Lord of all things, when he had come down from heaven, been made man, suffered death on the cross, and risen from the dead, did by an actual removal go up to heaven in his whole person God and man; and by so doing, being the representative of believers, did prepare and take possession of a place for them there, both leading captive all their enemies, and also receiving for them the Holy Ghost to provide them with all needful gifts and graces, till he come and take them to himself.

But while I thus profess my belief of an exalted Redeemer, by no means could I think that I sincerely believed he was ascended for these purposes, unless I could find the influence of my belief upon my heart and in my life. And therefore, in conformity with these glorious ends of Christ's ascension, I declare,

First. That it is my desire and endeavour to have my conversation in heaven, whither he is gone to prepare a place for his people. Thither in heart and mind would I ascend with him, and continually dwell, as a citizen of that blessed place. I would accustom myself to dwell upon the glory of heaven in my thoughts and meditations, till I found myself more in love with the same, waiting and desiring to be dissolved and to be with Christ. By faith I would acquaint myself with what the glorified saints have the full sight and enjoyment of, the glory of Jesus, and would behold as I could the glory which the Father hath given him. I would have my heart increasingly longing after and satisfied with the mansions of the city above, to which Jesus is gone, and where he continually is; I would not be content with a cold, unanimated, dry acknowledgment of my Saviour's being ascended up to his glory; nor, like the world of unbelievers, talk of an ascended Jesus, and a heavenly kingdom, while my heart, and prospects, and pursuits, are fixed down to earth. Fond mistake! What! Ye sons and daughters of Pleasure, whose desires day and night are carried out after company and entertainment, according to that peculiarity which you relish and delight in, will you persuade yourselves that you believe Christ ascended into heaven to prepare a place for you? Can you really think you believe it, when that place has not the least desire of your hearts, when ye constantly forget it, and it does not prevail with you to take one step for the obtaining it? Will the worldling, who is thinking within himself, What shall I do, because I have no room

where to bestow my fruits? This will I do, I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits, and my goods and I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry will this man imagine, or will his vain neighbour, that is labouring to build some Babel to get him a name, imagine with him, that they steadfastly believe Christ is ascended to take possession of a kingdom that cannot be moved in heaven for us poor mortal sinners? I would have my heart so fixed on the heavenly inheritance, as not only to be disengaged from the vain prospects of these children of the world, but that all things below should be indifferent to me. I would be in the temper of a man upon a desolate island, who was waiting for the vessel he saw at a distance, that was coming to convey him to a land of plenty and happiness, where he wishes to be.

Secondly. Did Jesus ascend into heaven, leading captivity captive? Did he make it evident that his atonement had satisfied the curse of the law by his going up from all the power of Death, Satan, and Hell? Believing this, it is my duty, and shall be my endeavour, to rejoice over all these vanquished enemies. I would be saying to my accusing conscience, Knowest thou not that the demands of the law are satisfied? To Death, Where is thy dart? Shall I fear thee, whom Jesus has led vanquished in his ascent from thy dominions into heaven ? To Satan I would say in all his assaults, Where is thy power? Have not I seen thee bound in chains? Rage if thou wilt, thou canst not hurt me. And to Hell I would say, Terrible as thou art in thy everlasting flames, thou canst not affright me. Thee also I have seen vanquished. I have nothing to fear from thee, if I prove faithful to my Lord. In the face of all these mine enemies I would stand resolved. Though I can bring my Redeemer little glory any other way, yet I would not dishonour him by unbelief, as if he had not led all these mine enemies captive when he ascended up on high. I would be strong in faith, that I might advance in love, and, disengaged from every slavish fear, might serve my Master cheerfully in all my conversation. Believing the triumphs of my Redeemer, I would be steadfast against the fear of these potent enemics; yet, careful that my belief in the exalted Jesus wrought in me

love and desire, I would guard against presumption. Believing that Jesus is ascended to heaven, in heart and mind I would ascend with him, and be raised above the gnawings of despair, and preserve myself safe from the greater danger of security. Does it become one, whose Surety is ascended into heaven, either to harbour earthly affections, or to fear vanquished enemies? The one and the other are a disgrace to the profession of a Christian. Grace enabling me, I will not stop in low attainments. I will steadfastly look up into heaven after Jesus ascended thither, till I can say, Lord, my heart is with thee; and then I will boldly say to Conscience, Death, Satan, and Hell, I fear you not.

Lastly. Ascending up on high, did he receive gifts for men to bestow them on his people? And was the design of them that God might dwell among us, through the knowledge and love of the truth? Then, knowing what these gifts are, it is my desire and shall be my endeavour to use them answerably to the purpose of their vouchsafement. The Apostle has taught me to understand by these gifts a ministry furnished with the knowledge of the Gospel, able to teach, and disposed to do so: whoever is not thus prepared, is not provided by Christ for the ministry, does but invade the office by undertaking it, and can do nothing to the edification of the church. But such a qualified ministry is from the Lord. "He gave gifts unto men. He gave some apostles; and some prophets; and some evange lists; and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Seeing therefore this ministry to be what my Lord has received and given, and seeing it is principally by means thereof that God dwells among us, through the knowledge and love of the truth hereby wrought in us, I think it my duty to reverence it as his gift, to attend upon it as his ordinance, and to endeavour that it may promote my edification. I will not turn my back upon it, as if I might profit as well or better without it; this were to think meanly of the gift of Christ. will not attend upon it in curiosity, losing sight of the gift in the qualifications of the man, whatever they be. Neither will I lightly let slip what the Lord by this method teaches me, and thereby disgrace the ascension of Christ to receive and give gifts

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unto men. I will keep in memory that ministers in themselves are but earthen vessels, that I may not think highly of the men; yet I will remember, that, when they are duly qualified and disposed, they are Christ's gift, that I may not think meanly of their office. I will not glory in men, for all things are for the sake of the church; but will account them servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. My eye shall be upon them as the gift of Christ, and I will bear it in my remembrance that by their ministrations it is God who has ordained that I should be instructed and edified; for he has instituted no other. I will pray my ascended Lord that he will bless them with all increase of knowledge and grace, and that he will bestow such gifts on all the churches of the saints. I know what glorious things were done, when soon after his ascension Christ vouchsafed his gifts to the Apostles and others. I know his hand is not shortened, and that the residue of the Spirit dwelleth in him; wherefore I will pray the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth labourers into his vineyard.

You see now the practical influence of Christ's ascension into heaven; the last circumstance of which very scasonably leads us to the solemn transaction of this Ember-week. We may judge of the regard we have for the gifts Christ received when he ascended up on high, by the importunity of our prayers that he will richly qualify and duly dispose those who are offering themselves to the work of the ministry. Should we not have this upon our hearts, could we really desire that God might dwell among us? Should we forbear to pray the Lord of the harvest, would there be any ground of persuasion that we believe either that Christ received such gifts or gives them unto men; or that we had the least concern for the edification of others, or even of ourselves? Faith is but a name, if it be not brought into practice. And if it be real, why should it not influence us in this respect, as well as any other? Those of you who are unacquainted with true faith will go away and forget, nor will Jesus hear any prayers from you on the present interesting occasion. Believers will hear, be reproved, and I trust quickened to pray that the Lord will even now speak the word, that great may be the number of evangelical preachers.

The Collect for the Ascension-day will properly conclude this discourse.

"Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe the only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens, so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen."