A Supplement to Knowledge and Practice, Part 1 · Chapter 3 · Section 8
SECT. VIII. Of our Saviours Aſcenſion and ſitting on Gods right Hand.He aſcended into Heaven.
THe words of the Creed are theſe. He aſcended into Heaven, and ſitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty. In treating of this Article I ſhall firſt ſhew that the promiſed Meſſias was to aſcend into Heaven. 2. That our Jeſus did really and truly aſcend thither. 3. I ſhall ſhew what Heaven it was he aſcended into. 4. The reaſons of his Aſcenſion. 5. The time when he aſcended. 6. The place from whence he aſcended.
I begin with the Firſt, namely, that the promiſed Meſſias was to aſcend into Heaven. This was typified of him by the High Prieſts going once a year into the Holy of Holies, Heb. 9.11. which was a type of Heaven. The High Prieſt when he had ſlain the Sacrifice, did with the blood thereof enter into the Holy of Holies. So the Meſſias having offered up himſelf a Sacrifice to God for us with his own blood, went into the Holy of Holies, viz. into Heaven, there to intercede for us by the virtue and merit of that blood. And as this was typified, ſo it was alſo propheſied of the Meſſias, Pſal. 68.18. compared with Epheſians 4.8. Thou haſt aſcended up on high, thou haſt led Captivity Captive, thou haſt received gifts for men. He was to conquer Sin and Death and Hell, and triumphing over them, he was to aſcend to the higheſt Heaven, and thence to ſend the precious and glorious gifts of the Spirit unto the Sons of Men. And accordingly he himſelf did foretell his Aſcenſion, John 6.62. and John 20.17.
2. This was not only foretold of the Meſſias, but really performed by him. He who was the Eternal Son of God, and by his Divinity preſent in Heaven while here upon the Earth, did by local tranſlation of his humane nature, really and truly aſcend from this earth below into the Heavens above, as is ſufficiently teſtified by theſe following Scriptures, Mark 16.19. Luke 24.50, 51. Acts 1.9, 10. Chriſts Aſcenſion was viſibly performed in the ſight of his Apoſtles. They ſaw him when he aſcended; the holy Angels there preſent bearing alſo Teſtimony unto it, Acts 1.10, 11.
3. Let us conſider the place he aſcended unto, which was the Heaven of Heavens, he paſſed through all the regions of the air, through all the coeleſtial Orbs, till he came to the Heaven of Heavens, the moſt glorious preſence of the Majeſty of God. He aſcended far above all viſible Heavens to the third Heaven, 2 Cor. 12.2. that he might fill all things, that is, fulfill all things propheſied of him.
4. Let us conſider the reaſons why he aſcended.
1. Having finiſhed the work of our Redemption, it was meet he ſhould return thither from whence he came, John 16.28. John 17.4, 5. 2. After his Humiliation his Exaltation was to follow. The firſt ſtep of which was his Reſurrection, and his Aſcenſion another ſtep of it. 3. Chriſt by his Aſcenſion manifeſted his victory over Sin, Satan and Death. 4. He Aſcended to make interceſſion for us. Rom. 8.34. 1 Joh. 2.1. Heb. 9.24. 5. That he might ſend down a more plentiful effuſion of the gifts and graces of his Spirit. And accordingly he tells his Apoſtles, John 16.7. Nevertheleſs, I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you. John 7.38, 39. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath ſaid, out of his belly ſhall flow rivers of living water. But this ſpake he of the ſpirit, which they that believe on him ſhould receive, for the Holy-Ghoſt was not yet given, becauſe that Jeſus was not yet glorified. 6. He aſcended that he might prepare a place for his members. John 14.2. In my Fathers houſe are many Manſions, if it were not ſo I would have told you: I go to prepare a place for you, Heb. 6.20. Whither the forerunner is for us entred even Jeſus made an High Prieſt for ever after the order of Melchiſedeck.
