54 MEDITATIONS A 10. This then is that which the apostle declares in these words, To gather together in one all things which are in heaven, and which are in earth; even in him. And so he again expresseth it, Col. i. .20. To reconcile all things unto himself in him, whether they are things in heaven, or things in earth. All things were fallen into disorder and confhsion by sin; they were fallen off from God into variance among themselves. God would not restore them into their first order, in an immediate de- pendence on his divine perfections. He would no longer keep them in two distinct families; but he would in his infinite wisdom and goodness gather them up in- to one common head, on whom they should have their immediate dependence, and be reconciled again among themselves. 11. This new head, wherein God bath gathered up all things in heaven and earth into one, one body, one family, on whom is all their dependence, in whom they all now consist, ieJesus Christ the Son ofGod incarnate, I Cor. xi. 3. Ephes. i. 22, 23. 0 And bath put all ,a things under his feet, and gave him to be the head " over all things to the church, which is his body, the as fulness of him that filleth all inall." This glory was reserved for him; none other could be meet for it, or worthy of it, Col, i. 17, 1S, 19. as And he is before "all things, and by him all things consist. And he is " the head of the body, the church: who is the begin- " ping, the first-born from the dead; that in all things " he might have the pre-eminence. For it pleased the " Father, that in him should all fulness dwell." 12. To answer all the ends of this new head of God's re-collected family, all power in heaven and earth, all fulness of grace and glory, is committed unto him. There is no communication from God, no act ofrule towards this family, no supply of virtue, power, grace, or goodness unto angels or men, but what is immediate- ly from this new Head, whereinto they are gathered. in him they all consist, on him do they depend, unto him are they subject; in their relation unto him doth their peace, union, and agreement among themselves consist. This is the recapitulation of all things intend- ed by the apostle. is. It is true, that he acts distinctly and variously towards the two parts of the re- collected family of angels and men, according as their different states and condi- tions do require. For, (1.) We had need of a repara- ND DISCOURSES. tion by redemption and grace, which the angels lwdt not. (2.) Angels were capable of immediate confirms tion its glory, which we are not until we come to heaven. Therefore, (1.) He assumed our pature that it might be repaired; which Ise did not the nature of the angels. (2.) He gives us union unto himselfby his Spirit, which . exalts us into a dignity and honour, meet for fellow- ship with them in the same family. This is a brief account of the mysterious work of di- vine wisdom, in the recapitulation of all things in Jesus Christ; and herein is he transcendantly glorious; for his glory herein is 14r 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 he put in subjection unto him, so as that their 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 bright- " ness of the Father's glory, and the express image of " his person, upholding all things by the word of his " power, Heb. i. 3. that he is the imageof the invisi- " isle 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 dominions, or principalities, or pow- " ers: all things were created by him and for him. " And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." Col. i. 15, 153, 17. Such a 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 blessed- ness of all creatures to centre in this glory of his office. 2. This is that glory which God designed unto his only Son incarnate; and it gives us a little view into the glory of that mystery, the wonderful eternal design of God to glorify himself in the incarnation of Christ. God would' have his eternal, his only begotten Son to be incarnate, to take our nature on him to be made man. What is his design in this. incomprehensible
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