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And it will do so the more, in that it gives a glorious representa- tion of his divine nature also. For that any mere creature should thus be a head of life, motion, and power, as also of sovereign rule and disposal, of the whole new creation, with all things reduced into order thereby, is not only an impious, but a foolish imagination.
Did we live more in the contemplation of this glory of Christ, and of the wisdom of God in this recapitulation of all things in him, there is not anything of our duty which it would not mind us of, nor any- thing of privilege which it would not give us a sense of, as might easily be demonstrated.
3. In particular, the Lord Christ is glorious herein, in that the whole breach made on the glory of God in the creation, by the en- trance of sin, is hereby repaired and made up. The beauty and order of the whole creation consisted in its dependence on God, by the obedience of the rational part of it, angels and men. Thereby were the being, the goodness, the wisdom, and power of God made manifest. But the beauty of this order was defaced, and the manifestation of the divine perfections unto the glory of God eclipsed, by the entrance of sin. But all is restored, repaired, and made up, in this recapitu- lation of all things in one new head, — Christ Jesus ; yea, the whole curious frame of the divine creation is rendered more beautiful than it was before. Hence the whole of it groaneth for the interest of each part in this restoration of all things. Whatever there is of order, of beauty, of glory, in heaven above, or in earth beneath, it all ariseth from this new relation of the creation unto the Son of God. Whatever is not gathered into one, even in him, in its place, and according to its measure, is under darkness, disorder, and the curse. Hence the Jews have a saying, that " in the days of the Messiah all things shall be healed, but the serpent ; " that is, the devil, and wicked men, which are as his seed.
4. He is glorious herein, in that he is appointed as the only means of exerting and expressing all the treasures of the infinite wisdom of God towards his creatures. The wisdom of God is absolutely, always, and in all things infinite. God doth not, God cannot, act with more wisdom in one thing than in another ; as in the creation of man, than in that of any inanimate creatures. In the first creation, infinite wisdom was the inseparable companion of infinite power : " How marvellous are thy works, 0 Lord ! in wisdom hast thou made them all." But when the effects of this divine wisdom, in then* principal beauty and glory, were defaced, greater treasures of wisdom were re- quired unto their reparation. And in this re-collection of all things in Christ, did God lay them forth unto the utmost of whatever he will do in dealing with his creatures. So the apostle expresseth it, Eph. iii. 10, " To the intent that now, unto the principalities and
S74 THE GLORY OF CHRIST.
powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the mani- fold wisdom of God." By the recapitulation of all things into this one head, the manifold, various, unsearchable wisdom of God was made known unto the angels themselves. They knew not before of the design and work of God after the entrance of sin. These could not comprehend the wisdom that might repair that loss. They knew not that divine wisdom had another way to take herein ; at least they knew not what way that should be. But hereby the manifold wisdom of God, his infinite wisdom in the treasures of it, able by various ways to attain the ends of his glory, was made known unto them. Herein — namely, in the re-collection of all things in Christ — divine wisdom hath made known and represented itself in all its stores and treasures unto angels and men. " In him are hid," and by him are displayed, " all the treasures of wisdom," Col. ii. 3. Herein is he glorious, and will be so to eternity.
5. He is glorious herein, in that hereby firmness and security is comonunicated unto the whole new creation. The first creation in its order was a curious and glorious fabric. But every thing depend- ing immediately on God, by virtue of the principles of its own nature and the law of its obedience, all was brought unto a loss by the sin of angels and men. But now every thing that belongs unto this new creation, even every believer in the world, as well as the angels in heaven, being gathered together in this one head, the whole and all, and every part and member of it, even every particular believer, are secured from ruin, such as befell all things before. In this new Head they have an indissoluble consistency.
But manum de tabula. I shall insist on no more instances of this nature, which plentifully offer themselves in the Scripture unto us. For who can declare this glory of Christ ? who can speak of these things as he ought ? I am so far from designing to set forth the whole of it, that I am deeply sensible how little a portion I can com- prehend of the least jaart of it. Nor can I attain unto any satisfac- tion in these Meditations, but what issues in an humble admiration.