CHAPTER XXIII.

Of the Exaltation of Christ.

1. THe Exaltation of Christ is that whereby he did gloriously triumph over his and our enemies.

Luc. 24. 26. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and so to enter into glory? Eph. 4. 8. When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive. Col. 2. 15. He hath spoiled principalities and powers, and hath made a shew of them openly, and hath triumphed over them in it.

2. He overcame death by enduring it, sinne by satisfying, the Devill by spoiling him, or taking the prey out of his hands.

3. The perfection and manifestation of this victory is in his Exaltation. Therefore although there was a virtuall triumph, and triumph of merit in his death, and in the Crosse, in which Christ is said to be exalted, or extolled. Iohn 3. 14. Not in situation and place only, but also in vertue and merit: yet the actuall triumph as touching the state of it, was not in his humiliation, but his Exaltation.

4. Christ did triumph in the Crosse, as in a Field of victory; but in his Exaltation, as in the kingly seat, and Chariot of triumph.

5. The glory of this triumph was, a changing of the humble forme of a servant, and that most abject condition which in it he did undergoe, into blessednesse altogether Heavenly. Phil. 2. 9. Wherefore also God did highly exalt him, and gave him a name above every name.

6. In respect of the Divine nature, it was onely an active manifestation: in respect of the humane nature, it was a reall receiving with sutable actions flowing from it.

7. The humane nature received all those perfections, which a created nature could take. For in the soule there flourished all kind of fulnesse of wisdome and grace, not only in respect of the principle and habit, but also in respect of the act and exercise: his body also was adozned with greatest purity, agility, splendor,

and strength. Hebr. 12. 2. For the joy that was set before him, he endured the Crosse, Phil. 3. 21. Who shall transforme our vile body, that it may be life to his glorious body.

8. But as the soule of Christ being now exalted, did still retaine the nature of a soule, so also the body glorified did in no wise lay downe the essence, and essentiall properties of a body: therefore it can neither be every where, nor together in many places, nor in the same place with an other body Penetrativè. Which indeed all that have eyes to see may cleerly perceive in those phrases of Scripture. Being taken from them he was caried up into Heaven. Luke 24. 51. He is not here, he is risen, Mat. 28. 6. And many such like.

9. There were three degrees of Exaltation opposite to as many degrees of his extreame humiliation: namely his Resurrection from the dead being opposed to his death; his ascending into Heaven opposed to his descending into the Grave, and to the Lowest place of the Earth, and his sitting at the right Hand of God opposed to his remaining in the Grave, and in the state of death or in Hell.

10. Christs Resurrection was of his whole humane nature which before had fallen by death. In respect of the soule it was from Hell, or from the state, and dominion of death, to which the soule as it was a part of the humane nature, was subject. In respect of the body, it was from the dead, and from the Grave.

11. The soule is said improperly to have risen againe: but the body and humane nature properly. For the body, and the man, did properly recover his perfection: but the soule did recover the act and motion of its perfection in the body.

12. There are two parts of his Resurrection; the first is an internall act, namely a reviving restored, by the uniting of soule and body: the second is an externall

act, namely his going out of the Grave to the manifestation of life restored.

13. Unto this Resurrection there did give testimony. 1. The Angells. 2. Christ himselfe by divers apparitions (ten whereof at least are reckoned up in the Scriptures) and also by divers proofes taken out of the Scriptures. 3. Men, who were certified of it by seeing hearing, and handling him.

14. But Christ did rise not by the power or leave of another, although this operation be attributed to God the Father, Acts 2. 24. But by his own power. Iohn 2. 19. Destroy this Temple, and within three dayes I will raise it up. And 10. 18. I have power of taking up my life againe.

15. The time of Resurrection was the third Day after his Death and Buriall, Mat. 16. 2. Luke 24. 7 Acts 10. 40. 1 Cor. 15. 4.

16. The end of this Resurrection was. 1. That he might be declared to be the Sonne of God, Rom. 1. 4. Declared mightily to be the Sonne of God by the Resurrection from the dead. 2. That he might seale a full victory of death, 1 Cor. 15. 57. Thankes be to God who hath given us victory through our Lord Iesus Christ. 3. That he might fulfill those parts of his office which did follow his death, Rom. 4. 25. He was raised againe for our justification. 4. That he might shew himselfe both justified, and justifying others, 1 Cor. 15. 17. If Christ be not risen, your faith is vaine: yee are yet in your sinnes. 5. That he might be the substance, example, and entrance of our spirituall, and corporall Resurrection. Vers 20. 21. 23. of the same Chapter. He is made the first fruits of them that sleepe. In Christ shall all be made alive.

17. For Christ as God is the cause absolutely principall of our Resurrection: as satisfying by his humiliation, and death, he is the meritorious cause: but as rising

from the dead he is the exemplary cause, and withall a demonstration and an initiation.

18. The ascending of Christ into Heaven, is a middle degree, or certaine progresse of exaltation, whereby leaving the Earth he ascends up into the highest Heaven as into his throne of glory. Acts 1. 11. He is taken up from you into Heaven, Ephes. 4. 10. Hee ascended farre above all Heavens.

