2. It informetli us that all that Christ did was for a believer's use and comfort ; if he cometh into the world, it is to merit ; if he ascendetli into heaven, it is to apply. He descended from heaven for the redemp- tion of man ; after that work is accomplished, he ascendetli thither again to bestow it on us ; and at the last dt y he will come again and fetch his bride ; as when all things are ready, the heir cometh in per- son to fetch the bride into his father's house. Going, coming, staying, still Christ is ours. He was born for us, he lived for us, he rose again and ascended for us : it is for our good that he went away ; whatever he did, in his abasement and exaltation, it was for our good.
3. It informeth us that the greatest comforts may be supplied, Christ's corporal presence by the ])resence of the Spirit : 2 Cor. i. 5, ' That as our sufferings in Christ Jesus have abounded, so oar conso- lation also hath abounded through Christ.' They should lose nothing by his departure : John xiv. IG, ' I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.' He would not leave them orphans. We cannot be made unhappy by the want of any outward comfort ; we have the more of God, the less we have of these outward helps. If the corporal presence of Christ can be recompensed by the presence of the Spirit, certainly lesser sup- ports of life will be recompensed.
Use 2. Exhortation.
1. To all sorts of persons to get an interest in Christ, and to clear it up to their souls. How sweet Avould it be if when we are no more to be in this world, we could say, 'Holy Father, I come to thee !' We all affect this, ' Let my latter end be like his,' as Balaam spake. At ojoortuii sic vixisse. An evidence of this is, if you ascend with Christ: Eph. ii. 6, 'He hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.' Head and heart ought to be together. Your head is in heaven ; if your heart be there too, you are members of his mystical body. How shall a man know that he is ascended with Christ ? —
[1.] If the things of the world seem small ; as when we are in a high place, men seem as ants. Worldly glory will appear to be small, and worldly profits small. But when we are upon earth, heavenly things seem small, as stars appear but as spangles.
[2.] If you behave yourselves to him as to a glorified person. Do you serve him ? John xii. 26, ' If any man serve me, let him follow me, and where I am, there shall my servant be. If any man serve me, him will my Father honour.' Carnal men crucify him again.
[3.] If you keep yourselves ' unspotted from the world,' James i. 26. No unclean thing shall enter into heaven. The world is a de- filing thing ; that filth that cleaveth to our fingers in telling of money is an emblem of the filthiness of tlie world. A man that looketh to
VeR. 11.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 277
be like Christ in glory certainly would not defile himself in the world. If a prince marry a mean woman, would he endure to see her live like a scullion ? Christ hath married our nature. A man that lovetli the world, and would always live here, is like a scullion that lieth among the pots. Would you yourselves hug nastiness, and embrace the dunghill ? 2. To press God's children to be holy and heavenly in their minds, to wean their affections from the world. We should be where Christ is : Phil. iii. 20, ' Our conversation is in heaven, whence we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ ; ' Col. iii. 1, ' If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God,' Who would not desire to be in heaven now Christ is there ? As the loadstone draws iron to it, let us be pre- sent in heaven, as Christ is present on the earth by the Spirit, Though our bodies are tied with the fetters of the flesh, yet let our souls ascend, let our minds be there, our wishes, our desires there ; by these means we walk in heaven before our time. A stone, though it breaks to pieces by the fall, will move to its centre ; though we naturally abhor death, we should desire it to be with Christ. It is a shame that a stone should be carried with greater force to its centre than we to Christ,
Use 3. Comfort. We have Christ for us in the heavens : Heb. iv. 14, ' Seeing therefore that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God.' We have Christ always for us in heaven ; he hath a part of his office to perform there. His absence doth not hinder us from having a right to him, or a spiritual posses- sion of him. He is ours, and he hath his residence in heaven, and hath power to open it to us and give us entrance. His high honour doth not hinder him from the discharge of his office to do us good. He is at God's right hand, and yet ' a minister of the sanctuary.' Christ hath a ministry, and part of his service to perform in heaven; is our faithful agent: Heb. viii. 1, 2, 'We have such a high priest who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary.' For all his glory, Christ is called jmv dyicov\eiToup'yb<;, a minister of holy things ; he taketh care of all holy things which we present to God, and to con- vey holy and spiritual things to us. Christ is not stately : many for- get their poor friends when advanced ; Christ regardeth his poor church as much as ever. The butler, when he was advanced, forgot Joseph : but he remembereth us ; he disdaineth not to look after every poor christian : Heb. iv, 15, ' We have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.' His heart is not changed by his honour, but he in a greater capacity to do us good. Having such a friend in heaven, we need not fear a foe upon earth. Heaven is open for us : Heb. x. 19, 20, ' Having bold-, ness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and liv- ing way which he hath consecrated for us, through the vail, that is to say, his flesh.'