Fruitfull lessons, vpon the passion, buriall, resurrection, ascension, and of the sending of the holy Ghost Gathered out of the foure Euangelists: with a plaine exposition of the same. By Miles Couerdall.
Coverdale, Miles, 1488-1568.
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THE ASCENSION OF IESVS CHRIST, out of the holie Euangelists.

IESVS lead his Disciples out into Be∣thanie. And when he had brought them together, hee spake vnto them of the kingdome of God, & commanded them that they should not depart from Ierusa∣lem: but to waite for the promise of the father. For Iohn (saith he) baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the holy Ghost after these few dayes. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him▪ saying: Lorde, wilt thou at this time restore againe the kingdome to Israel? And he said vnto them: It is not for you to knowe the times and the seasons, which the Father hath put in his owne power: But yee shall receiue power after that the holie Ghost is come vpon you, and yee shall be witnesses vnto mee not onely in Ierusalem, but also in all Iurie, and in Samaria, and euen vnto the worlds ende. Now when Iesus had spoken these words vnto them, he lifted vp his handes, and blessed them, and was taken vp, and a clowd receiued him out of Page  [unnumbered] their sight: so that hee departed from them, and was carri∣ed vp in heauen, and sitteth on the right hand of God. And whilest they looked stedfastly vp towards heauen, as he went behold two men stood by them in white apparrell: which al∣so said: Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing vp into hea∣uen? The same Iesus which is taken vp from you into hea∣uen, shal so come euen as you haue seene him go into heauen: So when they had worshipped him, they returned with great ioy into Hierusalem from Mount Oliuet: which is from Hie∣rusalem a Sabaoth daies iourney. And when they were come in, they went vp into a parlour where abode Peter and Iames, Iohn and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Barthol∣mew and Mathew, Iames the sonne of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes, and Iudas the brother of Iames. These all continued still with one accord in the temple, lauding & praising God, and making their praiers with the women, and Mary the mother of Iesu, and with his brethren.

Doctrine and fruite.

*CHrist who loued his Disciples, declareth vnto them his loue, euen vnto the ende:* yea he neuer ceaseth to loue them For though hee leaue them as concerning Page  [unnumbered] his bodilie presence: yet with his loue, grace, and power, he is euer still with them. Forasmuch now as after sufficient proofe of his resurrection, he will de∣part from them, and goe to his Father that had sent him: he taketh them forth with him vnto the place, from whence he mindeth to depart from them. And manifestly before their eyes, hee ascendeth into hea∣uen into the glorie of his father: that they might be witnesses, as well of his glorious ascension, as of all o∣ther things which they had heard & seene before. O how feruent words spake hee then vnto them? How deepely entred he into their hearts? How earnestly printed hee those his last wordes into them? The e∣ternall wisedome speaketh nothing vainely, nothing slenderly, nothing without profite. Although the Disciples (as men yet somewhat carnall) doe aske questions concerning the restitution of a bodily and temporall kingdome: yet maketh hee no aunswere vnto their demaund, but directeth them vnto that which is for their profie, and belongeth to their of∣fice, drawing their hearts from the earthly kingdom, (from the which they ought to bee mortified) vnto the kingdome of heauen, euen vnto the kingdome of God: in the which he himselfe is king, & into the which they now were receiued as citizens, that they shuld declare the same throughout the whole world and offer it vnto all men.

This is the gospell of the kingdom of God, which for a testimonie vnto all nations, must bee preached in the whole world, to witnesse the grace of GOD vnto the elect. But to the damned and vnbeleeuers, Page  [unnumbered] a testimonie of their damnation: in that they are conuinced of their owne infidelitie, and shall haue no excuse, if they contemne and despise the grace offered vnto them. By this ought wee also to learne, to see such thinges which are most profitable, and wholesome vnto vs: and which bring vs the nearest way to put our trust in God, and to loue our neigh∣bours, for that part of the play is ours. As for vnpro∣fitable and contentious questions, if we meddle not with them▪ then the lesse diuision, and the more loue and edifieng in the Church of God shall follow. Ma∣nie times are wee too much carefull, for such things as wee desire our selues: as what ende this thing or that will come vnto, when God will set vp our pro∣speritie, and what shall bee done hereafter, when and how God will punish those that are against vs. And this temptation, carnall zeale, and curiositie, chaun∣ceth oft euen in the hearts of the faythfull: as we see heere in the Disciples of Christ. Sometimes there bee froward and wicked mindes, which preten∣ding to bee Christians, seeke out of the Gospell no∣thing but honour, lucre, and profite. but such bee both false and fained. Notwithstanding (all these set apart) wee ought to commit and refer all things vnto our mercifull creator and gracious father, who can right well order and dispose them, how & when he will, as he thinketh best to further his glorie, and to edifie his elect children. Our care ought rather to bee, how we may lead a godly life, and beautifie the faith of Christ with good woorkes. Wee must looke, that wee bee neither vngodlie, nor hypo∣crites: Page  [unnumbered] but to liue vertuously and innocently in his sight, and paciently at his hande to wayte for our deliuerance. The kingdome of Christ that is pub∣lished and offered through the Gospell, is not a cor∣porall but a spirituall kingdome: neither consisteth it in outward things, but in a pure and faithfull be∣leeuing heart, and yet reacheth it throughout the whole worlde, and amongst all nations. In the hearts of all faithfull beleeuers doth Christ raigne through his spirite, and there ouercommeth hee the deuill, sinne, and death.

