Chapter III
Shewing what evidence also Christ s sitting at God s right hand, having been
our Surety, affords to ourfaith for justification.
2. Now then, in the next place, for his being or sitting at God s right hand, which is the second particular to be spoken of. As soon as Christ was carried into heaven, look, as all the angels fell down and worshipped him, so his Father welcomed him, with the highest grace that ever yet was shewn. The words which he then spake we have recorded, Ps. ex., Sit thou at my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool. You may by the way observe, for the illustration of this, how upon all the several
parts of performance of his office, either God is brought in speaking to
Christ, or Christ to his Father. Thus, when he chose him first to be our
Mediator, he takes an oath, Thou art a Priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec. Again, when Christ came to take upon him our nature, the words he spake are recorded, Lo, I come to do thy will, a body hast thou
fitted me : so Heb. x. 5, out of the 40th Psalm. Likewise, when he hung upon the cross, his words unto God are recorded, Ps. xxii. 1, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? In like manner, when he rose
again, God s words used then to him are recorded, Thou art my Son, this
day have I begotten thee, Ps. ii. (which place is expounded of the resur
rection, Acts xiii. 33), which is as much as if he had said, Thou never
appearedst like my Son till now ; for whereas I chose a Son to be glorified with power and majesty, hitherto thou hast appeared only as a son of man (Enosh, sorry man) ; hitherto thou hast been made sin, and a curse ; not like my Son, but hast appeared in the likeness of sinful flesh, and of
a servant/ all besmeared with blood ; therefore this is the first day wherein
* I have begotten thee ; even now, when thou first beginnest to appear out of that sinful hue and likeness of sinful flesh : now I own thee for my Son indeed. And in him he o\vned us all thus at his
I make account
resurrection. And then, last of all, when he comes into heaven, the first word God speaks to him is, Son,
* sit thou at my right hand ; thou hast done all my work, and now I will do thine ; (he gives him a Quietus est) rest here ; sit here, till I make all thy enemies thy footstool. And now, what say you, are ye satisfied yet, that God is satisfied for
your sins ? What superabundant evidence must this Christ s sitting at God s right hand give to a doubting heart ? It argues, first, that Christ, for his part, hath perfectly done his work ; and that there is no more left
for him to do by way of satisfaction. This the word sitting implies. Se
condly, it argues that God is as fully satisfied on his part
: this his sitting at God s right hand implies.
(1.) For the first; the phrase of sitting doth betoken rest, when work is
fulfilled and finished. Christ was not to return till he had accomplished his work, Heb. x. 11. The apostle comparing the force and excellency of Christ s sacrifice, with those of the priests of the old law, says, that those
priests stood daily offering of sacrifices, which can never take sins away. Their standing implied that they could never make satisfaction, so as to say,
* we have finished it. But Christ (says he, ver. 12),
* after he had offered up one sacrifice for ever, sat doim, &c. Mark how he opposeth then*
standing to his sitting down. He sat as one who had done his work. Thus, Heb. iv. 10,
* he that is entered into his rest speaking of Christ, VOL. IV. D
50 THE TRIUMPH OF FAITH [SECT. IV.
* hath ceased from his work, as God from
as I have elsewhere shewn
his.
(2.) Secondly, this, his being at God s right hand, as strongly argues that God is satisfied ; for if God had not been infinitely well pleased with him, he would never have let him come so near him, much less have advanced him so high as his right hand. And, therefore, in that place even now
cited (Heb. x. ver. 10, 11, 12, compared with the former verses), this is
alleged as an evidence that Christ had for ever taken sins away (which those priests of the law could not do, who therefore
* often offered the same
* this man, after he had offered one sacrifice
sacrifice, as ver. 11). That
for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God, as thereby shewing (and that most manifestly) that he had at that once offered up such a satis
factory sacrifice as had pleased God for ever ; and thereupon took up his
place at God s right hand as an evidence of it ; so possessing the highest
place in court. This setting him at God s right hand, is a token of special and highest favour. So kings, whom they were most pleased with, they did
set at their right hands, as Solomon did his mother, 1 Kings ii. 19; and so
Christ, the church his queen, Ps. xlv. 9, and it was a favour which God never after vouchsafed to any, Heb. i. 13.
* To which of all the angels did he say, Sit thou at my right hand ? Therefore, Phil. ii. 9, it is not only said that he
* exalted him, but, siiperexaltamt, he highly exalted him, so
as never any was exalted ; for he was made thereby higher than the
heavens. Thus much for the first head.