Of Christ's States of Humiliation and Exaltation

Christ ’s Person, God -man, is manifested, and his offices are executed, in his two states of Humiliation and Exaltation. It behoved him to pass through the former into the latter. In the first he fulfilled his meritorious service, and in the last he receives his glorious reward, Luke xxiv. 26. Phil. ii. 6 — 11. Psalm xxii. Isa. liii. His mere possession of manhood implies infinite condescension, but is not properly a part of his humiliation, as he still retains it in his glorified state, Acts iii. 21. v ii. 56. Rev. i. 7, 18. Rut he was humbled in taking flesh of a sinful and mean stock, and in the low and afflicting circumstances of his conception, birth, life, death, and burial, Phil. ii. 6 — 8. Isa. liii. 2 — 12. Psalm xxii. lxix. Matth. xii. 40. Matth. i. to John xix.

In these several steps of his humiliation, it may in general be observed, that he was made under the law as our Surety, and

had all its demands required from him, without the least pity or abatement, Gal. iv. 4. Matth. iii. 15. v. 17. Luke xxiv. 26. — From all eternity he had engaged himself for our debt; but while he remained merely God, the law could not fix upon him to demand its due. Rut he no sooner began to assume our nature, than it took fast hold of him, and made his very conception in the form of a bond-servant, and in the likeness of sinful llesh, Phil. ii. 7. Rom. viii. 3. He was made under the judicial law, and hence early enrolled a descendant of David. He was made under the ceremonial law, and hence was early circumcised, and presented at the temple, and afterward attended the sacred festivals, and required the lepers, whom he healed,, to perform their ceremonial purifications, Luke ii. Matth. viii. 4. Luke xvii. 14. But he was more properly and immediately placed under the moral law, as a broken covenant of works: Under this, all his elect, whom he came to redeem, are by nature, Rom. iii. 10 — 20; and from this they are redeemed by his fulfilment of it in their stead, Rom. viii. 2 — 4. x. 4. vii. 4. vi. 14. Gal. iv. 4, 5. And he was under the judicial and ceremonial laws, only as they were grafted into this moral law. 1. The Most High God, the great Lawgiver, and Lord of all, was made under the commands of this broken law, requiring him to perform perfect, personal, and perpetual obedience, under the infinite weight of its curse, Matth. v. 17, 18. iii. 15 Heb. v. 8 John viii. 29. Isa. xlii. 21. Dan. ix. 24. 2 The infinitely happy God,

blessed for ever, was made under the curse of this broken law, which the transgressors represented by him had incurred, Gal. iii. 13. This curse, 1. Laid him under the power of legal death, and retained him under it from the moment of his conception till he had finished his humbled service, and was justified in his resurrection. 2. It shut him up to undergo the wrath of God, in every thing about him, which it could affect, and from every quarter, and agency of every kind.

He underwent the execution of this curse, in, 1. His soul, Isa. liii. 10. It was often tempted, Mat. iv. 1-r-ll. John xiv. 30. Heb. ii. 17, 18. iv. 15; — was grieved with the reproaches cast on himself, and with the sins and miseries of others. Psalm lxix. 19,20. xxii. G, 7. Heb. xii. 3. Mark iii. 5, 21. Matth. xi. 19. xii. 24. xxvi. 59 — 74. xxvii. 29, 39 — 49. John viii. 48, 52. Luke xix. 41, 42. John xi. 35; — and burdened and tormented with the hidings of his Father’s face, and the fears and impressions of his wrath, Matth. xxvii. 46. xxvi. 39. Luke xxii. 43. Heb. v. 7. John xii. 27. Psalm xxii. 1, 2, 14, 21. lxix. 1, 2. 2. In his body, — in circumcision, Luke ii. 21; in

labour, Mark vi. 3; in hunger, Matth. iv. 2; in thirst, John xix. 28; in weariness, John iv. 6, 7; in repeated dangers of death, Matth. ii. 16, Luke iv. 18 — 29. Mark iii. 6, 7. Luke of Christ’s state of humiliation.

xiii. 31. John v. 16. vii. 1, 32, 44. viii. 59. x. 39. xi. 53, 54; in bloody sweat, Luke xxii 44; in apprehension and bonds, Matth. xxvi. 50. xxvii. 30; in being shamefully spitted on by vile miscreants, Isa. 1. 6. lii. 14. Matth xxvi. 67. xxvii. 30; in being buffeted, scourged, and his hair plucked out, Isa. 1. 6. Mic. v. 1. Matth. xxvi. 67. xxvii. 30. John xix. 1; in being crowned with thorns, and having his garments painfully torn from his bloody and wounded body, Matth. xxvii. 29, 34, 35. John xix. 2; in receiving gall and vinegar for drink, Psal. lxix. 21. Matth. xxvii. 34, 48; and in dying the most shameful, lingering, and universally tormenting death of the cross, Luke xxiii. 28. John xix. 17. Psal. xxii. 17. Mark xv. 24, 25. 3. In

his reputation he was loaded with the most abusive railing and calumny, Matth. xi. 19. xii. 24. John viii. 22, 24, 48, 52. vii. 20. x. 33. Mark iii. 7, 21. xiv. 63, 64. Psal. xlix. 19, 20. xxii 6; the most false accusations, Matth. xxvi. 59 67. xxvii. 12,

Luke xxiii. 2. John xix. 7; and the most ignominious ridicule, Psal. xxii. 6 — 8. xl. 15. lxix. 7, 12. Matth. xxvi. 68. xxvii. 47. Luke xv. 2. John vii. 35. 4. In his outward lot. He

sprang of a very debased, though once royal family, Isa. xi. 1. Jiii. 2; was conceived by a woman of low estate, Luke i. 27, 28; in Nazareth, a wicked and infamous city, John i. 46. vii. 52; born in Bethlehem, a mean place, Mic. v. 2. Matth. ii. 1 — 6; in a stable, and laid in a manger, — thus rendered like to a beast, to punish our original hearkening and continued conformity to beasts, instead of God, Luke ii. 7. He, for a time, lived an exile in Egypt, the land of cruel bondage, Matth. ii. 14, 15; and long dwelt and laboured as a mean carpenter in profligate Nazareth, Matth. ii. 23. Luke ii. 51. Mark vi. 3. He was oppressed with poverty, especially while he preached the gospel, and went about healing all manner of diseases, 2 Cor. viii. 9. Mat. viii. 20 Luke ix. 58. Psalm lxix. 29. xl. 17. 5. Though his Godhead could not be affected with sufferings of any kind, yet his person being under the curse, Gal. iv. 4. iii. 13, his divine glory was concealed under the likeness of sinful flesh, Horn. viii. 3; and subsisted in personal union with a manhood, continually affected with sufferings, and was, by that means, exposed to the vilest contempt and insults, Acts xx. 28. iii. 15. 1 Cor. ii. 8. Psalm xxii. 6.

The curse of the broken covenant of works having thus set him up, in all that pertained to him, as a butt of God’s indignation, drew sufferings upon him from every quarter. His Father, who loved him infinitely, acting as a righteous judge toward him as our Surety charged in law with our sins, deserted him, — hid his face from him, — was wroth with him, — and executed upon him just vengeance, by himself, by devils, men, and other creatures, as his instruments, Isa. liii. 2 — 12- or Christ’s state of humiliation.

