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3 lines
2.8 KiB
HTML
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<p>Here is, 1. Christ <i>welcomed</i> into the <i>upper world</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Mark.16.19" href="/passage/?search=Mark.16.19">Mark 16:19</a>): <i>After the Lord had spoken</i> what he had to say to his disciples, he <i>went up into heaven</i>, in a cloud; which we have a particular account of (<a class="bibleref" title="Acts.1.9" href="/passage/?search=Acts.1.9">Acts 1:9</a>), and he had not only an admission, but an abundant <i>entrance</i>, into his kingdom there; he was <i>received up</i>, received in state, with loud acclamations of the heavenly hosts; and he <i>sat on the right hand of God</i>: sitting in a posture of <i>rest</i>, for now he had finished his work, and a posture of <i>rule</i>, for now he took possession of his kingdom; he sat <i>at the right hand of God</i>, which denotes the sovereign dignity he is advanced to, and the universal agency he is entrusted with. Whatever God does concerning us, gives to us, or accepts from us, it is <i>by his Son</i>. Now he is glorified with the glory he had before the world.</p>
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<p class="tab-1">2. Christ <i>welcomed</i> in this <i>lower world</i>; his being <i>believed on in the world</i>, and <i>received up into glory</i>, are put together, <a class="bibleref" title="1Tim.3.16" href="/passage/?search=1Tim.3.16">1 Tim. 3:16</a>. (1.) We have here the apostles working diligently for him; they <i>went forth, and preached every where</i> far and near. Though the doctrine they preached, was <i>spiritual</i> and <i>heavenly</i>, and directly contrary to the <i>spirit</i> and <i>genius</i> of the world, though it met with abundance of opposition, and was utterly destitute of all secular supports and advantages, yet the preachers of it were neither <i>afraid</i> nor <i>ashamed</i>; they were so industrious in spreading the gospel, that within a few years the sound of it <i>went forth into the ends of the earth</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Rom.10.18" href="/passage/?search=Rom.10.18">Rom. 10:18</a>. (2.) We have here God <i>working</i> effectually <i>with them</i>, to make their labours successful, by <i>confirming the word with signs following</i>, partly by the miracles that were wrought upon the <i>bodies</i> of the people, which were divine seals to the Christian doctrine, and partly by the influence it had upon the <i>minds</i> of the people, through the operation of the Spirit of God, see <a class="bibleref" title="Heb.2.4" href="/passage/?search=Heb.2.4">Heb. 2:4</a>. These were properly <i>signs following</i> the word—the reformation of the world, the destruction of idolatry, the conversion of sinners, the comfort of saints; and these signs still follow it, and that they may do so more and more, for the honour of Christ and the good of mankind, the evangelist prays, and teaches us to say <i>Amen</i>. Father in heaven, thus let thy name be hallowed, and let thy kingdom come.</p>
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