Sermons Upon all the Sunday Gospels, Sermon 36
A Sermon for the feast of the Ascension of Christe, made vponupon the Epistle of that daye. Actes. i.
IN the former treatise (deare Theophilus we hauehave spoken of all that Iesus began to do and teache, vntyll the daye in which he was taken vp, after that he (through the holy ghoste) had geuen commaundementes vntounto the Apostles, whom he had chosen, to whom also he shewed him selfe aliue after his passion (and that by many tokens) appearyng vntounto them .xi. dayes, and speakyng of the kyngdom of God, and gathered them together, and commaunded them that they should not depart from Ierusalem, but to wayte for the promise of the father, wherof (sayth he) ye hauehave herd of me. For Iohn truly baptised with water, but ye shalbe baptised with the holy ghoste, after these fewe dayes. When they therefore were come together, they asked of hym sayinge: Lorde wylt thou at this tyme restore agayne the kyngdome of Israell? And he sayd vntounto them: It is not for you to know the tymes or the seasons whiche the father hathe put in his owne power. But ye shal receyue power after the holy ghost is come vponupon you. And ye shalbe witnesses vntounto me, not on lye in Ierusalem, but also in all Iewrye, and in Samaria, and euen vntounto the worldes ende. And when he had spoken these thinges, whyle they behelde, he was taken vp on hye, and a cloude receyued hym vp out of their syght. And whyle they loked stedfastly vp towarde heauen as he went, behold two men stode by them in whyte aparell, which also sayde: Ye men of Galile, why stande ye gasynge vp into heauen? This same Iesus which is taken vp from you into heauen, shall so come euen as ye hauehave seene hym goe into heauen.
THE EXPOSITION.
THis daye is celebrated and kepte holy the feast of the Ascention of Christe, that we maye the better be instructed concernynge thys Article of the Christen Fayth:Two thinges speciallye taught in this sermon. He ascended into heauen, and sytteth on the ryght hand of God the Father almyghty: frome thense he shall come to iudge the quycke and the deade. For the trewe vnderstandyng of this article two thynges are necessarye to be knowen. One concernynge the hystorie of the Ascention of Christ. The other, as touchyng the mysterie of Christes Ascention, what he hath done, why he dyd ascende, and what profyte he hath brought to his Churche and faithefull congregation by that hys meruailous and glorious Ascension. As concernynge the hystorie,The historie of christes ascension. blessed Luke in hys Chronicle of the Apostles actes dothe very diligently describe it and set it foorthe, when he maketh mention of the daye, of the place, and of the persones that were present, after this maner: That the Lord, after that by the space of fortie days he had shewed hymself aliue to his Disciples after his resurrection,Act. 1. & spokē vntounto thē of ye kingdom of God, gathered them together, and brought them vntounto mount Oliuete, not farre frome Hierusalem, and gaue them commaundemente, that they shoulde not departe frome Hierusalem, but to wayte there for the promise of the Father, euen the Holy Ghost, and that afterwarde they shoulde publyshe the Gospelle, thorough out the worlde. And when he hadde spoken these thynges, whyle they behelde, hee was taken vp on hye, and a clowde receaued hym vp oute of theyr syghte. And whyle they looked stedfastly vp towarde heauen, as he went: Beholde (sayth Luke, two men stoode by theym in whyte apparell, whyche sayd vntounto them: Ye menne of Galilee, why stande ye gasing vp into heauen? Thys same IESVS, whyche is taken vp frome you into heauen, shall so come, euen as ye hauehave seene hym go into heauen.Act. 1. This is the historie of the Ascention of Christ, as it is described and sette forth by blessed Luke.
