The Fountain of Life Opened Up

Three things will make it so. The gratification of the soul's natural desire of union with its own body. For even glorified souls in heaven have such a desire of reunion. We are all sensible of the soul's affection to the body now, its sympathy with it, and unwillingness to be separated from it. It is said to be at home in the body, 2 Corinthians 5 verse 6. This inclination remains in heaven, it reckons not itself completely happy till its older, dear companion and partner be with it. Now when this inclination to its own body, its longings after it, are gratified with the sight and enjoyment of it again, what a joyful meeting will this be, especially if we consider the excellent temper and state in which they shall meet each other. For as the body shall be raised with all the improvements and endowments imaginable, which may render it every way desirable, so the soul comes down immediately from God out of heaven, shining in its holiness and glory. And thus it reenters its body and animates it again. But that wherein the chief joy of this meeting consists is the end for which the glorified soul comes down to quicken and repossess it, namely to meet the Lord and ever to be with the Lord, to receive a full reward for all the labors and services it performed for God in this world. This must make that day a day of triumph and exultation. It comes out of the grave, as Joseph out of the prison, to be advanced to the highest honor. O do but imagine with what an ecstasy of joy the soul will thus resume its own body, and say as it were unto it, Come away, my dear, my ancient friend, who serveth and suffereth with me in the world. Come along with me to meet the Lord, in whose presence I have been ever since I parted with thee. Now thy bountiful Lord hath remembered thee also, and the day of thy glorification is come. Surely it will be a joyful meeting. What a joy is it for dear friends to meet after long separation! How they usually give demonstrations of their love and delight in each other by embraces, kisses, and tears. And frame to yourselves the idea of perfect health, where a sprightly vivacity runs through every part, and the spirits, as it were, overflow as we go about any business, especially such as the business of that day will be to receive a crown and a kingdom. Do but imagine what a bright morning this will be, and how the pains and agonies, cold sweats and bitter groans at parting will be recompensed by the joy of such a meeting. Inference number one. If Christ was thus raised from the dead, then death is overcome and swallowed up in victory. Were it not so, it had never let Christ escape out of the grave. Death is a dreadful enemy. It defies all the sons and daughters of Adam. None but Christ dared cope with this king of terrors, and he by dying foiled it in its own territories and dominions, and came off the conqueror. For as the apostle says, it was impossible it should hold or detain him. Acts 2.24 Never did death meet with its overmatch before, and Christ conquering it for us and in our names, rising as our representative, now every single saint triumphs over it as a vanquished enemy. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15 verses 55 and 57 Thus, like Joshua, they set the foot of faith upon the neck of this king of terrors. Number two. Have Christ and his resurrection such a potent influence upon the resurrection of the saints? Then it is the duty, and will be the wisdom of the people of God, so to govern, dispose, and employ their bodies as becomes those that understand what glory is prepared for them at the resurrection of the just. Particularly, be not fondly tender of them, but employ them for God. How many good duties are lost and spoiled by sinful indulgence to our bodies? Alas, we are generally more solicitous to live long than to live usefully. How many Christians have active vigorous bodies, yet God hath little service from them? If your bodies were animated by some other souls that love God more than you do and burn with holy zeal in his service, more work would be done for God in a day than is now done in a month. To have an able, healthy body and not use it for God is as if one should give you a strong and stately horse upon condition you must not work or ride him. Wherein is the mercy of having a body except it be employed for God? Will not its reward at the resurrection recompense all the pains now endured in his service? See that you preserve the due honor of your bodies, possess them in sanctification and honor. 1 Thessalonians 4 verse 4 O let not those eyes be now defiled with sin by which you shall see God. Those ears be inlets to vanity which shall hear the hallelujahs of the blessed. God hath designed honor for your bodies O make them not either the instruments or objects of sin. There are sins against the body. 1 Corinthians 6.18 Preserve your bodies from those defilements for they are the temple of God. If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy. 1 Corinthians 3.17 Let not the indulgence of your bodies draw your souls into snares and bring them under the power of temptations to sin. This is a very common case. O how many thousands of precious souls perish eternally for the satisfaction of a vile body for a moment. Their souls must suffer because the body must be indulged. It is recorded to the immortal honor of those worthies. Hebrews 11 verses 32 through 35 That they accepted not deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection. They might have had a temporal resurrection from death to life, from reproach to honor, from poverty to riches, from pain to pleasure. But upon such terms they judged it all not worth acceptance. They would not expose their souls to secure their bodies. They had the same natural affections that other men have. They were made of as tender flesh as we but such was their care of their souls and the hope of a better resurrection that they listened not to the complaints of their bodies. O that we all had the same resolution. Withhold not upon the pretense of your own temporal wants that which God in conscience bid you to communicate for the refreshment of the saints whose present necessities require your assistance. O be not too indulgent to your own flesh and cruel to others. Certainly the consideration of that reward which shall be given you at the resurrection for every act of Christian charity is a sufficient incentive. And to that