Mattl). xxvii. 46. Zech. xiii. 7. John xviii. 11. xix. 11. Acts ii. 23, 24. iv. 27, 28. — While holy angels, shut out by the curse, stood aloof from him, devils permitted, and as it were empowered by it, did tempt and harass him, Matth. iv. 1 — 11. John xiv. 30. — Of men, his kinsfolk reproached, rejected, and plagued him,. Mark iii. 21. John vii. 1 — 10; his neighbours of Nazareth attempted to murder him, Luke iv. 28, 29; his hearers cavilled at his words, and blasphemed him, Luke xi. xiv. Mark iii. v. John v. — x.; his disciples vexed him with their ignorance, unbelief, presumption, contention, ambition, and unconcern, Luke v. 8. John xiv. 5 — 9. xvi. 31. Matth. xiv. 31. xvi. 22, 23. xvii. 4, 17. Luke xxii. 23, 46. Judas, one of them, in the most treacherous manner, for a pitiful reward betrayed him, Psalm xli. 9. Iv. 13 — 15. cix. 4. Matth. xxvi. 15, 21, 25, 47, 48. Contrary to his most solemn promises, Peter, upon the slightest temptations, thrice denied him, cursed and swore that he had never known him, Matth. xxvi. 33, 35. 69 — 74; the other ten forsook him and fled, Matth. xxvi. 31, 56. John xvi. 32. His avowed enemies persecuted him in every form. Herod I. attempted to murder him in his infancy, and for his sake slew all the babes about Bethlehem. Herod II. sought to kill him, when a preacher; and with his men of war abused and contemned him. — After they had for several years persecuted him, the Jewish rulers, priests, scribes, and pharisees apprehended him, procured his crucifixion, and during it, in the vilest manner insulted and abused him. The common people, who had just before loudly extolled him as the promised Messiah, preferred to him a most notorious rob¬ ber and murderer; insisted for his crucifixion, and abused him under it. Pilate, the Homan governor, condemned him; his heathen soldiers scourged and crucified him, and parted his garments. Psalm ii. 1 — 4. xxii. 6 — 21. lxix. 1 — 22. Matth. ii. xxvi. xxvii. Luke xiii. 31, 32. xxiii. 7 — 11. Mark iii. John v. vii. viii. x. xi. xviii. xix. Luke xxii. xxiii. And, by slanderous accusations, the Jewish rulers attempted to imprison him in his grave, Matth. xxvii. 63 — 66.

The humiliation of Christ was necessary, 1. To execute the purpose of God and the covenant-engagements of Christ, Acts ii. 23, 24. iv. 27, 28. Psalm xl. 6 — 8. 2. To fulfil the manifold types and predictions of the Old Testament, Lev. i. — xvi. Num. xv. xix. xxviii. xxix. Psal. xxii. lxix. Isa. liii. Zech. ix. 9. xiii. 7. The troubles of Abel, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, David, and all the sacrifices, with the lifting up of the brazen serpent, prefigured this, Col. ii. 17. Heb. x. 1. 3. To satisfy the broken law of God, and purchase eternal redemption for us, Isa liii. 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12. Heb. ix. 12, 15. x. 10, 14. I Pet. i. 18, 19. ii. 24. iii. 18*, Rev. v. 9, 4. To-

6* cueist’s state of humiliation.

give the redeemed an unspotted pattern of holiness and patience under suffering, 1 Pet. ii. 20 — 24. Eph. v. 2, 25.

Reflect. Tqrn aside, my hell-hardened heart, and be¬ hold this great sight, the bush of Jesus’ manhood burning in the flames of Jehovah’s wrath, and not consumed! Behold the power of men’s enmity against God, that made them thus hate, reproach, and murder his only begotten Son, — their Saviour, whose instructions had been so edifying, his life so virtuous, and his unnumbered miracles so benevolent! Behold the dreadful punishment,- — and in that punishment the heinous nature of sin! What is a deluged world, — a burning Sodom, — a plagued Egypt, — an opened hell, — and all the torments of the damned, when compared with this, — the Son of God cursed, — troubled in soul, till he knew not what to say, — amazed and very heavy, — sorrowful even unto death, — roaring under the hidings of his Father’s face, — groaning and dying under the weight of his wrath! — Behold with awful dread, w’hat must quickly be my condition, if I be and continue an unbelieving and impenitent sinner, — a graceless preacher! — Betrayed by Satan, by the world, and my own treacherous, but much trusted heart! Accused by the fiery law! Fast apprehended by a stinging death! Condemned by God, and consigned to be an everlasting butt of his infinite vengeance, and a derision of wicked angels and men! Upbraided by the curses of those whom my careless ministrations, my carnal or trifling con¬ verse, and untender example, have seduced towards hell! -

But listen, my soul! — how, — by every reproach, — by every wound, — every groan, — every tear, — every drop of blood, Jesus, the Son of God, invites and obtests me to come to him

and be saved! - Dare I, — can I, contemn or resist such calls

from him who loved me, and gave himself for me! — Behold! how completely my debt is paid, — my happiness is purchased, — my peace with God procured and confirmed! Behold a fulfilled, an everlasting righteousness, a finished transgression, an ended sin, a wasted curse, a vanquished death, an extinguished hell, a fulfilled, a magnified, a smiling law, an espousing God! and all for me! — Behold, the mighty debt of love

which I owe to Christ and his Father! - Let me prize,

prize more than ten thousand worlds, the Man, God’s fellow’, who, for me, was sold for thirty pieces of silver. Let me cleave with full purpose of heart to my once forsaken Lord. Let me boldly confess my thrice denied Redeemer. Let my heart and soul entertain him who, for me, had ncft where to lay his head. Let me with hosannas in the highest exalt my once contemned, reproached, but now glorified Christ. Let me take up my <yoss and follow him. — If I forget thee, O Jesus!

of Christ’s state of humiliation. let my right hand forget her cunning, and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth. - But, ah! my sins! shamed, detest¬

ed, crucified, and destroyed let them be. — Nay, lothed and de¬ tested be my soul, if I follow, — if I preach Jesus Christ, not from love, but for filthy lucre.

Notwithstanding the tremendous humiliation of our Redeemer, it was attended by many honourable circumstances.

1. An angel repeatedly foretold his birth, Luke i. 26 — 36.

Matth. i. 20, 21. 2. John Baptist, his forerunner, when yet

unborn, leaped in his mother’s womb at his approach, Luke i. 41. 3. An host of angels with high shouts of praise proclaimed his birth, Luke ii. 10 — 14. 4. An angel prevented

his falling under a suspicion of bastardy; and directed the preservation of his infant life, Matth. i. 19, 20 ii. 13, 19, 20, 22. 5. When he was presented in the temple, Simeon and Anna, by divine inspiration, proclaimed him the true Messiah, Luke

ii. 25 — 38. 6. An uncommon star directed the wise Gentiles to the place of his birth, in order to worship him, Matth. ii.

