Christ's Ascension INTO HEAVEN ASSERTED AND Practically Improved IN Several SERMONS By the Reverend Mr. Joseph Hallet late Minister of the Gospel in Exon. Whereunto is added by way of Preface some Account of the Pious AUTHOR I ascend to my Father and to your Father and to my God and your God John 20.17 London Printed for Iohn Salusbury and Robert Osborne Bookseller near the Bear in Exon. 1693. THE Epistle Dedicatory To that Congregation of Christian People in Exon that were usually my Father's Auditors during the publick Exercise of his Ministry in this City and to all his Friends and Acquaintance DEAR SIRS IT is Customary with some Persons to front the Reasons of the Publication of their Treatises with this viz. That they were induced thereto by the pressing Importunity of their Friends I verily believe I may have as good a Foundation for the imploying of this Argument to excuse my exposing some of my Father's Sermons to publick View as most of those that have at any time addressed their Readers with this Plea With what Vrgency many of you have been prompting me to this Vndertaking I leave you to your selves to be informed To gratifie your desires and in Compliance with your earnest Solicitations I here at length present you with a few Sermons of his that were some Years since Preached amongst you upon the Subject of our Lord's Ascension into Heaven I confess I was a long while very backward to the Publication of my Father's Discourses because I saw the World was already cramb'd with so many Treatises on all kind of Subjects that I almost doubted whether amongst so great a Croud there would be any room admitted them for Entertainment However I have resolv'd to send these into the World but what acceptance they may meet withal I cannot presage only thus much I dare adventure to presume upon that they will meet with a Cordial welcome from you But let me leave this Caution with the Reader that he expect not to meet in these Discourses with a Gaiety of Expression or a pompous Rhetorick for the Author never affected a finery of Language in his Pulpit-Discourses but always studied plainess that he might affect and Profit not Amuse his Auditors I have often heard him speak with somewhat of concern against those Pulpit-Declaimers whose Language discovered their Design rather to be Ostentation then Edification I question not but he was as able to Trim and Adorn a Discourse as most of those that would fain have the World applaud them as mighty Orators But he was satisfied however that might make the People admire it was not the way to make them wiser or better Well a plain Discourse it is that you are here presented with but yet as it is not gaudy so neither does it appear in so sordid a Dress as to attract Contempt Had my Dear Father had the Publication of it himself before his Decease you may be confident it would have had something more of exactness then now can be supposed to attend it For it s highly improbable that posthumous and popular Discourses especially if their Authors ne'er designed them for the Press should be chargeable with no Defects when as some of the least Composures of this kind have their Flaws If you meet with any thing in the following Sermons liable to Objection remember these Discourses could not possibly have the Author 's Review to render them more Correct before their Publication And then they struggle under the Disadvantage of having been Copied from a few blotted Notes that were scarcely Legible yet thus much I dare aver that altho' the Scribe may have been guilty of some few mistakes yet not of very great ones But as to the Author of these ensuing Sermons My endeared Father it may perhaps be expected by some that I should give a Character of him suitable to his Worth and tell the World what were those commendable Qualities in him that recommended him so much to the esteem of many that knew him I could I confess say many things of him as a good Christian a Scholar a Pastor and a Parent which would discover him to have been a Person above the common Rate but I should incur the censure of many should I attempt any thing of that nature Therefore all I shall do as to that matter shall only be to remember you of some things concerning him which fell within the knowledge of most of you He was altho' a Person of a crasie Body yet a very painful and diligent Student that carefully imployed his time to the best advantage insomuch that he was not but with great difficulty at any time drawn to recreative Diversions Tho' it may be his enfeebled Body and his shattered Spirits called for their frequent Repetition He was a very faithful and affectionate Pastor that readily condescended to the meanest and would Conscientiously discharge the Duties of his Function notwithstanding the Frowns of the greatest He was as forward to reprove the Lives of those of a higher Station as the Follies of those that moved in a lower Sphere His Prayers were always fervent and pithy his Preaching very clear but warm and he delivered his matter with such a winning Pathos that he even commended the Attention of his Auditory he filled not his Discourses with bitter Invectives against the Persons of those that differed from him in some Controverted Points but many times spake honourably of them His design was not to raise mens Passions but to allay them when exorbitant not to Exulcerate mens Minds but to calm and sweeten them He Preached to instruct the Ignorant to reclaim the Sinful to comfort the contrite Soul but not to fill mens Hearts with Rage or their Mouths with Clamour He was a Person irrecoverably averse to any thing of flattery or a daubing Language who always made his Tongue the Interpreter of his Heart There are a sort of men in the World with whom there are as the Poet speakes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Moschus Charming Tongues but Hearts full of rancour and bitterness whose Words do not keep Peace with their secret Intentions And I am sure the Author had sufficient reason to be exemped from that number he was a fond lover of Integrity and was obstinately set against all Temptations to any thing of Injustice insomuch that he has sometimes drawn upon himself the displeasure of his Friends by his stiff adhesion to Truth and Equity It was always his temper to value Truth and Honesty before the Applauses of Men or the profuse Commendations of mistaken Friends Amicus Plato Amicus Aristoteles sed magis Amica veritas He might have justly challenged for his Motto He was a very Conscientious and Laborious Minister so well pleased with the Work his Master had called him to do that his many Bodily Infirmities that very much indisposed him towards the last of his Time could not detain him from engaging in it How often has it been fitter for him to
Condition in the World If Enjoyments are but small Temptations are the fewer Satan hath not such advantage to play his Temptations in a low as in a high and raised Estate in the World And certainly that 's the best Condition in which Sin can take the least advantage and by which we are disposed to do God the greater Service But 't is observable that Christ makes choice of that place for his ascension which was the place of his Agony Thus doth Christ take the House of Affliction in his way to Heaven And thus God in his Providence doth often bring his Josephs from the Prison to the Crown carries them through Bethany to Bethel Through the House of the Poor to the House of God Thus must the Captain of our Salvation be perfect through sufferings saith the Author to the Hebrews Heb. 2 10. He that descended is the same that ascended saith Paul Heb. 4.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As an ancient He descends as a Man but he ascends as God As Pride goes before a Fall so often comes Advancement behind it And so saith the wise Man Before Honour is Humility Prov. 15.33 Self-abasings are ever antecedent to God's advancings As God doth imploy his Wisdom to make his Children high so it shall be in such a way as withal may make his own-Name great And therefore doth then most frequently appear to help when his People to sight are almost past hope He suffers the ungodly to build high and even to touch the Heavens with their Heads In Obad. 4. To set their Nests among the Stars that when they come tottering down all the World may say The Lord was above them and for his own People he suffers them often to be reduced to Job's sad Condition to sit Mourning on a Dunghill that when they are advanced and set in high places all may see and sing and say the Finger of the Lord was there We must not then think it strange nor that God wrongs us if he bring us first to Bethany and then to Glory From the Dunghill to the Throne for all the World is but a great Dunghill Great Enjoyments will do us less hurt and sad Providences when they come will less afflict if with Children we begin our Lesson at the Cross Think of a Combat before a Crown that we run our course and so get the Prize by knowing this is not the Place of payment We are in a World that was never intended to be our Heaven and happy for us if we go not about to make it so That we do not as a Learned Man saith Pro summo bono bonorum infirma amplecti That we chuse not the lowest Goods for the highest Good Grasp at a Cloud instead of a Goddess and make Vanity an Idol He that considers how sad it were to have our Heaven here will rejoyce that he shall not have his Crown till he shall get above Thus much for the place where he ascended at Bethany on Mount Olivet 2. For the Persons that brought him going called to this glorious Sight They were his Apostles As you have also proved to your hand in 1 Acts. Which by the way though People must not deifie Instruments and make of Instruments efficient Causes yet People may by this be taught to give them more Honour and Respect than the World will now allow them It was necessary that all the Disciples all that then professed the Gospel should be ascertain'd of Christ's Ascension and of the Manner of it too And Christ might have done it by giving notice of the time that all might have been Eye-witnesses of his Glory for the Confirmation of their Faith But it must be all husht and those to whom the Dispensation of the Gospel was committed must only be called forth to see and so to deliver and attest it to the World which was indeed a deep Contrivance Our Wisdom would have thought it might have been more for the Advantage of the Gospel that all the living might have had a sight of his triumphant Departure That the Glory which he appear'd in at his departure might be as a Seal and Confirmation of those Gospel-Mysteries which he had Preached and that the Adversary might have seen it and been confounded But it pleased God rather that hereby the Ministry should be established for the Revelation of the Mysteries of the Gospel to his People and so upon sight of his Ascension they went forth and preached Mark 16.19 And in many of Christ's more notable Actions you may still find one of Christ's Eyes looking forth to the Establishing of Ministerial-Instruments for the dispensing of his Gospel-Blessings When he fed his People in the Wilderness he might with a far less Miracle have given every one his Portion with his own Hands But his Apostles must receive from him and the People from the Apostles so Ananias must be sent to heal and restore St. Paul when Christ could have easily done it himself and Philip must be sent to teach the Eunuch God will have Instruments imploy'd in his Work till we come where he shall be all in all And Christ waved the way that must have convinced all Beholders of him purposely to establish a Ministry And so we come to the manner of taking his Farewel He lift up his Hands and blessed them 1. Where we may observe by the way that Christ was then nearest his highest Glory when his Mouth was fullest of Blessings Whilst he blessed them he was parted from them A good thing to depart out of the World with a Blessing in our Mouths That is to go as Christ went Mouths accustomed to cursed Language will but ill dispose a Man to Divine Enjoyments Hellish Language makes but bad Preparation for Heaven's Glory And as Apostles should not only enjoy it being only then present so it will not be left to Christ only to do it Surely when Saints are near the State and Place where all their Works shall be blessing and praise they will before they go enter on their work God's People are always desirous to do good but at their departure when they are going to the City of the living God then are they more abundant in gracious Desires And as they are breathing out their Souls they breath out Blessings Thus did Moses Mouth run over with Blessings just before his Death Deut. 33.1 Let Reuben live and not die Hear Lord the Voice of Judah For Levi let thy Thumim and thy Vrim be with thy Holy one Bless his substance and accept the work of his hands c. He shut up his Life with the sweet Effusion of many Benedictions upon the People of God The same was Isaac's Care and Practice when he found his Age had brought him near Death and when Death would receive him was uncertain he bethinks himself of his last work to bless his Children before he died and so order'd Esau to provide for his Blessing before his decease Gen. 27. and afterward blessed