And to the intent they shoulde well vnderstande this kingdome, he commaundeth them to waite for the holy spirite, whom he had promised them: as if he would say; Now goe I to my Father, now enter I into my kingdome, that I may mightily raigne vpon the earth: this thing yee vnderstand not, but when the spirite is giuen you, yee shall perceyue it well. All thinges in heauen and in earth, are giuen into my power: In those that are mine shall I raigne, and make them righteous through fayth: yea inuincible shall I make them against all enemies: heereof shall yee beare witnesse when yee are baptized through the holie Ghost.

This my kingdome shall ye publish in all nations, from one ende of the world to another. Thus shall I raigne from sea to sea, of the which my kingdome the Prophetes spake so much before. Of this king∣dome dooth Christ take possession through his as∣cending vp to the Father, at whose right hande, and in this kingdome hee sitteth: raigning much more Page  [unnumbered] mightily in his Church, and working more effectu∣ously in those that be his, than hee did before when he liued yet corporally with him.

Thus taking his leaue, hee giueth them louing wordes, comforteth them, and admonisheth them of their office, that they all may be diligent therin, that they continually direct and lift vp their heartes into that kingdome. and that they take in hand to bring all men to the same into the obedience of Christ. His blessing hee giueth them, saluting them, wish∣ing them good, and praying hartily vnto his Father for them.

Thus was hee taken from them, and carryed into heauen. By the heuen we vnderstand the incompre∣hensible light in the which God dwelleth: & which no mortall man can attaine vnto. From thence came Christ vnto vs, and thither is hee gone againe, euen into the inuisible glorie and clearenes of God. For the eternall worde and power of GOD, dwelling in Gods incomprehensible light from euerlasting, became man: and had his conuersation vpon earth in all partes (sinne excepte) as a verie true man. But when hee had fullie finished and throughly en∣ded the worke that was giuen him in commission of his heauenly Father, and had obeyed him euen vn∣to the death, for as much as in all thinges hee had honoured and glorified his Father vppon earth: it was conuenient that the Father also shoulde glori∣fie his Sonne. And therefore raysed hee him from death, and tooke him vp into heauen: not after the Godhead (for so was hee alwaies in heauen) but Page  [unnumbered] after the manhoode. For his true humane nature which hee tooke vppon him for our sakes, is carryed and taken vp out of this world into the inuisible ho∣nour and glorie, into the highest incomprehensible, and into the perfect fruition of the Godhead.

In this honour and glorie Christ dwelleth and raigneth, and yet amongst those that are his, doth he finish and performe all things by his spirite, hauing gouernance in the harts of the faithfull, through be∣liefe, through loue, through patience, and innocen∣cie of life.

To the intent now that this kingdome might be erected in the hearts of men, it was necessarie that he should giue his disciples commission to publish the same, and to prepare mens minds thervnto through the preaching of the Gospell. But first hee made the mindes of his disciples readie and apt to receiue the holy ghost, whom he afterwards poured into others by them, and therefore he commaunded them (vn∣till the spirite appeare and open the worke) to waite still at Hierusalem: from the which place the king∣dome of Christ was afterwardes planted in all the world. Of the promise of the spirite, reade Esay. 44. Iere. 31. Ezech. 36. Ioel. 2. Iohn. 19.16.

Considering that the mysterie of Christs ascen∣tion is great and excellent, and that there is notable power contained therein to those that be faithful be∣leeuers: the Euangelists doe therefore describe ve∣rie perfectly, the time, the place, the persons, with all circumstances and assured testimonies thereof. Hee ascendeth vp before his disciples, that they might o∣penly Page  [unnumbered] and euidently see it with theyr eyes: there did appeare Angels, as messengers and witnesses from heauen, euen two of them, that in the mouth of two all trueth might bee established. The white ap∣parrell signifieth the euident glorie, into the which Christ is taken vp, as a noble, royall, and mightie king and conquerour, entring into his heauenlie kingdome.