2, 9, 10. 7. Being yet a child, he disputed with the most

learned doctors, Luke ii. 40 — 50. 8. His Father by a voice

from heaven repeatedly attested his divine Sonship, Matth.

iii. 17. xvii. 5. John xii. 28. 9. The Holy Ghost, in a visi¬

ble manner, descended upon him at his baptism, and rested upon him, Matth. iii. 16. John i. 33, 34 10. John Baptist

repeatedly declared him the Messiah, John i. 29 — 36. iii. 24 — 36. Matth. iii. 11 — 14. 11. He fasted forty days in the wilderness, vanquished Satan’s temptations, and angels ministered to him, Matth. iv. 1 — 11. Luke iv. 1 — 10. 12. His body was gloriously transfigured on the mount, and he conversed with Moses and Elias, twro glorified saints, Matth. xvii. 1 — 14. Luke ix. 28 — 36. 13. A voice from heaven encouraged him under his fearful apprehensions of approaching death, John xii. 27 — 29. 14. In his agony, an angel appeared to strengthen and comfort him, Luke xxii. 43, 44. 15. A few

days before he was crucified, the solemn hosannas of the children and multitude at Jerusalem proclaimed him the Messias, Mat. xxi. John xii. 16. A supernatural darkness attended his crucifixion, Matth. xxvii. 45. 17. A perplexing dream of

Pilate’s wife attested his innocence, Matth. xxvii. 19. 18. Pi¬

late, who condemned him, repeatedly pronounced him innocent, and, instead of a crime, resolutely marked his cross with, a threefold attestation of his true Messiahship, John xviii. 38. xix. 4. Luke xxiii. 4, 14, 15, 22. Matth. xxvii. 23, 24. John xix. 19 — 22. 19. Wtiile he hung on the cross, a crucified thief and an attending centurion, being then converted, publicly acknowledged him the true Messiah, Luke xxiii. 40- — 47, op chhist’s state op humiliation

Matth. xxvii. 51. 20 While he expired, an earthquake rent

the rocks, and the vail of the temple, if not also, opened many graves about Jerusalem, Matth. xxvii. 51, 52. 21. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, who had hitherto concealed their regard for him, now openly acknowledged him the Messiah, and procured him an honourable burial in Joseph’s new sepulchre, lately hewn out of a rock in his garden; thus making his grave with the rich, after it had been appointed with the wicked malefactors in Calvary, John xix. 38 — 42. Isa. liii. 9. 22. While he lay in his grave, fulfilling the sentence of

the broken law, Gen. ii. 17. iii. 19; implementing the ancient types and predictions concerning him, and manifesting that he was truly dead, the Holy Ghost preserved his mangled bloody corpse from all corruption, Psalm xvi. 10. Acts ii. 27, 31. xiii. 35, 37. 23. His enemies’ attempt to imprison him in his

grave, did but render his resurrection more glorious and manifest, Matth. xxvii. 06. xxviii. 4, 11. 24. His amazing in¬

structions, sermons, and conferences, Matth. v. — vii. xiii. xx. xxi. xxii. xxiii. xxiv. xxv. Luke iv. — xxi. John ii. — xvi. 25. His almost unnumbered miracles, Matth. iv. 25. xi. 5. xiv. 35, 36.

His miracles were public and uncontrouled, — manifesting his power — over devils, in dislodging them from men, and granting them liberty to enter into swine, Acts x. 38. Mat. viii. 16. ix. 33. xii 22 — 28, &c. — over men, in making the furious band who came to apprehend him, fall backward at his word, John xviii. 6; — over diseases, healing the most inveterate leprosies, palsies, dropsies, fevers, bloody issues, blindness, withered benumbedness, lameness, maimedness, lunacies, &c. Luke iv. 40. Mat. viii. Mark i. — iii. v. vii. ix. x. Luke xiv. John v. ix. — over death, in raising to life the deceased daughter of Jairus, the coffined son of the widow at Nain, and Lazarus, who had been dead four days, and was buried, Mark v. 36 — 42. Luke vii. 11 — 15. John xi. 38 — 44; — over irrational creatures, in cursing the fig-tree, Mat. xxi. 19; multiplying the loaves and fishes, Mat. xiv. 15r — 21. xv. 31 — 38; causing multitudes of fish to come into a net, Luke v. 4 — 7. John xxi. 6 — 8; and one bring money in its mouth for paying the tribute, Mat. xvii. 27; in walking upon the sea, and making Peter walk upon it, Mat. xiv. 25 — 29; in calming dreadful tempests by his word, Mat. viii. 26. xiv. 32. — His working miracles differed from that by his prophets and apostles. 1. He wrought all his miracles by his own power, and in his own name, John v. 17. xi. 11; they wrought their’s in his name and strength, Acts iii. 6 — 13. iv. 11 ix. 34. 2. His power

of working miracles was constant, — theirs but occasional, and by means of prayer. Mat. iv. 25. xi. 5. 1 Kings xvii. xviii.

of Christ’s state op humiliation.

2 Kings i. — iv. Acts iii. 3. He communicated this power to others; they could communicate it to none. - By his mira¬

cles thus performed, 1. He manifested himSelf to be the Son of God in our nature, producing the miracle by his divine power, and yet by a word, a touch, or the like, w hich respect¬ ed his manhood. Mat. vii. 33, 34. John ix. 6, 17. 2 He manifested in himself one distinguishing mark of the true Messiah, Isa. xxxv. 5, 6. xxix. 18. Mat. xi. 5, 7. And this the more remarkably proved his true Messiahship, as there had been no miracles wrought in the holy land for above 700 years before, nor on earth for about 600 years before. Nor did any but himself work any miracles in the temple, the house of God, Matth. xxi. 14. 3. He confirmed his doctrine to be

of God, John v. 36. x. 38 xiv. 11. Luke xi. 20. Matth. xii. 28, 29. 4. He demonstrated his supreme power over all

creatures, Mat. xxviii. 18. Eph. i. 21. Psalm xxiv. 1. 5. He

testified his compassion and kindness towards men, and his readiness to heal the diseases, and supply the wrants of their

souls, John vi. 37. Luke ix. 56. - During his private life,

Christ wrought no miracles at all, and but one after his resurrection: nor did he ever work any for his own advantage. — He refused the devils’ attestation of his miraculous powers, that he might not be suspected of any collusion with them,

Mark i. 24, 25. - To fulfil ancient predictions, — to shun the

troublesome concourse of multitudes, — to manifest his own humility, — and not irritate the Jews to untimely conspiracies against him, — and that he might not confound them with too many miracles, he sometimes forbade them that had been healed to publish it, Mat. viii. 4. ix. 30. xii. 16. But he never hindered any Gentiles to publish wdiat they had experienced; which, perhaps, prefigured his publication of his gospel among them.