gone his Journey why now then let the Servants every one set to their Business to their Service now let it be known they are not Eye-servants but do what they do in Love 6. There is another special Duty that from Christ's Ascension lies upon you that is Spiritual Joy and Rejoycing My Brethren Christ's Ascension was his Triumph and if a People be loyal when their King triumphs they will rejoyce Oh let our joyful Spirits give Eccho as it were to Christ's Trumpets that while they sound a Victory and Peace on Earth we may cry glory to the Highest Christ himself made this an Evidence of his Peoples Love 14 John If ye loved me ye would rejoyce because I said I go unto the Father Hadst thou a poor Kinsman advanced to some high Place in the Commonwealth thou wert but a poor Friend if thou wouldst not rejoyce So it is our eldest Brother yea our Head is gone into Heaven and there in our Nature sitteth next in Authority under God the Father who hath put all things under him and shall not we send one Gratulation after him See the Disciples Carriage when they had seen Christ ascended a Man would have thought that they which had so sweet Converse with Christ should have been found in a sad and mourning Posture upon his Departure He gone whose Life was their Light his Words a sweet Mixture of wise Counsels solid Comfort precious Promises and he departed from us Who but would have thought he should have found his Disciples wringing their Hands and prickt at their very Hearts since they had lost the Personal Presence of him who was their Counsel and Support their very Hope and Life No such matter they rejoyced that he was gone as you may see 24 Luke 52 53. He was parted from them and they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God See my Brethren it was the very Joy of their Hearts that Christ was gone to Heaven they rejoyced at it and they continued rejoycing just like good Subjects when their King rides in Triumph they cry after him GOD save the KING GOD save the KING some such Triumphant Song should we send after our Triumphing Captain None should express more Joy in Words in Works in Carriage in Conversation in Face in Faith than God's People 'T is an undecent and unbeseeming thing that a triumphing King should have a sad and a sullen People None should be so heartily merry as Christians I do not mean toyish and idle and apish in their Carriage and their Words which to see in People of Age may be the Wonder of Fools and Laughter of Children But in a comfortable Frame of Spirit arising from the Mercies they have and the Hope they have founded on the Love of God manifested in Promises that 's Madness and not Mirth which makes Fools and Children laugh but wise Men mourn Their Leader is in his Chariot on his Throne their Enemies at his Wheels at their Feet Thanks be to God that hath given us the Victory through Jesus Christ. 7. Lastly Is Christ gone to Heaven why then make up after him as fast as thou canst ascend thither Spiritually whether Christ is ascended Corporally Is Christ in Heaven why then let thine Heart be in Heaven let thine Heart be where thy Head is let thy Desires Thoughts Meditations be like the Angels on Jacob's Ladder going up coming down hold constant Correspondence with thy Prince Remember Christ thy Head is in Heaven What hast thou to do to build Tabernacles here upon Earth thou art Travelling to thy Country to thy Husband Along in the way thou art going for Jewels do not think of taking up thy rest in thy way Doest thou believe Christ is ascended What dost thou scraping then in the Earth and rooting thy self in the Mud or tumbling with Swine in dirty Puddles of Filthy Pleasures Observe what Paul saith 3 Coloss 1. If ye be risen with Christ seek these things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God What said the Angels to those that came to seek Christ in his Sepulcher Luke 24. Why say they Do ye seek the living among the dead he is not here he is risen So why seek you Christ amongst the things of the Earth he is not here he is ascended Christ is in Heaven Why then Let our conversation be in Heaven saith the Apostle Phil. 3.20 Where the Carcase is thither will the Eagles be gathered saith Christ Matth. 24.28 The Glory of the Gospel shall with such Effect and Power be maintained in the World that it shall make Men as eager to come after Christ into Heaven as the Eagle is after the Prey See then how you can find the Power of Christ's Ascension growing upon your Hearts Whether it draws thee up to Christ makes thee most Earthly and more Heavenly Whether it makes thee more Passionately eager and more Importunately earnest after Christ in his Ordinances in his Presence in his Grace in his Members This is thy Duty and this if it be thy Work will be thy Happiness What all for Earth and Christ in Heaven Let thy Thoughts then be more working to Christ thy Words more Talking of Christ thy Life more guided by Christ thy Affection more with the People of Christ Thy Head is in Heaven Let thy Heart be in Heaven and then doubt not but thy Body will come after FINIS BOOKS Printed for John Salusbury in Cornhill THE Certainty of The Worlds of Spirits fully evinced by unquestionable Histories of Apparitions and Witchcrafts Operations Voices c. Proving the Immortality of Souls the Malice and Miseries of the Devils and the damned and the Blessedness of the Justified The End of Doctrinal Controversies which have lately troubled the Churches by reconciling Explication without much Disputing Both by Mr. Richard Baxter The Protestant Religion truly stated and justified by the late Reverend Divine Mr. Richard Baxter Whereunto is added by way of an Epistle some Account of the Learned Author never before Published By Mr. Matth. Silvester and Mr. Daniel Williams The Harmony of the Divine Attributes in the Countrivance and Accomplishment of Man's Redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ By William Bates D. D. The Changeableness of this World with respect to Nations Families and particular Persons with a Practical Application thereof to the various Conditions of this Mortal Life By Timothy Rogers M. A. The Christian Laver or a Discourse opening the Nature of Participation with and Demonstrating the Necessity of Purification by Christ By T. Cruso Earthquakes Explained and practically Improved Occasioned by the late Earthquake Septemb. 8. 1692. In London and many other Parts of England and beyond Sea With a particular Account of the Earthquake in Jamaica By Tho. Doolittle M. A. The Pastor's Care and Dignity and the Peoples Duty By G. Tross
have been in his Bed then in his Pulpit His Weaknesses were so very great although his bodily Disorders were sometimes violent yet then was he extreamly willing to spend the little remains of his Strength to instruct and profit you He often adventured into the Pulpit when his Distempers had exceedingly enfeebled him so that sometimes he has been seized by a fit of the Hipochondriack Passion in the midst of his Work to the sudden surprize of the Congregation for that was the Disease that attended him by frequent returns from the Confinement in the South gate-Prison in your City to the utmost Period of his Days The last time that ever he was in the Pulpit he laboured under a great deal of Weakness and a visible disorder of Body insomuch that his Legs trembled under him which I observing a little before he entred the Church entreated him to forbear Preaching for that Season and to permit me for once to supply his room or that he would allow me to apply my self to the Reverend Mr. Collings for his Assistance who had often made a very friendly Offer of it in case my Father 's great weaknesses should at any time disable him for his ministerial Work But he put me off with this Reply that he was loath to omit that Season because he was afraid he should never have on opertunity of Preaching more which was a sad Presage of what soon befel him yet he could not be disswaded from doing his Master's Business altho' he labour'd under such great bodily Infirmities but he ascended the Pulpit and entertained the Auditory with an excellent Discourse from the Song of Moses Deut. 32.1 which Song begins thus Give ear oh ye heavens and I will speak and hear oh earth the words of my mouth He designed several Discourses upon these Words but his Death prevented him From the consideration that Moses delivered that divine Song just as he was about to take his final Farewel of this World he thence observed this precious Truth Doctrine 1. That gracious Souls the nearer Heaven they are the more Heavenly will they be On this Truth he had Preached several Sermons but then farther remarking that this sweet Song delivered by Moses just before his departure had a manifest regard to the welfare of the Church of Israel he thence observed this other precious Truth Doct. 2. That good Men die with the Interest of God and Souls much upon their Hearts In his last Sermon he mostly insisted upon this Doctrine and concluded it with this Passage Oecolampadius when he fell sick at Basil sent not for the Physician but the Pastors of the Churches and notwithstanding his Pain and Weakness with much Life and Vigour besought them to continue constant and firm in the purity of that Doctrine they had professed and Preached and for other things he willed them to be less careful assuring them that the alsufficient God would provide for them and not be wanting When thus he had ended his Discourse he concluded all with these sad Words which he spake feelingly tho with a sweet Voice I believe this is the last Sermon that ever I shall preach to you or that ever you will hear from me Or Words to that purpose which proved a truth tho a doleful one For no sooner had he left the Congregation but he instantly repaired to his House betook himself to his Bed and from thence in a few days was carried to his Grave A vast Multitude of People attended his Funeral after his Interment the Reverend Mr. George Tross his worthy Successor preach'd his Funeral Sermon to a very numerous Assembly from those Words Zech. 1.5 Your Fathers where are they and the Prophets do they live for ever From which Text the Auditory were entertain'd with many suitable and profitable Truths which I wish may have a lasting Impression upon all that heard them My Endeared Father preach'd his last Sermon March 6. 