SECT. IV. Of hoping on Jesus in that respect.
4. LEt us hope in Jesus, carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in these par∣ticulars; thus was the Apostles Prayer, Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and Peace in believing; that ye may abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost; could we abound in hope that Christ's Ascension, Session, and Mission of his Spirit did belong to us, we should never be ashamed; Hope maketh not ashamed. O then let us look to our hope, and be sure that it be of the right stamp! which in reference to every of these passages we may examine thus. As —
1. If Christ's Ascension be mine, then am I ascended with Christ: I mean not in re∣spect of any bodily Ascension, for that must not be untill the last day; nor in respect of any essential, substantial soul-ascension, for that must not be before the separation of soul and body at our deaths-day: but in respect of our spiritual ascension, for so we may ascend into heaven by faith and love; though for the present we are on earth; if ye be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God; set your affections on things above, and not on things on the earth. If Christ our Head be ascended, then we that are his Members must needs follow after him in our affections: Christ tells us, Where our treasure is, there will our hearts be also. If Christ our Treasure be ascended into heaven, our loves, our affections, our hearts will fol∣low after him: and if our hearts be in heaven, no question but we our selves both souls and bodies shall at last ascend; when Christ ascended, we ascended virtually with him, now we ascend spiritually, and at last we shall ascend bodily; for he that ascended shall descend, and then we shall meet him in the ayr, and so shall we be ever with the Lord. In the mean time to maintain our hope, let us ascend dayly by faith and love; and this is our character, that Christ's Ascension is truly ours.
2. If Christ's Session be mine, then am I set down with Christ in heavenly places; I mean not bodily, but by faith, which faith makes it as sure to my soul as if I had a foot already in heaven; Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. By faith I now sit in heavenly places, in that I verily believe I shall do it one day; my hope is now certain, in that I am as sure of that I look for, as I am of that I have already received; it is the common objection, We see it not. As the Apostle said of Christ, We see not yet all things put under him; but he presently answers, We see Jesus who was made a little lower than the Angels, crowned with glory and honour, and so we may be sure the thing is as good as done; for if he be above, all must come un∣der; in like manner we see not our selves in present possession, but we see Christ crown∣ed, and our selves sitting with him virtually; and therefore at last we shall see our selves actually crowned, and sitting together with Christ in heavenly places. In the mean time faith takes possession of the Kingdom of Heaven; saith makes the soul