II. Betwixt the death and resurrection of our Saviour, his humiliation and exaltation were conjoined. His humiliation continued in his body’s lying in the grave, under the power of death, and in the breach of the union between his soul and body. — His exaltation began in the happiness of his separated soul, in the heavenly mansions. That it went thither is evident. 1. He committed his departing soul into the hands of his pacified Father, Luke xxiii. 46. 2. It retired to paradise,

and was there with the soul of the penitent thief that very day on which he died, Luke xxiii. 43. 3. The Papists’ Limbus

patrum or infantum, or purgatory, are but mere fancies, into which nothing can go. 4. Neither Scripture nor common sense assign any proper end of his soul’s retiring to hell after his death. — It needed not go thither to finish its part in his op Christ’s state of exaltation.

sacrifice, that being completed in his death, John xix. 30. Heb. x. 14; — nor to triumph over devils, having done that on the cross, and being soon to do it more gloriously in his resurrection and ascension, leading captivity captive, Col. ii. IS. Psalm lxviii. 18; — nor to preach the gospel to the damned, their season of grace being for ever gone, Heb. iii. 7, 13 — 15. Luke xvi. 26. — It was not then, but in the days of Noah, that he preached to the sinners of the old world, whose souls had lived in the prison of an unregenerate state, and after death had gone to the prison of hell, 1 Pet. iii. 19, 20. .And though Shkol, or Hades, sometimes means the place of the damned, Psalm ix. 17. Luke xvi. 23; yet, more frequently it means the grave or separated state of the dead, Job xxi. 13. Gen. xxxvii. 35. xlii. 38. 1 Kings ii. 6. Psalm cxli. 7; or, a state of terrible debasement and trouble, Isa. xiv. 9, 11, 15, 19, 20. Psalm xviii. 5 cxvi. 3, ,Jon. ii. 2. — Now? Christ’s body, which is all that Nephesh or Psyche means in some texts, Lev. xix. 28. xxi. 1, 11. Nuiti. v. 2. Luke vi. 9, was not left in Sheol or Hades, but raised from death and the grave, Mark xvi. 6, 9. 1 Cor. xv. 4, 20. Nor was his soul left in its terrible debasement, or separated from his body, but re-united to

it, and exalted to glory, Psalm xvi. 10. - The lower parts

of the earth into which Christ descended, was this world, reckoned lower than the heavens, — and his mother’s womb,

Eph. iv. 9. Isa. lv. 9. Psalm cxxxix. 15. - In the grave he

was in the heart of the earth, Matth. xii. 40; even as Tyre was in the heart of the sea, though very near the shore, Ezek, xxvi. 4.

Christ’s unmixed exaltation consists in his being completely glorified; in rising from the dead, ascending to heaven, sitting at God’s right hand, and coming to judge the world. In all these four steps, his person God-man is exalted, though the addition of glory be only made to his human nature. — As, in his humiliation, his person was debased in his manhood, so, in his exaltation, his person was exalted in his manhood. In his humiliation, the glory of his Godhead was eclipsed by the sufferings ot his manhood. In his exaltation it shines brightly through the graces of his manhood, Phil. ii. 6 — 11. Heb. ii. 8 — -10. Isa. liii. 2 — 12. lii. 13, 14, 15.

I. Christ’s resurrection from the dead on the third day, be¬ ing a peculiar hinge of the gospel-dispensation, was not only foretold by the prophets, Job xix. 25. Psalm xvi. 10, 11. xxi’i. 19 — 21. cx. 7. Isa. liii. 8. xxv. 8. lv. 3. Acts xiii. 34, Zech. iii. 8. Hos. vi. 2; — and typified by Noah’s departure from the ark, Joseph’s deliverance from prison, Samson’s carrying otf the gates of Gaza, Daniel’s coming out of the lions’ den, — the of chuist’s state of exaltation. 325

leper’s live bird flying away after it had been dipped in the blood of its fellow, — the dismission of the scape-goat, Gen. viii. xli. 14. Judg. xvi. 3. Dan. vi. 23. Lev. xiv. 6, 7. xvi. 21, 22; — and by Isaac’s deliverance from death on the third dayafter he was divinely devoted to it; Hezekiah’s going up to the house of the Lord on the third day after he received a divine sentence of death; and Jonah’s coming out of the whale’s belly on the third day, Gen. xxii. Heb. xi. 19. 2 Kings xx. 5. John ii. 10. i. 17. Mat. xii. 40. 1 Cor. xv. 4; — but we have many, and most manifest proofs, that it actually took place. I. The soldiers who had been appointed to watch his sepulchre, being affrighted by the earthquake, or by the angels who had appeared to roll the stone from the door of it, published the truth of his resurrection, and of the wonders which attended it, that same day in Jerusalem. Nor could their confounded masters, rulers of Judah, invent any thing to dis¬ credit it, but a most glaring falsehood, .Mat. xxviii. 11 — 15.

11. Holy angels testified that he was risen, to the women that

went to visit his sepulchre, Mat. xxviii. 6, 7. III. Many saints, who had been raised together with him, went into Jerusalem, and appeared unto many. Mat. xxvii. 53. IV. Christ himself manifested the truth of it, in eleven or twelve different appearances to his friends. 1. To Mary Magdalene at the sepulchre, Mark xvi. 9. John xx. 11 — 18. 2. To the wo¬ men returning from the sepulchre, Mat. xxviii. 9, 10. 3. To

Cleophas and his companion going to Emmaus, Luke xxiv, 13 — 31. 4. To Simon Peter alone, Luke xxiv. 34. 1 Cor. xv. 5. 5. To ten apostles in their chamber at Jerusalem,

Luke xxiv. 30 — 48. John xx. 19 — 23, — all on the very day of his resurrection. 6. To eleven apostles on the eighth day after, 1 Cor. xv. 5. John xx. 26 — 29. 7. To seven of them at the Sea of Tiberias, John xxi. 1 — 21. 8. To eleven apostles on a mountain of Galilee, Mat xxviii. 16 — 20.

9. To more than five hundred brethren at once, 1 Cor. xv. 6.

10. To his eleven apostles just before his ascension, Acts i.

4 — 11. Luke xxiv. 49 — 51. 11. To James, 1 Cor. xv. 7.

12. After his ascension, to Stephen, Acts vii. 56; — to Paul,

1 Cor. ix. 1. xv. 8. Acts ix. 3 — 17; — and to John in Patmos, Rev. i. — iii. v. x. xxii. V. After many repeated sights of him, and much converse with him, his twelve apostles, with¬ out, nay, contrary to, every consideration of carnal interest, did, within a few weeks after he had been murdered at Jerusalem, when the very same multitudes who had procured and witnessed his death were met together, publish his resurrection to them, in the most bold, steady, and uniform man¬ ner. Nor could all the power, learning, craft, rage, and malice of their opponents produce any other refutation but of Christ’s state of exaltation.

threatenings, imprisonment, and murder, Acts ii. — viii. xii. VI The Holy Ghost, by miraculously descending upon the apostles, and enabling them to preach in languages which they had never learned, discern spirits, and work miracles, and making their report so wonderfully successful on the hearts even of their most outrageous opposers, mightily attested Christ’s resurrection, Acts ii. — vi. John xiv. 16, 17, 26. xv. 26.

xvi. 7 — 14. xx. 21. Acts i. 5, 8.

Christ was raised from the dead by the concurring influence of all the three divine persons. 1. By the Father, to whom it is emphatically ascribed, Acts ii. 24. iii. 15, 16. iv. 10. x. 40.

xvii. 31. Rom. x. 9. vi. 4. viii. 11. 1 Pet. i. 21. Eph. i. 20.

