lightened," (by the word) "and have tasted of the heavenly gift," (some flashes of inward joy and peace) "and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost," (the common gifts and graces of the Spirit)" and have tasted the good word of God," (have found some relish in the sweet and saving promises of the gospel)" and the powers of the world to come;" (have had some refreshing apprehensions of the joy and glory in heaven)" and yet fall away," (by a total apostacy,) Heb. 6:4,5,6. Christians, how far goes this? I know it is said only of such who have a name to live, and no more: but surely it gives a warning to us all that we come not nigh the verge, the brink of the grave again; let us not give way to any one sin, so as to live in it, or to continue in it.

2. Let us evidence our resurrection; Christ being raised, he showed himself alive by many infallible proofs; so let us evidence our vivification by many infallible proofs, (i. e.) let us "yield ourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead," Rom. 6:13. let us walk as men of another world. "If ye be risen with Christ, seek the things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God," Col. 3:1. let us serve God in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life; surely this is the end for which we are delivered out of the hands of our enemies, sin, death and hell, "Ye were sometimes darkness," (during your abode in the grave of sin,)" but now (being risen) ye are light in the Lord, walk therefore as children of light," Eph. 5:8. Walk, (i. e.) bestir yourselves in the works of God, "Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee," Isa. 60:1. When God doth let the Sun of righteousness arise, it is fit that we should be about the business of our souls. We see that the night is dedicated to rest, and therefore God that doth order all things sweetly, draws a curtain of darkness about us, which is friendly to rest; like a nurse, that when she will have her little one sleep, casts a cloth over the face, and hides the light every way: but when this natural sun ariseth, then men go out to their work; so must we, though in the darkness of the night we snorted in sin, yet now we must bestir ourselves, seeing the sun of the spiritual world is risen over us.

And yet when all is done, let us not think that our vivification in this life will be wholly perfect; as it is with our mortification, in the best, it is but an imperfect work; so it is with our vivification, it is only gradual, and never perfected till grace be swallowed up in glory. Only let us ever be in the use of means, and let us endeavor a farther renovation of the new man, adding one grace to another, "To faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge temperance, to temperance patience, to patience godliness," &c. 2. Pet. 1:5,6. till we "perfect holiness in the fear of God," 2 Cor. 7: 1. till we shine with those saints in glory at the perfect day.

Thus far we have looked on Jesus, as our Jesus in his resurrection, and during the time of his abode on earth. Our next work is to look on Jesus carrying on the great work of our salvation in his ascension into heaven; and in his session at God's right hand; and in his mission of the holy Spirit.

Mark 16:19. "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God."

Heb. 4:14. "Seeing then that we have a great high-priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession." Heb. 8:1,2. "Now of the things which we have spoken, this is the sum; we have such an high-priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched and not man."

LOOKING UNTO JESUS,

IN HIS ASCENSION, &c.

THE FOURTH BOOK. PART V.

CHAPTER 1.

SECTION I.

OF CHRIST'S ASCENSION, AND THE MANNER HOW.

Looking unto Jesus,-who is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb. 12:2.

THUS far we have traced Jesus in his actings for us, "Until the day in which he was taken up," Acts 1:2. That which immediately follows, is his ascension, session at God's right hand, and mission of his Holy Spirit; in prosecution of which, as in the former, I shall first lay down the object, and secondly, direct you how to look upon it.

The object is threefold. 1. He ascended into heaven. 2. He sat down at God's right hand. 3. He sent down the Holy Ghost.

1. For the ascension of Christ, this was a glorious design, and contains in it a great part of the salvation of our souls. In prosecution of this, I shall show, 1. That he ascended. 2. How he ascended. 3. Whither he ascended. 4. Why he ascended.

1. That he ascended. 1. The types prefigure it, "Then said the Lord to ine, This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened; it is for the prince; the prince he shall sit in it, to eat bread before the Lord: he shall enter by way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same," Ezek. 44:2,3. As the gate of the holy of holies was shut against every man but the high-priest, so was that gate of heaven shut against all, so that none could enter in by their own virtue and efficacy, but only our prince and great high-priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, indeed he hath opened it for us, and entered into it in our place and stead, "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high-priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec," Heb. 6:20. 2. The prophets foresaw it, "I saw in the night-visions, and behold one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him, and there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom," Dan. 7:13,14. 3. The evangelists relate it, " He was received up into heaven, Mark 16:19. He was carried up into heaven," Luke 24: 51. 4. The eleven witness it, "For while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight," Acts 1:9. 5. The holy angels speak it, "For while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven. This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall come in like man

ner as ye have seen him go into heaven," Acts 1:10,11. 6. The blessed apostles in their several epistles ratify and confirm it, "When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men,-he that descended, is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens," Eph. 4:8.10. "Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels, and authorities, and powers, being made subject unto him," 1 Pet. 3:22.

