Vera. the 17th Chapterof St. J O H N. 63, t. Foi our Comfort. (r.) Chrift's Glorification, is the Pledg and Earneft of ours. Had not he fired, and attended, and been received up into Glory, neither fhould we ; the Gates of Death had been barred upon us,. and the Gates of Heaven Phut againft us, and we fhould have been covered with eternal Shame and Ignominy. But now Chrift, like another Sampf n, hath broken through the Gates, and carried them Away with him ; our Head; i rífen, and we him ; we receive of his Fulnefs, Glory for Glory, as well as Grace for Grace. Nobis dedit arrhaboneai Spiritus, & it nobis recepit arrhabonevtCarnis. We. have Livery and Seifin of the Kingdom of Heaven already. in Chrift. We are afcended with him "; Ephef. 2.6. And hath raifed cis up together, and made Ns fit together in Hea ven (Places in ChrJ1 yefus, In Contéa &s, Pledges are ufually taken and given : Our Head is crowned, and (hall not the Members ? The Humane Nature is already placed in the highest Seat of Glory. (2.) It is a fign God hath received Satisfa &ion. The Lord lent an Angel to remove the Stone, not to fupply any Power in Chrift; But as a Judg, when he is fatisfied, fends an Officer to open the Prifon Doors : Our Surety is delivered out of Prifon with Glory and Honour, God bath taken him up to himfelE What is done to our Surety, concerneth us : Chrift hath perfe.ly done his Work, there is no moré to be done by way of Satisfa &ion God was well - pleafed with him, or elfe. he had not been at his tight Hand. Certainly all the Work of his Mediation was not accomplished on Earth; he is now in Exaltation, performing thofe other Offices that remain to be fulfilled by him in Heaven. (3.) Hence we have Confidence in his Ability to do his People Good. .He is now reftored to the full Life and,Exercife of the Godhead 9 he can give the Spirit, and per- form all the Legacies of the Covenant. There were many repaired to Chrift in the days of his Flesh, when he was under Poverty, Croules, Death;. the Thief .on the Crofs Paid, Lord, remember me when thou comeft into thy Kingdom : What (hall we not expe& now he is entred into Glory ? Faithful Servants follow their Prince in Banifh- ment, but -they have greater Encouragement, when he is on the Throne. Thofe that adhered to David in the Defert, might look for much from him crowned at Hebron. A&s2. 33. Therefore.being by the right Hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the `Promife of the Holy Ghofi, he hash fbed forth this which ye now fee and hear. Not that then only he was endowed with 'the Gifts of the Spirit for whilut he was on Earth, he was filled-with the Spirit without meafurt{; but then tie received the Ac- complifhment of the Promife, of pouring out tjie Spirit upon us; for by Promife is meant, the-Accomplifhmentof the Promife, for the Promife was long before. Luke 24. 49. And behold, I find the Promife of my Father upon you ; but tarry ye in the City of Jerufaletn, till ye be endued with Power from-on Hither Ads s. 4. And being offer's- bled together with them, commanded them that they pad not depart from Jerufalem, but }gait for the'Promife of the Father. When he came to Heaven, he received the fulfilling Of this Promife; for God did not bring Chrift into Heaven, as we `ate brought into Heaven, merely to reft'from Labour, and to enjoy the' Reward of Glory ; but that he might fit in the Throne of Majefty and Authority, to have Power to fend the Spirit, and gather the Church, and condemn the World, and to apply tó all -the Elect` tfie Privileges that he had purchafed for them. There areEfe &s of Chrift Crucified,' and there are Hefts of Chrift Railed and Exalted: Pfal.68.18. Thou haf, afcended on High, thou haft led Captivity captive, thou haft received Gifts for Men 'i yea, fòr the Rebellious al- fo, that the Lord God might dwell among-them. He gave Gifts when he afcended, as Kings do at their Coronation. The Humiliation of Chrift hath its Eft &s, in fulfilling the Curies of ,the Law, pacifying God's Wrath and J'uftice, the annihilation of the Right which the Devil. had in Eleb Sinners, purchafing a right of -renuning to God, and enjoying the Grace of Eternal Life. The Exaltation of Chrift hath Effe &s; viz. the Application of this Righteoufnefs, and to poffefs us of this Right. When Chrift was dead, it was lawfut for thofe for whom he died; to return 'to God, and en- joy his Grace ;: but it was not pofrtb'le, for they were dead in Sins i Therefore God 'tai- fed up Chrift, and gave him Authority to pour out the Holy Ghoft, that we fhould Peek in Grace, not only the force of Satisfa &ion, but of Regeneration .5' that the effeét of his Abatement, this of his Advancement. 'What a Comfort is this, that Chrift would not only die for us, but rife again, and pour out his Spirits that his Blood might not be without Profit! (4.) Here
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