Exposition of the Apostles Creed, Exposition · Part 2 · Section 15
He ſitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almightie.
Teſtimonies out of the Prophetes and Apoſtles.
Pſalme 110. Iehouah hath ſaide▪ ſitte at my right hand, vntil I put thine enimies as a footestoole vnderunder thy feete. Iehouah ſhal ſend out of Sion the rodde of thy strength▪ rule in the middeſt of thine enemies. Alſo, the Lorde hath ſworne, and it ſhall not repent him, thou art a Prieſt for euer after the order of Melchiſedech. And Chriſt teacheth in Matth. 22. towardes the end, that this prophecie is to be vnderſtoode of him. And Chriſt being adiured of the high prieſt, confeſſeth himſelfe to be both the ſonne of God, and that he will ouercome his enimies ſitting at the right hand of God. Matth. 26.63, 64. And the high priest anſwering ſaid vntounto him, I adiure thee by the liuing God, that thou tell vsus whether thou be Chriſt that ſonne of God: Ieſus ſaith vntounto him, thou hast ſaide: Neuertheleſſe I ſay vntounto you, hereafter ſhal you ſee the ſonne of man ſitting at the right hand of the power of God & comming in the cloudes of heauen. The fulfilling of that propheſie of Dauid concerning the ſitting at the right hand of God is extant in the 16. of Marke, After the Lord had ſpoken vntounto them, he was receaued vp into heauen and ſitteth at the right hand of God, and Act. 2. ver. 33.36. & 5. ver. 31. and ſo that ſame ſtone refuſed of the builders was made the head of the corner. Act. 4. ver. 10.11.12. Which ſtone cut from the mountaine without handes, goeth to the right hand of God to breake al the reſt of the kingdoms: but his kingdome ſhal ſtand for euer. Dan. 2. ve. 44.45. And Paul in Epheſ. 1.18.19.20. That ye may know what the hope is of his calling, and what the riches of his glorious inheritance is in the Saintes: and what is the exceding greatnes of his power towards vsus which beleue according to the working of his mightie power which he wrought in Christ, when he raiſed him vp frō the dead, and ſet him at his right hand in the heauens.
To what end ſitting at the right hand of God the Father almightie is added to his aſcenſion into heauen.
THe ſcope or principal end of Chriſte his aſcenſion is already ſet foorth: to wit, that Chriſt aſcended into heauen not onelyonly that he might there enioy euerlaſting felicitie, as the Angels doe and all bleſſed men: but that hee might ſit at the right hand of God, which farre exceedeth the dignitie of Angels and of men, as he witneſſeth in the Epiſtle to the Heb. Ca. 1.13. For vntounto which of the Angels ſaide he at any time, ſit at my right hand, til I make thine enimies thy footſtole? Nowe ſeeing God is not a bodily ſubſtance, & therefore hath neither right or left hande, at which Chriſt ſhould ſtand or ſitte; it is manifeſt that theſe wordes and manner of ſpeeches, are taken from men and worldly thinges: by which holie thinges anſwering in ſome ſorte, our infirmitie might be liuely ſet before our eyes & explaned. For in verie deede men to whome they graunt or giuegive either equal honor, or that which is nexte vntounto themſelues, they are wont to place them at their right hand, that in this verie thing they may teſtifie that honour, 1. King, 2. Pſal. 45.
What the ſitting at the right hand of God the Father is.
