+I. The Church is the creation of Divine power+ (ver. 19).--The Church does not consist in massive architecture or ornate decorations, nor in ecclesiastical organisations and councils. It is not the offspring of the most elaborately constructed creed. It is not confined within the limits of the most expansive ecclesiastical epithet. It is a Divine, spiritual creation. It consists of souls redeemed by the sacrifice of Jesus, clinging to Him for pardon, peace, and righteousness, and created in Him, by "the working of the mighty power" of the Divine Spirit, for good works, and therefore continually striving to disseminate the good they have themselves received. The apostolic idea of the Church was coloured by the leading characteristic of the man. To St. Peter it was the Church as influenced by law--the confessing Church; to St. Paul it was the Church influenced by the freedom of faith--the witnessing Church; to St. John it was the Church as filled with the ideality of faith--working and keeping joyful holiday, the adorned Bride (Rev. xix. 7, 8). The Church is a constant revelation of "the exceeding greatness of His power" who first originated it and sustains its ever-widening growth. +II. The Divine power that creates the Church installs Christ as the supreme authority.+--1. _This power raised Christ from the deepest humiliation to the highest dignity_ (vers. 20, 21). It raised Him from the cross to the throne, from the domain of the dead to the life and everlasting glory of the heavenly world. "God ascended with jubilation, and the Lord with the sound of the trumpet. Certainly, if when He brought His only begotten Son into the world He said, 'Let all the angels worship Him' (Heb. i. 6); much more, now that He ascends on high and hath led captivity captive, hath He given Him a name above all names, that at the name of Jesus all knees should bow. And if the holy angels did so carol at His birth in the very entrance into that estate of humiliation and infirmity, with what triumph they receive Him now returning from the perfect achievement of man's redemption! And if, when His type had vanquished Goliath and carried the head into Jerusalem, the damsels came forth to meet him with dances and timbrels, how shall we think those angelic spirits triumph in meeting the great Conqueror of hell and death! How did they sing, 'Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in'!" (Ps. xxiv. 7-10).