creation. They now saw their Creator and their God, who had so long veiled himself in human flesh, ascending to his bright abodes, to display his glory in a light infinitely surpassing all that they had ever seen before. What must his redeemed people also have felt the very instant that he entered the portals of heaven? with what rapture and ecstasies must they have been filled! But our imagination cannot grasp the thought. We must be in heaven ourselves before we can form the smallest idea of their felicity. Suffice it then to say with the angelic messengers, that, as he ascended up into heaven, so will he speedily come again from heaven; and that in the meantime, instead of gazing with unprofitable curiosity, we must look for his blessings, and devote ourselves to his service.]

2. Triumphant

[In his death he seemed vanquished; but in reality he overcame; and in his ascension he led captive all his enemies and ours. Sin had diffused its poison through all the descendants of Adam, and had infected all their powers both of body and soul. But Christ, having expiated its guilt, now rescued many vassals from its power. Satan, the god of this world, who had hitherto usurped dominion, and led men captive at his will, now "fell from heaven like lightning;" and his throne, shaken to its foundations, was demolished. Death also, that had reigned over all, now was vanquished in its turn; for Jesus "burst its bands:" "By death, he destroyed death, and him that had the power of death, that is, the devil" and now, as a mighty conqueror, that had spoiled principalities and powers, he triumphed over them openly," and led them captive at his chariot wheels.]

From contemplating the manner of his ascension, let us proceed to consider

II. The ends of it

There were some ends that respected Christ himself, namely, that he might receive his reward, and carry on his work within the vail: but we must confine ourselves to those which respect the church.

1. The immediate end

[As Jesus died, so he rose and ascended in a public capacity, as our mediator with God. He had purchased blessings for us; and he now went to receive them at his Father's

He was

Father's hands, that he might impart them to us. henceforth to have all fulness treasured up in himself, that we might receive out of it according to our necessities. He ascended, "that he might fill all things," and "impart repentance and remission of sins," together with all the gifts and graces of his Spirit, to his chosen people. That this was the immediate end of his ascension, appears not only from his own predictions respecting it, but from the express declaration of the apostles on the descent of the Holy Ghost". Yet it was not for those only who were waiting for redemption, but even "for the rebellious also," that he received gifts; as he abundantly testified in the conversion of his murderers; and as he is ready to testify in the conversion of us also.]

2. The remote end

[It was the privilege of the Jewish church to have the symbols of God's presence in their temple. But it is our privilege to have God himself both with us, and in us. He will make our hearts his habitation; he will dwell in us, and cause his glory to fill our souls. This was a further end of Christ's ascension, as he himself tells us: "I will pray the Father for you; and he will send you another comforter, that he may abide with you for ever." Even the most rebellious heart, that has defied the Majesty of heaven, and despised hitherto all overtures of mercy, may yet be encouraged to look up to him; and the soul that has been filled with all iniquity may yet become the temple of the living God. Other conquerors, in the day of their triumph, have scattered largesses among their admiring followers; but this greatest of all gifts will Jesus bestow on his most inveterate enemies: let them only relent, and call upon his name, and he will give give them all the riches both of grace and glory.]

IMPROVEMENT

1. Let none despair of mercy

[We might have well supposed, that the ascension of Jesus would rather have been for the inflicting of judgments on his enemies yet, behold, it was for the express purpose of exercising mercy. Let us not proudly deny that we are rebels; but, humbling ourselves before him as the chief of sinners, let us desire him to display the exceeding riches of his grace in his mercy towards us.]

2. Let none despair of victory

[Conflicts we must have, as long as we continue in the body; but in the very midst of them we may say, "Thanks

be

John xvi. 7.

h Acts ii. 23.

i John xiv. 16, 17.

"It

be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Does sin harass and defile us? Christ says, shall never have dominion over us." Does Satan seek to deceive or devour us? His head was bruised by Christ, and "he shall soon be bruised under our feet." Does death alarm us? Its sting is drawn; it is "swallowed up in victory;" it is among our richest treasures Let us view Christ leading them all captive in his ascension; and know that, through him, we also shall be more than conquerors.]

k

Ps. xlvii. 5-7. God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.

a

IF we read the Psalms of David without any reference to Christ, we shall have a very imperfect view of their import but if we consider them as containing many prophetical declarations, we shall find in them a rich mine of evangelical knowledge-The Psalm before us is supposed to have been written by David, when he carried up the ark from the house of Obed-edom to mount Sion *; and to represent, by that typical event, the ascension of Christ to heaven: and, as that event was celebrated with all possible demonstrations of joy, so we are here exhorted to burst forth in joyful acclamations on account of the exaltation of Christ to his throne in glory-We shall consider

I. The event predicted

Christ is here spoken of in most exalted terms

[In many of the Psalms Christ is called by names confessedly belonging to the Deity, and never communicated to any creature-In the Epistle to the Hebrews that address of the Psalmist," Thy throne, O GOD, is for ever and ever," is expressly applied to Christ-And, in the passage before us,

2 2 Sam. vi. 15.