THat ſame ſitting at the right hand of God the Father is the exaltation of Chriſte in his kingdome and prieſthoode: to wit, that nowe he adminiſtreth his kingly and prieſtly office, not as before in infirmitie and miſerie, but in a manifeſt & heauenlie maieſtie & glory. Therefore then thou doeſt truely beleeue in Chriſt his ſitting at the right hand of God the father almightie, when thou beleeueſt that he doth entreate for thee in heauen in high glory, and that he doth gouerne his kingdome with a mighty power, ſo that he doth heare thee, doth more effectually endue and defend thee with the ſpirite of conſolation and wiſedome, then if he were yet in the earth, and ſhoulde ſpeake with thee. Act. 5.31. Him hath God lifted vp with his right hand to be a Prince and a Sauiour to giuegive repentance to Iſrael and forgiuenes of ſinnes: And Ephe. 1. He hath raiſed him vp from the dead, and ſette him at his right hand in the heauens farre aboue all principalitie, and power, and might, and domination, and euerie name that is named, not onelyonly in this world, but in that which is to come: and hath made all thinges ſubiect vnderunder his feete, and hath appointed him head to the Church it ſelfe ouer all thinges, which is his bodie, euen the fulneſse of him which filleth all in all thinges. Alſo to the Hebrues 8. verſe 4. 1. Peter 3. verſe 22. By theſe places it is plaine that the Scripture nameth the ſitting at the right hand of God, not that ſame adminiſtration of the kingdome and prieſthoode; which for the voluntarie abaſing of Chriſt was weaker and more obſcure: but that ſame perfect gouernement, honour, and glorie of Chriſt, which was free from all infirmities openly manifeſted and declared: into which then the firſt entrance was, when he aroſe againe from death, aſcended into heauen, and there in an vnſpeakable glorie, declared himſelf to be Lord of al creatures in the ſight of all holie Angels and men.
What fruite the faithfull receiue by that ſame ſitting of Chriſt at the right hande of God, or rather by that exaltation of Chriſte in his kingdome and prieſthood.
FIrſt concerning that ſame exaltation of Chriſt in the prieſthood, thoſe that are in league with God, doe reape from thence this conſolation: that they knowe that this couenant of grace by the interceſſion of this mediator kept and maintained euerlaſtingly, as it appeareth, Hebr. 8. verſes 6. and 12. the which interceſſion is the ſhewing of him ſelfe before the face of the father, that the efficacie and ſtrength of that ſacrifice once offered vp for all, might continually be in force: and this ſame perpetuall will of keeping it, in this Mediator, is agreeable with the will of the Father, accepting that ſame ſacrifice once offred vp for an euerlaſting reconciliation, and approuing this endeuor in the mediator of maintaining it according to the oathe: Pſalme 110. The Lorde hath ſworne, and it ſhall not repent him, thou art a prieſt… for euer after ye order of Melchizedek: or that I may ſpeake a little more largely: Firſt all the confederates doe reape this fruite in the exaltation of Chriſt in the prieſthode, that they know that the Mediator of this euerlaſting couenant is entred into that ſame ſanctuarie not made with handes, the verie heauen it ſelfe and is exalted to the right hand of God, that continuallie and without any interruption, and that eueryevery moment he may appeare an interceſſour before the father for vsus: and ſo may maintein that ſame couenant once eſtabliſhed for euer, and may confirme it by his interceſſion in the heauenly throne of his Maieſtie.
I. The teſtimonies of the euerlaſting conſeruation of this free couenant, appeare in the eight to the Hebrues, verſe 6. But now our high prieſt hath obteined a more excellent miniſterie, in aſmuch as he is the interceſſor of a more notable couenant, which is ratified by more excellent promiſes, &c. Alſo in the 7. to the Hebrues, And that not without an oath, for theſe are made prieſtes without an oath: but this is made wtth an oath by him that ſaide vntounto him, the Lorde hath ſworne, and it ſhal not repent him, thou art a priest for euer after the order of Melchiſedech. By ſo muche is Ieſus made a ſuretie of a better Teſtament, for among theſe many were made prieſtes by reaſon that death ſuffred them not to endure; but this man becauſe that he endureth for euer, hath a perpetuall prieſthod. By which he is able alſo perfectly to ſaue thoſe which come to God through him, euermore liuing to make interceſſiō for vsus.
II. Concerning the appearing of Chriſte in …he ſight of God for vsus, and the perpetuall ver…ue of the ſacrifice of Chriſt once offered vp, it is written Hebru. 9. verſe 24. Chriſte entered in …nto a ſanctuarie not made with handes, which …s a patterne aunſwering vntounto the true ſanctu…rie; but into heauen it ſelfe, that he may ap…eare nowe in the ſight of God for vsus. And Heb. 10. ver. 22. This man, after he had offered one …acrifice for ſinnes, ſitteth without any interruption, that … for euer, at the right hand of the Father.
