So much the apostle plainly witnesseth, Eph. iv. 10. " He that " descended, is the same also that ascended up far above all hea- " vens," i. e. all the aspcctable heavens. A full and faithful ac- count whereof the several evangelists have given us, Mark xvi. 19. Luke xxiv. 51. This is sometimes called his going away, as John xvi. 7. Sometimes his being exalted, Acts ii. 33. Sometimes his being made higher than the heavens, Heb. vii. 26. And sometimes his entering within the vail, Heb. vi. 19, 20. All which are but so many synonymous phrases, expressing his ascension, in a very pleasant variety.
Now for the opening this act of Christ, we will bind up the whole in the satisfaction of these six questions. 1. Who ascended ? 2. Whence did he ascend? 3. Whither? 4. When? 5. How? 6. and lastly, Why did he ascend ? And these will take in what is needful for you to be acquainted with in this point.
First, Who ascended? This the apostle answers, Eph. iv. 10. u the same that descended," viz. Christ. And himself tells us in the text, " I ascend.11 f " And though the ascension were of 66 Christ's whole person, yet it was but a figurative and improper " expression, with respect to his divine nature, but it agrees most " properly to the humanity of Christ, which really changed places " and conditions by it.11 And hence it is that it is said, John xvi. 28. " I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world ; " again, I leave the world, and go to my Father.11 He goes away, and we see him no more. As God, he is spiritually with us still, even to the end of the world. But as man, " the heavens " must contain him till the restitution of all things,11 Acts iii. 21.
Secondly, Whence Christ ascended ?
* Mr. Henry Jeanes' second part of the mixture of scholastical and practical di- vinity, p. 273.
f Ascensione totius fait persons?, natura: tamen diviner no?i commit nisi Jigurate : Scd humance natures maxime jrroprie convenit, &c. Ames, Med. p. 111.
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I answer, more generally, he is said to ascend from this world? to leave the world. That is the terminus a quo, John xvi. 28. but more particularly, it was from Mount Olivet, near unto Jerusalem. The very place where he began his last sorrowful tragedy. There, where his heart began to be sadded, there is it now made glad. O, what a difference was there betwixt the frame Christ was in, in that mount before his passion, and this he is now in, at his ascen- sion ! But,
Thirdly, Whither did he ascend?
It is manifest it was into the third heavens: the throne of God, and place of the blessed ; where all the saints shall be with him for ever. It is said to be far above all heavens ; i. e. the heavens which we see, for they are but the pavement of that stately palace of the great King. He is gone (saith the apostle) within the vail, i. e. into the most holy place. And into his Father's house, John xiv. 2. And he is also said to go to the " place where he was be- " fore,1' John vi. 62. back again to that sweet and glorious bosom of delight and love, from whence at his incarnation he came.
Fourthly, When did Christ ascend ? Was it presently as soon as he arose from the dead ?
No, not so, for " after his resurrection (saith Luke) he was seen " of them forty clays, speaking of the things pertaining to the '- kingdom of God." And truly the care and love of Christ to his people was very manifest in this his stay with them *. He had in- effable glory prepared for him in heaven, and awaiting his coming, but he will not go to possess it, till he had settled all things for the good of his church here. For in this time he confirmed the truth of his resurrection, gave charge to the apostles concerning the dis- cipline and order of his house or kingdom : which was but needfid, since he intended that their Acts should be rules to future churches. So long it was necessary he should stay. And when he had set all things in order, he would stay no longer, " lest he should seem to " affect a terrene life -J*." And besides, he had work of great con- cernment to do for us in the other world. He desired to be no longer here, than he had work to do for God and souls. A good pattern for the saints.
Fifthly, How did Christ ascend into heaven ? Here it is worthy our observation, that Christ ascended as &2mu- lic person or forerunner, in our names, and upon our accounts J.
* The weakness of his disciples required the delay of his separation from them. Ames.
f Ne terrenam vitam videretur meditari. Ames.
\ He by his entrance into heaven gives us the strongest consolation, for as he came down from heaven, not on his own, but our account, so he hath taken possession of heaven to prepare a place and habitation there for us. Pareus on this place.
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So it is said expressly, Heb. vi. 20. speaking of the most holy place within the vail ; whither (saith he) the forerunner is for us entered. His entering into heaven as our forerunner implies both his public capacity and precedency.
First, His public capacity, as one that went upon our business to God. So he himself speaks, John xiv. 2. " I go before to pre- " pare a place for you." To take possession of heaven in your names. The forerunner hath respect to others that were to come to heaven after him, in their several generations ; for whom he hath taken up mansions, which are kept for them against their coming.
Secondly, It notes precedency, he is out forerunner, but he him- self had no forerunner. Never any entered into heaven before him, but such as entered in his name, and through the virtue of his merits. He was the first that ever entered into heaven directly, immediately, in his own name, and upon his own account. But all the fathers who died before him entered in his name. To the holiest of them all, God would have said as Elisha to Jehoram, 2 Kings hi. 14. Were it not that I had respect to the person of my Son, in whose name and right you come, I would not look upon you. You must go back again, heaven were no place for you. No, not for you, Abraham, nor for you, Moses.
Secondly, He ascended triumphantly into heaven. To this good expositors * refer that which in the type is spoken of David, when he lodged the ark' in its own place, with musical instruments and shoutings; but to Christ, in the antitype, when he was received up triumphantly into glory, Psal. xlvii. 5. " God is gone up with " a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet ; sing praises to " God, sing praises ; sing praises unto our King, sing praises."