The Marrow and Juice of 260 Scriptures, Part 29
The glorious Ascension of our Lord.
BEcause the Ascēsion of Iesus Christ is one of the Articles of our Christian faith,Reason and occasion of the choise of these Scriptures. and a principall element or fundamentall point of Christian Religion: Therefore the fathers of the Church hauehave chosen ten portions of Scripture for the establishing and confirming of Gods people in the true knowledge. vnderstanding and vse of this most necessary point of doctrine. Sixe of them are proper Psalms,Generall sūme of the sixe proper Psalmes. Summe of the two first Lessōs which do in many excellent doctrines typically and prophetically manifest the same.
Two more texts of Scripture, to wit, Deuteronomy 10. and 2. Kings 2. are sure proofes hereof. For Moses in his repeating the law and renuing the Tables, and Elias in his ascension and assumption, Moses I say and Elias two faithfull witnesses do talke with all good Christians concerning this truth.
Out of the new Testament and couenant we hauehave Saint Luke in the beginning of his second booke called the Acts of the Apostles, Generall scope of the Epistle and Gospell,and Saint Marke in the latter end of his tractate and booke of the Gospell, without type, figure, or mystery, most plainely setting downe by infallible circumstances of time, place, and persons the performance and acting of this glorious ascension of our Sauiour.
In the first Scripture Psal. 8.Mor. Prayer. 8 Psalme, King Dauid doth most pathetically sing forth the praise of God,Scriptures to proue the Ascension of Christ, Parts:whom he cals our Lord (that is in Iesus Christ) how excellent is thy name in all the world (and makes that the end & Epiphonema of his Psalme) which hast set thy glory aboue the heauens. 1 Proposition of the Ascension in a pathetical but prophetiall song,For Christ God with the Father sits at the right hand of God in glory aboue the heauens ver. 1.
Secondly, he proues this proposition,2 Confirmati- of the proposition by three effects,
1 By effect of that strength which God hath established out of the mouths of babes and sucklings. verse 2.
2 By an other effect of Gods glorious workmanship of the heauens, Moone, and Starres, &c. ve. 3.
3 By another effect of Gods glorious creation of man, a creature little inferiour to the Angels: vntounto whom (being Gods little world) he hath subdued the creatures of the great world, beasts, foules, fishes. ver. 5.6.7.
15 Psalme, Speciall scope and drift of it. Parts of the dialogue,In the second Scripture, Psal. 15. the Propher doth by way of a dialogue, in a question and the answere which he makes to it himselfe, tell the Church of their participation of this spirituall benefite, not onelyonly of ascending into heauen, but of dwelling in Gods Tabernacle, and of hauing their many mansions in their Fathers house and resting in that holy and spirituall mountaine of that new Ierusalem: so constant and perdurable an abiding, as thereout none can remooue them: which estate hath no variablenesse in it, and whosoeuer remaineth therein shall neuer be moued,
The question is prounded in the 1. verse.
21 Psalme, Scope of the Psalme, Parts of the Psalme.The answere in the other foure.
In the third Scripture, Psal. 21. the people of God doe praise the Lord for the strength, victory, and glory, which he gaue to their King,
First, saying that their King Dauid shall reioyce therein. ver. 1.
Secondly, rendring many reasons for the same in the 11 verses following.
Confirmation of Christs Ascension & our dwelling in heauen,Thirdly, referring whatsoeuer was typically spoken of Dauid, vntounto our Lord Iesus Christs Ascension and exaltation in his strength, Be thou exalted ô Lord in thy strength, so will we sing and praise thy power. verse thirteenth and last of the Psalme.
The fourth Scripture, being the twentieth foure Psalme, Eue. Prayer. 24 Psalme, Partes of the Psalme,and the first of the proper Psalmes for euening prayer sheweth
First, who it is that shall ascend into heauen, to make heauen ready for vsus,1 Who it is that shal ascend to make heauen ready for vsus, to whom the gates and euerlasting dores must be opened, by whom the innocent in hands, the pure in heart, tongue, and deed, must enter. Euen he of whom all men and creatures do hold in capite: for he is the chiefe Landlord, Domini est terra, he is, Dominus terrae. ver. 1.2.
Secondly, Dauid moues two questions, and annexeth answeres to them.2 Dauids two questions and his answeres.
The first is concerning such as shall enter into heauen by Question, 1 Christ. ver. 3.4.5.6.
The second is concerning Christ himselfe, the dore by Question, 2 whom we must enter, to whom the dores and powers of heauen must be opened and subiect, must yeeld and doe homage. ver. 7.8.9.10.