Heb. xiii. 20. — Thus he acknowledged him his beloved Son, adjudged, and called him to his glorious reward, as well as he had done to his debased service, 1 Tim. iii. 16. Heb. v. 4, 5. And, to testify his full satisfaction for his elect, and his solemn justification as their head, he sent an angel to open the grave, his prison, Isa. lm. 8. Mat. xxviii. 2. 2. By the

Son, John ii. 19. x 17, 18. Rom. i. 4. 1 Pet. iii. 18. John v. 21. xi. 25. 3. By the Holy Ghost, who is perhaps on that

account called the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, Rom. viii. 2,

11 vi. 4. - The Father, as a fully satisfied judge, released

him from prison. The Son, having finished his humiliationwork, re-united his soul to his body, both having still continued united to his person. The Holy Ghost, wTho dwelt in both, re-established their natural union.

Concerning the resurrection of Christ, it must be remarked, that, 1. The very same body which he had before his death, rose again, in all its essential properties, Luke xxiv. 39. John xx. 20, 27. 2. He rose from the dead very early on the frst

day of the week, to mark him the Hind of the morning, the morning Star, the Day-spring from on high, and the Sun of righteousness, Psalm xxii. title. Rev. ii. 28. xxii. 16. Luke iT 78. Mai. iv. 2. Mat. xxvni. 1. Mark xvi. 9. Gen. i. 5. 3. Pie rose

again upon the third day, after he had lain dead part of the sixth, all the seventh, and a few hours of the first day of the week, Mat. xii 40. 1 Cor. xv. 4. It was not proper that he should rise too soon, lest the reality of his death should have been doubted; nor proper that he should continue dead very long, lest his followers should have utterly fainted, and his resurrection not be timely published, when the facts were fresh in men’s memories. 4. Pie rose again with great de¬ liberation, — to manifest which, and that his body had not been stolen away, nor should die any more, he left his grave-clothes behind him, decently wrapped together, and orderly placed, John xx. 5 — 7. 5. He rose with great solemnity: An earthquake shook the place: an angel rolled away the stone from the door of his sepulchre, and sat upon it: two others placed themselves on his grave: multitudes of saints rose along with him, and perhaps ascended to heaven as his harbingers, Mat. xxviii. 2. xxvii. 53. Mark xvi. 4 — 6. John xx. 12. 6. He rose as a public person, representing an elect

world, and, in his resurrection, received from God as the Judge, a complete legal discharge of all their debt, and took possession of eternal life in their name, Rom. iv. 25. Eph. ii. 6. 7. He rose to enjoy a state of everlasting life and happi¬

ness, Rom. vi. 9. Col. i. 18. 1 Cor. xv. 23, 37, 38. And though he once ate with his disciples, it was not from natural appetite, but to confirm his resurrection, Luke xxiv. 42, 43. Acts x. 41.

II. Christ, in his manhood, ascended to heaven. — Not only had the translations of Enoch and Elias to heaven, soul and body, — the exaltations of Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, and Daniel, after their trouble and danger, — and the priests’ placing the ceremonial ark in the most holy apartment of the tabernacle or temple, — and their carrying the blood and incense into the sanctuary or Holy of Holies, prefigured it, Gen. v. 24. 2 Kings ii. 11. Heb. xi. 5. Gen. xxxvii. — xlviii. Exod. ii. to Deut xxxiv. Josh. i. — xxiv. 1 Sam. xvi. — xxx. 2 Sam. i. — xxiv. 1 Chron. xi. — xxix. Dan. vi. Exod. xl. 21.

xxx. 7, 8. 1 Kings viii. 8 — 10. Lev. iv 7, 18. xvi. 12 — 16; -

and the prophets foretold it, Psal. xxiv. 7 — 10. xlvii. 5, 6. lxviii. 18. Mic. ii 13 Psalm viii. 1. Ezek. i. 26, 27. x. 18. 1 Pet. iii. 22. But, 1. His disciples saw him ascend to heaven, Acts i. 9, 10 2. Two holy angels testified that he did

ascend to it, Acts i. 11. 3. Stephen, Paul, and John saw

him in his ascended state, Acts vii. 55, 56. ix. 3, 4, 17. xxii. 6 — 21. Rev. i. 10 — 19. v. 6. xii. 5. 4. The marvellous de¬

scent of the Holy Ghost, and its effects, demonstrated that he had ascended, John xvi. 7 — 14. Acts ii. 33. 5. The terrible

overthrow and dispersion of the Jewish nation is a standing proof of his ascension, Mat. xxvi. 64. John viii. 21. — And, in this ascension, 1. His Father took him up into heaven, to ac¬ knowledge him his beloved Son, and to manifest his perfect fulfilment of all righteousness for his elect, Phil. ii. 9. Luke xxiv. 51. Acts i. 11, 22. ii. 33. v. 31. Eph. i. 20. 1 Tim. iii. 16. 1 Pet. i. 21. 2. In improving his purchased glory for himself

and his people, Christ went up into heaven, John xx. 17. Eph. iv. 8 — 10. John xiv. 2, 3, 28. xvi. 7, 28. Acts i. 10, 11. Mark xvi. 19. Psal. xlvii. 5. lxviii. 18.

Concerning Christ’s ascension to heaven, it may be observed, 1. He ascended forty days after his resurrection. He continued so many days on earth before he ascended, — that he

328 op purist’s state of exaltation.

mig)it give many repeated proofs of his resurrection to his. followers, Acts i. 3; — that lie might sufficiently instruct his apostles in every thing which pertained to the abolishment of the Jewish ceremonies, with the form, order, and worship of the New Testament church, Acts i. 3. Mark xvi. 15 — 18. Mat. >. x viii. 18 — 20; — that his disciples might have but a few days to wait for the effusion of his Spirit; and that there might be as much time between his glorious birth to immortal life and his entrance into his heavenly temple, as had been between his humbled birth and his presentation in the Jewish temple, — and as much time between his bloody baptism, the attestation of his divine Sonship, and his entrance on his heavenly ministrations, as had been between his water baptism, the attendant attestation of his Sonship, and his entrance on his public ministry on earth, Mat. iit 14 — 17 iv 1 — 17; — of which spaces, perhaps the long fasts of Moses and Elijah were typical. 2. He ascended from Mount Olivet, perhaps from the very spot w here he had suffered his blood agony, — there displaying his power, and setting off as a triumphant conqueror, where his human weakness had chiefly appeared, and where he had sustained a terrible conflict with all the powers of darkness, Acts i. 12. Luke xxiv. 50. 3. He wTas parted

from his disciples while lie was solemnly blessing them, — thus s labouring in bis redemption-work till his very last moment on earth, — shewing that he was the true seed of Abraham, in whom all nations should be blessed, — and that w’hile he left blessings behind him, he had still many more to bestow. Acts i. 9. Luke xxiv. 52. 4. Multitudes of angels attended him

in his ascension with solemn shouts of praise, Psal. lxviii. 17. xlvii. 5, G. Dan. vii. 9 — 14. 5. In his ascension he triumphed over devils as his captives, and received gifts for sinful men, in order to promote and secure their eternal salvation. Psalm lxviii. 18.

