2. That we might not come there. Ideo ille pervenit ufq; ad Infernum, ne nos remaneremus in Inferno. Aug.

Εἰς τὸν ἅδην καταβαίνων ἡμᾶς ἀνέφερε. Athan.

USE.

1. Confider the feveral Degrees of Chrift's Humiliation, and be duly affected with it.

2. Let fuch Confiderations excite you to live to him who died for you, 1 Cor. vi. 20.

3. To make you more effectually, frequent the Lord's Supper.

I COR. XV. 4.

And that he rofe again the Third Day, according to the Scriptures.

I.

Hrift, according to the Scriptures, was to rife again. The Scriptures had,

1. Forefhewed it in Types: In Ifaac's Deliverance, Genefis xxii. 12. Jofeph's, cap. xli. 14. and Jonah's, Jonah ii. 10.

2. Foretold it in Prophecy, Pfal. xvi. 10. Acts i. 31. Ifa. liii. 10. Pfal. ii. 7. Ifa. ix. 7. Acts xxvi. 22, 23.

II. Chrift, according to the Scriptures, did rife again. This is attefted,

1. By many Eye-Witneffes that saw him, Mary Magdalen, Mark xvi. 9. Cleopas, &c. Luke xxiv. 13. all the Difciples but Thomas, John xx. 19. Thomas too, ver. 26.

Cum

Cum fuam exercuit Solicitudinem, omnium Fidem confirmavit. Aug.

ΤύπΘ ἐδείκνυ πληγών.

TUTO istixvu zv. Cyril. Alex.

Vulnerum Cicatrices tetigit. Greg. Mag.

Vulnera fufcepta nobis Calo inferre maluit. Ambr. Δια τέτο ανέςη ἔχων τα σημεία σαυρί. Chryfoft. Five hundred at one Time, 1 Cor. xv. 6.

All the Disciples, Luke xxiv. 43. Acts x. 41, 42. Paul, I Cor. xv. 8.

2. His Enemies, Matt. xxviii. 11, 12.

Ἡ γ' αλήθεια παρὰ τῶν ἐναντίων ἀνακρω]τομένη δια Aur Chryfoft.

3. Angels, Luke xxiv. 4, 5, 6.

4. God himself, by Miracles, enabling his Apoftles to preach, to propagate, and die for the Gospel, Acts iv. 33.

Quifquis ergo adhuc Prodigia requirit ut credat, magnum eft ipfe Prodigium, qui Mundo credente non credit? Aug.

III. How was he raised?

1. By the Power of God, Eph. i. 19. Gal. i. 1. 2. And by Confequence, by his own Power, himself being God, John ii. 19, 22, John x.

17, 18.

Καὶ ἀληθῶς ἔπαθεν, ὡς καὶ ἀληθῶς ἀνέςησεν ἑαυτὸν. Ignat. Not only Corpus fuum levando, as the Socinians, but as the Father did.

IV. How long was it after his Death before he rofe?

He rofe the Third Day, and that too according to the Scriptures, Jon. i. 17. Matt. xii. 40. Matt.

xvi. 21.

And that he did fo is plain, Acts x. 40. John xix. 31. cap. XX. I.

Hence the Lord's Day always kept, John xx.

19, 26.

Ἵνα δειχθῇ νεκρὸν τὸ σῶμα, καὶ μίαν ὑπέμενε μέσην, ὁ Móz☺, ỳ WITAÏOV TYTO Tão édežev dogov. Athan. He lay Three Days, that we might believe he was dead; he rose the Third Day, that we might believe he lives.

V. What Inferences may we draw from this Article ? 1. Doctrinal.

1. That Chrift is the Son of God, Rom. i.
Pfal. ii. 7. Acts xiii. 33.

4.

2. That he died, not for his own Sins, but ours, Acts ii. 24. 2 Cor. v. 21.

1

Εἰ δὲ ἦν ἁμαρτωλὸς πῶς ἀνέςη ; εἰ δὲ ἀνέση ἔκδηλον ὅτι αμαρτωλὸς ἐκ ἦν. Εἰ δὲ ἁμαρτωλὸς ἐκ ἦν, πῶς ἐςαυ ρώθη ; δ' ἑτέρες. Εἰ δὲ δὲ ἑτέρας πάντως ἀνέση. Chryfoft. 3. That by his Death he hath fatisfied God's Juftice, and fo is able to juftify us before his Father, If he had not paid our Debt, he would not have been released; but God fent an Officer to open the Prifon Doors and release him, I Cor. xv. 17. Rom. iv. 24. 25. cap. viii. 33, 34.

