This is a blessed conclusion to the subject. Jesus as Mediator, the Christ of God, is said in the New Testament, to deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father: when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority, and power. For having received from the Father, in his office-character the government, the kingdom of grace, when grace is consummated in glory, ceaseth, and the kingdom of glory in perfection begins. So that Jehovah, in his threefold character of Person, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, having commissioned, and set up, Christ the Glory-man Mediator, it becomes needful that the Mediator should be faithful to him that appointed him. And here, having marked and secured his people, and seen the destruction of his enemies, returns with the report, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Hebrews 3:1-2 with Isaiah 42:1-4; John 17:4
REFLECTIONS
PAUSE, my soul, and dwell with long, and solemn meditation, over this sacred scripture, which holds up to thy view a double aspect; like the pillar of cloud in the camp of Israel; brightness and defense to the Lord's friends; darkness and destruction to his enemies. Recollect, my soul, as thou ponderest over what is here written, that voice the Prophet, heard, thou wilt shortly hear; and a loud voice, to awaken all that are in the graves it will be. And at that voice, the angels will assuredly come forth, to destruction, with Jesus at their head. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven, (the Scripture saith) with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of Christ. Precious Lord Jesus! hast thou marked me as thine own? Do I sigh, and cry, for the abominations that are done in Jerusalem? Do I mourn in secret, for the languishing state of Zion, in the present hour? Is it indeed a grief to my soul, that so few are asking the way to Zion, and so few live up to their high Christian calling? Yea, is it a grief to my very soul, that my own enjoyments of divine things are at so low an ebb, and that I live so far from Him whom. my soul loveth? Are these among thy daily exercises; and dost thou sigh, and cry, both for Zion's low estate around thee, and the low estate in divine things, within thee. Yea! dust thou groan, being burdened, as holy Paul did, for that thou carriest about with thee, this body of sin, and death? Pause, my soul, over the solemn consideration; and amidst these sighs and sorrows, recollect that these are the features of the Lord's holy mourners. These are the spots of God's children. These are the evidences that the man, the glory-man, the man Christ Jesus, from his pierced side, hath marked thee, and sealed thee, unto the day of eternal redemption. Take comfort my soul! The Lord hath in thine instance, fulfilled that precious promise, and hath poured out upon thee, a spirit of grace; thou art looking unto Him, whom thou hast pierced; and thou art mourning for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and as one in bitterness for his first born. And look up, and hope with full assurance of faith; he that soweth in tears, shall reap in joy. Shortly the Lord will come, to be glorified in his saints, and to be adorned in all that believe. And while the ungodly, and unbelieving, shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power, the Lord will own thee for his own, and number thee among his jewels.