18. ii. 19.

the caufes efficient thereof, (which it is certain could be no other than that divinity common to the three Persons individed in nature, power, and operation;) whence it is attributed, as most commonly to God, fo peculiarly fomeRom. vi. 4. times to the glory and power of the Father, who in order of nature and in all common operations doth precede; John x. 17, fometimes to the Son, who laid down his life, and took it up again, who demolished the temple of his own body, and Rom. i. 4. reared it up again; fometimes to the Holy Ghost, by which, as he did caft out devils, and performed other his great works, fo he did this grand miracle; which dwelling in him, did quicken his mortal body, as is intimated and by confequence arifes from the place forecited, Rom. viii. 11. Upon these things, as alfo upon the manner and circumstances of our Saviour's refurrection, I fhall not infift, having not leifure fufficient to confider and prosecute all, but only to touch thofe things which feem most material and ufeful.

viii. 11.

Matt. xii.

28.

Yet muft I not altogether pass over the circumstance Acts x. 40. of time, (because mentioned here,) Upon the third day. 1 Cor. xv. 4. This is added, as it is commonly in Scripture when mention is made of our Saviour's refurrection, according to the common manner of speech, in which, when we relate any story or matter of fact, we are wont to adjoin the circumstances, (of time most commonly, many times of place, and fometimes of other refpects and adjuncts,) as figns and arguments of the things certainly, and our affurance in affirming it. Fictions usually go naked of circumstances, nor can the relators of them tell when or where or how the matter of them did exift; but when we are punctual in circumstance, it fignifies we are ferious and confident, and grounded in the thing itself. As for this circumstance itself, that which is most remarkable therein seems to be the wisdom of God choosing a convenient diftance of time, after our Saviour's death, for his refurrection; he stayed fo long, that it might be thoroughly certain our Saviour was really dead, beyond all poffibility of recovery by natural means; (all natural heat being neceffarily extinguished by that durance in the grave, although he had

been taken down with fome undifcernible remainders thereof from the crofs;) he deferred it no longer, both because there was no reafon for doing fo, and because it was fit, that while men's memories were fresh, their pasfions warm, their fancies bufy, their mouths open in difcourse concerning his death; while the designed witnesses were present, (both enemies watching and friends attending the event,) it was, I fay, then moft fitting that our Saviour fhould arife: as for the meaning of the word third, (whether it be to be taken inclufively in respect to the day of our Saviour's paffion, or fo as to exclude it,) with the reconciling of fome Scriptures feeming diffonant in the point, I refer you for fatisfaction to commentators upon the Gospel; the question not belonging to the fubstance of our faith, nor having any very confiderable influence (that I fee) upon practice. I proceed therefore.

He afcended into Heaven; and ätteth at the right

Hand of Cod, the Father Almighty.

and John

AFTER our Lord had (after his refurrection) confummated what was requifite to be done by him upon earth for the confirmation of our faith, and conftitution of his Church; having a competent time converfed with his difciples, (establishing their faith, enlightening their minds Vid. Luke in the knowledge of truth and understanding of the Scrip-t tures, inflaming their affections, comforting their hearts against enfuing tribulations, all oppofitions of earth, and hell, for his fake; directing and prescribing to them how they should proceed in their inftructing, converting, and reconciling the world to the faith and obedience of his law; furnishing them with commiffion and authority to teftify his truth, to dispense the tenders of grace and pardon procured by him, to collect and build up that Church, which he had purchased by his blood, laftly imparting his effectual benediction to them; having, I fay, done these things, (which St. Luke expreffes altogether by the words Évtaλáμevos autoïs, that is, having given all neceffary in- A&s i. 2. ftructions, and laid fitting commands upon them,) he was,

Ff+

51.

1 Pet. iii.22.

xx. 17.

Luke xxiv. in their prefence taken, carried up, άveλýødn, ¿vepépeto,) and afcended into heaven; he, that is, he according to his humanity, his body and foul were by the divine power ☛ogusis sis translated into heaven: into heaven; what is meant by ἐρανόν. that (in the utmost extent, according to the truth of the thing) appears by other phrafes equivalent, by which John xiii. 1. this action is expreffed; Afcending to the Father; that is, Phil. ii. to the place of God's more efpecial prefence and refiEph. i. 20. dence; where iupavigera τw проσŃπų TоŨ HOũ, he appears Acts ii. 33. to the face of God; being exalted to the right hand of God, (that is, to the place of highest eminency, and of Heb. ix. 12. greatest proximity to God;) entering sis Tà äɣia, (into Tim. iii. thofe moft holy places, that ἐσώτερον τοῦ καταπετάσματος, Luke xxiv. thofe intimate receffes of inacceffible and incommuniHeb. iv. 14. Cable glory;) being affumed and entering into glory; paff

9.

Heb. ix. 24.

v. 31. vi.

19.

1

16.