III. Having ascended up into heaven, Christ sat down at, the right hand of God, which means the most honourable sta? tion, the nearest and most familiar fellowship with him, 1 Cor. xv. 27. Psalm ex. 1, 5. Heb. i. 3 iv. 14. viii. 1. Phil, ii, 9. Isa. lii. 13. Eph. i. 20, 21. 1 Pet. iii. 22. God the Lather, in rewarding Christ for his humbled service, set him down at his right hand, Eph. i. 20, Acts ii. 31, 33; and Christ himself, as taking possession of his glorious reward, sat down, Mark xvi.

19, Heb. i. 3. viii. 1. Zech, vi. 13. - His sitting at the right

hand of God includes, 1. The endowment of his manhood with inconceivable glory and happiness, Acts ii. Psalm xvi. 11. 2. The high honour of his person God-man, it being

the privilege of Lords to sit, Dan. vii. 9. 1 Kings ii. 19. Bath* i. 13. Jobxxix. 25; and the character of servants to stand, 1 Kings xvii. 1. Dan. vii. 16. Zech. in. 7. Psalm cxxxiv. 1. Prov. xxii. 29. Thus Christ sits as our Intercessor crowned with glory and honour; and yet, to mark his readiness to act, help, or enter into us, he is represented as standing at the right hand of God, — at the right hand of the poor, — or at the door of your heart, Acts vii. 55, 56. Psalm cix. 31. Rev. iii. 20. 3. His refreshful rest after his finished labours, Heb. iv.

10. Psalm cx. 1. Mic. iv. 4. 4. His judicial and royal power

and authority, Matth. xix. 28. Zech. vi. 13. 5. The ever¬

lasting and undisturbed continuance of his happiness, honour, rest, and authority, 1 Cor. xv. 25. Psalm cx. 1, 5. xlv. 6. Heb. i. 8.

IV. Christ’s judging the world at the last day, is not an higher step of exaltation, than his sitting at his Father’s right hand; and is by some included in it. But it is a more public and solemn manifestation of his glory, in which we may consider the r reparation, the judgment itself, and the execution of the sentences.

I. In the preparation for the last judgment, are included Christ’s own personal appearance, the raising of the dead, and the assembling and separation of the parties to be judged.

1. Christ will appear in the most exalted manner in his own and his Father’s glory, attended by all his holy angels, — will erect his great white throne in the air; — and, in an awful man¬ ner, require all men to attend at his judgment-seat. Rev. i. 7. xx. 11, 12. Mat. xxiv. 24, 29 — 31. xxvi. 64. John v. 28, 1 Thess. iv. 15. 2 Thess. i. 7 — 10. Psalm 1 1 — 6.

2. The dead shall be raised from their graves. This pre-supposes the preservation of all the essential particles of their bodies while dead, and preservation of their souls in life, in order to be reunited to them. — -It includes the new formation of these particles into bodies fit for the residence of their respective souls, - — and the reunion of their souls to these newly formed bodies, in order to the renewal of human life. — All the dead of man¬ kind shall be thus raised. 1. In nature, we have manifold emblems of this resurrection. The day returns after the night. — Vegetables, which are apparently dead in winter, as well as serpents, swallows, and other animals, revive in the spring. And men, as well as brutes, awaken after sleep. 2. While reason manifests that God, by his infinite power and wisdom, is able to preserve, and anew form these particles into human bodies, — it no less clearly suggests, that men not being rewarded in this life according to their deeds, there must be some future state of retribution, in which men’s bodies, which had partook of Christ’s state of exaltation.

with their souls in their virtue or vice, must share with them in sensible happiness or misery, Eccl. iii. 16, 17. 3. Every lead¬

ing truth of the Christian religion requires the resurrection of the dead. If the Son of God assumed a human body in order to shew kindness to us, our bodies must be eternal partakers of his fraternal favours. If, in his body, as well as in his soul, he fulfilled all righteousness for us, our bodies must be delivered from death, and partake of his purchased eternal life. If our bodies, in a proper manner, partake of the seals of his covenant, they must share of the eternal happiness therein sealed. If our bodies be temples of Christ and his Spirit, and be washed in Iris blood, they must not lie in everlasting ruins, Ileb. ii. 11 — 15. x. 5, 22. Mat. xxvi. xxvii. xxviii. 19. 1 Cor. x. 16, 17. xi. 24- — 26. vi. 19, 20. Rom. viii. 11. 4. God hath already given al¬

most innumerable pledges of this future resurrection of the dead, — in raising the son of the widow of Zarephath, 1 Kings xvii. 21; the son of the Shunamite, 2 Kings iv. 35; the man cast into the grave of Elisha, 2 Kings xiii. 21; the daughter of Jairus, Luke ix. 49 — 56; the son of the widow of Nain, Luke vii. 15; Lazarus, John xi. 44; many saints at Christ’s resurrection, Mat. xxvii. 53; Dorcas, Acts ix. 40; Eutychus, Acts xx. 10; — but chiefly Christ himself, who is the first begotten from the dead, and the first fruits of them that slept, 1 Cor. xv. 13 — 28. Col. i. 18. 2 Cor. iv. 14. 1 Thess. iv. 14. Rom. viii. 11.

1 Pet. i. 3. Rev. i. 5. 5. Scripture plentifully attests this fu¬

ture and general resurrection of men, good and bad, Exod. iii. G. Mat. xxii.31, 32 — Dent, xxxii 39. 1 Sam. ii, 6. Job xix. 25 — 27; (the words of which are too emphatieal to mean only a temporal deliverance: nor doth Job appear to have had any hopes of such a deliverance, Job vi. 8, 9, 11. vii. 7, 8. x. 20, 29. vi. 22. xvii. 1, 15. xix. 10.) Psalm xvi. 11. xvii. 15. Isa. xxv. 8. xxvi. 19. Dan. xii. 2. IJos. xiii. 14. Luke xiv. 14. John v. 28, 29. vi. 39, 40, 44, 54, xi. 24, 25, 26. xiv. 19. Acts iv. 2. xvii. 18, 31. xxiii. 6. xxiv. 15. xxvi. 8. 1 Cor. vi. 14. xv.

2 Cor. i. 9. iv. 14. 1 Thess. iv. 14 — 16. 2 Tim. iv. 1. Heb. vi. 2. Rev. xx. 12. Ezek. xxxvii. 1 — 14. — In Luke xiv. 14. xx. 26. 1 Cor. xv. 23. Phil. iii. 11. John vi. 39 — 47. 1 Thess. iv. 14, wicked men are excluded from an happy resurrection, but not from a miserable restoration to life. — All men shall be raised in the same last day; but the righteous, including the martyrs, shall be raised first in order. — And the same human bodies which were buried, shall be raised again in all their essential parts, 1. It would not be a resurrection, but a new creation, if the same bodies were not raised. 2. God’s justice requires, that the same bodies which assisted in virtue or vice, should be raised to share in their respective rewards or punishments. 3. Christ, iwbo is the pattern of our resurrection, had yns veiy body thai was crucified, restored to life, and re-united to his soul, John xx. 20, 26, 27. Luke xxiv. 39. Rom. viii. 11. 4. The verysame bodies of men which fell asleep, — which were once mortal, corruptible, weak, dishonourable, vile, — sown in death, lay in their graves, and were devoured by worms, shall be raised again, Dan. xii. 2. 1 Cor. xv. 42 — 54. Phil. iii. 21. John v. 28, 29. Job xix. 25 — 27. No possible mixture of particles can render this raising of the same body difficult to God’s infinite know¬ ledge, wisdom, and power: — and perhaps no essential particles of human bodies can incorporate with any other animal body. — Nevertheless raised bodies will be very much different in qualities from what they are now, suited to bear the happiness or misery of the eternal state, 1 Cor. xv. 42 — 44, 52, 54. vi. 13.

