enemies, to his fixed abode in heaven ; and, having received gifts as the fruits of his victories, gave them unto men, and provided that God should have a stated residence in his Church ^
With this inspired comment, we may proceed with confidence to consider, I. The manner of Christ's ascension —
Christ, having submitted to the deepest humihation, was now to receive a proportionable advancement, which, having already been begun in his resurrection, was now perfected in his ascension. This was,
1 . Glorious —
[In verse 17, the glory of it is described, and it is com- pared with the descent of Jehovah on Mount Sinai. While he was in the very act of blessing his disciples*^, he was taken np by a cloud, as Elijah was in his fiery chariot, to heaven. In- stantly myriads of the heavenly host siu'rounded him with their acclamations and hosannas. They had surveyed him with astonishment from the first moment that he came into the world. When he yet lay in the manger, they sang, " Glory to God in the highest ! " But, when they beheld him agonizing in the garden, and expiring on the cross, we may almost con- ceive their songs of joy to have been turned into weeping and lamentation. We doubt not, however, but at this time their joy exceeded all that they had ever felt from their first creation. They now saw their Creator and their God, who had so long veiled himself in human flesh, ascending to his bright abodes, to display his glory in a light infinitely surpassing all that they had ever seen before. What must his redeemed people also have felt the very instant that he entered the portals of heaven ! with what rapture and ecstasies must they have been filled ! But our imagination cannot grasp the thought. We must be in heaven ourselves before we can form the smallest idea of their felicity. Suffice it then to say with the angelic ]nes- sengers, that, as he ascended up into heaven, so will he speedily come again. from heaven; and that in the meantime, instead of gazing with unprofitable curiosity, we must look for his bless- ings, and devote ourselves to his service*^.]
2. Triumphant —
^ Eph. iv. 8. The Apostle, in citing the Psahnist's words, makes a slight alteration in them : instead of " received gifts for,^' he puts *' gave gifts to.'" But the truth contained in them is the same : for Christ received gifts for men in order that he might give them to men.
c Luke xxiv. 51. '^ Acts i. 10, 11.
609.J THE END OF CHRISt's ASCENSION. 495
[In his death he seemed vanquished; but in reaUty he overcame; and in his ascension he led captive all his enemies and ours. Sin had diffused its poison through all the de- scendants of Adam, and had infected all their powers both of body and soul. But Christ, having expiated its guilt, now rescued many vassals from its power. Satan, the god of this world, who had hitherto usurped dominion and led men cap- tive at his will, now " fell from heaven like lightning ;" and his throne, shaken to its foundations, was demolished. Death also, that had reigned over all, now was vanquished in its turn ; for Jesus " burst its bands." " By death, he destroyed death, and him that had the power of death, that is, the devil® :" and now, as a mighty conqueror, that had " spoiled principalities and powers, he triumphed over them openly V' and led them captive at his chariot wheels.]
From contemplating the manner of his ascension, let us proceed to consider, II. The ends of it- There were some ends that respected Christ him- self, namely, that he might receive his reward, and carry on his work within the vail : but we must con- fine ourselves to those which respect the Church.
1. The immediate end —
[As Jesus died, so he rose and ascended in a public capa- city, as our mediator with God. He had purchased blessings for us ; and he now went to receive them at his Father's hands, that he might imj)art them to us. He was henceforth to have all fulness treasured up in himself, that we might receive out of it according to our necessities. He ascended, *' that he might fill all things," and " impart repentance and remission of sins," together with all the gifts and graces of his Spirit, to his chosen people. That this was the immediate end of his ascen- sion, appears not only from his own predictions respecting it^, but from the express declaration of the apostles on the descent of the Holy Ghost ^. Yet it was not for those only who were waiting for redemption, but even " for the rebellious also," that he received gifts; as he abundantly testified in the conversion of his murderers ; and as he is ready to testify in the conversion of us also.]