Ps. xlv. 6. with Heb. i. 8.

the

the same adorable person is thrice called GoD, yea, JEHOVAH also, and "the King of all the earth"-We surely cannot but consider it as a strong confirmation of our faith, when we see this fundamental doctrine of our religion not confined to the. apostolic writings, but pervading the scriptures which were given to the church a thousand years before Christ came into the world-]

His ascension also to heaven is described in glowing colours

[Christ is here considered as a mighty conqueror, triumphing over all his enemies, while he is surrounded by myriads of the heavenly host, and welcomed to the bright abodes which, for our sakes, he had condescended to leave--As the inhabitants of the invisible world are represented by the prophet as coming forth to insult the once terrible but now fallen king of Babylon, so we may conceive all the hosts of heaven stirring up each other to meet their once suffering, but now exalted Lord; and to congratulate him on the victories which he had gained over all the enemies of God and man

Like the women who came out of all the cities of Israel with musical instruments to celebrate David's victory over Goliath, so doubtless the holy angels vied with each other on this occasion, striking their golden harps, and rending heaven itself with their acclamations and hosannas--]

The more we contemplate this glorious subject, the more readily shall we comply with

II. The exhortation grounded upon it

Every thing relating to Christ calls for our most ardent praise; but especially the event to which the text refers

[If we considered it in no other view than as a recompense to Christ, we ought surely to be glad; we should be thankful to God on his account, even though no benefit accrued from it to ourselves-But when we consider that they, over whom he has triumphed, were our enemies, that he has ascended, not as a private person, but as our forerunner, yea, as our head and representative, and that the royal authority, of which he is now possessed, is exercised for us, we ought to rejoice in him with joy unspeakable-It is that event which is the foundation of all our hopes, and which, even more than his death, affords us an assured expectation of final success -]

e

On this account we are exhorted to sing praise to God [Who can hear these reiterated calls to praise God, and not feel it incumbent on him to engage in this sacred duty?

We

© Isai. xiv. 9—12, 16—20. ₫ 1 Sam. xviii, 6, 7. Rom. viii. 34

We should praise him with frequency no less than five times in the short space of the text is the exhortation repeated: and does not this intimate that we should be continually joyful in our king? Should we not say with David, "Seven times a day will I praise thee?"-Nor is it in a dull and formal manner that we should perform this duty, but with fervour. Our whole hearts should be engaged in it: the praises of our God and Saviour should be, as it were, the natural language of our souls: praise should be the very element in which we liveOur constant acclamations should be, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name "-Nevertheless it is not a mere enthusiastic fervour that we should encourage, but a wise and temperate, an humble and holy devotion; we should praise him" with understanding :" for as a sacrifice, without fervour, is lame; so, without understanding, it is blind; and we must never offer the lame or blind for sacrifice —]

APPLICATION

[What reason have we all to be ashamed that we are so backward to this holy exercise!-Though we know, in profession at least, how greatly we are interested in the ascension of Christ, how little have we rejoiced in it! Yea, even on the day appointed for the commemoration of it, how little are our hearts affected as they ought to be!-Let us chide our dull souls, and begin without delay this blessed work-Let us know assuredly, that, if we have no heart for this delightful employment, we are far from being fit for heaven, where this subject will be the theme of our contemplation and praise for evermore-If indeed we have begun to praise him, then let us abound more and more; for, the more we are engaged in singing the praises of our Redeemer here, the more we shall be prepared to join the general chorus of the saints above-]

f Mal. i. 8.

CCII. Isai. xlv. 23-25. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. In the Lord shalt all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

CHRIST VICTORIOUS OVER ALL HIS ENEMIES.

TO those who know the infinite importance of the doctrine of the divinity of Christ, it is delightful to see

the