III. As touching the will in the ſonne of mainteining it, and of the Fathers will in accepting of it, the oath doth witneſſe, whereof God will not repent him: and conſequently neither will it repent the ſonne of receiuing the office of being an euerlaſting Sauiour, Pſal. 110. Rom. 8. Who ſhal laie any thing to the charge of God his choſen? It is God that iuſtifieth, who ſhal condemne? It is Chriſt which is dead: yea rather which is riſen againe, who is alſo at the right hand of God: who alſo maketh requeſt for vsus. Out of which wordes that ſame conſtant will in the ſonne of keeping vsus before the ſight of the Father, which Paul comprehendeth in interceſſion, is vnderſtoode: and which anſwereth vntounto the will of God, whereof he ſpake before, It is God who iuſtifieth. Therfore the faithful, they cannot doubt of that euerlaſting reconciliation with God, aſwell becauſe that ſame euerlaſting office of reconciling is laide vponupon Chriſt: as alſo becauſe Chriſt executeth the ſame with moſte highe power and glorie, preſeruing it fully and perfectly euerie moment, without any or the leaſt interruption that may bee; ſo that worthily enioying ſuch a patrone, we maie vndoutedly truſt that none can come foorth which either dare accuſe or condemne the faithfull, that we may truſt I ſay, that the leaſt accuſation that may be, can not be admitted before that ſame high prieſt in ſo great glorie making interceſſion for vsus, whether it be of Sathan, of the conſcience or of ſinne: ſo that that ſame glorious interceſſion of Chriſte doth truely perfourme vntounto vsus that God hath promiſed by Eſaie the Prophet: I hauehave taken away thine iniquities as a cloude, and thy ſinnes as a litle cloude: turne vntounto me becauſe I hauehave redeemed thee. Alſo Chapter 60. verſe. 1.
The ſecond fruite whereof we be partakers by this exaltation of Chriſte in the prieſthoode.
THe ſecond fruite is, that we dare both with a full faith, & as I may ſay, with a full mouth aske and looke for from God all good and healthful thinges: foraſmuch as we are members of that prieſt, who with ſo great power and glorie maketh interceſſion for vsus, beeing ſurely perſuaded, that his glorious interceſſion will ſwallowe vp all our vnworthineſſe, and get vntounto vsus vnſpeakeable grace: and ſo that wee ſhall receaue for and through this Biſhop, all thoſe good promiſes which we aske, Hebru. 10. verſes 19.20. &c. Seeing therefore brethren that we hauehave libertie to enter into the holie place by the bloud of Ieſus, by the new and liuing way which he hath prepared for vsus through the vale, that is his fleſh: and ſeeing wee hauehave an high prieſt gouernour ouer the houſe of God, let vsus draw neare with a true heart, and with an vndoubted perſwaſion of faith, our heartes beeing pure from an euil conſcience: and our bodies being waſhed with pure water let vsus holde the confeſſion of our hope not wauering, for he is faithful who hath promiſed. Alſo to the Philip. 4 verſe 6. Be nothing carefull, but in al thinges let your requeſt be ſhewed vntounto God in prayer & ſupplication with giuing of thankes, and the peace of God which paſseth all vnderſtanding ſhal preſerue your hearts and minds in Chriſt Ieſus. We hauehave therefore this plentiful fruite, that in all thinges which we hauehave to doe with God, we hauehave ſuch an ouerſeer of the houſe of God, and ſuch an interceſſour, as in whoſe fauour the Father wil giuegive vsus all thinges, and therefore he is called, Heb. 2. a faithfull Biſhop in thoſe thinges which he hath to doe with God: and in the thirde to the Heb. verſe 2.5.6. & Heb. 4. verſe 14.
The thirde fruite.
