An Expo[ition of the Epifile ~ Fir!'c, To open unto you the eminency of this exal~tionof Chrilt. He is faid Srrmo>t to be far above, not only above but far above, not~'~ only but Jmp.i,u, far above XX'lti. fo far that the Apo!lle knew not how to exprefs it, but as we ufe to fay infinitely ~ above. So now that wluch mAfls 2•33· IS called fimply the exaltatton of Chri!'c· in Phi!. 2. 9· it is called fuper-exal•ation, fo the word is in the Original, not on: 1yan exalting but an exalting to the highe!l, an infinite exalting; and therefore Heb. 7· 26. we are faid to have fuch an I-hgh-Priejl as is made higher than the Heavens. I told you before, that fitting at God's right hand noted out Fir!'c, j tt!nefs of p!eajitre. Secondly, Glory, Thirdly, Powercmd'Domi11io11. Now, Youlha!l lee that in all thefe Jefus Chri!'c is advanced farr above all Creatures, and enjoycth them all in that tranfcendent manner as no Creature cloth, either Angels or men. • Fir!'c, Jcfus Chrifl: hath fuch pleafure as no Creature hath. For that, take P(a!. 41'.where he fpeaks of Chri!'c as exalted at God's right hand, and fpeaking of his Throne, faith he, verfe 6. Thy Thro11e 0 God is for ever aiJd ever, the Scepter of ti!J Kingdom is a right Sceptn·. He fpeaks of him as in!'called into his Kingdom. What followetl1? Becauje thott love[/ Righteorwufs atJd hattft Wtekeduejs, therefore God bath auoi1Jied thn with the Oy! of gtad~tefs above thyfellows, Here is you fee an anointing with joy ~nd gladnefs above his fellows, in this regard therefore he is above all Principality and Power and all things elfe; Why? Beoaufe he is nearer the Fountain than all C res are, for he is one Perlon with the Son of God, and the communication od, and all the fulnefs of the Godhead to him mufl: needs be fo much the more greater by how much the union is nearer. As he had the neare!'c union that any Creature could have to be one Perfon with the Godhead, fo he bath the joys of God, which none elfe can have. While he was upon the Earth he was a man of farrows, fuch as no man had; fo now when he cometh to Heaven, as his farrows abounded fo his joys alfo abound. As he was the fir(l of many Brethren in refpeCl: of affiiCl:ion, fo he is a– nointed with 0)1of gladnefs above his fellows; for he hath not only the joysof God to' be his, but the joys of all his Children, they are alfo his, therefore he bids them be holy, that my joy may be full faith he, I rejoyce in it faith he, I re– joyce in it faith he more than you; for as the Apo!'cle faith; yo11 are my CroW1J audmy joy; fo Chri!'c hathjoy in all. Secondly, Take Rule and Dominion, that is mo!'c proper to the Text indeed, he hath a Rule and Dominion far above all things. Rev. l· 21. Tt jbaJJ fit with me ill my Thro11e, evm as I a!fo am[et dow" with my F.Jther ill hi. ThroiJe. What is the meaning of that Scripture"! This in a word, As I am glorifi~d, fo !hall ye be glorified, and I have communicated to you a kind of Rule, a kind of fufferage at the day of Judgment, but this is peculiar to the Son, to the Lord Jefus Chrift to fit in the Fathers Throne. So likewife for Glory, which is the Third thing meant by fitting nt God's right hand. He hath fuch glory in Heaven, that could a man fee him fitting in Hea– ven, and all the Angels about him, he would fay that is the Son of God prefenrly. Set a King among his Nobles, and you could not kno\v one from another, if he would conceal his outward !'care; but fer the Perfon of Chri!'c among!'c Angels, you would prefently fay that is the Son of God, We Jaw hit glory fay they, a< the glory of the 011/y begottm So11 of God; when they had but oglimpfe of it in hts transfiguration. There is fuch a glory lhineth in the perfon of Jefus Chri!l as he is far above all Angels and Men, he is the Son of righteoufnefs, therefore he IS faid to be the Ima~e of the i11viji/;/e God, fo as no Men or Angels are, and the 6>·ightnefs of hi. Fathers glory, which they are not, it is fpokcn of him as he IS Man; for otherwife as he is God he is as invifible as God himfelf. Then fore as the actions of tl1e Son of .God are higher than the aCl:ions of men, for you fee they are of infinite worth, which Mens good works and Angels are not, fo the glory of God-man, the Son of God is more than all the glory ofAngels or the glory of all the Sons of men whatfoever, it is of .another l<ind. Hence
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