That God, who spared not the angels when they sinned, but im- mediately cast them into chains of darkness, should place sinners of the race of Adam under a dispensation of forbearance and goodness, —that he should spare them with much long-suffering during their
58 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. I,
pilgrimage on the earth, and fill their hearts with food and gladness, with all those fruits of kindness which the womb of his providence js still bringing forth for their benefit and advantage,—is thus far on the account of the Lord Christ, that though these things, as relating unto reprobates, are no part of his especial purchase as mediator of the everlasting covenant of grace, yet they are a neces- sary consequent of his interposition against the immediate execution of the whole curse upon the first entrance of sin, and of his under- taking for his elect.
2, He makes a conquest over them. It was promised that he should do so, Gen. ii. 15; and though the work itself prove long and irksome, though the ways of accomplishing it be unto us obscure and oftentimes invisible, yet he hath undertaken it, and will not give it over until they are every one brought to be his- footstool, Ps. ex. 1; 1 Cor. xv. 25. And the dominion granted him on these grounds is,—
(1.), Sovereign and absolute. His enemies are his footstool, Ps. ex. 1; Matt. xxii. 44; Mark xii. 36; Luke xx. 42; Acts ii. 34; 1 Cor. xv. 25; Heb. i. 13. They are in his hand, as the Egyptians were in Joseph’s when he had purchased both their persons and their estates to be at arbitrary disposal; and he deals with them as Joseph did with those, so far as any of the ends of his rule and sorta are concerned in them. And,—
(2.) Judiciary, John v. 22, 23. As he hath power over their persons, so he hath regard unto their sins, Rom. xiv. 9; Acts xvii. 31; Matt..xxv. 31. And this power he variously exerciseth over them, even in this world, before he gloriously exerts it in their eternal ruin.. For,—f1.] He enlightens them by those heavenly sparks of truth and reason which he leaves unextinguished in their own minds, John i. 9. [2.] Strives with them by his Spirit, Gen. vi. 3; secretly exciting their consciences to rebuke, bridle, yoke, afflict, and cruciate them, Rom. i..14, 15. And, [3.] On some of them he acts by the power and authority of his word; whereby he quickens their consciences, galls their minds and affections, restrains their lusts, bounds their conversations, aggravates their sins, hardens their hearts, and judges their souls, Ps. xlv.; Isa. vi. [4.] He exerciseth rule and dominion over them in providential dispensations, Rey. vi. 15, 16; Isa. xiii, 1-4; Rev. xix. 18. By all which he makes. way for the glory of his final judgment of them, Acts xvii. 31; Matt. xxv. 31; Rev. xix. 20, xx. 10-15. And all this will he do, unto the ends,—1st. Of his own glory; 2dly. His church’s good, exercise, and! safety.
And this is the second instance of the first head of the dominion
of Christ in this world. He is Lord over persons, angels and men,
VER. 1, 2] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 59
The SECOND part of the heirship and dominion of Christ con- sisteth in his lordship over all things besides; which added to the former comprise the whole creation of God. I. In the distribution of these premised, the first that occur are spiritual things, which also are of two sorts:—/ rst, Temporal, or such as in this life we are made partakers of; and, Secondly, Eternal, the things that are reserved for them that believe in the state of glory. The former may be reduced unto two heads; for they are all of them either grace or gifts, and Christ is Lord of them all.
First, All that which comes under the name of grace in Scripture, which, flowing from the free and special love of God, tends directly to the spiritual and eternal good of them on whom it is bestowed, may be referred unto four heads; for as the fountain of all these (or the gracious free purpose of the will of God, from whence they all do flow), being antecedent to the mission of Christ the mediator, and immanent in God, it can be no otherwise granted unto him but in respect of its effects; which we shall show that itis. Now, these are :—
1. Pardon of sin, and the free acceptation of the persons of sin- ners in a way of mercy. This is grace, Eph. ii. 8; Tit. ui. 5-7; and a saving effect and fruit of the covenant, Jer. xxxi. 31-34; Heb. viii, 8-12.
2. The regenerating of the person of a dead sinner, with the purifying and sanctifying of his nature, in a way of spiritual power. This also is grace, and promised in the covenant. And there are three parts of it:—(1.) The infusion of a quickening principle into the soul of a dead sinner, Rom. viii. 2; Tit. ii. 5; John iii. 6; Eph. ii. 1-6. (2.) The habitual furnishment of the spiritually-quickened soul with abiding, radical principles of light, love, and power, fitting it for spiritual obedience, Gal. v.17. (3.) Actual assistance, in a communication of supplies of strength for every duty and work, Phil. iv. 18; John xv. 5.