Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of Jesus as carrying on the great work of mans salvation from first to last / by Isaac Ambrose ...

SECT. I. Of Christ's Ascension, and of the manner how.

THUS far we have traced Jesus in his actings for us, untill the day in which he was taken up. That which immediate∣ly follows, is his Ascension, Session at God's right hand, and Mission of his holy Spirit; in prosecution of which, as in the former, I shall first lay down the object, and se∣condly direct you how to look upon it.

The object is threefold. 1. He ascended into Heaven. 2. He sate down at Gods right hand. 3. He sent down the holy Ghost.

1. For the Ascension of Christ, this was a glorious design, and contains in it a great part of the salvation of our souls. In prosecution of this, I shall shew first that he ascended. 2. How he ascended. 3. Whither he ascended. 4. Why he ascended.

1. That he ascended. 1. The types prefigure it, Then said the Lord to me, this gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened;—it is for the Prince, the Prince he shall sit in it to eat bread before the Lord, he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same. As the gate of the Holy of Holies was shut against every man but the High Priest; so was that gate of Heaven shut against all, so that none could enter in by their own vertue and efficacy but only our Prince and great high Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, indeed he hath opened it for us, and entred into it in our place and stead, Whither the fore-runner is for us entred, even Jesus made an high Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech. 2. The Prophets forsaw it, I saw in the night visions, 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. 3. The Evangelists relate it, He was received up into heaven.— He was carried up into heaven. 4. The eleven witness it, For while they beheld he was ta∣ken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. 5. The holy Angels speak it, For while they looked steadfastly toward heaven, as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 6. The blessed Apostles in their several Epistles, ratifie and confirm it, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men,—he that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens.— Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God, Angels and Authorities, and Powers being made subject unto him.

2. How he ascended. The manner of his Ascension is discovered in these particulars. —1. He ascended, blessing his Apostles, While he blessed them he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. It is some comfort to Christ's Ministers that though the world hate them, Christ doth bless them; yea he parted with them in a way of blessing; as Jacob leaving the world, blessed his Sons; so Christ leaving the world, blessed his Apostles, and all the faithful Ministers of Christ, unto the end of the world. Some add, that in these Apostles, not only Ministers, but all the elect to the end of the world are blessed: The Apostles were then considered as common persons receiving this blessing for all us, and so those words uttered at the same time are usually inter∣preted, Lo, I am with you alway even to the end of the world. This was the last thing that Christ did on earth, to shew that by his death he had red••emed us from the curse of the Law, and that now going to heaven he is able to bless us with all spiritual bles∣sings in heavenly places.

2. He ascended visibly in the view of the Apostles; while they beheld he was taken up; he was not suddenly snatched from them, as Elija was, nor secretly and privily taken away, as Enoch was; but in the presence of them all, both his Apostles and Disciples, he ascended up into Heaven; but why not in the view of all the Jews, that so they might know that he was risen again and gone to Heaven? surely this was the meaning; God would rather that the main points of faith should be learned by hearing, than by seeing; however Christ's own Disciples were taught the same by sight, that they might better teach others which should not see; yet the ordina∣ry means to come by faith is hearing; how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?—so then, faith cometh by hearing; and hearing by the word of God. And as for the Jews (saith the Apostle) have they not heard? yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the end of the world.

3. He ascended principally by the mighty power of his God-head; thus never any as∣cended up into heaven but Jesus Christ; for though Enoch and Elijah were assumed in∣to heaven, yet not by their own power, nor by themselves, it was God's power by which they ascended, and it was by the help and Ministry of Angels: there appear∣ed a chariot of fire, and horses of fire; and Elijah went up by a Whirl-wine into Hea∣ven.

4. He ascended in a cloud, While they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. Hereby he shews that he is Lord of all the creatures; he had already trampled upon the earth, walked upon the sea, vanquished hell or the grave, and now the clouds received him, and the heavens are opened to make way for this King of Glory to enter in. When Christ shall come again, it is said that he shall come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.—Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Which verifies that saying of the Angel, This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. He went up in clouds, and he shall come again in clouds.

5. He ascended in the found of a trumpet; not on earth, sounding Hosanna, but in Heaven, crying Hallelujah. So the Psalmist, God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Certainly great joy was in heaven at Christ's ascending thither: the very Angels struck up their Harps, and welcomed him thither with Hymns and Praises.

6. He ascended in triumph, as a Roman Victor ascended to the Capitol, or as Da∣vid

ascended after his conquest up to Zion. Now we read of two triumphal Acts in Christs Ascension, whereof the first was his leading of his captives, and the second was the dispersing of his gifts: the Apostle and the Psalmist joyn both together, When he ascended up on high he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 1. He led them captive who had captivated us. Death was led captive without a sting, Hell was led captive as one that had lost her victory, the Law was led captive, being rent and fastened to his Cross (as it were) Ensign wise; the Serpents head being bruised, was led before him in triumph, as was Golias's head by David returning from the victory; and this was the first Act of his triumph. 2. He gave gifts unto men: this was as the run∣ning of Conduits with wine, or as the casting abroad of new Coyn, or as the shutting up of Christs triumph in his ascension up to heaven: what these gifts were we shall speak in the Mission of the holy Ghost; only thus much for the present.

Notes

• Acts 1.2.
• Ezek. 44.2, 3.
• Heb. 6.20. Dan. 7.13, 14.
• Mark 16.19. Luke. 24.31.
• Acts 1.9. Acts 1.10, 11.
• Eph. 4.8, 10. 1 Pet. 3.22.
• Luke 24.51.
• Mat. 28.20.
• Eph. 1.3.
• Acts 1.19.
• Rom. 10.14, 17, 18.
• 2 Kings 2.11.
• Acts 1 9.
• Mat. 24.30. Mat. 26.4.
• Acts 1.11.
• Psal. 47.5.
• Psal 68.18 Ephes. 4.8.