The Fountain of Life, Sermon 41
The FORTY FIRSTSerm. 41. SERMON.Wherein Christ sitting at Gods right hand is explained and applied, being the third step of his glorious exaltation.
HEB. I.III. part of the Verse,
—When he had by himself, purged our sins; sate
down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
CHrist being returned again to his Father, having finished his whole work on earth, is there bid by the Father to sit down in the seat of honour, and rest. A seat prepared for him at Gods right hand, that makes it honourable, and all his enemies as a footstool under his feet, that makes it easie. How much is the state and condition of Jesus Christ changed in a few days! Here he groaned, wept, laboured, suffered, sweat, yea sweat blood, and found no rest in this world; but when he comes to Heaven, there he enters into rest. Sits down for ever in the highest, and easiest throne prepared by the Father for him, when he had done his work. When he had by himself purged our sins, he sate down, &c.
The scope of this Epistle is to demonstrate Christ to be the fulness of all Legal Types and Ceremonies, and that whatever light glimered to the world through them, yet it was but as the light of the day Star, to the light of this Sun.
In this Chapter Christ the subject of the Epistle is described, and particularly in this third verse, he is described three ways.
First, By his Essential, and primaeval glory and dignity he is foreign,Ratio appellationis primaria est respectu …atris coelestis à quo ab aeterno, per ineffabilem generationem instar luminis, de lumi…e resplenduit, secundaria respectu hominem, &c. Glas. Rhet. p. 175. the brightness of his Fathers glory, the very splendor of glory, the very refulgency of that Son of glory. The primary reason of that appellation is with respect to his eternal and ineffable generation, light of light, as the Nicene Creed expresses it. As a beam of light proceeding from the Sun. And the secondary reason of it is with respect to men, for look as the Sun communicates its light and influence to us by its beams, which it projects; so doth God communicate his goodness, and manifest himself to us by Christ. Yea, he is the express Image, or Character of his person. Not as the impressed Image of the Seal upon the Wax, but as the engraving in the Seal it self. Thus he is described by his essential glory.foreign insculpere dicitur, non tam imaginem ex sigillo cerae impressam, quam ips…m sigill…m denotare. Glas. Rhet. sac. p. 159.
Secondly, He is described by the work he wrought here on earth in his humbled state, and it was a glorious work, and that wrought out by his own single hand, when he had by himself purged our sins. A work that all the Angels in Heaven could not do, but Christ did it.
Thirdly, and Lastly, He is described by his glory the which (as a reward of that work) he now enjoys in Heaven. When he had by himself purged our sins, he sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, (i, e.) the Lord cloathed him with the greatest power, and highest honour, that Heaven it self could afford; for so much this phrase of sitting down on the right hand of Majesty imports, as will appear in the explication of this point, which is the result of this clause, viz.
DOCT. That when our Lord Iesus Christ had finished his work on earth,Doct. he was placed in the seat of the highest honour, and authority; at the right hand of God in Heaven.
This truth is transformingly glorious, Stephen had but a glimpse of Christ at his Fathers right hand, and it caused his face to shine, as it had been the face of an Angel, Act. 7.56. this his high advancement was foretold and promised before the work of redemption was taken in hand, Psal. 110.1. The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou at my right hand, untill I make thine enemies thy footstool. And this promise was punctually performed to Christ after his resurrection and ascension, in his supream exaltation far above all created beings in Heaven and earth. Ephes. 1.20, 21, 22. We shall here open two things in the doctrinal part, viz. what is meant by Gods right hand, and what is implied in Christs sitting there, with his enemies for a footstool.
