gives success to its ordinances, and raises up a seed to serve him in every generation.

Here then, O Zion, is thy stability and honour: Thou art founded on a rock, and the gates of hell cannot prevail; thy King in the midst of thee is mighty, and has all power ; and has appointed salvation for thy walls and bulwarks.

Again, his dominion is in the hearts of his people; in them is the kingdom of his grace; there he reigns as a mild but mighty Monarch, bringing salvation; subduing their enmity, ruling them by his righteous law, comforting them by his love, defending them from their spiritual enemies, invigorating them in their Christian warfare, and at last crowning them with victory and triumph, with glory, honour, and immortality.

Thus, our exalted Redeemer is King of saints, and Lord of Zion, and Governor among the nations; the sceptre of his kingdom is a sceptre of righteousnesss; and his dominion shall endure through all generations.

At the last great day, this Almighty Lord of Zion shall unfold the rectitude and wisdom of all his dispensations, from the

beginning

E e

beginning to the end of the world. That important period hastens on ; of his second coming, he has given assurance to all men, by his resurrection from the dead, and his ascension into heaven. Hence said the heavenly angel to the sorrowful disciples of our Lord : “ Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing ? That same Jesus whom ye have seen go up to heaven, shall so come, in like manner, as ye have seen him go away

* !” He shall come in the clouds of heaven, and with all his holy angels, in brightness and great glory, to be glorified in his saints, and admired in all who love his appearing.

Then shall the whole family of his redeemed unite together in joyful harmony: Behold he cometh in the clouds, and every eye shall see him! This is the King of glory, and the Lord of hosts ; strong in battle, and mighty to save : Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him; and he is come, and will save us; and we will be glad and rejoice in him. Amen.

SERMON

• Acts i, 10, 11.

SERMON XXII.

ASCENSION OF CHRIST.

JOHN XX. 17. .

Go unto my brethren, and say unto them, I

ascend to my Father, and your Father, and to my God and

God and your God.

We have endeavoured to aid your devotions, by craving your attention to the grand event of the ascension of Christ; and we have proposed to select from the sacred volume, some of the important purposes for which, as Mediator; he ascended into heaven.

Two of these purposes we have already illustrated. l. The evidence of his triumph

*

over death and hell. 2. The entrance upon his Mediatorial glory as universal Lord. We now proceed to remark,

3. That Jesus, as Mediator, ascended to heaven, as the Representative and Head of all his people ; that he might convey inestimable blessings to all his redeemed, and might order aright all the temporal and spiritual interests of his brethren on earth, until they are brought to the happy mansions of their Father's house. Therefore said he to his disciples, “ It is expedient for you that I go away * ;” and again, “ I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am, ye may be also t.” One of his inspired apostles declares, that he is exalted a Prince and Saviour, to give repentance, and the remission of sins. Another, that he appears in the presence of God for us, and that he maketh continual intercession for his people. The royal psalmist proclaims the same animating truths in all the beauty

eastern imagery, and in all the rapture of inspired language : “ Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive,

thou hast received gifts for men, yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. Blessed is the Lord, who daily loadeth us with his benefits, even the God of our salvation: He that is our God is the God of salvation, and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death *."

Meditate on those gracious declarations, and compare them with the spiritual exercises of humble afflicted Christians, that you may perceive the suitableness, advantage, and consolation of this faithful saying, “I ascend to my Father and your Father."

The first exercise of awakened souls is, What shall we do to be saved? who will deliver us from the wrath to come? who can save us from going down to the pit ?

They are convinced of sin, by the illuminating influences of the Holy Spirit; and see themselves chargeable with innumerable transgressions against the divine law; they feel their heart so obdurate, that it remains unaffected by all the awful terrors of the divine threatenings, and unmelted by all the endearing

Psal. lxviii. 18, 19, 20.