ON THE GLO wards us, he manifests again his native light and glory. So was it with the divine nature of Christ as we have before declared. He veiled the glory of it by the inter- position of the flesh, or the assumption of our nature to be his own, with this addition, that therein he took on him the form of a servant, of a person of mean and low degree. But this temporary eclipse being past and over, it now shines forth in its infinite lustre and beau- ty, which belongs unto the present exaltation of his per- son. And when those who beheld him here as a poor, sorrowful, persecuted man, dying on the cross, came to see him in all the infinite untreated glories of the di- vine nature, manifesting themselves in his person, it could not but fill their souls with transcendent joy and admiration. And this is one reason of his prayer for them whilst he was on the earth, that they might be where he is to behold his glory. For he knewwhat in- effable satisfaction it would be unto them for evermore. 3. I do not understand absolutely the glorification of the human nature of Christ, that very soul and body wherein he lived and died, suffered and rose again, though that also be included herein. This also were a subject meet for our contemplation, especially as it is the exemplar of that glory which he will bring all those unto, who believe in hint. But because at present we look somewhat further, 1 shall observe only one or two things concerning it. (1.) That very nature itself which he took on him in this world is exalted into glory. Some under a pre- tenceof great subtlety and accuracy, do deny that he bath either flesh or blood in heaven, that is, as to the sub- stance of them: howeveryou may suppose that they are changed, purified, glorified. The great foundation of the church, and all gospel faith is, that he was made flesh, that he did partake of flesh and blood, even as did the children. That he hath forsaken that flesh and blood which he was made in the womb of the blessed virgin, wherein he lived and died, which he offered unto God in sacrifice, and wherein he rose from the dead, is a Socinian fiction. What is the true nature of the glorification of the humanity of Christ, neither those who thus surmise, nor can we perfectly compre- hend. It doth not yet appear what we ourselves shall be, much less is it evident unto us what he is, whom we shall be like. But that he is still in the same hu- man nature, wherein he was on the earth, that he bath K RY OF CHRIST. 37 the same rational soul and the same body, is a funda- mental article of the Christian faith. (2.) This nature of the man Christ Jesus, is filled with all the DIVINE GRACES AND PERFECTIONS whereof a limited created nature is capable. It is not deified, it is not made a God; it doth not in heaven coalesce into one nature with the divine by a composition of them; it bath not any essential property of the deity communicated unto it, so as subjectively to reside in it; it is not made omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent; but it is exalted in a fulness of all divine perfection in- effably above the glory of angels and men. It is incom- prehensibly nearer God than theyall; bath communica- tions from God, in glorious light, love and power, in, effably above them all. But it is still a creature. For the substance of this glory ofthe human nature of Christ, believers shall be made partakers of it; for when we see him ashe is, tee shall be like him; but as unto the degrees and measures of it, his glory is above all that we can be made partakers of: Mere is one glory of the sun, another ofthe moon and stars, and one star dis^rethfrom another in glory, as the apostle speaks, 1 Cor. xv. 41. And if there be a difference in glory amongst the stars themselves, as to some degrees of the same glory: bowmuch more is there between the glory of the sun, and that of any star whatever. Such is the difference that is, and will be unto eternity between the human nature of Christ, and what glorified believers do attain unto. But yet this is not that properly where in the glory of Christ in his exaltation after his humi- liation and death doth consist. The things that be- long unto it may be reduced unto the ensuing heads. 1. It consisteth in the exaltation of the human na- ture, as subsisting in the divine person, above the whole creation of God, in power, dignity, authority, and rule, with all things that the wisdom of God bath appointed to render the glory of it illustrious. I have so largely insisted on the explication and confirmation of this part of the presentglory of Christ in the exposi- tion of Heb. i. 2, 3. that I have nothingmore to add thereunto. 2. It doth so in the evidence given of the infinite love of God the Father unto' him, and his delight in him, with the eternal approbation of his discharge of the office committed unto him. Hence he is said to sit at the sight hand ofGod, or at the right hand of' the 11
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