The kingdom, rule, or reigning of Christ in the first sense, is the authority and power which he puts forth for the conversion, sancti- fication, and salvation of his elect, As he is their king, he quickens them by his Spirit, sanctifies them by his grace, preserves them by his faithfulness, raiseth them from the dead at the last day by his power, and gloriously rewardeth them unto eternity in his righteous- ness. In this work the Lord Christ hath many enemies; as the law, sin, Satan, the world, death, the grave, and hell. All these are enemies to the work and kingdom of Christ, and consequently to his person, as having undertaken that work.
[1.] The law is an enemy unto Christ in his kingdom, not abso- lutely, but by accident, and by reason of the consequents that attend it where his subjects are obnoxious unto it. It slays them, Rom, vii. 9-11, which is the work of an enemy; is against them and con- trary unto them, Col. ii. 14; and contributes strength to their other adversaries, 1 Cor. xv. 56; which discovers the nature of an enemy.
[2.] Sin is universally and in its whole nature an enemy unto Christ, Rom. viii. 7. Sinners and enemies are the same, Rom. v. 8, 10; Col. i. 21. It is that which makes special, direct, and im- mediate opposition to the quickening, sanctifying, and saving of his people, Rom. vii. 21,23; Jamesi. 14,15; 1 Pet. ii 11.
[3.] Satan is the sworn enemy of Christ, the adversary that openly, constantly, avowedly opposeth him in his throne, Matt. xvi, 18; Eph. vi. 12; 1 Pet.v.8. And he exerts his enmity by tempta- tions, 1 Cor. vii. 5; 1 Thess. iii. 5; accusations, Rev. xii. 10; perse- cutions, Rev. ii. 10;—all which are the works of an enemy.
[4.] The world is also a professed enemy of the kingdom of Christ, John xv. 18.’ In the things of it, the men of it, the rule of it, it sets itself against the work of the Lord Christ on his throne. The things of it, as under the curse and subject to vanity, are suited to alienate the hearts of men from Christ, and so act an enmity against him, James iv. 4; 1 John ii, 15-17; 1 Tim. vi. 9,10; Matt. xiii. 22. The men of the world act the same part, Matt. x. 22, xxiv. 9, By examples, by temptations, by reproaches, by persecu- tions, by allurements, they make it their business to oppose the kingdom of Christ. But to that end, [that all things may be under his feet], is the rule of it for the most part directed or overruled, 1 Cor. xv. 24, 25.
[5.] Death is also an enemy; so it is expressly called, 1 Cor, xv. 26. It designs the execution of the first curse against all be- lievers, and therein contributes aid and assistance unto all other
228 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. L
adversaries; giving up itself to the service of Satan, and therefore said to be in his power, chap. ii. 14 of this epistle; and it borrows a sting from sin, 1 Cor. xv. 56, to make itself the more terrible and sharp.
[6.] The grave is an adversary also. It fights against the faith of the subjects of Christ by reducing their mortality unto corruption, and holding fast the dead until they are powerfully rescued from the jaws of it.
[7.] Lastly, hel’ is that enemy in a subordination whereunto all these others do act. They all aim to bring men into hell; which is an eternal enemy where it prevails. This attends the workings and successes of those other adversaries, to consume and destroy, if it were possible, the whole inheritance of Christ, Rev. vi, 8. All these are enemies to Christ in his work and kingdom, with every thing that contributes aid or assistance unto them, every thing that they make use of in the pursuit of their enmity against him.
Now, all these enemies, as far as they oppose the spiritual, inter- nal carrying on of the work of Christ, must be made the footstool of his feet.
The expression is metaphorical, and is to be interpreted and ap- plied variously, according to the nature and condition of the enemies with whom he hath to do. The allusion in general is taken from what was done by Joshua, his type, towards the enemies of his people, Josh. x. 24, To show the ruin of their power, and his abso- lute prevalency against them, he caused the people to set their feet upon their necks. See 2 Sam. xxii. 39; Ps. viii 6. To have his enemies, then, brought under his feet, is to have an absolute, complete conquest over them; and their being made his footstool implies their perpetual and unchangeable duration in that condition, under the weight of whatever burden he shall be pleased to lay upon them.
(2.) This being that which is to be done, we may consider how it is accomplished. Now, this whole work of conquest and prevalency over all his enemies is done,—[1.] Meritoriously; [2.] Exemplarily; [3.] Efficiently.
[1.] Merttoriously. By his death and blood-shedding he hath pro- cured the sentence of condemnation in the cause depending between him and them to be pronounced against them; so that they shall have no more right to exert their enmity against him or his. He hath given them all their death’s wounds, and leaves them to die at his pleasure. Is. So hath he prevailed against the law, Gal. ii. 138; Col. i. 14; Rom. vii. 6. He hath removed that strength which it gave to sin, 1 Cor. xv. 55, 56; so that it hath no right to disquiet or condemn any of his subjects for the future. And, 2dly. Against sin, Rom. viii. 2, 3, so that it should not reign in nor condemn his anymore. And, 3dly. Satan also, Heb. ii, 14, 15, as to all pretence of liberty or right unto any part of his cursed work.