Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

Is the word Ascension vsed properly or figuratiuely in this place?

Properly without question, as it may manifestly be proued out of diuers formes of speeches, which the Euangelists haue vsed for better declaration sake: for Mar. 16.19. saith 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that is, he was taken vp, and on high into heauen, & Luk. 24.51. saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 he was remoued from them, or went away from them. But it is plaine how by the word of going away, is signified a remouing into ano∣ther place. And the same Euangelist giueth to vnderstand whither he went away, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, & he was caried vp into heauen. He was caried (saith he) which againe certainly noteth a motion from place to place. Act. 1.9. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. He was lifted vp, and Nubes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a cloud tooke him vp out of their sights. Not because of himselfe he became inuisible, but because he went higher and fur∣ther off, then his Disciples sight could reach. Moreouer the A∣postles do follow him with their eyes and sight as farre as they can, whilest he did not vanish away out of their sight, but stil went vp on his way. For while he was going, (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) which signi∣fieth remouing from place to place, they stood stedfastly with their eyes vp to heauen. Which had beene a foolish part of thē if they had not seene him caried on high. To conclude the Angels helping the defect of the Apostles sight, do testifie that Christ was taken vp by them into heauen, and that he should so come as they had seene him going into heauen.

Hereupon the Greeke Fathers do call it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the

assumption or taking vp of Christ in the flesh, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, his ascen∣sion or going vp. By the examination of these things which haue beene said it followeth that the ascension of Christ is not an act vndivisible or momentanie, but devisible, and distinguished by parts of his motion, and going forward, and by times and pla∣ces, by which he was caried vp from a lower place to a higher, namely from earth vnto heauen.