The words being opened, and the design of the apostle in them discovered, because they contain an eminent head of the doctrine of the gospel concerning the lordship and kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, I shall stay here a little, to give in a scheme of his whole dominion, seeing the consideration of it will not again so directly occur unto us. That which is the intendment of the words, in the interpretation given of them, is this:—
God the Father, in the pursuit of the sovereign purpose of his will, hath granted unto the Son as incarnate, and mediator of the new covenant, according to the eternal counsel between them both, a sovereign power and authority over all thingsin heaven and earth, with the possession of an absolute proprietor, to dispose of them at his pleasure, for the furtherance and advancement of his proper and peculiar work, as head of his church.
I shall not insist on the several branches of this thesis; but, as I said, in general confirm this grant of power and dominion unto the Lord Christ, and then give in our scheme of his kingdom, in the several branches of it, not enlarging our discourse upon them, but only pointing at the heads and springs of things as they lie in the Scripture.
OF TOE KINGDOM OR LORDSHIP OF CHRIST.
- The grant of dominion in general unto the Messiah is intimated in - the first promise of him, Gen. ili. 15,—his victory over Satan was to be attended with rule, power, and dominion, Ps. xviii. 18, Isa. lit. 12, Eph. iv. 8, 9, Col. ii. 15;—and confirmed in the renewal of that promise to Abraham, Gen. xxii. 17, 18; for in him it was that Abraham was to be “ heir of the world,” Rom:iv. 13 ;—as also unto Judah, whose seed was to enjoy the sceptre and lawgiver, until he came who was to be Lord over all, Gen. xlix. 10;—and Balaam also saw the Star of Jacob, with a sceptre for rule, Num. xxiv. 17, 19. This kingdom was fully revealed unto David, and is expressed by him, Ps. ii. throughout, Ps. xlv. 3-8, Ixxxix. 19-24, etc, Ixxu. 6-9,
48 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. T.
ete., Ps. cx. 1-3 ;—as also in all the following prophets. See Isa. xi. 1-4, ix. 6, 7, lili, 12, Ixiii, 1-8; Jer. xxiii. 5, 6; Dan. vii, 13, 14, ete.
As this was foretold in the Old Testament, so the accomplishment of it is expressly asserted in the New. Upon his birth he is pro- claimed to be “Christ the Lord,” Luke ii. 11; and the first inquiry after him is, “Where is he that is born king?” Matt. ii, 2, 6. And this testimony doth he give concerning himself, namely, that all judgment was his, and therefore all honour was due unto him, John v. 22, 23; and that “all things were delivered unto him,” or given into his hand, Matt. xi. 27; yea, “all power in heaven and in earth,” Matt. xxviii, 18,—the thing pleaded for. Him who was crucified did God make “both Lord and Christ,” Acts ii. 85, 36; exalting him at his right hand to be “a Prince and a Saviour,’ Acts v. 31. He is “highly exalted,” having “‘a name given him above every name,” Phil. ii. 9-11; being “set at the right hand of God in heavenly places, far above,” ete., Eph. i. 20-22; where he reigns for ever, 1 Cor. xv. 25; being the “ King of kings, and Lord of lords,” Rev. xix. 16, v. 12-14; for he is “ Lord of dead and living,” Rom. xiv. 7-9.
And this in general is fully asserted in the Scripture, unto the consolation of the church and terror of his adversaries. This, I say, is the spring of the church’s glory, comfort, and assurance, It is our head, husband, and elder brother, who is gloriously vested with all this power. Our nearest relation, our best friend, is thus exalted ; not to a place of honour and trust under others, a thing that contents the airy fancy of poor earth-worms; nor yet to a kingdom on the earth, a matter that swells some, and even breaks them with pride; no, nor yet to an empire over this perishing world: but to an abid- ing, an everlasting rule and dominion over the whole creation of God. And it is but a little while before he will cast off and dispel all those clouds and shades which at present interpose themselves, and eclipse his glory and majesty from them that love him. He who in the days of his flesh was reviled, reproached, persecuted, ‘crucified, for our sakes, that same Jesus is thus exalted and made “a Prince and a Saviour,” having “a name given him above every name,” etc.; for though he was dead, yet he is alive, and lives for ever, and hath the keys of hell and death. These things are everywhere proposed for the consolation of the church.
The consideration of it also is suited to strike terror into the © hearts of ungodly men that oppose him in the world. Whom is it that they do despise? against whom do they magnify themselves, and lift up their borns on high? whose ordinances, laws, institutions, do they contemn? whose gospel do they refuse obedience unto? whose people and servants do they reviJe and persecute? Is it not he, are they not his, who hath “all power in heaven and in earth” committed unto him, in whose hand are the lives, the souls, all the