XIV. 19. 2 Cor. 12, 2. 4. 180 The Apostles more highly favoured than the Prophets. LECT. Moses, or behind the Prophets; but they are noble with the - noble, yea, than the noble yet more noble. For Elias truly was taken up into heaven; but Peter has the keys of the Mat.16, kingdom of heaven, having received the words, Whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. Elias was taken up only to heaven; but Paul both into heaven, and into paradise; (for it behoved the disciples of Jesus to receive more manifold grace ;) and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. But Paul descended again from above, not because he was unworthy to abide in the third heaven, but in order that after having enjoyed things above man's reach, and descended in honour, and having preached Christ, and died for His sake, he might in addition receive the crown of martyrdom. I pass over the rest of this argument, as I went through it yesterday in the iris Lord's day service; for with understanding hearers, a recapitulation is sufficient for instruction. συνάξεως. ἐκ προ κοπῆς. (15.) 27. And remember also what I have often said concerning the Son's sitting at the right hand of the Father; because that comes next in the Creed, thus, ' And who is ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father.' Let us not curiously pry into what is properly meant by the throne; for it is incomprehensible: nor endure those who falsely say, that it was after His Cross and Resurrection and Ascension into heaven, that the Son began to sit on the right hand of the Father". For the Son gained not His throne by advancement; but from the time that He is, (and He is ever begotten,) He also sitteth together with the Father. And this throne the Prophet Esaias having beheld before the incarnate coming of the Saviour, says, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the rest. For the Father no Is. 6, 1. man hath seen at any time, and He who then appeared to Ps.93,2. the Prophet was the Son. And the Psalmist says, Thy throne is established of old; Thou art from everlasting. But though many are the testimonies on this point, yet because of the lateness of the time, we will content ourselves only with these. Ts ir σάρκου παρου σίας. 28. Our present business is to remind you of a few out of much which I said concerning the Son's sitting at the right g The Paulianists. Prophecies concerning our Lord's sitting at God's right hand. 181 1. hand of the Father. For the hundred and ninth Psalm says plainly, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on My right Ps. 110, hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool. And the Saviour, confirming in the Gospel what is here said, says that David spake not these things of himself, but by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, saying, How then doth David in Mat.22, spirit call Him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, and the rest. And in the Acts of the Apostles, Peter on the day of Pentecost standing with the Eleven, and discoursing to the Israelites, has in very words Acts 2, cited this testimony from the hundred and ninth Psalm. 43. 14. 64. 22. 29. A few other testimonies must also be suggested concerning the Son's sitting at the right hand of the Father. In the Gospel according to Matthew it is written, Neverthe- Mat.26, less, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and the rest. And following this the Apostle Peter also says, By the Resurrection of 1 Pet. 3, Jesus Christ, who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God. And the Apostle Paul, writing to the Romans, says, It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, Rom. 8, who is even at the right hand of God. And charging the 34. Ephesians, he thus speaks, According to the working of His Eph. 1, mighty power, which He wrought in Christ when He raised 19. 20. Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand; and the rest. And he thus taught the Colossians, If ye then be Col. 3,1 risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. And in the Epistle to the Hebrews he says, When He had purged our sins, He Heb. 1, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. And 3. again, But unto which of the Angels said He at any time, ver. 13. Sit thou at My right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? And again, But this Man, after He had offered Heb.10, one sacrifice for sin, for ever sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. And again, Looking unto Jesus, the Author Heb.12, and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down on the right hand of the throne of God. 30. And though there are many other texts concerning the session of the Only-begotten on the right hand of God, yet 1. 12. 