Ver,i i. the 17th Chapter of St. J O H N. z23 in goodly rich Robes, befprinkled with the Blood of his Enemies. 9. The 1a(t thing is his Welcome from God ; Pfal. 2. 8. I will give thee the Heathen fir thine Inheritance, &c. Pfal. r so.c. The Lord Paid unto my Lord, Sit thou at my Right- hand, until I make thine Enemies thy FootJlool ; compared with Mat. 22.44. In the day of his Inauguration God will fay, Welcome, Son, Sit at my Right -hand, all the King- doms of the Earth are thine. Chrift doth not only enter as a Conqueror, but as a Favourite; Son, thy Work is well done, fit at my `Right -hand i that is God's fiat Word to him : and then, Ask what thou wilt, it is thine. It is a fa(hion among great. Princes, when they would thew great Affe &ion, or extraordinary liking to any, they bid them ask what they would, as Herod to Herodias's Daughter ; Mat. 14. 6, 7. When Herod's Birth -day was kept, the Daughter of Herodias danced before. them, and pleated Herod : Whereupon he promifed with an Oath, to give her whatfoeverthe manld ask And A- ba/eerns to Eflher, Efth. 5. 3. What wilt thou, Kneen Either, and what is thy Regtre ? rt fhall be even given thee, to the half of the Kingdom. 2dly; The Reafons why. Chrift would not have gone, if it had not been expe- dient ; John 56.7. Neverthelefo, 1 tell you the Truth, it is expedient for you, that Igo away. A Woman had rather have her Husband live at home, than go to the Indies; but when the contdereth, that it is to do her good, to enrich the Family by Traflick, the yieldeth her Content, it is a profitable Voyage. So it is expedient that Chris Mould go to Heaven. In the Infancy of the Church Chrift was prefent as a Nurfe, but he would not have them always hang on the Tear. The Reafons of Chrifi's Afcen- ton are thefe r. He is gone, that we may look upon him as in a greater Capacity to do us good. All Weakncfs is now removed from him, his Human Nature glorified, and placed in Heaven, his Majefty reftored : we may now reffe& upon the Glory of his Perfon with Comfort, he is now a King on the Throne, a. King in his Palace, and place of Royal Refidente. David was King affoon as anointed by Samuel; but when he was crowned in Hebron, then did he a &wally adminifter the Kingdom.- Chrift had his Followers in the days of his Flab, as David had his four hundred Companions in the Defert. The Thief owned Chrift upon the Crofs, and.Cheift tells him, This day shalt thou be with me in Paradifi : Luke 23.43. What may we not expe& from Chrift, now in Heaven 1 every Office is royally exercifed 5 as a Prophet, he fendeth out his Spirit; as a King, he ruineth his Adverfaries; as a Prieft, he intercedeth with God. z. To prepare a Place for us ; John 14. 2. Igo to prepare a Place for you : It is good to confider how Chrift prepareth .Heaven for us by his Afcenfion. It was prepared before the World began, by the Dccwe of God the Father; Mat.25.34. Come ye bleed of my Father, inherit a Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World. This was an Inheritance intended for the Heirs of Promife ; by a free choice he de- figned the Perforas, and their particular Portion and Degree of Glory. But becaufe we are to hold Heaven, not only by Gift, but by Purchafe, Chrift came from Heaven to prepare it, and went to Heaven again to prepare ; yet further, to open the Door that was before flint up; as our Head, he went to feize upon it in our Right ; as our legal Head, he poIIeffeth Heaven in our Names; as a Guardian taketh up Lands for the Heir : Chrift holdeth Heaven in our Right ; till we be ready for it, he keepeth Poffeffion. And as our Myftical Head, and Author of Grace, he difpenfeth the Spirit, and maketh us fit for that place, making IntercefI-ion for us, that our Sins be no Impe- diment : He is called our Fore - runner, Heb.6.2o. Whither the Forerunner is for us en- tred, even 7efuo, made an High- Prieft for ever after the Order of Melchifedec : His going is to make way for us; as our Harbinger, to take up Rooms and Lodgings for us. As the Captain of our Salvation be hath taken up Quarters for himfelf, and all his Com- pany. Heb. 2. IO. It became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many Sons to Glory, to make the Captain of our Salvation perfect through Sufferings. Chrift hath opened Heaven-Door that was (hut up; there was a Guard fet upon Pa- radife, but Chrift bath removed.it. He is gone to fit all things for our Entertainment, as Jofeph was lent into Egypt to prepare for Jacob. Die when we will, our place is ready, there is nothing to keep us out. The Church is tolled with Waves, but Chrift is gone afhoar, and bath fecured for us a landing-Place : And his Afcenfion is a Pledg of ours, as he role as the firft Fruits of them that flept. It is the meritorious, exemplary, efficient Caufe of our Afcenfion. Qg g 2 3. To
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