Second Sermon for the Feast of the Ascension

‘“* He that descended is the Same also That ascended above all the heavens that He might fill all things.’’—Ephes. iv. Io.

ON THE GLORY OF CHRIST’S ASCENSION.

Glorious, dearest brethren, glorious and gladsome is the present solemnity, which gives to Christ such special honour and to us such special joy. It is indeed the crown and consummation of all the other festivities, and brings to a happy completion the journey of the Son of God. For “He That descended is the Same also That ascended above all the heavens, that He might fill all things ” (Ephes. iv. 10). That is to say, having proved Himself the Supreme Lord of all things that are on the earth, in the sea, and in hell, it only remained for Him to show by similar, or rather by more convincing proofs, that He is also Lord of air and sky. The earth recognised Him as its Lord, because at “ His voice, the voice of power ” (Ps. lxvii. 34), when “ He cried out with a loud voice : Lazarus, come forth’’ (John xi. 43), it gave up the dead. The sea recognised Him as its Lord, because it afforded a firm pathway to His Feet over its waters, so that the apostles took Him to be a spectre (Matt. xiv. 25, 26). Hell also recognised Him ,‘‘ because He hath broken its gates of brass and burst its iron bars ”’ (Ps. cvi. 16), and besides hath bound therein that implacable murderer who is called “ the devil and Satan ” (Apoc. xx. 2). Assuredly, He Who raised the dead, cleansed lepers, gave sight to the blind, and the free use of their limbs to the lame, and cured all manner of diseases, must have been Lord of all, and the hand © which repaired the broken creatures must have been the same which originally fashioned them. Thus also, He Who predicted that a fish should be found with a stater in its mouth (Matt. xvii. 26), showed that He was Lord of the sea, and of every living thing that moves in its waters. Furthermore, it is manifest that He Who dragged the aerial powers in His triumphal train “ fastening them to the cross”’ (Col. ii. 14, 15), has received authority over the infernal regions. For it is He of Whom it is written that “ He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil” (Acts x. 38) ; it is He Who “ stood in a plain place ” (Luke vi. 17) in order to instruct the crowds ; Who “stood before the governor ” (Matt. xxvii. 11) in order to endure stripes ; Who during the whole time in which “ He was seen upon earth and conversed with men ” (Bar. iii. 38) lived in the midst of many labours, whilst “He wrought salvation in the midst of the earth ” (Ps. lxxiii. 12).

It only remains for Thee, now, O Lord Jesus, to perfect that seamless garment of Thine (John xix. 23) and to give its final increase to our faith, by ascending in the sight of Thy apostles (Acts i. 9) through the midst of the air, as the Lord of the air, and “ above all the heavens.” From this it will be evident that Thou art “ Lord of all things ” (2 Mac. xiv. 35), that Thou fillest “all in all ” (x Cor. xii. 6) ; and thereafter it will certainly be due to Thee that “in Thy name every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess ” that Thou art in the glory and at the right hand of the Father (Phil. ii. 10-11). My brethren, ‘at (this) right hand are delights even to the end” (Ps. xv. 11), and therefore the Apostle exhorts us to “ seek the things that are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God ” (Col. iii. 1) : because there undoubtedly we shall find our treasure, Jesus Christ, “in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge ” (Col. ii. 3), in Whom “ dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead corporally ” (ibid. 9).

But, my brethren, how great fear and sorrow must we not suppose to have invaded the hearts of the apostles when they saw the Lord Jesus taken from them, and rising through the air, not ascending by means of ladders, nor drawn aloft with ropes, nor upborne by angelic hands—although troops of angels surrounded Him as an escort of honour—but mounting “in the greatness of His-strength ” (Is. Ixiii. 1)! Then was fulfilled the word which He spoke to them, “‘ Whither I go, you cannot come ” (John xiii. 33). They would have followed Him inseparably whithersoever He went on the earth; they would have cast themselves into the sea—as Peter did on one occasion—to perish with Him in its waters: but on this aerial path they could not follow Him, “for the corruptible body is a load upon the soul, and the earthly habitation presseth down the mind that museth upon many things” (Wisdom ix. 15). Great, accordingly, must have been their grief, when they beheld Him, for Whose sake they had renounced all things, withdrawn from their presence and from their sight, for “ the children of the Bridegroom ” could not but mourn when they saw the Bridegroom “ taken away from them ” (Matt. ix. 15).

And their fear also was great, because they were left like orphans (John xiv. 18) in the midst of the Jews, and had not as yet been ‘‘ endued with power from on high ” (Luke xxiv. 49). So “ whilst He blessed them, He departed from them, and was carried up to heaven ” (ibid. 51), that most merciful Heart of His melting doubtless with pity for His sorrowing disciples and His poor little Church—although He was but going to prepare a place for them (John xiv. 3) and because it was expedient for them that He should withdraw from them His bodily presence (John xvi. 7). Oh, how blissful, how glorious was that procession in which even the apostles were not yet accounted worthy to take part, when Christ the Lord, followed by exultant throngs of angelic spirits and the sanctified souls of men, ascended to the Father, to take His seat at His right hand! Now truly He has “ filled all things.” For He has been born amongst men, He has “conversed with men,” He has endured suffering and death from men and for men, He has arisen from the dead, He has ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of God. I now recognise that “coat without seam, woven from the top throughout ” (John xix. 23) which terminated to-day in the celestial enthronement, whereby our Lord Jesus Christ has filled all things and been filled Himself with the fulness of glory.