1688. and exchanged this life for a better March 14 of the same Year Yhus he delivered as it were his own Funeral Discourse then went to his home and dyed Thus suddenly was he removed not without your sorrowful Resentment of so great a Loss may those excellent Truths that he taught you still have a room in your memories and a happy Influence upon your Practices and that will be the best way to secure his Name from Oblivion and to evidence your own Names to be written in the Lambs Book of Life Rev. 21.27 But before I can dismiss this Account of my Father I look upon my self obliged to reply to an invidious Objection that formerly many have made a Noise with to lessen his Esteem and procure his Discredit Viz. Obj. Mr. Hallet said they was a man of very mean Abilities that had little of a Scholar in him for he had never the Benefit of an Academical Tuition he was never graduated in any University never had a regular methodical Education and therefore wondred People were so fond of one of so little Learning To which I answer 1. I heartily rejoyce that I could never hear any thing objected against his Piety 2. I do most sincerely wish that the Persons that made a clamour with this Cavil were Possessours of a great deal more Learning than my Father was ever Master of 3. I may further add that I have known very many Persons that have had an Education in our Academies that have no great reason to boast of their acquired Abilities or to value themselves upon the account of their Clerkship Degrees and Colledge commons I am convinc'd do not inspire Men with Knowledge and Learning and I have reason to believe that Men may be wise and knowing altho they were never nursed up in those Seminaries for I have been acquainted with some that have been well skill'd in Arts and Sciences in the learned Tongues and Languages and yet had never the Advantage of an Accademial Instruction Such have profited more by their Diligence and their own private reading than many others by their Colledge Lectures and their little Debates in the Schooles I say this not that I would be thought to give a disparaging Character of an Academial Tuition but only to prove that Learning and skill in Sciences are not always confined to Persons thus educated and I am sure my Father was a plain instance of it But 4. I shall offer a farther Reply to this Objection in the Words of the learned and pious Mr. Baxter which you may find in the Preface to his Teacher of Households Speaking there of the learning that is to be met with in the Vniversities he thus expresses himself If any say there is no great or solid Learning to be got elsewhere let them think where great Augustine and most of the great Lights of the Church for Four hundred Years attained their Knowledge and whether the Scaligers Salmasius Grotius Selden and such others got not more by secret laborious Reading than by Academical Tutors
and Disputes and whether such famous Men as John Reinolds Blondel c. even in the Universities got not their great Learning by searching the same Books which may be read in another place This I suppose to be abundantly sufficient to blunt the Edge of that Cavil and to vindicate my Father's Esteem from that Objection But now to return to the following Discourses I have already told you that their Subject Matter is our Lord's Ascension into Heaven a Subject very proper to be discours'd upon to a Christian Auditory or to be propounded to the perusal of Christian Readers seeing we find it an Article inserted in that ancient and common Creed which usually but yet how truly I cannot say passes for an Apostolical Composure This Article of our Lord's Ascention is a Truth upon which a Christian's Hopes are much bottom'd and Promises a Treasury of Comfort to all the faithful followers of Jesus for that our Redeemer has escaped the confines of the Grave that he has gloriously triumphed over Death and Hell by his Resurrection and Exaltation and that he is now in Heaven at the right Hand of his Father interceding for his faithful People who are got in this Vale of Mortality is matter of transporting Joy to all that are sanctified This assures them that the great Work of Redemption is compleated that God is reconciled and that they themselves shall at last be advanced to Heaven where their glorified Head now resides managing their Cause for them as their most prevalent Advocate but I shall not undertake to discourse on these Matters in this Preface because this will be but to detain you from reading the same things better said in the Treatise it self only let me observe that the Author in these Discourses most convincingly proves that the Humane Nature of Christ ascended above all aspectable Heavens or that Christ as entire Man as to Soul and Body was translated into the blessed Regions obove And its strange that any that pretend to credit the inspired Writings should call this into question I nothing doubt but that very Body of Christ that was crucified without the Gates of Jerusalem was the very same Body that was laid in the Sepulchre and am fully satisfied that this same Body was raised out of the Grave and ascended into Heaven and is now there at the Right Hand of God I doubt not but the Body of Christ is now glorious and is beautified with more excellent Qualities than it was vested with whilst he was here in his state of Humiliation but yet this hinders not but that this Body is still the very same that bled and expired upon the Cursed Tree neither do the Sacred Scriptures tell us any thing of another Body that Christ has now in Heaven quite distinct from that which was crucified and laid in the Grave But all this while I do but detain you from reading more weighty and instructive matter Therefore to conclude Sirs Remember it was the Importunity of many of you that drew these following Sermons into publick View let me therefore entreat you to give them a careful and diligent perusal and do not throw them by into a corner a moulding as too many deal by their Books as if they were some of the useless Lumber of your Houses But read them seriously and meditate upon the Truths contained in them with some Solemnity of Thought and then you will fully answer the Design of the Publisher Who is SIRS Your real Friend and Servant in the LORD JOSEPH HALLET F. Ex musaeo Nov. 26. 92. OF CHRIST's Ascension Luke XXIV 51. And it came to pass while he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into Heaven IT was in Paul's Judgment no less a Mystery of Godliness That Christ risen from the Dead was received up into Glory then that being come off his Glory he was manifested in the Flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 Without Controversie great is the Mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the Flesh received up into Glory We have formerly seen what of the Mystery of Godliness and Comfort for the Godly hath appeared in the former Christ's Humiliation by his Incarnation We now come indeed by the Revolution of time to see what of both may be found in his Exaltation by his Ascension and indeed his Ascension is the second degree or remove of his Exaltation which is all Mystery For so it pleased the Father that his steps to his Crown should be answerable but opposite to those descents which carried him to his Cross I. He rose from the Dead that 's opposed to his laying down of his Life That is his Resurrection is opposed to his Death II. He ascended into Heaven that is opposed to his descent into the Grave III. He sits at the Right hand of God in opposition to his abode while in the State of Death Signified by that Expression he descended into Hell IV. He shall come to judge the World In opposition to that wretched state in which as he stood he was judged by the World 'T is the second step or degree of his Exaltation or Advancement which we are come from the Words read to treat of at this time And it came to pass c. You may learn Luke's Project in his Gospel from Luke's Pen in the Acts for they both own him to be their Pen-man Where in the 1st Chap. v. 1. He tells you that what he had done was to let you know 1. What Christ did 2. What he suffered 3. What he said 4. How he departed His departure from his Disciples to his Father which he had often before inculcated to them and prepared them for you have described in this Text. Wherein you may take notice 1. Of the Place where he ascended on Mount Olivet nigh Bethany 2. The Persons who were called forth as Eye-witnesses of his Ascension His Disciples 3. The Manner of taking his Farewel He lift up his Hands and blessed them 4. You have the Action of his Ascent described 1. By his separation from his Apostles he was parted from them 2. By his advance on high He was carried up into Heaven He led them out as far as to Bethany Beza thinks that by Bethany was meant the whole Tract of Olivet but others with stronger probability conceive it to be a certain Village near Jerusalem upon Olivet where the poorer sort had their dwellings the Out-skirts of the Suburbs And the name of the place seems to give some countenance to the Conjecture It being that which signifies in the Hebrew Language the House of Affliction or the House of the Poor Beth Inanjah That is the House of the Poor Our Saviour seem'd much delighted in this place and most conversant amongst such Company Thy King cometh lowly humble it is Inani poor afflicted Poor saith the Prophet Zachariah 9.9 He came of poor Parents to a poor People in poor Habit with poor Attendants No such hurt then in a low and mean
convinced the Senses when he turned Water into Wine They tasted Wine So the five Loaves c. It must not be thought a Perception above Sense though themselves cannot but deny it to be such a Perception as the Senses are not at that time capable of But had we no other Arguments to shew the Absurdity of this Opinion than what we were holpen to in the Doctrine of Christ's Ascension it were enough And therefore as the Angel argued from Christ's Resurrection that he was not in the Grave Mat. 28.6 He is not here for he is risen so may we argue from Christ's Ascension that he is not in the Sacrament in that manner as the Papists dream He is not there that is not corporally for he is ascended And to this very end doth Christ speak of his Ascension 6 John 61 62 63. That he might there convince the Disciples of their Mistake when they thought that Christ was carnally or corporally to be eaten In the 55 57 Verses Christ had told his Disciples that his Flesh was meat and his blood was drink and saith Christ he that eateth me shall live Hereupon the Disciples like the Papists began to think of a Corporal eating of Christ's Flesh and were offended at it Now Christ to satisfie them tells them that his meaning was spiritual that they should feed on him spiritually and not carnally for to eat him corporally at the Sacrament that could not be saith Christ And how did he prove that it could not be Why Because he was to ascend to the Father His ascension to Heaven would take off his corporal Presence at the Sacrament What saith Christ if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where he was before It is the Spirit that quickeneth the Flesh profiteth nothing the Words that I speak to you are Spirit by which Christ clearly shews that 't is a Spiritual eating of him in the Sacrament that he requires and not a carnal and that it can be understood of no other but a spiritual because he is ascended where he was before Can Christ be corporally present at the same time in Heaven and on Earth too he can't be fed on here for he is not here but ascended 2. By this Doctrine of Christ's Ascension may we be assured too that we are gainers and not losers by the want of Christ's bodily Presence We are all like Christ's Disciples they were loath to part from him after they had enjoyed him And we are ready to think they only were happy who when he was in the World did enjoy him And oh how happy had we been had we lived at that time My Brethren We should be less happy if we had Christ now upon Earth then we can be now he is for us in Heaven 'T is our gain that we do not now corporally enjoy him The Sun could not be placed so much for our comfort any where upon Earth as it is now it is set in the Firmament and 't is our greatest advantage that our Sun of Righteousness is placed on the Throne above all Heavens to appear before the Lord for the good of his People Therefore when Christ perceived his Disciples sad at the news of his departure John 14.28 If ye loved me saith Christ you would rejoyce because I said I go to the Father 'T is a Crown of Joy set on our Heads that Christ who is the King our Righteousness is sate down with that Crown