Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-02-15
Readiua fot THE gatbatt.
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CONDUCTED By
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
[Original.l
CHRIST THE KING.

[orlginall
CHRIST THE KING.
Since Jesus Christ is God, he is necessari-
ly the Supreme sovereign of the universe.
In the economy of grace, however, he eXer-
cises regal dominion over all things in
higher sense than he doesas the maker of all
things. BY virtue of his nature, he rules
over all things as an absolute sovereign, but
byvirtue of his Office as redeenIer, he sWaSs
a sceptre of universal dominion as the Sa-
viOur of sinners.
We are not to conclude that the Son OF
God, on becoming the redeemer of his peo-
pie, gave up his natural supremacy over his
creatures, or that he ceased to be God over
all blessed forever. Such was not the case,
but to his supremacy as Creator, he added
that Of Redeemer.
AS the Saviour of sinners, Jesus Christ
exercises kingly authority over all things.
1t is not simply dominion that he exercises,
but dominion exercised "to the intent that
now unto the principaities and powers in
heavenly places might be known, by the
Church, the manifold wisdom OF God.'
Ep. 3: 10. TO save his people from their
sins, Jesus Christ came into the world, God
manifest in the flesh for the salvation Of
his people he lived and died, and for his
people he exercises supreme dominion over
all things in heaven and in earth. We are
| told in the Scriptures that, God the Father,
"set him at his own right hand, in the heav-
enly places, far above all principality and
power, and might and dominion, and every
name that is named, not only in this world,
but in that whichsis to come; 1andhath put
all things under his feet, and gave him to be
the head of all things to the Church, which
is his body, the fulness of him that tilleth
all in ALL" Ep. 1 :2O-23. During the pc
| riOd of Jesus Christ's humiliation, the regal
dominion which he possessed as one with
the father, was, for the time, veiled. In the
language of the Scriptures, che made him.
self of no reputation, literally emptied HIM
| self, and took the form Of a servant
| Phil. 2:7.
Having, as Goldman, accomplished the
work which his Father gave him to dO on
earth, he assembled to heaven in his assumed
nature, and the 4eit3yhich had been spread
over his divinity, during the period of his
humility, was removed, and he was declared
| by the Fatherto be "head over all things to
the church." The words "head over all
things to the Church," give us clear and dis
tinct notion of the extent and nature of
| Christ's kingly authority. 1t is over all
things, or it embracesall things, both in this
world and that which is to come, and is eXer-
>.ised for the Church. With strict prOpriety
we may say that the kingdom of Christ is the
| Church. The church and the kingdom of
Christare convertible terms. Both mean the
same thing, are equally yeXtensiveand subject
to the same restrictions. The word Churchis
| Scripturally defined when it is said to be tho
whole body of those who believe in Jesus
Christ. The visible Church is madeup of
| those who profess the true religion. We
may speak of the Church as here on earth
battling with the devil, world and flesh, or
Is in heaven enjoying the bliss of a SaviOur's
presence. In its Scriptural sense, the word
Church denotes all those Of Adams race
raisoined by the atoning blood of Jesus
Christ. These are called in the Scriptures
the "body of Christ" Ep. 1:23. These
constitute the mediatorial kingdom of Jesus
Christ proper, but for the promotion of their
welfare, he exercises universal dominion
over all things. In the language of the
|-Psallmist, the kingdom of Jesus is without
end. 1t is everlasting in duration and in
| finite in extent.
1t is the peculiar prerogative of Jesus
Christ, as mediator, to cause all things ito
work together for good to them who love
God, to them who are the called according
| to his purpose" Rom. :2S. The domin-
ion of Jesus Christ, the Goldman, mediator,
is over all things in the universe. "All
power" heannOunces to the world 'is given
unto me in heaven and in EARTH" Matthew
2S:1S. In Ps. SO, it is said that God the
Father, made him to have dominion over
all the works Of his hands, and that he put
all things underhis feet. From other Scrip
lures we learn that nothing in the universe
is exempt from the dominion of Jesus
Christ "except him which did putalE things
under him." /. Cor. 15:27.
1t would be impossible to select language
which would more fully and more precisely
assert the absolute and unrestricted domn-
ion of Jesus Christ overall thingsin heaven
and earth, than. thatgWhich is usedin the
Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.
In addition to this Kingdom of power, as
it is called, which God the Father has be-
slowed upon Jesus Christ his Son, the God
man mediator, was given a kingdom of
grace. That theSwrathOf theWicked might
be made to praise him who is above every
name, and the remainder of that wrath re-
strained, all power in heaven and earth was
given him. In consequence OF this omnip-
otence he laughs at the counsels of his enc
mics and has them and their power in deri-
sion. "Kings of the earth may set them
selves, and rulers take counsel together,
against him and his body, which is the
Church," but he will in his own time and
in his own way, "break them with a rod of
iron." They shall be slain all of them i;
they shall be as bowling wall, and as tot
tering fence: ..- ...., q. -~,.. -.,s.
IN the Kingdom ofgrace, Jesus christex-
erciSes his kingly power in reigning in and
over his people. AS a king, in the use of
means of his own appointing, he convicts
his people of their sins, and translates them
from the kingdom of darkness and brings