Nor let it seem strange, that the Scripture should speak of one especial place, as the peculiar and appropriated residence of God. We acknowledge that he is, and cannot but be, every where. Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of his glory*; yea, the heaven, and heaven of heavens, cannot contain him†. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I go down to hell, thou art there also. If I take the wings of the morning, and remain in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me‡. Yet, notwithstanding this, the Scripture constantly mentions him, as having condescended to establish his throne in one particular place; and exhibit himself there, in the symbol of light inaccessible: where therefore his holy angels attend upon him, and see his face; from whence he issues forth his commands, as princes do theirs from the royal palace: and is represented, as viewing and observing the actions of his creatures; and pouring down blessings or vengeance, as their behaviour requires. The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's seat is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eye-lids try, the children of men §. Here it is, that thousand thousands minister unto him; and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before him, celebrating his praises, and rejoicing in the light of his countenance. For in his presence is fulness of joy, and at his right hand there are pleasures for evermore ¶. In this blessed place then did our Saviour ascend: and there, as the Creed, in conformity with Scripture, teaches, sat down at the right hand of the Father. *Te Deum. § Psalm xi. 4. +1 Kings viii. 27. Psalm cxxxix. 7—10. ¶ Psalm xvii. 12. Not that God, who is an infinite spirit, and by the word of his power doth whatever he pleases, both in heaven and earth; either hath, or needs, bodily members, for instruments of perception or action, like our imperfect nature. But these things are figuratively ascribed to him, in condescension to human capacities. And the meaning of such figures is easily understood. He is the king of the whole world. Now into a king's immediate presence not all persons are usually admitted, and of those who are, not all possess the same rank and degree of nearness to him: but every one such as he pleases to appoint. Now the highest mark of dignity, which the eastern monarchs conferred on the person, whom they esteemed and favoured most, was placing him on occasions of solemnity, at their right hand: the second in honour was next to the royal person, on the other side; and the rest of the court succeeded in the same order. Thus, when the mother of king Solomon came to petition for Adonijah, the Scripture informs us, he sat down on the throne, and caused a seat to be set for her, and she sat on his right hand*. And when the sons of Zebedee had, by mistake, imagined the kingdom of our Saviour to be like one of this world, their petition was, that they might sit, one on his right hand, the other on his left, in his kingdom t. Sometimes the posture of standing is mentioned: as Psalm xlv. 9. on thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. And, when the court of heaven, attending on their sovereign, is described; I saw, saith the prophet, the Lord sitting on his throne: and all the host of heaven standing by him, on his right hand and on his left. When therefore our blessed Lord is represented by St. Stephen to stand, or in the cxth Psalm, and fre* 1 Kings ii. 19. + Matth. xx. 21. 1 Kings xxii. 19. quently in the New Testament, to sit at the right hand of God: we are to conceive by it, not that he is confined to this or that posture or place; but that he is raised, in respect of his human nature, to a rank and station above all creatures: possest of the fullest happiness, the highest honour, and the most sovereign authority: that authority, with which Daniel foretels his being invested: I saw, and behold, one, like the Son of man, came with the clouds of heaven: and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him; and there was given him dominion and glory and a kingdom; that all people, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away; and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed*. The fulfilling of which prophecy is thus recorded by the Apostle: God raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power, and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth: and he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet §. Sitting at God's right hand implies this pre-eminence: for to which of the angels said God at any time, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool || ! Indeed all power, both in heaven and in earth, was given to¶ our Saviour before his ascension; but not till afterwards was his title to it publicly recognized, and possession of it solemnly taken by him: which, in other words, is sitting down at the right hand of God. * Dan. vii. 13, 14. + Eph. i. 20, 21. § 1 Cor. xv. 25. Heb. i. 13. Phil. ii. 10. But let us consider, not only the nature of our Saviour's exaltation: but what principally concerns us, the benefits of it to mankind, which are three : his sending the Holy Spirit to abide for ever with his church: his interceding for it with the Father: his powerful protection of it against its enemies. 1. His sending the Holy Spirit. This was reserved with great wisdom, till after his ascension; both because it was then most needed, to comfort his disciples under the loss of his personal presence: and also, because it afforded a new evidence of his divine power, that, far from being in a worse condition by his departure, they were endued with higher degrees of miraculous gifts, than ever they had been before. St. John therefore, upon our Saviour's promising the Spirit to them who should believe on him, observes, that the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified*. And St. Peter, on the day when it was bestowed, saith, Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this which ye now see and heart. The miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost, indeed, being no longer necessary, ceased many ages ago: but his sanctifying graces, a much more important blessing, which we shall always need, continue still: and constitute his present share in the work of our redemption: agreeably to the assurance, which our blessed Lord gave, of another comforter to abide with us, and dwell in us for ever ‡. 2. His intercession with the Father. For this oblation of himself being accepted, as the foundation of a new covenant of mercy and favour; we have now an advocate in heaven, sure to prevail; an high * John vii. 32. † Acts ii. 33. ↑ John xiv. 16, 17., priest, that can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, having been tempted in all points as we are*, ever appearing for us in the presence of God: and efficaciously pleading the pardon, which he hath purchased, for all who repent of and forsake their sins. Who then is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died; yea rather, that is risen again; who is even at the right hand of God; who also maketh intercession for ust. 3. His protection of his church against all its enemies, spiritual and temporal. The attempts of the former he defeats by the above-mentioned methods, the influences of his Spirit to preserve us from sin, and the efficacy of his intercession to procure us pardon on most equitable terms, whenever we fall into it. As for the latter: upon the first opposers of his church, the Jewish and Roman persecutors, his vindictive power had been most remarkably exercised and the succeeding adversaries of religion, in every age, have served, and shall serve, only for a trial of the faith and patience of the saints : generally, without prevailing to their harm even here; and always being subservient to their happiness hereafter till at length the appointed time shall come, when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ §: and having reigned on this earth, till its period arrives, he shall resign up to God his kingdom of grace, its end being accomplished; and reign over his saints in that of glory, for ever and ever; fully performing that invariable promise, To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne; even as I also |