A cloud is prepared, as a royal chariot, to carry up the King of glory to his princely pavilion -f\ " A cloud received him out of " their sight," Luke xxiv. 51. And then a royal guard of mighty angels surrounded the chariot, if not for support, yet for greater state and solemnity of their Lord's ascension. And oh what jubi- lations of the blessed angels were heard in heaven ! How was the whole city of God moved at his coming ! For look as when " he " brought his first-begotten into the world, he said, let all the "angels of God worship him," Heb. 1. 6. So at his return thi- ther again, when he had finished redemption-work, there were no less demonstrations given by those blessed creatures of their delight and joy in it. The very heavens echoed and resounded on
* Molerus in loc. Geirus Aynsworth. f Mr. Case in liis Pisgah.
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that account. Yea, the triumph is not ended at this day, nor ever shall.
It is said, Dan. vii. 13, 14. "I saw, (saith the prophet) in the " night visions, and behold one like the Son of man came with the " clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they " brought him near to him. And there was given him dominion, " and glory, and a kingdom ; that all people, nations and languages " should serve him." This vision of Daniel's was accomplished in Christ's ascension, when they, i. e. the angels, brought him to the Ancient of days, i. e. to God the Father, who, to express his wel- come to Christ, gave him glory and a kingdom. And so it is, and ought to be expounded *. The Father received him with open arms, rejoicing exceedingly to see him again in heaven ; therefore God is said to " receive him up into glory," 1 Tim. iii. 16. For that which, with respect to Christ, is called ascension, is, with respect to the Father, called assumption. He went up, and the Father received him. Yea, received so as none ever was received before him, or shall be received after him.
Thirdly, Christ ascended munificently, shedding forth, abun- dantly, inestimable gifts upon his church at his ascension. As in the Roman triumphs they did spargere missiliaf, bestow their largesses upon the people : so did our Lord when he ascended ; " wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led cap- " tivity captive ; and gave gifts unto men.11 The place to which the apostle refers, is Psal. lxviii. 17, 18. where you have both the triumph and munificence with which Christ went up excellently set forth together.
" The chariots of God, (saith the Psalmist) are twenty thou- " sand, even thousands of angels ; the Lord is among them, as in " Sinai, in the holy place. Thou hast ascended on high, thou u hast led captivity captive, thou hast received gifts for men ; yea, " for the rebellious also, that God might dwell among them." Which words, in their literal sense, are a celebration of that fa- mous victory and triumph of David over the enemies of God, re- corded 2 Sam. viii. These conquered enemies bring him several sorts of presents, all which he dedicated to the Lord. The spiritual sense is, that just so our Lord Jesus Christ, when he had overcome by his death on the cross, and now triumphed in his ascension, he takes the parts and gifts of his enemies, and gives them, by their conversion to the church, for its use and service : thus he received gifts, even for the rebellious J, i. e. sanctifies the
* See Deodat. and English Annot. fyc.
j- Princes, when triumphing after victory, use to disperse great presents and sums of money among the people, congratulating their triumph with joyous shouts.
\ Thou dost raise up teachers of thy church, among those who hate and perse-
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natural gifts and faculties of such as hated his people before, dedi- cating them to the Lord, in his people's service. Thus, (as one observes) Tertullian, Origen, Austin, and Jerome, came into Ca- naan, laden with Egyptian gold. Meaning they came into the church richly laden with natural learning and abilities. Austin was a Manichee, Cyprian a magician, learned Uradwardine a scornful, proud naturalist, who once said, when he read Paul's epistles, Dedignabar mr par villus ; he scorned such childish things, but afterwards became a very useful man in the church of God. And even Paul himself was as' fierce an enemy to the church as breathed on earth, till Christ gave him into his bosom by conver- sion, and then no mere man ever did the Lord and his people greater service than he. Men of all sorts, greater and smaller lights, have been given to the church. Officers of all sorts were given it by Christ. Extraordinary and temporary, as prophets, apostles, evangelists ; ordinary and standing, as pastors, and teach- ers, which remain to this day, Eph. iv. 8, 9. And those stars are fixed in the church-heaven by a most firm establishment, 1 Cor. xii. 28. Thousands now in heaven, and thousands on earth also, are blessing Christ at this day for these his ascension-gifts.
Foui-tldy, Our Lord Jesus Christ ascended most comfortably, for whilst he was blessing his people, he was parted from them, Luke xxiv. 50, 51. Therein making good to them what is said by him, John xiii. 1. " Having loved his own, he loved them to the " end." There was a great deal of love manifested by Christ in this very last act of his in this world. The last sight they had of him in this world was a most sweet and encouraging one. They heard nothing from his lips but love, they saw nothing in his face but love, till he mounted his triumphant chariot, and was taken out of their sight.
Surely these blessings at parting were sweet and rich ones. For the matter of them, they were the mercies which his blood had so lately purchased for them. And for their extent, they were not only intended for them who had the happiness to be upon the place with him from whence he ascended ; but they reach us as well as them ; and will reach the last saint that shall be upon the earth till he come again. For they were but representatives of the fu- ture churehes, Matt, xxviii. 20. And in blessing them, he blesseth us also. And by this we may be satisfied that Christ carried an heart full of love to his people away with him to heaven ; since his love so abounded in the last act that ever he did in this
cute thy people ; and from time to time, bring many of thy enemies to this thy kingdom. Mol. on the place.
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world : and left such a demonstration of his tenderness with them at parting.
Fifthly, He ascended, as well as rose again by his own power. He was not merely passive in his ascension, but it was his own act He went to heaven. Therefore it is said, Acts i. 10. He went up, viz. by his own divine power *. And this plainly evinceth him to be God, for no mere creature ever mounted itself from earth, far above all heavens, as Christ did.
Sixthly, and lastly, why did Christ ascend ?
I answer: His ascension was necessary upon many and great accounts. For,