I.

First of all He showed himself to his first Martyr S. Steven, in a sensible Majesty; standing at the right hand of God, in the splendor of the Divine glory. Read but the vii. Acts 55, 56. and there you will find He made himself so plainly appear to be the Son of God, and that with power (as S. Paul you have heard speaks in 1. Rom. 4.) that is, the King of Heaven and Earth, next to the most supreme Majesty of God the Father Almighty) that nothing can be said against it; unless any man will be so audacious as to fancy that this holy and glorious Martyr was strongly deluded. But there is a clear demonstration against that, from the whole story of his Life and Death. For He was a man of great note and eminency in the Church; who held the very first place among the seven Dea∣cons (vi. Acts 5.) that were chosen to at∣tend the daily ministration to the poor. The feeding of whose bodies He did not Page  91think the only thing belonging to his charge; but such was his zeal, he like∣wise broke and dispensed the Bread of life to all his neighbours. He justified the Christian Faith (of which he was full, vi. Acts 5, 8, 10.) against all opposers; with singular wisdom, great fervour and mighty demonstrations, by the power of the holy Ghost. He confounded all those whom he disputed withall, though he could not overcome them. He stopt their mouths by the wisdom and spirit where∣with he spake: which made them wish they could stop his, though there was no other way, they saw, to silence him, but by taking away his life. They suborned therefore false witnesses against him, whom they knew not how to confute. They brought him before their Great Council to be tried. Where all his Judges fixing their eyes upon him, saw he was so far from being at all daunted, that there was a sparkling Majesty in his counte∣nance, like that of an Angel when he ap∣peared to their forefathers, vi. Acts 15. They could never devise or fancy any thing greater to say of them or of their most emi∣nent Doctors, than now they beheld in this illustrious person. The face of the Patriarch Isaac, they tell us, was so chan∣ged Page  92when the holy Spirit rested on him, that a Divine light or splendor came from his face. And they would have us be∣lieve that Phineas his countenance did burn and flame like a Torch, by the inha∣bitation of the holy Ghost in him. Nay, Maimonides himself (to omit the other Au∣thors in which I find these reports) will have the Prophets to be Angels. So he interprets more than once, the first and the fourth verses of the second Chapter of the Book of Judges. Where by the Angel of the Lord he understands a Prophet whom God sent to them, to bring them to repen∣tance. And expresly says * that their wise men have told them, This was Phineas; for at that time when the Majesty of God dwelt upon him, He was like to an Angel of the Lord. And it is the opinion of some of them, whose Names are not worth mentioning, that in the Prophetical visi∣ons, the form of a man vanished, and the appearance of an Angel came in the room thereof, till such time as the Vision ceased. The light which shone within was so great, that it broke through their bodies, and externally appeared; if we could be∣lieve these Doctors, who would fain adorn their wise men with that glory, which they really beheld in this man of Page  93God S. Steven. Who was so full of the holy Ghost, and had such glorious illumi∣nations in his mind, that there was indeed an amazing lustre in his face, and he lookt more like an Angel than a man. This emboldened him to speak to that grave Senate with all the assurance in the world; and to reprove them for resisting the holy Ghost. Which so cut them to the heart, that it enraged them to the highest degree of fury, and they lookt upon him as if they would eat him up. But he, still full of the holy Ghost, and nothing fearing what he saw he must suffer from an exasperated multitude, cast up his eyes above, and fastned them stedfastly upon the Heavens, from whence cometh our help. Where He bade them all take notice (vii. Acts 54, 55, 56.) that he saw the glory of God and Jesus shining at his right hand in a far greater glory than they had seen in his face. That was only a glimpse of the Majesty of Jesus, whom he preached to them; and now feared not to affirm that he saw in his royal splendour and greatness, incompara∣bly above all the Angels in Heaven.

And is it not a great deal more reason∣able to believe that He indeed saw Jesus there, than to think that he would obtrude Page  94thus boldly a mere imagination upon them, with the certain loss of his own life? If he had not been sure that he beheld him whom they crucified, now most highly glorified, a person of his wisdom and spi∣rit would have been more cautious than to follow him in that bloudy path, to which this assertion led him; when, if he would have held his tongue, there lay a fairer and smoother way before him. But so visible was the royal Majesty of our Savi∣our, that he could not but proclaim it aloud, and speak, as S. Peter said, the things which he had seen: though he knew they would call it blasphemy, and punish him for it with present death. He was willing to suffer that, for the honour of his Master, and to testifie his love to him: who told him his Faith was no fancy, as he might see by the glory wherein he ap∣peared. Which abundantly satisfied him that he was the Son of the Highest; able to reward all his faithful servants with im∣mortal glory. It is true, we read of ne∣ver a word that our Lord spake to this Saint; but the splendour of his appearance in such glory and Majesty at God's right hand, was as significant as any words could be: and bid him be assured of the truth of what S. John is here proving, that Page  95indeed he is the Christ, the anointed of God; anointed with the oil of gladness above all his fellows; made the Lord of all things; inferior to none but only him who hath put all things in subjection under his feet.

