Looking Unto Jesus, Book 8 · Chapter 2 · Section 1 – Section 2
SECT. I. Of knowing Jeſus as carrying on the great work of our ſalvation in his Aſcention, Seſſion, and Miſſion of the Spirit.
1. LET us know Jeſus carrying on the great work of our ſalvation for us in his Aſcenſion into Heaven, in his Seſſion at God's right hand, and in his miſſion of the Holy Ghoſt; theſe are points of great uſe, if theſe tranſactions had not been, where had we been? theſe are points of higheſt ſpeculation, if theſe tranſactions had not been, where had Chriſt been? after his humiliation, herein lay the exaltation of his glorious Perſon, he was exalted above the Earth, above the Clouds, above the Stars, above the Heavens, above the Heavens of Heavens; O the glorious Majeſty of our King Jeſus, as ſitting down at God's right hand! our ſalvation is the greateſt myſtery that ever was, it being made up of the various workings of the glory of God; for us men, and for our ſalvation Chriſt was incarnate, and came down from Heaven, and for us men and for our ſalvation Chriſt was exalted and went up into Heaven. Here is an object of admiration indeed, the very Angels at the ſight of it ſtood admiring and adoring; it took up their heart, aſtoniſhed their underſtanding; ſurely it was the bleſſedſt ſight that ever the Angels did, or could behold; come then, and O my ſoul do thou take a view of that which they admire, the deſign is not ſo principally concerning Angels, as thy ſelf; they are in it only as afar off, and in general; but it concerns thee in ſpecial and particular; and therefore ſtudy cloſe this Argument, and know it for thy ſelf. Study firſt the Aſcenſion of Chriſt, how, and whether, and why he aſcended. 2. Study the Seſſion of Chriſt at God's right hand; O the mines, the riches of that ſpiritual heavenly knowledg! 3. Study the miſſion of the Holy Ghoſt; not a circumſtance in it, but deſerves thy Study; worlds of wealth (ten thouſand times better than Gold or Silver, or Precious Stones, may be found in the diggings of theſe mines; have not many Students beat out their brains on leſſer ſubjects? what endeavours have there been to dive into the ſecrets of Nature? what volumes have been written of Phyſicks, Metaphyſicks, Mathematicks? and is not this ſubject Chriſt? is not every of theſe ſubjects, Chriſt's Aſcenſion, Chriſt's Miſſion of the holy ſpirit of more worth, and value, and benefit than all thoſe? come ſtudy that piece of the Bible wherein theſe are written, there is not a line or expreſſion of Chriſt in the Scripture, but 'tis matter enough for a whole Age to comment on; thou needeſt not to leave old principles for new diſcoveries, for in theſe very particulars thou mighteſt find ſucceſſive ſweetneſs unto all eternity.
SET. II. Of conſidering Jeſus in that reſpect.
2. LEt us conſider Jeſus, carrying on this work of our ſalvation for us in theſe particulars. We muſt not only ſtudy to know theſe things, but we muſt meditate on them till they come down from our heads to our hearts. Meditation is the poize that ſets all the wheels within a going; it were to ſmall purpoſe to bid us, deſire, hope, believe, love, joy, &c. if firſt we did not meditate: in meditation it is that the underſtanding works, that the will is inclined to follow, that devotion is refreſhed, that ſaith is encreaſed, hope eſtabliſhed, love kindled; and therefore begin here O my ſoul; it is a due conſideration that gives both life, and light, and motion to thy actings in all proceedings.
