2. The reasons why. Christ would not have gone, if it had not been expedient : John xvi. 7, ' Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is ex- pedient for you that I go away.' A woman had rather have her husband live at home than go to the Indies, but when she considereth that it is to do her good, to enrich the family by traffic, she yieldeth her consent, it is a profitable voyage. So it is expedient that Christ should go to heaven. In the infancy of the church Christ. was present as a nurse, but he would not have them always hang on the teat. The reasons of Christ's ascension are these : —
[1.] He is gone that we may look upon him as in a greater capacity to do us good. All weakness is now removed from him, his human nature glorified, and placed in heaven, his majesty restored ; we may now reflect upon the glory of his person with comfort ; he is now a king on the throne, a king in his palace, and a place of royal residence. David was king as soon as anointed by Samuel, but when he was crowned in Hebron then did he actually administer the kingdom. Christ had his followers in the days of his flesh, as David had his four hundred companions in the desert. The thief owned Christ upon the cross, and Christ tells him, ' This day shalt thou be with me in para- dise,' Luke xxiii. 43, What may we not expect from Christ now in heaven ! Every office is royally exercised ; as a prophet he sendeth out his Spirit ; as a king, he ruineth his adversaries ; as a priest, he intercedeth with God.
[2.] To prepare a place for us : John xiv. 2, ' I go to prepare a place for you.' It is good to consider how Christ prepareth heaven for us by his ascension. It was prepared before the world began, by the decree of God the Father : Mat. xxv. Si, ' Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit a kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.' This was an inheritance intended for the heirs of promise ; by a free choice he designed the persons, and their particular portion and degree of glory. But because we are to hold heaven, not only by gift, but by purchase, Christ came from heaven to prepare it, and went to heaven again to prepare ; yet further to open the door that was before shut up ; as our head, he went to seize upon it in our right ; as our legal head, he possesseth heaven in our names ; as a guardian taketh up lands for the heir, Christ holdeth heaven in our right ; till we be ready for it, he keepeth possession. And as our mystical head and author of grace, he dispenseth the Spirit, and maketh us fit for that place, making intercession for us, that our sins be no impediment. He is called our forerunner : Heb. vi. 20,^^ ' Whither the forerunner is for us entered,
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274 SEKMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. XIV.
even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec' His going is to make way for us ; as our harbinger, to take up rooms and lodgings for us. As the captain of our salvation, he hath taken up quarters for himself and all his company : Heb. ii. 10, ' It became him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of our salvation perfect through sufferings.' Christ hath opened heaven's door that was shut up ; there was a guard set upon paradise, but Christ hath removed it. He is gone to fit all things for our entertainment, as Joseph was sent into Egypt to prepare for Jacob. Die when we will, our place is ready ; there is nothing to keep us out. The church is tossed with waves, but Christ is gone ashore, and hath secured for us a landing-place ; and his ascension is a pledge of ours, as he rose as the firstfruits of them that slept. It is the meritorious, exemplary, efficient cause of our ascension.
[3.] To represent his satisfaction. The Levitical priest was to enter into the sanctuary with blood, so doth Christ into heaven, to show that he had done his work. The apostle hath an expression which needeth opening : Heb. viii. 4, ' If he were on earth, he should not be a priest.' What is the meaning? Was not Christ a priest when he was on earth ? I answer — Yes. Why then doth the apostle say that ' if he were on earth he should not be a priest ? ' that is, he could not dis- charge the whole office of the priesthood ; for the high priest once a year carried the sacrifice through the court before the sanctuary, and there killed it, and there took the blood thereof into the holiest of all, and presented himself before the Lord to intercede for the people : so Christ carried his sacrifice out of the city, offered it up to God, and then entered into the heavenly sanctuary, where he liveth for ever to intercede for us, and his blood always runneth fresh ; and therefore, if he were on earth he could not discharge the whole office of a priest. So Heb. ix. 24, * For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us,' efKJ^avca-dfjvai. As the high priest entered on the behalf of the people, with the names of the twelve tribes on his breast and shoulders, so Christ is entered on the behalf of us all, bearing the memorial of every saint on his heart. Mark, the apostle saith, ' Now to appear,' not only once. The high priest stayed not within the sanctuary, but Christ is our constant lieger in heaven, all the time from his ascension unto this day, constantly, still, while it is called 7ioiu.