hope, as a ground of our consolation, — as our greatest encouragement unto obedience and suffering. Are our minds every day conversant with thoughts hereof ? or do we think our- selves not much concerned herein ? Do we look upon it as that which is without us and above us, — as that which we shall have time enough to consider when we come to heaven? So is it with many. They care neither where Christ is nor Avhat he is, so that one way or other they may be saved by him. They hope, as they pretend, that they shall see him and his glory in heaven, — and that they suppose to be time enough ; but in vain do they pretend a desire thereof, — in vain are their expectations of any such thing. They who endeavour not to behold the glory of Christ in this world, as hath been often said,