In this hystorye fyrst of all, is this miracle woorthye to be obserued,The state of glorified bodies that the Lorde Christ before hys Disciples, is caryed vp into Heauen, and by a cloude taken oute of theyr syght: whiche is a manyfeste declaration vntounto vsus, what the state of glorified bodies after the generall Resurrection shall bee. For it is not the naturall propretie of mens bodies to be caried vp. Notwithstandyng that shalbe the condition of glorified bodies, that in a moment they maye go to all places, without impediment of any thyng, as the example of Christe teacheth, whome, when he rose agayne from death vntounto lyfe, the stone of the graue could not hynder hym, nor afterwarde the doores shutte coulde kepe hym out. He pearceth thorow all thyngs. He maketh hym selfe vysible when he wyll, & agayn inuisible, when his pleasure is. That same felicitie and blessed state shall our bodies also hauehave after the resurrection, when the bodies shall be immortall, and no more subiecte to infirmities, as they are nowe in thys lyfe, wherein we are combred with many diseases and necessities. But of these thynges we shall speake more at an other tyme, whenne wee shall treate of the Article of the Resurrection of the deade. Lette vsus nowe come vntounto the principall poynte of the whole matter, wherunto also the Angels had speciall respecte, when they called agayne into the waye the Disciples, that gased here and there, that they should rather consider, why Christe is ascended into heauen, then how he beyng a littell afore seene, is nowe seene nomore. The doctrine of the Apostles in all thynges moueth specially to this poynt, that we should consider vntounto what ende all the actes of Christe were doone: as for an example.Rom. 4. They referre Christes deathe vntounto our sinnes, and his resurrection vntounto oure Iustification, and so likewise of the other. After this sorte muste we nowe also see, why Christe ascended into heauen, and what commoditie and profyt we hauehave by that his ascension
Christ by his ascension declareth, ye his kyngdome is not of thys worlde.And fyrst of all lette vsus behold the nature and state of his kyngdome. For in that that he is gone vp into heauen, he declareth, that his kyngdom is not of this worlde, and that his administration shall not be after the maner of worldly kyngdomes. When the Disciples demaunded of Christe, at what tyme he woulde restore the kyngdome to Israell, they were of this opinyon,Iohn. 18. that Christes kyngedome shoulde be a corporall and worldly kyngedome. But by his ascension, they are taught otherwyse to thynke of his kyngdom: that is to saye, that it is no worldely kyngdome, oute of the which great richesse, dignities and promotions are to be looked for,Actes. 1. but rather a spirituall and euerlastynge kyngedome, in the whyche hee shoulde geue Spirituall gyftes vntounto menne. Therefore lette no manne become one of Christes flocke to the ende that he wyll gette temporall goodes and worldely possessions, or to come vntounto great honour: for these thynges are not to be found in this kyngdome. Baptisme, the ministerie of the worde, and the Lordes supper were not instituted for tēporall thinges, neither shold Christ euer hauehave ben reueled in the world,Why Christ came down from heauen if it had not bene for a more graue and weighty cause then this. For our euerlastyng saluation and rightousnes came he down from heauen. There was therfore an higher & greater matter, why the sonne of God did either descende or ascend: verily that he might prouide for vsus euerlasting goodes, as are the fauor of God, remission of sinnes, the gift of the holy Ghost, righteousnes, & euerlastyng lyfe. Such gyfts must we loke for at Christes hand, which continued not in this life, but wēt into an euer stinge life, euen into heauen, and there hath begun a spirituall, inuisible, and euerlasting kingdome. Whych thing was longe before prophecied by Dauid in a certaine Psalm,Psal 68. Ephe. 4. which S. Paule reciteth in his Epistle to the Ephesians, and interpreteth it of the Ascention of Christ, and of his spirituall kyngdome. The words are these. Thou art gone vp on hie, thou hast led captiuitie captiue, and receiued giftes for men, yea euen for thyn enemies, that the Lord God might dwel among them. The sentence is short, but it comprehendeth many thynges, and eueryevery one of them oughte dilygently to be weyghed, pondered, and consydered. The first worde Paule hymself handleth lyke an Apostle, when he saith: That he ascended, what meaneth it, but that he also descended fyrste into the lowest partes of the earth? He that descended, is euen the same also, that ascended vp aboue all heauens, to fulfyll all thynges. S. Paule in these hys wordes dothe very exquisitely handle bothe the descension and ascension of Christe, that by thys meanes we maye knowe, from whense so many and so greate gyftes came, that we hauehave receaued by the ascension of Christ. Let no man thinke that he with his owne woorkes, rightousnesse, holynes of lyfe, or wyth any other thynge hathe deserued, that he should receaue the noble gyftes of Christes ascension, but Christ himselfe hath deserued it, which geueth the gyftes,Phil. 2. in that he came downe, and humbled hymselfe, and for our sake became manne, and for vsus dyed on the crosse.