First,D…x…ram Patris nominamus gloriam & honorem d…itatis, in qua, cùm filius Dei a…te secula extiterit, tanquam Deus in ex…l…is; Patri …onsubstantialis, postremis temporibus incarnatus; etiam cùm cor…ore consedit. Damasc Lib. 4 c. 2. de orch. …ide. What are we to understand here by Gods right hand? It's obvious enough, that the expression is not proper, but figurative, and borrowed. God hath no hand, right or left; but it's a condescending expression wherein God stoops to the Creatures understanding; and by it he would have us to understand honour, power and nearness,
First, The right hand is the hand of honour, the upper hand, where we place those whom we highly esteem and honour. So Solomon placed his Mother in a seat, at his right hand, 1 King. 2.19. So in token of honour God sets Christ at his right hand; which on that account in the Text is called the right hand of Majesty. God hath therein exprest more favour, delight and honour to Jesus Christ, than ever he did to any creature. To which of the Angels said he at any time, sit thou on my right hand? Heb. 1.13.
Secondly, The right hand is the hand of power: we call it the weapon hand, and the working hand. And the setting of Christ there, imports his exaltation to the highest authority, and most supream dominion. Not that God the Father hath put himself out of his Authority, and advanced Christ above himself; no, for in that he saith he hath put all things under him, it is manifest, that he is excepted which did put all things under him, 1 Cor. 15.27. But to sit as an enthroned King, at Gods right hand, imports power. Yea, the most soveraign and supream power: and so Christ himself calls the right hand at which he sits, Matth. 26.64. hereafter ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power.
Thirdly, And as it signifies honour and power, so nearness in place, as we use to say at ones elbow, and so it is applied to Christ, in Psal. 110.5. The Lord at thy right hand, shall strike through Kings in the day of his wrath; that is, the Lord who is very near thee, present with thee, he shall subdue thine enemies. This is that then we are to understand by Gods right hand. Honour, power and nearness.
Secondly, In the next place let us see what is implied in Christ sitting at Gods right hand, with his enemies for his footstool. And if we attently consider, we shall find that it implies and imports divers great and weighty things in it. As,
First, It implies the Complement and Perfection of Christs work, that he came into the world about. After his work was ended, then he sat down and rested from those labours, Heb. 10.11.12. Every Priest standeth daily ministring, and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices; which can never take away sins; but this man when he had once offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of God. Here he assigns a double difference betwixt Christ and the Levitical Priests; they stand, which is the posture of Servants; he sits, which is the posture of a Lord. They stand daily, because their sacrifices cannot take away sin; he did his work fully, by one offering; and after that sits, or rests for ever in Heaven.Dr. Edw. Reynolds in Psal. 110. p. 35, 36. And this (as accurate and judicious Dr. Reynolds observes) was excellently figured to us in the Ark. which was a lively Type of Jesus Christ, and particularly in this, it had rings by which it was carried up and down, till at last it rested in Solomons Temple, with glorious and Triumphal sollemnity, Psal. 132, 8, 9. 2 Chron. 5.13. So Christ, while he was here on earth, being anointed with the Holy Ghost and wisdom, went about doing good, Act. 10.38. and having ceased from his works, did at last enter into his rest, Heb. 5.10. which is the heavenly Temple, Rev. 11.19.
Secondly, Sedent quià labore quiescunt, & ab eo r…creunt se. G…n. 18 1. quo sensu quidam a…cipiunt quod de Christo dicitur. Sedere ad dextr…m Dei, (i. e.) in Coelis apud Deum in aeterna illa beatitudine quiescere à laboribus ac miseriis quibus sese ultro pro nobis subjecerat. Rav. in verbum sedere.His sitting down at Gods right hand, notes the high content and satisfaction of God the Fa…her in him, and in his work. The Lord said to my Lord sit thou at my right hand, the words are brought in as the words of the Father, welcoming Christ to Heaven; and (as it were) congratulating the happy accomplishment of his most difficult work. And it is as if he had said, O my Son, what shall be done for thee this day? thou hast finished a great work, and in all the parts of it acquitted thy self as an able and faithful servant to me; what honours shall I now bestow upon thee? the highest glory in Heaven, is not too high for thee; come, sit at my right hand. O how well is he pleased with Christ, and what he hath done! He delighted greatly to behold him here at his work on earth, and by a voice from the excellent glory he told him so, when he called out of Heaven to him saying, Thou art my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, 2 Pet. 1.17. and himself tells us, Joh. 10.17. therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, &c. for it was a work that the heart of God had been upon from eternity. He took infinite delight in it.