5. We come to conſider the time when he aſcended, viz. forty dayes after his Reſurrection, Acts 1.3. The reaſons why he continued ſo long, we may ſuppoſe to be theſe two. 1. to confirm unto his Diſciples his Reſurrection, and aſſure them of the truth of it; and, 2. To inſtruct them in the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
6. Let us conſider the place from whence he aſcended, viz. Bethany, that part of Mount Olive… which was near Bethany.
7. Let us conſider how he aſcended, viz. while he bleſſed his Diſciples, he was parted from them. And while they beheld, a Cloud received him out of their ſight.
We come now to conſider what improvement we ought to make of this Doctrine. 1. Chriſts aſcenſion confutes the Popiſh Doctrine of tranſubſtantiation. He is not really and corporally preſent in the Sacrament. He is not there, for he is aſcended into Heaven. 2. It makes for our conſolation. It may ſerve to encourage us to go to God in all our neceſſities, ſeeing we have ſo powerful an advocate at Gods right hand. 3. Seeing Chriſt is aſcended, it may aſſure us that if we be his members we ſhall aſcend alſo. The head being aſcended, the members muſt likewiſe in due time aſcend. John 17.24. Father, I will that thoſe alſo whom thou haſt given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou haſt given me. The Apoſtle ſpeaks of the aſcenſion of true Believers as a thing already effected by Chriſts aſcenſion, Eph. 2.6. And hath raiſed us up together, and made us ſit together in Heavenly places in Chriſt Jeſus; that is, having by that power by which he raiſed Chriſt from the grave, quickned us and beſtowed a new ſpiritual life upon us, he hath alſo (in aſſured hope) raiſed us up from the dead in Chriſt our Head, and hath ſet us with him in Heaven. For He ſitting there who is our Head, we who are his members may at preſent not unfitly be ſaid to fit there alſo in him, and ſhall infallibly come thither in due time. 4. It may take away the fear of death, yea, make it deſirable to us, if we be members of Chriſt, ſeeing it will but carry us thither, whither he is gone before to prepare a place for us. Therefore the Apoſtle ſayes Phil. 1.23. that though he was in a ſtrait betwixt two whether he ſhould deſire to die or live, conſidering the need the Philippians and others had of his Miniſtry; yet as for himſelf he had a deſire to depart, and to be with Chriſt, which is far better than to continue in this World.
Having thus ſpoken of Chriſts aſcenſion to Heaven,ſitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty it remaineth that I ſpeak of the other part of the Article, viz. his ſitting on the right hand of God the Father Almighty. Concerning this Article we ſhall ſhew theſe things. 1. That the promiſed Meſſiah was to ſit on the right hand of the Father. 2. That our Meſſiah did after his aſcenſion ſit on the right hand of God. 3. We ſhall ſhew the importance of this phraſe. 4. What improvement we are to make of this Article.
1. The promiſed Meſſias was to ſit on the right hand of the Father. This was foretold Pſal. 110.1. The Lord ſaid unto my Lord, ſit thou at my right hand untill I make thine enemies thy footſtool. That thoſe words were ſpoken concerning the Meſſiah, may appear from Mat. 22.44. and Acts 2.34, 35.
2. Our Meſſias after his aſcenſion did ſit at the right hand of God, Mark 16.19. He was received up into Heaven and ſate on the right hand of God. This was an honour never promiſed, never given to any but the Meſſias, Heb. 1.13. To which of the Angels ſaid he at any time ſit on my right hand? The Angels indeed ſtand about the Throne of God, but never any of them ſate down on his right hand. But our Saviour was ſo aſſured of this honour, that before the Chief Prieſt and Elders, when he ſaw his death contrived, and his Croſs prepared, he expreſſed his aſſurance of it, Luke 22.69. Hereafter ſhall the Son of man ſit on the right hand of the power of God. And the Apoſtle Peter ſpeaking of him after his Aſcenſion, 1 Pet. 3.22. ſayes Who is gone into Heaven and is on the right hand of God, Angels and authorities and powers being made ſubject unto him.
