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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
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
that Work that would bring poor Souls to Glory And can any after this doubt of God's Love 2. He must ascend that he might manifest to all the World that he was God as well as Man his Divinity must have lain under a Cloud and Suspicion had he not been thus in a Cloud taken up into Heaven Christ had told his Hearers of many things which were too sublime and high for their understandings that were got but little above the pitch of Nature to assent to And therefore that by the Dignity of his Person he might win a full assent of Faith to his Words he makes it manifest that he came down from the Father and how Why by this in that he was to ascend to the Father again as you may see John 3.12 13. How shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things No Man hath ascended up into Heaven but he that came down from Heaven even the Son of Man which is in Heaven As if he had said ye cannot believe his Words till his Godhead is proved by his Ascension And you find Paul to make use of his Ascension as an Argument to prove his Godhead by 4 Eph. 9 10. Now that he ascended what is it but that he descended first into the lower parts of the Earth He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things His going up to Heaven is there made by Paul an Argument that he came down from Heaven That is that he was God 3. He must to Heaven again that there might be a full Requital and Recompence made him for all those Sufferings and Sorrows and Dishonours which he met with in the Body It may astonish Nature to consider what he suffered and from whom Now what kept him up in his Sufferings but the assurance he had of his Reward How did he bear what he did on Earth but by considering what he should be in Heaven This is the Argument that Paul makes use of to prove his Glory by 2 Phil. 8.9 Being found in fashion as a Man he humbled himself and became obedient unto Death even the death of the Cross wherefore saith he God also hath highly exalted him c. Quia Christus propter nos in nostrâ carne ultrò sese humiliavit Deus ea proptus nos in carne nostrâ etiam in sammam exhilit sublimitatem Because Christ of himself for us humbled himself in our Flesh Therefore did God for us advance him to the greatest Glory in the Flesh The Top and Perfection of Glory must be the reward of his Submission to carry on God's Purposes 110 Psalm 7. He shall drink of the brook in the way therefore shall he lift up the head He should drink of that Cup which God should put into his Hands embittered with the Wrath of God and Rage of Men. And then should he lift up his Head yea and there he should lift up his Head he should be advanced above the Grave by his Resurrection above the World by his Ascension and above all aspectable Heavens by sitting down at the Right-hand of God When Christ had been at Bethany the House of the Poor then should he come to Bethel the House of God His Cross must be his way to his Crown he must wear the Crown of Thorns before he could put on the Crown of Glory We see Jesus saith the Apostle For the Sufferings of Death crowned with Glory Heb. 2.9 4. That he might make it appear that his Kingdom was not of this World His Disciples no sooner saw him delivered from the Bonds of Death but their thoughts were presently on a fifth Monarchy a Temporal Kingdom They began to grow Millenaries dream of a Personal Reign which Christ himself should exercise over Israel and deliver them from the Bondage of the Roman Yoke under which they then groaned as appears from 1 Acts 6. When they therefore were come together that is his Disciples They asked of him saying Lord wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel And this was the Epidemical disease of the Jews at that time they were so sensible of their temporal Bondage and it made them so impatient that they thought it must be the Work of him that was the true Messias by making himself King to set them at liberty and this and little else made them look after a Messiah and this fond Conceit because they understood not wherein Christ's Kingdom did consist made Christ a Stumbling-block and Rock of Offence unto them that they could not believe in him Now Christ's Disciples living amongst them began to be tainted with the same Opinion That Christ by a personal Exercise of Sovereignty came to restore the temporal Power and Kingdom to the Jews Now that they might not be so taken with Christ's bodily Presence as to forget his Spiritual Rule and Scepter He withdraws that from them by his Ascension and promises a more effusion of his Spirit upon them whereby their carnal Blindness might be taken off and they guided in the way of all Truth And thus much Paul's Words import 2 Cor. 5.16 Though we have known Christ after the Flesh yet now henceforth know we him no more As if he had said All carnal Knowledge of Christ in respect of personal appearance must now be laid aside he is ascended on high We must now labour to know him in a Spiritual way so to know him as to believe in him to submit to him To look for Grace by him and Heaven with him These Reasons I shall only give as respecting Christ himself There may be others drawn from that Eye which Christ had to the Advancement and Comfort of his People But I shall wave them here and propose them in another place as the blessed Consequences and Effects of his the glorious Ascension of Christ And now shall according to promise proceed unto Application and thereby improve it three ways to Information to Comfort to Counsel 1. Is it so that Christ is locally ascended into the highest Heavens first Use for Information and that in sundry Particulars Vse 1. Then may we here see the Vanity of that Popish Transubstantiation That real or rather Corporal presence of Christ in the Sacrament which they with so much fury maintain A carnal and corporal Presence For we deny not a real Presence in a Spiritual sence For Christ is really present in the Sacrament though not corporally and it were no way improper to call it a sensless Opinion since they must deny the Office of all the Senses that all Men have in the World to maintain it And though the Senses at the time of Administration are all at a loss in respect of finding any thing which may be a Confirmation to their Opinion yet will they not endure a Spiritual Understanding of it They place it under a miraculous Power and yet no change found by any Sense whereas Christ never did Miracle but
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
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
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