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advantages; Enoch and Elijah left only a blessed remembrance of themselves to their people, but they could not be advocates for one human being in heaven, nor take their followers to themselves, Dor send them the Spirit of God, as an earnest, all which our Jesus doth by his ascension into heaven. It is true, after Elijah was ascended into heaven, his spirit rested upon Elisha: yet he did not send his spirit by himself, except only as a moral instrument by faith and prayer; but Jesus sends his Spirit immediately by himself, and all to receive of his fulness, and grace for grace," and therefore" all she seed of Israel may glory in the Lord," Isaiah xlv. 25. But, hearers, can ye also glory in him as your head and pledge, who is ascended into heaven for your good? ye ought to think of this; for if ye know aught of Jesus, ye do surely know, that he was not glorified for all men, and that it behooves you to inquire whether ye are partakers of the advantages of his ascension: do ye ask, whereby ye may know this? I will inform you, and examine yourselves by it.

1. Those who are partakers of these advantages, have him as well by his Spirit in their hearts, as in heaven; "for they are builded for an habitation of God through the Spirit," Eph. ii. 22. See this evidence also Rom. viii. 9, 10. The Holy Spirit works faith in their souls effectually, whereby they embrace him, and cause him to dwell in them; in as much as "they are strengthened with night by the Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell by faith in their *hearts," Eph. iii. 16, 17. Others are yet without Christ; they know not this hidden work of faith, their souls have never wrought thus with him, they are strangers to him, and he is a stranger to them.

2. These persons look upon God and Christ alone as their allsufficient portion; they have sought and chosen him as such, in opposition to all others: they seek their rest and full satisfaction in him only. They can say to him in truth, "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever," Psalm lxxiii. 25, 26. Others are "men of the world, who have their portion in this life," Psalm xvii. 14. They pursue after the world, the world possesseth their hearts, they think of it, speak of it, and are cheerful or sorrowful in proportion to the measure of worldly goods which they enjoy; it is their continual cry, "Who will show us any good? who will increase our corn and wine?" Psalm iv. 7, 8.

3. These persons know experimentally what it is to be near to, and far from him, and they are joyful or sorrowful in proportion to

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this. When he permits them to come near him, and into his bowels, and when he reveals himself to their souls, it is to them "a supping with Jesus, and of Jesus with them," Rev. iii. 20. "They rejoice in the shadow of his wings," Psalm lxiii. 7. It is good for them to draw near to God," Psalm lxxiii. 28. But when he withdraws himself, and hides his face, how is their soul then troubled? "My bowels were moved for hims' saith the spouse, when he had withdrawn himself from her, Song v. 4. See this also in David, Psalm xxx. 7, 8, 9. Others know nothing of this. Jesus hath never been revealed to them, they have never tasted of this honey, and therefore their eyes have not been enlightened, neither do they know wherein it consists to be far from him; as he is out of their sight. so he is out of their mind; they think that it is enough "to draw near him with their mouth, and honour him with their lips, though their hearts be far from him," Isaiah xxix. 13.

4. It is also the aim of those who partake of the advantages of his ascension, to seek those things which are above, where Christ is, and not the things on the earth, "Our conversation is in heaven, whence we look also for the Saviour," saith that heavenly-minded man, Philip. iii. 20. They are citizens of heaven, and not of the earth; they are strangers here, they will not settle themselves here, the earth holds them fast to their sorrow, more than they would hold the earth fast; their thoughts, desires, and longings are for and toward heaven, and heavenly things. If they be at any time drawn away from these things, they are grieved, and they will time after time break loose from the world, that they may pursue heaven only; "For we," saith that great man, Heb. xiii. 14," have here no continuing city, but we seek one to come." For Jesus is there, and he is their treasure, and therefore their heart is there also, Matt. vi. 21. Yea, they love all who seek heaven, as their fellow-citizens, and consider those who are citizens here as strangers. "A citizen of Zion contemns a vile person; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord," Psalm xv. 4. Others aim only at being acknowledged and established here on earth; they are best acquainted with the men of this world, for they are their fellow-citizens; they cannot converse with the citizens of heaven, as well as they can with the most perfect strangers, who speak another language: yea, how likeminded are they with those who are most worldlywise; "they are indeed of the world; therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them," 1 John iv. 5. See how Paul describes the citizens, who are from beneath, in opposition to the citizens of heaven, Philip. iii. 18, 19. Many walk otherwise, whose end is destruction, whose

God is their belly and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things."

