XXII.

SERM. legation confer upon him a supereminent degree of dignity and authority, with power to execute the most lordly acts of enacting, of dispensing with, and of abrogating laws; of judging, of remitting offences; of dispensing rewards, and of punishing transgressors. The scripture is copious and emphatical in declaring this point both in general terms Acts ii. 36. and with respect to particulars. Let all the house of Israel, saith St. Peter, know assuredly, that God

2.

Mat. xi. 27.

xiii. 3.

Phil. ii.

8-11.

hath made him Lord and Christ, even this Jesus, John xvii. whom ye did crucify: and, Thou hast given him Luke x. 22. power over all flesh: All things are delivered Xunto me by my Father: All power is given me John iii.35 in heaven, and upon earth: The Father hath loved the Son, and hath given all things into his hand; saith he concerning himself: and, Being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross: wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow-and that every tongue should confess that Eph. i. 20. Jesus is the Lord: and, God raised him from the dead, and set him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only 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 Heb. ii. 9. to the church: and, We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of Rev. v. 12. death, crowned with glory and honour: and, The Lamb which was slain is worthy to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour,

1 Pet. iii. 22.

XXII.

28. xxv. 31.

Ps. viii. 7.

13, 14.

and blessing: and, When the Son of man sits upon SERM. the throne of his glory, ye shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. In Matt. xix. which places, as in others of the same importance, xxvi. 64. it is signified generally, that beside the dominion, naturally belonging to our Saviour as God, there hath been conferred on him, as man, an universal dominion over all things in regard to what, as man, he did and suffered; and that in him, as the Apostle to the Hebrews observeth and discourseth, that hath been signally fulfilled which the Psalmist acknowledgeth, and praiseth God for, in respect to man; Thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and Heb.ii.7.8. didst set him over the works of thy hand, and didst put all things in subjection under his feet. In him also was accomplished the prophetical vision of Daniel; I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one Dan. vii. like the Son of man—And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. It is also particularly expressed of him, that to him, as man, is committed a power legislative; I say unto you, I command you, is the style he commonly used: and, The Son of man, John xv. said he, is Lord of the sabbath; (that is, hath a power to dispense with the observation thereof, or to abrogate the positive law concerning it; which by parity of reason infers a general power of constituting and rescinding laws of the like nature.) The prerogative also of remitting sins was given him; That ye may, saith he, know that the Son of man Matt. ix. 6. hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he Luke v. 24.

10, 12, 14.

SERM. to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, XXII. and walk: and, The God of our fathers, saith St. Acts v. 30, Peter, hath raised Jesus, whom ye slew, and hanged

31.

xvii. 31.

27.

27.

on a tree; him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance unto Israel, and remission of sins. The administration of justice and judgment he thus Acts x. 42. also hath; for he is, pioμévos vпò тоữ Оeоũ Kρitns, ordained by God the Judge of quick and dead; God hath appointed to judge the world, ἐν ἀνδρὶ ᾧ ὥρισε, by John v. 22, the man whom he hath ordained: The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment to the Son-and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, ὅτι υἱὸς ἀνθρώπου ἐστί because, or whereas, he is the Son of man: so also for the prerogative of distributing rewards and inflicting puMatt. xvi. nishments; The Son of man, saith he, shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and reward every man according to his work. Thus by emphatical expression it is signified, that Christ, as man, is our Lord, by God's appointment and donation. We may also consider, that our Saviour, as the Son of David, and consequently by a right of succession, according to divine ordination, as King of Israel, (to the which all Christians are become Heb. xii. proselytes; for, apoσeλnλúbate Ziv opei, Ye are proselytes to mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, saith the Apostle to the Hebrews,) is our Lord; according to that of the Luke i. 32. angel to the blessed Virgin; He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give him the throne of David his Father; and he shall reign over the house of IsIsa. ix. 7. rael for ever and ever: Of the increase of his go

22.

Acts ii. 30.

XXII.

vernment there shall be no end, upon the throne of SERM. David, and upon his kingdom to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever: so Isaiah foretold of him; and many like passages occur in other prophets.

3. He also considered as Otávрwоs (as God and man, united in one Person) is plainly our Lord. For whatever naturally did appertain to God, whatever freely was (in way of gift or reward) communicated to man, doth accrue to the Person, and is attributed thereto, in consequence of the union hypostatical, or personal. It was indeed by virtue thereof, that the man Christ Jesus became capable of so high preferments; wherefore most properly upon this consideration is Christ the Lord of all, as St. Peter styles Acts x. 36. him; having all things (him only excepted, who did 1 Cor. xv. subject all things to him) put under his feet.

27.

4. If we also consider him as Jesus, our Saviour, that notion doth involve acts of dominion, and thence resulteth a title thereto : nothing more becomes a Lord, than to protect and save; none better deserves the right and the name of a Lord, than a Saviour; wherefore those titles are well conjoined; I am the Isa.xliii.11. Lord, and beside me there is no Saviour, saith God

in Isaiah of himself; and, Him hath God exalted Acts v. 31. to be a Prince and a Saviour to his right hand, saith St. Peter concerning Jesus.

5. Likewise if he be considered as the Christ, that especially implieth him anointed, and consecrated to sovereign dominion, as king of the church: well therefore did the angel express his joyful message when he told the shepherds; I bring you good Luke ii. 11. tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people ; for unto you is born this day in the city of David

SERM. a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord: and St. Peter XXII. well joined them, saying, Let all the house of IsActs ii. 36. rael know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Thus in all respects is Christ our Lord.

III. Let us also further briefly survey the several grounds upon which dominion may be built, and we shall see that upon all accounts he is our Lord.

1. An uncontrollable power and ability to govern is one certain ground of dominion; he that is endued therewith, it is necessary that we should submit to him, it is reasonable willingly to admit him for our Lord: persons so qualified, Aristotle telleth us, have a natural title to dominion; as, on the contrary, persons weak, (in power or in wisdom,) unable to protect themselves, and unfit to manage things, are naturally subjects and servants. This ground eminently agrees to him, as being by nature the Almighty God, who can do all things, whom nothing John xiii.3. can resist; and also for that all things are given into his hand, all things are put under his feet. Matt. xvi. Hence he is most able to protect us; the gates of John x. 28. hell cannot prevail against his church; none can Heb.vii. 25. snatch us out of his hand; he is able to save to the

18.

uttermost them that come to God through him.

2. To make, to preserve, to provide and dispense maintenance, are also clear grounds of dominion; for what can we more justly claim dominion over,

3 Ὁ πρῶτος (ὡς ἔοικεν) καὶ κυριώτατος νόμος, τῷ σώζεσθαι δεομένῳ, τὸν σώζειν δυνάμενον, ἄρχοντα κατὰ φύσιν ἀποδίδωσι. Plut. in Pelop.

Προσήκει γοῦν ἀεὶ τῷ κρείττονι κατὰ φύσιν ἡγεῖσθαι τοῦ χείρονος. Clem. Alex. Strom. vii. (p. 506.)

Τὸ δυνάμενον φύσει προορᾷν ἄρχον φύσει, καὶ δεσπόζον φύσει. Arist. Pol. i. 1, 3, 4.