Father": he declares not only that he himself is the author of this union, but that it is a part of that glory which he has given usx.]
V. The glory of reigning with God—
Both the good and evil angels are called principa- lities and powers, but they are never said to "reign" with God. &
Our Lord however has received this honour of his Father —
[All power in heaven and in earth is committed to him?. He is exalted far above all principalities and powers z. It is decreed that every soul shall submit to Jesus a.]
This honour also has Christ vouchsafed to his people —
[The victorious saints will exercise a kind of dominion over the ungodly at the last dayb: they will sit with Christ as assessors in judgment over men and devils c : they have a king- dom appointed to them even nowd: they will be formally invested with it at the last day : they will receive it as a special grant from Christ himself e.] Infer —
1. What an exalted character is the true Christian!— [Christians are despised by the unbelieving world : but
the Scriptures describe their dignity in most exalted terms. How can we ever estimate aright the glory given them by their Lord! What glory can the earth afford in comparison of this ! Let us not then act unworthy of this high character.]
2. How marvellous is Christ's love to his people! — [Every thing, which he himself has received of the Father,
he gives to them : he even bought it with his blood, that he might bestow it upon them. How incomprehensible is this love ! Let us entertain worthy conceptions of it : let us be constrained by it to love and serve him.]
u Johnxvii. 21. x ver< 92, 23. y Matt, xxviii. 18.
z Eph. i. 20, 21. a Isai> xlv- 93.
b Ps. xlix. 14. Rev. ii. 26, 27. Ps. cxlix. 7—9.
c 1 Cor. vi. 2, 3. d Luke xxii. 29. e Rev. iii. 21.