An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

First, That the learned do from the Scripture find a two-fold Kingdom ¹attributed unto Christ. The one as he is God, having the same Essence with the Father, and so ruling over the whole world. The other as he is Mediator, and Head of the Church, and so the chief Governor and Shepherd thereof in a peculiar manner. The first is called his Essential and natural Kingdom. The second his Dispensatory and Donative. The Socinians have occasioned this distinction. For when we bring those places, where Christ is said to be King, and Lord, to be exalted above all principalities, to prove his eternal God-head. They answer, This is a constituted God-head; Christ was not thus King, till after his resurrection; and therefore (say they) it was given him in time, whereas if it were an essential attribute of God, it must he had from all eternity. To this it is answered, That Christ as God had right to all that glory and honour, which was given him in time; but then as Mediator, so it was a reward, at least a consequent of his obedience and humiliation. So that they grant, Christ did in time receive a Mediatory Kingdom and glory, whereby he was made Head of his Church, and to rule in with supreme power and authority, though from the Father; neither doth this derogate from his Deity, to say it was given him; for it was not given him to make him more perfect, only to perfect his Church, and it's a gift of such a thing, which only can be attributed to God; for none but he that is God can be Mediator and Head of his Church, because he that is so, must be the cause of all the grace and spiritual benefits which are in the Church.

First, That the learned do from the Scripture find a two-fold Kingdome ¹attributed unto Christ. The one as he is God, having the same Essence with the Father, and so ruling over the whole world. The other as he is Mediatour, and Head of the Church, and so the chief Governour and Shepherd thereof in a peculiar manner. The first is called his Essential and natural Kingdom. The second his Dispensatory and Donative. The Sacinians have occasioned this distinction. For when we bring those places, where Christ is said to be King, and Lord, to be exalted above all principalities, to prove his eternal God-head. They answer, This is a constituted God-head; Christ was not thus King, till after his resurrection; and therefore (say they) it was given him in time, whereas if it were an essential attribute of God, it must he had from all eternity. To this it is answered, That Christ as God had right to all that glory and honour, which was given him in time; but then as Mediatour, so it was a reward, at least a consequent of his obedience and humiliation. So that they grant, Christ did in time receive a Mediatory Kingdom and glory, whereby he was made Head of his Church, and to rule in with supream power and authority, though from the Father; neither doth this derogate from his Deity, to say it was given him; for it was not given him to make him more perfect, only to perfect his Church, and it's a gift of such a thing, which only can be attributed to God; for none but he that is God can be Mediatour and Head of his Church, because he that is so, must be the cause of all the grace and spiritual benefits which are in the Church.