Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ

13. IT is true, that he acts distinctly and variously towards the two parts of the Recollected Family of Angels and Men, according as their different States and Conditions do require. For (1.) We had need of a Reparation by Redemption and Grace, which the Angels had not. (2.) Angels were capable of immediate Confirmation in Glory, which we are not, until we come to Heaven. Therefore (1.) He assumed our Nature that it might be repaired; which he did not the Nature of the Angels. (2.) He gives us Union unto himself, by his Spirit, which exalts us into a Dignity and Honour, meet for Fellowship with them in the same Family.

THIS is a brief Account of the mysterious Work of Divine Wisdom in the Recapitulation of all things in Jesus Christ; and herein is he transcendently glorious; or his Glory herein is far above our Comprehension: Yet some few things may be observed to direct us in the View and Contemplation of it. As,

1. HE alone was a meet and capable Subject of it. He only could bear the weight of this Glory. No mere Creature in Heaven or Earth was meet to be thus made the Head of the whole new Creation of God. In none of them could all things consist. None of them was meet to be thus in the Place of God, to have all things depend upon him, and be put in subjection unto him, so as that there should be no Communication between God and the Creation, but by and through him alone. Wherefore when the holy Ghost assigns this Glory unto him, he so describes him, as that we may discern his singular meetness for it; as that he is the Brightness of the Fathers Glory, and the express Image of his Person, upholding all things by the Word of his Power, Heb. 1. 3. That he is the Image of the invisible God, the first born of every Creature, by whom all things were created, that are in Heaven, and that are in the Earth, visible and invisible, whether they be Thrones, or ⟨p. 135⟩Dominions, or Principalities, or Powers, all things were created by him, and for him, and he is before all things, and by him all things consist, Col. 1. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. Such an one alone and no other was meet to bear and uphold this Glory, And the Glory of his Person is such as that it is the Blessedness of all Creatures to centre in this Glory of his Office.

1. HE alone was a meet and capable Subject of it. He only could bear the weight of this Glory. No meer Creature in Heaven or Earth was meet to be thus made the Head of the whole new Creation of God. In none of them could all things consist. None of them was meet to be thus in the Place of God, to have all things depend upon him, and be put in subjection unto him, so as that there should be no Communication between God and the Creation, but by and through him alone. Wherefore when the holy Ghost assigns this Glory unto him, he so describes him, as that we may discern his singular meetness for it; as that he is the Brightness of the Fathers Glory, and the express Image of his Person, upholding all things by the Word of his Power, Heb. 1. 3. That he is the Image of the invisible God, the first born of every Creature, by whom all things were created, that are in Heaven, and that are in the Earth, visible and invisible, whether they be Thrones, or ⟨p. 135⟩Dominions, or Principalities, or Powers, all things were created by him, and for him, and he is before all things, and by him all things consist, Col. 1. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. Such an one alone and no other was meet to bear and uphold this Glory, And the Glory of his Person is such as that it is the Blessedness of all Creatures to center in this Glory of his Office.

THERE is no Contemplation of the Glory of Christ that ought more to affect the Hearts of them that do believe, with Delight and Joy, than this of the Recapitulation of all things in him. One View by Faith of him in the place of God as the supreme Head of the whole Creation, moving, acting, guiding and disposing of it, will bring in spiritual Refreshment unto a believing Soul.

THERE is no Contemplation of the Glory of Christ that ought more to affect the Hearts of them that do believe, with Delight and Joy, than this of the Recapitulation of all things in him. One View by Faith of him in the place of God as the supream Head of the whole Creation, moving, acting, guiding and disposing of it, will bring in spiritual Refreshment unto a believing Soul.

AND it will do so the more, in that it gives a glorious Representation of his Divine Nature also. For that any mere Creature should thus be an Head of Life, Motion and Power, as also of sovereign Rule, and disposal of the whole new Creation, with all things reduced into order thereby, is not only an impious, but a foolish Imagination.

AND it will do so the more, in that it gives a glorious Representation of his Divine Nature also. For that any meer Creature should thus be an Head of Life, Motion and Power, as also of soveraign Rule, and disposal of the whole new Creation, with all things reduced into order thereby, is not only an impious, but a foolish Imagination.

