some how or other, have got into another world, another place of abode, if He did not ascend, if He was not seen to ascend. Therefore we shall not lose the truth of the ascension, even though it shall not have been distinctly recorded; for we must infer that, according to what He had testified, and according to what we shall presently see to be necessary, He is gone to his glory. We must infer, according to what St. John says,-and it is remarkable that St. John does not mention the ascension, except where Jesus says, "I ascend to my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God;" there is no formal narrative of it;-but, if we had not that express word, "I ascend," we must infer from the testimony borne in the 17th chapter of his Gospel, that Christ was gone to the possession of that world. I say then, it is beautiful to see how God has laid this matter out. Some of his witnesses distinctly testify of it; others say not a word about it. Hereby we are clear from any suspicion of conspiracy. And hereby we have evidence, where evidence is scarcely wanted, to a most glorious fact. I shall excuse myself from reading the latter verses of St. Mark's Gospel, and the latter verses of St. Luke's Gospel, because they have been read to you in this service; one as the gospel of the day, the other as the second lesson of the day. And I will therefore pass on to some other testimonies. Again, if it were not for the immediate connection in which it stands, I should have read

to you part of Acts ii, where a particular account is given by St. Peter, not only of the resurrection, but also of the ascension, verses 31—36.

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"He seeing this Christ, that his

before spake of the resurrection of soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, &c." I should notice to you that some writers choose to interpret it, "having been exalted to the right hand of God." But I confess I think the language rather requires the interpretation which we have, "being by the right hand of God exalted." But then in these words, "being by the right hand of God lifted up on high," "having been by the right hand of God exalted," you have additional information; in that form of expression you are told how He was lifted up on high; you are told by what source and spring of power He was carried up. "For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." The same is in fact confirmed, though not asserted, when St. Peter addresses himself to the Jewish multitude, and says, "The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus." But I pass on to other testimonies.

In

Rom. viii. 33, 34, you have these remarkable words: "Who shall lay anything 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. Pass on then to Eph. iv. a passage appointed for the second lesson of this evening, verses 8-10: "Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things." But I must not pass over what is so distinctly mentioned in the first chapter of this same Epistle to the Ephesians, verses 20-23: "And set Him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all." Then in Phil. ii. 9-11: "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the

glory of God the Father." Then there is another passage, which I must also set before you, in Eph. ii. 4-6: "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Well then, pass on to Col. iii. 1-4: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

For ye are dead,

and your life is hid with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." Then pass on to Heb. i. 3: "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 He had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." Also vi. 20: "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." Also viii. 1: "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum. We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens." In chapter vii there is that remarkable expression which I believe is sometimes forgotten by those who clamour against the sinful flesh of Christ; verses 25-27: "Wherefore He is able also to

save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once, when He offered up himself." And so in iv. 14: "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession." So in xii. 2: "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith: who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." And so all that argument at the close of that chapter, verses 25-27. Then I will just give you one other testimony from the New Testament; and that is St. Peter's testimony. I believe I shall add another. But take St. Peter's testimony at the end of the third chapter of his first Epistle; where, speaking of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, he says, verse 22; "Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him." Now my last testimony from the New Testament shall be from Rev. i. How did Jesus Christ appear unto the Prophet and Evangelist St. John? He was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind him a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last."