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ASCENSION DAY.

SERMON XV.

ASCENSION OF CHRIST.

ACTS i. 9-11.

"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven, as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel: which also said, 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."

OUR blessed Lord had now accomplished every thing which was necessary to fulfil the purpose for which he came into the world. He had "finished the work which God had given him to do." By his open and explicit declaration, he had “brought life and immortality to light." He had revealed to men the will of God concerning them, and had set before them a rule of righteousness hitherto unknown. He had shown them an example of heavenly life; an example

of mercy, for he "went about doing good;" an example of meekness, for "when he was reviled, he reviled not again, when he suffered, he threatened not;" an example of self-denial, for he "came not to be ministered unto but to minister," and "had not where to lay his head;" an example of diligence in the business appointed him, for his meat and drink was to do the will of him that sent him, and to finish his work." Of all that is excellent and admirable, he had shown a living pattern, such as the world had never before seen: whatsoever things are honourable, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, these he had taught by pre cept and taught by practice: nothing could be alleged against him, and his judge was constrained to avow, "I find no fault in him." But he had not only lived the life which he came to live, he had died the death which he came to die. He had paid that ransom which the justice of God required for the sins of the world and had shown to man in the most affecting manner, what they are so slow to believe, that "the wages of sin is death." Having then lived the life of the righteous, and died

the death of sinners, he gave proof of his divine nature, and asserted the truth of his words, by rising again from the dead. He showed that the bands of death could have no power over him; and he showed that he was to be believed in saying that the hour would come "when all that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth." He had been "seen of the twelve" apostles; he had been "seen of above five hundred brethren at once:" and had convinced them that it was indeed he who was risen again.

And now nothing remained, but that he should ascend again to the enjoyment of that happiness which for our sake he had resigned. So, "being assembled together with the apostles, he commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father." "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."

Then was the prophetic strain of David realised. For in that day, the angels who surround the heavenly throne, might well be sup"Lift up your heads, O ye lift up, ye everlasting doors,

posed to exclaim,

gates, and be ye

and the King of glory shall come in." The King of glory returns to the blessedness which he enjoyed from eternity; returns as "the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle," who has gained the victory over Satan, and death, and sin. Satan fell before him "like lightning from heaven." Death could not retain her conquest, but opened her gates to set free the "Prince of Life:" and sin shall yield to the power of his Spirit; men, who have been too long the "enemies of God through wicked works," shall be brought into allegiance to their rightful Sovereign. "Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in."

Endeavour, for a moment, to follow in your thoughts the Son of man, thus leaving the dreary world which in pity to us he had visited, and returning to a state of bliss which it passes all understanding to conceive. He had said to his disciples shortly before his crucifixion, "If ye loved me, ye would rejoice because I said, I go to the Father." And surely with good cause. As there has been no sorrow

1 Ps. xxiv.

rap

like unto his sorrow, when he "endured the cross despising the shame;" so there has been no joy like his joy, when he rose triumphant, and sat down for ever on the right hand of the Majesty on high. Great was the exultation of the holy man in the temple of Jerusalem, when on beholding the infant Jesus, "the consolation of Israel," he foresaw in the Spirit the fulfilment of all God's promises, and exclaimed, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." Great was the ture of the martyr Stephen, when in the moment of his extremity he was favoured with an actual vision of the glory awaiting him, and cried, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God."s Paul spoke with all the animation of ardent and assured hope, when it had been revealed to him that the period of his life drew nigh, and he declared, "I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,

2 Luke ii. 29.

3

Acts vii. 56.