And to take them in order.—
1. Conſider of Chriſt's Aſcenſion into Heaven. Methinks ſouls ſhould put themſelves into the condition of the Diſciples,Acts 1.10. When they looked ſtedfaſtly towards heaven as Chriſt went up; What, ſhall he aſcend, and ſhall not we in our contemplations follow after him? gaze, O my ſoul, on this wonderfull object, thou needeſt not fear any check from God or Angel, ſo that thy contemplation be ſpiritual and divine. No ſooner had Chriſt finiſhed his work of redemption here on earth, but on the Mount called Olivet he aſſembles with his Diſciples, where having given them commands, he begins to mount; and being a little lifted up into the Ayr, preſently a Cloud receives him into her lap, Herein is a clear demonſtration of his Godhead; Clouds are uſually in Scriptures put for the Houſe, or Temple, or Receptacle of God himſelf. How often is it ſaid that The glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud? Exod. 16.10. —19.9.-24.16.-34.5. Iſa. 19.1. pſal. 104.3.And that He came to Moſes in a thick cloud? and that he called unto Moſes out of the midſt of the cloud? and that the Lord deſcended in the cloud? Is not the Cloud God's own Chariot; Behold the Lord rideth on a ſwift cloud; —and O Lord my God thou art very great, ſaith David; great indeed, and he proves it thus, Who maketh the clouds his Chariot. Jeſus Chriſt in his aſcenſion to heaven enters by the way into a cloud; this was his chariot, led by thouſands and ten thouſands of his Angels.pſal. 68.17, 18 The Chariots of God are Twenty thouſand, even thouſands of Angels, the Lord is among them in Sinai in the holy place, thou haſt aſcended on high, thou haſt led captivity captive, thou haſt received gifts for men. Some are of opinion, that not only thouſands of Angels led this chariot, but that many of the Saints which ſlept, and roſe with Chriſt at his reſurrection, now aſcended with him, and compaſſed about this glorious cloud;Engliſh Annotations on Eph. 4.8. whence they give this for the meaning of the text, that when he went up through the ayr, and aſcended up on high, he led captivity captive, that is, he led a certain number of captives, namely the Saints that were long held in captivity of death, whoſe bodies aroſe at Chriſt's reſurrection, and now they accompanied Chriſt at his triumphant march into heaven. However he was attended, be not too curious (O my ſoul in this) the bright cloud that covered his body diſcovered his Divinity; and therefore here is thy duty, to look ſtedfaſtly towards heaven, and to worſhip him in his aſcenſion up into heaven; O admire and adore!—
But ſtay not thy contemplation in the cloud, he aſcends yet higher, through the Ayr, and through the Clouds, and through that ſphere, or element of fire, and through thoſe Orbs of the Moon, Mercury, Mars; of the Sun, Jupiter, Ʋenus Saturn; and through that azure Heaven of fixed Stars, and through that firſt moveable, and through thoſe condence and ſolid waters of the Chriſtaline Heaven; nor ſtood he ſtill till he came to thoſe doors and gates of the Empyreal Heaven, called The heaven of heavens; in all this triumphant glorious march ſome tell us of an heavenly harmony made by thoſe Choriſters of Heaven,Cypr. in Serm. Aſcenſ. Pſal. 4.5. the bleſſed Angels; Some going before, and ſome going after, they chant his praiſes, and ſing Hallelujahs: and that is the meaning of the Pſalmiſt, God is gone up with a ſhout, the Lord with the ſound of a Trumpet. In this meditation paſs not over thy duty, which immediately follows, Sing praiſes unto God; Ver. 6. Pſal. 68.….ſing praiſes; ſing praiſes unto our King, ſing praiſes.—Sing unto God, ſing praiſes to his Name, extol him that rideth upon the heavens, by the Name …ah, and rejoyce before him. Thou haſt great cauſe, O my ſoul, to praiſe him, and to rejoyce before him, eſpecially if thou conſidereſt that Chriſt aſcended not for himſelf, but alſo for thee; it is God in our nature that is gone up to heaven, whatever God acted on the perſon of Chriſt, that he did as in thy behalf, and he means to act the very ſame on thee; Chriſt as a publick perſon aſcended up to heaven; thy intereſt is in this very aſcenſion of Jeſus Chriſt; and therefore doſt thou conſider thy Head as ſoaring up? O let every Member praiſe his Name, let thy Tongue (called thy glory) glory in this, and trumpet out his praiſes, that in reſpect of thy duty it may be verified, Chriſt is gone up with a ſhout, the Lord with the ſound of a Trumpet.
And yet ſtay not by the way, but conſider further; Chriſt being now arrived at Heavens doors, thoſe heavenly ſpirits that accompanied him began to ſay,Pſal. 24.7. Lift up your heads O ye gates, even lift up your ſelves, yea everlaſting doors, and the King of glory ſhall come in! to whom ſome of the Angels that were within, not ignorant of his perſon, but admiring his majeſty and Glory, ſaid again, Who is the King of Glory? and then they anſwered, The Lord ſtrong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battel; Ver. 8. Rev. 21.12.and thereupon thoſe Twelve gates of the Holy City, of new Jeruſalem, opened of their own accord, and Jeſus Chriſt with all his miniſtring Spirits entred in. O my ſoul, how ſhould this heighten thy joy, and enlarge thy comforts, in that Chriſt is now received up into glory? every ſight of Chriſt is glorious, and in every ſight thou ſhouldſt wait on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt for ſome glorious manifeſtations of himſelf. Come, live up to the rate of this great myſtery; view Chriſt as entering into glory, and thou wilt find the ſame ſparkles of glory on thy heart: O this ſight is a transforming ſight, We all with open face beholding, as in a glaſs, the glory of the Lord, are changed into the ſame Image from glory to glory, 2 Cor. 3.18.even as by the ſpirit of the Lord.