THat we offer vp our ſelues, and all good thinges whiche wee receiue for and by this high Biſhop, for ſweete and acceptable ſacrifices to GOD, in all thinges giuing thankes vntounto God by this Ieſus Chriſte: and which by and for the Sonne he accepteth to his glorie, and bringeth to paſſe that they ſerue for it, Apocalip. 5. verſe 8. The foure and twenty elders fell downe before the Lambe, eueryevery one hauing harps and golden vials full of ſweete odours, which are the praiers of Saintes. And Rom. 12. I beſeech you brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye giuegive vp your bodies a liuing ſacrifice, holy and acceptable vntounto God, &c. 1. Pet. 2. verſe 5. Yee alſo as liuing ſoules, be ye builded vp into a ſpirituall houſe and holy priesthood, to offer vp ſpirituall ſacrifices vntounto God by Ieſus Chriſt. Wherefore alſo it is conteined in the ſcripture, Behold I put in Syon a chiefe corner ſtone, elect and pretious: he that beleeueth therein, ſhall not be aſhamed. And Hebru. 13. verſes 15.16. alſo to the Philip. Cap. 1. verſes 11. and 12. filled with the fruites of righteouſneſſe which are in you by Ieſus Chriſt to the glorie and praiſe of God.
The fourth fruite.
FOraſmuch as the faithfull are members of Chriſte making interceſſion for them in high glorie, he doth not onelyonly through his interceſſion make their ſufferinges holie, but alſo glorious in the ſight of God, Pſal. 116. verſe 15. Pretious in the ſight of God is the death of his meeke ones. Alſo in the Pſal. 56. verſe 9. and Philip. 2. verſe 17. Yea and though I be offered vp vponupon the the ſacrifice and ſeruice of your faith, I am glad, and reioyſe with you all. For the ſame cauſe alſo be yee glad and reioyce with me. Therfore the ſuffrings of the Church are wonderfully ſanctified and made glorious, through this high Biſhop making interceſſion in glorie. To be ſhort, what ſoeuer things were plainely and magnificently inſtituted of God, concerning the prieſthoode of the olde Teſtament, and the ſacrifices, and were done according to that ſpirituall patterne yt was ſhewed to Moſes in the mount, we hauehave ye full truth and perfect fruit to euerlaſting conſolation in the prieſthod of Chriſt: not only as he adminiſtred it in humilitie, wt ſo great power, yt by one oblation he made perfect for euer thoſe that were ſanctified: but alſo in that he liueth alwayes to this end, to make interceſſion for vsus, and ſo bringeth to paſſe, that we alwayes enioye the fruite of his ſacrifice, and the trueth of all thoſe thinges which were promiſed of God by the figures of the olde Teſtament. Therefore when we read the Scriptures of the olde Teſtament, we ought to lift vp our mindes hither: I ſay to this prieſt, perfourming that vntounto vsus euerie moment in high glorie, that God had promiſed by the mouth of the prophetes, and by thoſe viſible ceremonies. For what ſo euer thinges are written, they are written for our learning, Rom. 15.4. For example ſake, Exod. 39. that the high prieſt did beare vponupon his ſhoulders the names of the tribes, and did beare thoſe twelue pretious ſtones before his breſt entring into the ſanctuarie, in remembrance of thoſe twelue tribes of Iſrael, that Chriſt executeth at this day with great glorie: He hath vsus the true Iſrael alwayes in his breſt and freſh memorie before the ſight of God as pretious ſtones. To be ſhort we ſhal knowe and perceaue the full fruite of the exaltation of Chriſt in his Prieſthood in euerlaſting life with wonderful admiration, when in preſence we ſhall beholde that ſame exaltation of our high prieſt in glorie: euen as the high prieſt himſelfe prayed Ioh. 17. Father, thoſe that thou haſt giuē vntounto me, I wil yt they be with me where I am, that they may beholde that ſame glorie which thou haſt giuen vntounto me.
What the exaltation of Christ is in his kingdome, which is the other part of the ſitting of Chriſt at the right hand of God.
