SERMON XXVI.

ROMANS viii. 34.

Who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

WHEN by his resurrection from the gates of the grave, our blessed Saviour had declared his victory over the powers of darkness, and had proclaimed himself the first fruits of them that slept; the redemption of man was complete, his pardon was for ever sealed, and he became the heir of life and immortality. One thing still remained, that the same mighty Conqueror, who had risen triumphant from the regions of corruption, should ascend into the highest heavens, from thence to impart the promised gifts of the Spirit of God unto the sons of men. Accordingly, as on the day set apart by our Church for the commemoration of this glorious event, when he had spoken unto the disciples, and blessed them," he was parted from them, and a cloud received him out of their sight," and so "he

was carried up into heaven," while they looked towards heaven, he went up. Thus then was there a visible departure; not a figurative, but a real ascent. An ascent, in the presence and sight of the Apostles, for a confirmation of its reality, and an assurance of its certainty. Nor have we the evidence of sense alone in the declaration of the Apostles, but the testimony also of angels, those holy spirits who minister before the face of God. "Behold, two men stood before them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go up into heaven." Thus then have we the evidence both of angels and men, for the reality of that event, which is the seal of our belief, and the confirmation of our hope. Christ ascended, is not only the glory but the ground of our faith. The blessed Apostles could not have preached the Gospel had they not been endued with a Spirit from above; and that Spirit could not have descended, had not our Lord ascended first. "If I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him to you."

2.

In reference then to the ascension of our blessed Lord, the words of my text divide themselves into two distinct propositions. First, that

he is seated at the right hand of God; and secondly, that he there maketh intercession for us. After his departure from the regions of this, lower world, he entered into the kingdom of bliss and immortality; into the holy place, into heaven itself; there to be seated in the presence of the Almighty, above all angels, and principalities, and powers, even at the right hand of God. "Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the king of glory shall come in ;" he cometh into his everlasting kingdom; he cometh triumphant over the powers of darkness, he cometh leading captivity captive, and is glorified with that glory which he had with the Father before the world was. He is seated at the right hand of God, not in point of actual place or position, as ubiquity can have no parts; he who filleth all things can have no position; but in reference, according to our weak and limited ideas, to absolute power and uncontroulable sway, which he is possessed of in heaven; in reference to the majesty and dominion which he hath there obtained. "Him," saith the Apostle, "hath God raised from the dead, 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 head over all things to the church." Thus then in this exaltation, is founded the adoration and worship paid, throughout every age, to the Redeemer of the world. We believe that the blessed Jesus, who died for our sins, did indeed rise again, and now sits arrayed in majesty, at the right hand of God, and without this belief Christianity is but a barren speculation, and a vain delusion. If Christ be not exalted into glory," our preaching is vain, and your faith also is vain." But if he now reigns in power at the right hand of the Almighty, who shall deny him that adoration, which is due to him in consequence of his power, and flows naturally from the relation we bear to him, as the redeemed to a Redeemer? When then we honour Christ in consequence of this power, and in virtue of a positive command, "that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father," then the honour we pay to Christ is part of the service we owe to God. Again, Christ sitteth at the right hand of God, from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool." Those spiritual enemies, though vanquished, not subdued; that dominion of sin and Satan, which though once subdued, is again set up on high, against the kingdom of God and his Christ. "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."

"The

trumpet shall sound," the barriers of the tomb shall be burst, the dead shall live. The bodies of the faithful shall be framed again out of dust, and re-united to their souls. Then shall the righteous appear in glory, full and incorruptible, and the powers of darkness being destroyed, shall enjoy one perpetual and everlasting day, a day commensurate to the unlimited eternity of God himself, the great Sun of righteousness, who is always rising, and never sets. Then shall the last enemy be destroyed, which is Death. Thus then is Christ set down at the right hand of God, "that he might subdue all things unto himself."

When then with the eye of faith, after the glorious example of the first martyr, we “see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God;" we view with humble confidence "the kingdom prepared for us from the foundation of the world;" where our nature hath gone before, thither may we expect to follow. The first fruits of nature have entered, and the rest is sanctified. Thither are we to aspire on the wings not of an idle and adventurous fancy, but of holy and purified affections. Then may we rest secure that in the day of our trouble, in the season of affliction, in the hour of death, like the blessed martyr, we shall see our Redeemer at the right hand of power, a