2. XIV. 4, 17. LECT. let these suffice us at present; with a repetition of my remark, that it was not after His coming in the flesh that He obtained the dignity of this seat; no, for even before all ages, the Only-begotten Son of God, who is our Lord Jesus, ever has the throne on the right hand of the Father. Now may He Himself, the God of all, who is Father of Christ, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who came down, and ascended, and sitteth together with the Father, watch over your souls; keep unshaken and unchanged your hope in Him who rose again; raise you together with Him from your dead sins, to His 1 Thess. heavenly gift; count you worthy to be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, in His fitting time; and, until that time arrive of His glorious second advent, write all your names in the Book of the living, and having written them, never blot them out. (For many, those who fall away, have their names blotted out.) And may He grant to all of you to believe on Him who rose again, and to look for Him who is gone up, and is to come again, (to come, but not from the earth; for be on your guard, O man, because of the deceivers who are to come;) who sitteth on high, and is here present Col. 2, together with us, beholding the order of each, and the stedfastness of his faith. For think not that because He is absent in the flesh, He is therefore absent also in the Spirit. He is here present in the midst of us, listening to what Ps. 7,9. is said of Him, and beholding what is in thy mind, and trying the reins and the hearts ;—who also is now ready to present those who are coming to Baptism, and all of you, in the Holy Ghost to the Father, and to say, Behold, I and the Heb. 2, children whom God hath given Me:-To whom be glory for ever. Amen. 5. Rev. 2, 23. Is. 8,18. 13. LECTURE XV. ON THE SECOND Advent, THE LAST JUDGMENT, AND THE DAN. vii. 9-14. I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, &c.... The Judgment was set, and the books were opened, &c.... I saw in the night visions, 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, &c.... His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, &c. 6. vid. 1. WE preach not one advent only of Christ, but a second also, far more glorious than the former. For the former gave to view His patience; but the latter brings with it the crown of the divine kingdom. For all things, to speak generally, are twofold in our Lord Jesus Christ. His generation is twofold: the one, of God, before the worlds; the other, of the Virgin in the end of the world. His descent is twofold: one was in obscurity, like the dew on the fleece; the second is v.Ps.72, His open coming, which is to be. In His former advent, He supra was wrapped in swaddling clothes in the manger; in His Cat. xii. second, He covereth Himself with light as with a garment. Ps. 104, In His first coming, He endured the Cross, despising the 2 shame; in His second, He comes attended by the Angel 2. host, receiving glory. Let us not then rest in His first. advent, but look also for His second. And as we have said at His first coming, Blessed is He that cometh in the Name Mat. 21, of the Lord, so will we repeat the same at His second. coming; that with the Angels meeting our Master, we may 23, 39. 9. Heb.12, v. Mat. 184 The first and second coming of Christ. LECT. Worship Him and say, Blessed is He that cometh in the XV. Name of the Lord. The Saviour comes, not to be judged again, but to judge them who judged Him; He who before was silent when judged, shall arraign those transgressors who did those daring deeds at the Cross, and shall say, Ps. 50, These things hast thou done, and I kept silence. Then, He di'oizovo- came by a divine disposition, teaching men with persuasion; μίαν. but this time they will of necessity have Him for their King, though they wish it not. 21. 1. 2. And concerning these two comings, Malachi the Prophet Mal. 3, says, And the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to His temple; behold the first coming. And again of the second coming he says, And the Messenger of the covenant whom ye SeeSept. delight in. Behold, He shall come, even the Lord Almighty; but who may abide the day of His coming; and who shall stand when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's sope; and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. And immediately after the Saviour Himself ver. 5. says, And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and the rest. For 1 Cor. 3, this cause Paul warning us beforehand says, If any man build on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire. Paul also signifies these two comings, writing to Titus and Tit. 2, saying, The grace of God our Saviour hath appeared unto all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present Cyr. world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearEarning of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Thou saving seest how he has spoken of the first, for which he gives grace, thanks; and of the second, to which we look forward. Wherevy ours fore the words of the Faith we profess, run thus; that we ragidón. should believe in Him, "who again is ascended into heaven, 12. 11. του Σωτῆρος, of the Saviour, CLOS, the rec.text. (2.) and sitteth on the right hand of the Father, and shall come in glory to judge the quick and dead; whose kingdom shall have no end." 3. Our Lord Jesus Christ, then, comes from heaven; and He comes with glory at the end of this world, in the last day. |