3. The righteous and wicked shall, by the angels, be fully separated one from another, — the righteous placed at Christ’s right hand in the air; and the wicked, perhaps classed according to their most remarkable crimes, shall be left assembled on the earth, Rev. xx. 12. 1 Thess. iv. 17. Mat. xiii. 41,49. xxiv. 31. xxv. 32, 33.

II. The general judgment of all mankind will immediately follow these preparations. 1. God’s not punishing or reward¬ ing men in this world, according to their deeds, strongly suggests the certainty of some future general judgment, Eccl. iii. 16, 17. 2 Thess. i. 6 — 8. 2. The consciences of heathens sug¬

gest a future judgment, Rom. ii. 15. And hence spring their fables of Eacus, Minos, and Rhadamanthus judging men in the other world. 3. Scripture plentifully attests the reality of a future general judgment, Psalm 1. 1 — 6. xcvi. 11 — 13. xcviii. 7 — 9. Eccl. xii. 14. Jude 14, 15. Acts xvii. 31. Mat. xii. 32, 36, 37. xiii. 41. xvi. 27. xxvi. Rom. xiv. 10. 2 Cor. v. 10. 2 Tim. iv. 1. Rev. xx. 11 — 15. John v. 27 — 29. Heb. vi. 2.

To render men perpetually watchful, and constantly preparing for this general judgment, in which their qualities and conduct will be thoroughly tried, and their eternal happiness and misery publicly fixed, God hath perfectly concealed the precise time of it, Mark xiii. 32 — 38. But the destructive vengeance of God on the Jewish nation, and the heathen persecuting empire of Rome, — on Antichrist, and Gog and Magog, are preludes of it, Psalm xxi. 8 — 12. cx. 5, 6. Mat. xxiv. 29 — 51. And the general conversion of both Jews and Gentiles to Christ, and the thousand years reign of his saints, are more delightful forerunners of it, 2 Thess. ii. 11 — 13. Rev. xi. xvi. — xx Rom. xi.

God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost will judge the world at the last day, Eccl. xii. 14. Psalm 1. 6. Rom. ii. 15, 16. But Christ God-man, as the mediatorial deputy of God, will immediately act in this work, Mat. xxv. 31 — 46. xix. 28. John v. 22.

op cueist’s state of exaltation.

Acts xvii. 31. x. 42. Rom. ii. 16. xiv. 10. 1 Cor. iv. 4. 5. 2 Cor. v. 10. 1 Thess. iv. 16. 2 Thess. i 7 — 9. 2 Tim. iv. 1. Rev. i. 7. Thus shall the ignominy of his debasement be publicly wiped off, and his victory over his enemies be manifested, Rev. i. 7. Mat. xxvi. 64; and men shall have a visible judge, who, in the hardest circumstances, fulfilled that law by which he judges others, Rev. i. 7. Mat. iii. 15. v. 17, 18. Luke xxiv. 26. Gal. iv. 4. iii. 13. John v iii. 29. Isa. xlii. 21 — The saints wili not assist Christ in judging the world. But they judge others, — 1. In Christ their Head, in whom they are already risen and sit together, Eph. ii. 6. 2. Their good works, especially when

publicly mentioned in the last judgment, interpretatively condemn the wickedness of devils and men. 3. They will approve, perhaps with solemn shouts, the sentences which Christ will pass upon wicked angels and men, 1 Cor. vi. 2, 3. — The apostles’ sitting on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel,.

- means that gospel-hearers will be judged by those doctrines

and laws which they taught; and they will have most exalted fellowship with Christ in heaven, as they had in the church on earth, Mat. xix. 28.

Christ will then judge, 1. All the devils, Jude 6. 2 Pet. ii. 4. Mat. xxv. 41. viii. 29; — and all men, good and bad, 2 Cor. v. 10. Rev. xx. 12. Acts x. 42. 2 Tim. iv. 1. But believers shall not come into the judgment of condemnation, John iii. 18. v. 24. Rom. viii. 1, 33, 34. Nor shall wicked men stand or be justified in the judgment, Psalm i. 5. 2. All the qualities,

thoughts, words, and deeds of these devils and men, 1 Cor. iv. 5. Rom. ii. 15, 16. Mat. xii. 36,37. 2 Cor. v. 10. Eccl. xii. 14. Mat. xxv. 34 — 45; — and in judging these, Christ will examine the causes, and pronounce the sentences.

Christ’s trial of causes, in the last judgment, will be, 1. Most easy, — the judge being possessed of infinite knowledge, wisdom, power, equity, and majesty; and the consciences of the judged being fully awakened and impartial, will readily attest every charge, 1 Cor. iv. 5. lleb. iv. 13. Rom. ii. 15.

1 John iii. 20, 21. 2. Most exact, as if transacted by opened

hooks, — the book of God’s infinite knowledge, and exact remembrance of every quality, thought, word, and deed, Psalm exxxix. 16. lvi. 8. Mai. iii. 16; — the book of men’s conscience, in which the law, which is the standard of judgment, and every quality, thought, word, and deed, are divinely marked, Rom. ii. 15, 16. 1 John iii. 20, 21. Acts xxiv. 16. 2 Cor. i. 12; — the book of Scripture, according to the declarations of which, the judgment shall proceed, and by which they who had it shall be judged, they who had it not, shall be judged by the law of nature, Rom. ii. 12. Luke xii. 47, 48; — and the book of God’s purposes; those who are found in his purpose of election or op Christ’s state of exaxtation. book of life, being through Christ’s righteousness imputed to them, and his grace implanted in, and exercised by them, ad¬ judged to eternal happiness; and those who are not, being condemned to hell. Rev. xx. 12. xxii. 12. 3. Most public, every

angel and man being present to witness or share in every thing transacted; and hence much different from God’s judging men in this life, or at death, Rev. xx. 11, 12. Mat. xxv. 31 — 45. 4. Most regular, the righteous being first judged, as they were first raised, and must give their solemn assent to the judgment of others, — and to shew them that God delights more in acts of mercy and favour, than in those of dreadful vengeance, Mat. xxv. 34 — 45. 5. Most solemn, with inconceivable grandeur and ma¬

jesty, Rev xx. 11, 12. i.. 7. 2 Thess. i. 7. Mat. xxv. 34 — 45.