Look now in this glass, and see whether ye can discover in your selves the features of those, who are partakers of Christ's ascension and whether ye have good reason to glory in him. But are not these features in you, alas, how unhappy are ye! ye have no advo cate at court, Jesus is not your head, ye are yet without his Spirit: and therefore he will not take you up to him, but thrust you down to hell, though ye were exalted even to heaven, except ye will yet humble yourselves, and flee to him, who dwelleth in heaven. There fore attend more to the ascended Jesus, and to heaven, than ye have done hitherto. Hear what Jesus commands you to do, Matt. vi 33. "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Do not suppose that one faint sigh in the air will carry you to heaven; no, we must be in earnest, we must exercise violence, if we will enter in : "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force," Matt. xi. 12. But, true citizens of heaven, improve the ascension of Christ into heaven. And therefore,

1. Rejoice in it, shout and sing aloud after him in this glory. Who knows how the heavenly host shouted, when heaven was opened to him! how gloriously the Father seated him on his throne at his right hand! how the angels attended on him! how the souls of the blessed rose up from their thrones, "fell down before him, cast their crowns from their heads, before the throne, and cried one to another with a loud voice, The Lamb which was slain is worthy to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing!" as they did, Rev. iv. and v. It behooves you also to unite with them, that ye may proclaim his glory with rejoicing to the utmost; for he ascended into heaven also for your salvation and happiness. Behold how the congregation of Israel did this before the ark of the covenant, the great type of Christ, Psalm xlvii. 5-9. “God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth, sing ye praises with understanding. God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted."

2. Is he ascended into heaven, do not lament that ye may not see him any longer in the body on earth. It discovers ignorance, yea,

fleshly-mindedness in you, to be desirous of seeing him in the flesh, as though your souls would then be more influenced toward and by him to faith and ks. We know to what this vanity hath betrayed the Lutherans and Papists; if he were still on earth, he would not be a priest: ye should never have had an advocate with the Father, nor any expectation of your ascension into heaven, ye should not have received the Holy Spirit, nor sought the things in heaven, if he had always continued on earth. Because the believing apostles un=derstood not this before his ascension, therefore "sorrow filled their

hearts;" and therefore he said unto them, "I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you, that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you," John xvi. 6, 7. It is also your glory, that he who is your Lord, hath ascended up from you in such a glorious and illustrious manner. Is he absent from you with his body, he doth never depart from you with his Godhead, majesty, grace and Spirit: "He is with you alway, even unto the end of the world," Matt. xxviii. 20. Where only two or three are gathered together in his name, there he is in the midst of them," Matt. xviii. 20 .Yea, he is with you, when your soul unbosoms herself to him in private ; "He will regard the prayer of the destitute," Psalm cii. 17. Doth he hide himself, and forbear to show his kindness to you, he is still with you in secret, and also "when ye pass through the fire and water," Isaiah xliii. 2. For he hath said, "I will not leave thee, nor forsake thee," Heb. xiii. 5. Yea, he will come again, ye shall see him with your eyes, and he will take you to himself.

S. Is he your advocate in heaven, in the presence of his Father, - bring then all your complaints to him and before him, that they may =ascend up from his hands before the throne of God; for to this end he stands at the golden altar, as John saw, Rev. viii. 3, 4. Why do ye deprive Jesus of his honourable office, by neglecting to give him more employment in it, through discouragement smothering. your complaints and difficulties in your own bosoms, and seeking relief in sorrow? Do iniquities prevail over you, and render you irresolute, so that ye dare not draw nigh to him, because ye provoke him so often; he is your advocate for this end also; it is your duty to be ashamed, and to humble yourselves, but ye ought not to re=main aloof from him; for "if any man sin, we have an Advocate

with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiaEtion for our sins," 1 John ii. 1, 2. Doth he not also frequently show that he prays for you, when he rebukes your enemies, looses your heart and tongue, that ye may plead heartily for yourselves

before the throne with groanings that cannot be uttered, and when he speaks peace to your souls, and gives you much life of grace for all these things proceed from his intercession.

4. Entertain now an assured hope and expectation, that he will take you up to himself into heaven. What causes you to doubt so? what renders the adversities that befal you, so grievous to you? is it not because ye do not perceive that ye have an assured title to heaven? if ye had a certain and clear expectation, would ye not laugh at whatever is otherwise dreadful, and say courageously, "Our light af fliction, which endureth but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory," as Paul speaks, 2 Cor. iv. 17. Have ye not also reasons enow to entertain such an assurance? did not he promise you, when he departed, that "he would come again, and receive you unto himself?" John xiv. 3. Is he not in heaven as your pledge, your flesh and head? hath he not sent you his Spirit as an earnest of it? dare ye not think thus of yourselves, because ye perceive so many earthly inclinations still in you? are they not matter of grief to you? do ye not mourn on account of them, and strive against them? doth not your soul lift up itself, time after time, toward heaven? well, assure yourselves then, "that if your earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, ye have a building of God, an house not made with hands, but eternal in the heavens," 2 Cur. v. 1. Yea, that "when after your skin worms destroy this body, yet in your flesh ye shall see God: whom ye shall see for yourselves, and your eyes shall behold, and not another." Let "your reins then long exceedingly within you," Job. xix. 25, 27.

5. In the mean while, endeavour more than ye have heretofore to be heavenly-minded. It is indeed your element, ye have received the Spirit from heaven for this purpose; it is also your duty. For it is enjoined on you, Coll. iii. 1, 2, 3. "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." Therefore let your souls detach and withdraw themselves from visible things, and surrender and devote themselves to those that are heavenly, musing on them with your thoughts, directing your desires toward them, and opening unto Christ, that he may enter in, and may be fetched in by you; "Lift up your hands, O ye gates and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in," Psalm xxiv. 7.

Do afflictions discourage you; "Look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of the faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endu