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

Drmonslrateth, in like manner, what influence Christ’s sitting at God’s right hand huth into Justification, upon that second consideration of his being a Common Persou. And the securityfaith may have from thence.

THE consideration of his sitting at God’s right hand may in respect of the influence, that it must needs have into our salvation, yet add more security unto our faith; if we either consider the power and authority of the place itself, and what it is to sit at God’s right hand; or secondly, the relation, the person he bears and sustains, in his sitting there, even of a Common person, in our right. And both these being put together, will add strength mutually to

each other, and unto our faith; both to consider how great a prerogative it is to sit at God’s right hand, and what such a one as sits there hath power to do; and then that Christ, who is invested with this power, and advanced to it, he possesseth it all as our head, and in our right, as a Common person representing us. And

First consider the prerogatives of the place itself: they are two:

I. Sovereignty of power, might, and majesty.

II. Sovereignty of authority and judgment: either of which may secure us from condemnation.

1. Sovereignty of power and might: this the phrase sitting at GocTs right hand implies, Matt. xxvi. 64, where Christ himself expoundeth the purport of it: Hereafter you shall sec the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power. And so, Eph. i. 22, this is made the privilege of God’s setting him at his right hand, that he hath put all things under his feet. A phrase importing the highest sovereignty and power, not used of any creatures, angels, or men: none of them have other things under their feet, i. e. in so low a subjection as to be their vassals; especially, not all things; and therefore by that very phrase, the putting all things under his feet, the Apostle argues in that second to the Hebrews, that that man of whom David in the 8th Psalm (there cited by him) had spoken, was no other but Christ; not Adam, nor the angels; for to neither of these hath God subjected all things, verse 5th, but to Christ only, verse 8th, who sits in the highest throne of majesty. And to make his seat the easier, hath a world of enemies made his foot-stool, even all his enemies, Psalm ex. which is the

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highest triumph in the world. Now to what end hath God committed tlr’s power to him, but that himself maybe his own Executor and Administrator, and perform all the legacies which he made to those whom he died for? as the expression is, Heb. ix. 15, 1G and 17, that none of his heirs might be wronged. Fairer dealing than this could there ever be, or greater security given to us? This to have been God’s very end of investing Christ with this sovereign power, is declared by Christ himself, (John xvii. 2) Thou hast given him power over alljlesh, that he should give, eternal life to as many as thou hast given him: and accordingly at his Ascension, to comfort his disciples in the fruit of their ministry, he says, All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. What holy confidence may this breed in us? He is at God’s right hand, and we are in his hands, John x. 28; and all his enemies are under his feet: — Who then can pull us out? 1 have the keys oj hell and death, says Christ, Rev. i. IS. The key is still, in the scripture phrase, the ensign of power and authority. Now Christ hath both the keys of Death (the postern gate out of this world) and of Hell, even of the broad gates of that eternal prison; so as none of his can be fetched out of this world by death, but Christ must first open the door: much less can any go to Hell without his warrant. Yea, he hath the keys of the kingdom of heaven also, to open to whom he will, Matt. xvi. 19. By his Resurrection we may rest assured that he hath the keys of death and hell, for he unlocked the doors, and came out from thence; and by his Ascension, and sitting at God’s right hand, that he hath the keys of Heaven, whose door he hath un-

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locked, and now set open. What need we then

fear Hell, when Christ our Redeemer hath the keys

of it?

2. To sit at God’s right hand, imports all judgment to be committed to him: for sitting was a posture of Judges; a phrase used to note their authority. So Prov. xx. 8. A King that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth the wicked with his eyes; and so doth Christ his and our enemies. See what Christ says, John v. 21, 22. The son of man raiseth up u’hom lie will; for the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment to the Son. Now if he who loved us so, and died for us, be the judge him self, then Who shall condemn? Christ sits at God’s right hand. This is the very inference that after followeth, (John v. 24) He that believes shall not come into condemnation. Christ utters it upon his having said he had all judgment committed to him, (verse 22) on purpose that he might, from that consideration, ascertain believers of their non-condemnation. For what need we fear any under- officers when we have the Judge thus for us?

