5. The Heaven whither our Saviour went, is the Heaven of Heavens. He paffed through the lower Heavens, διεληλυθότα τις egrès, Heb. iv. 14. Eph. iv. 10. Heb. vii. 26. 2 Cor. xii. 2,

3. Wherefore did he afcend thither?

1. To feal and confirm the Redemption he had purchased for ys; as the High Prieft, when he had offered Sacrifices with the Blood, he entered into the Holy Place, Lev. xvi. 14: Heb. ix. 12.

2. To fend down the Spirit upon his Apostles, and all Believers, John xvi. 7. Luke xxiv. 49. Acts i. 8. cap. xxi. Eph. iv. 8.

3. To prepare a Place for us, John xiv. 2.

1. To believe firmly on our blessed Saviour, as the Chrift in whom all the Types and Prophecies were fulfilled, John xx. 29.

2. To truft ftedfaftly on him for his bringing us to Heaven, Heb. vi. 19, 20. John xiv. 2, 3. 3. To follow our bleffed Saviour into Heaven with our Hearts and Affections, Phil. iii. 20. 2 Reg. ii. 2, 11, 12.

I PET. iii. 22.

And is on the Right Hand of God.

THE Meffiah was to fit at the Right Hand of God. This was forefhewed,

1. In Type, Gen. xli. 40, 41, 42.

2. In Prophecy, Pfal. cx. 1. Matt, xxii. 44, Ats ii. 34, 35, 36.

II. It is plain, that our Saviour did and doth fo, Mark xvi. 19. Rom. viii. 34.

To understand this, we must confider,

1. What are we to understand by the Right Hand of God?

1. Negatively. Not as if God had properly
any
Hands.

2. Pofitively. It denotes,

1. His Power: For the Hand is that Mem-
ber whereby we work, Matt. xxvi. 64.
2. The Right Hand denotes Honour and

Glory, I Reg. ii. 19. Heb. i. 3. cap. viii. I. Perfecto Opere ad Cælos Victor adveniens, audit a Deo Patre, fede ad Dextram meam. Max. Taurin. 3. It fignifies Happiness and eternal Felicity, Pfal. xvi. 11.

Quid eft Patris Dextera, nifi illa æterna, ineffabilifque Felicitas quo pervenit Filius Hominis, etiam Carnis Immortalitate percepta. Aug.

2. How are we to apprehend Chrift as now at the Right Hand of God?

1. He is fometimes faid in general only to be there, 1 Pet. iii: 22. Rom, viii. 34.

2. Some

2. Sometimes to stand there, Acts vii. 56. Sedere Judicantis eft, ftare vero Pugnantis & Adjuvantis. Greg. M.

3. Moft commonly to fit there; which fignifies not any bodily Pofture, but,

1. His Dwelling, in Heaven, w

Sedere intelligite babitare. Aug.

2. His Quiet and Freedom from all Difturbance.

3. His Dominion and Sovereignty, Pfal. cx.

I. 1 Cor. XV. 25, i

Ipfum Verbum federe Regni fignificat Poteftatem. Hieron.

4. His Power of judging, Prov. xx. 8.
3. What is he now doing there?

1. He exercifeth his Prieftly Office, by ma-
king Interceffion for us, Heb. vii. 24.
1. Chrift's Prieftly Office began upon Earth,
when he offered up himfelf as a Sacrifice
for us, Heb. x. 12. cap. ix. 26. Eph. v. 2.
1 Tim. ii. 6. Matt. XX. 28.

2. As the High Prieft was to go once a Year
into the Holy of Holies to make Atone-
ment for the People, Lev. xvi. 12, 13, 14,

33, 34.

So Chrift, when he had offered

up himself, went into Heaven as it was with his own Blood, Heb. ix. 12, 24.

1. To make Atonement and Interceffion to God for the Pardon of our Sins by Vertue of his Blood, 1 John ii. 1,2. Romans iv. 25.

2. To fend down his Spirit upon us to cleanse us from all Sin, John xvi. 7. Heb. ix. 13, 14. and to lead us into all Truth, John xvi. 13.

3. To take Care that all neceffary Means of Salvation be afforded to those who believe, and to make them effectual, Eph. iv. 8, 11, 12.

4. To offer up our Prayers to God with the Incense of his own Merits, Rev. viii, 3, 4, Lev. xvi. 12, 13.

USE.

1. This should encourage us to pray, Heb. x. 19, 20, 22. cap. iv. 14, 16.

2. This fhould teach us in all our Prayers to act by Faith on Chrift, as in Heaven interceding for us, John xvi. 23, 24. Mark xi. 24.

3. Hence we fhould put our whole Truft on Chrift, and him alone, for our Salvation, Heb. yii. 25. Rom. viii. 34.

Angels, and Authorities, and Powers, being made fubject to him.

1. That Chrift fhould be a King, is plainly foretold, Pfal. ii. 6. Acts xiii. 33. Ifa. ix. 6, 7. Matt. ii. 2. 4. Zech. ix. 9. Matt. xxi. 5. 2. His Kingdom was not of this World: No Temporal Kingdom, as the Jews thought, yea, and the Apoftles, Acts i. 6. Himself faith it was not, John xviii. 36. therefore he would not divide the Inheritance, Luke xii. 13, 14. nor be made a King by them, John vi. 15.

3.

He exercised his Regal Power even when he was upon Earth over bad Angels, Mark i. 25, 27. c. iii. 11, 12. Good Angels, they attended him as his Guard, Luke ii. 13. and worshipped, Heb. i. 6.

4. After his Refurrection he declared his Commiffion and Authority, Matt. xxviii. 18. 5. At his Afcenfion, he was actually invested with it, enthroned, crowned, Acts ii. 36. c. V. 3I.

Concerning this his Kingdom, we may obferve,

1. The Extent. It is over all, it is extended all over the World, Rom. ix. 5. 1 Pet. iii. 22.

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