on his Head which instates him in such a Dominion and Riches as shall make for the Comfort and Advancement of his People As we shall see more particularly anon 3. Be we assured of this too that though he be gone above us he is not gone from us his ascension to his Father hath not taken off his relation to his People Though he hath changed his place he hath not lost his affection He is a Brother still When Christ was upon Earth go tell my brethren saith he I am to ascend and after he was ascended he calls them Brethren still Heb. 2.11 Friends are you now ashamed of Christ Christ is not ashamed of you now he is gone to Heaven Some Men when they are preferr'd and got into great places will disown their poor Relations before great Personages But Christ is not of this Temper he is still the same to thee in Heaven that he was on Earth thy God still thy Christ still thy Friend still I ascend to my Father and your Father to my God and your God John 20.17 A Consideration that hath Sugar enough in it to sweeten the bitterest Portion that can be put into thine hand Christ stands in the same Relation to thee that ever he did and the same Affection he hath not lost his Bowels by going to Heaven Oh it was a Cordial that made Job's bitter Cup a most sweet and pleasant Draught I know that my Redeemer liveth Goali I know that my Kinsman liveth so the Hebrew will bear Ruth 4.10 Hast thou no Friends here remember thou hast a Kinsman in Heaven that will own thee when all the World will leave thee nay when thou must leave the World Thou wert a poor despicable forlorn Creature yea but now thou art allied to the Crown Thou art kin to the Heir apparent of Heaven one that will never deny his Relation one who tho' he be gone out of thy sight yet thou art not out of his Mind his Heart is still with thee a peculiar People 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a People of Purchase A Man will not lose a Jewel that hath cost him dear 4. By this Doctrine of Christ's Ascension we come to be assured too that Christ hath finished that Work which he came to do for his People That the Purchase is made Heaven purchased for us our Souls for him He our Inheritance we his The Work of Redemption ended and all fully accepted for Christ's Ascension doth fully prove that all is satisfied And so much I understand by that Phrase of Christ's John 16.10 He shall convince the World of Righteousness because I go to the Father The Spirit of God should convince his People that all satisfaction was made by Christ in that he was gone to the Father But you have a most excellent and full place to this purpose 9 Heb. 13. By his own blood he entred in once into the holy place having obtained eternal Redemption for us In that he entred into Heaven into that holy place it was clear that the Work of Redemption was finished When he had by himself purged our sins he sate down on the Right hand of the Majesty on high saith Paul Heb. 1.3 Had he not fulfilled the Law struck out the score which lay in God's Debt-book charged on our Account Had he not in all things satisfied his Father's pleasure he had never got into that holy place But he cries 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is finished and the Father Heb. 1.13 xxx says to him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
is that Angel who hath a golden Censer to offer up the Prayers of the Saints Revel 8.3 And therefore God's People through Christ are said to be made Priests to offer up their Sacrifice with acceptance upon his Altar 1 Pet. 2.5 An unspeakable Incouragement to poor timorous Souls Who be their Prayers as as weak as imperfect nay as sinful as they may be they have an Advocate with the Father And art thou ashamed of thy Prayers art thou afraid of thy Prayers Thou hast one that will new draw thy Petitions who will not present thy Prayers as come from thee but as perfected and sanctified by himself 4. Lastly Hereby we come to be assured of God's Favour to continue with us that our Infirmities or Miscarriages shall not be available to take off God's care of us or care to us whatever we have done our Mediator is still in presence to keep off Judgment from us Rom. 8.34 This is the Apostles Argument Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again Who is even at the Right hand of God who also makes intercession for us who shall separate us from the Love of God As if he had said In that Christ is ascended on high he is become an Intercession and in that he is an Intercessor We can never be separated from God's Affection The Stability of our Condition is the Fruit of Christ's Intercession and his Intercession the Fruit of his Ascension He is ascended therefore he intercedes he intercedes Therefore who shall separate us from the Love of God THat was the Fourth Christ ascended to make Intercession 5. Christ must ascend to Heaven to prepare a place for his People That was one end and a great one too of Christ's ascending up to Heaven And this is the Cordial he gives his Disciples now ready to sink at the sad News of his departure John 14.1 2. Let not your hearts be troubled I go to prepare a place for you I go not from you to leave you but to provide for you And therefore the Author to the Hebrews calls him our forerunner Heb. 6.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Quarter-Master if we may speak it with reverence One gone before in his Triumphal Chariot to take up Quarters for his People in Heaven Now we must know that Christ may be said in Heaven to prepare a Place for his People three Ways 1. By way of Representation as seating himself in God's Presence in the stead and as the Representative of his People for as I told you in the description Christ is not gone to Heaven as a private and single Person but as a publick and common Person The great Representative of God's Elect Adam represented all Men in Eden and so by his Sin all sinned they sinned in their Representative in their common root and so Wrath came upon all Why so Christ in what he did in the business of Salvation he did as representing all the Elect. When he died they died when he arose they arose when he ascended they did ascend he did all in their stead as their Representative and Root all imputed to them which he did or suffered all made theirs which he purchased Thus when Aaron was to go into the holiest of Holies the Type of that holy place where Christ now sits at the Right hand of the Majesty on high He is said to bear the Names of the Children of Israel in the Breast-plate of Judgment upon his Heart for a Memorial before the Lord that is for a Remembrance that they be helped and blest and saved Exod. 28.29 The People must not go in none but Aaron must come in and represent them to the Lord So Christ is ascended to that holy place and there he hath carried the Names of the People on his Breast as it were stands presenting them unto God in that holy place as a People to be especially regarded and therefore he is said Heb. 9.24 To be entred into Heaven and to appear in the Presence of God for us there he stands in our steads to transact our business to get the Sentence of the Law reversed and the Blessing of the Covenant to descend And hence is that passage of the Apostles Eph. 2.6 And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly Places in Jesus Christ We are not in heavenly Places we are in earthly places Yea but we now sit in Heaven in our representative Our Burgess is as it were there a common and a publick Person there sits in our steads He sits there to bring us thither and Heb. 6.20 Thither the forerunner is for us entred He went not thither himself but to take possession in our stead As a Traveller that is sent out by his Fellows as a Harbinger to take up Lodging in an Inn for them Enters the Rooms not so much for himself as for his Company and so in a Sense when he is entred they are entred Christ is gone the Harbinger of his Elect in their stead and behalf to Heaven he is entred the Throne for them and his entrance is their assurance to be there 2. He prepares a place for his People in Heaven by Intercession too and therefore is said 9 Heb. 24. Christ is not entred into the Holy place made with hands but into Heaven To appear in the presence of God for us continually praying to the Father that we be preserved here and be brought safe thither Interceeding that he would so uphold them by his Power that they may not fall and be lost and so guide them by his Spirit that they may be brought to that place where he is And that his Disciples might see that these things would be his work in Heaven in the behalf of his People He in their Sight and Audience with much Reverence and Affection puts it on practice a little before his departure as John 17. He lift up his eyes unto Heaven it is said and said Father keep through thine name these whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are one Vers 11. and 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory So then this is the Work of Christ's Intercession To beg God's Protection on his People on Earth and Glory with him in Heaven that no created Power impede their Comfort nor any Sin their Salvation 3. Christ prepares his People for Heaven by way of Operation he makes a Heaven within his People before they shall get to Heaven he shall never enter Heaven that brings not something of Heaven with him he fetcheth up their Hearts their Affections to Heaven before he sends for their Persons thither My Brethren Never shall a Soul get to Heaven that is not in Heaven before he goes out of the World In Heaven by holy Meditations by holy Actions by good Thoughts by a good Life Christ never brings any Soul
thither till he hath first prepared him here Earth must be put off before Glory can be put on and therefore in that 17 John 19. Christ says I sanctifie my self that they also may be sanctified through the Truth And then he cries Let them be glorified as I am glorified GOD must take up the room in the Heart before the Heart shall find a room in Heaven and there Paul 1 Col. 12 13 14. Gives God thanks that he did not only provide Heaven for his People but made them meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light that is prepared them for Heaven as well as prepared Heaven for them So then when Christ prepared a place for his People in Heaven he makes them meet for the place 1 Pet. 1.3 4 5. No getting into Heaven in our old Rags Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant Mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively Hope by the Resurrection of Jesus from the Dead To an Inheritance incorruptible reserved in the Heavens Who are kept by the Power of God through Faith unto Salvation So then if you be kept for Heaven Then you shall be made meet for Heaven he must first put on the Robe of Christ's Righteousness that will put on the Robe of his Glory Keep them from the Evil of the World saith Christ And what then Why then Father saith he I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me John 17.15 24. And thus have you had another end of Christ's getting to Heaven in order to the Comfort of his People he went thither that he might prepare a place for his People and prepare them for the place Matter of most excellent comfort to all that have any Interest in him T is like that River in the Garden of Eden which was parted into four Streams Gen. 2.10 which are as so many Channels full of Comfort for fainting Hearts 1. The first Stream is this Is Christ gone up into Heaven why then thou mayest be sure be thine Enemies what they will and who they will in this World thou art safe Thy Saviour is above them and what needest thou fear This Jethro intimates as the Reason of the Destruction of those that were proud Enemies against God's People Exod. 18.11 In the thing wherein they dealt proudly God was above them That God's People were now delivered and his Enemies under foot was because God was above them And the Psalmist makes God's People's Deliverance as an Inference from the High place of God's Habitation Psal 97.9 10. Thou Lord saith he art high above all the earth thou art exalted