These gyftes dothe Paule signify by these his wordes, when he, as it were, interpreteth the mynd of the Prophete, and putteth Christes descension before his Ascension. For as muche then as the Holy Ghoste by the Prophete speaketh thus of Christe: Thou wentest vp on hye: It foloweth herof, that he came down before, and was made lowe. Whych altogether was doone for our sake.
Therfore Paules interpretation agreeth wel with the woordes of Christ,Ioan. 16. whiche ye lately hearde. It is expedient for you that I go. For except I go my way, the comfortour shall not come. But when I go my waye, I will sende hym vntounto you. If I go my way, I wyl prepare you a place.Ioan. 14. This sayeng, Thou art gone vp on hye, maketh a differēce betwene Christ and them that ascended into heauen. Enoch was taken vp vntounto GOD.Gen. 5. Helias wente vp in a fyerye charette, but CHRIST went not so vp into heauen, but he ascended by his owne power, as hee also by hys owne power, rose agayne frome deathe vntounto lyfe, without the healpe of any thyng. This is a great diuersitie, for we shall not rayse vp oure selues at the laste day,4. Reg. 2. Iohn. 6. but Christe shall rayse vsus vp. Christe hymselfe rose frome deathe vntounto lyfe by his owne power, as he sayeth in the Gospell of S. Iohn:Iohn. 10. My Father loueth me, because I geue ouer my lyfe, that I maye take it again. No man taketh it away from me, but I geue it ouer of my owne selfe. I hauehave power to geue it ouer, and I hauehave power to take it agayne. And Peter in the Chronicle of the Apostles actes sayth:Act. 2. It was impossible for hym to bee holden of deathe. So in lyke maner is there a difference betweene his Ascension and ours. We ascend vp into heauen,The differenc of christes ascension and oures. because Christe draweth vsus vntounto hym. But CHRIST hym self went vp into heauen by his owne power, as he sayth in the Gospell of Iohn: No manne goeth vp into heauen,…oan. 3. but he that came downe from heauen: that is to say, by his owne power. This diuersitie betwene Christes Ascention and oures, dyd the Holy Ghost shew long before, that by thys he myghte teache vsus, that Christ is the almyghty and euerlastyng GOD, whome we oughte (as they saye) wyth embracynge armes to receaue.
Where as the Psalme sayth moreouer: Thou wentest vp on hye: It is none other thing, then as we sayd before, & Christ pronounced before Pilate: My kingdome is not of this worlde.Ioan. 18. Therefore althoughe we are in the worlde occupied about matters of houshold and Policie, yet seynge wee are Christians, and the kyngdome of CHRIST is not of this worlde, we oughte to lyfte vp our myndes vntounto heauen, that we maye aboue all thynges embrace this spirituall kingdome, and looke vntounto that. But the most part of vsus dothe the contrary. For a greate number of vsus bothe in body and mynd, and in all that we are able to do, ar altogether drowned and swallowed vp with the present things of this world,The maners of thys world discribed. and only seketh for the goodes & possessions therof, as though we shold liue here for euer, & neuer depart. We regarde litle or nothynge, that Christe is gone vp on hye.Thoughe our bodyes be on ye earth yet our, myndes ought to be in heauē The Holy ghost wold hauehave this lewdnesse amended in vsus, and therefore he diligently putteth vsus in mynde, that Christ is gone vp on hye, and hath left and forsaken these earthy thyngs so that although we be vponupon the earthe with oure bodie, yet with our hearte and mynde, we sholde alway hauehave a desyre vpward, and not trouble our herts with the cares of this world. For a christen man should on this wise behaue hymself. Let his body be occupied about necessarie thyngs for this present life: but let hys mynd hauehave all her delight and pleasure, all her meditation and study, all her trauaile and exercise about heauenly, supernall, and euerlastinge thynges, as Paule saith:Coloss. 3. Seke after those thinges that are aboue, where Christ is sitting on the right hand of God, and not after those thynges that are on the earth.
