[4,] Christ is really put into a greater capacity to do us good.
(1.) He hath seized on heaven in our right : John xiv. 3, ' I go to prepare a place for you.' God the Father prepared it by his decree ; but Christ, by his ascension, went to hold it in our name ; he took possession of it for himself, and his people, and ever since heaven's door hath stood open.
(2.) The advantage of his intercession : 1 John ii. 1, ' If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.' Christ is our advocate at God's right hand ; we have a friend at court. Offenders hope to be spared if they have interest in any that have the prince's ear. Jesus Christ is now in heaven at God's right hand, representing his merits. How can our prayers choose but be heard ? The Spirit is our notary to indite them, and Christ is our advocate to present them in court.
128 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. II.
(3.) The mission of the Spirit. Christ carried up our flesh, and sent down his own Spirit ; as to fit heaven for us, Mat. xxv. 34, so to fit us for heaven : Eom. ix. 23, ' Vessels fitted for glory ; ' vessels of glory- seasoned with grace. Now the Spirit is not given but by Christ's ascension: Eph. iv. 11, 12, ' When he ascended, he gave first apostles, then prophets, then evangelists, then pastors and teachers, for the per- fecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.' This was liis royal largess on the day of his coronation.
(4.) By his ascension all Christ's offices have a new qualification, and are exercised in another manner. Christ hath been mediator, king, priest, and prophet from the beginning of the world ; but the administration is different before his incarnation, in the days of his flesh, and after his ascension. Before his coming in the flesh, Christ was the great prophet of the church, foreshowing what was to come ; in his incarnation, pointing at what he did ; after his glorification, working faith, by representing what was past. So a priest ; before his incarnation, undertaking payment and satisfaction for our debts. In the days of his flesh, he made good his engagement ; after his ascen- sion, he representeth his satisfaction made by his intercession, he appeareth as a righteous mediator, not by entreaty. Christ was a king by designation ; before he was incarnate, the old church had a taste of liis kingly power ; when he lived upon earth, he was as a king flghting for the crown, a king in warfare ; after the resurrection, a king in triumph, solemnly inaugurated, he enters into his throne. Clirist Cometh into the Father's presence royally attended: Dan. vii. 13, 14, ' And I saw in the night visions, the Son of man with the clouds of heaven ; and he came to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him ; and there was given him dominion, and glory, and all people, nations, and languages, that should serve him ; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, that shall not pass away.' After his resur- rection, Christ is brought into God's presence, receiving all power in heaven and earth. Christ had this power from the beginning, but was not solemnly installed till then. As David had the power given him when anointed by Samuel, yet he endured banishment and tedious conflicts, and showed not himself till after the death of Saul, and till chosen by the tribes at Hebron ; so Christ was a Prince and Saviour before his ascension ; but it is said, Acts v. 31, ' Him hath God ex- alted by his right hand, to be a prince and a saviour.' He was prince by eternal right, and by gift and designation. In the midst of his abasement, Christ acknowledged himself king, John viii. 37. But after his ascension, he solemnly exercised it, and administered it for the good of the elect.
Well, then, let us meditate on these things, and draw water out of the wells of salvation Avith joy. It is better for us that Christ should be in heaven, than with us upon earth. A woman had rather have her husband live with her, than go to the Indies ; but yieldeth to his absence, when she considereth the profit of that traffic. We are all apt to wish for the apostles' days, to enjoy Christ with us in person ; but when we consider the fruit of his negotiation in heaven, we should be contented. It is better for us he should be there, to plead with the Father, and send his Spirit to us.
VeR. 2.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 129
I come to the words.
'As.' — Some take this particle, o-uy/c/jtri/cw?, comparatively ; others alriaXoyiKm, causally. Comparatively ; ' Glorify me,' i.e., as thou liast given me a power over all flesh, &c., give me a glory suitable to the authority ; handle me according to the power and command which thou hast given me, as the plenipotentiary of heaven. But it is rather taken causally, by way of argument. It is not w?, but Ka6cb<i, which may be rendered because. Now the argument is double — (1.) It may be taken from a former grant of power, ' As thou hast given,' &g. Hitherto he had a right; now he pleadeth for possession, and a more full exercise of it ; and (2.) From the end which that power is to be exercised for, the good of the elect, that he ' may give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.'