far above all Gods God dwells above as if he should say Well What then He preserveth the souls of his saints he delivereth them out of the hands of the wicked This is God's People's Confectio Alchermis A most excellent Cordial in their Fainting Fits Have they potent and mighty Enemies Men in High places Yea But remember thy God thy Saviour is above them he is in a higher place he that died for thee and was laid in the Grave for thee is got out of his dark Pit again and is risen above all Principalities and Powers He that is for thee is above thee and what needst thou fear 2. Here comes another Stream of Comfort too Is Christ risen is he got on high and that on this Errand to prepare a place for his People in Heaven Here then is a warm Cloth for a cold Condition for your Poor Ones that are in Christ You that have scarce Houses or Home in this World that can say with Christ as he did when he was in the World I have not where to put mine head no setled Habitation Why be patient a while all Christ's Members will be bravely lodged e're long He that purchased an Inheritance for the Saints in Light is gone to take up Lodgings for thee In an inheritance incorruptible that fades not away saith Peter Mansions made without hands saith Christ Then thou shalt have a House that is of too firm a Workmanship for a Humane Hand and that 's incorruptible It was curiously made and shall be curiously kept It fades not away 1 Peter 1.4 Some of you have poor smoaky Houses scarce a Roof to creep in under and in a little time none may why for all this if they are of Christ's Body their Head will bring them into a brave House shortly he is gone their Harbinger into Heaven and will get them good Lodgings I have read that Valens the Arrian Emperor did threaten St. Basil one of the Greek Fathers That he should be safe neither by Sea nor by Land from his Power Why said he for all the Emperor's Rage I shall be in Heaven or under Heaven Why so though thou be driven to and fro and hast no abiding place of safety to put thy Head in yet maugre the Malice of Men and Devils thou shalt be in Heaven or under Heaven After Luther had withdrawn himself from the Whoredoms of Babylon I have read that one of the Cardinal 's in a great Huff told him That he should not have a place in all the Empire to keep him And what said Luther why he smiled and said If Earth cannot keep me Heaven shall Why so thou poor Soul it may be thou starved thou persecuted One bear up Man hast thou no abiding place on Earth yet thou hast one provided for thee in Heaven He that hath the keeping of that glorious House is gone to look out a Room for you 3. Is Christ gone to Heaven why then here comes a third Stream out of this Eden And that is thou hast a Remedy against Death it claps Sugar into thy Mouth against that bitter Cup and makes the pale Enemy to smile upon thee If thou canst lay but a well grounded Claim to an Interest in Christ thou hast no reason to fear to die No rather thou hast reason to long for that hour above all the Pleasures of the Earth For what is Death then 'T is but a going to our Inheritance To take actual possession of our new purchased Lands a going to the Lodgings Christ hath took up Thy Christ is in Heaven though he hath not taken away Death he hath taken away the Sting of Death and altered the Errand and Message of Death Death now shall but carry thee and not strike thee 'T is but a Trap-door to let thee into that stately Palace where thy Saviour is No looking upon Death now as a grim Herald but a welcome Messenger a Messenger sent of God to guide thee and bring thee safe into thy Father's House since Christ our elder Brother is in Heaven 't is a great shame now if every good Man doth not look upon Death as old Jacob did upon his Son Joseph's Waggons come from Aegypt to carry him away Why the Spirit of the Old Man revived as 't is said when he saw them
Gen. 45.27 Did Jacob rejoyce to see a Waggon or a Chariot that would carry him into Aegypt to see his Son Joseph And wilt not thou rejoyce to think that Death is a Chariot to carry thee to JESUS CHRIST to carry thee not to Aegypt but to Heaven Not to thy Son but to thy GOD Death is but a Chariot to carry into Heaven to bring us to that Eternal Goshen of Light where GOD's Presence shall both make and keep us blessed for ever And thus have you been offered a taste of Three of those Sweet Streams which came forth of that River which runs in the Eden of God 4. The Fourth and Last is this Is Christ gone to Heaven Thou shalt assuredly go after him 'T is somewhat a sad thing when Death comes and says You must go with me the Body to the Grave the Soul to God that gave it I say then Nature makes a sowr Face upon such a sad Message What my Body that hath cost me so much I used so tenderly that lived so delicately Now to say to corruption thou art my father and to the worm thou art my mother and my sister What this Face of mine be cloathed with Clods of Dust as Job says These Arms these Hands these Feet of mine that were my Pride the Worms Meat They shall feed sweetly upon them Job 24. This is a hard saying to Nature and the harder to be born when the Care hath been all imployed about the Body and the Soul forgotten it will be dreadful indeed to leave the Body in the Hands of Death when the Soul hath been in the Power of Sin But hast thou the least Hold-fast on Christ a Faith but like a smoaking Flax thou hast then a Cordial to give the Spirit when thy Body is falling into the Pit No mattter let it fall it shall up again Christ is risen and he is gone to Heaven and he is gone to receive thee thither that thou mayest be even where he is So he tells you Joh. 14.19 Yet a little while and the world seeth me no more but you see me because I live you shall live also The Branches live in the Root and if the Root lives they will live As if he said Well my Friends I must leave you a while I must go to Heaven before you but know this I go to Heaven for you and be cause I live there bodily assure your selves you shall live there bodily too What saith a Father to this Well saith he Christ is our Flesh and our Bone he is gone with our Flesh into Heaven our Flesh hath taken possession already of our Inheritance And this is a good assurance and pledge to us that our Flesh these Bodies of ours shall be in Heaven where Christ is Christ is gone bodily into Heaven and because he lives there you shall live there also Because I live ye shall live also saith Christ And as much you have in the 14 Joh. 3. And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am ye may be also Christ is gone for the present but when all is prepared above he will come again and fetch his People Home to his House and to their Inheritance Oh what an unspeakable Comfort is this to a dying Soul I am now ready to lie down in the Dust saith a Soul And though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God as Job said 19 Job 26. Christ is entred into Heaven in our Name in our Flesh hath taken possession for us of the purchased Inheritance and therefore he will bring us thither in his appointed time Christ hath gotten in his Head his Body his Church shall come after CHRIST will not sit in Heaven a HEAD without MEMBERS It 's a Scripture more worth than both the Indies for a dying time 6. The End of Christ's Ascention was that he being full of Grace and Glory might be able to refresh and fill the Souls of all his People My Brethren as I told you before Christ did not lose his Bowels his Pity by going to Heaven We have not an High Priest saith the Apostle which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities let us therefore come boldly to obtain mercy Heb. 4.15 16. No my Brethren our High-Priest hath not lost his Feeling by going into Heaven he is not like a Man that his Advancement should make him forget his Friend 's Good That he might hear them that he might help them that he might fill them that he might save them so saith the Apostle Ephes 4.10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens that he might fill all things He ascended with filling purposes as the Sun ascends with enlightning strength And therefore at his departure what saith he John 17.19 For their sakes saith he sanctifie I my self that they may be sanctified And Ver. 22. The glory that thou givest me I have given them Our Glory our Fulness our Holiness was one of Christ's Ends why he was glorified and filled himself Of his fulness we all receive grace for grace John 1.16 A notable Comfort to poor needy Souls Dost thou see thy emptiness yea but look on Christ's fulness he emptied himself for us Why so he filled himself for us Dost thou feel great want of Knowledge thou art a poor ignorant Creature that as Paul said thou dost know nothing as thou shouldst Thou dost want Wisdom and Strength and Grace to make thee solid and able in thy Christian Business Thou canst not walk as prudently as thou shouldest in the place God hath set thee Thou canst not carry thy self as beseemingly and as humbly as thou shouldest when God's Hand is upon thee thou hast not that fear of God as thou shouldest nor that love of God that his Mercies call for Yet in the midst of all here 's thy stay and support Thou knowest where to carry thy empty Vessels to be filled Thou canst now go to thy Saviour and say Lord thou art now in Heaven filled with unmeasurable Glory Thou art a God full of Grace and Glory Thou art full that thy People may be full Oh of thy Fulness let us receive Grace for Grace Such Thoughts such Meditations as these will in time work us out of all our Wants Where I am there also shall my servant be saith he John 12.26 When I shall be in Heaven ne're a Servant of mine but shall be in Heaven too the Servant shall be with the Master and you know in that fore-cited place Ephes 2.6 The Apostle speaks of our Ascension as a thing already effected and wrought by Christ's Ascension God hath made us sit together saith he in heavenly places in Christ Jesus Oh my dear Brethren here 's a Comfort for every Cross Come what can come Life or Death Fears Hopes Trouble or Peace this will give us Confidence in all our Fears and
Calamities in all our Storms We shall one Day be where our Saviour is What a calming Support will it be when a Soul shall say It will be better when we shall be with Christ The Apostle says 2 Cor. 5.6 7. Therefore we are always confident saith he knowing that while we are present in the Body we are absent from the Lord We are confident I say willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. And thus have you heard the Four pleasant Streams of Eden come swimming to you from that great River of Christ's End in going to Heaven To prepare a place for his People And thus have I finished the Improvement of the Point by way of Comfort I now come to the last and that is Counsel Is Christ gone to Heaven and is he gone for us into Heaven Oh then let us carry our selves sutably to this Mercy and to our Hopes by it and that in these particulars 1. Is Christ gone to do our Work in Heaven Oh then let us do Christ's Work here on Earth 'T is but Reason and common Equity my Brethren that since Christ is gone upon our Business that we have an eye unto his Business in the World Endeavour to carry on Christ's Interest his Kingdom in your Hearts in your Families in the Places where you live Let all know you are the Servants of Christ and labour all you can to make others Servants to him do what you can by your Prayers by your Counsels by your Lives by your Examples by your Encouragements to propagate and enlarge the Bounds of Christ's Kingdom 'T is the Nature of Grace to be diffusive of her own Excellencies Grace hath a wondrous greedy eye it would fetch in all to Christ And therefore you shall find that immediately before his Ascension he shewed his Disciples that they should mind his Business when he was gone upon theirs Acts 1.8 Ye shall be witnesses to me both in Jerusalem and in the uttermost parts of the earth And then how after his Ascension his Disciples Men and Women and all went on in Christ's Business you may see in the after Verses of that Chapter Is the