But, my brethren, what part have I in this joyous festivity ? O my Lord Jesus, who will console me for that I saw Thee not when Thou wert hanging on the cross, livid with stripes, and pale with the pallor of death? for that I did not weep for Thee crucified, or honour Thee dead, washing with my tears the wounds in Thy Body? And wherefore didst

Thou leave me ‘without a word of farewell when, “ beautiful in Thy robe ” (Is. Ixiii. 1), as the immortal King of glory, Thou didst mount aloft unto the highest heavens? Verily ‘‘my soul (would have) refused to be comforted ” (Ps. lxxvi. 3), had not the angels “ with the voice of exultation” (Ps. xli. 5) made haste to console me, saying, “ Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus, Who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come as you have seen Him going into heaven ” (Acts i. 11). So, I am assured, shall He come again. And shall He then come to seek us with so unique and universal a procession, when He descends to judge the living and the dead, preceded by all the angels and followed by all men? Yes, He shall come, most assuredly, and as He has ascended to-day, not in the way in which He descended before. For He came in humility the first time in order to save our souls, but shall come in majesty hereafter to raise up our bodies and to ‘‘ make them like to the Body of His glory ” (Phil. iii. 21) ; so that He seems to bestow upon our “less honourable part a more abundant honour ” (x Cor. xii. 23). For then He shall beseen “ with great power and majesty ” (Luke xxi. 27) Who was concealed before in the weakness of the flesh. And I, even “I shall see Him, but not now: I shall behold Him, but not near ” (Num. xxiv. 17) ; and this second glorification shall manifestly excel the former in the greatness of the glory it imparts.

In the meantime, Christ as ‘‘ the Sheaf of our first-fruits ” (Lev. xxiii. 15) has been offered; He has been taken up to the Father’s right hand, and “ He now appeareth in the presence of God for us ” (Heb. ix. 24). But He is seated there, having mercy in His right hand, and justice in His left ; mercy exceeding great, and justice also exceeding great. He is there, I say, holding most firmly in His right hand water and in His left hand fire (Ecclus. xv. 17). And in truth, “ according to the height of the heavens above the earth, He hath strengthened His mercy towards them that fear Him ” (Ps. cii. 11), so that they feel the piled up treasures of His compassions to be more than sufficient to fill the whole space between heaven and earth. For the merciful designs of God regarding them remain immovably fixed: as the Psalmist sings, “ The mercy of the Lord is from eternity and unto eternity upon them that fear Him ” (ibid. 17), from eternity, according to predestination; unto eternity, according to glorification. Similarly with regard to the reprobate, He is “ terrible in His counsels over the sons of men” (Ps. lxv. 5). On both sides His eternal decree stands immutably firm “in them that are saved and in them that perish ” (2 Cor. ii. 15).* My brethren, who knows whether the names of all you that are now listening to me are written in heaven (Luke x. 18) and inscribed in the book of predestination? It seems to me indeed that I can discern some signs of your calling and justification in the lowliness of your way of life. But oh ! what joy would fill my soul if only I had assurance of this! As the case is, however, “ man knoweth not whether he be worthy of love or hatred” (Eccles. ix. 1).

Therefore, dearest brethren, persevere in the rule of life you have adopted, so that through humility you may attain to glory: for this is the way, and there is none other. Whosoever travels by a different road rather falls down than mounts up, because it is humility alone that exalts, it is humility alone that leads us to life. Christ Himself, seeing that in His Divine Nature He had no capacity for either growth or elevation— because beyond God is nothing—found, by descending a way of increase, when, namely, He came to be made flesh, to suffer, and to die, lest we should have to endure an everlasting death. “For which cause God also hath exalted Him ” (Phil. ii. 9), because He has arisen from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the Father’s right hand. To each one of you I say, “ Go, and do thou in like manner ” (Luke x. 37). For thou also wilt not be able to ascend unless thou hast first descended: so it has been decreed and fixed by eternal law, “ Every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted ” (Luke xiv. 11). Oh, the perversity, oh, the waywardness of the children of Adam! For whereas to descend is most easy, and to ascend most difficult, they require little persuasion to ascend, and can hardly ever be induced to descend, being always ready to mount up to the honours and dignities of ecclesiastical rank—honours and dignities the burden whereof even the strong angels might hesitate to shoulder. But only very few are found to follow Thy footsteps, Lord Jesus ; only very few are found who either suffer themselves to be drawn or are willing to beled “in the way of Thy commandments ” (Ps. cxviii. 32). For some are drawn, those, namely, who exclaim with the Spouse, “Draw me: we will run after Thee” (Cant. i. 3) ; and some are led, such as can boast, “The King hath brought me into His store-rooms’’ (ibid.) ; and some also are rapt, as the Apostle was, “ rapt even to the third heaven ” (2 Cor. xii. 2). Blessed are they who belong to the first class, because they ‘“‘ possess their souls in patience ” (Luke xxi. 19) ; more blessed they who belong to the second class, because “ with their will they give praise to Him” (Ps. xxvii. 7) ; but most blessed of all they of the third, who, having buried, so to speak, their own power of free choice in the profound depths of the divine mercy,* are rapt in fervour of spirit up into “the riches of His glory” (Ephes. ili. 16), not knowing whether they are “in the body or out of the body” (2 Cor. xii. 2), conscious of nothing save that they have been rapt. Happy the man who follows Thee everywhere, Lord Jesus, instead of that apostate spirit, who wished to ascend immediately after his creation, and was, in consequence, struck down with the full force of God’s right arm. “ But we are Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture” (Ps. lxxviii. 13), and will follow Thee through Thee to Thyself. For Thou art “ the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John xiv. 6), the Way by Thy example, the Truth in Thy promises, and the Life in reward. “ Thou hast the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have known that Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (John vi. 69, 70), and art Thyself over all things, God blessed for ever. Amen.