3. Let us inquire what is the importance of this phraſe ſitting at the right hand? The intent of the Holy Ghoſt is not to ſhew what bodily poſture Chriſt is in, but what dignity he is in, therefore in Scripture Chriſt is ſometimes ſaid to be at Gods right hand, Rom. 8.34. 1 Pet. 3.22. ſometimes to ſit on Gods right hand, as Mark 16.19. ſometimes to ſtand*Sedere judicantis est, ſtare vero adjuvantis, G egor. at Gods right hand; and thus he appeared to Stephen, Acts 7.55, 56. as ready to aſſiſt him, as ready to plead for him, as ready to receive him. 'Tis true, God being a Spirit hath no material parts, no right hand or left hand; but he is pleaſed to condeſcend to our capacities, and to ſpeak to us after the manner of men, among whom the right hand is the moſt honourable place. Thus 1 Kings 2.19. Bathſheba was placed on Solomons right hand. The right hand of God muſt therefore be taken here metaphorically, not properly. And ſo it ſignifies. 1. The great honour given to Chriſt. 2. The great Power and Dominion he hath obtained in Heaven. It imports his Kingly Power, and it was his ſolemn entry upon his Regal office as to the execution of that full dominion which was due unto him. For worthy is the Lamb that was ſlain to receive Power and Riches and Wiſdom and Strength and Honour and Glory and Bleſſing, Rev. 5.12. Therefore he ſaid after his Reſurrection, all power is given to me in Heaven and in Earth, Mat. 28.18. And the Apoſtle tells us Phil. 2.8, 9. To him every knee ſhall bow, that is, that all ſhould be ſubject to him. The principal end of this Regal Office of Chriſt is the effectual Redemption and actual Salvation of all thoſe whom God hath given him. And whoſoever, or whatſoever oppoſeth their Salvation, is by that oppoſition, become his enemy. And ſeeing the Promiſe of God cannot be evacuated, our Saviour muſt exerciſe this his Regal Power at the right hand of God till all ſuch enemies be ſubdued, 1 Cor. 15.25. For he muſt reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet. And when the whole Office of the Mediator ſhall be compleated and fulfilled, then every branch of the execution ſhall ceaſe, 1 Cor. 15.24, 28. Then cometh the end when he ſhall have delivered up the Kingdom to God even the Father, when he ſhall have put down all Rule and all Authority and Power, and when all things ſhall be ſubdued unto him, then ſhall the Son alſo himſef be ſubject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. But though the Mediatorſhip of Chriſt be then reſigned, and the Regal Office, as a part of that Mediatorſhip; yet Chriſt ſhall not ceaſe to be King or looſe any thing of that power and honour he had before; but as the Nicene Creed has it, His Kingdom ſhall have no end.
4. Let us now conſider what improvements we ought to make of this Article.
1. If Chriſt be ſet down on the right hand of God, let this mind us of our duty, which is humble ſubjection and obedience to him.
2. Let us encourage our ſelves if we belong to him, to expect protection from him. God hath given him to be head over all things to his Church. And all power is given him both in heaven and earth.
3. Let us remember his interceſſion, Heb. 9.24. For Chriſt is not entred into the Holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into Heaven it ſelf, now to appear in the preſence of God for us. 1 John 2.1. If any man ſin we have an Advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the Righteous. Heb. 7.25. He is able to ſave them to the uttermoſt, all that come unto God by him, ſeeing he ever liveth to make interceſſion for them. Doth the guilt of ſin ſting and wound our Conſciences? Let us remember what an Advocate we have. Are we in want of any mercy? Let us remember what our Saviour himſelf ſayes, John 16, 23. Whatſoever you ask the Father in my name he will give it you. Whatever trouble we are in, let us not be diſmayed, conſidering Chriſt is at Gods right hand. Heb. 12.2.
4. Let all thoſe that oppoſe Chriſt and his Kingdom think ſeriouſly of this, His enemies muſt be made his footſtool.