But then, in the last place, add that second particular mentioned to all these, that Christ sits there as an Head, as a common person, for us. First, as an Head; Eph. i. — When the Apostle had so hyperbolically set forth his power, of being advanced unto God’s right hand, verse 21, far above all principalities ami powers, and above every name that is named, not onlif in this world, but also in that which is to come; and how God hath put all tilings under his feet: he adds, and hat li given him to be head ever all tilings to the Church. Observe now, he is said to sit there over ail things, not in his own pure personal right simply, as it is his inheritance, as he is the Son of God, (as Hebrews i. :3, 4, 5, it is affirmed of him) but he sits thus over all as a Head to the Church. That same over all things comes in there, between his being a head and to the Churchy on purpose to shew, that he is act over all in relation to his Church. So that we see, our relation is involved, and our right included in this exaltation of Jus, and so put into his commission; for this prerogative is there said to be given him. He sits not simply as a Son, but as an Head; and he sits not as an Head without a body, and therefore must have his members up to him. Wherefore in the next verse it is added, which is his body, yea, his fulness; so as Christ is not complete without all his members, and would leave heaven if any one were wanting: it were a lame, maimed body, if it wanted but a toe. Christ is our element, and he being ascended, we are sparks that fly upwards to him. He took our flesh, and carried it unto heaven, and left us his spirit on earth, and both as pawns and earnests that we should follow.

Nay farther yet, he is not only said to sit as our Head, but we are also said to sit together with him; that is made the upshot of all in the ne*t chapter, Eph. ii. 6. So that as we arose with him (he being considered as a Common person), and ascended with him, as was said; so yet farther, we sit together with him in the highest heavens, as there en tois epouraniois, in supcrccdcstibus, in his exalted state above the heavens, (as is the meaning of that phrase). Not that Christ’s being at God’s right hand, (if taken for that sublimity of power,) is communicable to us; that is Christ’s nrerogativc only: — so, Heb. i. 5, To winch of all the Angt-h mid he at any time, Sit I /wit on my right hand? Yet li;s sitting in heaven, as it is indefinitely expressed, is understood to be as in our right and stead, and as a Common person; and is to assure us of our sitting there with him in our proportion. So (Rev. iii. 21) it is expressly rendered, as the mind and intendment of it, Him that overcometh, I will grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also am set down with my Father in his throne. There is a proportion observed, though with an inequality; we sit on Christ’s throne, but he only on his Father’s throne: that is, Christ only sits at God’s right hand, but we sit on Christ’s right hand. And so the Church is said to be at Christ’s right hand, Psalm xlv. 9. Yea, further, (and it may afford a farther comfort to us in the point in hand) this represents, that at the latter day we shall sit as assessors on his Judgement-seat, to judge the world with him. So Mat. xix. 28, and Luke xxii. 30, When the Son of Man shall sit. in his glory, ye shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the tribes oj Israel. So as this our sitting with him, it is spoken in respect to Judgment, and to giving the sentence of it; not a sentence shall pass without your votes: so as you may by faith not only look on yourselves, as already in heaven, sitting with Christ, as a Common person, in your right; but you may look upon yourselves as Judges also: so that if any sin should arise to accuse or -condemn, yet it must be with your votes. And what greater security can you have than this? for you must condemn yourselves, if you be condemned: you may very well say, Who shall accuse? W ho shall condemn? for you will never pronounce a fatal sentence upon your ownselves.

As then Paul triumphed here, so may we; for at the present we sit in heaven with Christ, and have all our enemies under our feet. As Joshua made his servants set their feet on the necks of those five Kings; so God would have us by faith to do the like to all ours; for one day we shall do it. And if you say, We see it not; I answer, as in Heb. ii. the Apostle saith of Christ himself, Now we see not yet all things put under him, verse 8. Now not under him, for he now sits in heaven, and expects, by faith, when his enemies shall be made his footstool, as Heb. x. 12 and 13 verses, but we see, for the present, Jesus croumed with glory and honor, verse 9, and so may be sure that the thing is as good as done; and we may in seeing him thus crowned, see ourselves sitting with him, and quietly wait and expect (as Christ himself doth) till all be accomplished, and our salvation finished and fully perfected

His Intercession now remains only to be spoken of, which yet will afford further considerations to strengthen our faith. His sitting at Gods right hand, notes out his power over all, from God: but his Inter cession, all power and Javour with God for us; so as to effect our salvation for us, with God’s highest contentment and goxpd will, and all yet further to secure us. Who shall condemn? £c.

THE

GLORIES OF CHRIST.