DID we live more in the Contemplation of this Glory of Christ, and of the Wisdom of God in this Recapitulation of all things in him, there is not any thing of our Duty which it would not mind us of, nor any thing of Privilege which it would not give us a Sense of, as might easily be demonstrated.

DID we live more in the Contemplation of this Glory of Christ, and of the Wisdom of God in this Recapitulation of all things in him, there is not any thing of our Duty which it would not mind us of, nor any thing of Priviledge which it would not give us a Sence of, as might easily be demonstrated.

3. IN particular, the Lord Christ is glorious herein, in that the whole Breach made on the Glory of God in the Creation by the Entrance of Sin, is hereby repaired and made up. The Beauty and Order of the whole Creation consisted in its dependence on God by the Obedience of the rational Part of it, Angels and Men. Thereby were the being, the goodness, the wisdom and power of God made manifest. But the Beauty of this Order was defaced, and the Manifestation of the Divine Perfections unto the glory of God eclipsed by the Entrance of Sin. But all is restored, repaired and made up in this Recapitulation of all things in one new Head Christ ⟨p. 137⟩Jesus; yea, the whole curious Frame of the Divine Creation is rendered more beautiful than it was before. Hence the whole of it groaneth for the Interest of each Part in this Restoration of all things. Whatever there is of Order, of Beauty, of Glory in Heaven above, or in Earth beneath, it all ariseth from this new Relation of the Creation unto the Son of God. Whatever is not gathered into one, even in him, in its place and according to its measure, is under Darkness, Disorder and the Curse. Hence the Jews have a saying, that in the days of the Messiah all things shall be healed but the Serpent, that is the Devil, and wicked Men which are as his Seed.

3. IN particular, the Lord Christ is glorious herein, in that the whole Breach made on the Glory of God in the Creation by the Entrance of Sin, is hereby repaired and made up. The Beauty and Order of the whole Creation consisted in its dependance on God by the Obedience of the rational Part of it, Angels and Men. Thereby were the being, the goodness, the wisdom and power of God made manifest. But the Beauty of this Order was defaced, and the Manifestation of the Divine Perfections unto the glory of God eclipsed by the Entrance of Sin. But all is restored, repaired and made up in this Recapitulation of all things in one new Head Christ ⟨p. 137⟩Jesus; yea, the whole curious Frame of the Divine Creation is rendred more beautiful than it was before. Hence the whole of it groaneth for the Interest of each Part in this Restauration of all things. Whatever there is of Order, of Beauty, of Glory in Heaven above, or in Earth beneath, it all ariseth from this new Relation of the Creation unto the Son of God. Whatever is not gathered into one, even in him, in its place and according to its measure, is under Darkness, Disorder and the Curse. Hence the Jews have a saying, that in the days of the Messiah all things shall be healed but the Serpent, that is the Devil, and wicked Men which are as his Seed.

4. HE is glorious herein, in that he is appointed as the only means of exerting, and expressing all the Treasures of the Infinite Wisdom of God towards his Creatures. The Wisdom of God is absolutely, always and in all things Infinite. God doth not, God cannot act with more Wisdom in one thing than in another; as in the Creation of man than in that of any inanimate Creatures. In the first Creation Infinite Wisdom was the inseparable companion of Infinite Power. How marvellous are thy works, O Lord! in Wisdom hast thou made them all. But when the effects of this Divine Wisdom in their principal beauty and glory were defaced, greater Treasures of Wisdom were required unto their Reparation. And in this Recollection of all things in Christ did God lay them forth unto the utmost of whatever he will do in dealing with his Creatures; so the Apostle expresseth it, Ephes. 3. 10. To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God. By the Recapitulation of all things into this one head, the manifold various unsearchable Wisdom of God was made known unto the Angels themselves. They knew not before of the Design and Work of God after the Entrance of Sin. These could not comprehend ⟨p. 138⟩the Wisdom that might repair that Loss. They knew not that Divine Wisdom had another way to take herein, at least they knew not what way that should be. But hereby the manifold Wisdom of God, his infinite Wisdom in the Treasures of it, able by various ways to attain the ends of his Glory, was made known unto them. Herein, namely, in the Recollection of all things in Christ, Divine Wisdom hath made known and represented it self in all its Stores and Treasures unto Angels and Men. In him are hid, and by him are displayed, all the treasures of Wisdom, Col. 2. 3. Herein is he glorious, and will be so to Eternity.