2. Conſider of Chriſt's Seſſion at God's right hand; no ſooner was Chriſt entered into Heaven, but he is brought before his heavenly Father; and herein was the viſion accompliſhed, I ſaw in the night viſions, Dan. 7.13, 14.and behold one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the ancient of dayes and they brought him near before him, and there was given him dominion, and glory, and a Kingdom. This is that we call his Seſſion at God's right hand; a dominion was given him above all creatures, yea a dominion above the Hierarchy of all the Angels: O the glory of Chriſt at his firſt entrance into glory! immediatly all the Angels fell down and worſhipped him; immediately his Father welcomed him with the higheſt grace that ever yet was ſhewen.Pſal. 110.1. Come (ſaid he) ſit thou at my ri…ht hand untill I make thy enemies thy footſtool. One ſweetly obſerves, that uſually in the ſeveral parts of the performance of Chriſt's office, either God is brought in as ſpeaking to Chriſt, or Chriſt is brought in as ſpeaking to his Father; thus when he choſe him firſt to be our Mediator, God ſpeaks to Chriſt, Thou art a Prieſt for ever after the order of Melchizedech; and when Chriſt came to take upon him our nature,Heb. 10.7. Pſal 22.1. he ſpake to his Father, Lo I come to do thy will, a body haſt thou prepared for me. Again when Chriſt hung on the Croſs, he ſpakes to his Father,Acts 13.33. Heb. 1.13. My God my God why haſt thou forſaken me? but when Chriſt roſe again from the dead, God ſpake to him, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee; and when Chriſt aſcended into heaven, God ſpake to him. Son, ſit thou down at my right hand. This was the higheſt point of Chriſt, elevated; now was the propheſie accompliſhed, He ſhall be exalted, and extolled, and be very high. The Caldee Paraphraſt reads it thus, He ſhall be exalted above Abraham, Iſa. 52.13.he ſhall be extolled more than Moſes, he ſhall be very high above the higheſt Cherubin, and Saraphin; O my ſoul meditate on this Seſſion of Chriſt at God's right hand, and thence draw down ſome vertue and ſweetneſs into thy ſelf: what? was Chriſt exalted? had he a name given him above every name? walk then as becomes thoſe that have ſo glorious a Head: O defile not that nature which in thy Chriſt was ſo highly honoured!1 Cor. 6.15. it was the Apoſtles arguing, Shall I take the Members of Chriſt and make them the Members of an Harlot? ſo argue thou, ſhall I take the Nature of Chriſt, that Nature which he in his Perſon hath ſo highly glorified, and make it in my Perſon the Nature of a Devil? O my ſoul walk worthy of ſuch a Lord, unto all well-pleaſing; ſith now he is in his Throne at God's right hand, O kiſs the Son! honour the Son with divine worſhip, reverence, and ſubmiſſion; ſubmit chearfully and willingly to the Scepter of his Word, bow to his Name, as it is written, At the Name, the Perſon, the Power, the Scepter of Jeſus Chriſt, …l. 2.10.every knee ſhould bow.
3. Conſider of the Miſſion of the holy Ghoſt: no ſooner is Chriſt inaugurated in his Throne,Eph. 4.8. John 4.10. but he ſcatters his coin, and gives gifts; When he aſcended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. He gave gifts, or the gift of gifts, the gift of the holy Ghoſt; If thou kneweſt the gift of God, ſaid Chriſt to the Samaritan woman;John 7.39. that gift was the water of Life, and that water of life was the ſpirit, as John, who knew beſt his mind, gave the interpretation, This ſpeak he of the ſpirit. O my ſoul conſider of this princely gift of Chriſt! ſuch a gift was never before, but when God gave his Son; God ſo loved the World, that he gave his Son; and Chriſt ſo loved the world, that he gave his ſpirit; but O my ſoul conſider eſpecially to whom this Spirit was given;Iſa. 9.6. Rom. 5.5. the application of the gift is the very ſoul of thy meditation; Ʋnto us a Son is given, ſaid the Prophet; and Ʋnto us the holy Ghoſt is given, ſaith the Apoſtle: And yet above all, conſider the reaſons of this gift in reference to thy ſelf; was it not to make thee a Temple and Receptacle of the holy Ghoſt; ſtand a while on this! admire O my ſoul, at the condeſcending, glorious, and unſpeakable love of Chriſt in this! it was infinite love to come down into our nature when he was incarnate; but this is more, to come down into thy heart by his holy Spirit; he came near to us then, but as if that were not near enough, he comes nearer now; for now he unites himſelf unto thy perſon, now he comes and dwells in thy ſoul by