Master of the House gone and gone for the Servants Good Oh let them not then neglect their Master's Business How would it wound thy Heart and appale thee if Christ when he meet thee should say I have all this while on your Errand been employed to make you happy and you have done nothing for me the while whilst I have been providing for your Glory you have been dishonouring me Is Christ gone to Heaven to prepare a place for thee Then do thou prepare a Heart for him It is but a grateful Recompence to give up thy Heart to him who is gone to get Heaven for thee What wilt thou give him for all the Prayers and Cost he hath been at to make thee happy Why thou hast nothing to give but thy Heart and he calls for nothing else My son saith he give me thy heart Prov. 23.26 Prepare a Heart for Christ who hath prepared a Heaven for thee Shall Christ go to Heaven to prepare a place for thee and thou not suffer him to have a corner in thy Heart Christ is gone to prepare a Throne for thee and thou let Lust to sit upon the Throne within thee There is a sweet Exhortation 19 Revel 7. Let us be glad and rejoyce and give Honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her self ready Be thou as the Bride ready against the Wedding-day When Christ went to Heaven then it was the betrothing Day But thy Marriage Day is thy Dying Day Make thy self ready against that Day and prepare a Heart for him who prepares a Heaven for thee 3. Labour to look upon him ascending with an Eye of Faith then is some spiritual Gift likely to drop down to us when we see our Master ascended It is said of Elijah 2 Kings 2.10 That if he should see his Master ascending then he should have his spirit doubled Certainly 't is no less true in this matter if we can but by Faith see Christ ascended into Glory his Spirit shall in some measure come upon us 4. Thou must lean and rest thy self upon Christ for all see him ascended on high for thee and so do all in his Strength and Power However thine Hand shakes in thy Duties know thou hast one above that will hold thy Hand Set about nothing but with Paul's Confidence I can do all things in Christ that strengthens me This Use Christ directs his Disciples to make of his Ascention John 14.3 4 6. I go to prepare a place for you saith Christ Whither I go you know and the way you know We know not the Way saith Thomas No why I am the way saith he No man cometh unto the Father but by me I ascend up to the Father for you and you must ascend up to the Father by me all your Doings all your Fightings your Works your Wrestlings are all to be undertaken in the Strength of Christ Thanks be to God saith Paul who hath given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor 15.57 5. 'T is our Duty that now we serve him more affectionately and accurately and faithfully than ever He hath led Captivity captive by his ascending on high The World Sin Death the Devil now lie bleeding at Christ's Feet yea and through Christ that strengthens us at our Feet so saith the Apostle He will tread down Satan under our feet Rom. 16.20 What have we then to do but to serve the Lord. Deliverance doth always infer Service and Obedience being delivered out of the hands of our enemies let us serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our lives Luke 1.74 Christ hath purchased our Obedience by Deliverance Thus 2 Sam. 7.1 when David had Peace from his Enemies he made this Use of it to raise up a House for the Service of God when the Lord had given him rest round about from all his Enemies Behold saith he I dwell in an house but the Ark of God dwells in courtains When God had given him Rest it was not to enjoy quietly what he had but to serve God with what he did enjoy He had no sooner Rest but he thought of God's Service so these in the 9. Acts. They had Rest as it is said and walked in the fear of God Are you freed from Enemies you are the more free to serve God obey more freely since you may live more freely This was that when Christ was to ascend which he gives in charge to his Apostles to teach his People He was now ready to ascend well what was it now fit that the People should know Why that they must observe whatsoever Christ had commanded them 28 Matth. 20. teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you Is the Master of the Family
both his Sons The very last words that you hear from Jacob but the ordering of his Funeral were The Almighty shall bless thee with Blessings of Heaven above with Blessings of the Deep that lieth under Blessings of the Breasts and the Womb Gen. 49. He breathed out his Life with Blessings in his Mouth frequently do the Sun-beams shine with the greatest clearness and strength just when the Sun is about to set and so doth Grace when the Person is a dying Do but read the 2 Pet. 1. Observe how Heaven sits on Peter's Lips that every word breaths Immortality and Glory in the Counsel he gives after and ver 14. he had considered that shortly he must put off the Tabernacle of his Flesh Certainly Friends when Death is nearest than are all Graces most pregnant Then will gracious Souls take their fill of Faith and Repentance and Hopes and Prayers and Blessings and Counsels and Reproofs Death breaks the Box of Ointment and then is the House filled with the Smell When St. Paul was to leave the Ephesians and as he told them they should see his face no more he Preached till Midnight Acts 20.7 and after that again he talked with them a long while vers 11. and then he kneeled down and prayed with them all vers 36. It was his last his parting his farewel Sermon He was to be gone from them for ever and so could not tell how to make an end but his Soul was resolved all into Blessings and Prayers and Counsels for their good when he should be gone This was a Heavenly parting and such are the Parting 's of God's People Full of Blessings full of Prayers full of Encouragements full of Counsel to those they are to leave behind Thus as Christ all his time taught you to live by his departure teacheth you to die And 't is a brave thing to find any of our Friends to depart as Christ departed with much of Heaven within insomuch that the disorders of Distempers cannot hinder gracious Words 2. It is worth our Observation too that Christ when he left his People left his Blessing with them He blessed them and then was parted from them like a good Parent finding the time of his departure near calls his Friends together prays with them prays for them and so dies and leaves them 'T is a comfort to a Child to receive his Father's Blessing when God is ready to receive his Father's Soul And it cannot but be an infinite Encouragement to the Faithful however times prove to know that Christ left his Blessing to his People when he was going to his Father his corporal Presence gone was no less when his Blessing filled the room And thus had he set his last Seal to the truth of his last Sermon John 13.1 Having loved his own he loved them to the end he blest them as he left them Let Men curse them what matters that Christ when he went to Heaven blessed them The Apostles only hear it but the Apostles should not only enjoy it For saith Christ Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which believe on me through their word John 17.20 So that Christ's Blessing is a common Stock to all the Church And so we come to the last thing The Actio ascensus The Action of Christ's Ascension and that is described 1. Disjunctione ab Apostolis In separation from the Apostles 2. Sursum sublatione By his being carried aloft into Heaven Now how this was done you shall find the same Evangelist more fully to express 1 Acts 9. While they beheld he was taken up and a Cloud received him out of their sight What might be said of this Cloud might prove a Region too sublime for many of your understandings 'T is the Spiritual Profit and Advantage I aim at and not Philosophical Speculations which ordinarily makes Mens Minds like Jude's filthy Dreamers to become Clouds without Water carried about of Winds Jude 12. And therefore of this Cloud I shall only say this at present That it is probable that by this Cloud was meant the appearance of Angels at least with it a great Company of these Ministers of God So that when 't is said the Clouds received him 't is meant the Angels received him For it is ordinary in Scripture to describe the appearance of Angels by a Cloud as signifying a great Company a Cloud of Witnesses and hence you find 25 Exod. 22. God speaks of the covering of the Ark saith There will I meet thee and commune with thee from betwixt the two Cherubims In the 16 Levit. 2. 't is rendred I will appear in the Cloud upon the Mercy-seat Sometimes a Cloud is in Scripture taken for God's more glorious Exhibition of his Majesty and of his special Protection as that Pillar of Cloud that went before them by day so that in this place without any hurt done to the Analogy of Faith we may understand it of both That Angels appeared and that the Majesty and Glory of the Lord did in some notable way discover it self carrying up our Saviour as it were in a Triumphal Chariot to Heaven You see how fruitful this Text is of Observations I shall only from a Declaration of Christ's Ascension tye my self to this one to be handled from the Words Doct. That Christ after his Passion and Resurrection ascended up into Heaven A Proposition that hath in it as great a Mystery and as great a Mercy as any delivered in Scripture that therefore it may be so to us I shall in the handling of it 1. Explain the Terms 2. Prove it 3. Give the Grounds and Reasons of it They are only two Terms which call for Explication Ascending and Heaven The first Christ's Ascension will be best explained by resolving these Questions Quest 1. What is meant by Ascension Sol. His Ascension is that whereby Christ by the Power of his Divinity was advanced above all Aspectable Heavens and as compleat Conqueror over Death and Hell Is Triumphantly sate down as a publick Person on his Throne next the Father in order to the glorifying of himself and his People I shall not now take this Description abroad into its parts because the most contained in it will fall in to our best advantage in the Application Only this Take notice of what I say nor do I say it only but the Scripture with me That he ascended not as a private but a publick Person He ascended not barely as the Son of God but as a publick Person he ascended as the Representative of all the Elect he ascended as a Head And therefore you shall find that after Paul had excellently discoursed of the Power of God manifested in the Resurrection of Christ from the Dead and Ascension into Heaven 1 Ephes he doth 22. ver look upon Christ thus risen and advanced on high as the Head of his Church and they his Body And afterward Chap. 2. looking upon Christ as a publick Person representing his People in
