(2.) His ascension may be considered as gracious, as the ascent of a High Priest. And herein the things before mentioned are of a distinct consideration.
[1.] As to the manner of it, and the design of it, he gives an ac- count of them himself, John xx. 1 7. His design herein was not the taking on him the exercise of his power, kingdom, and glorious rule ; but the acting with God on the behalf of his disciples. " I go," saith he, " to my Father, and to your Father ; to my God, and to your God," — not his God and Father with respect unto eternal generation, but as he was their God and Father also. And he was so, as he was their God and Father in the same covenant with himself ; wherein he was to procure of God all good things for them. Through the blood of this everlasting covenant — namely, his own blood, Avhereby this covenant was established, and all the good things of it secured unto the church — he was " brought again from the dead," that he miuht live ever to communicate them unto the church, Heb. xiii. 20, 21. With this design in his ascension, and the effects of it, did he often comfort and refresh the hearts of his disciples, when they were ready to faint on the apprehensions of his leaving of them here below, John xiv. 1, 2, xvi. 5-7. And this was t5rpified by the ascent of the high priest unto the temple of old. The temple was situated on a hill, high and steep, so as that there was no approach imto it but by stairs. Hence in their wars it was looked on as a most unpregna,ble fortress. And the solemn ascent of the high priest into it on the day of expia- tion, had a resemblance of this ascent of Christ into heaven. For after he had offered the sacrifices in the outward court, and made atonement for sin, he entered into the most holy place, — a type of hea- ven itself, as the apostle declares, Heb. ix. 24, — of heaven, as it was
250 THE PERSON OF CHRIST.
the place whereinto our High Priest was to enter. And it was a joyful ascent, though not triumphant. All the Psalms, from the 120th to the 134th inclusively, whose titles are ni^ysn ''"W, " Songs of Degrees," or rather ascents or risings — being generally songs of praise and exhor- tations to have respect unto the sanctuary — were sung to God at the resting-places of that ascent. Especially was this represented on the day of jubilee. The proclamation of the jubilee was on the same day that the high priest entered into the holy place; and at the same time, — namely, on the " tenth day of the seventh month," Lev. xvi. 29, XXV. 9. Then did the trumpet sound throughout the land, the whole church ; and liberty was proclaimed unto all servants, captives, and such as had sold their possessions, that they might return unto them again. This bemg a great type of the spiritual deliverance of the church, the noise of the trumpet was called " The joyful sound," Ps. Ixxxix. 15, " Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound; they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance." Those who are made partakers of spiritual deliverance, shall walk before God in a sense of his love and grace. This is the ascent of our High Priest into his sanctuary, when he proclaimed " the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God ; to comfort all that mourn ; to ap- point unto them that mourn inZion,to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called Trees of righteousness. The plant- ing of the Lord, that he might be glorified," Isa. Ixi. 2, 3. For in this ascension of Christ, proclamation was made in the Gospel, of mercy, pardon, peace, joy, and everlasting refreshments, unto all that were distressed by sin, with a communication of righteousness unto them, to the eternal glory of God. Such was the entrance of our High Priest into heaven, with acclamations of joy and praise unto God.
[2.] The jj^ace whereinto he thus entered was the sanctuary above, the "tabernacle not made with hands," Heb. ix. 11. It was into heaven itself, not absolutely, but as it is the temple of God, as the throne of grace and mercy -seat are in it ; which must farther be spoken unto immediately.
[3.] The end why the Lord Christ thus ascended, and thus entered into the holy place, was " to appear in the presence of God for us," and to " make intercession for all that come unto God by him," Heb. vii. 26, 27, ix. 24, 25.
He ascended triumphantly into heaven, as Solomon ascended into his glorious throne of judgment described 1 Kings x. 18-20. As David was the type of his conquest over all the enemies of his church, so was Solomon of his glorious reign. The types were multiplied be- cause of their imperfection. Then came unto him the queen of Sheba, the type of the Gentile converts and the church; when W'bv ^^^J, the