end it is urged as a motive to charity when thou makest the feast call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind and thou shalt be blessed for they cannot recompense thee for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. Luke 14 verses 13 and 14 It was the opinion of an eminent modern divine that no man living fully understands and believes that scripture inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25 verse 40 How few saints would be exposed to daily wants and necessities if that scripture were but fully understood and believed. Number 3 Is Christ risen from the dead and that as a public person and representative of believers? How are we all concerned to secure to ourselves an interest in Christ and consequently in this blessed resurrection? What consolation would be left in this world if the hope of the resurrection were taken away? It is this blessed hope that must support you under all the troubles of life and in the agonies of death. The securing of a blessed resurrection to yourselves is therefore your deepest concern and it may be secured to yourselves if upon serious heart examination you discover the following evidences. If you are regenerated born in a new nature to God for we are begotten again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Christ's resurrection is the groundwork of our hope and so the new birth is our title or evidence of our interest in it. So that until our souls are partakers of the spiritual resurrection from the death of sin we can have no assurance that our bodies shall be partakers of that blessed resurrection to life. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no power. Revelation 20 verse 6 Let not unregenerate souls expect a comfortable meeting with their bodies again. Rise they shall by God's terrible citation at the sound of the last trump but not to the same end that the saints arise. They and they only who are sanctified by the Spirit shall have a joyful resurrection. If you be dead with Christ you shall live again by the life of Christ. If we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection. Romans 6 verses 5 and 8 Some refer the words planted together to believers themselves Jews and Gentiles who grow together like branches upon the same root. But I rather understand it with reference to Christ and believers who are in other scriptures said to suffer together and be glorified together to die together and live together to be crucified together and buried together all showing the communion they have with Christ both in his death and in his life. Now if the power of Christ's death that is the mortifying influence of it have been exerted upon our hearts killing their lusts deadening their affections and subduing their appetite then the power of his life or resurrection shall come upon our dead withered bodies to revive and raise them up to live with him in glory. If your hearts and affections be now with Christ in heaven your bodies in due time shall be there also and conform to his glorious body. For our conversation is in heaven from whence also we look for the Savior the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his own glorious body. Philippians 3 verses 20 and 21 The body is here called vile or the body of our vileness not as God made it but as sin hath marred it not absolutely and in itself but relatively and in comparison with what it will be at the resurrection. Then those scattered bones and dispersed dust like pieces of old broken battered silver will be new cast and wrought in the best and newest fashion even like to Christ's glorious body. Whereof we have this evidence that our conversation is already heavenly the temper frame and disposition of our souls is already so therefore the frame and temper of our bodies in due time shall be so. If you strive now to attain the resurrection of the dead no doubt it shall be yours. This was Paul's great desire that by any means he might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Philippians 3 verse 11 He means not simply a resurrection from the dead for that all men shall attain but that complete holiness and perfection which shall attend the resurrection of the just. So it is explained verse 12 So then if God have raised in your hearts a vehement desire and assiduous endeavor after a perfect freedom from sin and full conformity to God in the beauty of holiness that very love of holiness and your present pantings after perfection speak you to be the persons for whom it is reserved. If you do good in your generation if you are useful in the world you shall have part in this blessed resurrection. All that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life. John 5 verses 28 and 29 Now it is not every act materially good that entitles a man to this privilege but the same requisites defined as necessary to constitute a good prayer are also necessary to every good work. The person matter manner and end must be good. Nor is it any single good act but a series and course of holy actions that is here meant. What an incitement should this be to all of us as indeed the apostle makes it closing up the doctrine of the resurrection with this solemn exhortation 1 Corinthians 15 58 with which I also close. Therefore my beloved brethren be ye steadfast immovable always abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift. Chapter 40 page 495 The Ascension of Christ Jesus saith unto her touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my father but go to my brethren and say unto them I ascend unto my father and your father and to my God and your God. John 20 verse 17 We have been following Christ through his humiliation from the time that he left the blessed bosom of the Father and now as he has finished the whole course of his obedience on earth and risen again from the dead we must in this discourse follow him back again into heaven to that bosom of ineffable delight and love which for our sakes he so freely left. He did not rise from the dead to live such a low animal life as this but a most glorious life as enthroned king in heaven upon which state he was now ready to enter as he tells Mary in the text and bids her tell it to the disciples. Go, tell my brethren that I ascend to my father etc. In which injunction we have number one the persons to whom this message was sent my brethren so he calls the disciples a sweet term and full of love much like that of Joseph to his brethren Genesis 45 