70 ORIGINAL OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST [EXERC. XXVII.
the book,” Heb. x. 7, is no other but the counsel of God concerning the salvation of the elect by Jesus Christ, enrolled as it were in the book of life, and thence transcribed into the beginning of the book of truth, in the first promise given unto Adam after the fall. This counsel being established between Father and Son, the Son with respect thereunto rejoiceth continually before God, on the account of that delight which he had to do and accomplish his will, and in our nature assumed to answer the law of mediation vi was pre- scribed unto him.
15. For, this being declared to be the mutual frame of God and his Wisdom towards one another, Wisdom proceeds to manifest with what respect towards outward things it was that they were so mutu- ally affected: Verse 31, “Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights were with the sons of men.” That the things here spoken of were transacted in eternity, or before the creation, is evident in the context. The eternal counsels, therefore, and purposes of God and Wisdom, with respect unto the sons of men, are here ex- pressed. The Word was now “fore-ordained,” even “before the foun- dation of the world,” unto the work of mediation and redemption, 1 Pet. i. 20; and many of the sons of men were “chosen in him” unto grace and glory, Eph. i. 4; and the bringing of them unto that glory whereunto they were chosen was committed unto him, as the captain of their salvation. This work, and the contemplation of it, he now delights in, because of that eternity of divine glory which was to ensue thereon. And because he was designed of the Father here- unto, and the work which he had to accomplish was principally the work of the Father, or the fulfilling of his will and the making effec- tual of his grace, wherein he sought his glory and not his own pri- marily, John vil. 18, he speaketh of him as a distinct person, and the sovereign Lord of the whole. He did it '818 53N3, “in the world of his earth.” And the same word orhage he used to express his frame towards God, NPN, verse 30, “rejoicing, exulting,” he useth here in reference unto his work, to intimate that it was on the same account that he is said to rejoice before the Father and in the habitable part of his earth; that is, on account of the work he had undertaken. So also he expresseth his delight in the children of men, because of the concernment of the glory of God therein, by DRY, the same word whereby he declares the Father's delight i in himself with respect unto his work.
And these things cannot refer unto the first creation, seeing they regard OTS °33, “ the children of men,” the sons or posterity of him who was at first singly created. And these things are revealed for our consolation and the strengthening of our faith, whereunto they may be improved; for if there were such mutual delights between
SECT. 15, 16.] IN THE COUNSEL OF GoD. 71
the Father and the Son in the counsel and contrivance of the work of our redemption and salvation, and if the Son so rejoiced in the prospect of his own undertaking unto that end, we need not doubt but that he will powerfully and effectually accomplish it. For all the difficulties of it lay open and naked under his eye, yet he re- joiced in the thoughts of his engagement for their removal and con- quest. He now saw the law of God established and fulfilled, the justice of God satisfied, his glory repaired, Satan under his feet, his works destroyed, sin put an end unto, with all the confusion and misery which it brought into the world,—all matters of everlasting joy. Here we place the first spring of the priesthood of Christ, the first actings of God towards man for his reparation. And it is ex- pressed by the mutual delight of the Father and Son in the work and effect of it, whereunto the Son was designed; and this was inti- mate love, grace, complacency, and infinite wisdom. God foresee- ing how the designed effect of love and grace in the recovery of mankind by the interposition of his Son would issue in his own eternal glory, was pleased therewith and rejoiced therein; and the Son, considering the object of his love and the peculiar glory set be- fore him, delighted in the counsel of the Father. Wherefore the foundation of Christ’s priesthood, herein designed, was in love, grace, and wisdom, though in its exercise it respect holiness and justice also.
16. And this also seems to be expressed by the psalmist, Ps. ii. 7, “J will declare the decree: the Lorp hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.” The direct sense and im- portance of these words hath been declared in our Exposition on Heb. i. 5, 6; and the testimony that is given in them unto the divine nature of Jesus Christ I have also formerly vindicated, Vindicize Evangelice;* and I have in like manner elsewhere declared the perverse iniquity of some of the later Jewish masters, who would apply this psalm singly fo David, without any respect unto the Mes- siah. This Rashi confesseth that they do on purpose to oppose the “heretics” or Christians. But this is contrary to the conceptions and expositions of all their ancient doctors, and the express faith of their church whilst it continued; for from this place they constantly ac- knowledged that the Messiah was to be the Son of God,—or rather, that the Son of God was to be the Messiah. Hence was that in- quiry of the high priest, Matt. xxvi. 63, “I adjure thee by the liv- ing God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.” According to the faith of their church, he takes it for granted that “the Christ” and “the Son of God” were the same. The same confession on the same principle made Nathanael, John i. 49, “ Thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.” And