Thirdly, Christs sitting down at Gods right hand in Heaven, notes the advancement of Christs humane nature to the highest honour; even to be the object of adoration to Angels and men. For it is properly his humane nature that is the subject of all this honour, and advancement; and being advanced to the right hand of majesty, it's become an object of worship and adoration. Not simply as it is flesh and blood, but as it is personally united to the second person, and enthroned in the supream glory of Heaven. O here's the mysterie, that flesh and blood should ever be advanced to the highest throne of Majesty, and being there installed in that glory, we may now direct our worship to him as God-man; and to this end was his humanity so advanced, that it might be adored and worshipped by all. The Father hath commited all Iudgement to the Son, that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. And the Father will accept of no honour divided from his honour. Therefore it's added in the next clause, he that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father which hath sent him, Joh. 5.22, 23. Hence the Apostles in the salutations of their Epistles, beg for grace mercy and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ: and in their valedictions, they desire the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to the Churches.
Fourthly, It imports the soveraignty and supremacy of Christ over all. The investiture of Christ with authority over the Empire of both worlds: For this belongs to him that sits down upon this throne. When the Father said to him sit at my right hand, he did therein deliver to him the dispensation and oeconomy of the Kingdom.Significat erg… haec sessio Christi ad dextra… patris, no… propriè gloriam illam, & regnum naturale, quod filio Dei cum Patre ab aeterno fuit commu…e; hoc e…im pac…o etia… spiritus sanctus ad dextram Dei sedet; sed regnum oeconomicu… & voluntarium, in quo tanquam foreign & mediator n…ster, ad ecclesiae s…ae collectionem ac defensio…em à Patre est constitutus. Synops pur. Thol. Disp. 23. p. 343. Put the awful scepter of government into his hand, and so the Apostle interprets and understands it, 1 Cor. 15.25. He must raign, till he have put all his enemies under his feet. And to th…s purpose the same Apostle accommodates, (if not expounds) the words of the Psalmist, thou madest him a little lower than the Angels, (i. e.) in respect of his humbled state on earth, thou Crownnedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the work of thy hands, thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet, Heb. 2.7, 8. He is over the spiritual Kingdom, the Church, absolute Lord there, Matth. 28.18, 19, 20. He also is Lord over the providential Kingdom the whole world, Psal. 110.2. and this providential Kingdom, being subordinate to his spiritual Kingdom; he orders and rules this, for the advantage and benefit of that, Ephes. 1.22.
Fifthly, To sit at Gods right hand with his enemies for a footstool, implies Christ to be a Conqueror over all his enemies. To have ones enemies under his feet, notes perfect conquest, and compleat victory.Aurel Vict. Qui Constanti…i toties perteruit u…bem; sub Tamberlano sella Canis quae fuit. As when Iosuah set his foot upon the necks of the Kings: So Tamberline made proud Bajazet his footstool. They trampled his name, and his Saints under their feet; and Christ will tread them under his feet. 'Tis true indeed, this victory is yet incompleat, and inconsummate; for now we see not yet all things put under him, (saith the Apostle) but we see Iesus Crowned with glory and honour, and that's enough. Enough to shew the power of his enemies is now broken, and though they make some opposition still, yet it is to no purpose at all; for he is so infinitely above them, that they must fall before him. It is not with Christ as it was with Abi…ah against whom Ieroboam prevailed because he was young and tenderhearted and could not withstand them. His incapacity and weakness gave the watchful enemy an advantage over him. I say 'tis not so with Christ, he is at Gods right hand. And all the power of God stands ready bent to strike through his enemies, as it is, Psal. 110.5.
