(1.) Jesus Christ puts forth this mighty power in erecting and building of his church. In Matt. xvi. 18, our Lord saith, "I will build my church;" and the apostle, in Heb. hi. 3, 4, shows that it was an act of divine 'power to build this church of God : " He that built all things is God." No one could build a church in all ages, but God himself. And if we were able to take a view how Jesus Christ first built his church in the world, we should learn not to dis- trust his power in any thing he had afterward to do. There was a combination of hell and of all the power of the world, against the interest of Christ and the gospel. The concurring suffrage of man- kind, wise and unwise, learned and unlearned, Jew and Greek, in- fluenced by their interest, by all that was dear unto them, set them- selves in a combination against Christ's building of his kingdom. He employed against all this force a few poor men, unlearned, un- skilful; and gives into their hands only the sword of the Spirit, — the word of God ; furnishes them only with gifts and abilities for the dispensing of the word : which was " his girding of his sword upon his thigh." He set these poor men to work ; and clothing them with his glory and majesty, they make havoc in the devil's kingdom, and de- stroy it by degrees, until they root it out of the earth. It was, then, an act of mighty power in Christ, to build his kingdom and church.
(2.) Christ puts forth this mighty power in the preserving of his church, being so founded and built on him. It is that which he exjDresses, Isa. xxvii. 3, " I the Lord do keep it; I will water.it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day." The church being built, is not able to stand of itself; for unto the end of time the gates of hell and the power of the world shall be engaged against it. But saith he, " I will keep it, ' and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.' " There is a carnal church in the world, or a worldly church; and how is that kept? By force, — laws and power of men who have wrapt up their secular interest in the preserving of it ; and they will fight for their kingdom. On the contrary, the Lord Jesus Christ hath a spiritual church, of them that believe in him. They also are preserved; and by what means? By a secret emanation of mighty power from Jesus Christ. There hath not been any age in the world
488 THE EXCELLENCY OF CHRIST.
since the ascension of Christ, but there hath been an emanation, or putting forth of this mighty power of Christ in preserving of this church. He preserved a people under the whole apostasy of Anti- christ. Had there been none left on the earth to fear him, and be- lieve in him, all the promises of God to him had come to an end. But he did secretly, by his mighty power, preserve a people to him- self in the midst of all the defection of Antichrist. And he doth so at this day, in the midst of the new defection made to Antichrist : for, in former days, the world fell off to Antichrist by superstition and idolatry; they are now falling off to him by profaneness and atheism : yet Jesus Christ, by his mighty power under both, or by a secret exertion of his power, preserves his church through all, and carries them as safe through the new opposition as he did through the old.
(3.) He puts forth his power for the subduing and conquering of his and his church's enemies.
What enemies has Christ? what enemies has the church? As many as there are devils in hell, and men and women in the world that are of the seed of the serpent. But I may reduce all the enmity to the interest of Christ upon earth to these four heads: — [1.] Satan ; [2.] The world; [3.] Sin; [4.] Death. Christ is most mighty in con- quering all these enemies : —
[1.] He puts forth his mighty power in conquering of Satan. This was the first word that was spoken of him in the world, in Gen. iii. 15, " I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed : it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." The first discovery God made to his creatures concerning the incarnation of his Son was in this, — that he would destroy Satan ; and so the Holy Ghost tells us he hath done, Col. ii. 1 5, " He spoiled principalities and powers, and made a show of them openly, triumph- ing over them in his cross." These words, " He spoiled principalities and powers," are an exposition of the former promise in Genesis, that " the seed of the woman" (Jesus Christ) " should bruise the serpent's head." How should he do it? Why, in spoiling principalities and powers, and triumphing over them openly in his cross. So he saith, in Heb. ii. 14, " That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the deviL" He did not destroy him as to his being, but as to his power and authority. Hence, first, The devil hath a limited power only remaining, such as shall never pre- judice the eternal interest of the church ; and, secondly, He is re- served unto eternal destruction by this mighty power of Christ.