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the women and certain disciples for witnesses, and leaveth nothing unattempted that may persuade them. For in the faith and belief of the resurrection of Jesus Christ lieth all our welfare. We must therefore beseech Almighty God to establish in us this faith, and by his Spirit mightily to work, that we from sin may truly rise again to a new and godly life, and afterward with our bodies to enter into an immortal and everlasting life. Hereunto help us God the Father, the

Son, and the Holy Ghost! Amen.

Here endeth the Sermons upon the Resurrection
of Jesus Christ, according to the true copy
of the Author; and now followeth the
Sermons of the Ascension.

[CHAPTER IV.]

THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST, OUT OF THE HOLY

EVANGELISTS.

[Luke xxiv. 49-53. Acts i. 4—14. Mark xvi. 19.]

JESUS led his disciples out unto Bethany. And when he had brought them together, he spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and commanded them that they should not depart from Hierusalem; but to wait for the promise of the Father. For John, saith he, baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost after these few days. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying: Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them: It is not for you to know the times and the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power; but ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me, not only in Hierusalem, but also in all Jury, and in Samaria, and even unto the world's end. Now when Jesus had spoken these words unto them, he lifted up his hands, and blessed them, and was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight: so that he departed from them, and was carried up in heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God. And whilst they looked stedfastly up towards heaven, as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, which also said: Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? The same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come even as you have seen him go into heaven. So when they had worshipped him, they returned with great joy into Hierusalem from mount Olivet;

which is from Hierusalem a sabbath-day's journey. And when they were come in, they went up into a parlour, where abode Peter and James, John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the Son of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued still with one accord in the temple, lauding and praising God, and making their prayers, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesu, and with his brethren.

John xiii.

DOCTRINE AND FRUIT.

CHRIST, who loved his disciples, declareth unto them his love, even unto the end; yea, he never ceaseth to love them. Matt. xxviii. For though he leave them, as concerning his bodily presence; yet with his love, grace, and power, he is ever still with them. Forasmuch now as after sufficient proof of his resurrection he will depart from them, and go to his Father that had sent him; he taketh them forth with him unto the place, from whence he mindeth to depart from them. And manifestly, before their eyes, he ascendeth into heaven into the glory of his Father; that they might be witnesses, as well of his glorious ascension, as of all other things which they had heard and seen before. O how fervent words spake he then unto them! How deeply entered he into their hearts! How earnestly printed he those his last words into them! The eternal wisdom speaketh nothing vainly, nothing slenderly, nothing without profit. Although the disciples, as men yet somewhat carnal, do ask questions concerning the restitution of a bodily and temporal kingdom, yet maketh he no answer unto their demand, but directeth them unto that which is for their profit, and belongeth to their office; drawing their hearts from the earthly kingdom, from the which they ought to be mortified, unto the kingdom of heaven, even unto the kingdom of God; in the which he himself is king, and into the which they now were received as citizens, that they should declare the same throughout the whole world, and offer it unto all men.

This is the gospel of the kingdom of God, which for a

testimony unto all nations must be preached in the whole world, to witness the grace of God unto the elect; but to the damned and unbelievers, a testimony of their damnation; in that they are convinced of their own infidelity, and shall have no excuse, if they contemn and despise the grace offered unto them. By this ought we also to learn to see such things which are most profitable and wholesome unto us; and which bring us the nearest way to put our trust in God, and to love our neighbours; for that part of the play is ours. As for unprofitable and contentious questions, if we meddle not with them, then the less division, and the more love and edifying in the church of God shall follow. Many times are we too much careful for such things as we desire ourselves; as, what end this thing or that will come unto, when God will set up our prosperity, and what shall be done hereafter, when and how God will punish those that are against us. And this temptation, carnal zeal, and curiosity, chanceth oft even in the hearts of the faithful; as we see here in the disciples of Christ. Sometimes there be froward and wicked minds, which, pretending to be Christians, seek out of the gospel nothing but honour, lucre, and profit: but such be both false and feigned. Notwithstanding, all these set apart, we ought to commit and refer all things unto our merciful Creator and gracious Father, who can right well order and dispose them, how and when he will, as he thinketh best to further his glory, and to edify his elect children. Our care ought rather to be, how we may lead a godly life, and beautify the faith of Christ with good works. We must look, that we be neither ungodly nor hypocrites; but to live virtuously and innocently in his sight, and patiently at his hand to wait for our deliverance. The kingdom of Christ, that is published and offered through the gospel, is not a corporal, but a spiritual kingdom; neither consisteth it in outward things, but in a pure and faithful believing heart and yet reacheth it throughout the whole world, and amongst all nations. In the hearts of all faithful believers doth Christ reign through his Spirit, and there overcometh he the devil, sin, and death.

And to the intent they should well understand this kingdom, he commandeth them to wait for the Holy Spirit, whom he had promised them; as if he would say: "Now go I to

my Father, now enter I into my kingdom, that I may mightily reign upon the earth. This thing ye understand not; but when the Spirit is given you, ye shall perceive it well. All things in heaven and in earth are given into my power. In those that are mine shall I reign, and make them righteous through faith; yea, invincible shall I make them against all enemies: hereof shall ye bear witness, when ye are baptized through the Holy Ghost. This my kingdom shall ye publish in all nations, from one end of the world to another. Thus shall I reign from sea to sea; of the which my kingdom the prophets spake so much before."

Of this kingdom doth Christ take possession through his ascending up to the Father, at whose right hand and in this kingdom he sitteth; reigning much more mightily in his church, and working more effectually in those that be his, than he did before, when he lived yet corporally with them.

Thus taking his leave, he giveth them loving words, comforteth them, and admonisheth them of their office; that they all may be diligent therein, that they continually direct and lift up their hearts into that kingdom; and that they take in hand to bring all men to the same into the obedience of Christ. His blessing he giveth them, saluting them, wishing them good, and praying heartily unto his Father for them.

Thus was he taken from them, and carried into heaven. By the heaven we understand the incomprehensible light in the which God dwelleth, and which no mortal man can attain unto. From thence came Christ unto us; and thither is he gone again, even into the invisible glory and clearness of God. For the eternal Word and Power of God, dwelling in God's incomprehensible light from everlasting, became man, and had his conversation upon earth in all parts, sin except, as a very true man. But when he had fully finished and throughly ended the work that was given him in commission of his heavenly Father, and had obeyed him even unto the death; forasmuch as in all things he had honoured and glorified his Father upon earth, it was convenient that the Father also should glorify his Son. And therefore raised he him from death, and took him up into heaven; not after the Godhead, (for so was he always in heaven,) but after the man

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