Christ Set Forth, Book IV: The Evidence of Christ's Sitting at God's Right Hand

Shewing what evidence also Christ’s sitting at God’s right hand, having been our Surety, affords unto our faith for Justification.

Now then in the next place, for his being, or sitting at God’s right hand, which is the second particular to be spoken of. As soon as Christ was carried into Heaven, look, as all the angels fell down and wor shipped him; so his Father welcomed him, with the highest grace that ever yet was shewn; the words which he then spake, we have recorded Psalm ex. Sit thou at my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool. You may by the way observe, for the illustration of this, how upon all the -several parts of performance of his office, either. Gud is brought in speaking to Christ, or Christ to his Father. Thus when he chose him first to be our Mediator, he take* an oath, Thou art a Pri’xt for ever after the order of Mi’lchisedec. Again, when Christ came’ to take upon him our nature, the words he spake are recorded, Lo, I come to do thy will, a body hast thou fitted me; so Heb. 10th, out of the 40th Psalm. Likewise when, he hung upon the cross, his words unto God are recorded Psalm xxii. 1, Jlfy God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? In like manner when he rose again, God’s words used then to him are recorded, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee, Psalm, ii. (which place is expounded of the Resurrection, Acts xiii.33) which is as much as if he had said, Thou never appearedst like my Son till now; for whereas I chose a Son to be glorified with power and majesty, hitherto thou hast appeared only as a Son of man, (Enosh, sorry man) hitherto thou hast been made sin, and a curse, not like my Son, but hast appeared in the likeness of sinful flesh, and of a servant all besmeared with blood; therefore this is the first day wherein I make account I have begotten thee; even now when thou first bcginnest to appear out of that sinful hue and likeness of sinful flesh: now I own thee for my Son indeed. And in him he owned us all, thus at his Resurrection. And then last of all when he comes into Heaven, the first word God speaks to him is, Son, sit thou at my right hand; thou hast done all my work, and uow I

will do thine; (he gives him a quietus cst) rest here; sit here till I make all t /tine enemies thy footstool.

And now what say you, are ye satisfied yet, that God is satisfied for your sins? What superabundant evidence must this Christ’s sitting at God’s right hand give to a doubting heart? It argues, first that Christ for his part hath perfectly done all his work, and that there is no more left for him to do by way of satisfaction; this the word sitting implies. Secondly, it argues, that God is as fully satisfied on his part; this his sitting at God’s right hand implies.

For the first, the phrase of sitting doth betoken rest, when work is fulfilled and finished: Christ was not to return till he had accomplished his work, Heb. x. The Apostle, comparing the force and excellency of Christ’s sacrifice, with those of the Priests of the old Law, says, that those Priests stood dally offering of sacrifices, which can never take sins away. Their standing implied that they could never make satisfaction, so as to say, We have finished it. But Christ, says he, (verse 12) after he had offered up one sacrifice for ever sat down, 8$c. Mark how he opposeth their standing to his sitting down. He sat as one who had done his work. Thus, Heb. iv. 10, He that is entered into his rest, (speaking of Christ, as I have elsewhere shewn) hath ceased from his work as God did from his.

Secondly, this his being at God’s right hand, as strongly argues that God is satisfied: for if God had not been infinitely well pleased with him, he would never have let him come so near him, much less have advanced him so high as his right hand. And therelure in that place even now cited (Ileb. x. 10, 11, 12, compared with the former verses) this is alledged as an evidence that Christ had for ever taken sins away, which those Priests of the Law could not do, who therefore often offered the same sacrifices, verse 11) That this man after he had offered one sacrifice for situs, for ever sat down on the right hand of God, as hereby shewing, and that most manifestly, that he had at that once offered up such a satisfactory sacrifice as had pleased God for ever; and therefore took up his place at God’s right hand, as an evidence of it; so possessing the highest place in court. This setting him at God’s right hand, is a token of special and highest favor. So kings, whom they were most pleased with, they did set at their right hand, as Solomon did his mother, 1 Kings, ii. 19, and so Christ the Church, his queen, Psalm xl. 9, and it was a favor which God never after vouchsafed to any, Ileb. i, To which of all the Angels did he say, Sit thou on my right hand? Therefore Phil. ii. it is not only said that he exalted him, but super-exalt avit, he highly exalted him, so as never any was exalted: for he was made thereby higher than the heaven*. Thus much for the first head.