Owen - BX9315 O81

132 THE EXALTATION OF CHRIST; discern the glory of spiritual things; notwithstanding same, and at once accomplished. But as unto the end^ which, some then in the light of faith sawhis glory, as the glory of the only begotten of the. Father, full of grace and truth: so now the vail is removed, and the darkness wholly taken away from the minds ofthe saints ; he is us theglory of his graces altogether lovelyand de- sirable. And although the grace which is in believers, be of the samenature with that which is in Christ Jesus, and shall be changed into glory, after the likeness of his, yet is it, and always shall be incomprehensibly short of what dwells in him. And herein also doth his glory gradually excel that of all other creatures whatever. But we must here draw a veil over what yet remains. For it doth not yet appear what we ourselvesshall be. Much less is it evident what are, and what will be the glories of the Head above all the members: even then when we shall be made like unto him. But it must be remembered, that whereas at the entrance of this dis- course, we so proposed the consideration of the present state of the Lord Christ in heaven, as that which should have an end at the consummation of all things: what bath been spoken concerning the glory of his human nature in itself, is not of that kind, but what abideth unto eternity. All the things mentioned abide in him and unto him for evermore. The second thing to be considered in the present state and condition of Christ, is his mediatory exaltation. And two things with respect thereunto may be inquired into. (I.) Theway ofhis entrance into that state above. (2.) The state itself; with the glory of it. First, The way ofhis entrance into the exercise ofhis mediatory office in heaven, is expressed, 1 Tim. iii. 16. " He was received into glory, or rather gloriously. And he" entered into glory," Luke xxiv.26. This assump- tion and entrance into glory was upon his ascension de- scribed, Acts i. 9, 11. he was taken up into heaven, onosgSn i. 84,,, by an act of divine power; and he went into heaven, sr/sd,, s: ólgnr, in his own choice and will, as that which he was exalted unto. And this ascension of Christ in his human nature into heaven, is a funda- mental article of the faith of the church. And it falls under a double consideration. (1.) As it was triumphant, as he was a king. (2.) As it was gracious, as he was spriest. His as- cension as unto change of place, from earth to heaven, and as unto the outward manner of it, was one and the ofit, which is the exercise of all his offices, it had va- rious respects, various prefigurations, and is distinctly proposed unto us, with reference unto them. 1st, In his ascension as it was triumphant, three things . may beconsidered. (1.) Themariner ofit, with its representation of old. (2.) Theplace whereinto he ascended. (S.) The end of it, or what was the work which he had to do thereon. 1. As unto the mariner of it, it was openly trium- phant andglorious. So is it described, Eph. iv. 8. He " ascended up on high; he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto. men." And respect is had unto the pre- figuration of it, at the giving of the law, Psal. lxviii. 17, 18. where the glory of it is more fully expressed. " The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thou- sands of angels: the Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the holy place. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive," &c. The most glorious ap- pearance of God upon the earth under the Old Testa- ment, was that on mount Sinai, in the givingof the law. And as his presence was there attended with all his glo- rious angels; so when upon the finishing of that work he returned or ascended into heaven, it was in the way of a triumph with all that royal attendance. And this prefigured the ascent of Christ into heaven upon his fulfilling of the law, all that was required in it, or sig- nified by it. He ascended triumphantly after he had given the law, as a figure of his triumphant ascent after he had fulfilled it. Having then "spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumph- ing over them," Col. ii. 15. So he led captivity cap- tive, or all the adverse powers of the salvation of the church in triumph at his chariot -wheels. I deny not, but that his leading captivity captive, principally respects his spiritual conquest over Satan, and the destruction of his power. Yet, whereas he is also said to " spoil principalities and powers, making a chew of them open- ly," and triumphing over them, I no way doubt, but Satan the head of the apostacy, and the chiefprinces of darkness were led openly in sight ofall the holy angels, as conquered captives. The seed of the woman having now broken the head of the serpent. This is that which is so emphatically expressed, Psal. xlvii. throughout. The ground and cause of all the triumphant rejoicing-of

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