134 THE EXALTATION OF CHRIST, cg'C: songs of praise and exhortation, to have respect unto f conquest over all the enemies of his church, so was So- lomon of his glorious reign. The types were multipli- ed because of their imperfection. Then came unto him the queen of Sheba, the type of the Gentile converts and the church. When n'sv'rp, thevoluntaries ofthe people, (those made willing in the day of his power, Psal. ex. 3.) gathered themselves to thepeople of the God ofAbraham, and weretaken in his covenant, Psal. xlvii. 9. But he ascended graciously, as the high priest went into the holy place. Not to rule all things gloriously with mighty power, not to use his sword and sceptre, but to " appear as an High Priest, in a garment down to the foot, and a golden girdle about his paps," lhev. i. 13; as in a tabernacle or temple before a throne of grace. His sitting down at the right hand of the Ma- jesty on high, adds to the glory ofhis priestly office, but belongs not unto the executionof it. So it was prophe- sied of him, that he should be a Priest on his throne," Zech. vi. 13. It may be added hereunto, that when he thus left this world and ascended into glory, the great promise he made unto his disciples, as they were to be preachers of the gospel, and in them unto all that should succeed them in that office, was, that he would send the Holy Spirit unto them, to teach and guide them, to lead them intoall truth, todeclare unto them the mysteries of the will, grace, and love of God, for the use of the whole church. This he promised to do, and did in the dis- charge of his prophetical office. And although his giv- inggifts unto men was an act of his kingly power, yet it was for the end of his prophetical office. From what bath been spoken, it is evident that the Lord Christ ascended into heaven, or was received up into glory, with this design, namely, to exercise his office of mediation in the behalf of the church until the end should be. As this was his grace, that when he was rich, for our sakes he became poor; do when he was made rich again for his own sake, he lays forth all the riches of his glory and power on our behalf. Secondly, Theglory of the state and condition where- into Christ thus entered, is the next thing to be consi- dered. For he is set down at the right hand ofthe Ma- jesty on high. And as his ascension, with the ends of it, were twofold, or of a double consideration, so was his glory that ensued thereon. For his present media- tory state consista either in the glory of his power and the sanctuary, were sung to God at the resting places of that ascent. Especially was this represented on the day ofjubilee. The proclamation of the jubilee was on the same day that the high priest entered into the holy place; and at the same time, namely, on the " tenth day of the seventh month," Lev. xvi. 29. chap. xxv. 9. Then did the trumpet sound throughout the land, the whole church; and liberty was proclaimed unto all ser- vants, captives, and such as had sold their possessions, that they might return unto them again. This being a great type of the spiritual deliverance of the church; the noise of the trumpet was called the joyful sound, Psal. lxxxix. 15. " Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound, they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance." Those who are made partakers of spiritual deliverance, shall walk before God in a sense ofhis love and grace. This is the ascent of our High Priest into his sanctuary, when he " proclaimed the ac- ceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ash- es, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified," lsa. lxi. 2, 3. For in this ascen- sion of Christ, proclamation was made in the gospel, of mercy, pardon, peace, joy, and everlasting refreshments, unto all that were distressed by sin, with a communica- tion ofrighteousness unto them, to the eternal glory of God. Such was the entrance of our High Priest into heaven, with acclamations ofjoy and praise unto God. 2. The place whereinto he thus entered wasthesanc- tuaty above, the tabernacle not made with hands, Heb. viii. 2. It was into heaven itself not absolutely, but as it is the temple of God, as the throne of grace and mer- cy.seat are in it, which must further be spoken unto im- mediately. 5. The end why the Lord Christ thus ascended, and thus entered into the holy place, was to appear in the presence ofGodfor us, and to make intercession for all that come unto God by him, Heb. vii. 26, 27. chap. ix. 24, 25. He ascended triumphantly into heaven, as Solomon ascended into his glorious throne ofjudgmentdescribed, 1 Kings x. 18, 19, 20. As David was the type ofhis
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