his holy ſpirit: O my ſoul, thou haſt many in-comes of the world, though many are above thee, yet many are below thee; but Oh what little contentment haſt thou in theſe outward things? Come! here's that which will infinitely content thy vaſt deſires; Chriſt is in thee, realy in thee, by his Spirit; will not this content the utmoſt capacity of an heart? ſurely he is too covetous whom God himſelf cannot ſuffice; if thou haſt Chriſt, thou haſt all things; and if thou haſt the ſpirit of Chriſt, thou haſt Chriſt himſelf, not notionally, not by the habit of grace only, but really, eſſentially, ſubſtantially by his Spirit; it is the very ſpirit of Chriſt, the ſpirit it ſelf, the holy Ghoſt it ſelf in his own perſon that is united to thee, and dwells in thee; nor only comes he in perſon, but he brings along with him all his Train; hath he not endowed thee with ſome gifts? hath he not divided a portion and meaſure to thee in thy place and calling? take notice, obſerve it, and be thankfull, if thou haſt a gift of prayer, of propheſie, of wiſdom, of knowledge, it comes and flows from this holy Spirit; Ʋnto every one of us is given grace according to the meaſure of the gift of Christ. Eph. 4.7. 1 Cor. 12.11.Or according to the meaſure of the ſpirit; who is the gift of Christ. And all theſe worketh that one and the ſelfſame ſpirit, dividing to every man ſeverally as he will. But beſides a gift, hath he not endowed thee with his grace? hath he not planted in thy ſoul the habit, the power, the ſeed, the ſpring, the principle of grace? haſt thou not felt ſometimes the excitings, quickenings, ſtirrings of the ſpirit of God, commanding thy faith, love, zeal, and other graces to be in exerciſe? hath he not many a time at ſome dead lift, at ſome mighty ſtraight, at ſome prevailing temptation, when thou waſt even ready to yield to Satan,Heb. 4.16. come in as betwixt the bridge and water, and given thee grace to help in time of need? O the ſweet in-comes of the Spirit of God! as he is an holy Spirit, ſo he makes holy hearts; and if there be any holineſs in thy heart, what is it but an emanation, influence, effect of the Spirit of God? if ever thou hadſt any flowings of exciting, quickening grace, ſay, This is above nature, above fleſh and blood, it comes from the holy and bleſſed Spirit of God. Some other effects thou mayſt conſider of, as of the comforts of the ſpirit; what? haſt thou not ſometimes felt the joyes unſpeakable and full of glory? haſt thou not ſometimes known a mornings joy after a nights ſorrow? an healing of thy broken heart? a reviving of thy dead Spirit? a drop of heavens joy given thee as the hanſel or earneſt of thine inheritance? why all theſe are but the workings of the promiſed comforter: And I will pray the Father, and he ſhall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever. John 14.16.Another effect is the ſeal of the ſpirit; and what? haſt thou not ſometimes had the ſeal of the Spirit ſtamped on thee? I will not ſay this is abſolutely neceſſary, but haſt thou not ſometimes been aſſured of thy ſalvation, by a reflect act of faith, or by a work of grace habitual or actual? or by an irradiation of the ſpirit on thy graces? ſometimes the ſpirit is pleaſed to ſhine with its bright, and glorious, and heavenly beams into our ſouls, and then we are aſſured: hence the Apoſtle prayes for the Epheſians. Eph. 1.17.18, 19.That they might have the ſpirit of revelation? And to what end? That they might know what is the hope of his calling; (i.e.) that they might know upon what certain grounds and foundation their hopes were built; and hence the Pſalmiſt prayes for himſelf,Pſal. 13.16. Cauſe thy face to ſhine upon thy Servant: and again, God be mercifull unto us and bleſs us and cauſe his face to ſhine upon us. pſal 67.1.Selah. If the ſpirit ſhine upon our graces, then it ſeals: O conſider of this ſhining-ſealing work, and leave not till the Spirit dart in a ſpiritual light, and give thee a revelation, knowledg, and perſwaſion of thy effectual calling. Many other reaſons are of the ſpirits miſſion, but amongſt them all, conſider O my ſoul, and ponder on theſe few; think over Chriſt's Aſcenſion, Seſſion, and Miſſion of the Spirit; but in every thought be ſerious, fruitful, and particular; ſay, Chriſt is gone up into heaven for me, and he is ſate down at God's right hand for me; and he hath ſent down his ſpirit into my heart. O what workings would there be within, if thou wert but lively and active in the meditations of theſe ſeveral paſſages!