If any one ask me how he could see the glory of God, and how he knew this to be Jesus, who appeared at Gods right hand? I Answer to the first enquiry, that He saw God's glory in the same sence that others are said to have seen God: who beheld some very bright appearance, an extraor∣dinary light shining before their eyes, which excelled all that ever they had seen or could imagine, and was the token of the Divine presence. Thus Moses was afraid to look upon God, iii. Exod. 6. and the Elders of Israel are said to see the God of Is∣rael, xxiv. 20. which places Maimonides thinks are to be understood of the Vision of God, with the eyes of the mind. But the Text is plainly against him, which tells us there was a visible appearance of some unusual, astonishing brightness. And therefore he confesses that if any man do conceive those words are to be interpreted of some created light (as he speaks *) that is, the visible apparition of a Divine Ma∣jesty, Page  96or of an Angel, there is no danger in such an apprehension. And indeed no man can seriously read the Books of Moses, but he will see plainly they speak of a sen∣sible glory, which was exceeding dazling, and sometimes too great for the weak eyes of men to behold. I have described it be∣fore, when I told you it was nothing else but a flaming light, which shone from that amazing devouring Fire, which ap∣peared in the cloud to the children of Israel, Thus Abarbanel expounds that place I mentioned before, xvi. Exod. 7. In the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the Lord. Which is not to be understood of the providing them bread or flesh in an ex∣traordinary manner; but of the Fire which appeared to all the people, to reprove and pu∣nish them for their murmurings. And so Lyra says, it was an unusual refulgent brightness or lightning, representing the Di∣vine power ready to chastise them for their mutiny against his servants. And it is ve∣ry common in the New Testament to cal• such a great splendour by the name of glo∣ry. As the shining of Moses his face i• called by S. Paul, 2 Cor. iii. 7. the glory 〈◊〉 his countenance. And in the same stile he• speaks of the light of the Heavenly bodies when he says, 1 Cor. xv. 41. There is on•Page  97glory of the Sun, another glory of the Moon, and another glory of the Stars; for one Star differeth from another Star in glory: that is, in the brightness and splendour of its light.

Such a glory it was that now S. Steven beheld, but far more splendid, more pure and illustrious, than the light of the Sun or any other that has been mentioned; which was a representation of the presence of the Divine Majesty, who used in this manner to make men sensible of his tran∣scendent invisible glory. And there, in the Divine presence he saw our Lord, in the most high and honourable place, next to God the Father himself. For that's the meaning of his appearing at the right hand of God, or of that great glory he saw in the Heavens: the right hand being the prin∣cipal place belonging to the Heir of the Crown, when he appears together with the King his Father. And therefore the Divine writer to the Hebrews says, there never was any Angel seen there. They only stand or minister before God or before his Throne; but to which of them did he say at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy foot-stool? i. Hebr. 13. This is the prerogative of Christ Page  98alone, the great King, the Heir of all things; whose glory the Psalmist de∣scribes in that place (cx. Psal. 1.) from whence these words are cited; that is, prophecies of his Kingly power in the Heavens, as S. Paul clearly expounds this phrase of sitting at Gods right hand, 1 Cor. xv. 25. For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet. He is a King, and he reigns, and he hath a Throne (i. Hebr. 8.) but when he is compared with God the Father Almighty, the fountain of all power and authority, and when he ap∣pears together with him; to show that he reigns under him and for him, he is repre∣sented as sitting at the right hand of God, or the right hand of the Throne of God. For so his Kingly power is expressed in other places, He is set down on the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens, Hebr. viii. 1. xii. 2. that is, He reigns to∣gether with God the Father in the Cele∣stial glory. For the throne of God signify∣ing in the Scripture phrase (as the fore∣named Maimonides observes) that place where God's Majesty manifests it self in a visible splendour and glory: the sitting of our Saviour at the right hand of that Throne, or that glory denotes nothing else, but his being seated in the highest Page  99honour that can be given to any one in the Heavenly places: next in greatness, pow∣er and majesty to God himself, under whom he is the King of Angels, and Men, and all Creatures. There was nothing of which this holy Martyr was more assured. To whom this Heavenly King appeared, not in his usual posture of sitting at God's right hand, as one possessed of his royal power; but standing there, as if he was ministring in the Heavenly Sanctuary, in the quality of a royal high-Priest (for that was the posture of those that ministred in the Temple, cxxxiv. Psal. 1.) for the comfort of all Christian people, and of himself especially: or rather as ready to come to take vengeance of those impla∣cable enemies, who had killed him and now persecuted his servants; which was a notable instance of his royal power at God's right hand. For there the Psalmist says he must reign, till he hath subdued all those that oppose his authority, and troden them under his feet.

And, as for the second enquiry, how he could know this to be Jesus, whom he saw in this Heavenly Majesty? It is easily re∣solved, that He appeared to him with such a countenance as he had here upon Page  100Earth; only more shining and bright, as being now in the glory of the Father. And so he tells the Jews, I see the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. That very person, he means, who used to call himself the Son of man, whom you crucifi∣ed and dishonourably treated, I now see so exalted, that I had rather die as he did, than not confess him to be the Son of God, as he said he was when he died.

This is the first testimony which was given to this truth by the WORD. Who bore witness in a most illustrious manner to himself, when he appeared thus (to a person of the greatest credit) in the Divine glory, and in the highest place of Celestial dignity; (as the King of Hea∣ven, that is) and risen up from his Throne; as if he was coming to be avenged of his adversaries, to succour all his servants, and to welcome this Martyr into glory with himself. So S. Steven verily thought, for he resigns up his Soul to Jesus, with the same confidence and almost in the same words, that Jesus gave up his to God the Father. The last words of our Saviour were, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit, xxiii. Luke 46. And they stoned Steven, calling upon God, and saying, Page  101Lord Jesus receive my spirit, vii. Acts 59. He died with these and the following de∣vout words in his mouth, crying again with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. In which he expressed as much charity to men, as in the other he did faith in Christ. And openly declared himself a person of such piety and goodness, such admirable candor and sweetness of spirit, so utterly void of all rancor and gall, when he had the highest provocations from his bitter enemies: that as we may be sure he could not be guilty of devising a lye to the deceiving of others; so we may reasonably believe that God Almigh∣ty would not let such an excellent man be deceived, to the ruine of himself, and the casting away so precious a life.