CHAPTER XIX.
Of the kingly office of Jesus Christ, and of the worship that is asci'ibed and due
to him.
Of the nature of the kingly office of Jesus Christ, his investiture with it, his administration of it, with the efficacy of that power which therein he puts forth, both towards his elect and others, Mr Biddle doth not administer any occasion to discourse. It is acknowledged by him that he was, or at least is, a king, by the designation and appointment of the Father, to whom, as he was mediator, he was subject; that he abides in his rule and dominion as such, and shall do so to the end of the world ; and I shall not make any farther in- quiry as to these things, unless farther occasion be administered. Upon the account of this authority they say he is God. But whereas it is certain that this authority of his shall cease at the end of the 1 Perseverance of the Saints, vol. xi.
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world, 1 Cor. xv. 28, it seems that he shall then also cease to be God, such a God as they now allow hhn to be.
By some passages in his second and third questions, he seems to intimate that Christ was not invested in his kingdom before his ascension into heaven. So question the second, " Is Christ already invested in his kingdom, and did he, after his ascension and sitting down at the right hand of God, exercise dominion and sovereignty over men and angels?" and question third, " For what cause and to what end was Jesus Christ exalted to his kingdom?" — to which he answers from Phil. ii. 8-10 in both places; intimating that Christ was not invested with his kingly power until after his exaltation. (As for the ends of his exaltation, these being some mentioned, though not all, nor the chief, I shall not farther insist on them.) But this, as it is contrary to the testimony that himself gave of his being a king in a kingdom which was not of this world, it being a great part of that office whereunto he was of his Father anointed, so it is altogether inconsistent with Mr B.'s principles, who maintains that he was worshipped with religious v/orship and honour whilst he was upon the earth ; which honour and worship, says he, are due to him and to be performed merely upon the account of that power and authority which is given him of God, as also say all his com- panions; and certainly his power and authority belong to him as king. The making of him a king and the making of him a god is with them all one; but that he was a god whilst he was upon the earth they acknowledge from the words of Thomas to him, " My Lord and my God."
And the title of the 1 2th chapter of Sraalcius' book, " De Vera Jesu Christi Divinitate," is, " De nomine Dei, quod Jesus Christus in terris mortalis degens habuit;"^ which in the chapter itself he seeks to make good by sundry instances, and in the issue labours to prove that the sole cause of the attribution of that name to him is from his office; but what office, indeed, he expresseth not. The name of God, they say, is a name of office and authority; the autho- rity of Christ, on which account he is to be worshipped, is that which he hath as king. And yet the same author afterward contends that Christ was not a king until after his resurrection and ascension.^ For my part, I am not solicitous about reconciling him to himself; let them that are so take pains, if they please, therein. Some pains, I conceive, it may cost them, considering that he afterward affirms
' " Divinitas autem Jesu Christi qualis sit, discimus ex sacris Uteris, nempe talis, qure propter munus ipsius divinum tota ei tribuitur." — Smalc. de Divin. Jesu. Chris, cap. xii.
'' "Nee enim prius D. Jesus Rex reipsa factus est, quara cum consedit ad dextram Dei Patris, et rcgnare reipsa in coelo, et in terra coepit." — Idem, cap. xiii. sect 3. "Dominus et Dcus proculdubio a Thouia appellatur, quia sit talis Dominus, qui divino modo in homines imperium habeat, et divino etiam illud modo exercere pos.?it, et exerceat." — Idem, cnp. xsiv. de Fid. in Christum, etc.
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expressly that he was called Lord and God of Thomas because of his divine rule or kingdom; which, as I remember, was before his ascension.
As for his exaltation at his ascension, it was not by any investiture in any new office, but by an admission to the execution of that part of his work of mediatorship which did remain, in a full and glorious manner, the whole concernment of his humiliation being past. In the meantime, doubtless, he was a king when the Lord of glory was crucified, 1 Cor. ii. 8.
But that which remains of this chapter is more fully to be considered.
Question 4 is, " How ought men to honour the Son of God V
From hence to the end of the chapter, Mr B. insist^n the reli- gious worship and invocation of Jesus Christ ; which, with all his com- panions, he places as the consequent of his kingly office and of that authority wherewith, for the execution and discharge thereof, from God he is invested. I shall very briefly consider what is tendered by Mr B. to the purpose in hand, and then take liberty a little more largely to handle the whole business of the worship of Jesus Christ, with the grounds, reasons, and motives thereof.