:

2. Of Angels, who were fent to affure them he was got to Heaven, Acts i. 10, 11.

Ὅτι 5 εἰς ὃ ἐρανὸν ἀναλαμβάνεται αυτοὶ λοιπὸν εδί φασκον οἱ ἄγγελοι. Chryfoft.

3. Of Chrift himself, John xx. 17. Therefore when he faith that the Son of Man was in Heaven before, John iii. 13. that is meant only of the Affumption of the humane Nature to the divine Perfon, whereby it might be faid to be in Heaven, because the divine Perfon was there.

III. Concerning the Afcenfion, we may obferve the Time, Place, and Ends.

1. The Time: Forty Days after his Refurrection, Acts i. 3. which Time he continued upon Earth,

1. To convince his Difciples of the Truth
of his Refurrection, by his frequent ap-
pearing to them, and converfing with them,
Luke xxiv. 30, 39, 41, 42. Acts x. 41.
2. To manifeft the great Glory his Body
was now endowed with, John xx. 26. Luke
xxiv. 31. Phil. iii. 21.

3. To inform their Judgments, Acts į. 3. Luke
xxiv. 29.

4. To ordain his Apoftles, John xx. 21, 22.
5. To give them their Commiffion, Matt
xxviii. 19, 20. Mark xvi. 15.

2. The Place. He afcended into Heaven.
1. He left this World, John xvi. 28.

2. He went to fome other determinate Place,
John xiv. 3.

3. This Place was upwards, above this World, Acts i. 9.

4. This fuperior Place whither our Saviour went, was Heaven, Mark xvi. 19. Luke xxiv. 51. Heb. ix. 24.

5. The Heaven whither our Saviour went, is the Heaven of Heavens. He paffed through the lower Heavens, εληλυθότα τις regrès, Heb. iv, 14. Eph. iv, 10. Heb. vii. 26, 2 Cor. xii. 2.

3. Wherefore did he afcend thither?

1. To feal and confirm the Redemption he had purchased for us; as the High Prieft, when he had offered Sacrifices with the Blood, he entered into the Holy Place, Lev. xvi. 14: Heb. ix. 12.

2. To fend down the Spirit upon his Apoftles, and all Believers, John xvi. 7. Luke xxiv, 49. Acts i. 8. cap. xxi. Epb. iv. 8.

3. To prepare a Place for us, John xiv. 2.

US E.

This fhould teach us,

1. To believe firmly on our bleffed Saviour, as the Chrift in whom all the Types and Prophecies were fulfilled, John xx. 29.

2. To truft ftedfaftly on him for his bringing us to Heaven, Heb. vi. 19, 20. John xiv. 2, 3. 3. To follow our bleffed Saviour into Heaven with our Hearts and Affections, Phil. iii, 20, 2 Reg. i 2, 11, 12.

I PET. iii. 22.

And is on the Right Hand of God.

HE Meffiah was to fit at the Right Hand of God. This was forefhewed,

1. In Type, Gen. xli. 40, 41, 42.

2. In Prophecy, Pfal. cx. 1. Matt. xxii. 44. Acts ii. 34, 35, 36.

H. It is plain, that our Saviour did and doth fo, Mark xvi. 19. Rom. viii. 34.

To underftand this, we muft confider,

1. What are we to understand by the Right Hand of God?

1. Negatively. Not as if God had properly any Hands.

2. Pofitively. It denotes,

1. His Power: For the Hand is that Member whereby we work, Matt. xxvi. 64. 2. The Right Hand denotes Honour and Glory, Reg. ii. 19. Heb. i. 3. cap. viii. 1. Perfecto Opere ad Cælos Victor adveniens, audit a Deo Patre, fede ad Dextram meam. Max. Taurin. 3. It fignifies Happiness and eternal Felicity, Pfal. xvi. 11.

Quid eft Patris Dextera, nifi illa æterna, ineffabilifque Felicitas quo pervenit Filius Hominis, etiam Carnis Immortalitate percepta. Aug.

2. How are we to apprehend Christ as now at the Right Hand of God?

1. He is fometimes faid in general only to be there, 1 Pet. iii. 22. Rom. viii. 34.

2. Some

2. Sometimes to stand there, Acts vii. 56. Sedere Judicantis eft, ftare vero Pugnantis & Adjuvantis. Greg. M.

3. Moft commonly to fit there; which fignifies not any bodily Pofture, but,

1. His Dwelling, in Heaven, au Sedere intelligite babitáre. Aug.

2. His Quiet and Freedom from all Difturbance.

3. His Dominion and Sovereignty, Pfal. cx. I. I Cor. XV. 25.

Ipfum Verbum federe Regni fignificat Poteftatem.

Hieron.

4. His Power of judging, Prov. xx. 8.
3. What is he now doing there?

1. He exercifeth his Prieftly Office, by ma
king Interceffion for us, Heb. vii. 24.
3. Chrift's Priestly Office began upon Earth,
when he offered up himself as a Sacrifice
for us, Heb. x. 12. cap. ix. 26. Eph. v. 2.
1 Tim. ji. 6. Matt. xx. 28.

2. As the High Prieft was to go once a Year
into the Holy of Holies to make Atone-
ment for the People, Lev. xvi. 12, 13, 14,
33, 34.

So Chrift, when he had offered up himself, went into Heaven as it was with his own Blood, Heb. ix. 12, 24.

J

1. To make Atonement and Interceffion. to God for the Pardon of our Sins by Vertue of his Blood, 1 John ii. 1,2. Romans iv. 25.

2. To fend down his Spirit upon us to cleanse us from all Sin, John xvi. 7. Heb. ix. 13, 14. and to lead us into all Truth, John xvi. 13.

3. To take Care that all neceffary Means of Salvation be afforded to those who believe, and to make them effectual, Eph. iv. 8, 11, 12.

4. To offer up our Prayers to God with the Incense of his own Merits, Rev. viii. 3, 4, Lev. xvi. 12, 13.

USE.

1. This fhould encourage us to pray, Heb. x. 19, 20, 22. cap. iv. 14, 16.

2. This fhould teach us in all our Prayers to act by Faith on Chrift, as in Heaven interceding for us, John xvi. 23, 24. Mark xi. 24.

3. Hence we fhould put our whole Truft on Christ, and him alone, for our Salvation, Heb. yii. 25. Rom. viii. 34.