DISCOURSE II. 518 not the godhead, but the man Jesus who was slain ; and it is the man, not the godhead, who is become worthy on this account to read this book of divine counsels. " This is that revelation which God gave unto Jesus Christ, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass, and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John ;" Rev. i. 1. II. The human nature of Christ as united to God is exalted to the government of heaven and earth. Mat. xxviii.. 18. Jesus just before his ascension spake unto them, saying, Allpower is given untome in heaven and in earth. And Eph. i. 20. St. Paul tells us it was God's mightypower, which he wrought in Christ when he raisedhim from the dead, and set him at his own right- hand in heavenly places, far above all principality and power, might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in the world to come, and bath put all things under hisfeet. I know this sort of expression in scripture is wont to be ap- plied expressly to the character of Christ as Mediator ; for it is usually said, Though his divine nature absolutelyconsidered had all this dominion before, yet as Mediator it was now given to him. But let us consider these three things :- 1. Since the human natureof Christ at least must be allow- ed in some sense to complete the person of the Mediator, and it is his human nature that is thus raised from the dead by the mighty power of God, and set at the right-hand of God in hea- venly places, it is but reasonable to conceive that the human na- ture receives this exaltation, this power and dominion over all things, though I grant it must be considered in union with the divine: Bat if we do not suppose it to be the human nature which is thus dignified and enduedwith authority, then we shall be forced to interpret this text thus, viz. that God raised his hu- man nature from the dead, and set his human nature at his own right-hand, that is, on high above the clouds : But has put all things under the feet of his divine nature considered as Mediator ; which seems to be but a shifting and evasive exposition, if the words will admit a sense that is plainer and easier : Andno man who reads it with an unbiassed mind would put this strained interpretation upon it. 2. Of what use is the frequent declaration of this power and government conferred upon Christ after his ascension, if it be not conferred on his human nature, and if hishuman naturedoes not exercise it ? The divine nature of Christ had this power, and exercised this government before : As God he always did, and always will govern the world, though there had not been a word spoken in scripture of any exaltation of Christ to this go- vernment : And since godhead is united to the man Jesus, god- head in this united state would continue to govern the world as mm3
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