Thirdly, By their being in the Father's Hand, may be meant Jesus Christ, who is called the Power of God, and the Wisdom of God; 1because by and through him, God exerts his Power, or his Strength to save; or the Glory of his Power is manifested, as well as of all his other Attributes. Sin seemed to eclipse the Power of God in saving his People, because Divine Power could not save in a way of Omnipotence, to the Impeachment of his Justice and Holiness; but in Christ Justice and Holiness is as much magnified as Mercy and Goodness; and thereby so too, that the Power of God might shine forth in its full Glory: Father, glorify thy Name, saith 2Christ. Then came a Voice from Heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it: Thy Name, that is, however thou art made known, or glorify all thy Glorious Attributes. Almighty Power was seen in creating the World; and also as it wrought in conjunction with Divine Justice, it shone forth in casting the Angels out of Heaven, and Adam out of Paradise; as also in the Flames of Sodom: And as Divine Power joined with Divine Mercy and Goodness, it shone forth in saving the Israelites at the Red Sea. But the Strength and ⟨p. 274⟩Glory of every Attribute never shone forth in their equal brightness and splendour, as all are united and in conjunction together, and meet in sweet Harmony, as they do in the saving of Man by Jesus Christ; so that Jesus Christ may be well called the Wisdom of God, and the Power of God. Christ is the first-born of every Creature: 3And as the First born is the Strength of the Parent, so is Christ the Strength of God. The transcendent Excellencies and Glories of the Divine Being, that were scattered (as it were) in the Creation, are all united and gathered in Christ; that like as when a bundle of Rods united and bound up together cannot be broke, or as so united are very strong, so God in Christ shines forth, as having all his Glorious Perfections united in one; and in this sense Believers may be said to be in the Father's Hand, and so that none can pluck them out, God hereby appearing in his united Strength. And thus Christ may be said to be, that Branch that God hath made 4strong for himself. And again, The Man of thy right Hand, the Son of Man whom thou hast made strong for thy self, in whom thou showest the greatness of thy Power to save, or to manifest his Almighty Power by.
Thirdly, By their being in the Father's Hand, may be meant Jesus Christ, who is called the Power of God, and the Wisdom of God; 1because by and through him, God exerts his Power, or his Strength to save; or the Glory of his Power is manifested, as well as of all his other Attributes. Sin seem'd to eclipse the Power of God in saving his People, because Divine Power could not save in a way of Omnipotence, to the Impeachment of his Justice and Holiness; but in Christ Justice and Holiness is as much magnified as Mercy and Goodness; and thereby so too, that the Power of God might shine forth in its full Glory: Father, glorify thy Name, saith 2Christ. Then came a Voice from Heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it: Thy Name, that is, however thou art made known, or glorify all thy Glorious Attributes. Almighty Power was seen in creating the World; and also as it wrought in conjuction with Divine Justice, it shone forth in casting the Angels out of Heaven, and Adam out of Paradise; as also in the Flames of Sodom: And as Divine Power joined with Divine Mercy and Goodness, it shone forth in saving the Israelites at the Red Sea. But the Strength and ⟨p. 274⟩Glory of every Attribute never shone forth in their equal brightness and splendour, as all are united and in conjunction together, and meet in sweet Harmony, as they do in the saving of Man by Jesus Christ; so that Jesus Christ may be well called the Wisdom of God, and the Power of God. Christ is the first-born of every Creature: 3And as the First born is the Strength of the Parent, so is Christ the Strength of God. The transcendent Excellencies and Glories of the Divine Being, that were scattered (as it were) in the Creation, are all united and gathered in Christ; that like as when a bundle of Rods united and bound up together cannot be broke, or as so united are very strong, so God in Christ shines forth, as having all his Glorious Perfections united in one; and in this sense Believers may be said to be in the Father's Hand, and so that none can pluck them out, God hereby appearing in his united Strength. And thus Christ may be said to be, that Branch that God hath made 4strong for himself. And again, The Man of thy right Hand, the Son of Man whom thou hast made strong for thy self, in whom thou shewest the greatness of thy Power to save, or to manifest his Almighty Power by.
- 11 Cor. 1. 18.
- 2John 11. 28.
- 3Col. 1. 15.
- 4Psal. 8•. 15.
