Is our blessed Lord ascended to the highest hea- vens ? then,
1. Let our affections be where He is —
[This is the improvement which St. Paul himself teaches
us to make of this subject p What is there worth a
thought, in comparison of this adorable Saviour, who has died for us, and is yet every moment occupied in the great work of our salvation, exerting all his influence with the Father in our behalf, and communicating continually to our souls all needful supplies of grace and strength ? ]
2. Let our dependence be upon him —
[It may be said, that, having been quickened from the dead, we have now a new and spiritual hfe within us ; but it must not be forgotten, that the life we have is not so committed to us, that we have it in, and of, ourselves : as light in our dwelhngs is derived from, and altogether dependent on, the sun in the firmament, so is the life that is infused into our souls entirely derived from, and dependent on, the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence St. Paul says, " I live : yet not I ; but Christ liveth in me : " and then he adds, *' And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me^." Thus it must be with us : we must remember that " all our fresh springs are in HIM :" and from him must we derive all our \ital energy, as branches from the stock, and as members from the head. A life of faith on him is equally necessary for every human being: in ourselves we are all wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked ; and to him must we equally be indebted for eye-salve to restore our sight, for raiment to cover us, and for gold to enrich our souls'". To him must we go for it from day to day ; and from him must we obtain it, " without money and without priced"]
3. Let us be looking forward to, and preparing for, a similar entrance into his glory —
[St. Paul assures us, that *' when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory*." Yes ; as soon as ever the judgment shall be past, then shall he, at the head of his redeemed people, demand admission for them all into the highest heavens : " Lift up, &c. &c. and the King of glory, with all his redeemed, shall enter in." What shouts will then resound throughout all the courts of heaven ! " The King of glory ! The King of glory ! " No other name will then be heard but that of our Redeeming God, to whom all possible
P Col. iii. 1, 2. with Phil, iii. 17, 20. <i Gal. iii. 20.
>" Rev. iii. 17, 18. ^ isai. Iv. 1. t Col. iii. 3, 4.