5. He is glorious herein, in that hereby firmness and security is communicated unto the whole new Creation. The first Creation in its Order was a curious and glorious Fabric. But every thing depending immediately on God by virtue of the Principles of its own Nature, and the Law of its Obedience, all was brought unto a Loss by the sin of Angels and Men. But now every thing that belongs unto this new Creation, even every Believer in the World as well as the Angels in Heaven being gathered together in this one Head, the whole and all, and every part and member of it, even every particular Believer are secured from Ruin, such as befell all things before. In this New Head they have an indissoluble Consistency.

5. He is glorious herein, in that hereby firmness and security is communicated unto the whole new Creation. The first Creation in its Order was a curious and glorious Fabrick. But every thing depending immediately on God by vertue of the Principles of its own Nature, and the Law of its Obedience, all was brought unto a Loss by the sin of Angels and Men. But now every thing that belongs unto this new Creation, even every Believer in the World as well as the Angels in Heaven being gathered together in this one Head, the whole and all, and every part and member of it, even every particular Believer are secured from Ruine, such as befel all things before. In this New Head they have an indissoluble Consistency.

BUT manum de Tabula. I shall insist on no more Instances of this Nature-which plentifully offer themselves in the Scripture unto us. For who can declare this glory of Christ? Who can speak of these things as he ought? I am so far from designing to set forth the whole of it, that I am deeply sensible how little a Portion I can comprehend of the least part of it. Nor can I attain unto any Satisfaction in these Meditations, but what Issue in an humble Admiration.

CHAP. XII. Differences between our beholding the Glory of Christ by Faith in this World, and by sight in Heaven. The first of them explained.

WE walk here by faith, and not by sight, 2 Cor. 5. 7. That is, in the Life of God, in our walking before him, in the whole of our Obedience therein, we are under the Conduct and Influence of Faith and nor of Sight. Those are the two spiritual Powers of our Souls; by the one whereof, we are made Partakers of Grace, Holiness and Obedience in this Life; and by the other of eternal Blessedness and Glory.

BOTH these, namely, Faith and Sight, the one in this Life, the other in that which is to come, have the same immediate Object. For they are the Abilities of the Soul to go forth unto, and to embrace their Object. Now this Object of them both, is the Glory of Christ, as hath been declared, as also what that glory is, and wherein it doth consist; wherefore my present Design is to enquire into the difference that is between our beholding of the Glory of Christ in this World by Faith, and the Vision which we shall have of the same Glory hereafter.

THE latter of these is peculiarly intended in that Prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ for his Disciples, Joh. 17. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me, may be with me where I am, that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me. But I shall not distinctly insist upon it, ⟨p. 140⟩my design being another way, respecting principally the Work of God in this Life, and the Privileges which we enjoy thereby: Yet I shall now take a short Prospect of that also; not absolutely, but in the Differences that are between Faith and Sight, or the View which we have of the glory of Christ in this World by Faith, and that which they enjoy by Vision who are above; the Object of them both being adequately the same.

THE latter of these is peculiarly intended in that Prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ for his Disciples, Joh. 17. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me, may be with me where I am, that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me. But I shall not distinctly insist upon it, ⟨p. 140⟩my design being another way, respecting principally the Work of God in this Life, and the Priviledges which we enjoy thereby: Yet I shall now take a short Prospect of that also; not absolutely, but in the Differences that are between Faith and Sight, or the View which we have of the glory of Christ in this World by Faith, and that which they enjoy by Vision who are above; the Object of them both being adequately the same.

BUT herein also, I shall have respect only unto some of those things which concern our Practise, or the present immediate Exercise of Faith. For I have elsewhere handled at large the State of the Church above, or that of present glory; giving an account of the Administration of the Office of Christ in Heaven, his Presence among the glorified Souls, and the Adoration of God under his Conduct: I have also declared the Advantage which they have by being with him, and the Prospect they have of his glory. Therefore these things must here be only touched on.