In the fift Scripture. Psal. 68.68 Psalme. Dauid,
First,Parts. prophecieth and speaketh perspicuously of this point concerning Gods arising and scattering his enimies,1 Gods exercising of his power in the destruction of his enimies who in his power, in his performance of his promises in his fauours, and in his victories, exceedes all things, and all Kings without comparison, from the first verse to the end of the 17.
Secondly, much more manifestly in speaking of Christs Ascension2 A most manifest mention of Christs Ascension, in the time past (as the manner of the Prophets is) Thou hast gone vp on high, thou hast led captiuity captiue, &c. and so forward to the end of the 35. ver. the end of the Psalme.
Speciall scope of it.In the sixt Scripture being the 108 Psalme,108 Psalme, Moses ascending vntounto the mount with the new Tables a figure &c.Dauid prophecieth and speaketh of Christs triumphing ouer his enimies, as if the banners of this triumph had bene already displaied.
1 ThanksgiuingFirst, giuing thanks to God in saying, that his heart, his tongue and instruments are ready to praise God for the fame ver. 1.2.3.
Secondly, he alleageth the reasons and grounds of his reioycing.2 Reasons and grounds of this reioycing. ver. 4,
Thirdly, he prayeth that God would exalt himselfe aboue the heauens. 3 Prayer for Gods exaltatiōver. 5. & 6.
Fourthly, he groundeth this prayer4 Ground of this prayer. vponupon Gods holy speech and promise which must needs be performed, as ver. 7.8.9.10.11.
Fiftly, he prayeth for the Churches good,5 Prayer for the generall good of Gods Church, that God would send helpe in trouble, resting and relying himselfe and them vponupon Gods power and mercy. ver. 12.13.
The seuenth Scripture chosen for this day, Deut. 10. doth in Moses his going vp into the mountaine with the new hewen Tables in his hand,Mor. prayer. 1 Les, Deut. 10, Scope of the text. mystically deliuer vntounto vsus, that the Mediator twixt God and man must ascend vntounto the Father to fetch and procure a second fauour, viz. in Christ, not of the law which Moses gaue, but of the Gospell and grace, that grace and truth which came by Iesus Christ.
Parts.In the first part of the chapter Moses relateth Gods commandement vntounto him concerning his hewing of the two Tables1 Gods commandement to hew the Tables to write the law in, and his obseruing of Gods commandement therein. ver. 1. to the end of the 5.
In the second part he discourseth of the Israelites iournall2 The Israelites iournall. at that time, vers. 6. and 7.
In the third, of Gods separating the Tribe of Leui 3 The Tribe of Leui.at that time to beare the Arke of the couenant of the Lord, verse 8.9.4 The time of his staying in the mount.
In the fourth, of the time that he tarried in the mount, and of Gods commanding him to go before the people in the iourney,The assumption of Elias, a figure of Christs Ascension. verse 10.11.
In the fifth,5 Vse and Application of all to the Israelites, the text makes mention of the vse that the Israelites are to make of all this, from the 12. verse to the end of the 22. the end of the chapter.
The eighth Scripture chosen for this day,Eue. Prayer. 1 Less. 2, King. 2. Parts of the chapter, 2. Kings. 2. mentioning Eliahs assumption into heauen, is a perfect figure of our Lords Ascension into heauen: in which chapter are conteined these principall things:
First, the circumstances of the conferences about Eliahs taking vp.1 Circumstances of the conference about the Assumption of Eliah, And
Secondly, the miraculous deede of Eliah before his taking vp.2 The miracle of Eliah before his assumption.
Thirdly, the conferences themselues,3 Conferences themselues, as
1. Between Eliah and Elisha.
2. The conference had about this matter betweene the children of the Prophets at Bethel, and them of Iericho with Elisha, ve. 1. to the end of the 7.
The miraculous deed of Eliah, is the diuiding of the waters of Iordan with his cloke, that he and his successor might go ouer, verse 8.
The fourth occurent in this history is the request which Elisha made to Eliah, 4 Elisha his request to Eliah,vers. 9.10.
The fifth is the immediate signe preceding the Assumption,5 The signe going before the Assumption, which also proueth the same: to wit, the Charet of fire, and the horses of fire, separating Eliah and Elisha, ver. 11.
The sixth is the Assumption it selfe,6 Assumption it selfe, and manner thereof: So Eliah went vp by a whirle-winde into heauen, ve. 11.
The seuenth part of the chapter conteineth the subsequents of Eliahs Assumption.7 Subsequents of Eliahs assūption, which are 6 in number,
1 Elishaes testimony who beheld it.
2 The extasie wherein he was for the time testified: first, by his crying out My father, my father, &c. secondly, by the tearing of his owne clothes. ver. 12,
The third subsequent is Elishaes taking vp of Eliahs cloake, and diuiding the waters of Iordane with it,The truth and act of our Lords Ascension, verse 13.14.
