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this was to represent the glorious conquest at the ascension of Christ, expressed, Col. ii. 15, " And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it," or in himself. When he spoiled Pharaoh, he triumphed over him glori- ously,— " The horse and his rider hath he cast into the sea." It was the same divine person, who did that as a type of Avhat he would do when he should spoil principalities and powers, — Satan, death, hell, sin, and all the spiritual adversaries of the church, — triumphing over them : then did he lead captivity captive. And therefore you may observe the change of the Avords, which all do who speak to this thing. In the Psalms, it is said, " Thou hast ascended on high, and led captivity captive, and received gifts for men." In my text it is said, " He ascended on high, and led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." Though Christ be spoken of as God in the 68th Psalm, wherein he was incapable of receiving gifts, yet it was in a mystery and prophecy that he should be in that state and condition wherein he should receive them, and receive them that he might give them;, as in Acts ii. 32. When he was exalted on the right hand of God, and received the gift of the Spirit, he then gave it out unto men.
What is all this great preparation now for ? what is it the apostle ushers in upon this theatre of glory? Nothing less than the giving of ministers unto the church. " He ascended up on high, and led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." What, I pray? Some to be pastors and teachers. There is a greater glory in giving a mi- nister to a poor congregation, than there is in the instalment and enthroning of all the popes, and cardinals, and metropolitans, that ever were in the world: let their glory be what it will, Christ is ■upon his theatre of glory in the communication of this office and these officers.
Wherein, will you say, is this glory? You see no beauty, no come- liness in it: no more did the unbelieving world in the person of Christ, nor ways of Christ. Was there not a great deal of glory in the setting apart of Aaron unto his service, in all his glorious gar- ments and ornaments, with all the solemnity of sacrifices that was used therein? doubtless there was. But saith our apostle, " It had no glory in comparison of the ministry of the Spirit. -This is a glory that doth excel," 2 Cor. iii. 10. The reason why we see not the glory of it is, because we are carnal. It is a spiritual glory. God himself presides over the work of this day. " I will place my taber- nacle with them, and I will walk with them, and be their God," Lev. xxvi. 11, 12. If we are the church and tabernacle of God, God walks among us this day; Christ is among us by his special presence. " Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them," Matt, xviii. 20. And much more may his
440 THE MINISTRY THE GIFT OF CHRIST.
presence be expeoted in so great a transaction of his authority as this we are now engaged in. The holy and elect angels are present with us, to give glory to the solemnity. Hence our apostle charges Timothy, chap. v. 21, " I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things." Why before the elect angels? Because they are present as witnesses in the collation of authority from Christ. Thou hast thousands of witnesses more than thou seest; there are more eyes upon thee than thou takest notice of; — God is present, Christ is present, the elect angels are present. These things are the true and faithful sayings of God. Here, then, is glory and beauty, in that it is not only a gift, but an eminent gift. That is the first thing in my text.
Secondly. It is glorious and eminent from the foundation and spring of it, — which is the humiliation and death of Christ. " Now that he ascended, what is it, but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?" Why doth the apostle mention here Christ's descending? Was it to take the advantage of a word? because having mentioned his ascension, will he mention also his descension? No; that is not the way of the Holy Ghost. There was no reason to mention it absolutely in this place: it must be with reference to the end that was under consideration. " There is some- thing," saith he, " in Christ's descending into the lower part of the earth that doth contribute to this great gift of the ministry."
The lower part of the earth may have a double interpretation : —
1. The earth may be spoken of with reference to the whole world.
2. Some part of the earth may be spoken of with reference to some other part.
1. If you take it in the first sense, Christ's descending into the lower part of the earth, — that is, into this lower part of the creation, which the earth is, — then it is the incarnation of Christ and his humiliation that he intends: which is so expressed, John iii. 13, " No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man," etc. Christ's descending and coming down, was by taking our nature upon him. So it may be here. " He descended into the lower parts of the earth," that is, " He came and assumed our nature, and was here in a state of humiliation."