And we may inquire in what sense this is spoken of the Son with respect unto the Father. The foundation of the allusion lies in the eternal mutual love that is between the Father and the Son. There- unto is added the consideration of the natural dependence of the Son on the Father,—compared unto the love of a father unto a son, and the dependence of a son on his father. Therefore most trans- lations, with respect unto this allusion, supply “as” to the words, “ As one brought up.” Again, 18, “alumnus,” “one brought up,” is always so with and unto some especial end or purpose, or to some work and service. And this is principally here intended. It is with respect unto the work that he had to accomplish that he is called “ Alumnus Patris,” “One brought up of the Father.” And this was no other but the work of the redemption and salvation of mankind, the counsel whereof was then between the Father and the Son. In ~ the carrying on of that work the Lord Christ everywhere commits — himself and his undertaking unto the care, love, assistance, and faith- fulness of the Father, whose especial grace was the original thereof, Ps. xxii. 9-11, 19, 20; Isa. 1. 7-9. And in answer hereunto, the Father promiseth him, as we shall see afterwards, to stand by him, and to carry him through the whole of it; and that because it was to be accomplished in such a nature as stood in need of help and assist- ance. Wherefore, with respect unto this work, he is said to be fos yy, “before him,” as one whom he would take care of, and stand by with love and faithfulness, in the prosecution of the work which was in their mutual counsel, when he should be clothed with that nature which stood in need of it.
14, With respect hereunto he adds, OY Of DYAwyy AYAN).—« And was delights every day.” There are ineffable mutual delights and joys in and between the persons of the sacred Trinity, arising from that infinite satisfaction and complacency which they have in each other from their respective in-being, by the participation of the same nature ; wherein no small part of the blessedness of God doth con- —
SECT. 14.] IN THE COUNSEL OF GOD. 69
sist. And by this word that peculiar delight which a father hath in a son is expressed: Jer. xxxi, 20, DYWYY 12; A pleasant child, a child of delights”” But the delights here intended have respect unto the works of God ad eztra, as a fruit of that eternal satisfaction which ariseth from the counsels of God concerning the sons of men. This the next verse makes manifest, “ Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights with the sons of men; for after he had declared the presence of Wisdom with God before the first creation (which is a notation of eternity), and its co- operation with him therein, he descends to manifest the especial design of God and Wisdom with respect unto the children of men. And here such an undertaking on the part of the Son is intimated, as that the Father undertakes the care of him and his protection when he was to be humbled into the form of a servant; in the pro- spect whereof he delighted in him continually.
So he expresseth it, Isa, xlii. 1-7, “ Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth.” (WD NN¥9, the same with Of of 1? Dw, See Matt. xii. 18, xvii. 5; Eph. i. 6.) “JT have put my Spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. Thus saith God the Lorp, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the Lorp have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.” This is the delight of the Father, and [such is] his presence with the Son in his work, whereof an eternal prospect is here presented. In answer whereunto the Son delights in him, whose delight he was, NY 232 W322 NPNwD, “ rejoic- ing with exultation,” with all manner of expressions of joy; for the word properly signifies an outward expression of an inward delight,— the natural overflowings of an abounding joy. And what is this delight of the Son in answering the delight of the Father in him, with respect unto the work he had to do, the psalmist declares, Ps. xl. 7, 8, “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” This npp-NDID | this “ volume of the book,” which our apostle calls xegurida BiCrsov, “ the beginning” (or “head”) “of