motion of a dove. In all the miracles which he wrought, the Father bore witness of him* — even in the hour of his disso- lution, when most of all his divine mission might seem doubt- ful, even then did the Father so testify of him, as to make the Centurion, who superintended the execution, exclaim, Truly this was the Son of Godf !]
After suffering him to be put to death, he raised him up again from the dead —
[Jesus was able to raise himself, and is often said to have risen by his own powers But we are expressly told here, and in many other places, that the Father also raised him1'. Indeed, as the Father, to whose justice he paid the debt, gave, as it were, the commission, by virtue of which he was im- prisoned in the grave, it was necessary that he should also give him his discharge, when the demands of justice were fully satisfied. Accordingly, his restoration to life is spoken of as the strongest evidence of his Messiahship, and of his having finished that work which the Father had given him to do1.]
Lastly he exalted him to heaven, and invested him
with all the glory thereof —
[Jesus, in his obedience, had looked to " the joy that was set before him ;" and when that obedience was fulfilled, his Father gave him the promised reward. He placed that very person, who was crucified, at his own right hand. He seated him upon his own eternal throne, and committed the govern- ment of the universe into his hands k. He has commanded all to honour him even as himself; and to all eternity shall that adorable Lamb of God be the medium of his people's happi- ness, as he has been the Author and Procurer of it.]
That this is not a matter of mere speculation will appear, if we inquire,
II. What effect the consideration of it is intended to produce upon us ?
The ultimate end, for which the Father has thus interposed on our behalf, is, to glorify himself in the salvation of man. But there are other and more immediate ends, which the knowledge of his inter- ference is intended to accomplish :
1. It should confirm our faith —
e John v. 3H. ( Matt, xxvii. 54.
e John ii. 19. and x. 18. h Acts ii. 32. iv. 10. and v. 30.
J Rom. i. 4. k phil. ii. 9—11.
2389.1 THE father's part in redemption. 173
[We are called particularly to believe that Christ was the true Messiah ; that he performed every thing that was neces- sary for our salvation ; and that the Father is willing to be reconciled to all who come to him by Jesus. Now it is not possible to entertain a doubt of any one of these points, if we duly consider what the Father has done for us. Would God have so frequently, and in such a wonderful manner, borne
witness to Jesus if he had been an impostor? Would
he have liberated him from the prison of the grave, and have exalted him to glory, if the work assigned him had been left
unfinished Would he have sent him into the world to
redeem us, and have so gloriously rewarded his services, if, after all, he were not willing to accept returning prodigals ?
Can we suppose that God has done all these things
only to mock, and to deceive us ? Far be it from us to enter- tain the thought one moment. Let us rather conclude, that, as " it is impossible for God to lie," so it is most injurious to him to question one jot or tittle of the record which he has given us of his Son.]
2. It should enliven our hope —
[Many are the grounds upon which we are apt to indulge fear and despondency : but there is not one, which a due con- sideration of what God has done would not instantly remove. Do we suppose ourselves to have been overlooked by God ? He gave his Son to be " a propitiation, not for our sins only, but also for the sins of the whole world ;" and has asserted with an oath, that he is " not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and live." Do we imagine ourselves to be too vile? " It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that he sent his Son to save sinners, even the chief." Do we fear lest, notwithstanding we do believe, we should by some means or other be left to perish ? Behold he has exalted his Son as our Head, our Representative, our Forerunner, in whom we are already accepted, and with whom we shall assuredly be glorified in due season: yea, " he has made his Son to be Head over all things to his Church," in order that he may put all his enemies under his feet, and secure the purchase of his own blood. Let us then yield no more to gloomy apprehensions, but ask of God the gift of his blessed Spirit, through whose powerful influence we shall both abound and rejoice in hope1.]