of the PERSON Of CHRIST. 171 or all the adverfe powers of the falvation of the church in triumph at his chariot wheels. I deny not but that his leading captivity'captive, prin- cipally refpeds his fpiritual conqueft over fatan, and the deftru&ion of his power. Yet whereas he is alfo faidto fpoil principalitiesand powers, mak- ing a pew ofthem openly, and triumphingover them, 1 noway doubt but fatas the head of the apoftacy, and the chief princes of darknefs were lead openly in fight of all the holy angels, as conquered captives. The feed of the woman having now broken the bead of the ferpent. This is that which is fo emphatically expreffed, Pfalm xlvii. throughout. The ground and caufe of all triumphant rejoycing of the church therein decla- red, is that God was gone up with a fient, the Lord with the found ofa trumpet, v. 5. which is nothing but theglorious afcent of Chriff into hea- ven, faid to be accompanied with Ihouts, and the found of a trumpet,the ex- prefiì.ons of triumphant rejoycing, becaufe of the glorious acclamations that were made thereonby all the attendants of the throne of God. 2.] The place whither he thus afcended, is on high. He afcended upon high, Ephef. iv. 8. That is, heaven. He went into heaven, Ads i. a i. And theheavens muff receive him. v. 3, -21. Not thefe afpeftable heavens whihhh we behold: for in lais afcenfion he .palredthrough them, Heb. iv. 14. and is made higher than they, chap. vii. 27. But into the place of the refidence ofGod in glory and majefty, Heb. i. 3. chap. viii. 1. chap. xii. 2. There on the throne of God, Rev. in. 21. On the right band of the majeffy on high, he fits down in the full poffeffion and exercife of all power and authority, This is the palace ofthis Kingof faints and nations. There is his royal eternal throne, Heb. i. 8. And many crowns are on his head, Rev. xix. 12. or, all dignity and honour. And he who in a pretented imi- tation of him wears a triple crown, hath upon lais own head thereby, the name of blafphemy, Rev. xiii. I. There are before him his felon of righteoufnefs, his rod of iron, all the regalia of his glorious king- dom. For by thefe emblems of power cloth the fcripture reprefent unto us lais fovereigndivine authority in the execution of his kingly office. Thus he afcended triumphantly, having conquered his enemies; thus he reigneth glorioully over all. 3.] The ,end for which he thus triumphantly afcended into heaven, is twofold. Firff, The overturning and deftru&ion ofall lais enemies in their remaning powers. He rules them with a rod of Iron, and in his due time will daft them in pieces as a potter's velfel, Pfal lI. 9. For he muff reignuntil all his enemies are made his foot/tool, i Cor. xv. 25, 26. Pf. cx. I. Although at perefent for themoll part they defpife his authority, yet they are all abfolutely in his power, and Hall fall under lais eternal difpleafure. Secondly, The prefervation, continuation and rule of his church, both, as unto that internal flare of the fouls of them that believe, and the external order of the church in its worjhip and obedience, and its prefervation under and from all oppofitions and perfecutions in this world. There is in each of thefe fucha a continual exercife of divine wifdom, power and care, the effeels of them are fo great and marvelous, and the fruitsof them fo abundant unto the glory of God, that the world would not contain the books that might be written of them; but to handle them diftindly is not our prefent defign. [z.] His afcenfaon may be confidered as gracious ; as the afcent of an high prielt, And herein the risingsbefore mentioned are of a' diflindcon- fideration. a.] As to the manner of it, and the defignof it, he gives an account of them himfelf,John xx. t7. His defignherein was not the takingon him the exercife
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