know that such acts are neither exclusively mental nor exclusively corporeal ; but how the two elements are combined, passes our comprehension. It is most unreasonable, therefore, and presumptu- ous, for us to endeavour to make intelligible to our feeble under- standings, how the divine and human in the person of our Lord, cooperate in full accordance with the nature of each. In the case of our own voluntary exercises, we know that the attributes of the mind are not transferred to the body ; much less are those of the body transferred to the mind. In like manner we know that the attributes of Christ's divine nature are not transferred to his hu- man nature, nor those of his humanity to his divinity. It is enough for us to know that this supreme ruler of the universe is a perfect man as well as a perfect God ; that He still has all human sym- pathies and affections, and can be touched, with a sense of our infirmities. That a person in whom dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and who is filled with all the love, tenderness, compassion, meekness, and forbearance, which Christ manifested while here on earth, has all power in heaven and earth committed to his hands, and is not far from any one of us, is an unspeakable delight to all his people.
In this exaltation of Christ to supreme dominion was fulfilled the prediction of the Psalmist, as the organ of the Holy Ghost, that all things, the whole universe, according to the interpretation of the Apostle as given in Hebrews ii. 8, and 1 Corinthians xv. 27, were to be put under subjection to man. In the former passage the Apostle argues thus: The world to come of which he spoke, i. e., the gospel dispensation, the world during the Messianic period, was not put under subjection to angels, for the Scriptures say that all things are put under man. And when it is said all things (ra TravTo) are put under Him, nothing is excepted. We do not yet, however, see all things put under man as man ; but we do see the man Christ Jesus, on account of the suffering of death, crowned with this absolutely universal dominion. It is, therefore, at the feet of a man in whom dwells the fulness of the Godhead, that all principalities and powers bow themselves in willing subjection and adoring love. And it is at the feet of this once crucified man that all the redeemed are to cast down their crowns.
This absolute dominion has been committed to Christ as medi- ator. He who is over all is the head of the Church ; it is for the Church, for the consummation of the work of redemption that as the God-man He has been thus exalted over all created beings. (Eph. i. 22; Col. i. 17, 18 ; 1 Cor. xv. 25-28.) Having been com-
638 PAKT III. Cu. XIII. — EXALTATION OF CHRIST.
mitted to Him for a special purpose, this universal dominion as Mediator will be relinquished when that purpose is accomplished. He will reign until all his enemies are put under his feet. And when the last enemy is subdued He will deliver up this kingdom unto the Father, and reign forever as King over the redeemed.
§ 4. Christ^s coming to judge the World.
This is the last step in his exaltation. He who was arraigned as a criminal at the bar of Pilate ; who was unrighteously condemned, and who amid cruel mockings, was crucified with malefactors, is to come again with power and great glory ; before Him are to be gathered all nations and all the generations of men, to receive from his lips their final sentence. He will then be exalted before all intelligences, as visibly their sovereign judge.
What the Scriptures teach on this subject is, (1.) That Christ is to come again. (2.) That this coming is to be personal, visible, and glorious. (3.) That the object of his second advent is to judge the world. (4.) That the persons to be judged are the quick and the dead, i. e., those then alive and those who died be- fore his appearing. (5.) That the rule of judgment will be the law of God, either as written on the heart or as revealed in hi.s Word. Those having the written revelation will be judged by it ; those who have had no such external revelation, will be judged according to the light they have actually enjoyed. (6.) That the- ground of judgment will be the deeds done in the body. (7.) That the sentence to be pronounced will be final, fixing the destiny of those concerned for etei'nity.
This whole subject belongs to the department of Eschatology, to which its more detailed consideration must be deferred. It is in- troduced here simply as connected with the exaltation of Christ, of which it is to be the culminating point.