Use 1st. Of information. Branch 1. See Christ's different state on earth, and now in heaven. O how is the scene altered ! When he was on earth, he lav in a man- ger, — now he sits on a throne ; then he was hated and scorned of men, — now he is adored of angels ; then his name was re- proached,— now " God hath g^ven him a name above every name," Phil. ii. 9. Then he came in the form of a servant, and as a servant, stood with his basin and towel, and washed his disciples' feet, Joini xiii. 4, 5., — now he is clad in his prince's robes, and the kings of the earth cast their crowns before him ; on earth he was a man of sor- row,— now he is anointed witli the oil of gladness ; on earth was his crucifixion, — now his coronation ; then his Father frown- ed upon him in desertion, — now he liath set him at his right hand ; before he seem- ed to have no form or beauty in him, Isju liii. 2., — now he is in the brightness of his Father's glory, Heb. i. 3. O what a change is here ! " Him hath God hiiihiv exalted."
Branch 2. Was Christ first humble and then exalted ? hence learn, the way to true honour is humility: Luke xiv. 11., "He that humbleth himself shall be exalted." TIjc world looks upon humility as that which will make one contemptible, but it is the ready way to honour ; the way to rise is to fall, the way to ascend is to descend. Hu- mility exalts us in the esteem of men, and it exalts us to an higher throne in heaven, Mat. xviii. 4., " ^Miosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven," viz. He shall have a greater degree of glory in it.
Branch 3. Christ suffered, and then was exalted : see hence, that sufferings must go before glorv'. Many desire to be glorified with Christ, but they are not con- tent to suffer for Christ, 2 Tim. ii. 12., " If we suffer with him, we shall reign with him." The wicked first reign and tlien suffer ; the godly first suffer, and then reign : there is no way to Constantinople but through the Straits; no way to heaven, but through sufferings ; no way to the crown, but bv the wav of the cross. Je- rusalem above is a pleasant city, — streets of gold, gates of pearl ; but we must travel through a dirty road to this city, — through many reproaches and sufferings, Acts xiv 22. AVe must enter into glory as Christ did , first he suffered shame and death, and now is exalted to sit at God's right liand.
Use 2d. Of comfort. Branch 1. Christ, being so highly exalted, hath ennobled our nature : he hath crowned it with glory, and lifted it above angels and archangels ; though Christ, as he was man, was made a little lower than the angels, Heb. ii. 9., yet as the human nature is united to the di- vine, and is at God's right hand, so the hu- man nature is above the anjjels. And if God hath so dignified our human nature, what a shame is it that we should debase it ! God hath exalted the human nature above the angels, and the drunkard abaseth the human nature below the beasts.
Branch 2. Christ being exalted at God's right hand, the key of government is laid upon his shoulders; he governs all the af- fairs of the world for his own glory. Do you think when Christ is so highly advanc- ed, and hath all power in heaven and earth
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in Lis hand, he will not take care of his e- lect, and turn the most astonishing provi- dences to the good of his church ? In a clock, the wheels move cross one to ano- ther, but all make the clock strike : so Christ being at his Father's right hand, he will make the most cross providences tend to the salvation of his church.
Branch 3. Christ being 'at God's right hand, we may be assured he hath now fin- ished the work of man's redemption, Ileb. X. 12., " This man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of God." If Christ had not fully expiated sin, and satisfied God's law, he had not sitten down at God's riglit hand, but had still lain in the grave ; but now he is exalted to glory, — tliis is an evi- dent token he hath done and suffered all that was required of him, for the working out of our redemption.
Branch 4. Though Jesus Christ is so highly exalted in glory, yet he is not for- getful of us on earth. Some, when they are raised to places of honour forget their friends ; when the chief butler was restor- ed to his place at court, then he forgot ])oor Joseph in prison ; but it is not so with Christ, though he be exalted to such glory in heaven, yet he is not unmindful of his saints on earth. Our high priest hath all the names and wants of his people written upon his breastplate. Art thou tempted ? Tiioiigh Christ be in glory, he knows how to pity and succour thee, Heb. iv. 15., *' We have not an high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmi- ties." Dost thou mourn for sin ? Christ, though in a glorified state, he hears thy sighs, bottles thy tears.