(5.) They cordially approve of this righteousness, because it is a way and means oi exceeding exaltation and honom* of the Lord Jesus, whom their souls do Irive. Being once brought to an acquaintance with Jesus Christ, tKeir hearts desire nothing more than that he may be honoured and c^lorified to the utmost, and in all things have the pre-eminence. Mow, what can more tend to the advancing and hon- ouring of him in our hearts, than to know that he is made of God unto us " wisd bm and righteousness?" 1 Cor. i. 30. Not that he is this or that T^)art of our acceptation with God ; but he is all, — he is the whole. They know that on the account of his working out their acce]^i)tation with God, he is, —
^•'[1.] Honoured of God Ms Father. Phil. ii. 7-11, " He made /"himself 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. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name : that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should con- fess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Whether that word " wherefore " denotes a connection of causality or only a consequence, this is evident, that on the account of his suffer- ing, and as the end of it, he was Mionoured and exalted of God to an
' Ps. ex. ], 5, ii. 8, 9 ; Zecli. ix, 10 ; Ps. Ixxii. 8 ; Rom. xiv. 11 ; Isa. xlv. 23 ; Piiil. ii. 10.
192 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST.
unspeakable pre-eminence, dignity, and authority ; according as God had promised him on the same account, Isa. hii. 11, 12; Acts ii. 36, V. SO, 31. And therefore it is said, that when " he had by himself purged our sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," Heb. i. 3.
[2.] He is on this account honoured of all the angels in heaven, even because of this great work of bringing sinners unto God; for they do not only bow down and desire to look into the mystery of the cross, 1 Pet. i. ] 2, Ixit worship and praise him always on this account: Rev. v. 11-14, " I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the living creatures and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and Avisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in hea- ven and earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard 1 saying, Blessing, and-iionour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the hving creatures said. Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshi23ped him that liveth for ever and ever." The reason given of this glorious and wonderful doxology, this attribution of honour and glory to Jesus Chiist by the whole host of heaven, is, because he was the Lamb that was slain ; that is, because of the work of our redemption and our bringing unto God. And it is not a little refreshment and rejoicing to the souls of the saints, to know that all the angels of God, the whole host of heaven, which never sinned, do yet continually rejoice and ascribe praise and honour to the Lord Jesus, for his bringing them to peace and favour with God.
[3.] He is honoured by his saints all the world over; and in- deed, if they do not, who should? If they honour him not as they honour the Father, they are, of all men, the most unworthy. But see what they do. Rev. i. 5, 6, " Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be gloiy and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." Chap. v. 8-10, " The four living creatiires and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation ; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we sliall reign on the earth." The great, solemn worship of the Christian church consists in this assignation of honour and glory to
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the Lord Jesus : therefore do they love him, honour him, dehght in him ; as Paul, Phil. iii. 8 ; and so the spouse, Cant. v. 9-1 6. And this is on this account, —