But why did Christ go vp into heauen, or what busines hath he there? Of this matter dothe the Psalme make mencion, saying: Thou art gone vp on hie: thou hast led captiuitie captiue. This is a description of the great and glorious triumph of Christ, and in a maner it appeareth that Christe hadde respect to this psalme,Luc. 11. when he putte foorthe the Parable of the stronge armed manne, whyche kept his palaice, and had al thinges in quiet,Synne hath made vsus bond slaues to the deuyll and deathe. tyll one that was stronger then he, came vponupon him, bounde hym, and toke awaye his weapon wherein he trusted, and made a spoyle of it. For wee wretched caytiues, because of synne, are vnderunder the tyrannye of the deuyll and death, whych dothe hold vsus captiue, and we can not escape thys tyranny: but the deuill to the vttermoste hath dominion ouer vsus, and deathe kylleth vsus at her pleasure. We of our selues are able to do nothyng agaynst them.
But Christ, whiche farre excelleth them in strength, cometh, and firste thorow his greate humilitie is betrayde and crucified,Christes humilitie. and so by his death he satisfieth for the sinnes of the whole worlde, as an innocent lambe. And all these thinges are ioyned with great humilitie, and in them appeareth nothinge but moste highe infirmitie and weakenes. And therfore he is hanged on the crosse that he may dye. But after that synne was put awaye by his death,Christes glorious tryumph ouer synne deuill and hell and weake Christ is buried in his graue, and there is nowe no more hop of him: he cōmeth forth again with meruelous great power and glorie alyue and quick, as we heard in the daye of Christes resurrection, and as the holy Ghoste sayth here: He ledde captiuitie captiue: that is to say, he hathe destroyed the kingdome of the deuil & of death. He hath spoiled them of all their power, so that the deuill fromhensforth hath no more power ouer the Christians, death can no more kill them euerlastingly,Rom. 8. neither can synne condemne them.
Therefore all thinges are now turned cleane contrarie. Before we were holden,By christ are we made free from synne▪ deuyll death & damnation. vnderunder the captiuitie of synne. Before we perceaued that the deuill by the reason of oure sinne was a cruell tyrant againste vsus. Before we coulde by no meanes escape the moste bytter payne of death. Before we looked for, yea and that worthely, euerlasting damnation, and the most cruell tormentes of hell fyre. But fromhensforth it shall no more be so.Why christ is ascendede into heauen. For Christe vntounto this ende is ascended into heauen, that he shoulde holde in bondes as slaues of no power, synne, death, and deuill, that they fromhensforth should not exercise, their tyranny againste vsus, as tofore they hauehave done, or if they do attempt any violence against vsus, it should chaunce for the best on our behalfe. Synne ceaseth not to prouoke vsus,Rom. …. Synne. if by any meanes it may enforce vsus to do any thing againste the will of God, and so to make vsus to hauehave gyltie, consciences. And our infirmitie is great. We do not resiste sin, as we ought to do. Dauid was a great man & an holy,2. Reg. 11. yet was he throwne into two most greuous & haynous sinnes. Nowe that he was deliuered again frō those sinnes,2. Reg. 12. & that they were forgiuen him. The cause was that he beleued on yt blessed sede that was promised to come, which shold destroye the power of synne, and make it his bonde prisoner. It therfore can not only not oppresse Dauid,All thinges worke for the best vntounto thē that louelove god. but it is the cause also, that he prayeth the more feruently, and is the more circumspecte in all his doinges for euer after. If he had not thus fallen,Psal. 51. he had neuer made that moste godly and swete psalme. Miserere.
