The prophecy of his afcenfion, when the terms, in which Jefus delivered it, are ftrictly confidered, bears an immediate relation to his character, as Son of God, and verifies the testimony of the Baptist, that he came from heaven.

b

The afcenfion of the Meffiah to heaven, had been alluded to by the prophets, and particularly by the Pfalmift, and Daniel. But Jefus delivered this prophecy, not only in terms that were direct, and not indefinite, which alone would evince the reality of his prophetical character; but also, accompanied it with circumstances, which the prophecies of the Pfalmift and Daniel had not mentioned, and to which, of course, they did not lead.

He foretold his afcenfion, as vifible to the disciples; "what and if ye fhall fee the Son of man afcend up where he was before?" He marked this circumstance, in consequence of his own knowledge, that the Father had purposed, and the Gospel-scheme required, that they fhould fee him ascend; and accordingly, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their fight."

с

Pfalm lxviii. 18. Dan. vii. 13 John vi. 62. A&ts i. 9.
The

The concluding words of the prophecy, where he was before,"are directly parallel to the teftimony of John, that he came "from above ;" and to a fimilar effect, Jefus fpeaks elsewhere of his afcenfion to heaven, as of his return to the Father; " and now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own felf, with the glory, which I had with thee, before the world was." The prophet Daniel, although he had spoken rather more largely than the Pfalmift, yet represented the Son of man, as receiving only the glory of his mediatorial kingdom; but Jefus has enlarged the prophecy, and expreffly referred to another glory, which he had with the Father, not only before the mediatorial kingdom, but even before the world began. It is this capital circumstance, which no prophecy, of the Meffiah's afcenfion to heaven, had mentioned, except his own, that affords the strongest evidence to his character, as a real prophet, and justifies the attributes, ascribed to him by the Baptist, "he was before me," "he that cometh from above," "this is the Son of God."

From the fubftance of this difcourfe, one general inference feems to arife; that the

glory of the Godhead in Jefus, fhone forth through the vail of his flesh, in miracles of power, combined with fuch miracles of knowledge, that the confeffion of his difciples cannot but appear as juft, as it was obvious, "now are we fure, that thou knoweft all things, by this we believe, that thou cameft forth from God."

John xvi, 30.

SER

SERMON VII.

JOHN xiii. 19.

Now I tell you before it come, that when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am be.

T

HE prophecies of Jefus, which were confidered in the last discourse, were grounded upon characters, prophetically ascribed to him by the Baptist. I proceed, at present, to confider other prophecies of Jefus, which not only had an immediate reference to the character, Son of God, at-. tributed to him by John, but .alfo were parallel to prophecies, that John had previously delivered.

The prediction, of the restoration of the Holy Spirit to the people of God, refpected the character of Jefus, not only as a prophet,

but

but also, as Son of God, fince it was delivered in the terms both of a prophecy, and a pro

mife.

He uses the following, among other expreffions. "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter,' even the Spirit of truth,' "which is the Holy Ghoft;" and he gave the difciples an affurance, fomething more than prophetical, that the miffion of the Spirit, abfolutely depended upon his own afcenfion to the Father; "if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you.".

He not only predicted the advent, but also promised the miffion, of the Holy Ghost. "Behold, I fend the promise of my Father upon you;" "I will fend him unto you," "from the Father;" and he feems to call the advent of the Spirit, his own coming, and his feeing the difciples again. He also gave a prophetical delineation of the offices of the Holy Spirit, "he fhall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatfoever I have faid unto you,” ," "he fhall teftify of me," " and he will

z John xiv. 6, &c.

с

John xvi. 7.

Gal. iv. 6. Phil.à . 19.

a John xvi. 7. b Luke xxiv. 49.

d John xiv. 18, 19, 28. comp.

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