`%ER.';. Ep/tieto the HEBREwSà is exprelfed in theft words. His,Spirit did of old lignifie both his fufering: and the Glory that fhould follow, 1 Pet. 1.11. as himfelf interpreted the Scriptures unto hit' Difciples, Luke24. 26. And this upon the clofe of his work, he requefted asdue unto him upon Compact and Promife,7ohn 1 7. 5. There are the things in general defigned by the Apoftle in thefe words. Secondly, TheManner of his Expre!ïon of the Glory and bleffed Condition of the Son ofGod after his purging ourfins, and what is particularly intimated therein, is to be confidered.- Some snifiakes, or groundlefs curiofitismutt Mil be removed, and then the real importanceof the words declared. Somecontend, that theLeft Hand ofold was molt honourable ; to that theplacing ófChrift at the Right HandofGod, as it denotes his Honourand Glory, fo altoan in- feriorityunto the Father. To this purpofe they producefomefayings outofCome antient Writersamong theHeathen,giving the preferenceofplace or dignityunto theLeft Hand. As thefe fayingsare made ufeofby theRomaniffs, toanfwer an Objec 'fion of verylittle moment againftPeters Supremacy, taken from force antient EpiJcopal Seals, wherein the figure ofPaul was placed on the Right Hand' of that of Peter. But this conjeéture may be eafily difproved by 7e(limonies innumerable out of approved Authors among the Gentiles : And inScripture the Right Hand doth conitantly denote Dignity and Preheminerice. The inftance ofJacobs biding3ofephs Children te(tifies allo the con- 4ant ufage of thofe antient times from the intimation of nature it felf, Gen. 48. 17, 18, 19. And thedifpofal of the Sheep and Goats at the Jail day, to the Righthand and Left, gives the Priviledge to the former.' So Bafil, ñ deç`rd 'ma za 717s dgias. ópéaµov : the right hand place denoteth a quality of dignity. And Cbryfoffom, .1 >8 124171moiv Ras dgrr".rzat li eiv lean, Z.A. db41áv á4J,' 4 ärsepm "v; if he mould have fignified any leerting or diminution, hewould not have faid fit on my Right Hand, but on my Left. So that it is Honour and Glory which is fignified by this Exprejlìon, and that only. Some, granting the Right Hand to denote the molt honourable place, enquire whi- ther this be fpoken in reference untoGod the Father himfelf, or unto others that do or may be fuppofed to fit on his left hand. For the firft fenfe contends Maldonate on Matth. 16. 19. Forfaith he, though it be impoffible that the Son in abfalute or. Efntial GloryJhould be preferredbefore or above the Father, yet as to his immediate Rule over the Church, be maymore 'hewforth his Poorer andGlory in theRule andGovernment ofall things. Others contendThat it is fpoken with refpeét unto fitting at the left hand , above which, this is preferred. But this whole enquiry, is both curious and groundlefs, For Firft, Though fitting at the Right Handbe a token of great Glory and Dignity, yet as the Apoftle fpeaks in this very cafe, it is manifeft that he is excepted who put ail things under him, 1 Cor. s 5. 27. He who thus exalted himover allat his right hand is excepted: and Secondly, Here is no comparifon at all, or regard to fitting on the left band, nor is there fo where ever that expieffion is ufed, but only theGlory of Chrill the Mediator is ablolutelydeclared. And this may be cleared by other iuilances. Solomon placed his Mother when fhe cameunto him on his Right Hand; a token of exceeding Honour ; but he himfelf fatedown on the Throne of the Kingdom, 1 Kings z. 19. The Church is Paid to be at the Right HandofCbrift, Pfalm 45. 9. which as it prefers her above all others, fo it takesnot off, lter fubjetïionunto Chrift. Nero in Suetonius when Tiridates King of Armeniacame to Rome, placedhim for his Honour on his right band, himfelffrtting on theTbrone.ofRule. And where .three fit together, the middle feat is the place -of chiefeft honour. HenceCato inAfrick whenTuba would have placed himfelf in the miditbetween him andScipio, removed himfelf to the left hand ofScipio, that Juba might nothavethe place of preheminence above RomanMagiftrates. It is not unlikely but that there may beau Allufion in this expreflìonunto the San- hedrinthe higheft Court of judicature among the Jews. He who prefided in it was called i'i atz or pi nn art, the Father ofjudgement, or Father of the Houle of Judgement ; and fate at the right hand of the 'wi, or Prince ofthe Sanhedrin, next unto him, unto whombelonged the execution of the Sentence of the Court. Of thisAb din mention is made in the Targum,Cantic.7. 4. Trl jttTT f)' I !VI 3141, the Father ofthe HouleofJudgement, who judgetb thy judgements : agreeable to that; the Father judgetbno man but bathcommitted all judgement unto theSon. The whole Expreffiou then is plainlyMetaphorical, and taken fromwhat is, or was inufe amongft men, and thencetranflated to lignifie the State and Condition ofChrift Eee in 69
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