Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

God,' Rev. iii. 21. On the right hand of the majesty on high,' he sits down in the full possession and exercise of all power and authority. This is the palace of this king of saints and nations. There is his royal eternal throne; Heb. i. 8. " And many crowns are on his head,' Rev. xix. 12. or all dignity and honour. And he who, in a pretended imitation of him, wears a triple crown, hath upon his own head thereby, the name of blasphemy;' Rev. xiii. 1. There are before him his 'sceptre of righteousness,' his rod of iron,'all the regalia of his glorious kingdom. For by these emblems of power doth the Scripture represent unto us his sovereign. divine authority in the execution of his kingly office. Thus he ascended triumphantly, having conquered his enemies; thus he reigneth gloriously over all.

[ocr errors]

3dly. The end for which he thus triumphantly ascended into heaven, is twofold.

(1st.) The overturning and destruction of all his enemies in all their remaining powers. He rules them 'with a rod of iron,' and in his due time will 'dash them in pieces as a potter's vessel;' Psal. ii. 9. For he must reign until all his enemies are made his footstool;' 1 Cor. xv. 25, 26. Psal. cx. 1. Although at present, for the most part, they despise his authority, yet they are all absolutely in his power, and shall fall under his eternal displeasure.

(2dly.) The preservation, continuation, and rule of his church, both as unto the internal state of the souls of them that believe, and the external order of the church in its worship and obedience, and its preservation under, and from all, oppositions and persecutions in this world. There is in each of these such a continual exercise of divine wisdom, power, and care, the effects of them are so great and marvellous, and the fruits of them so abundant unto the glory of God, that the world would not contain the books that might be written' of them; but to handle them distinctly is not our present design.

[2] His ascension may be considered as gracious; as the ascent of a high priest. And herein the things beforementioned are of a distinct consideration.

1st. As to the manner of it, and the design of it, he gives an account of them himself; John xx. 17. His design herein was not the taking on him the exercise of his power, kingdom,

[ocr errors]

and glorious rule; but the acting with God on the behalf of his disciples. I go,' saith he, to my Father, and to your Father, to my God, and to your God;' not his God and Father with respect unto eternal generation, but as he was their God and Father also. And he was so, as he was their God and Father in the same covenant with himself; wherein he was to procure of God all good things for them. Through the blood of this everlasting covenant, namely, his own blood, whereby this covenant was established, and all the good things of it secured unto the church, he was brought again from the dead,' that he might live ever to communicate them unto the church; Heb. xiii. 20, 21. With this design in his ascension, and the effects of it, did he often comfort and refresh the hearts of his disciples, when they were ready to faint on the apprehensions of his leaving of them here below; John xiv. 1, 2. xvi. 5-7. And this was typified by the ascent of the high priest, unto the temple of old. The temple was situated on a hill, high and steep, so as that there was no approach unto it but by stairs. Hence in their wars it was looked on as a most impregnable fortress. And the solemn ascent of the high-priest into it on the day of expiation, had a resemblance of this ascent of Christ into heaven. For after he had offered the sacrifices in the outward court, and made atonement for sin, he entered into the most holy place, a type of heaven itself, as the apostle declares, Heb. ix. 24. of heaven, as it was the place whereinto our high priest was to enter. And it was a joyful ascent, though not triumphant. All the Psalms, from the 120th to the 134th, inclusively, whose titles are mbyon, 'songs of degrees,' or rather ascents or risings, being generally songs of praise and exhortations to have respect unto the sanctuary, were sung to God at the resting places of that ascent, especially was this represented on the day of jubilee. The proclamation of the jubilee was on the same day that the high priest entered into the holy place; and at the same time; namely, on the tenth day of the seventh month;' Levit. xvi. 29. xxv. 9. Then did the trumpet sound throughout the land, the whole church; and liberty was proclaimed unto all servants, captives, and such as had sold their possessions; that they might return unto them. again. This being a great type of the spiritual deliverance

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

of the church, the noise of the trumpet was called the joyful sound, Psal. lxxxix. 15. Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound, they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.' Those who are made partakers of spiritual deliverance, shall walk before God in a sense of his love and grace. This is the ascent of our high priest into his sanctuary, when he proclaimed the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified ;' Isa. lxi. 2, 3. For in this ascension of Christ, proclamation was made in the gospel, of mercy, pardon, peace, joy, and everlasting refreshments, unto all that were distressed by sin, with a communication of righteousness unto them, to the eternal glory of God. Such was the entrance of our high priest into heaven, with acclamations of joy and praise unto God.