The fourth is the testimony of the children of the Prophets at Iericho, who not seeing Eliah any more, did desire to send 50. strong men to seeke him, contrary to Elishaes aduise, ve. 15.16.17.18.
The fifth is Elishaes healing of the venemous waters of Iericho, and the earthes barrennesse, verse 19.20.21.22.
The sixth subsequent is the Beares tearing of the forty two children which were cursed by Elisha, for mocking him, verse 23.24.25. a ratifying and confirmation of Elishaes calling, and of Gods doubling the spirit of Eliah vponupon him.
The ninth selected Scripture written Acts 1.1. to the end of the 11. verse, Epistle Acts 1.1. ad 11, Scope generall, Parts of the text,appointed for the Epistle, doth most manifestly, without mystery or type, relate vntounto vsus the truth of our Lords ascension. It is recorded by the pen of S. Luke, who
First makes a preface1 Preface, or introduction vntounto this his second booke, The Acts of the Apostles, by comparing it with his former Treatise of the Gospell, vers. 1.2.3.
2 Mandate of Christ to his Apostles,Secondly, S. Luke expresseth our Lords charge that he gaue to his Apostles to abide at Ierusalem, and there to waite for the promise of the father, concerning the holy Ghost. verse 4.5.
Thirdly, hee sets downe the speech that Christ made to his Apostles before his ascension.3 Christs speech before his ascension, The occasion whereof was ministred by a question which the Disciples propounded, verse 6.7.8.
4 Circumstances denominating the truth of his ascensiō,Fourthly, the holy Ghost by Saints Lukes pen sets down circumstances of the time, place, and witnesses, with the manner of Christs Ascension, and a testimonie of another Article of our Faith concerning Christs returne, and comming againe to iudge the quicke and the dead,Christ ascended vp to send the blessed Comforter down. ver. 9.10.11.
The tenth Scripture written, Marke 16. Ʋerse 14.Gospell Marke 16.14 Scope & drift generall, to the end of the Chapter, sheweth, that now in deede our Lord Iesus is ascending to prepare a place for the elect, and to send downe the Comforter to his Disciples, and the rest of his Church. But before his Ascension hee leaues a charge with his Schollers, who after they had receiued it, they doe readity put it in execution.
In his last appearing therefore to his 11. Disciples as they fate together, which was immediatly before his Ascension,Considerations to be obserued in Christs appearing to his Disciples before his ascension. must be considered.
First, what hee spake, what his wordes were, and what charge hee gaue to his Disciples,1 Dicta. and the whole Church.
Secondly, what he did or wrought miraculously.2 Facta.
The first is set downe in the fiue first verses, and to the end the the 18.
The second, which is the two folde miracle,Obseruations concerning his words. in the 19. verse.
His speech and words do conteine,
1. Either introduction,Introduction.
2. Or instruction and institution.Institution.
His introduction conteines a reprehension, whereby he casts in the Disciples teeth their incredulity, and hardnesse of heart, verse 14.
In his institution and instruction,Institution cōteins 2. points. regard
1. Either the things themselues which hee commandeth, instituteth, promiseth, or threatneth.
2. Or the consequence and sequele of the successe of some of those things.
The things themselues which bee by him commanded, are,
1. The publishing of the doctrine, ve. 15.
Mandate comprehends two points. Doctrine, Baptisme, Efficacie of the promise to the beleeuers and obedient. Force of the threatning to the vnbeleeuers.2.Christs charge to his Disciples at his Ascension. The sealing vp of the doctrine of the new Testament with Baptisme.
His promise is most large, conteining and comprehending in it the saluation of the beleeuers, and such as are baptized.
His threatning is as generall, conteining and concerning destruction, and the condemnation of the vnbeleeuers, vers. 16.
The obedient vntounto the doctrine of the couenant and beleeuers shall hauehave the doctrine confirmed vntounto them fiue wayes,Doctrine fiue waies confirmed. to wit, by fiue signes.
1. By casting out of Diuels,
2. By speaking with new tongues, verse 17.
3. Taking away, or driuing away serpents,
4. A safety and Antitode against the drinking of deadly things.
5. The healing of the sicke, by the imposition of hands, verse 18.
The miracle is two-fold,
Miracle in his Ascension. Session at his fathers right hand. Apostles obedience wherein it consisteth. Confirmation of the Disciples obedience by 2. reasons.First, our Lords ascending into heauen.
Secondly, his sitting at the right hand of God, verse 19.
The Apostles doe readily, and with all alacrity execute their maisters will: for
1. They went forth, 2. They preached euerywhere.
This Saint Marke proues by two arguments, both which are drawen from two places.
1. From the efficient and principall cause, the Lord, who helped their preaching by working with them.
2. Form the effect: for God confirmed their Sermons and teaching by effect, viz. of subsequent miracles.