his footsteps, the fruit thereof is delicious food, aud their leaves are medicine for mortal men. If we take notice of the language of divine inspiration, we evidently see that none like him ever came to our world, or ever departed from it; notwithstanding the millions that are gone to eternity from the beginning of the world to the present time. Notwithstanding that he was born of the virgin Mary, and is a real man; yet he is before al things, and all things were made by him. He filled his place as a divine person in the court of heaven, while he was here upon earth, casting out devils, healing the sick, dying to atone for sin, and raising from the dead for the justification of sinners.

"No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the son of man who is in heaven." Heaven was no strange place to Jesus; he was talking about the several mansions in his Father's house to his disciples, as familiar as one of the Dukes of the blood royal, is talking about Windsor Castle, where he was brought up.

The departure of Christ from earth to heaven, was the most kind, affectionate and beneficial to man. God's departure from the garden of Eden, and the departure of the same person in the nature of man from mount Olives to heaven were, of all others, the most important events which ever occurred to the human race. When the Lord went out from Eden, he drove man before him, and left a curse upon the place, and on the earth, for man's sin; but when Jesus, the God-man, ascended to heaven, he went before to prepare a place for man in the paradise of God, and left the seeds of eternal blessings on the earth, that instead of the thorn shall come up the firtree; and instead of the briar shall come up the myrtletree and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off

God

Jesus having died for our sins on the cross, he rose again for our justification. He ascended to heaven, and on the ground of his vicarious sufferings and death on Calvary, he ever liveth to make intercession for us. He ascended on high, led captivity captive, and received gifts for men, yea for the rebellious also. He is exalted, he is extolled, and is very high; infinitely higher in glory, and majesty, than all the heavenly mansions, with all their illustrious inhabitants. Peter said to the Jews, that the God of their fathers raised up Jesus whom they slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sin. 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. For Christ is not entered into the holy pla ces made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. As he ascended on high, the command was given, Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors. And the King of glory shall come in. When the question was asked, who is this King of glory? the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle, the Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory, was the reply given.

Jesus ascended into heaven in the presence of many witnesses, who were gazing on him till he was out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly towards heaven, as he went up, two angels in human form stood by them, in white apparel, and told them that Jesus was taken up into heaven. Soon afterward he sent down the Holy Spirit from heaven, iu an extraordinary manner

to his Apostles. Stephen, the first martyr, that glorified Christ by death, said to his infuriated persecutors, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." And John the beloved disciple, while an exile in the Isle of Patmos, for the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ, beheld him in the midst of the throne, standing as a Lamb that had been slain..

The expression that Christ ascended into heaven, refers to his human nature; as to his divine nature he is every where present. No one ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven, even the son of manwhich is in heaven. Christ ascended into heaven on the ground of his own moral rectitude; the everlasting doors are bound to be lifted up that he might enter into his glory, it was his own glory, and the glory that he had before the world was made. Christ is the Generalissimo, the Supreme Governor, and the sole Proprietor of the mansions of glory. "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory." As Jesus enters into heaven, and sits on the throne of his glory, the spirits of just men made perfect, tune their harps; angels bow with reverence, gratitude and love; seraphim, and cherubim clap their wings; yes all heaven rings with joyful sound, glory, honor, praise and power, be unto the Lamb forever. And Jesus saith, to him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

II. We shall now enquire into the necessity of the ascension of Christ into heaven, whom the heaven must receive until the restitution of all things..

Divine necessity is of one whole chain, containing several links, which can never be broken; without breaking *he golden ring, the master piece of heaven itself. The

necessity of divine love manifested, of mercy exercised, and of purposes accomplished; the necessity of divine appointments and covenants fulfilled, of mediatorial engagements kept, of faithfulness and truth maintained; the necessity of the power of God displayed, and of the merits of Christ's sacrifice made known in the salvation. of sinners. And other sheep have I, says Christ, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring or they must die forever. The first link of this chain is in God before the world was made; that is the Alpha of the chain; and the last link in Abraham's bosom in heaven, that is the Omega of the chain. Jesus is the beginning, the middle and the end of it, therefore it cannot be broken. Jesus before the world was, receiving the promise of eternal life; is the beginning; Jesus in his blood making an atonement for sins, and by his spirit making an application of that atonement in regeneration, faith, and sanctification, is the middle of it; Jesus in heaven making intercession for sinners, and drawing all that believe to himself is the end of it. When the Father in the garden of Gethsemane offered Jesus the cup that he was to drink for his people, one of the bitter ingredients in it was to loose the enjoyment of his Father's face, or the smiles of his countenance, and to feel his frowns, his wrath, and displeasure against sin. His human nature trembled till he sunk to the ground, and sweated the blood in large drops to the earth, until he prayed thrice that this cup should pass away from him; yet not my will, but thine be done. The Father having read to him the covenant engagements, which were signed, sealed, and delivered by himself, Jesus replied, for the end and purpose of meeting this hour, and to drink this cup I was born, and came to the world;-yes, it was to suffer the curse of my people. The cup that my Father's hands have mixed for me to drink, I will drink the very dregs;

that none that believe in me should take any of the bitter ingredients; for repentance is hid from mine eyes.

And on his knees he read the covenant engagements on the Father's side, I have glorified thee on earth, the cup is now to my lips, I am about finishing the work, thou gavest me to do, remember the salvation of my people. Glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. Father I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory. The 17th chap. of John is a transcript of the intercession of Christ in heaven; and is left in the camp of the daughter of Zion for the support, and consolation of her children in the wilderness, assuring them, that it is, his will that they should be with him forever,

Again our text speaks of the times of restitution of all things; which may be understood of the restoration commenced with the promise of the Messiah in Eden, and implying all the godliness which flourished in the Jewish church, from time to time. Their deliverance from Egypt and from Babylon-al! the light that shined upon her; and all the spiritual gifts that the elders received mentioned in the 11th chap. of the Hebrews. John the Baptist was employed in this important work for a short time, and the means of turning many from the errors of their ways, to the faith and piety of Abraham. Jesus restored hundreds in his life time. He brought many souls to order, from the paws of devils; many bodies to order and health; the lame were enabled to walk briskly under his hand; the blind were brought to see clearly; the ears of the deaf were unstopped; the sick were healed; and the dead raised. The dispensation of the fullness of the time appointed to gather together in one, all things in heaven and earth to new order in Christ Jesus. This was indeed the time of reformation; when he by one sac