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Truth of his Refurrection: He afcertained it in that Time, by his frequent appearing to, and converfing with his Apoftles, during that Time: And in these Converfations with them, he taught them the Things concerning his own Kingdom: Acts 3. To whom also he fhewed himself alive after his paffion, by many infallible proofs, being feen of them forty days,, and fpeaking of the things 'pertaining to the kingdom of God.' It was in his human Nature that Christ ascended from Earth into Heaven; not in his divine Nature, because it is always every where prefent. The Place of the Earth from which he afcended, was the Mount of Olives, Acts i. 11. 12. It is obfervable concerning that Place, that there Chrift's Humiliation began to come to an Extremity, Luke xxii. 39. The Heaven he afcended into, was the highest Heaven, Eph. iv. 10. Chrift's Soul and Body, then, are now no more on Earth, but in the highest Heavens : Acts iii. 21. Whom the heavens must receive, ❝ until the times of reftitution of all things.' Compared with Eph. iv. 10. He that descended, is the fame alfo that afcended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.' He a fcended in a vifible and triumphant Manner as a Conqueror: Acts i. 9. While they beheld, he was < taken up, and a cloud received him out of their fight.' Pfal. xlvii. 5. God is gone up with a fhout; the Lord with the found of a trumpet.' The Action of the Father in that Step of Christ's Exaltation, was the receiving him up into Heaven, Mark xvi. i 19.

The third Step of Christ's Exaltation, is his fitting at the right hand of God the Father, Mark xvi. 19. God the Father hath neither right nor left

Hand,

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Hand, properly fo called, as Men have: For he is a moft pure Spirit, without Body or bodily Parts, But by Chrift's fitting at the right Hand of God the Father, is meant, his being, as Mediator, Godman, exalted to the higheft Dignity and Power, over all Creatures, in Fulness of Joy and Glory: Phil. ii. 9. 10. Wherefore God also hath highly 'exalted him, and given him a name which is a'bove every name: that at the name of Jefus e very knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.* 1 Pet. iii. 22. Jefus Chrift is gone into Heaven, and is on the right hand of God, angels, and au thorities, and powers being made fubject unto him.' Acts ii. 28. Thou haft made known to · me the ways of life; thou fhalt make me full of 'joy with thy countenance. Compared with Pfal. xvi. ult. Thou wilt fhew me the path of life in thy prefence is fulness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleafures for evermore." John xvii. 5. And now, O Father, glorify thou ? me with thine own felf, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.' And that his fitting at the right Hand of God, will efidure for ever: Heb. x. 12. This man, after he had offered one facrifice for fins, for ever fat down on the right hand of God. The Action of the Father in this Step of Chrift's Exaltation, was, his Jetting him at his own right Hand, Eph. i. 20.

Now, Chrift rofe from the dead, afcended into Heaven, and fitteth at the right Hand of God, in a public Character, as our Head and Reprefenta tive, the fame in which he died, was buried, and continued under the Power of Death for a Time: Eph. ii. 6. God hath railed us up together, and H 2

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made us fit together in heavenly places in Chrift Jefus.' Heb. vi. 20. Whither [heaven] the forerunner is for us entered, even Jefus,' &c. Eph. iv. 10. He that defcended, is the fame also that afcended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.' Thefe Steps, then, of Chrift's Exaltation are, for his People, fure Pledges of their fpiritual and bodily Refurrection, their Afcenfion into Heaven, and fitting for ever with him in heavenly Places: 1 Cor. xv. 22. In Christ shall all be made alive.' Eph. ii. 6. forecited.

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hlaft Step of Chrift's Exaltation, will be his coming to judge the World at the laft Day: Acts i. 11. "Ye men of Galilee, why ftand ye gazing up into heaven? This fame Jefus which is taken up from you into heaven, fhall fo come, in like manner as ye have seen him into heaven.' Compared with Chap. xvii. 31. God hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given affurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.' Chrift will come again a fecond Time, Heb. 9. ult. He will come the fecond Time, in the Character of Judge of the World, Acts xvii. 31. forecited. John v. 22. The Father judgeth no man; but

hath committed all judgment unto the Son.' verf. 27. And he hath given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man.' That Coming of Chrift will be at the laft Day: 2 Pet. iii. 10. 6 The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens fhall pafs away with a great noife, and the elements fhall melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and all the works therein, fhall be burnt up.' He will come

in the full Manifeftation of his own and his Father's Glory, Luke ix. 26. His Attendants will be all the holy Angels, Matth. xxv. 31. The awful Sound he will defcend from Heaven with, will be a Shouf, the Voice of the Archangel, and the trumpet of God, 1 Theff. iv. 16. Chrift's coming to judge the World, will not dif continue or interrupt his fitting at the right Hand of God, but will manifeft it to all: Mattb. xxvi. 64. I [Jefus] fay unto you, Hereafter fhall ye fee the Son of man fitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. And that his Coming will be a Part of his Exaltation, inasmuch as he will then appear and act in the Fulness of his kingly Power: Matth. xxv. 34. • Then shall the King fay unto them on his right hand, Come, ye bleffed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.' The Action of the Father in this Step of Chrift's Exaltation, will be, his fénding him again, in Fulnefs of Glory, clothed with his Authority, to judge the World: Acts iii. 20. The Lord fhall fend Jefus Chrift, which before was preached unto you.' Luke ix. 26. The Son ' of man shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.' John v. 27. forecited.

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Queft. 29. How are we made Partakers of the Redemption purchased by Chrift?

Anf. We are made Partakers of the Redemption purchased by Chrift, by the

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effectual Application of it to us by his Holy Spirit,

EXPLICATION.

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The Redemption purchafed by Chrift is Deliverance from Sin, Death, the Devil, and the World, into a State of Holiness and Happinefs for ever: 7t. ii. 14. Jefus Chrift gave himself for us, that . he might redeem us from all iniquity, and pu rify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.' Hof. xiii. 14. I will ransom them from the power of the grave: I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues: O grave, I will be thy deftruction; repentance fhall be hid from mine eyes.' Heb. ii. 14. 15. Forafmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewife took part of the fame that through death he might deftroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who, through fear of death, were all their life-time fubject to bondage.' Gal. i. 4. Jefus Chrift gave himself for our fins, that he might deliver us from this prefent evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.' Heb. ix. 12. "Chrift by his own blood entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.' To be made Partakers of that Redemption, is, to be made Sharers of it in our own Perfons: John xiii. 8. Jefus answered him, If I wafh thee not, thou haft not part with me.' Acts xxvi. 18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of fins, and inheritance

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