bÏSCOÚRSE Íi: 541' ü. 83. of Christ exalted by the right -hand of Gó'd. If we en- quire more particularly of the person who is thus exalted, the Context assures .us; it. is Jesus of Nazareth, ú .man approved if God; verse 22. It is that very man of the seed of David; ac- Cording to the flesh, who was appointed to sit on his throne, ver. 30. It was the man that was taken and crucified and slain, ver. 23. The man whom God raised from the dead, ver. 32. who was thus exalted by the right-hand of God, ver. 33. 2. It is a real exaltation of Christ by the will or göod plea- sure of God; which is expressed in many scriptures, and not merely a manifestative exaltation: It is an advancement to new degrees of knowledge, to a real increate of capacity, to new powers and advantages, v hick he had not on earth, as well as to new dignities. But the divine nature is eternal and self-stïfñ- eient; full in itself of all real and possible powers and digni- ties, nor can it receive any new powers, nór can it have any real advancement. Godhead cannot be any otherwise exalted, than by having its own original and eternal powers or the exer- cise of them manifested or discovered to his creatures ; it must be therefore a creature, even the man Jesus, whò receives this real advancement. 3. It is the human nature of Christ which is properly exalt- ed, because it is the man who is expressly called the Mediator in scripture, whereas he is never expressly called Mediator as God. 1 Tim. ii. 5. There icone Goil, and one Mediator between God andman, the man Christ Jesus. Nov it was for the most part mediatorial honours and powers which he received at hit exalta- tion; and partly with this design; that he might better fulfil the remaining part of his work as Mediator; that the man Jesus Might reign over the nations and judge this world. Acts xi. 36, 88. Acts xvii: 31. 4. Ili§ exaltation is represented Cs the reward of his stiffer- sags and labours in many places of scripture. Iva; liii. 10, 12. Therefore shall he divide the spoil with thegreat, because hepour- ed out his soul unto death. Phil: ii. 8. He Mumbledhimself and be- tameobedientto death; wherefore Godalso bathhighly/ exalted him. Rev. v. 9. Thou all worthy to take the book, efe. Jor thou wast slain, and hast redetnïed us. Now it is not so' proper tó say, the divine nature in Christ; or his indwelling godhead, is rewarded, because his human nature laboured and suffered and died. 'I'he godhead in Christ is properly incapable of receivinganyrewards from God the Father, for it is one and the same godhead or di- vine nature in both persons nor indeed can' a God be properly rewarded at all. This argument will be further enforced, if rie consider, that his exaltation after his labour and suffering*, is represented and proposed to us as' apledge and pattern of our exaltation after We tm2
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