Deathe.And so likewise is the matter concerning death. It can not refraine his violence from vsus: neither can we any otherwise then tremble for feare at the beholdinge therof. But how cōmeth it to passe, that death can do none of all those thinges that it entendeth? Because death is taken prisoner & bounde, so yt nowe it can not hurt nor kyl euerlastingly the faithful,1. Cor. 5. the styng therof being taken awaye by Christ, and it selfe being vtterly subdued and ouercome,Osee. 3. as Christ him selfe saith by the Prophet: O death, I wil be thy death. Therfore whē death sheweth it selfe moste fearce, and vttereth the greatest violence that it can: yet it doth no more with the true Christians, then that it should be the cause for them to flee vntounto the worde of God, that they maye exercise them selues in it the more diligently, and confirme them selues with it, which otherwise they wold not hauehave done, if the terrours of death had not bene.
Euen the same may be spoken concerning the deuil, which is a sutle, deceiptfull, craftie and cruell enemie.The deuyll. He at all times lyeth in waight for the Christians, if by any meanes he may make their hope frustrat & vaine.1. Pet. 5. But Christ is Lord ouer him, so that he shal not onelyonly not do & bring to passe that he entendeth, but also the more that Christians are assalted of him,Note well. ye more ware & circumspecte doth he make them, and prouoke them the more diligently to geue their mindes to prayer, & to the meditation & studie of gods worde, & to cōmit them selfe wholly to the tuition & defence of god, euermore calling on him for helpe and succour. And where as if they were without this sutle and craftie enemie, they wold become careles and negligent, because they should stand in no feare of suche an aduersarie, nowe they watch, now they are circumspecte and take hede that they fall not into his daunger. Al these thinges therfore profit the Christians, whiche are to other, because of their corrupt & pernitious nature a very plague, pestilence, confusion and destruction. And this chaunceth to the Christians, because Christ is ascended into heauen, and hath by that meanes made them his prisoners,Synne death and deuyll are taken prisoners of christ. so that now they can not do against ye Christians what they wold, but what it pleaseth Christ to suffer or appoint them. Synne wold gladly condēne vsus: death wold very faine kyl vsus: The deuil is altogether desirous to cast vsus hedlōg into euerlasting damnati, ōbut they can not do what they wold, forasmuch as they are, although enemies, yet the captiues & bond slaues of Christ, so that although they be cruel & fearce against vsus, yet can they not hurt against vsus. And this is the noble fruit & singuler cōmoditie of Christes Ascentiō, that our greate enemies, synne, death & deuill,The fruite of christes ascencion. whose captiues and bonde slaues we were, are nowe imprisoned of Christe, and holden in bondage, so that by this meanes we are free from their tyranny. For, for this purpose dyd he go vp into heauen, and sytteth on the right hande of God, that he might defende the churche against them.
Christ hath receued gyftes for men.It foloweth in the psalme: Thou hast receaued gyfts for men: that is to saye, suche gyftes as thou wilt distribute vntounto men, and thorowe those gyftes helpe & cōfort them. What maner of gyftes these are. God by the Prophet Ioel declareth, saying: After this will I poure out my spirit vponupon all fleshe:Ioel. 2. and your sonnes & your daughters shall prophecie: your olde men shall dreame dreames, and your yong men shal se visions: yea in those dayes I wil poure out my spirit vponupon seruantes & maydens. I wil shewe wonders in heauen aboue, & tokens in the earth beneth. And in ye gospel of Iohn Christ saith thus:Iohn. 16. If I go away, I wil send the confortour vntounto you. And when he shal come, he will rebuke ye worlde of sin, of righteousnes, & of iudgemēt. Peter also saith: Sence now that Christ by the right hand of god is exalted,Act. 2. and hath receaued now of the father the promes of the holy ghost: he hath shed forth this gyfte, whiche ye nowe see and heare.
Now there are two thinges principally, whiche the holye ghost worketh.The workes of the holye ghost. Firste he leadeth vsus thorowe the Gospel vntounto the true knowledge of CHRIST that we maye beleue to hauehave remission of our synnes in his name: Again, that we maye bringe forth the worthy fruites of repentaunce, resiste synne, mortifye it, & earnestly begin to obeye god. And this newnes of lyfe afterwarde taketh place in oure soule, bodye, heart, and in al the partes of vsus. For although because of our sinnefull body we can neuer be so free from sinne, that we shall be vtterly without synne,Rom. 4. Psal. 32. yet that sinne that remaineth in vsus, is not imputed to vsus, nor layde to our charge for Christes sake, neyther doth it condemne vsus. And this is the firste thynge that the holy ghost worketh in vsus.
