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the sepulchre, at the rising of the sun.

Now, when

Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he cast seven devils. Luke, xxiv. 1, 3. Now, upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

John, xx. 1. The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

10. Q. Was there any thing remarkable in the day on which he rose?

A. It was the day on which God had before designed he should rise. And therefore on this day, the sheaf of the first-fruits, by which their harvest was to be consecrated, was lifted up before God, among the Jews. Lev. xxiii. 10. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvests thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest unto the priest, and he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you. To signify, that Christ, our first-fruits, should on this day be raised up by God from the dead, and so become a surety to us of our future resurrection. See Rom. xi. 16. For if the first-fruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 1 Cor. xv. 20, 23. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits

of them that slept. But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming.

11. Q. What is the special importance of this Article to us?

A. It is very great: inasmuch as, first, it does, beyond contradiction, confirm the Divine authority of our Blessed Lord. Rom. i. 4. Declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. And the truth of our religion: and, in the next place, does assure us, that the price of our redemption was fully paid by him. Rom. iv. 25. Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. viii. 33, 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. And is a pledge to us, that as Christ was raised from the dead, so shall our mortal bodies be quickened also, by the Spirit of Christ, which dwelleth in us. Rom. vi. 5, 9. viii. 11.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.-Acts, xiii. 33. God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second Psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have 1 begotten thee. 2 Cor. xiii. 4. For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. 1 Pet. i. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy

hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

SECT. XIII.

Of his Ascension into Heaven, and Session at God's right hand.

1. Q. How did our Blessed Lord dispose of himself after that he was risen from the dead?

A. He continued upon earth forty days with his disciples, both to confirm them in their belief of his resurrection, (John, xx. 19, 25, 27. Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. The other disciples, therefore, said unto Thomas, we have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands, and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believe).

And to instruct them more fully in all those things, which they were afterwards to preach to the world, Acts, i. 3. To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

And then at the end of them he ascended into heaven: where he now sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty.

2. Q. After what manner did Christ ascend into heaven.

under his feet, They followed at last, having

A. He was taken up visibly in the presence of all his disciples. A cloud came down and be mounted by degrees in it. him a long time with their eyes, till, lost sight of him, but still looking after him to the place where he passed, two angels appeared to them, and thus confirmed them in the truth of what they had seen: Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? The same Jesus which is taken up from into heaven, shall so come in like manner, as ye have seen him go into heaven, Acts, i. 9, 10, 11.

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PROOFS SUBJOINED.-Luke, xxiv. 50, 51. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. Mark, xvi. 19. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven.

3. Q. Did Christ ascend in the same body in which he conversed with his disciples, after his resurrection?

A. He did ascend in the same body; and has assured us thereby, that we shall hereafter be received up thither in our bodies, as well as souls; and so reign in both together with him.

4. Q. Into what part of heaven did Christ ascend? A. He ascended into the highest heaven; where God does in a singular manner shew his majesty and glory. And therefore our Creed tells us, that being ascended into heaven, he sat down at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty, Luke, xxii. 69; where also he shall continue till he shall come again from

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thence, to judge both the quick and the dead. Matt. xxv. 31. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory; and before him shall be gathered all nations. xxvii. 64. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Acts, i. 11. Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.-Eph. iv. 10. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. Heb. ix. 24. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. x. 12. But this man, after he had of fered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of God.

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Mark, xvi. 19. So then after the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. Rom. viii. 34. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God. Psalm cx. 1. Compare Acts, ii. 34. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool. Acts. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, the Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand. Heb. i. 3, 13. Who being the brightness. of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power; when

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