Sixthly, Christs sitting in Heaven notes to us the great and wonderful change that is made upon the state and condition of Christ, since his ascention into Heaven. Ah 'tis far otherwise with him now,Mr. Tho. Case his Pisgah part 3. p. 21. than it was in the days of his humiliation here on earth. quantum mutatus ab illo! Oh what a wonderful change hath Heaven made upon him! It were good (as a Worthy of ours speaks) to compare in our thoughts the Abasement of Christ, and his Exaltation together; as it were in Columes, one over against the other: he was born in a Stable, but now he raigns in his Royal Palace. Then he had a Manger for his Cradle, but now he sits on a Chair of State. Then Oxen and Asses were his companions, now thousands of Saints, and ten thousand of Angels minister round about his throne. Then in contempt they called him the Carpenters Son, now he obtains by inheritance a more excellent name than Angels. Then he was led away into the Wilderness to be tempted of the Devil, now it is proclaimed before him, let all the Angels of God worship him. Then he had not a place to lay his head on, now he is exalted to be heir of all things. In his state of Humiliation he endured the contradiction of sinners, in his state of Exaltation he is adored and admired of Saints and Angels. Then he had no form nor comliness, and when we saw him, there was no beauty why we should desire him; now the beauty of his countenance shall send forth such glorious beams, that shall dazel the eyes of all the Coelestial inhabitants round about him, &c.
O what a change is here! Here he sweat, but there he sits. Here he groaned, but there he triumphs. Here he lay upon the ground, there he sits in the throne of glory. When he came to Heaven, his Father did as it were thus bespeak him.
My dear Son, what an hard travail hast thou had of it? What a world of wo hast thou past through, in the strength of thy love to me, and mine Elect? Thou has… been hungry, thirsty and weary; scourged, crucified and reproached: ah what bad usage has thou had in the ungrateful world! Not a days rest and comfort since thou wentest out from me: but now thy suffering days are accomplisht, now thy rest is come, rest for evermore. Henceforth sit at my right hand. Henceforth thou shalt groan, weep, or bleed no more. Sit thou at my right hand.
Seventhly, Christs sitting at Gods right hand, implies the advancement of believers to the highest honour: For this session of Christs, respects them; and there he sits as our representative, in which regard we are made to sit with him in heavenly places, as the Apostle speaks, Ephes. 2.6. How secure may we be (saith Tertullian) who do now already possess the Kingdom? meaning in our head Christ. This (saith another) is all my hope and all my confidence, namely, that we have a portion in that flesh and blood of Christ which is so exalted, and therefore where he reigns we shall reign; where our flesh is glorified, we shall be glorified. Surely, it's matter of exceeding joy, to believe that Christ our head, our flesh and blood, is in all this glory at his Fathers right hand. Thus we have opened the sence and importance of Christs si…ting at his Fathers right hand. Hence we Infer.
Inference 1.
Infer. 1.Is this so great an honour to Christ, to sit enthroned at Gods right hand? What honour then is reserved in Heaven for those that are faithful to Christ now on the earth! Christ prayed, and his prayer was heard, Joh. 17.24. That we may be with him, to behold the glory that God hath given him; and what heart can conceive the felicity of such a sight? it made Stephens face shine as the face of an Angel, when he had but a glimpse of Christ at his Fathers right hand. Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty, Isai. 33.17. which respected Hezekiah in the Type, Christ in the truth. But, this is not all, though this be much, to be spectators of Christ in his Throne of glory: we shall not only see him in his Throne, but also sit with him inthroned in glory. To behold him is much, but to sit with him is more. I remember it was the saying of a heavenly Christian, now with Christ, I would far rather look but through the hole of Christs door, to see but the one half of his fairest and most comly face, [for he looks like Heaven] suppose I should never win in, to see his excellency and glory to the full; than to enjoy the flower, the bloom and chiefest excellency of the glory and riches of ten worlds. And you know how the Queen of the South fainted at the sight of Solomon in his glory. But this sight you shall have of Christ, will change you into his likeness. We shall be like him, (saith the Apostle) for we shall see him as he is, 1 Joh. 3.2. He will place us as it were in his own throne with him. So runs the promise, Rev. 3.21. To him that overcometh, I will grant to sit with me in my throne; even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne: and so 2 Tim. 2.12. If we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him. The Father set Christ on his right hand, and Christ will set the Saints on his right hand. So you know the sheep are placed by the Angels, at the great day. Matth. 25. and so the Church under the figure of the daughter of Aegypt whom Solomon married; is placed on the Kings right hand, in God of Ophyr, Psal. 45. This honour have all the Saints. O amazing Love. What, we set on thrones, while as good as we by nature howl in flames! O what manner of love is this! These expressions indeed do not intend, that the Saints shall be set in higher glory than Christ; or that they shall have a parity of glory with Christ; for in all things he must have the preheminence: but they note the great honour that Christ will put upon the Saints; as also, that his glory shall be their glory in Heaven.Uxor splendiscit in radiis Mariti. As the glory of the Husband redounds to the Wife; and again, their glory will be his glory. 2 Thes. 1.10. And so it will be a social glory. O it's admirable to think whither free grace hath already mounted up poor dust and ashes!
