The Sum of Christian Religion, Aphorisms · Article 4
ARTICLE IV. of Chriſts ſitting at the right hand of God.
I. CHriſts ſitting at the right hand of God, is not the aſcenſion it ſelfe into heaven: for they differ, 1. In order of time; for he firſt aſcended, before he ſat downe at Gods right (a) hand. 2. In their forme; Aſcenſion is a locall motion (b) upward, Seſſion is the glorious condition of the perſon (c) aſcending. 3. In their proximate ends; Aſcenſion was performed for the (d) Seſſion, but Seſſion for the (e) Church. 4. In duration; Aſcenſion was done but once, as being a tranſient act; but Seſſion as an immanent act: the Kingdome and glory of Chriſt indure for (f) ever. Laſtly, in their ſubjects; for Aſcenſion belongs alſo to the (g) Saints, but the Seſſion at Gods right hand is the glory of the exalted Mediatour (h) alone.
Teſtimonies of Scripture.
(a) Mark 16.19. After that the Lord had ſpoken to them, he was received up into heaven, and ſits at Gods right hand.
(b) Acts 1.9. Whilſt his Diſciples beheld, he was lifted up.
(c) Heb. 8.1. We have ſuch an High-Prieſt, who is ſet downe at the right hand of the throne of the majeſty in the heavens.
(d) Phil. 2.9. Wherefore God hath highly exalted him, and hath given him a name above all names, that at the name of Jeſus every knee ſhould how.
1 Pet. 3.22. Chriſt at the right hand of God, is gone into heaven.
Heb. 9.24. Chriſt is entred into heaven, that he might appeare in the ſight of God for us.
(e) Epheſ. 4.10. Chriſt hath aſcended far above all heavens, that he might fill all things, &c.
(f) Luke 1.33. Of his Kingdome there ſhall be no end.
1 Cor. 15.25. He muſt reigne till he hath put all his enemies under his feet.
(g) 1 Theſ. 4.17. We ſhall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the aire: and ſo ſhall we ever be with the Lord.
(h) Heb. 1.13. To which of the Angels ſaid he at any time, Sit at my right hand.
II. Neither is this ſitting of Chriſt the Incarnation it ſelfe, or the perſonall union of the fleſh with the Word, as ſome giddy heads contend; becauſe, 1. In the Symbole, in which is no tautologie, theſe are diſtinguiſhed. 2. No where in Scripture is the humanity ſaid to ſit at the Word, but to be aſſumed by the (a) Word. 3. The union was made in the womb of the mother, the ſitting is in (b) heaven. 4. The union was in the firſt minute of the conception; but the ſitting began after the (e) aſcenſion. 5. The union is ſimply immutable, the ſitting is in ſome ſort mutable, in reſpect of the externall forme of the Kingdome, which, as the Apoſtle (d) witneſſeth, when death is aboliſhed, ſhall be altogether immediate and without enemy; for now Chriſt, being in the midſt of his enemies, as a Roſe among thornes, reignes by divers media, or governes by divers meanes; but then he ſhall reigne without any medium, or enemy, becauſe God ſhall be all (e) in all.
Teſtimonies of Scripture.
(a) Heb. 2.16. For he did not aſſume the Angels.
John 1.14. The Word was made fleſh.
(bc) Luke 1.31. Thou ſhalt conceive in thy womb, and ſhalt bring forth a Son.
Epheſ. 1.20. God hath placed Chriſt at his right hand in heaven.
(d) 1 Cor. 15.25. He muſt reigne till he hath put all his enemies under his feet; the laſt enemy that ſhall be deſtroyed is death.
(e) Rev. 21.23. Eſay 60.19. The Sun ſhall no more be thy light by day, nor ſhall the brightneſſe of the Moone enlighten thee: but the Lord ſhall be thy everlaſting light.
III. But the full and abſolute glory of Chriſt being exalted in his heavenly Prieſthood and Kingdome, is expreſſed by this phraſe, taken from humane affaires, and applyed to divine: becauſe Kings do moſt honour thoſe whom they place at their right hand; for, by the right hand of God, who is a ſpirit, we cannot underſtand any corporeall member or place: neither doth the ſitting at Gods right hand ſignifie the corporall ſituation of Chriſt; for, except we underſtand this ſpiritually,Tom. 6. contra Scr. Arian. ſaith Auſtine, the Father will be upon the Sons left hand.
IV. And this glory is ſo proper to Chriſt the Mediatour, that it belongs not to the Father, nor to the Holy Ghoſt, much leſſe to any creature; for it was not ſaid to the Father, nor to the Holy Ghoſt, nor to any Angel, Sit at my right hand, Heb. 1.13.untill I make thine enemies thy foot-ſtoole: But of the Son only it is ſaid,1 Cor. 15.25. He muſt reigne untill, &c. Whence it followes, that to ſit at Gods right hand, is not the ſame that Chriſts humane nature, omnipotent, omniſcient, omnipreſent; or laſtly, to be equall with God, or to be God himſelfe, whether he hath obtained that dignity by the perſonall union, or by his aſcending into heaven, or by other cauſe.
V. But albeit this glory of the Mediatour is to us ineffable while we are in this life; yet, if we carefully compare the Apoſtles three places, by which he chiefely deſcribes it, we ſhall in ſome manner conceive it, that it principally conſiſteth in theſe.
Teſtimonies of Scripture, touching Chriſts ſitting at Gods right hand.
Epheſ. 1.20, 21, 22, 23. God raiſed Chriſt 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 onelyonly in this world, but alſo in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the Church, Which is his body, the fulneſſe of him that ſilleth all in all.