2. How he ascended. The manner of his ascension is discovered in these particulars:-1. He ascended, blessing his apostles. "While he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven," Luke 24:51. It is some comfort to Christ's ministers, that though the world hate them, Christ doth bless them; yea, he parted with them in a way of blessing; as Jacob leaving the world blessed his sons, so Christ leaving the world, blessed his apostles, and all the faithful ministers of Christ, unto the end of the world. Some add, that in these apostles, not only ministers, but all the elect to the end of the world are blessed: The apestles were then considered as common persons, receiving this blessing for all of us; and so these words uttered at the same time, are usually interpreted, "Lo, I am with you always even to the end of the world," Matth. 28:20. This was the last thing that Christ did on earth, to shew that by his death, he had redeemed us from the curse of the law, and that now going to heaven, he is able to bless us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places," Eph. 1:3.

2. He ascended visibly in the view of the apostles, "While they beheld, he was taken up," Acts 1:9. he was not suddenly snatched from them, as Elijah was, nor secretly and privily taken away as Enoch was; but in the presence of them all, both his apostles and disciples, he ascended up into heaven: but why not in view of all the Jews, that so they might know that he was risen again, and gone to heaven? Surely this was the meaning, God would rather that the main points of faith should be learned by hearing, than by seeing; however Christ's own disciples were taught the same by sight, that they might better teach others which should not see, yet the ordinary means to come by faith is hearing, "how should they believe in him of whom they have not heard?-So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." And as for the Jews, saith the apostle, "Have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the end of the world," Rom. 10:11 17,18.

3. He ascended principally by the mighty power of his Godhead; thus never any ascended up into heaven but Jesus Christ; for though Enoch and Elijah were assumed into heaven, yet not by their own power, nor by themselves, it was God's power by which they ascended, and it was by the help and ministry of angels, "There appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven," 2 Kings

2:11.

4. He ascended in a cloud, "While they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight," Acts 1:9. Hereby he shews that he is Lord of all the creatures; he had already trampled upon the earth, walked upon the sea, vanquished hell or the grave, and now the clouds received him, and the heavens are opened to make way for this King of glory to enter in. When Christ shall come again, it is said that he shall come in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory, Matth 24:30. "Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven," Matth. 26:24. Which verifies that saying of the angel, "This same Jesus which is taken up from you into

heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heav. en," Acts 1:11. He went up in clouds, and he shall come again in clouds.

5. He ascended with the sound of a trumpet; not on earth, sounding Hosanna, but in heaven crying Hallelujah; so the Psalmist, "God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet," Psa. 47:5. Cer tainly great joy was in heaven at Christ's ascending thither; the very angels struck up their harps, and welcomed him thither with hymns and praises.

6. He ascended in triumph, as a Roman victor ascended to the cap. itol, or as David ascended after his conquest up to Zion. Now we read of two triumphal acts in Christ's ascension, whereof the first was his leading of his captives, and the second was the dispensing of his gifts; the apos tle and the Psalmist join both together, "When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men," Psa. 68:18. Eph. 4:8. 1. He led them captive, who had captivated us, death was led captive without a sting, hell was led captive as one that had lost her victory, the law was led captive, being rent and fastened to his cross, as it were, ensign-way, the serpent's head being bruised, was led before him in triumph, as was Goliath's head by David returning from the victory; and this was the first act of his triumph. 2. He gave gifts unto men: this was as the running of conduits with wine, or as the casting abroad of new coin, or as the shutting up of Christ's triumph in his ascension up to heaven: what these gifts were, we shall speak in his mission of the Holy Ghost; only thus much for the present.

SECT. II. Of the place whither he ascended.