The sentences pronounced, in consequence of this trial, will be infinitely just and proper, every one receiving sentence according to the nature or desert of the works charged to their account in law. Rev. xx. 12. xxii. 12. Rom. xiv. 12. 2 Cor. f. 10. Mat. xii. 30, 37. Wicked men shall be condemned for the sinfulness of their nature and practice, and particularly for unkindness to poor saints, in which they had manifested their contempt and hatred of Christ and his Father, Mat. xxv. 41 — 45. Believers shall be adjudged to everlasting life on account of Christ’s fulfilment of the law in their stead, Rom. viii. 34. Phil. in. 9; and their sentence will correspond with the nature, though not with the merit of their gracious qualities and works, particularly their kindness to poor saints, which shall be publicly mentioned as a mark of their union with Christ, filial relation to God, gracious heirship and diligent seeking of his heavenly kingdom, Mat. xxv. 34 — 40. But, whether their sins will be publicly mentioned in the last judgment, is not so evident. On the one hand, 1. None of their sins are mentioned in the judicial procedure, Mat. xxv. 34 — 40. 2. God casts all

their sins behind his back, into the depths of the sea, and re¬ members them no more, Isa. xxxviii. 17. xliii. 25. Mic. vii. 18. Jer. xxxi. 34. v. 20. 3. Christ, their judge, being also their

propitiation and advocate, wrnuld not mention their sins, Rom. iv. 25. 1 John ii. 1, 2 Prov. x. 12. xvii. 9. 4. The public

mention of their sins could not but affect them with shame; and could not consist with his presenting them without spot or without wrinkle, Eph. v. 27. But on the other hand, 1. Every work of men, whether good or bad, is represented as brought into judgment, Eccl. xii. 14. 2 Cor. v. 10. 2. God’s justice

seems to require, that both sides of a cause should be produced and heard, Gen. xviii. 25. 3. Many of their sins are publicly

marked in Scripture 4. By th6 public mentioning of their sins, the justifying virtue of Christ’s blood will be illustriously manifested, Acts xiii. 39. 5. Many of their sins are so connected

334 of cubist’s state of exaltation.

with those of the wicked, that the one cannot be publicly mentioned without the other. 6. The belief of such public manifestation of their sins may be of great use to render them circumspect in this life. 7. Such public mention of their sins could not then affect them with disagreeable shame and confusion, as it is not their innocence, but Jesus and his righteousness, which are their comfort and glory, Eph. i. 7.

III. These sentences will immediately be executed in the wicked going away into everlasting punishment, and the righteous into life eternal, Mat. xxv. 46 2 Thess. i. 8 — 10. Dan. xii, 2. John v. 28, 29. Rev. xx. 13 — 15 1 Thess. iv. 17. Rom. ii.

6 — 10. Isa. iii. 10, 11. — While the holy angels drive the wicked to hell, and honourably attend the saints to heaven, Mat. xiii. 41, 42, 49, 50, this lower world, by an universal conflagration, shall be purged of all the effects of sin, and its present form changed into one exceedingly pure and glorious, Job xiv. 12. Psalm cii. 26, 27. Isa. lxv. 17, 18. lxvi. 22. Rev. xx. 12 — 15. xxi. xxii. 2 Pet. iii. 7 — 13. Rom. viii. 19 — 21.

Christ’s exaltation is necessary, I. In respect of his Father.

1. That he might manifest his faithfulness and equity, in re¬ warding him, as Mediator, according to his deserts, and the promises made to him, Psalm xix. 11. Isa. liii. 10 — 12. lii. 13. Psalm xxi. xxii. 27 — 31. Isa. ix. 6, 7. xl. 9, 10. xlix. 1 — 12.

2. To mark his distinguished love to him, as the darling of his

heart, in whose high honour and intimate fellowship he in¬ finitely delights, Isa. li. 13. xlii, 1. Mat. iii. 17. xvii. 5. Psalm xci. 14 — 16. 3. To manifest his infinite highness, in holding

so inconceivably exalted a God-man Mediator still subject to him, John xx. 17. 1 Cor. xv. 27, 28. 4. To manifest the ex¬

ceeding riches of his grace towards men, in exalting their nature in personal union with his own Son, that they may be¬ hold, receive from, and worship God, answerably to their condition. And hence perhaps his exaltation is represented as a gift, Phil. ii. 9. II. In respect of Christ himself. 1. That his honour might be fully and conspicuously re-established after so remarkable humiliation, John xvii. 5. 2. That, notwithstand¬

ing his manhood had a right to great glory by its personal union with his divine nature, lie might also enjoy it as the reward of his humbled service, as a public and everlasting mark of the perfection and acceptation of his atonement by God, Isa. xlix.

3. 4. xl. 10. liii. 10 — 12. Phil. ii. 6 — 11. John xvi. 10. 3. That in his administration of the new covenant, he might honourably execute his threefold office, take possession of eternal life, prepare heaven for his people, and, by his intercession, word, and Spirit, prepare them for it, and at last manifest his special love to them before the whole world, John xiv. 2, 3, 19. Heb.

dr Christ’s state of exaltation. vi. 20. 4. That he might effectually subdue, restrain, destroy,

and triumph over his and our implacable enemies, Psalm xxi. 8 — 12. lxviii. 18, 21. cx. 1, 5, 6. 1 Cor. xv. 25. 5. That, in fulfilling the ancient types and predictions, he might manifest himself the true promised Messiah, 1 Cor. xv. 4. Luke xxiv. 26, 27. Heb. viii. 4. III. In respect of his elect. 1. In his resurrection he secured their union to him, as his quickened mystical members; — secured their justification, receiving a solemn acquittance and acceptance, in their name, 1 Tim. iii. 16. Rom. iv. 25 secured their regeneration and sanctification, Col. fi. 11, 12. iii. 1. Eph. ii. 5, 6. Rom. vi. 4 — 6. Phil. iii. 10. Gal. ii. 20; and secured their resurrection to everlasting life, 1 Thess. iv. 14. 1 Cor. xv 12, 13, 22, 23. Col. iii. 3, 4. Rom. viii. 11, 13, 29. 2. In his ascension he took possession of heaven

in their name, — prepares it for them, — pours down his Spirit upon them, — weans their affections from things of this world, which he hath left, and attracts them to things above, where he is, John xiv. 2, 3. 2 Cor. v. 5. John xvi. 7. xii. 32. Col. iii. 1, 2. 3. His sitting at the right hand of God is their relative

glorification, — secures their exaltation in due time, Eph. i. 20 — 23. Rev. iii. 21. It manifests the perpetual efficacy of his intercession for completing their happiness, and the destruction of their enemies, Heb. i. 3. viii. 1, 2. 1 Cor. xv. 24. Psalm ii.

4. xcvii. 1 — 5. - It teaches them an holy reverence of him,

Psalm ii. 12. xlv. 11. Rev. i. 13 — 17; an ardent love to him, and a ready opening of their heart to him, Psalm xxiv. 7 — 10; a contempt of earthly, and an esteem of, and desire after, heavenly things, as seen in Him, their Head, exalted to the high¬ est, Eph. i. 18 — 20. 4. In his coming to judgment, he will

crown them with glory apd honour; and instead of secret pardons, comforts, and attestations by his Spirit, — will publicly, before all angels and men, proclaim them his and his Father’s righteous favourites and adopted children.

Reflect. If God so exalt Jesus Christ, why hath he not an higher, — a far higher place in my heart? Why do not all my thoughts, words, and deeds, concur in exalting him? Why is not my whole conversation in heaven, where Christ is at the right hand of God, and making continual intercession for me? Why am not I alway denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, — and looking for the glorious appearing of the great God my Saviour, — and my being for ever with the Lord?