condemnation will be increased by our rejection of the remedy which God has graciously provided for us. Let it be our prayer then, while we hear the gospel of Christ, that we may so hear it, that our souls may live. Let it be our prayer that the Spirit of the living God would be pleased to apply His blessed word to our hearts, to bring it home to our consciences, that we may not hear it in vain; that the sweet savour of Christ may not be unto us the savour of death unto death, but the savour of life unto life, that we may be reconciled to God, and be made alive to Him, to live as in His presence, as seeing Him who is invisible," acknowledging Him in all our ways; and that we may live to His glory, and show forth all His praise in our life and conduct.

But in order that the religion of Christ might be manifested to be far superior to that which was then professed in the world, and which was maintained by lying miracles, and by all the deceivableness of unrighteousness, our Saviour was pleased to confer upon His Apostles miraculous powers, to enable them to make known the whole counsel of God with the greater boldness before an ungodly and idolatrous world. He therefore declared, These signs shall follow them that believe; in My name they shall cast out

40 2 Corinthians ii. 15, 16. 41 Hebrews xi. 27. 42 2 Thess. ii. 10.

devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents: and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. That these miracles were performed by the Apostles of Christ, we have evidence in the history of their Acts. On the day of Pentecost they were enabled to speak in the languages of the Jews, and of the proselytes, who came up to Jerusalem to worship from all parts of the world. There was no known language in which they were not able to address the people of various nations and countries who came in their way; so that they were all astonished to hear Galileans speak to them in the language of the countries in which they had been born or were living: a circumstance which had never occurred before, when they had been present at the great festivals of their nation. That demons were cast out, or evil spirits dispossessed from those whom they had tormented by their presence, is also recorded; as well as the recovery of the sick to health by the laying on of their hands. It is said, that by the hands of the Apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about Jerusalem, bring

ing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits; and they were healed every one.43 Of their taking up serpents, we have a remarkable account respecting St. Paul, when he was shipwrecked on the island of Melita. When he had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god. Thus the promise of the Lord Jesus was fulfilled that He would give testimony to the word of His by granting signs and wonders to be done by the hands of those who were employed in making known His blessed gospel to their fellow-creatures.

44

grace,

The Evangelist observes with regard to the event which we more particularly commemorate at this season, So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. Here is

43 Acts v. 12, 15, 16. 44 Acts xxviii. 3-6.

45 Acts xiv. 3.

First, an important fact stated; and Secondly, a declaration is made as to its result, or the consequences of it.

The Evangelist adds respecting the Apostles of Christ, that when their Lord and Master was thus separated from them as to His bodily presence, they fulfilled the course which He had prescribed to them. They went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, by enduing them with power from on high, and confirming the word with signs following, showing that the word which they preached was the word of God, by the miraculous powers with which they were endowed, and by means of which they were enabled to confer temporal benefits on all around them, in the same manner as the Lord Jesus had Himself done in the days of His flesh.

Let us now briefly notice the subjects contained in the text.

First, an important fact is here stated. It is said that the Lord Jesus was received up into heaven. The circumstances connected with His ascension into heaven, are mentioned particularly by St. Luke. He led out His disciples as far as to Bethany on the mount of Olives, and when they had arrived at the appointed place, He lifted up His hands and blessed them; and it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. What a

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wonderful sight must it have been for the disciples of Christ to behold their Lord and Master ascend in this manner from them into heaven, until a cloud received Him out of their sight.46 Well might they fall down and worship Him, as they did; for if they needed any other proof of His Divine power than they had before received, this would most assuredly have been sufficient for the confirmation of their faith. this event was fulfilled the prophetical declaration of the Psalmist, 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. The Apostle Paul reminds the Ephesians that this prophecy received its accomplishment by this wonderful and astonishing event. The text declares,

Secondly, The result or consequence of this event; which is, that the Lord Jesus then sat on the right hand of God. This denotes that He then took possession of His mediatorial throne as the God-man, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. He had said to His disciples just before His departure, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.49 He ascended into heaven to exercise His Divine power in human nature, having taken the manhood into God. This is what is meant by sitting on the right hand of

46 Acts i. 9. 47 Psalm lxviii. 18. 49 Ephes. iv. S. 49 Mat. xxviii. 18.