3. WHITHER he ascended, the gospel tells us into heaven: only Paul saith, That "he ascended far above all heavens," Eph. 4:10. But the meaning is, he went above all these visible heavens, into those heavenly mansions where the angels and the spirits of the just have their abode. Or, if the highest heavens be included, I see no absurdity in it; the highest heaven, we usually call the kingdom of heaven, which is either heaven material, or heaven spiritual; and first for the material heaven, in some sense he may be said to ascend above that, both in respect of his body, because the body of Christ is more glorious than any material heaven: and in respect of his soul, because the soul of Christ is more blessed than all things else whatsoever. And, 2. For the spiritual heaven, i. e. all angel. ical or heavenly perfections, he is said to ascend above them all, both in respect of his humiliation, because he hath vilified himself below all things, and therefore he is worthily exalted above all things; and in respect of his perfection, because the human nature of Christ is more excellent than any creature, it being joined to the Godhead by an hypostatical union. Some there are that understand this place of "Christ's ascending far above all heavens," not so much by a local motion, as by a spiritual mutation and exaltation of his person; as earth heightened unto a flame, changeth not its place only, but form and figure; so the person of our Saviour was raised to a greatness and glory, vastly differing from, and surmounting any image of things, visible or invisible in this creation; so it is fitly expressed, "He was made higher than the heavens," Heb. 7:26. He was heightened to a splendor, enlarged to a capacity and compass above the brightest, and beyond the widest heavens; he transcended all in the spirituality of his ascension: but I will not much insist on that.

SECT. III. Of the reasons why he ascended.

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4. WHY he ascended; the reasons are. 1. On Christ's part, that through his passion he might pass to glory. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and so to have entered into his glory?" Luke 24:26. I shall not insist on that controversy, whether Christ merited for himself; this is without controversy that by his passion (I shall not say he properly meri. ted, but) he obtained glory, because he humbled himself so low; God exalted him above the grave in his resurrection, above the earth in his ascension, and above the heavens in placing him at his right hand. And he ascended, that all those prophecies which were foretold of Christ, might be accomplished, "Thou hast ascended on high, Psa. 68:18.—And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east," Zech. 14:4. The types of this were Enoch's translation, Elijah's ascension, Samson's transportation of the gates of Gaza into an high mountain, the high-priest's going into the holy of holies, "Seeing that we have an high-priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God," Heb. 4:14. Why, all these prophecies, types and figures, must needs be accomplished, and therefore on his part, it was necessary that Christ must ascend, and go into heaven.

2. The reasons on our part are,

1. That in our stead he might triumph over sin, death and hell. In his resurrection he conquered, but in his ascension he triumphed; now it was, that he led sin, death and the devil in triumph at his chariot wheels: and this is the meaning of the psalmist, and of the apostle, "when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive," Eph. 4:8. He vanquished and triumphed over all our enemies, he overcame the world, he bound the devil, he spoiled hell, he weakened sin, he destroyed death, and now he makes a public triumphal shew of them in his own person; he led the captives bound to his chariot wheels, as the manner of the Roman tri. umphs was, when the conqueror went up to the capitol. It is to the same purpose, that the apostle speaks elsewhere, "Having spoiled principali. ties and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in himself," Col. 2:15. it is a manifest allusion to the manner of triumphs after victories amongst the Romans; first, they spoiled the enemy upon the place, ere they stirred off the field; and this was done by Christ on the cross; and then they made a public triumphal shew; they rode through the streets in the greatest state, and had all their spoils carried before them, and the kings and nobles, whom they had taken, they tied to their chariots, and led them as captives; and thus did Christ at his ascension, "Then he openly triumphed (en auto) in himself,” (i. e.) in his own pow、 er and strength; other conquerors do not thus; they conquer not in themselves, and by themselves, but Jesus Christ conquered in himself, and therefore he triumphed in himself. And yet though he triumphed in himself, and by himself, it was not for himself only, but for us, which made the apostle to triumph in his triumph, "O death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law; but thanks be to God which giveth us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Cor. 15:55,56,57. If I may speak out what I think was this victory of Christ; I believe it was that honor given to him after his resurrection by the conversion of enemies, by the amazements of the world, by the admiration of angels, and especially by his sitting down at the right hand of the Majesty on high; for therein is contained both his exaltation and his triumph over all his enemies to the utmost.

2. That he might lead us the way, and open to us the doors of glory.