The Catechizing of Families, Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right Hand of God the Father Almighty.
Qu. 1. HOw long was it between Christ's Resurrection and his Ascension?
A. Forty dayes: He rose on the day which we call Easter-day, and he ascended on that which we call Ascension day, or Holy Thursday.aAct. 1. 3, 4. Mat. 28.
Q. 2. Did Christ stay all that while among his Disciples visibly?
A. No: but appeared to them at such seasons as he saw meet.bIo. 20. & 21.
Q. 3. Where was he all the rest of the Forty Days?
A. God hath not told us, and therefore it concerneth us not to know.
Q. 4. He shewed them that he had Flesh and Blood; ho… …en was he to them invisible, the most part of the Forty dayes?
A. The Divine power that raised Christ, could make those alterations on his Body, which we are unacquainted with.
Q. 5. How was Christ taken up to Heaven?
A. While he was speaking to his Apostles of the things concerning the Kingdom of God, and answering them that hoped it would presently be, and had given their Commission, and the Promise of the Holy Ghost, and commanded them to wait for it at Ierusalem; he was taken up as they gazed after him, till a Cloud took him out of their sight: And two Angels like two Men in white, stood by them and askt them why they stood gazing up to Heaven, telling them that Iesus who was taken up should so come again.cAct. 1. 4, 5.
Q. 6. Had it not been better for us that he had staid on Earth?
A. No: He is many wayes more useful to us in Heaven.dAct. 1. 10, 11. Io. 16, 17. & 15. 26. & 14. 16, 26. Gal. 4. 4, 6. 1. He is now no more confined in presence to that small Countrey of Iudea, above the rest of the World, as a Candle to one room, but as the Sun in his Glory, shineth to all his Church on Earth. 2. He is possessed of his full Power and Glory (by which he is fit to protect and Glorifie us.) 3. He intercedeth for us where our highest Concerns and Interest are.
4. He sendeth his Spirit on Earth to do his work on all believers Souls.
Q. 7. What is meant by his sitting on the right Hand of God?
A. Not that God hath Hands or is confined to a place as Man is. But it signifieth that the Glorified Man Iesus is next to God in Dignity, Power and Glory; and as the Lieutenant under a King, is now the Universal Administrator or Governour of all the World under God the Father Almighty.eMat. 26. 64. Act. 7. 55, 56. Rom. 8. 34. Eph. 1. 20. 21, 22, 23. Col. 3. 1. Heb. 1. 3, 13. & 8. 1. &. 10. 12.. Eph. 1. 23. Mat. 28. 18.
Q. 8. I Thought he had been only the Lord of his Church?
A. He is Head over all things to his Church. All Power and things in Heaven and Earth are given him: Even the frame of Nature dependeth on him: He is Lord of all: But it is his Church that he Sanctifieth by his Spirit and will Glorifie.
Q. 9. If Christ have all power, why doth he let Satan and Sin still reign over the far greatest part of the Earth?
A. 1. Satan reigneth but over Volunteers that wilfully and obstinately choose that Condition: And he reigneth but as the Jailor in the Prison, as Gods Executioner on the wilfull refusers of his Grace.fRev. 12. 9. & 13. 14. And his reign is far from absolute; he crosseth none of the Decrees of God, nor overcometh his power, but doth what God seeth meet to permit him to do. He shall destroy none of Gods Elect, nor any that are truly willing of Saving Grace. And as for the fewness of the Elect I shall speak of it after, about the Catholick Church.
Q. 10. But is not Christs Body present on Earth, and in the Sacrament?
A. We are sure he is in Heaven, and we are sure that their Doctrine is a fiction contrary to Sense, Reason and Scripture, that say the Consecrated Bread and Wine are substantially turned into the very Body and Blood of Christ, and are no longer Bread and Wine. Bu… how far the presence of Christs Soul and Body extendeth, is a question unfit for Mans determination, unle… we better knew what Glorified Souls and Bodies are … We see that the Sun is eminently in the Heaven: An… yet whether its lucid Beams be a real part of its substance which are here on Earth, or how far they extend, we know not: nor know we how the Sun differeth in Greatness or Glory from the Soul and Bod… of Christ: nor know when an Angel is in the roo… with us, and when not: These things are unfit for o… enquiry and decision.gAct. 3. 21. 1 Cor. 15. 44, 45.