26.

ing through the heavens, (that is, all places above, infeEph. iv. 10. rior to the highest pitch of glory;) ascending spáva

wávτwv tŵy oupavæv, above, beyond all heavens; becoming Heb.vii. 26. únλóteрos тäv oúpaväv, (more fublime than, advanced above, the heavens ;) by which appears, that the utmoft term of our Saviour's afcent was that place of all in fituation most high, in quality most holy, in dignity moft excellent, in glory most auguft; the inmoft fanctuary of God's temple above, not made with hands; the most special presencechamber in thofe heavenly courts. Thither did our Saviour afcend; and there (as it follows here) he fitteth at God's right hand, for the ends and uses of these two, (one whereof is only the way or tendency unto the other,) confpiring or being coincident, (I fhall join the confideration of them together;) the meaning of which words it is not hard to find out, it being obvious that the ftate of things above is in Scripture represented to us by that fimilitude, which is apt most to beget in us reverence towards God, (and which really doth most resemble it;) the ftate of a king here, fitting upon his throne; perfonages of highest rank and respect, his nearest relations, his most beloved favourites, the chief minifters and officers of his crown attending upon him, and furrounding his throne; fo yet that for diftinction, fome place (more emi

19.

21.

nent and honourable than the reft) is affigned to him, toward whom the King intends to declare efpecial regard and favour; which place (by custom grounded upon reafons plain enough, the opportunity of nearnefs for all kind of conversation and addrefs; and the right hand's advantage for strength and activity, acquired by use, and confequently alfo its aptitude to give or take) hath been determined to be the next place at the right hand; (as we fee, for instance, when Bathsheba came to Solomon, it is faid, The king-fat down on his throne, and caufed a feat to 1 Kings ii. be fet for the king's mother; and she fat on his right hand :) thus our Saviour being raised by God to the fupreme pitch of honour, of power, of favour with him, having A&s v. 31. advanced him to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Ifrael, and remiffion of fins; having fuperexalted Phil. ii. 9, him, and bestowed on him a name above all names, to which 10. all knees in heaven, in earth, under the earth must bow; having feated him in heavenly places, above all principa- Eph. i. 20, lity, and authority, and power, and dominion, and name (or title) that is named, both in the present world and that which is to come; having committed to him all autho- Mat. xxviii. rity in heaven and upon the earth; given all things into John iii. 35. his hands; having made him heir of all things; fubjected xiii. 3. xvii. all things under his feet, (angels, authorities, and powers,) Heb. i. 2. crowned him with (fovereign) glory and honour; having Pet. iii. 22. given him (what that innumerable hoft of heaven in the Revelation acknowledges him worthy of, v. 12.) power, and riches, and wifdom, and ftrength, and honour, and glory, and bleffing, (that is, all good and excellence poffible in the highest degree;) God having, I fay, conferred these preeminences of dignity, power, and favour upon our Saviour, he is faid therefore to have feated him xaigu. at his right hand; at the right hand of the power, (as it is Matt. xxvi. Eph. i. 20. in the Gospels; that is, of the Sovereign and Almighty 64. Potentate;) at the right hand of the majesty on high; and at Luke xxii. the right hand of the throne of God, (as it is in the Apostle 69. to the Hebrews.) So much plainly the whole speech im- xii. 2. ports; and if there be any peculiar emphafis defigned in the word fitting, beyond that which is fometimes more 1Pet. iii. 22.

18.

2.

ii. 8, 9.

Mar.xiv.62.

Heb. viii. 1.

Rom. viii.

34.

fimply and generally faid, being at God's right hand, here may be farther implied, the firm poffeffion, the durable continuance, the undisturbed rest and quiet of this glorious and happy condition wherein he is inftated; as also, it doth augment the main fenfe, fitting being the most honourable posture; and therefore fignifying to the utmost that eminency of favour and refpect he hath in God's fight; as also, it may denote farther the nature and quality of his preferment; his being conftituted to rule and to judge; and therefore expreffed as fitting upon a throne of majesty, upon a tribunal of justice.

So much briefly may ferve for the explication of these two points: (for as to the words fubjoined, the Father Almighty, whereof the latter is addititious, and not extant in the more ancient forms of this Creed, having confidered them before, treating upon the beginning of the Creed, and particularly having there taken the word Almighty in its greatest latitude, fo as to include both avtoxρátwp and яavтodúvaμos, paffing over the critical distinction made between them; I fhall not repeat any thing concerning them.)

Now as to the ends of our Saviour's glorious afcenfion and abode in heaven, the effects produced thereby, the ufes which the belief and confideration thereof may conduce to; the ends and effects thereof, I fay, declared in Scripture, are briefly,

ift. That as a Priest and Advocate he might there intercede for us, for the pardon of our fins, for the acceptance of our perfons, for the fuccefs of our prayers, for the fupply of our needs, for the collation of all benefits and bleffings on us; reprefenting his merits, pleading our cause, presenting our fupplications, and interpofing his favour Heb.vii. 24. and authority in our behalf; He ever liveth to make interceffion for us: He is our High-Prieft, fitting at the right hand of the Majefty in the heavens, there performing that Rom. viii. office for us: Who fhall condemn? It is Chrift who is at the right hand of God, who alfo intercedeth for us (there :) 1 John ii. 2. If any man fin, we have an Advocate with the Father, JeA&ts v. 31. fus Chrift the righteous: God exalted him as a Prince and

viii. 1.

34.