Secondly, the holy ghoste also maketh his instruments that thorowe the worde and the preachynge therof other maye be brought vntounto the knowledge of this grace.Psal. 68. Ephe. 4. In consideration wherof Paule interpreteth this psalme to this ende, that thorowe the Ascention of Christ these giftes chaunce vntounto vsus, that he hath made some, Apostles, some Prophetes, some Euangelistes, some Shepheardes and teachers, to the edifying of the saintes, to the worke and ministration, euen to the edifying of the body of Christe, till we all come to the vnitie of fayth, & knowledge of the sonne of god, vntounto a perfect man, vntounto the measure of the ful perfecte age of Christ. For we se by daily experience, howe cruell an enemie the deuil is to the worde, and specially in these our dayes,Enemies of godes worde. and how he calleth vntounto hym for helpe the Turke, the Pope and all the tyrātes of the worlde, that they coming to gether hurly burly with speares and Iauelinges in their handes against the lord and his annointed,Psal. 2. may put out of the waye the worde of God, and make hauocke of the Churche of Christ. But the more the Pope & the Turke shewe their furie and crueltie against the churche of Christe and his holye worde,Pers…ecutyon maketh the worde of god to florishe. the more doth it prosper and florishe, and daily more and more getteth the victorie ouer the enemies, whiche with out all doubte shall shortly come to confusion. The gates of hell▪ Math. 16.sayth Christ, shall not preuaile against my church or congregation. Again: whosoeuer falleth on this stone, shall be broken in peces:Math. 21. but on whome soeuer it falleth, it shal al to grinde him. Baptisme, the Lordes supper, and the worde, all the tyrantes of the worlde can not take awaye, no, nor yet destroye that congregation, whiche exerciseth them faithfully and truly. And this is no lytle fruite, nor smal commoditie of Christes Ascention. For to this ende went he vp into heauen, that he might sende the holy ghost, and set forwarde the ministerie of of the gospel here in the worlde.
God defēdeth his churche.Moreouer these also are called giftes, that god gouerneth and defendeth his churce, conforteth it in aduersitie, preserueth it in persecution, kepeth it in the trueth and defendeth it against errours, and moueth it vntounto prayer, and other godlye exercises, as Christe faith in ye gospel.Iohn. 16. In that day ye shal aske in my name. For this can no man do without the helpe of the holye ghost. And to be shorte: whatsoeuer we hauehave and receaue, al are the giftes of Christ, and all are the fruites of his Ascention.1. Cor. 4. Iac. 1. For, for this purpose did Christe ascend into heauen, that he shoulde stablishe suche a kingdome, and make vntounto hym selfe thorowe the holy ghost a Churche, euen suche a churche, as the gates of hell shall neuer be able to preuaile against it.Math. 16.
Luke. 24.This doth Luke very aptly signifie in his Euangelical historie, when he recordeth, that Christ being redy to ascend into heauen,Christe blessed his disciples. lifted vp his handes, and blessed his disciples, not as the popishe byshoppes are wont to do by wagginge their fyngers ouer the people that kneleth downe before them, but he praied and wished wel to their ministerie,what christes blessing was. Math. 28. Marc. 16. which he then enioyned them, that they should preache the gospell to eueryevery creature, that is to say, to all kynde of men, to all nations, to all people. For the gospell is not commanded to be preached for plantes, stones, byrdes, fishes &c. But for men, for reasonable creatures, as it is said: He that beleueth and is baptised, shalbe saued.Marc. 16. But stones and trees can not beleue: Therfore pertaineth vntounto thē neither preaching nor baptisme. But faith & baptisme belong only vntounto men, therfore doth the preachinge of the gospell pertayne vntounto thē alone, but Christ vseth that figure & maner of speach, saying:What it is to preach the gospell to euerye creature. Preache the gospel to eueryevery creature: that by this he may comprehende al degrees & conditions of men, that no Emperour, no kinge, no prince, is so mightie, but he must heare, beleue and receaue the gospel, or els thinke himselfe, as he is in dede damned. To this commandement doth Christ lyfte vp his handes, and blesseth them, that is to saye, he doth not only wysh that they may prosper & hauehave good successe in the execution of their office, but he signifieth also, yt he will helpe thē, defende them, be present at their ministerie, & geue good encrease to ye same, as he saith by ye Prophet: The worde yt cōmeth out of my mouth,Esa. 55. shal not turne againe voide vntounto me, but shal accomplishe my wil, & prosper in the thing, wherto I sent it.