19. This ascension was of the whole person; yet it doth not agree to the Divine nature, but figuratively, namely as it was the cause of ascending, and was joyned with the humane nature, in excellency: manifesting also his glory in it, whereof he had as it were emptied himselfe, when he descended into it by the incarnation: but it doth most properly agree to the humane nature, because it suffered change from a lower place to an higher.

20. The time of his ascension was 40 dayes after his Resurrection, Acts 1. 3. not sooner: because the infirmity of the Disciples did require the delay of this space of time, that their faith might be confirmed by divers appearings, and they might also be more fully instructed in those things, which pertaine to the Kingdome of God. Acts 1. 3. Not later, least he should seeme to thinke upon an earthly life.

21. The place from which he did ascend was mount Olivet, Acts 1. 12. Where also he entred into deepest humiliation, Luc. 22. 39. That he might teach that his suffering, and ascension did pertaine to the same thing.

22. The place into which he ascended, was the Heaven of the blessed, and which is not an ubiquitary Heaven, as some doe imagine, so as that ascension should only be a change of condition, and not of place, but it is the highest above all the other Heavens, Eph. 4. 10. The seat, house or mansion of God. Iohn 14. 2. So that in respect of locall presence, Christs humane nature is rightly

and truly said to be with us in Earth, Mat. 26. 11. Although he himselfe in respect of his person, and that spirituall efficacy which doth depend upon the humane nature, is every where with his unto the end of the world, Mat. 28. 20.

23. The witnesses of this ascension, were both many men, and Angels. Acts 1.

24. In respect of order, he was the first of all those who ascended into Heaven, in priority of nature: because his ascension was a cause by vertue whereof others doe ascend. Heb. 9. 8. But others had ascended in their soules before in time, Col. 1. 20. And some also (as it is most like) in their bodies. Gen. 5. 24. Hebr. 11. 5. 2 King[gap] 2. 11.

25. The cause of this ascension was the same which before was of the Resurrection: namely the power of God, which is the same both of the Father and the Son: hence in respect of the Father it is called an assumption which in respect of the Son is called an ascension. Act, 1. 11. But there was added moreover the condition of a glorified body; which is carried as well upward as downward.

26. The ends of his ascension were. 1. That he might place his humane nature now glorified in the mansion of glory. 2. That he might shew himselfe to be him who could pierce into the Heavenly and deepest counsels of God. Iohn 3. 13. How shall yee believe, if I tell you heavenly things? For there is none that ascendeth into Heaven, but he who descendeth from Heaven; namely, the sonne of man who is in Heaven. 3. That he might prepare mansions for all his in the house of his Father. Iohn 14. 3. 4. That hee might in the name of his own take possession of the heavenly Kingdome. Eph. 2. 6. Hath raised us up together, and hath made us sit together in Heaven, in Christ Iesus. 5. That by his intercession & power he might take care for those things

which were to be performed for their salvation. Ioh[gap] 16. 7. If I goe from you, I will send the Comforter unto you. 6. That we may have a most certaine argument of our ascension into Heaven, 1 Cor. 15. 20. He is made the first fruits of them that sleepe. 7. That wee also might in thought, affection and conversation follow after Heavenly things. Col. 3. 1. Phil. 3. 20. Seeke those things that are above where Christ is. We carry our selves a Citizens of Heaven: from whence also we looke for a Saviour, the Lord Iesus Christ.

27. Sitting at the right Hand of God is the highest degree of his Exaltation, whereby he enjoyeth the highest glory of his mediation. Hence Resurrection, and Ascension are motions tending to this sitting: hence also Resurrection and Ascension in a certaine manner common to us with Christ; but sitting at the right hand of the Father agrees to none, but to Christ only.

28. That highest glory wherewith Christ is endowed by this sitting, is properley and formally a kingly glory. Acts 2. 36. Let therefore all the house of Israel know for certaine, that God hath made this man a Lord.

29. This Kingly glory is a fulnesse of power and majesty whereby he governeth all things for the good of his, Psal. 110. 1. 1 Cor. 15. 25. For he must raigne untill he have put down all his enemis, under his feet.

30. This majesty and power doth properly agree to the person of Christ the Mediator: in respect of which it is also truly said that the humane nature of Christ hath now so much eminency of dignity and ruledome, that with power he is above, and set over all created things, Eph. 1. 20. But from this eminency of dignity, to conclude that the humane nature of Christ (which was created end remaines finite) being absolutely and abstractedly considered, hath the same omnipotency, and omnipresency with God himselfe it is no other thing then a certaine stupid madnesse, and it is not far from blasphemy.

31. Vnto this kingly dignity pertaines that power whereby Christ was made the judge of all men, and Angells.

32. This kingly glory of Christ doth also redound unto other of his offices, so that he exerciseth a kingly Priest-hood, and a kingly prophecy.

33. The kingly priest-hood is, that whereby he doth plead our cause, not by suffering, and humbly supplicating as it were with bended knees, but by representing gloriously those things which he did and suffered. Hebr. 9. 24. Christ is entred into Heaven it selfe, to appeare before the Face of God for us.

34. Christ doth exercise a kingly prophecy: whilest he powres out his spirit upon all flesh: whilest he sends his Embassadors, workes together with them, and confirmes their word by signes that follow: lastly whilest he gather his own out of the world, protects, builds up, and preserves them for ever. Mat. 28. 18, 19, 20. Marc. 16. 20.