only heard of one before the Law and one under the Law by an ascension translated to Heaven The third whereof both the other were Types was Christ under the Gospel 2. I prove it by Prophesies also In order whereto if you please to turn to the 68 Psalm 18. you shall find David so confident of Christ's Ascension that his Faith looks upon it as a thing already performed Thou hast ascended on high The Fashion of that Language to express the absolute certainty of things to come by a Tense that denotes the performance already past Whence that Expression Babylon is fallen is fallen though it be not accomplished to this day and least any should mistake the Act he takes off all misunderstanding by the Effect Thou hast led Captivity captive Thou hast received Gifts for Men. And that this Prophesie had an eye to Christ's Ascension that Christ's ascension was the compleating of it We are told by Paul in two places Eph. 4.8 Where you have an account of what Christ did after his Ascension in Expressions proportionable to the Prophesie of what he should do When he ascended up on high he led Captivity captive The other Text is Heb. 4.14 The Psalmist had said before Thou hast ascended on high The Apostle in this place saith We have a great High Priest that is past into the Heavens Jesus the Son of God Nor can I think or find less understood by that Expression of the Psalmists Psalm 110.7 He shall drink of the brook in the way therefore he shall lift up his head That it is spoken of Christ all grant and that he should be advnaced at God's Right-hand the Sense of the whole Psalm carries it But first he must drink of the Brook by the way of that Cup which God had put into his hands for the taking off of his Peoples Sins and attoning the Justice of God and then should he lift up his head That is rise from the Dead and ascend into Heaven But if this shall be thought too obscure take a further view in the Prophesie of Daniel 7 Ch. 13 14. 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 before him and there was given him Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him His Dominion is everlasting and his Kingdom that which shall not destroyed This Kingdom and Dominion must be understood of Christ's Ascension and not of his coming to Judgment because at his coming to Judgment all things are to be delivered up into the hands of the Father 1 Cor. 15. And that it is to be understood of Christ's Ascension we may sometimes gather from the Manner of his coming to Heaven Which faith the Prophet was in the Clouds and in the 1st Acts you there find he was carried up to Heaven in the Clouds 3. I prove it also from Promises many whereof you have from Christ's own Mouth Nor can I conceive less signified in that Speech of Christ's 6 John 62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before And in that 16 John 5.7 But now I go the way to him that sent me What dress soever the Words seem to appear in we know they were given as a Cordial and Support to the Disciples Spirits at Christ's departure the Comfort and Direction of the Spirit being that which should follow upon and so was a Promise 4. I prove it by Witnesses too You have it reported from the Mouths of those that saw it an Eye-witness is a good Evidence He gathered the Eleven together and while they beheld 't is said he was taken up Acts 1.9 10. Nor Nor did they only see it joyntly but witness it severally so saith Peter 1 Pet. 3.22 He is gone into Heaven And after him comes Paul with a late but as sure a testimony Eph. 4.10 He that descended is the same also that ascended But if Men should mistake Angels may he heard They also are recorded as Eye-witnesses of his glorious Triumph Acts 1.10 As he went up to two Men stood by them in white apparel which also said this same Jesus which is taken from them into Heaven c. And indeed scarce shall you find any one Point in all the Scripture proved more punctually And no wonder I know no Point that hath a Womb greater with Mercies There cannot fall out a Cross but a dull Eye may here see an excellent Comfort Nor any Condition so mean and low which this new State of Christ's will not sweeten and in time change As by God's assistance we shall shew hereafter Be instructed how to carry your selves when the time of your Dissolution draws on Nay take all in a word Descendit secundum naturam assumentem quae se in carne manifestavit Ascendit verò secundum naturam assumptam in quâ se manifestavit He descended according to that Nature which did assume which manifested it self in the Flesh but ascended according to that Nature which was assumed in which he manifested himself HAving thus opened and confirmed the Proposition by Scripture We shall now go on as far as Scripture will warant to give some Reasons Why it was that Christ did ascend into Heaven Some Reasons respect Christ and some his People Reas 1. Because he had finished that Work which he was sent to do he was sent forth from the Father to bring about that great design of Heaven Glory to God by good will to Man His Work done that is God's ends accomplished he had no more to do but to go whence he came and to manifest that his Work was done by taking his place again on the Throne When Ambassadors have delivered their Master's pleasure according to their Commission they return again to their Masters Courts And hence it is that our Saviour ready to depart tells his Apostles That he came from the Father into the World and having done his business was to leave the World and go to the Father again John 16.28 and 17 John 4.5 He looks upon finishing his Work as so great a reason of his ascension to Heaven that he makes that the only Argument to move the Father to glorifie him with that Glory which he had once enjoyed with himself I have glorified thee on Earth I have finished the Work which thou gavest me to do And now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self with the Glory which I had with thee before the World was He had finished his Father's Work on Earth It was now but reason that he should go to Heaven 'T is observable that Christ could not recover his former Glory again till he had done the Sinner's work that is he could not have the Glory again till he had opened a way for more Souls to be glorified too Oh Grace inexpressible No entring for Christ into Glory till he had done
〈◊〉 sit down as an acknowledgment he had done his Work a very Scheme and Draught of Heaven as it were in a few words Christ is ascended the great Work of Redemption finished Not a Sin left now for a Believer to answer for but can you believe A Pardon purchased Heaven obtained and not a peny to be paid The Debt paid the Book crost Christ hath done all and that he hath we know that he is ascended His very ascension shews that you have now nothing to do but believe sins be many sins be great But can you believe Christ hath made the purchase taken possession Thou hast nothing to do but to walk to thine Inheritance all thy care is but that thou do not lose thy way Christ prepares all against thy coming 5. Something for thy Instruction thou hast too in these Circumstances that attended this glorious Ascension which are very remarkable which were pointed to in opening this Proposition 1. From the place whence Christ did ascend from Bethany on Mount Olivet 24 Luke 50 51. It was that place where Christ was taken when Judas did betray him The place of his Sufferings should be as it were the first step to his Glory He must ascend from Bethany the place where his Peace is disturb'd his Glory begun Bethany I then told you was a Compound in the Hebrew Language made of Beth and Inaniah and signified the House of Affliction or the House of the Poor very observable The House of Affliction was the place of his Exaltation He must go to Heaven out of the House of the Poor And truly My Brethren Bethany is ordinarily the way to Bethel The House of the Poor the way to the House of God And thus doth God often make his Peoples sufferings In-lets to Glory Comforts are never so well relished as when they come up in the rear of Crosses 'T is twice a happiness when a Man comes to be happy after he hath been miserable 2. Whilst he blessed them he was parted from them He sang his sweetest Tunes when he was nearest his end Whilst he was blessing his Disciples and was speaking to them things appertaining to the Kingdom of God he was taken away Acts 1.9 A worthy Presedent and Pattern for all that are drawing nigh their end to dress by The Kingdom of God was in his Mouth before he had it in possession Heaven was in him before he was in Heaven He was talking of God before he went to God Thus must all that hope to live with him speak much of him You must all die Brethren learn here what to do when you come to die make your dying times times of living Counsels Dying words often make a notable Impression on living Spirits And therefore when God seems to call for any of you begin at least to speak Heaven's Language before you go And that you may learn Heaven's Language before you come to die That 's the Reason Men are so speechless in respect of heavenly Discourse on their Sick-beds and Death beds because they use their Tongues so little to Matters of Heaven in time of their Health David had mostly God on his Tongue and Heaven in his Heart when he was in Health and hence it is that you hear of nothing else in his Mouth when he came to die as you may see when he was about to take his farewel 1 Chron. 28.9 3. When Christ was to depart he calls his Friends his Family about him All the Eleven were with him Acts 1. A good Example to all Men to call their Friends together to give them living Counsel when they are dying Men It is a comfort to a Man to die amongst his Friends and if his advice be good it may be their Happiness that he died amongst them Christ when he departed the World would have his Friends about him And what to do but to leave them a Copy what to do when he should be gone And so I come to a second way of improving this Proposition and that is by way of Consolation and truly in this one Doctrine there is so much lodged that all Believers may look on this Truth and without any censure of folly sing a Requiem to their Souls Soul now take thy rest thou hast much laid up in store for many years Now my Brethren this is the Top-stone of all our Happiness which being laid all the People of God may cry Grace Grace unto it Never could Comforts have been solid and permanent had not Christ ascended for by this ascension you heard before we enjoy a Christ when we do not see him and he owns us though we do not see him And hereby all his other Labours and Travels and Sufferings are made our perfect Mercy This finished all and this got all his death could not have given but an imperfect sound had he died and stopt there he had done you no good his Resurrection had been but half Comfort Our Pardons had been but little worth if he had not by this act of his Ascension made Proclamation of them Nor would our Enemies have abated much of their boldness and triumph had not this triumph of Christ thrown them on their backs Who is he that condemns it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is ever at the Right-hand of God Rom. 8.34 That we may have these cordial Pearls prepared in the Gospel to lie by us against our times of faintings which hasten on apace let us consider how many of them may be found In those ends which Christ did propound to himself in his Ascension for his Peoples advantage 1. Then this was the Mark in Christ's Eye when he did ascend he went up to Heaven that he might open and consecrate a way for us to the Throne of Grace Christ went up to Heaven that our Prayers might come thither a Mercy above any sum we can make Brethren Sin had thrust us out of God's Presence and shut the doors after us Christ now is ascended to open Heavens door again for us and bid us welcome into God's Presence Chamber what an unutterable Priviledge is it to have a clear Passage to Heaven in our Duties that poor contemptible Creatures that are afraid to speak to Men may yet boldly and freely converse with God Now that way might be made to go to God for us that the Sluces may be broken up for God's Mercy to come down upon us was one of Christ's ends why he did ascend Heb. 10.20 21. Having boldness to enter into the holiest by the Blood of Jesus By a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us let us draw near with a true heart c. Our hope to be heard in Heaven is Christ's being in Heaven for us What a taste of Heaven may we find in this Point before we get thither That we may now with boldness come since Christ is gone before Oh that Christ hath left us such an Incouragement to wait on God
