Sacred Dissertations

vi

We should not so much inquire, what some of the an-
cients may have understood, as what they ought to have
understood, by this expression

Christ's descent into hell, as it respects the body, denotes
burial, or the state of death

But it relates also to the soul

XIV.-XVII.

Not as if Christ descended locally, either into the place of
the damned, or into an imaginary Limbus
But this descent expresses metaphorically those extreme
sorrows, which, previously to death, he sustained in his
soul, when united to the body

The agony of Christ was inexpressibly grievous

As appears from its parts

XXIII. XXIV.

XXV. XXVI.

XXVII. XXVIII.

He conducted himself, however, in every respect most ho-

lily, remaining altogether without sin

Nor is there any thing culpable in his prayers

The cause of Christ's agony

XXIX.

XXX.-XXXIV.

XXXV.-XXXIX.

The practical uses of this doctrine. 1. For awakening

men from security

The glory of Christ's body after the resurrection was great,

even on earth, yet not consummate as it is now in

heaven

The raising of Jesus is a work common to the whole

Trinity

Yet for certain reasons, it is more frequently ascribed

to the Father

SECT.

X.-XII.

XIII. XIV.

In the raising of Christ, there is a demonstration of his

Observations on the time of the resurrection

Remarkable circumstances in the manner of his rising

again

-

XXII. XXIII.

The certainty of Christ's resurrection is confirmed ;
1. By the evidence of the thing itself

2. By the testimony of the Angels

3. By the frequent appearances of Christ

XXIV.

XXV.

XXVI.

Which, for weighty reasons, were not made to the whole
Jewish people, or even to the rulers

4. By the appearances of the saints, who were raised up

with Christ

XXVIII.

5. By many wonderful events, which testify that Christ

is alive

XXIX.

It is manifest, that none of these things were artfully

devised by the Apostles

1. That the prophecies might be accomplished xxxIII.—XXXVII.

2. That the types might be fulfilled

XXXVIII.

In the prophecies and types, not only the resurrection,

but the time of it, was foretold and prefigured XXXIX. XL.

3. Because the glory of the Father, and of the Son,
equally required the resurrection of Christ
The advantage arising to us from this event

The ascension is ascribed to the person of Christ, properly

according to the human nature only; but figurative-
ly according to the Divine nature also

Observations on the time of the ascension

II. III.

IV. VII.

Why it took place on the fortieth day after the resurrection

Why it happened, when Jesus was conversing with his

disciples

And even blessing them

Difficulties as to the place of the ascension examined and

removed

Uncertain accounts of the ancients, of miracles at that

XVI.

XVII.

Why our Lord was pleased to ascend from mount Olivet
He ascended to the third heaven

Which is not God, nor every where, but a determinate

place in the highest regions

XVIII.

XIX.

XX.

Where the Lord Jesus, in respect to his body, is contained
The ascension, therefore, is not the disappearing or the
glorification of the body of Christ; but a local motion
Why Christ is said sometimes to have been received up
by the Father, and sometimes to have himself ascended
The criticism of Budæus on the word Analepsis quoted xxii. xxiii.
The cloud which Christ made use of when he ascended,

is an evidence of his Divine majesty

The reality of Christ's ascension confirmed

It was necessary for Christ to ascend

1. That the prophecies might be accomplished

2. That the types might be fulfilled

XXI.

XXIV.

3. Because it was of importance to God the Father,