4. We may furely hope and truft in him for
our Salvation, i Pet. i. 3. Heb. vii. 25.
5. That we fhall rife again, I Cor. XV. 12,
21, 22. Rom. viii. II.

Οὐδέπω γδ ἐδεὶς ἐσιν ἐγηγερμένα, εἰ μὴ ὅτι τα κεφαλῆς αναστάσης, καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀγέρθημεν. Chryfoft.

Ἐκείνε γ ανάςαντΘ, καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐλπίζομεν αναςήσασαι, Theodoret.

6. He will come to Judgment, A&ts xvii. 31. I Theffal. i. 10. 2 Cor. v. 10.

7. We rofe with him, as Members with their Head, Col. ii. 12, 20. Epb. ii. 5, 6p

2. Practical,

1. Meditate upon his Refurrection, 2 Tim. ii. 8. This is the End of our keeping this Day and every Sunday.

2. Believe in him for Pardon and Salvation, Rom. v. 10.

3. Fear him, Matt. xxi. 42, 44. Pfal. ii. 9. Eph. i. 20, 21. Phil. ii 9, 10,

4. Rife to Newnefs of Life, Rom. vi. 4. Eph. V. 14. Revel. 20. 6.

5. Seek thofe Things that are above, Col. iii. 1.

I PET. iii. 22.

Who is gone into Heaven, and is on the Right Hand of God.

I. THAT the Meshab was to ascend into

was,

1. Forefhewed in Types, Exod. xxx. 10. Lev. xvi. 2. Heb. ix. 7, 11, 12, 24.

2. Foretold in Prophecy, Pfal. lxviii. 18. Eph.

סלקתא לרקיע .Targ עלית למרום .8 .iv

II. That our bleffed Saviour did afcend thi ther is plain, from the Teftimony,

1. Of the Apoftles, in whofe Prefence he afcended, Mark xvi. 19. Luke xxiv. 50, 51. Acts i. 9. None faw him rife, because they were to fee him afterwards; but they faw him afcend because they were not to fee him again till the laft Day.

Καὶ γὰ ἢ ἀναςάσεως τὸ μὲν τέλῷ εἶδον, τὴν ν' ἀρχὴν ἐκίπι; καὶ ἡ ἀναλήψεως τὴν μὲν ἀρχὴν εἶδον, τὸ ἢ τέλο इ A Chryfoft.

L 4

2. Of Angels, who were fent to affure them he was got to Heaven, A&ts i. 10, 11.

Ὅτι ἢ εἰς ἃ κρανὸν ἀναλαμβάνεται αυτοὶ λοιπὸν εδί Φασκον οἱ ἄγγελοι. Chryfoft.

3. Of Chrift himself, John xx. 17. Therefore when he faith that the Son of Man was in Heaven before, John iii. 13. that is meant only of the Affumption of the humane Nature to the divine Perfon, whereby it might be faid to be in Heaven, because the divine Perfon was there.

III. Concerning the Afcenfion, we may obferve the Time, Place, and Ends.

1. The Time: Forty Days after his Refurrection, Acts i. 3. which Time he continued upon Earth,

1. To convince his Difciples of the Truth
of his Refurrection, by his frequent ap-.
pearing to them, and converfing with them,
Luke xxiv 30, 39, 41, 42. Acts x. 41.
2. To manifeft the great Glory his Body
was now endowed with, John xx. 26. Luke
xxiv. 31. Phil. iii. 21.

3. To inform their Judgments, Ads i. 3. Luke

xxiv. 29.

4. To ordain his Apoftles, John XX. 21, 22. 5. To give them their Commiffion, Matt. xxviii. 19, 20. Mark xvi. 15.

2. The Place. He afcended into Heaven. 1. He left this World, John xvi. 28.

2. He went to fome other determinate Place, John xiv. 3.7

3. This Place was upwards, above this World, Acts i. 9.

4. This fuperior Place whither our Saviour went, was Heaven, Mark xvi. 19. Luke xxiv. SI. Heb. ix.

24.