The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 40
V
V.
In connection with that view which we are taking of Adam as a figure of Christ, we only observe farther, that Adam figured Him in this respect, that He became a King of nations in order that He might be a King of saints.
It was with a view to the Son's becoming a King of saints that the first Adam was constituted; it is with the same end in view that the Son Himself has come, and that, as the Second Adam, He has been constituted King of nations, Prince of the kings of the earth. The Father would make a marriage for His Son, He would have Him manifested as the Lord of a House and Family. To this end it was indispensably necessary for Him to be a King, and to be King not of individuals merely, but of nations, yea, and to be Prince of the kings of the earth, and hence His constitution as such. Nor need we dwell on the grounds of this necessity. It was necessary that there might be a redeemed people at all. It was necessary, that on a redeemed and purchased earth, His Church might have a place of habitation. It was necessary that He might be in circumstances to protect them from the dangers to which they are exposed under the very elements of nature, as well as at the hands of wicked men, both stirred up against them by the prince of the power of the air; and that delivering them out of the hands of all their enemies, supply- ing them and their little ones with food convenient for them, and making all things work together for their good, He might give them to serve God without fear in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of their lives. It was necessary that in the nation He might have a suitable Bride, one full grown, stately, and prolific, such as that which He prepared for Himself in the nation of Israel—(Ezek. xvi. 3-14). It was necessary that under a promise of salvation to the nation and their offspring; and their offspring under this promise being taken for the children of the spiritual kingdom, and being through the nation as Christ's Bride born again into the kingdom, Christ's house and family might be filled up and reach its number numberless. It was necessary that in the nation His Church and children might have wherewith not only to support themselves, but wherewith to serve and honour Him, and that the gain of the whole earth might be consecrated to the Lord. And, in fine, it was necessary that in all the peace, plenty, riches, numbers, and glory, which, as Prince of the kings of the earth, he imparts to His nations, and in their happy inheritance of the earth He may provide some suitable outward representation, such as national Israel constituted of old, of His own inward spiritual glory as King of saints, reigning over the tribes and nations of the saved, giving them fellowship with Him in His spiritual fulness, causing them to reign in life together with Him, and to eat the bread and drink the wine of His kingdom. But if on such grounds as these it became necessary for Christ to become a King of nations, if it was necessary for Him to become a King of nations that He might be a King of saints, hence His title and claims as Prince of the kings of the earth are absolutely fundamental. They were the grand subjects of His own ministry on the earth; and so important did He regard them, that in maintaining them He became a faithful witness unto death. Nor is there a title for winch His people are called on more zealously to witness, to urge on the attention and faith of kings and nations, and in the faithful maintenance of which they should be more willing to suffer, and, if need be, to die.
We see, then, what a remarkable figure Adam constituted. It would even appear that he was formed on a pattern already existing, that he was never meant to he anything else than a figure, and that, in fact, the work and the burden of glory intended for him were too heavy for a creature's shoulders to bear. He was set up, therefore, to show the creature's weakness in his best estate, and thus for ever to hide pride from man; but to give occasion, at the same time, for the manifestation of the righteousness, and mercy, and all-sufficiency of God, of the grace and condescension of His Son, and of the glory with which the Father would have Him crowned.
And how remarkably has the Figure been substantiated and realised in Jesus, the Lord from heaven, in the constituency given Him as the Second Adam, in all that kingly part which He has acted on behalf of His kings and nations, in His grace, qualifications, and claims as the Prince of the kings of the earth, and in the certain realisation now of all God's high purposes in connection with man! In Him there is a fulness equal to the wants, not of mere individual units only, but of nations, and in Him all nations shall be blessed. So, then, provision is made that the Son shall have a spiritual house and family adequately built up, and that He shall reign gloriously as a King of saints, and while the Son obtains a family and becomes the lord of a house; the Father finds in the House of the Son such a temple as He desires; of which He can say, 'This is My rest for ever, here will I dwell, for I have desired it;' to which His fulness and glory will be imparted, where His praises shall be adequately shown forth, and He will be worshipped, served, and glorified to all eternity.
We might now proceed to that application of the truth, which we have endeavoured to educe, to present controversies and duty, which we have had in view. Previous to this, however, there are two or three other matters, rising out of the subject, to which we must refer. And here,