17o c/1 'Declarationof the Glorious M x sz Ear And herein alfo Both his glory gradually excel( that ofall other creatures whatever. But we muff here draw a vail over what yet remains. For it doth not yet appear what we our felves thrall be. Much lefs is it evident what are, and what will be the glories ofthe head above all the members ; even then when we ¡hall be made like unto him. But it muff be remembred, that whereas at the entrance of this difcourfewe fo propofed the confidera- tion of the prefent Bate of the Lord Chrift in heaven, as that which Ihould have an end at the corinnesration of' all things : what bath been fpoken con- cerning the glory of his humane nature in it felf, is not of that kind, but what abideth unto eternity. All the things mentioned abide in him and unto him for evermore. 2. The fecund thing to be confïdered in the prefent Bate and condition of Chrift, is his mediatory exaltation. And two things with refpec'l there- unto may be enquired into. 1.) The way of his entrance into that Bate above. 2.) The Rate it felf, with the glory of it. I.) The way of the entrance into the exercife of his mediatory office in heaven is expreffed, I Tim. iii. 16. He was received into glory, or rather glorioufy. And he entred into glory, Luke xxiv. 26. This alfumption and entrance into glory was upon his afcenGon defcribed, AHs i. 9, -11. He was taken up into heaven, driA4,90 is H r, by_ an all of divine power; and he went into heaven, clorrr1.3ry rfo Sö;rr, in his own choice and will, as that which he was exalted unto. And this afcenGon ofClariff in his humane nature intoheaven is a fundamental article of the faith of the church. And it falls under a double conlideration. [1.] As it was triumphant, as he was a Xing. [2.] As it was gracious, as he was a prieft. His afcenGon as unto change of place, from earth to heaven, and as unto the outward manner ofit, was one and the faine, and at once accomplifhed. But as unto the end of it, which is the exercifeof all his offices, it had various refpeas, various prefigurations, and is diftindly propofed unto us, with reference unto them. [1.] In his afcenGon as it was triumphant, three things may be con- fidered. I.] The manner of it, with its reprefentation of old. 2.] The place whereinto he afcended. 3.] The end of it, or what was the work which he had to do thereon. 1.] As unto the manner of it, it was openly triumphant and glorious. So is it defcribed, Ephef. iv. 8. He afcended up on high; he lead captivity captive, andgave giftsUnto men. And refpeft is had unto the prefigurati- on of it, at the giving of the law, Pfal. lxviii. 17, 18. where the glory of it is more fully expreffed. The chariots of God are twenty thoufand, evert thoufenils of angels ; the Lord in among them as in Sinai, in the ho- yplace. Thou haft afcended on high, thou haft lead captiváy captive, &c. The molt glorious appearance of God upon the earth under the Old ]eftament, was that on tenant Sinai, in the giving of the law. And as his pretence was there attended with all his glorious angels i fo when up- on the finifhing of that work he returned or afcended into heaven, it was in the way of triumph critic all that royal attendance. And thisprefigured the afcent of Chrift into heaven upon his fulfilling of the law, all that WAS required in it, or Ggnifed by it. He afcended triumphantly after he had given the law, as a figure of Iris trill-Thant afcent after he had fulfilled it. Having then fpoiled principalities and powers, be made a pew of them openly, triumphing over them, Col. ii. 15. So he lead captivity captive; Of
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