Therfore wheresoeuer the gospel is taught,Whersoeuer y• gospell is preached there the blessinge of Christe is. Christe lyfteth vp his handes, and bringeth forth his blessinge, that it maye bringe forth fruite, and not returne in vayne. And this is without doubt a great conforte, that Christ at that very tyme, when he should ascend, lyfteth vp his handes, & blesseth ye disciples. For by this he euidētly declareth,What christe mente by blessing his disciples. that his Ascentiō bringeth vntounto vsus most swete cōsolation & cōfort, great helpe against syn, deuil, death and hel, & diuerse noble giftes vntounto the edifyinge of gods church, & fynally his blessinge, good wil and fauour, yea and also after this transitorie life, euerlasting life, with immortall glorie & vnoutspeakable ioye. For to what ende should Christ hauehave geuen so louinge and gentle a token of his louing and gentle good will toward vsus by lifting vp his handes, and by blessyng vsus if he had borne vsus no good will, nor wold hauehave suffred vsus to hauehave place with him in his kingdō? Seing then that he lifted vp his handes, & wysheth well to them an to their newe enioyned ministerie, it is a moste euident argument, sure signe, and manifest token, that he beareth a singuler good will towarde vsus, and that his desyre is, we should euer be partakers of this blessing, and receaue therof greate consolation and conforte thorowe the preachinge of the Gospell, whiche is the power of god vntounto saluation for so manie as beleue it.Rom. 1.
Thus hauehave I sett foorth vntounto you this …rticle of Christes Ascension, wherby ye vnderstande, how full of swetnes and conforte it is, and what great and singuler profite cometh to vsus by it, ye hauehave hearde, that forasmuche as oure owne fleshe and bloude, euen the sonne of God, sytteth on the right hand of God, synne, death and deuill are without power, & that they hauehave not so greate libertie & strength, yt they can hurte vsus. For although they be oure capital & cheife enemies, & seke all meanes possible to destroye vsus, yet are they such enemies, as are but prisoners & boūde slaues. Ye hauehave hearde also, yt thorow the Ascension of Christ, the holy ghost is geuēn vntounto vsus, that he may lede vsus into all truth, defende vsus againste errours, conforte vsus in our afflictions, praye with vsus, moue vsus to prayer, and finally, garnishe vsus with all maner of spirituall and heauenly gyftes. For this cause is Christe ascended into heauen, and sitteth on the right hande of God, that, as Paule sayth, he maye fulfyll all thinges, that is to saye, geue and graunt vsus all thinges, whatsoeuer we hauehave nede of vntounto saluation and euerlasting lyfe.
Therfore let vsus follow the example of the Apostles, & as Luke sayth,Luc. 24. let vsus worship with them the Lord Christ Iesus yea and that with great ioye, and geue most hūble, entier, & heartie thākes to our heauēly father, & desyre hym, yt he will conserue & kepe vsus in this grace, & at ye last geue vsus the ioyeful enheritaūce of his moste glorious kingdome for Iesus Christ his sonnes sake, our alone Sauiour and our alone redemer, our alone aduocat and our alon mediatour, our alon lawfulfiller and our alone peace maker: to whom with God the father and God the holy ghost be all honour, glory, and praise both nowe and worldes without ende. Amen.