To think how nearly we are related now to this Royal princely Jesus! but how much higher are the designs of grace that are not yet come to their parturient fulness, they look beyond all this that we now know! Now are we the Sons of God, but it doth not yet appear what we shall be, 1 Joh. 3.2. Ah what reason have you to honour Christ on earth, who is preparing such honours for you in Heaven!
Inference 2.
Is Iesus Christ thus enthroned in Heaven, Infer. 2.then how impossible is it, that ever his interest should miscarry or sink on earth? The Church hath many subtil and potent enemies. True, but as Haman could not prevail against the Iews whilst Hester their friend spake for them to the King; no more can they, whilst our Iesus sits at his, and our Fathers right hand. Will he suffer his enemies that are under his feet, to rise up and pull out his eyes think you? Surely they that touch his people, touch the very Apple of his eye, Zech. 2.8. He must reign till all his enemies are under his foot, 1 Cor. 15.25. The enemy under his feet, shall not destroy the children in his arms. He sits in Heaven on purpose to manage all to the advantage of his Church, Eph. 1.22. Are our enemies powerful, lo our King sits on the right hand of power. Are they subtil and deep in their contrivance, he that sits on the Throne over-looks all they do. Heaven over-looks Hell. He that sits in the Heavens beholds, and derides their attempts, Psal 2.4. He may permit his enemies to straighten them in one place, but it shall be for their enlargement in another. For 'tis with the Church, as it is with the Sea; what it loses in one place, it gets in another; and so really loses nothing. He may suffer them also to distress us in outwards, but that shall be recompenced with inward, and better mercies; and so we shall lose nothing by that. A foot-stool you know is u…eful to him that treads on it, and serves to lift him up the higher: so shall Christs enemies be to him, and his; albeit they think not so. What singular benefits the oppositions of his enemies, occasion to his people; I have *A Saint indeed. p. 64, 65, 66.else-where discovered, to which I refer my Reader and pass to the
Inference 3.
Infer. 3.Is Christ set down on the right hand of the Majesty in Heaven, O with what awful reverence should we approach him in the duties of his Worship! Away with light and low thoughts of Christ. Away with formal irreverent, and careless frames in Praying, Hearing, Receiving, yea, in conferring and speaking of Christ. Away with all deadness, and drowsiness in duties, For he is a great King with whom you have to do. A King to whom the Kings of the earth are but as little bits of clay. Lo the Angels cover their faces in his presence. He is an Adorable Majesty.
When Iohn had a vision of this inthroned King, about sixty year after his ascension; such was the over-powering glory of Christ, as the Sun when it shineth in its strength; that when he saw him, he fell at his feet as dead, and died it's like he had, if Christ had not not laid his hand on him and said, fear not, I am the first and the last; I am he that liveth, and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore, Rev. 1.17, 18. When he appeared to Saul in the way to Damascus, it was in glory above the glory of the Sun, which over powered him also, and laid him as one dead upon the ground.
O that you did but know what a glorious Lord you Worship and Serve. Who makes the very place of his Feet glorious, where ever he comes. Surely He is greatly to be feared in the assembly of his Saints, and to be had in reverence of all that are round about him. There is indeed a foreign boldness or free liberty of speech allowed to the Saints, Eph. 3.12. But no rudeness, or irreverence. We may indeed come as the Children of a King come to the Father, who is both their awful soveraign, and tender Father; which double relation causes a due mixture of love and reverence in their hearts, when they come before him. You may be Free, but not Rude in his presence. Though he be your Father, Brother, Friend; yet the distance betwixt him and you is infinite.