in all our necessities as is to be found in his Ascension We may now pray and not fear our Mediator is gone before our Advocate is with the Father Be now wholly confident that thou shalt be heard in that thou fearest weak Duties cannot hinder acceptance when Christ is above to further it When thou dost pray thou goest to a God that hath thine Advocate at his Right-hand He that is of God's Counsel is thy Counsel This the Apostle thinks is enough to give a Man a bold and confident face in that holy Presence 4 Heb. 14 16. Seeing then that we have an High Priest that is passed into the Heavens Jesus the Son of God Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace Never fear Christ is above Who would not come boldly into the Court when he knows he hath such a Person to present his Petition The eldest Son to the King is of thy side what needest thou fear some would take off Prayer from being now a Duty because we live in the days of the Gospel Days say they of a high Dispensation 't is ill being too high for Duty No my Brethren pray now if ever for now thine Advocate is in Heaven and therefore thou shouldst now be always sending up Petitions thither 2. Christ ascended to Heaven that he might make a full Conquest over all his Peoples Enemies And this we are told by the Author to the Hebrews Ch. 10.12 13. This man sat down at the right hand of God expecting till his enemies be made his footstool That is till they are fully conquered and in the 4 Eph. 8. When he ascended up on high he led Captivity captive That is he led those captive which had before kept his People in captivity as we may see to be the meaning of the Phrase in the 5 Judges 12. An allusion to the Custom of the Romans who after their Victory led their Captives in triumph So Christ's ascending up to Heaven it was his getting into his Triumphal Chariot leading his own and his Peoples Enemies captived at his Chariot-wheels as it were and so saith Paul 2 Colos 15. Having spoiled Principalities and Powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is he did in height of confidence make them a publick Example of fcorn and shame 'T is true Christ strook the last stroke and won the day on his Cross Then the Devil and Sin and Death received their mortal wound But at the Resurrection he seized the Prey laid hold on those he had subdued and by his Ascension dragged them as it were at his Chariot-wheels to be trampled upon by all those that are Members of his Body which makes the Victory of God's poor People certain Oh what a comfort is this my Brethren that Christ by going up to Heaven doth manifest to all the World that all their Enemies lie bleeding at his Feet That he hath overcome the Grave Death the Devil and Sin They may bark they can bite no more the Serpent may put out his Sting but cannot hurt They now lie all as Captives chained in the Stocks till the King's Pleasure How are we hereby armed against the fear of Satan I confess these spiritual Powers are great in their own nature But they are not now what they were They are disarmed Devils they are Devils but they are naked Devils Devils they are but wounded Devils conquered Devils Devils led captives Devils in Chain no fear of a chained Enemy if you come not within his reach 2. Again what Encouragement have we here to hold out in all our Encounters against these Enemies They may foam but they cannot fight they are Prisoners Captives chained up from doing hurt Christ our Lord doth hold them pinioned that they cannot stir they think they may do what they please but no more then a Goal-bird in Irons they are held with Irons of Guilt and in Chains of Providence we would all say that that Man hath a base low Spirit who when he was well appointed and well-guarded should rear a naked Enemy We have our Weapons with us our Captain with us our Enemies naked and bound Let us be strong then in the might of him that strengthens us to look upon Satan now as loose is to deny Christ's Ascension He is a Devil still but a chained Devil 3. Here 's an Encouragement for our Faith too keep that eye clear that thou mayest see thy Victory and thou art safe there 's no more required then that thou see thy Captain triumphing Give Glory unto Christ that he hath done this for thee and he will apply it to thee Doth the Devil hold hard Fear not one look of Christ's will make his Weapons fall out of his hands Is Sin strong Yea but the Sting is gone Christ hath the Victory look to thy Saviour let but thy Faith mount into his Triumphal Chariot and thine Enemies are all under thy feet also You know 't is a mighty Encouragement to a Souldier to fight when he sees his Commander go on beating down his Enemies before him We should fear our Enemies less and prevail more if we would eye Christ's Conquest more frequently having such a Friend in Heaven we need not fear any on Earth nor Friend in Hell 3. He ascended on high for the pouring forth of the Graces of his Spirit that his People might also be prepared for that holy place not only that they be secured here but crowned above whence saith the Apostle Ephes 4.8 When he ascended on high he led Captivity captive and gave Gifts unto men It is an allusion to the Roman Custom that when the Conqueror rode in Triumph towards the Capitol or Palace he did not only draw the Prisoners at his Chariot-wheels but also scatter'd Money to the Spectators that saw him ride along in Triumph Why so Christ having by his Ascension spoiled Death and the Devil cast his Gifts unto Men dispenseth his Graces in a greater measure into the Hearts of his People He hath conquered his Enemies and now gives about his Favours to those that are his so that strength of Grace is the Fruit of Christ's Ascension and Acts 2.33 Being by the Right hand of God exalted he hath shed forth the Holy Ghost And therefore to comfort his Disciples at his departure shews them what they should get by the loss of his corporal Presence John 16.7 It is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter will not come to you But if I depart I will send him to you And 7 John 39. The Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Christ was not yet glorified Not that this Text or that other gives any countenance to that Socinian dotage That before Christ's Ascension there were no saving Gifts of the Spirit for that will suppose that before Christ was there none went to Heaven or that Holiness was not necessary to the seeing of God But the
Graces of God's Spirit were not given down in that full and abundant measure till after Christ's Ascension The Apostles had after Christ's Ascension as in the 2 Acts a greater measure of the Holy Ghost poured down into them they had been given to the People of old The Disciples living in the Enjoyment of Christ's corporal Presence were so hung upon that that they were less capable of his spiritual Presence and therefore Christ must be gone that way might be made for this Spiritual appearance an infinite comfort in this Age of great work and difficulties that God's People may now go with boldness to beg greater measures of Grace yea and expect them too for this was the end of Christ's Ascension That if Troubles grow and Work increase a Soul may now expect higher and more enlarged Graces Christ did ascend not only to give you Gifts to bring you to Heaven but to give you Ministers enriched with eminent Abilities to fit you for Heaven Eph. 4.10 which by the way may shew Men how ill they requite the LORD when they band themselves against him Your Graces and your Ministers were alike the Fruit of CHRIST's Ascension that oppose them is to resist the GRACE of GOD. 4. Christ ascended on high to make Intercession for his People My Brethren Christ got into Heaven not only to open a way for his People to pray but that he might himself pray for his People Heb. 9.24 He is entred into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us It was requisite that Christ should ascend into Heaven that as he executed the Office of a Priest by offering himself upon the Cross for us he might also do it by appearing before God in Heaven to make Intercession for us There is he now holding up his Blood his Wounds to the Father that poor Worms may be pardoned poor Souls saved poor Bodies raised and then both glorified 'T was such a Priest we wanted saith Paul Heb. 7.26 Such an High Priest became us who is holy made higher then the Heaven which by the way doth shew us the advantage which God's People have by Christ's absence more then they should by his Presence Christ could never have fulfilled the Office of his Priesthood by making Intercession for his People if he had not gone bodily into Heaven and therefore 't is said If he were on Earth he should not be a Priest Look on this now as an unspeakable comfort that our Saviour is now in Heaven bodily appearing before God making Suit and Intercession for his People that their Sins may be pardoned that their Prayers may be heard that their Souls may be saved that their Enemies may be disappointed this was typified under the Law in the 28 Exod. 9 10 11 12 29. Aaron the Jewish High Priest was to bear the Names of the Children of Israel in the Breast-Plate of Judgment upon his Heart when he went into the holy Place for a Memorial before the Lord continually and this Type was fulfilled in the Ascension of Christ as in Heb. 9.24 Christ is entred into Heaven to appear in the presence of God for us Thither he is gone with the Names of all his People not on his Breast but in his Heart to make Intercession for them to his Father The Comforts whereof may be gathered from the two principal Parts thereof 1. The Presentation and Tender of his own Blood to his Father which he shed for our Sins a Blood of so much worth and value as God himself cannot ask more for 't is the Blood of him that is his fellow that is as much as to say the value of it is infinite not infinite only by way of price but efficacy A Blood that dyes white that make Sins of a Crimson and a Scarlet-dye like Snow and Wool 2. A making request for us Thus did the High Priest who was a Type of Christ enter into the holy of holiest which was a Figure of Heaven not only with Blood but with Incense which did signifie his Prayers to his People that by both he might perform the Office of an Intercessor Levit. 16.12 What the High Priest did typically within the Vail Christ doth now really within Heaven And therefore he is said to enter in by his blood into the holy place Heb. 9.12 and not only so but with his incense too Revel 8.2 3. whereof it is said that much was given him that he should offer it with the Prayer of the Saints Now indeed his very Blood hath an interceding Voice and therefore it is called the Blood that speaketh Heb. 12.24 My Brethren all that is in Christ hath a Voice to beg his Peoples Pardon A happy People to have such an Advocate his Person prays his Office prays his Humiliation his Exaltation all have a Voice to beg mercy for a poor Sinner like Paul for Onesimus a Mediator for him and a Sponsor for him Philem. 9.10 A Mediator I beseech thee for Onesimus saith he and a Sponsor if he hath wronged thee or oweth thee any thing put it on mine account I will repay it Thus is Christ both a Mediator and Surety Hence he is called a Mediator of a better Covenant Heb. 8.6 And a surety of a better Testament Heb. 7.22 So that he doth not only pray for us but promise for us he doth not only beg for us but engage for us His Person that cries for Mercy The Nature that hath sinned suffered His Merits that cries for mercy The Debt which was due is satisfied His Will that cries for mercy Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am John 17.24 Thus is Christ a compleat Intercessor All in him intercedes and he intercedes for all in us For Sin to be pardoned for Sin to be purged for the Soul to be saved for the Person to be glorified hence come all our Mercies priviledges all our Hopes for 1. Hereby we come to be brought into a more familiar acquaintance with and enjoyment of God himself I pray for these saith Christ That as thou father art in me and I in thee they also may be one in us John 17.21 That God and his People are as one was the Purchase of his Blood but that they are fastened in the most uniting Bond of Love and Affection is the Fruit of Christ's Prayer 2. Hereby we come too to be furnished with all spiritual Graces for our spiritual Employments I will pray the father saith Christ and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of truth John 14.16 17. Every glance of God on thy Heart every motion of his Spirit in thy Soul every impression of Grace on thy Spirit is the Fruit of the Intercession of Christ 3. Hereby come all our Services to be sanctified The High Priest was to bear the Iniquity of the holy things of the Children of Israel Exod. 38.28 So doth Christ He