THE kingdome of God is the reſtoring of ſaluation through the worde and ſpirit in the elect, deſcended from a moſt wiſe and mightie heade Chriſt, and a defence againſt the enemies. This kingdome when it was in this worlde, beganne in humilitie, as he ſaith, repent & amend, for the kingdome of God is at hand. The exaltation therefore in this kingdome is that ſame placing in higheſt degree of honour, to the end the ſonne may ſhew himſelf openly before the Angels, & bleſſed men in great light to be the king and heade of all the elect, and by ſhedding his power euen vntounto vsus with a greater efficacie then when he was in his body in the earth, he may reſtore and repare life and ſaluation by the worde and ſpirit in his electe, and may defend thē againſt al enemies. Eph. 1.21.22 The father hath placed Chriſt at his right hand in the heauens far aboue all power & principality, & might and dominion, & eueryevery name that is named not in this worlde onelyonly, but in that which is to come, and he hath made all thinges ſubiect vnderunder his feet, and hath appoynted him to be heade ouer all thinges to the Church which is his bodie, and the fulneſse of him which fulfilleth al in al things: Ioh. 16.7. I ſpeak the truth vntounto you, it is expedient for you that I goe away: for vnleſſe I goe, that comforter ſhall not come vntounto you: but if I depart, I will ſende him vntounto you. And this was becauſe it was ſo appointed by God his decree, that Chriſt being exalted in his kingdome, ſhould ſende him.
What fruits, we are partakers of by the exaltation of Chriſt in his kingdome.
LIke as Chriſt was borne and died for vsus: ſo alſo he ſitteth at the right hande of God for vsus. Nowe the firſt fruite is, that onelyonly Chriſtians doe rightly knowe God, call vppon him, and praiſe him. For therefore the father placed Chriſt at his right hande, that hee might be acknowledged, worſhipped and praiſed, both of Angels and men, as their onelyonly God and Lorde. And contrariwiſe God doeth abhorre all other worſhippes which are not directed vntounto Chriſt, in whome onelyonly hee will bee acknowledged, called vppon, and prayſed. Peter inferreth, Acts 2. of the ſending of the holy Ghoſt; out of the teſtimony of Dauid concerning the ſitting of the Meſſias at the right hand of God: Therefore let all the houſe of Iſrael knowe for a ſuretie that God hath made him both Lorde and Chriſt, this Ieſus I ſay, whome ye hauehave crucified: And Phil. 2.9.10.11. Wherefore God hath alſo highlie exalted him, and giuen him a name aboue euerie name, that at the name of Ieſus ſhoulde eueryevery knee bow, both of thinges in heauen, and thinges in earth, and thinges vnderunder the earth, and that eueryevery tongue ſhould confeſſe that Ieſus Chriſt is the Lorde vntounto the glorie of God the father. And Pſa. 97. ver. 7. Apo. 5. ver. 7.9.12.13. 1. Cor. 1. ver. 2. Act. 7. ver. 59. & cap. 9. ver. 14.
The ſecond and the third fruite.
THE other fruits are knowen by their ends. For therefore Chriſt is exalted in his kingdome, that inwardly hee maye enrich his Church, and without he may defend it againſt enimies, yea and alſo may bridle thoſe that are deadly and inwarde enemies: the ſeconde fruite therefore is, that the father for and by this Chriſt doeth aſſuredly giuegive the holy ghoſt to them that aske it, doeth gouerne and quicken the faithful by the miniſterie of ye Goſpel, & both beautifieth the whole Church with diuerſe gifts: and alſo giueth to eueryevery mēber ſo much giftes as are ſufficient for the glorie of ye head, for the edificacion of the whole body, and the ſaluation of that ſame member: but hee leaueth none of them without neceſſarie gifts, or letteth them to be emptie, Actes 2.33. Chriſt exalted to the right hand of God, and hauing obtained of his father the promiſe of the holy Ghost, hath ſhed forth this which ye nowe ſee and heare. And to the Eph. 4.7. To eueryevery one of vsus grace is giuen according to the meaſure of the gift of Christ. And a litle after, He therefore gaue ſome to be Apoſtles, and ſome Prophets, and ſome Euangeliſts, and ſome paſtors, and teachers for the repairing of the Saintes, for the worke of the ministery, and for the edification (I ſay) of the body of Chriſte, till wee all meete together in the vnitie of faith, and that acknoweledging of the Sonne of GOD vntounto a perfect man, and vntounto the meaſure of the age of the fulneſse of Chriſt. Alſo, Let vsus altogether growe vp in him which is the heade, to wit, Chriſt, by whome all the bodie fitly knitte and compact together by all the ioynts for the furniture thereof, according to the effectuall power which is in the meaſure of euerie part, the whole receaueth increaſe of the bodie, vntounto the edifying of it ſelfe in louelove. Chriſt therefore raigneth vntounto vsus at the right hande of the father, that powring out the holy Ghoſt vponupon vsus, he might be effectual by ye miniſterie, and through the ſpirite might make vsus his mē bers, and might aduaunce his ſpirituall kingdome day by day in vsus, vntill he might fully ioyne vsus vntounto himſelfe being perfectly regenerate and waſhed againe from ſinne and corruption, and ſo he might be God all in all. 1. Corinthians. 15.
