tance; the Apostle refers them to the refurrection and exaltation of Jefus Chrift, and to that dominion and dignity which he now enjoys, as the reward of his fufferings in the flefh.

The feveral important fteps of Christ's exaltation are contained in the words now read: Thefe are his refurrection from the dead-his afcenfion to, and feffion at the right hand of God-his advancement, far above all principality and power, to fupreme dominion over all things-and the glorious end of his dominion, even the benefit of the church which is his body, the fulness of him who filleth all in all.

I. The firft ftep of Chrift's exaltation was his refurrection from the dead.

The plan which the wisdom of God laid for the redemption of our fallen race, was the death of Jefus Chrift; who, though a holy and divine perfon, "was inade in the likeness of our finful flesh, that by a facrifice for fin he might condemn fin in the flefh." But the fcheme of God's wifdom did not end with the death of the Redeemer. If he had remained under the power of death, our hopes muft have died with him. His refurrection was neceffary, that we might have a convincing procf of his divine character and million-of the truth of his gofpel of God's acceptance of the facrifice offered and of the certainty of our own refurrection and future exiftence. God therefore took par ticular care to render this important event certain and indubitable.

Our divine Lord, during his miniftry, often foretold his own approaching death and the refurrection which would fpeedily follow. He pointed out the exact time of his resurrection, and referred not only his difciples, but the unbelieving Jews to this humanly improbable event, as the grand and deci fiye proof of his heavenly authority.

r. Jefus Chrift was crucified in the moft public manner, and the reality of his death was made evident beyond a poffibility of doubt. He was buried in a new tomb, in which never man before was laid; fo that, if any one rofe from thence, he must be the perfon. The tomb was hewn out in a rock, fo that there could be no fecret conveyance of the body from thence by a fubterraneous paffage. To prevent a clandeftine removal of the body, which the priests and Pharifees pretended to fear; a ftone was rolled to the mouth of the grave, a feal was put upon it, and a party of foldiers fet to guard it. Notwithstanding thefe precautions, the tomb on the third day was found empty! The body was not there. That it could not be ftolen away by the difciples, was evident from the precautions taken to prevent it, as well as from the circumftances of the difciples, who were then difperfed by fear. It muft, therefore, have been raised by a miracle. And this the foldiers confeffed. Early on the firft day of the week, there was an earthquake; an angel defcended in a glorious form, and in the pref ence of the guards, rolled away the stone, and fat upon it. The foldiers, affrighted at the vifion, haftened into the city, and reported to the priests what they had feen. The priests, convinced of the fact, but unwilling it fhould be believed, brib ed the foldiers to report an inconfiftent ftory, that the body was ftolen away while they were afleep. After his refurrection, he repeatedly appeared to, and converfed with thofe, who having intimately known him before, could not be deceived in his perfon; and they uniformly teftified to his refurrection, and perfifted in their teftimony to the death.

This miracle is an inconteftible evidence of the truth of the chriftian religion; and particularly an evidence of the great doctrine of the refurrection of

the body and a future life, and of the efficacy of Chrift's blood to expiate the guilt of our fins.

The Apoftle fays, Chrift was raised from the dead "by the working of God's mighty power." The Heathens "thought it a thing incredible, that God fhould raise the dead." They did not con ceive it poffible, that a body once dead fhould be again reftored to life. But "they erred, not knowing the power of God." To remove all doubts concerning the poffibility of a refurrection, God has placed before us this plain, fenfible fact; and if we believe, that Jefus died and rofe again, we muft believe, that the fame mighty power, which wrought in him, can also work in us to raise us from the dead. The fame glorious Savior, who taught the doctrine of the refurrection, has given a demonstration of it in his own refurrection, by which he became the firft fruits of them who fleep.

We are begotten to a lively hope by the refurrection of Chrift from the dead. Believers united to him are represented as being already raised up in him. To express the certainty of the event the Apoftle fays, "God hath quickened and raised us up with Chrift."

II. The next step of Chrift's exaltation is his afcenfion to heaven and feffion at God's right hand. "God hath fet him at his own right hand in heav enly places."

After Jefus had rifen from the grave, and fhewed himself alive to his difciples by many infallible proofs, being feen of them forty days, and fpeaking to them of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God, he repaired to Bethany, where he had commanded them to affemble; and there, in the prefence of more than five hundred brethren, he visibly rose into the air, blessing them as he de parted from them, and was received into a cloud; probably fuch a bright refplendent cloud, as that which formerly refted on the tabernacle, and which

appeared on the mount at the transfiguration; and on this cloud he afcended out of their fight into the glorious heavens, where, it is faid "he fat down on the right hand of God."

By this phrafe the fçriptures often exprefs Chrift's ftate in the world above. As God is a Spirit, he can have neither right hand nor left. Bodily parts are afcribed to him figuratively, to denote those qualities, which in us are exercifed by the means of fuch corporeal members. As the hand is the chief inftrument of exerting ftrength, it is applied to God to fignify his mighty power. The right hand is among men the ufual place of honor and refpe&t; and therefore denotes, in our text, fuperior digni. ty. Sitting, in the cafe before us, intends not any pofture of body, but the things implied in that posture. The prophet defcribes a ftate of peace and fecurity, by every man's fitting under his own vine. In allufion to this ufe of the metaphor, Chrift is faid to fit on God's right hand, to fignify that he has ceafed from his labors and fufferings, and entered into a ftate of repofe and joy. Sitting alfo denotes continuance in the fame place. Chrift is therefore said to fit on God's right hand, to fignify that the heavens have received him, until the time of the reftitution or completion of all things. If farther imports authority and power; and is hence applied to Chrift to exprefs his dominion over the natural and moral world.

Chrift is exalted to the right hand of God, not only as a ruler, but also as an interceffor. "He has entered into the holy place to appear in the prefence of God for us." In the character of an advo cate, he is defcribed as being on God's right hand to fignify his nearnefs to God, and the prevalence of his interceffion. "Who is he that condemn. eth? It is Chrift that died; yea rather, that is rifen again; who is even at the right hand of God; who alfo maketh interceffion for us." But it is obferv.

able, that the fcripture, when it fpeaks of Chrift as interceding, or acting in behalf of believers,defcribes him, not as fitting, but as being,or ftanding on God's right hand,to fignify his gracious attention to their exigences and wants. Paul fays, "He is at the right hand of God, making interceffion." When Stephen called on Jefus to receive his fpirit, he said, "I fee the heavens opened, and the Son of man Standing on the right hand of God." John fays, "In the midft of the throne and of the elders,there food a Lamb, as it had been slain.”

So wonderfully the fcripture condefcends to our manner of conceiving and fpeaking, that it may encourage our faith and hope. Sitting is a pofture of dignity and repofe: Standing is a posture of attention and earneftnefs. Chrift is exhibited to us in the latter attitude, to fignify how graciously he regards our neceffities-how readily he affords us help in the time of need-how fervently he intercedes for us, when we draw near to God in his name. And he is faid to be on God's right hand, to fignify his power to grant us whatever our wants require, and his intereft with the Father to obtain for us an answer to our humble requests. When faith beholds the divine Savior, in this powerful state, and in this interceding attitude, Will it not encourage us to prayer, animate us to duty, fortify us against fear, and comfort us in death? Let us feek the things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God; and fet our affections on things above, and not on things which are on the earth; for our life is hidden with Chrift in God.

III. The Apostle farther inftructs us, that "God has fet Jefus Chrift in heavenly places, far above all principality and power, and might and domin. ion, and every name that is named,not only in this world, but alfo in that which is to come, and hath put all things under his feet." In like manner he