1 Cor. 15.24, 25, 26. Then cometh the end, when he ſhall have delivered up the kingdome to God, even the Father, when he ſhall have put downe all rule, and all authority, and power. For he muſt reigne, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. The laſt enemy that ſhall be deſtroyed, is death.
Phil. 2.9, 10. Therefore God hath highly exalted him, and hath given him a name above all names, that at the name of Jeſus every knee ſhould bow, of things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth; and that every tongue ſhould confeſſe that Jeſus Chriſt is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
VI. The glory of Chriſt the Mediatour, doth firſt conſiſt in that high perfection and dignity of the perſon of the Mediatour, even according to that nature which was aſſumed, being adorned with unſpeakeable excellencies of endowents, with happineſſe and majeſty, and with that ſublime exaltation above all principality, power, and dominion, all things being put under his feet, that he might be the Head of the (a) Church, by which the Father governes all things in heaven and (b) earth, the natures remaining whole and unconfuſed, as alſo the properties of nature, in this glory, Which (as Auſtine ſaith) gave to the fleſh to be immortall, but tooke not away the (c) nature.
Teſtimonies of Scripture, and of ſome Ancient Doctors.
(a) Epheſ. 1.20, 21. God placed Chriſt at his right hand in heaven, far above all power, &c.
(b) John 5.22. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgement to the Sonne.
Acts 17.31. God will judge the world in righteouſneſſe, by that man whom he hath appointed.
(c) Auguſt. Epiſt. 57. ad Dardanum. Doubt not then, but the man Chriſt Jeſus is now there, from whence he will returne: call to minde, and hold faithfully the Chriſtian Confeſſion; becauſe he is riſen from the dead, hath aſcended into heaven, ſitteth at the right hand of the Father, nor from any other place, but from thence will he come to judge the quick and dead; and ſo he will come (as the Angell witneſſeth) after the ſame manner that he was ſeene to go into heaven; that is, in the ſame forme and ſubſtance: to whom he gave immortality, but tooke not his nature away.
VII. Secondly, it conſiſts in the glorious adminiſtration of his Propheticall, Sacerdotall, and Regall offices; by which, as Mediatour, he declares himſelfe, even in his aſſumed humane nature, that he is appointed Lord and Judge of all (a) things, and that he rules moſt powerfully in heaven and (b) earth, gathering to himſelfe out of the race of mankinde a perpetuall (c) Church, by the holy Ghoſt, and the Word, making interceſſion for (d) her, and defending her by his divine power on (e) earth; untill, having freed her from all moleſtations, and from her enemies, he glorifie her in (f) heaven.
Teſtimonies of Scripture.
(a) Acts 2.36. Therefore, let all the houſe of Iſrael know aſſuredly, that God hath made that ſame Jeſus whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Chriſt.
Acts 5.31. God having exalted him at his right hand, hath made him Prince and Saviour, that he might give to Iſrael repentance, and remiſſion of ſinnes. See Act. 17.31. John 5.22.
(b) Pſal. 110.2. Beare thou rule in the midſt of thine enemies.
1 Cor. 15.25. He muſt reigne till he hath put all his enemies under his feet.
(c) Epheſ. 4.11. He gave ſome to be Apoſtles, ſome Prophets, ſome Evangeliſts, ſome Paſtors and Doctors.
Rom. 1.17. The Goſpell is the power of God to ſalvation, to every one that beleeves.
Marke 16.21. The Lord did cooperate, and confirmed the word with ſignes following.
(d) Rom. 8.34. Chriſt is at the right hand of God, and maketh interceſsion for us.
Heb. 9.24. Chriſt hath now entred into heaven, that he might appeare before God for us.
1 John 2.1. We have an Advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the righteous.
(e) Mat. 16.18. The gates of hell ſhall not prevaile againſt her.
John 10.28. I give unto them eternall life, and they ſhall never periſh, neither ſhall any man pluck them out of mine hand.
(f) John 17.24. Father, I will that they whom thou haſt given to me, may be where I am, that they may behold my glory.
VIII. Laſtly, in the perfection of that honour and worſhip due (a) to the Mediatour, gloriouſly reigning even in our humane nature; to wit, that he is acknowledged by Angels, men, and all creatures, and by them is adored and celebrated as their head and Lord; as it is written, And let all the Angels of God worſhip him. Alſo,Pſal. 1.6. Pſal. 97.7. Phil. 2.10. At the Name of Jeſus every knee ſhall bow, of things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.
Teſtimonies of Scripture.
(a) Acts 9.14. In this place he hath power from the High-Prieſt to binde all that call on thy Name.
1 Cor. 1.2. To all that call upon the Name of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt in any place, &c.
Rev. 5.9. Thou art worthy to receive the booke, and to open the ſeales thereof; becauſe thou haſt beene ſlaine, and haſt redeemed us by thy bloud out of every Tribe, Langue, People, and Nation. See alſo Rev. 4.11. and 8.13. and 19.5, 6, 7.
IX. Therefore theſe, and ſuch like doctrines of the Ubiquitaries, are falſe and prodigious; 1. That Chriſts humanity, preſently in his conception, when the Word was made fleſh, did ſit at the right hand of God. 2. That to ſit at Gods right hand, is nothing elſe, but to be united perſonally to the Son of God, who is the Fathers right hand. 3. That it is all one with his aſcending to heaven. 4. That it is to be made man, and to become God. 5. That it is all one with Chriſts humanity filling heaven and earth, and being every-where.