The thirde fruite.
THE thirde fruit is the defenſe of ye Church againſt all our enemies, ſinne, the fleſh, the worlde, tyrantes, diuels: all which our heauenly father calleth the enemies of Chriſt: and in verie deede he ſheweth dayly examples of his power in ouerthrowing them, Pſal. 110. The Lorde hath ſaid to my Lord, ſit at my right hande, vntill I make thine enimies a footeſtoole vntounto thy feete. Iehoua ſhall ſende the ſcepter of thy strength out of Sion: rule in the middest of thine enimies. Surely a wonderful conſolation that we are his brethrē, yea his members, to whome all power is giuen in heauen and in earth, without whoſe will & power, neither the Turkes nor antichriſt can deuiſe any thing againſt the Church, no nor conclude or moue ſo much as a finger for the executing of their counſailes: ſo that Chriſte raigneth in ſuch ſort in the middeſt of his enemies, that he will not be ſhut out, no not out of their moſt ſecrete counſailes. Yea we are the brethren and members of that Chriſt, by whoſe moſt preſent diuine power, all men are gouerned, and all creatures in heauen and in earth; ſo that wee may ſaye with full ſecuritie of minde with the Apoſtle, Romanes 8. Who ſhall ſeparate vsus from the louelove of Chriſt? ſhall tribulation? ſhall anguiſh? ſhall perſecution? ſhall hunger? ſhal nakednes? ſhall danger? ſhall the ſword? (as it is written, For thy ſake are we killed all the day long, we are counted as ſheepe appointed to the ſlaughter) yea but in al theſe thinges, we are more then conquerours through him that hath loued vsus. For I am perſuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor thinges preſent, nor thinges to come, nor hight, nor depth, nor any other creature ſhall be able to ſeparat vsus from the louelove of God, which is in Chriſt Ieſus our Lord. If when Chriſt raigned in humilitie the diuels were conſtrained to aske him leaue, howe ſhall they nowe dare to attempt anie thing againſt any member of Chriſt, after that Chriſt is aſcended on high & hath led captiuitie captiue, vnleſſe firſt they ſhall entreate the Lorde Chriſt? But faithfull is Chriſt our Lorde, who ſhall not ſuffer vsus to bee tempted, aboue that wee ſhall bee able to beare. 1. Corinthians 10. If then when he gouerned his kingdom in humilitie and great abaſement, the ſea was ſtill, when he ſaid, Mar 4. be ſtill; What ſhall be now done, he raigning in high glorie when he wil declare his wil, as were but by a becke, againſt ye ſtormes of perſecutions? But wee are the members of ſo great a Lorde, and of Chriſt, and therefore he not only can, but alſo will yt which is moſt healthful vntounto vsus. And doe not we nowe much more deſerue that Chriſt ſhould vpbrayde no leſſe vntounto vsus then vntounto the Apoſtles (a lacke for ſorrowe) that ſame faintnes of faith, becauſe that in the tempeſtes of aduerſities, in the meditation of ſo great thinges our faith doeth mount vp no higher? See an example of defence Act. 18. ver. 8.9.