in subjection to His righteous purposes; when they shall be executed on those who are without the limits of His chosen people, the willing subjects of His kingdom. As shown in the three spiritual enemies above enumerated, i.e.

A. Sin: which remains on the reprobate,

as to its spot and guilt, for ever. B. Satan: who with his angels are the executioners of the righteous venge

ance of God against the impenitent and condemned souls.

C. Death: which becomes the second death, the worst of all, to those

whose names are not written in the
book of life.

4. The continuance of that regal power until
these enemies be all thus overthrown and
subdued: the work being a gradual and pro-
gressive one, reaching to the end of the
world. On which prove from Scripture-
A. That the kingdom of Christ, as the
Mediator, like all the other parts of
that mediation, shall then cease,
being delivered up to the Father.
B. The power of Christ will not however
then cease, nor His reign with them
whom He has made kings and priests
to God for ever; as the Nicene
Fathers have truly maintained
against heretics, by inserting in this
part of the Creed, "WHOSE KING-
DOM SHALL HAVE NO END."

Fourthly, Show the use of this Article of belief in Christ's Session at God's right hand.

I. To remind us of our subjection and duty-from the double right which Christ has over us; in which we must be subjects, but if not willing subjects, then through our averseness everlastingly miserable.

II. To assure us of His auspicious protection.

III. To assure us of that which is its immediate consequence, the intercession of Christ as our High Priest with God. Prove the importance of this in the Christian scheme.

§3. "OF GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY.”

Having thus accomplished the doctrine of Christ's Mediation, from His incarnation till His exaltation as man at the right hand of God; the Creed returns to the mention of the original truth of religion with the statement of which it opened, -that of God the Father Almighty. See Art. I. § 41. Sum up, therefore, in a few words, what is included in the whole of this Article of Christ's Ascension and Session at the right hand of power.

ARTICLE VII.

"FROM THENCE HE SHALL COME TO JUDGE THE QUICK AND THE DEAD."

§ 1. "FROM THENCE HE SHALL COME.”

In the next great Article of Christian faith respecting the Second Coming of our Lord, yet future,

First, Considering the future Advent in itself,—

I. Prove that the promised Messias was to have a second Advent, beside that first which we believe to have been already completed,-from the identification in

1 Here Bishop Pearson introduces the whole of the matter of which the outline is placed in this Analysis under the second head of that section of the First Article, pp. 13-17. See the note there annexed,

ancient prophecy of Him who is predicted to come in glory and majesty, with Him who was to come in humiliation and sorrow.

Refute here the pretence by which the Jews (who disbelieve the first Advent in humiliation, of the Christ the Son of David) attempt to deny this identification, as contained in their prophetical books.

IL Prove that Jesus, the son of Mary, whom we believe to have once come as the true Messias, is again to come in the same character,

1. From the testimony of the Angels upon His

ascension.

2. From the reiterated promise of our Lord Himself when on earth, and when about to leave it; and the expectation constantly preserved of Him as of Him that should come [MARANATHA, "the Lord cometh "].

Secondly, Considering the place from which the Lord is to come, indicated by the words "from thence,"

I. Show the importance attached to this in the New Testa

ment.

II. Illustrate it by the standing type of Christ's priestly character in the Old.

§ 2. "HE SHALL COME TO JUDGE.”

Considering the third point connected with this Advent, viz. the principal purpose assigned for the future coming of our Lord from heaven,

First, Prove that there is a Judgment to come,—

I. From the constitution of man's nature, and the internal judgment there that points to the future award.

II. From the character of Him who thus created us,-being as He is,

1. By necessary relation, the Judge of all mankind.

2. By the inseparable attribute of His nature, a just Judge; while it is certain from experience, that Justice has not its full scope and accomplishment in the present state of being, and therefore must await its perfect vindication in another.

III. From the consequent agreement upon this truth among all who have not extinguished the light of nature, though destitute of the light of revelation.

IV. From the express testimony to this effect of Divine revelation itself.

1. In the Patriarchal dispensation, even in the antediluvian world: on occasion of

A. The first great trespass of man against

man.

B. The ministry of that eminent preacher of righteousness to the world, who is quoted for this purpose even in the New Testament.

2. In the Law and the Prophets of Israel.

3. In the fuller and more express declarations of the Gospel.

Secondly, Prove that though God, as God, is the Judge of all His creatures, (as shown under the First head, II. 1,) and therefore all the Persons of the Sacred Trinity are concerned in this judgment, yet is Christ peculiarly and distinctively the Judge of the world:

I. Because the delegation of this power to Him as Mediator by the Father is expressly declared in the New Testament.

II. Because the ground of that delegation is also expressly declared to be the Humanity of the Son, of which neither the Father nor the Holy Ghost are partakers. Show

how this reason illustrates—

1. The justice of God, with regard to the immaculate

Son of man,

A. In rewarding, with the highest dignity over His fellows, His only perfect

obedience.

B. In vindicating Him who was once cruci

fied as a criminal, and condemned by those whose sins He came to expiate, by constituting Him the Judge of all. 2. The wisdom and goodness of God with regard to mankind at large,

A. In thus vesting His own inalienably Divine property of Judgment, in one who is also the Son of man, a brother of those who are to be judged. Particularly,

B. In constituting Him their Judge, who, to equity and severe impartiality, has added also the utmost acquaintance with the human condition, its suffering, trials, and temptations; thus rendering Him the best representative here, not only of the holiness, but of the mildness of judgment, and, as such, most desirable for mankind.

III. Because this special office and dignity of the Son of man, of Him who was born of the Virgin Mary, &c., is connected in the Divine revelation concerning Him with the other preceding instances of His Mediation: viz.

1. With His Incarnation (as declared above under the second head).

2. With His Death and Resurrection, as the very object and intention of those grand events, as declared in another part of Scripture.

3. With His Ascension into heaven.

4. With various prophetic descriptions of the Son of man,

A. By his forerunner.

B. By Himself, under several allegorical

images, while conversing on earth.

Thirdly, Show the circumstances of this Judgment, as they are

represented according to our capacity of understanding, in Scripture: viz.

I. A tribunal or throne of judgment.