2. The remote end —
[It was the privilege of the Jewish Church to have the symbols of God's presence in their temple. But it is our privilege to have God himself both with us, and in us. He
e Heb. ii. 14. f Col. ii. 15. e John xvi. 7. '^ Acts ii. 33.
will make our hearts his habitation ; he will dwell in us, and cause his glory to fill our souls. This was a further end of Christ's ascension, as he himself tells us : "I will pray the Father for you ; and he will send you another comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, &c. ; for he dwelleth loith you, and shall he in you'." Even the most rebellious heart, that has defied the Majesty of heaven, and despised hitherto all over- tures of mercy, may yet be encouraged to look up to him ; and the soul that has been filled with all iniquity may yet become the temple of the living God. Other conquerors, in the day of their triumph, have scattered largesses among their admiring followers ; but this greatest of all gifts will Jesus bestow on his most inveterate enemies : let them only repent, and call vipon his name, and he will give them all the riches both of grace and glory.]
Improvement —
1. Let none despair of mercy —
[We might have well supposed, that the ascension of Jesus would rather have been for the inflicting of judgments on his enemies : yet, behold, it was for the express purpose of exercising mercy. Let us not proudly deny that we are rebels ; but, humbling ourselves before him as the chief of sinners, let us desire him to display the exceeding riches of his grace in his mercy towards us.]
2. Let none despair of victory —
[Conflicts we must have, as long as we continue in the body ; but in the very midst of them we may say, " Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Does sin harass and defile us? Christ says, "It shall never have dominion over us." Does Satan seek to deceive or devour us? His head was bruised by Christ, and " he shall soon be bruised under our feet also." Does death alarm us? Its sting is drawn ; it is " swallowed up in victory ; " it is among our richest treasures''. Let us view Christ leading them all captive in his ascension ; and know that, through Him, we also shall be more than conquerors.]
i John xiv. 16, 17. ^ 1 Cor. iii. 22.