Thus the high and glorious king, cloathed with our nature, is entred into our royall pallace, as one that mindeth faithfully to dispatch our matters. Hee is our owne mediatour and aduocate in the presence of the Father: notwithstanding our sinnes commit∣ted, wee haue a free entraunce vnto GOD by him. Our flesh hath hee in himselfe carryed vp, and exal∣ted our nature vnto the right hande of GOD the Father. Wherefore wee that are bones of his bones and flesh of his flesh, doe iustly conceyue a comfor∣table and assured hope, that our mortall bodyes also shall bee taken vp, and haue immortall and eternall ioye.

The earnest pennie of his spirite hath hee giuen and left behinde him vnto vs, and contrariwise hee hath of vs taken an earnest pennie and pledge: name∣ly our sinfull and wicked flesh, which hee in him∣selfe hath carryed vp into the kingdome of heauen. Nowe where the parcell is, there shall also bee the whole summe.

By this, wee that are flesh and bloud, haue a com∣fortable and assured trust, that in Christ wee shall haue the possession and inheritaunce of heauen. Our Page  [unnumbered] sinnes in him are recompenced, heauen in him is opened, in him is the hope of immortall life sea∣led and made sure vnto vs: Christ the victorious & glorious conquerour is able to defend his church. So that from henceforth no man shall haue power, to condemne his elect and faithfull beleeuers. Rom. 8. Heb. 5.7.8.10.

That his flesh is with-drawne from vs, and taken into heauen: it is our great profite, to the intent that all our deuotion and Gods seruice may bee directed vpwardes in the spirite: and that the mindes of faythfull beleeuers maye bee drawne from earthlie vnto heauenly thinges, euen vnto the place where Christ sitteth on the right hande of GOD the Fa∣ther.

When the Disciples sawe that theyr Schoolemai∣ster was taken away from them into heauen: they perceiued and considered the thing that they knewe not before, although Christ had told it them. Iohn. 6. Namely, that by the Ascension they should receyue vnderstanding. Therefore they worshipped Iesus Christ, and according vnto his commaundement, they returned to Hierusalem: where they kepte themselues vntill the time that the spirite came: neyther were they idle, but continued in the ho∣lie fellowshippe and godlie exercises, with praier and deuotion, preparing and making themselues readie vnto the comming of the spirite.

By occasion heereof (all nicenesse, curiositie, and contentious questions, all pride, vaine-glorie, and fonde affections and desires sette aparte) wee Page  [unnumbered] ought with vpright mindes, and with the eyes of faith to be alway taken vp into heauen, and there to haue our dwelling, where Christ our head sitteth at the right hand of God, king and Lord of all thinges, our faithfull aduocate and mediatour. Then shall true godlynesse increase, then shall vertue blessedlie grow and bring forth fruit in vs, if wee with steadfast faith doe consider, that our Lord Iesus Christ dyed for our sakes, rose againe from death, and is exalted at the right hand of God, raigning mightily aboue all things in heauen, and finishing our saluation, if wee in spirite and in the truth worship and honour him, as the eternal God: confessing with a true faith, that all power is giuen vnto him of God the father, that he careth for vs, and that for our healths sake hee ru∣leth and shall raigne, vntill all things be brought vn∣der his feet. In the meane time he dayly in his church purifieth al his members by his spirit, cleansing them still more and more from all their sinnes. And when hee shall haue rooted out all sinne in his elect, ouer∣comming death the last enemie, so that God shall be all in all, then shall Christ also giue vp his kingdome vnto God the father, namely, the mediation for our sinnes, the purging of the same, defence against the deuill, and deliueraunce from death. For then shall there be no more sinne in the elect, so that he shal not need to be mediator for them, to purge from sinne, to defend against the deuil, or to deliuer from death.

Oh mercifull father, graunt vs perfectly to know thy blessed and glorious kingdome of Christ thy sonne, drawe vp our hearts in such sort, that we with Page  [unnumbered] all obedience maye yeelde our selues into this king∣dome, seeing and regarding onely those thinges that are aboue, and wholy applying our selues vnto this ende, that the same heauenly kingdome may be farre spread abroad, and knowne vnto all men. To the in∣tent, that as for all worldly things, wherin many foo∣lish people set all their saluation, but in vaine: men may vtterly refuse them, and hartily with bodie and soule, and with their whole life, may giue ouer them∣selues perfectly vnto the onely Lord Iesus Christ, the true God. For thy good pleasure it was (O God) that in him all perfectnes should dwell, and that by him al things towards thee, should be reconciled and pa∣cified through his bloud, whether they be in heauen or in earth. Graunt vs (O God) vnitie and brotherly loue in thy holie Church, kindle our harts to feruent and deuout prayer: make vs diligently to watch & circumspectly to waite for the comming of thy belo∣ued sonne, that we neither be drunken in excesse and bodilie lust, nor intangled with the snares of this world: but that we hauing alwayes the eyes of our heart open, and praying with vpright mindes, may chearefully meet our redeemer, & ioy with him for euer. To him be eternall praise and honor. Amen.