Propositions and Principles of Divinity Disputed, Section 46
PRINCIPLES CONCERNING CHRIST HIS ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN. XLVI.
SEING THE ARTICLE OF CRISTS REſurrection hath bene alreadie opened: it now followeth, that we deale with his aſcenſion into heauen.
1 AS the Scripture dooth teach, that the death, reſurrection, and buriall of Chriſt were true, and not fained; ſo, the ſame doth teſtifie, that his Aſcenſion into heauen, was not onelyonly viſible, but alſo locall.
2 For although, the word ASCENDING, is ſometimes Figuratiuely ſpoken concerning God; yet in this Article of the Faith, it is taken in his proper and naturall ſignification, in ſuch ſort, that by it is expreſſed a paſſage, from a lower place vntounto a higher, which is pointed out by the name of Heauen.
3 Whereas in the Scripture, there is mention made of a three-folde Heauen; wee affirme, that the higheſt of all, is heere to bee vnderſtood: wherein, is the ſeat and aeternall habitation of the ſoules of the faithfull, and where alſo, Chriſt is exalted aboue all Creatures.
4 And although, he be trulie aſcended into Heauen; yet doth it not follow thence, that he is no more preſent here with his Church for the gouernment thereof: ſeeing that the ſaid Aſcention, dooth onelyonly appertaine vntounto that nature which is finite, and contained in a place; that is, vntounto his humanitie, and not to his Diuinitie, which is eueryevery where alwais preſent, and can be contained in no certaine place, ſeeing it containeth all things: For as AVGVSTINE hath ſpoken very notablie, the body wherein Chriſt roſe, muſt bee in one place, where as his trueth is eueryevery where ſpread abroad.
5 Hence we gather, that hee is not now vponupon earth, in reſpect of his Manhood; ſeeing he hath once aſcended into that place, whence the Scripture dooth teſtifie that hee will not depart, vntill the reſtitution of all thinges, and in no other manner neither, then he did aſcend.
6 Yet wee ſay, that God and man did aſcend, becauſe that his humaine bodie was taken vp by the power of the Deity, which was vnſeparably joyned with the humain nature, and nowe remaineth there after a manner vnknowen vntounto vsus.
They are deceiued therefore, who holde, that Chriſt according vntounto his humaine nature, can be at the ſame time both in heauen and in earth. And thoſe alſo, who auouch that his fleſhe is eueryevery where, and all thoſe in a word, who bereaue his body of the eſſential, and as DAMASCEN ſpeaketh of the Caracteriſtical properties therof; that is, ſuch as are markes of a true bodie.
7 Now, where as Chriſt after his Aſcention, was ſeen of PAVL and STEPHEN; that viſion was extraordinary, and a peculier reuelation: So that from thence it cannot bee gathered, that Chriſt was not in that place wherevnto hee aſcended.
8 This Aſcention furthermore, was as it were, a certain triumph after the victory gottē ouer the enemies of mankind which he ouercame.
9 The end of this triumph is diuers and manifold: Firſt of all, it teſtifieth, that the woorke of our Redemption was finiſhed vponupon earth, the which he would ſeale by this magnificall and royall triumph, which for this cauſe is called by AVGVSTINE, a confirmation of the Catholicall faith. For by this meanes Chriſt hath gotten, vntounto the immortal and incorruptible life, not an earthly, but an incorruptible and aeternall manſion.
10 Secondly, that there ſhould be extant a moſt cleare teſtimonie of the Diuinitie of Chriſt, by the which his humanitie, was taken vppon high, whence alſo it appeareth, that he conſiſteth of two natures.
11 Thirdlie, that hauing ouercome death, hee ſhould enjoy that glorye, which was prepared and ordained for him before the foundation of the world was laid; not according to his Deitie, but according to his humanitie, the glory wherof appeared then, when a new ghueſt as it were, entered into heauen; to wit, [the man GOD,] the which thing, the Angels had neuer ſeene before.
12 And although the man Chriſt was glorified by his Reſurrection, in ſuch ſort, as there was nothing wanting vntounto him; yet this Aſcention, was a more certaine ample poſſesſion of that glory.
13 Fourthly and laſtly, that he might prepare a dwelling for vsus in Heauen: and not onelyonly prepare it, but alſo allure vsus thither, that wee might follow him by an ardent deſire and affection, while we are in this life, and here vponupon earth ſeeke thoſe things that are aboue.
14 Nowe, euen as Chriſt was borne for our cauſe, dead for our cauſe, &c. So hee aſcended into Heauen for our cauſe.
15 The fruit and profite therefore, which ariſeth to the faithfull out of this Aſcention, is manifolde. For firſt, wee are thereby vndoubtedly aſſured, that we ſhall once, namelie at the laſt day, aſcend alſo into Heauen; For where the head is, there the members alſo ought to be, & the Aſcention of the members ſhall bee ſuch, as the Aſcention of the head was (ſaue that he aſcended by his own power, where as we ſhall aſcend, not by our owne, but by his vertue:) For our bodies ought to bee faſhioned like vntounto his glorious body, as the members vntounto the head.
16 Secondly, after this Aſcention, was the holy Ghoſt giuen vntounto the Apoſtles: Next, were other gifts from heauen beſtowed vppon men, and the Church furniſhed with things needfull for the ſame.
17 Thirdlye, heereby a way is opened for vsus vntounto our heauenly countrey, from whence we fell by the meanes of ADAM.
18 Fourthly and laſtlie, his Reſurrection confirmeth our faith: For hereby we are aſſured, that our ſoules ſeparated from our bodies, euen before the Reſurrection, ſhall paſſe to no other place, then where Chriſt is; that they may liue for euer in bleſſednes with him.
Defended by WILLIAM QVERCINVS Tarbienſis.