Serin. CXLII. of our Sav!cur's 4 /cenfloon. 275 the Reprefentation of that Sacrifice which be ofter'd for our Sins, andof that Blood which was flied for us. So the Apoltle tells us, Heb. 9. 24. ThatChrifi is not entered into the holy Places made with Hands, whichare the Figures of thetrue 5 but into Heaven it felf, to appear in the Prefence ofGodfor us. And this is a mighty Comfort to us under the Guilt of our Sins, that we have an Advocate with the Father,7efusClrifitheRighteats, who is a Propitiation for our Sins, awlfor the Sins ofthe whole World. Thisis a great Com- fort under all Trials and Temptations, that We have not anHigh-Priefi that cannot be touched with a Senfe ofour Infirmities; but was in dl Points tempted like as we are. He that is our Mediator and Interceffòr, knows by Experience the Infirmitiesof our Nature, and bath learned by his own Sufferings to compaffionate ours. And this is amighty Encouragement toour Prayers, and gives us Confidence and Hopes ofgood Succefs in our Addreffesto God, that theyare offered by fopowerful and prevalenta Hand. So the Apoftle reafons, Heb 4. t4, r6. Seeing thenwe have a great High-Priefi that is pafed into the Heavens, 7efus the SonofGod ; let nr come boldly to the Throne ofGrace, that wemayobtain Mercy, andfindGrace tohelp in timeofNeed. In a Word, this may animate us againft all theEnemies ofour Salvation, becaufe, he that bath all Power in Heaven and Earth is concerned for us, and is Continually foliciting our CaufewithGod ; Heb. 7.25. Wherefore he is able to fave them to theut- mofi who comeunto Godby him, feeinghe ever liveth to make Ïntercefonfor us. III. The Afcenfion ofour Saviour intoHeaven, is a mighty Confirmation ofour Faith, both as to the Truth of his Do&rine in general, and particularly as to his coming againat theEnd of the World to judge the Quick and the Dead, to reward the Righteous, and to punifh the Sinners and Ungodly. r. As to the Truth of his Do&rine in general. If after all the Miracles of his Life, and his Refurre&ion from the Dead, anyMan can doubt whether he came from God, and wasfent by him to teach theWorld ; yet this, methinks, is Evidence beyond all Exception, that God took him to himfelf, that he was vifibly taken up into Heaven; and tho' theWitneflès (Allis Afcenfion did not fee him inHeaven, yet the fending of the Holy Ghoft, according to his Prornife, was an abundant Evi- dence that he was received up into Glory. Upon this Account it is that our Saviour fags, that the Coining of the Holy Ghoft fhould convince the WorldofSin, for not believing in him; becaufe the fending of the Holy Ghoft, was an Evidence that be was in Glory ; and his being taken up intoGlory, was a Demonftration that he was a true Prophet, and fent from God, and confequentlÿ that they were guilty of a great Sin, who did not believe in him. And, 2. This likewife is a great Confirmation of our Faith, as toour Saviour'sComing again at the Endof the World, to judge the Quick and the Dead. St. Peter tells us, Ac7sto.4a. that ourSaviour, after hisRefurreaion,did particularly give in charge to hisApoftles,to teflify tothePeople;that it was he that was ordainedofGod, tobe theJudge of ,uiekandDead. And what Argument more proper to perfwade them ofthis, than to fee him vifibly taken up into Heaven ; and at theveryTimeof his Afcenfion, tobe admonith'd by Angels, that this fame Perron whom they faw carried up intoHea- ven, fhould in the fame vifible Mannercome down from Heaven again at the End of the World? So the Text tells us, that while the Apoflles looked fiedfafily toward Heaven,, ashewentup, behold, two Menfloodby them inwhite Apparel, that is, twoAngels in the AppearanceofMen, whichfaid,Te MenofGalilee,why andyegav,ingupintoHea- ven? This fame Jefuswhich is taken up fromyou into Heaven,, fullfo come in like_manner, asyehavefeenhimgo into Heaven ; that is, in avifible Manner, and in aCloud. For as he was, received up in a Cloud out of their Sight ; fo at his return to judge the World, Men (hallfee the, Son of Man coming in the Clouds ofHeaven, Matth. 24.3o. And this is a great Confirmation of our Faith of a futureludgment; that our Saviour, im- -naediately after his Refurre&ion, declared himfelf to be appointed by God Judge of Quick and Dead; and when he was afcended, the Angels declared that he fbould come again in like Manner as they had feen him taken up. So that they who believe his Afcenfion, cannot doubt of his return to Judgment; nothing being more credible, than the Saying of one whom God raifed from the Dead, and vifibly took to himfelf.. And now to make fome Reflection upon what bath been delivered. The Con- fideration of our Saviour's Afcenfion into Heaven, and Exaltation at the Right Handof God, is very comfortable to all true Chriftians, in thefe two Refpeé'ts : N I.In
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=