Inference 4.
If Christ be so gloriously advanced in the highest Throne, Infer. 4.then none need to reckon themselves dishonoured, Non ignomi…iosum est nobis pati, quod Christus passus est; nec vobis gloriosum facere quod fecit Iudas. Hierony. Dr. Manton on Jam. p. 228.by suffering the vilest things for his sake. The very chains and sufferings of Christ have a glory in them. Hence Moses esteemed the very reproaches of Christ, greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, Heb. 11.26. He saw such an excellency in the very worst things of Christ, his reproaches, and sufferings, as made him leap out of his Honours and Riches into them. He did not (as one saith) only endure the reproaches of Christ, but counted them Treasures. To be reckoned among his honours, and things of value.Curet non me quo que torque donas? Et insignis hujus o… di…is militem cre…s? Thuan. Hist. So Thuanus reports of Ludovicus Marsacus, a noble Knight of France, when he was led with other Martyrs, that were bound with Cords, to Execution; and he for his dignity was not bound, he cryed, give me my Chain too, let me be a Knight of the same order. Disgrace it self is honourable, when 'tis endured for the Lord of glory. And surely there is (as one phraseth it) a little Paradise, a young Heaven in sufferings for Christ. If there were nothing else in it, but that they are endured on his account, it would richly reward all we can endure for him: but if we consider how exceeding kind Christ is to them that count it their glory to be abased for him; that though he be alwaies kind to his people, (yet if we may so speak) he overcometh himself in kindness, when they suffer for him: it should make men in Love with his reproaches.
Inference 5.
Infer. 5.If Christ sate not down to rest in Heaven, till he had finished his work on earth; then 'tis in vain for us to think of rest, till we have finished our work, as Christ also did his.
How willing are we to find rest here! To dream of that which Christ never found in this world, nor any ever found before us. O think not of resting, till you have done working, and done sinning. Your life and your labours must end together. Write (saith the Spirit) blessed are the dead, that die in the Lord, for they rest from their labours, Rev. 14.13. Here you must have the Sweat, and there the Sweet. 'Tis too much to have two Heavens. Here you must be content to dwell in the Tents of Keder, hereafter you shall be within the curtains of Solomon. Heaven is the place of which it may be truly said, That there the weary be at rest. O think not of sitting down on this side Heaven. There are four things will keep the Saints from sitting down on earth, to rest. viz. Grace, Corruptions, Devils, and wicked men.
First, Grace will not suffer you to rest here. Its tendencies are beyond this world. It will be looking and longing for the blessed hope. A gratious person takes himself for a Pilgrim, seeking a better Country and is alwaies suspicious of danger in every place and state. It's still beating up the sluggish heart with such language as that, Mica. 2.10. Arise, depart, this is not thy rest, for it is polluted. Its farther tendencies and continual Jealousies will keep you from sitting long still in this world.
Secondly, Your Corruptions will keep you from rest here. They will continually exercise your Spirits, and keep you upon your watch. Saints have their hands filled with work by their own hearts every day. Sometimes to prevent sin, and sometimes to lament it. And allwaies to watch and fear, to mortifie and kill it. Sin will not long suffer you to be quiet, Rom. 7.21, 22, 23, 24. And if a bad heart will not break your rest here, then
Thirdly, There is a busie Devil will do it. He will find you work enough with his Temptations, and suggestions, and except you can sleep quietly in his arms, as the wicked do, there's no rest to be expected. Your adversary the Devil goeth about as a roaring Lyon, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist, 1 Pet. 5.8.
Fourthly, Nor will his Servants, and instruments let you be quiet on this side Heaven. Their very name speaks their turbulent disposition.foreign I…qui…tum esse. Turbulentus. My Soul (saith the holy man) is among Lyons, and I lye even among them that are set on fire, even the Sons of men, whose teeth are Spears and Arrows, Psal. 57.4. Well then, be content to enter into your rest, as Christ did into his. He sweat, then sate, and so must you.