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difciples. When they worshipped him, they returned to Jerufalem with great joy. And no wonder; for this laft appearance of our Saviour was the higheft teftimony to his character, and the feal of his promifes. How would it animate their zeal, and enliven their hopes, when they called to mind what he had faid to them before his crucifixion!" Ye cannot "follow me now, but ye shall follow me afterwards; " and where I am, there fhall my fervant be." With the fame joy ought our hearts to be filled, when we reflect on his afcenfion and exaltation. When he came into the world, he began the work of our redemption Hence, his birth was published to the fhepherds, as matter of great joy; but when he afcended, it was to finish and complete that glorious work, and, of confequence, to lay the moft folid foundation for our faith, and hope, and comfort. "Who then shall "lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is "God that juftifieth. Who is he that condemneth? "It is Chrift that died: yea, rather, that is rifen a"again; who is even at the right hand of God, who "alfo maketh interceffion for us."

4. From this fubject, the people of God may derive the greatest relief and confolation under all their diftreffes and fears. It is encouraging to his fervants to know that their Redeemer is ftill alive, and livesfor evermore; that all power in heaven and earth is committed to him; and that he is able to make all things work together for their good. When he afcended on high, he led captivity captive; he triumphed over all his people's enemies: hence, except by his permiffion, they can never affault his fervants; and even Satan, their grand adverfary, fhall, in a fhort time, be bruised under their feet. How com-fortable is it, then, my brethren, to reflect, that, in every temptation and ftate of trial, he can make his grace fufficient for you, or give a way to escape? In darkness, he can give you light; and in the valley and shadow of death, he is the refurrection and the life,

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and from on high can breathe on your dry bones, and make them to live. In a word, this Friend and Saviour on high, makes apprehenfion of danger, or difcouragement under trial, without reafon; for he will never leave nor forfake you, till he has perfected what concerns you, and made you glorious and happy for ever.

5. Let the confideration of Chrift's afcenfion into heaven, infpire us with humble boldnefs, and make us zealous and fervent in our applications to the throne of grace. In this manner, the apoftle to the Hebrews improves this fact: "Seeing, then, we have

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a great High Priest that is paffed into the heavens, "Jefus the Son of God; let us come boldly to the "throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and "find grace to help in the time of need (a)." Our approaches to the throne of grace fhould be frequent, in proportion to the neceffity and importance of the ends of prayer. We daily need mercy for pardon, and grace for fupplying our various wants. But the confciousness of our own numberless defects and failings, is apt to mar our confidence, and prevent our prayers. In those circumstances, how comfortable and enlivening is the thought, That, if any man fin, we have an Advocate with the Father; that Jefus our Redeemer ftands before his throne; that he pleads our cause; and that Him the Father heareth always.

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Having, therefore, brethren, boldness to enter in"to the holieft, by the blood of Jefus, by a new and "living way, which he hath confecrated for us "through the vail, that is to fay his flefh; and hav"ing an High Prieft over the houfe of God, let us "draw near with a true heart, in full affurance of "faith, having our hearts fprinkled from an evil con"fcience, and our bodies wafhed as with pure wa "ter."

6. As our Saviour is afcended into heaven, let us follow him thither with our hearts and affections.

(a) Heb. iv. 14,—16.

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This improvement, the apostle Paul alfo directs us to make of the afcenfion of Chrift. "If ye then," fays he," be rifen with Chrift, feek thofe things which are above, where Chrift fitteth on the right hand "of God: fet your affections on things above, not 66 on things on earth." Your Saviour and Master is in heaven, and should not your hearts be there alfo ? The Captain of your falvation is entered within thẹ gates of the New Jerufalem: He invites you to fol- low him, and propofes the most glorious rewards for your encouragement: "To him that overcometh," fays he, will I grant to fit with me on my throne, I also overcame, and am fet down with my Fa"ther on his throne." Let us then, my brethren, lift up our hearts and affections to that place whither he is gone. Let us be much in heaven in our thoughts and defires, and cultivate all holy and heavenly difpofitions. In a word, it becomes us, as the apostle expreffes it, "to have our conversation "in heaven, where our Saviour is, and from whence "alfo we look for him again, to change our vile bo"dies, that they may be fashioned like to his glorious "body, according to the working of that mighty pow"er whereby he is able to fubdue all things to him-" felf (a)."

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Laftly. Let us frequently look, and wait for his fecond coming. The heavens indeed must receive: him, till the times of the reftitution of all things; but then he will appear the fecond time, without fin,, to the final and complete falvation of his people. "If I go away," fays he, " and prepare a place for "you, I will come again and receive you to myself.” His fecond coming, though fimilar in fome refpects. to his afcenfion, will be inconceivably more folemn, public, and glorious. For he will come again in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. He : afcended in the fight of his difciples only; but he will come again in the view of the whole. affembled world: For behold he cometh with clouds, and 4 every?

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(*) Phil. iii. 20, 2

every eye shall see him." Let us then frequently reprefent to our minds this glorious appearance of the great God and our Saviour: Let us look and wait for it, as the day of complete redemption, when he will come to vindicate his honour, and difplay his glory.

Amen: even fo, come, Lord Jefus: come quickly.

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SERMON III.

THE BLESSINGS OF CHRIST'S PURCHASE SUF FICIENT: FOR SUPPORT AND HAPPINESS.

ISAIAH.XXV. 6...

And in this mountain fhall the Lord of Hofts make unto all people a feaft of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined

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HESE words, in the opinion of fome commen. tators, refer to the great joy that should be in Zion or Jerufalem, upon the miraculous overthrow of the Affyrian army, in the reign of Hezekiah; or to the rejoicing of the Jews, when they should be delivered from the captivity of Babylon. And this perhaps is the primary and more immediate defign of the prophecy. But it may be alfo understood in a more fublime and exalted fenfe, as referring to the blessings of the kingdom of Chrift, and the happiness which was to be enjoyed by the faithful under his adminiftration. Confidering the text in this point of view, it is a figurative, but beautiful defcription of that rich provifion of grace, which is made for the entertainment of the faithful in the gofpel covenant, and which was procured for them by the appearance

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