uilil not denv his conclusions
Hi
• ASCALON
453
ASCENSION
ting labors exhausted a constitution originally frail ; yet, with the old martyr spirit, ho continued to travel and to preach, even when he was so weak that he had to be carried from the couch to the pulpit. He died in Spottsylvania, Ya., March 31, 1816.
In Church History Francis Asbury deserves to be classed with the greatest propagators of Christianity in ancient or in modern times ; and when the secular history of America comes to be faithfully written, his name will be handed down to posterity as having con- tributed, in no small degree, to the progress of civil- ization in the United States. In the language of Dr. Stevens, in the Knickerbocker Magazine (January, 1859), "He sent his preachers across the Alleghanies, and kept them in the very van of the westward march of emigration. The first 'ordination' in the valley of the Mississippi was performed by his hands ; and it is a grave question what Mould have been the moral de- velopment of the mighty states throughout that impe- rial domain, had it not been for the brave 'itinerant' corps of Asbury, which carried and expounded the Bible among its log cabins at a time in our national history when it was absolutely impossible for the American churches to send thither regular or educated clergymen in any proportion to the growth of its pop- ulation. If what is called the 'Methodist itinerancy' has done an}' important service for the moral salva- tion of that vast region, now the theatre of our noblest state?, the credit is due, in a great measure, to the un- paralleled energy of Francis Asbury. He not only pointed Ins preachers thither, but led the way. No records of American frontier adventure show greater endurance or courage than Asbury's travels beyond the mountains'. Armed hunters, twenty-five or fifty in number, used to escort him from point to point to protect him from the Indians, and great were the gath- erings and grand the jubilees wherever ho appeared." —Asbury, Journals (N.York, 1S52, 3 vols. 8vo); Bangs, History cf the M. E. Church (N. York, 18C9, 4 vols. 12mo) ; Meth. Qu. lievieu; April, 1852, and July, 1854 ; Strickland, Life of Asbury (X.York, 1858,' 12mo); Wakely, Heroes of Methodism (N.York, 1859, 12mo) ; Stevens, Memorials of Methodism (2 vols. 12) ; Stevens, Hist, of the M. E. Church ( X. York, 186-1) ; Centenary of Methodism (N. York, 1866, 12mo); Sprague, Annals, vii, 13 ; Boehm, Reminiscences Historical, and Bioffraj h- ical, edited by \Vakeley(N. Y. 1865, 12mo) ; Larrabee, Asbury and his Coadjutors (N. Y. 2 vols. 12mo). See Methodist Episcopal Church.
As'calon (Judith ii, 28; 1 Mace, x, 86; xi, 60; xii, 33). See Ashkelon.
Ascension of Christ, his visible passing from earth to heaven in the presence of his disciples, on the Mount of Olives, fortv days after the resurrection (Mark xvi, 19 ; Luke xxiv, 50, 51 ; Acts i, 1-11). (1) The ascension was a necessary consequence of the res- urrection. Had Christ died a natural death, or simply disappeared from view in obscurity, the resurrection, as a proof of Divine power, would have gone for noth- ing. It was essential that He should " die no more," so as to demonstrate forever his victory over death. (2) It was predicted in the O. T. in several striking passages (c. g. Psa. xxiv, lxviii, ciii, ex) ; and also by Christ himself (John vi. 62; xx, 17). (3) It was pre- figured in the patriarchal dispensation by the transla- tion of Enoch (Gen. v, 24 ; Heb. xi, 5) ; and in the Jewish, by the translation of Elijah (2 Kings ii, 11); so that each of the three dispensations have had a vis- ible proof of the immortal destiny of human nature. (4) The fact of the ascension is given by tvvo evange- lists only ; but John presupposes it in the passages above cited. It is referred to, and doctrines built upon it, by the apostles (2 Cor. xiii, 4; Eph. ii, 6; iv, 10; 1 Pet. iii, 22 ; 1 Tim. iii, 16 ; Heb. vi, 20). " The evi- dences of this occurrence were numerous : the disci- ples saw him ascend (Acts i, 9) ; two angels testified
that he did ascend (Acts i, 10, 11) ; Stephen, Paul, and John saw him in his ascended state (Acts vii, 55, 56;
; ix, 3-5; Rev. i, 9-18); the ascension was demonstrated
| by the descent of the Holy Ghost (John xvi, 7-14 ; Acts ii, 33) ; and had been prophesied by our Lord him- self (Matt, xxvi, 64; John viii, 21). (5) The time of Christ's ascension was forty days after his resurrec- tion. He continued that number of days upon earth in order that he might give repeated proofs of the fact of his resurrection (Acts i, 3), and instruct his apostles in everything of importance respecting their office and ministry, opening to them the Scriptures concerning himself (Mark xvi, 15; Acts i, 5-8). (6) As to the manner of his ascension, it was from Mt. Olivet, not in appearance only, but in reality, and that visibly and
; locally. It was sudden, swift, glorious, and in a tri- umphant manner. See Glorification. Hewaspart-
l ed from his disciples while he was solemnly blessing them, and multitudes of angels attended him with