(3.) We are to consider by whom these enemies of Christ shall be made thus his footstool. ‘I will make them, saith God the Father unto him. And this expression wanteth not its diffi- culty; for is it not the work of Christ himself to subdue and con- quer his enemies? is it not said that he shall do so? So doing is he described in the Revelation with glory and power, chap. xix. 11-16, from Isa. lxiii. 1-6. Whom should this work more become or belong unto than him who was persecuted and oppressed by them? And doth it not directly belong unto his kingly power? Whence is it, then, that he is here described as one resting in glory and security at his Father’s right hand, whilst he subdues his enemies ?
VER. 13.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 231
Ans. There is no doubt but that the work of subduing the ene- mies of the mediation and kingdom of Christ is immediately wrought by himself. All prophecies of him, all promises made unto him, the nature of his office, do all require that so it should be; and so the apostle directly expresseth it, 1 Cor. xv. 26. But yet there are sundry reasons why that work which is immediately wrought by the Son may by the way of eminency be ascribed unto the Father, as we see this to be.
[1.] Power and authority to subdue and conquer all his ene- mies is given unto the Lord Christ by the Father in the way of reward ; and it is therefore said to be his work, because the authority for it is from him. See Isa. liu. 12; John v. 27; Phil. ii. 9; Rom. xiv. 9. This power then, I say, of subduing all his enemies being granted unto the Lord Christ in the love of the Father, as a reward of the travail of his soul which he underwent in his work on the earth, is ascribed unto the Father as his. And this expression sig- nifies no more but that as God hath given him authority for it, so he will abide by him in it until it be accomplished; and on this account he takes it on himself‘as his own.
[2.] The work of subduing enemies is a work of power and authority. Now, in the economy of the holy Trinity, among the works that outwardly are of God, those of power and authority are peculiarly ascribed unto the Father; as those of wisdom, or wisdom in the works of God, are unto the Son, who is the eternal Wisdom of the Father. And on this account the same works are ascribed unto the Father and the Son. Not as though the Father did them first, or only used the Son as an immediate instrumental cause of them, but that he worketh by him as his own eternal and essential Wis- dom, John v.17,19. But there is also more in it, as the Son is con- sidered as mediator, God and man; for so he receives and holds his especial kingdom by grant from his Father, and theretore the works of it may be said to be his.
6. The last thing remaining for the exposition of these words, is the consideration of the appearing limitation of this administration of the kingdom of Christ, in his sitting at the right hand of God: W, fas dy, “until:’ “ Until I make thine enemies,” etc.
First, it is confessed, and may be proved by instances, that those particles thus used are sometimes ewclusive of all things to the con- trary before the time designed in them, but not assertive of any such thing afterwards. In this sense no limitation of the duration of the kingdom of Christ is here intimated, but only his secure and glorious reign unto the accomplishment of his work in the subduing of his enemies is asserted. The only time of danger is whilst there is opposition; but this saith God, ‘I will carry it through unto the end,’ And this sense is embraced by many, to secure thereby the
232 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. I.
promises that are made unto the Lord Christ of the perpetuity of his kingdom. So Isa. ix. 7, “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.” His “ kingdom shall never be destroyed,” but “shall stand for ever,” Dan. 11, 44; it isan “everlasting kingdom,” chap. vii. 27.
Others suppose that this perpetuity of the kingdom of Christ is not absolutely exclusive of all limitation, but that these two things only are intimated in those prophecies and promises:—
(1.) That his kingdom shall not be like the kingdoms of the earth, obnoxious to change and mutation, by intestine divisions, or out- ward force, or secret decay; by which means all the kingdoms of the earth have been ruined and brought to nought. In opposition hereunto, the kingdom of Christ is asserted to be perpetual, as that which no opposition shall ever prevail against, no means ever im- pair; which yet hinders not but that a day may be prefixed for its end.
(2.) The continuance of it unto the total, full accomplishment of all that is to be performed in it or by it, in the eternal salvation of all his subjects and final destruction of all his enemies, is in these and the like places foretold; but yet when that work is done, that king- dom and rule of his may have an end.