12 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. VIII
upon the earth ;—the highest condescension of God. And whereas the acting of his power on the earth is often called his coming down from heaven, Gen. xviii: 21, Isa. lxiv. 1, how much more may this infinite condescension of the second person in assuming our nature be so called! But yet he was still in heaven ;—“the Son of man, which is in heaven.” In his divine nature he was still on the throne of majesty;. for this being an inseparable property of divine authority, he could never really forego it. Then,—
3. It is the human: nature of Christ, or Christ in his human na- ture, or with respect unto it, that is capable of this real exaltation, by a real addition of glory. It is not the manifestation of his glory with respect unto his human: nature, but the real collation of glory on him after his ascension, that is intended. This the whole Serip- ture testifieth unto, namely, a real communication of glory unto Christ by the Father, after his ascension, which he had not before. See Luke xxiv. 26; John xvii. 24; Acts ii, 83, v. 31; Rom. xiv. 9; Eph. i. 20-23; Phil.. ii. 9-11; Heb. 1 3, xii 25 1 Pet mt; Rev. v. 12. And concerning this glory given him of God, we may observe,—
(1.) That it is not absolutely infinite and essentially divine glory. This eannot be communicated unto any. A ereature, as was the human nature of Christ, cannot be made God, by an essen- tial communication. of divine properties unto it. Neither are they so communicable, nor is that a capable subject of their inhesion. Wherefore they speak dangerously who-assert a real communication of the properties of the one nature of Christ unto the other, so as that the human nature of Christ shall be omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient: neither doth the union of the two natures in the person of Christ require any more the transfusiou of the divine pro- perties into the human, than those of the human into the divine. If, therefore, by that union, the human nature should be thought to be rendered subjectively omnipotent and omnipresent, the divine, on the other hand, must become limited and finite. But whatever belongs unto Christ with respect unto either nature, belongs unto the person of Christ; and therein he is all that he is in either nature; and in both hath done and doth what in either of them he hath done and doth, they yet eontinuing distinct in their essential properties.
(2.) Yet this exaltation and glory of Christ in his human nature is not only absolutely above, but also of another kind, than the utmost of what any other created being either hath or is capable of. It is more than any other creature is capable of, because it is founded in the union of his person;—a privilege which no other creature can ever pretend unto, or be made partaker of unto eternity, — Heb. ii 16. This renders his glory in his exaltation of another
VER. 2.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 13
kind than that of the -most glorious creatures in their best condi-
tion. Again, it consists greatly in that power and authority over
the whole creation, and every individual in it, and all their con- cerns, which is committed unto him. See our explanation hereof at large on chap. i. 3. i
4, This exaltation of the person of Christ gives glory unto his office, as the apostle here-declares. It isthe person of Christ which is vested with the office of the priesthood, or God could not have “redeemed the church with his own blood ;’ although he exercises all the duties of it, both here below and above, in the human nature only. And it is the person of Christ which is thus exalted and made glorious, although the especial subject of this exaltation and glory be the human nature only. And this gives glory unto his office; for,—
(1.) This-is a manifest pledge and evidence of the absolute per- fection of his oblation, and that “by one offering he hath for ever perfected them that are sanctified.” When the high priest of old appeared for a while in the holy place, he returned again unto his former ‘station, that he might be in a condition to offer another sacrifice at the return of the year; and hence doth our apostle prove that none of the worshippers were perfected by those sacri- fices. But our -high priest, having offered himself once for all, now sitting down for ever atthe right hand of God, in glory and majesty inconceivable, it is evident that he hath fully expiated the sins of all that come unto God by him. And this declares the glory of his office.
(2.) By his glorious power he makes all things subservient unto the ends -of his mediation; for he is given to be “head over all things to the church.” All things are in his power and at his dis- posal, as he is exalted at the right hand of God; and he will as- suredly make them all work together for the good of them that do
believe. And,—
(3.) He is able to render the persons and duties of believers
_accepted in the sight-of God. To present them unto God is the great remaining duty of his office. That they be so, is their only real concern in this world, and that alone which their minds are