2dly. The place whereinto he thus entered was the sanctuary above, the tabernacle not made with hands;' Heb. viii. 2. It was into heaven itself, not absolutely, but as it is the temple of God, as the throne of grace and mercyseat are in it, which must farther be spoken unto immediately.

3dly. The end why the Lord Christ thus ascended, and thus entered into the holy place, was 'to appear in the presence of God for us,' and to make intercession for all that come unto God by him;' Heb. vii. 26, 27. ix. 24. 25.

He ascended triumphantly into heaven, as Solomon ascended into his glorious throne of judgment; described 1 Kings x. 18-20. As David was the type of his conquest over all the enemies of his church, so was Solomon of his glorious reign. The types were multiplied because of their imperfection. Then came unto him the queen of Sheba, the type of the Gentile converts and the church. When

ny, the voluntaries of the people' (those made willing in the day of his power, Psal. cx. 3.) 'gathered themselves to the people of the God of Abraham,' and were taken in his covenant; Psal. xlvii. 9. But he ascended graciously, as the high-priest went into the holy place. Not to rule all

[ocr errors]

things gloriously with mighty power, not to use his 'sword and his sceptre,' but to appear as an high priest' in a 'garment down to the foot, and a golden girdle about his paps,' Rev. i. 13. as in a tabernacle, or temple, before a throne of grace. His sitting down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, adds to the glory of his priestly office, but belongs not unto the execution of it. So it was prophesied of him, that he should be a priest on his throne;' Zech. vi. 13.

[ocr errors]

It may be added hereunto, than when he thus left this world and ascended into glory, the great promise he made unto his disciples, as they were to be preachers of the gospel, and in them unto all that should succeed them in that office, was, that he would 'send the Holy Spirit unto them,' to teach and guide them, to lead them into all truth, to declare unto them the mysteries of the will, grace, and love of God, for the use of the whole church. This he promised to do, and did, in the discharge of his prophetical office. And although his giving gifts unto men' was an act of his kingly power, yet it was for the end of his prophetical office.

From what hath been spoken, it is evident that the Lord Christ' ascended into heaven,' or was received up into glory, with this design, namely, to exercise his office of mediation in the behalf of the church, until the end should be. As this was his grace, that when he was rich, for our sakes he became poor; so when he was made rich again for his own sake, he lays forth all the riches of his glory and power on our behalf.

2. The glory of the state and condition whereinto Christ thus entered, is the next thing to be considered. For he is set down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. And as his ascension with the ends of it were twofold, or of a double consideration, so was his glory that ensued thereon. For his present mediatory state consists either in the glory of his power and authority; or in the glory of his love and grace; his glory as a king, or his glory as a priest. For the first of these, or his royal glory, in sovereign power and authority over the whole creation of God, all in heaven and earth, persons and things, angels and men, good and bad, alive and dead, all things spiritual and eternal, grace, gifts, and glory; his right and power, or ability, to dispose of all things according unto his will and pleasure I have so fully

[blocks in formation]

of the church, the noise of the trumpe ful sound, Psal. lxxxix. 15.

know the joyful sound, the-
of thy countenance
spiritual deliveranc

love and grace.
his sanctuary, w
the Lord, and
all that mour

to give ther
the garme
might be
Lord, th

ascens

of m

unt

of

S

Bl

1. 3.

DECLARATION OF THE MYSTARY

[ocr errors]

CHAP. XX

as

present glory, Priest, will be

The exercise of the mediatory office of Christ in heaven.

tion, in our inquiry into the present state and condition of THE third and last thing which we proposed unto considerathe person of Christ in heaven, is the exercise and discharge of his mediatory office in behalf of the church; especially as true tabernacle, which God hath fixed and not man.'

he continueth to be a

minister of the sanctuary, and of the

All Christians acknowledge that his present state is a creation of God, above every name that is or can be named; state of the highest glory, of exaltation above the whole and hereon they esteem their own honour and safety to depend. Neither do they doubt of his power, but take it for granted that he can do whatever he pleaseth, which is the

ground

power,

mere

of their placing all their confidence in him. But we must shew, moreover, that his present state is a state of office work, and duty. He leads not in heaven a life of glory, majesty, and blessedness, but a life of office, love, and care also. He lives as the mediator of the church, as the king, priest, and prophet thereof. Hereon do our present safety, and our future eternal salvation depend. Without the continual actings of the office, power, and care of Christ, the church could not be preserved one moment. And the darkness of our faith herein, is the cause of all our disconsolations, and most of our weaknesses in obedience. Most men have only general and confused notions and apprehensions of the present state of Christ with respect unto the church. And by some, all considerations of this nature are despised and derided. But revealed things belong unto us; especially such as are of so great importance unto the glory of God, and the saving of our own souls; such as this

« AnteriorContinua »