Thirdly, Some judge that although the apostle recites expressly only these words, “Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee,” yet he directs us thereby to the whole passage in the psalm whereof these words are a part, verses 7, 8, “I will declare the decree: the Lorp hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inherit- ance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” Here seems to be an express constitution, such as the apostle refers unto. For if we would know when or how God the Father glorified Christ to be a high priest, it was in that decree of his which is declared, Ps. ii. 7. It was before established in heaven, and then declared in prophecy. And moreover, there is added an especial mention of the discharge of one part of his office as a priest, in these words, “ Ask of me;” wherein authority is given him to make intercession with God. And this exposition, whereof, as far as I can find, Junius was the author, I shall not oppose; only for two reasons I cannot readily
490° - AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. V.
assent unto it. For,—1. It seems not probable that the apostle, in the quotation of a testimony, should omit that which was directly to his purpose, and produce those words only which alone were not so. 2. The asking here enjoined, is not his sacerdotal intercession, but only an expression denoting the dependence of Christ, as king, on God the Father for the subduing of his enemies,
Fourthly, Some conceive that the apostle intends not a testimony of the constitution of Christ in his office of priesthood, but only to give an account of the person by whom he was called thereunto: ‘He made not himself a high priest; but was made so by him from whom he had all his honour and glory as mediator, and that because he was his Son, and in his word declared so to be.” But the testi- mony given unto his priesthood is brought in in the next verse. Nor do I see any more than one exception which this exposition is liable unto, but which those that follow it have taken no notice of. And this is, that the manner of the introduction of the next testi- mony, “ As he also saith in another place,” doth evidence that they are both produced and urged to the same purpose, for the confirma- tion of the same assertion. But withal I answer thereunto by concession, that indeed they are both here of the same importance, and used to the same purpose. For these words in this place, “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec,” are considered as spoken to him by God the Father, even as the former were. This, therefore, is the design of the apostle in the introduction of this testimony; for the clearing whereof we may observe :—1. That it is not the priesthood of Christ, but his call thereunto, which in this place the apostle asserts, as was before declared. 2. As to this, he intends to show only that it was God the Father from whom he had all his mediatory power, as king, priest, and prophet to his church. 3. This is evidently proved by this testimony, in that therein God declares him to be his Son, and his acceptance thereby of him in the discharge of the work committed unto him. For this solemn decla- ration of his relation unto God the Father in his eternal sonship, and his approbation of him, doth prove that he undertook nothing, performed nothing, but what he had appointed, designed, and autho- rized him unto. And that he had so designed him unto this office is more particularly declared in the ensuing testimony.
Obs. I. The office of the high priesthood over the church of God was an honour and glory to Jesus Christ.
It was so unto his hwman naturé, even as it was united unto the divine; for it was capable of glory, of degrees of glory, and an aug- mentation in glory, John xvii. 1, 1 Pet. i. 21. And the Lord Christ had a twofold glory upon him in the bearing and discharging of this office:—1]. The glory that was upon him, or of the work it- self; 2. The glory that was proposed unto him, in the effects of it.
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1. There was a glory upon him in his work, from the nature of the work itself. So it was prophesied of him, Zech. vi. 18, “He shall build the temple of the Lorp, and he shall bear the glory.” All the glory of the house of God shall be on him, Isa. xxii, 24. And it was a glory unto him, because the work itself was great and glorious. It was no less than the healing of the breach made between God and the whole creation by the first apostasy. Sin had put variance between God and all his creatures, Gen. iii, Rom. viii. 20. No way was left, but that God must be perpetually dishonoured, or all crea- tures everlastingly cursed. And hereby there seemed to be a kind of defeatment of God’s first design, to glorify himself in the making of all things; for to this purpose he made them all “ exceeding good,” Gen. i.31. And his glory depended not so much upon their being, as their being good; that is, their beauty, and order, and sub- jection to himself. But this was now lost as to all the creation, but only a part and portion of the angels, who sinned not. But yet the apostasy of those who were partakers of the same nature, privileges, and advantages with them, made it manifest what they also in their natural state and condition were obnoxious unto. How great, how glorious a work must it needs be, to put a stop unto this entrance of confusion; to lay hold on the perishing creation, running headlong into eternal ruin, and to preserve it, or some portion of it, some first-fruits of it, unto God from destruction! Must not this be a work equal unto, if not exceeding, the first forming of all things? Certainly it is a glorious and honourable thing unto him that shall undertake and accomplish this great and glorious work. What is said with respect unto one particular in it, may be applied unto the whole. When the sealed book containing the state of the church and the world was represented unto John, it is said that there was “no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, that was able to open the book, neither to look thereon,” Rev. v. 3. Whereon the apostle wept that none was found worthy to engage in that work. But when the Lord Christ, “the lion of the tribe of Judah,” appeared to do it, and prevailed therein, verse 5, all the host of heaven, all the saints of God, joined together in ascribing glory and honour unto him, verses 6-14. The work was great and honourable, and therefore on the account of it doth that harmonious ascription of _ glory and honour unto him ensue. How much more must the whole work be esteemed such, whereof that book contained only a small por- tion! Herein, then, was the Lord Jesus Christ exceedingly glorious in his priestly office, because in the discharge of it he was the only means and way of the recovery and advancement of the glory of God; the greatness of which work no heart can conceive nor tongue express. 2. It appears from the effects and consequents of the dis- charge of his office, or the glory proposed unto him. And that,—