Christ Set Forth, Book IV: The Connection of This Head with the Former
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ, — who is even at the right hand of God. Rom. viii. 34.
A connciion of this third Head, with the two former: shewing holr it affords a farther degree of Triumph. Two things involved in it: Jirst, Christ’s Ascension: secondly, Christ’s power and authority in heaven.
I COME next to this third great pillar and support of Faith, Christ being at Gocfs right hand; and to shew how the view and consideration hereof may strengthen faith seeking justification and pardon of sin: Who is he that condemneth? Christ is even at God’s right hand.
In the opening of which, I shall keep to the be gun method, both by shewing how Justification itself depends upon this, and the evidence thereof to us: both which the Apostle had here in his eye, and from both which our faith may derive comfort and assurance. And I mean to keep punctually top the matter of Justification only, as in the former.
These two latter that remain here in the text, (Christ sitting at God’s right hand, and his interceding for us) are brought in here by the Apostle, as those which have a redundant force and pre valency in them, lor the non-condemnation of the elect: that although the two former abundantly served to secure it; yet these two added to the former, do make the triumph of faith more complete and full, and us more than conquerors, as it after follows. Nor doth this place alone make mention of Christ’s sitting at God’s right hand (which I now am first to handle) in this its relation and influence into our justification, and the assurance of faith about it: but you have it to the same end, use, and purpose, alledged by that other great Apostle, 1 Pet. ii. from the 18th to the 22d. And if the scope of these two Apostles, in both places be compared, they are the same. Here the Resurrection of Christ and his sitting at GocCs right hand9 are brought in as the ground of this bold challenge and triumph of faith: and there, in Peter, is mentioned the answer or plea of a good conscience, in a believer justified, which it puts into the court, and, opposeth against all condemning guilts, — so it is called, verse 21. The Apostle alledging the resurrection of Jesus Christ as one ground of it, — the answer of a good conscience by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: — and then further to back and strengthen this plea or answer of a good conscience, the Apostle puts his Ascension, and sitting at God’s right hand, into the bill, as further grounds confirming it: — so it follows, who is gone into heaven, and is at the, right hand of God, angels, and authorities, and ])owers, being made subject to him: — all which the Apustle here expresseth in one word, as enough to
G LOUIES OF CHRIST
carry it, that Christ is even at God’s right hand. The soul hath a sufficient answer against condemnation in Christ’s Death, and Resurrection, full enough, though it should stop there; yea therein can faith triumph, though it went no further: for it can shew a full satisfaction given in his death, and that accepted by God for us; and Christ acquitted, and we in him. Therefore faith, you see, comes to a rather there. But then, let it go on, to consider Jesus sitting at God’s right hand, and making intercession for us; and then faith will triumph and insult over all accusers, be more than a conqueror; then it comes not to a rather only, as here, but to a much more shall we be saved by his life, thus Rom. v. 10. And the meaning thereof is, that if his death had power to pay all our debts, and justify us at first; then much more hath his life this power. So that his death is but the ground and foundation of our faith herein, and the lowest step of this ladder; but these other, are the top and full triumph of faith therein. And our spirits should rise, as the Apostle here riseth; faith upon these wings may not only fly above the gun-shot of all accusations and condemners; and so far above all such thoughts and fears, as it may reach to a security that sins are forgotten, and shall be remembered no more* What joy was there in the Disciples, when they saw
Christ
risen f
John xx. Therefore in the primitive
times, it was used as a voice of joy; and to this day the Grecian Christians so entertain each other, at that time of the year, with these words, The Lord is risen: your Surety is out of prison; fear not. But (as Christ said in another case, so say I) what will you say, if you see your Surety ascended up to heaven, and that, as far above Angels and Principalities (as the apostle speaks, Eph. i.) as the heavens are above the earth? will you not in your faiths and hopes propor tionately ascend, and climb up also; and have thoughts of pardon, as far exceeding your ordinary thoughts as the heavens are above the earth? Therefore Jirst view him, as ascending into hanm. ere ever he comes to be at God’s right hand, and see what matter of triumph that will afford you; for that you must first suppose, ere you can see him at. God’s right hand; and so is necessarily included, though not expressed here. But that place forequoted out of 1 Peter iii. gives us both these two particulars included in it; I. his Ascension, (who Is gone into heaven); and 2. his power and authority there, (is at God’s right hand, and hath all power and authority su/ycct to him), and prompts both these, as fit matter tx) be put into a good conscience its ansuxr and apology why it should not be condemned; and therefore both may here as well come in into faiths triumph; and that as being intended also by the Apostle, and included in this one expression. He speaks with the least, to shew what cause faith had to triumph, for the least expression of it; his purpose being but to give a hint to faith, of that which comprehensively contains many things in it, which he would have us distinctly to consider for our comfort.