t4 CHRIST EXALTED AND THE SPIRIT GI1ÉÑ. ESERM. tv; mitted to'his care, but the book of the decrees of God is put into his hands, that he may govern these kingdoms according to the Father's will. So that text is generally. explained; Rev. v. 1-9. " The Lamb in the midst of the throne came and took the book Out of his Father's hand." He must knowwhat God hath ordained, that he may execute all his Father's counsels. with, regard to the church and the world, and that he may send his pro-. phets to reveal to his church, so much as is needful for them to know. The whole book of the Revelation, is an instance of this knowledge communicated to him by the Father. Rev. i, 1 " The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto hinì, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John." The day and hour of the last judgment, which were unknown to the Son in the days of his flesh; Mark xiii. 32. and were reserved in the Father's haríd, are now laid open before him in this book of divine counsels. Both as a Priest and a King he must know the hearts of men. He must see their secret thoughts, that he may govern and judge them aright; 1 Cor. iv. 5. And he must know all the. groans and breathings of holy souls, that he may present them in ale sympathy of his affection before the Father, and may have a fellow- feeling of their infirmi- ties and sorrows; lieb. ii. 18. and iv, l5. Again, he must be acquainted with the hidden iniqui- ties of men and devils, that he may countermine their pernicious plots, that he may sometimesprevent the mis- chiefs which they design, and sometimes permit them to accomplish their wicked purposes for the trial of his peo- ple. All the dark perplexities of providence, and the whole maze and labyrinth of human events lies open be- fore him, and the secret things in the heart of man ; for " he must bring to light the hidden things of darkness, he must manifest the counsels of the heart,. and reward every one according to their works ;" 1 Cor. iv. 5. Rev. xxii. 12. But besides all this, we must remember, in the next place, that he is possessed or active power equal to this extensive knowledge. What could the name of such a sublime authority do toward the government of all things, even if he had sufficient knowledge, without a corres .
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