verse 4 say that there is much more tenderness in it he reminds them in the same breath of what they had done against him I am Joseph your brother whom ye sold but Christ says go tell my brethren without the least mention of their cowardice or unkindness number two the message itself tell my brethren I ascend to my father and your father to my God and your God it is in the present tense as if he were then ascending though he did not ascend for some weeks after but he so expresses it to show what was the next part of his work which he was to act in heaven for them and how much his heart was set upon it I ascend to my father and your father to my God and your God this is the substance of the message sent by Mary to the pensive disciples hence our Lord Jesus Christ not only rose from the dead but ascended into heaven there to accomplish all that remained to be done for completing the salvation of his people so much the apostle plainly witnesses he that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens Ephesians 4.10 a full and faithful account of his ascension the several evangelists have given us Mark 16.19 and Luke 24.51 this is sometimes called his going away as John 16.7 sometimes his being exalted Acts 2.33 sometimes his being made higher than the heavens Hebrews 7.26 and sometimes his entering within the veil Hebrews 6.19-20 we will here consider the questions who ascended whence did he ascend whither when how and why Roman numeral 1 who ascended this the apostle answers the same that descended Ephesians 4.9-10 namely Christ and himself tells us I ascend and though the ascension were of Christ's whole person yet it was a figurative expression with respect to his divine nature and rather applies to the humanity of Christ which really changed places and conditions hence he said I come forth from the Father and am coming to the world again I leave the world and go to the Father John 16.28 he goes away and we see him no more as God he is spiritually with us still even to the end of the world but as man the heavens must contain him until the restitution of all things Acts 3.21 Roman numeral 2 whence did Christ ascend I answer generally he is said to ascend from this world to leave the world John 16.28 but more particularly it was from Mount Olivet near Jerusalem the place where he began his last sufferings oh what a difference was there between the state of Christ in his agony at the Mount of Olives before his passion and that now at his ascension but Roman numeral 3 whither did he ascend it is manifest it was into the third heavens the throne of God and place of the blessed where all the saints shall be with him forever it is said to be far above all heavens that is above the heavens which we see for they are but the pavement of that stately palace of the great king he is gone saith the apostle within the veil that is into the most holy place into his father's house John 14.2 and he is also said to go to the place where he was before John 6.62 from whence at his incarnation he came Roman numeral 4 when did Christ ascend was it as soon as he arose from the dead no after his passion he was seen of them forty days speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God Acts 1 verse 3 and truly the care and love of Christ to his people was very manifest in his thus remaining with them he had ineffable glory prepared for him in heaven and awaiting his coming but he will not go to possess it till he has settled all things for the good of his church here for in this time he confirmed the truth of his resurrection and gave charge to the apostles concerning the discipline and order of his house or kingdom when he had set all things in order he would stay no longer he had a great work to do for us in the other world he desired to be no longer here than he had work to do for God and souls a good pattern for the saints Roman numeral 5 how did Christ ascend into heaven number 1 he ascended as a public person or forerunner in our names and upon our account so it is said expressly Hebrews 6 verses 19 and 20 speaking of the most holy place within the veil whether the forerunner is for us entered his going into heaven as our forerunner implies his public capacity as one that went upon our business to God I go to prepare a place for you John 14 verse 2 to take possession of heaven in your names the forerunner hath respect to others that were to come to heaven after him in their several generations for whom he hath prepared mansions which are kept for them against their coming it also implies his presidency he is our forerunner but he himself had no forerunner never any entered heaven before him but such as entered in his name and through the virtue of his merits he was the first that ever entered into heaven directly immediately in his own name and upon his own account all the fathers who died before him entered in his name number 2 he ascended triumphantly into heaven God is gone up with a shout the Lord with the sound of a trumpet sing praises to God sing praises sing praises unto our King sing praises Psalm 47 verses 5 and 6 a cloud is prepared as a royal chariot to carry up the King of Glory to his princely pavilion a cloud received him out of their sight Acts 1 verse 9 and then a royal guard of mighty angels surrounded the chariot if not for support yet for the greater state and solemnity of their Lord's ascension and oh what songs of the blessed angels were heard in heaven how was the whole city of God moved at his coming for as when he brought his first begotten into the world he said let all the angels of God worship him Hebrews 1 verse 6 so at his return thither when he had finished the work of redemption those exalted intelligences gave no less demonstrations of their delight and joy the very heavens echoed and resounded yea the triumph is not ended and shall never end it is said I saw in the night visions and behold one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven and came to the ancient of days and they brought him near before him and there was given him dominion and glory and a kingdom that all people nations and languages should serve him Daniel 7 verses 13 and 14 this vision of Daniel was accomplished in Christ's ascension when they that is the angels brought him to the ancient of days that is to God the Father who to express his welcome to Christ gave him glory and a kingdom therefore God is said to receive him up into glory 1 Timothy 3 verse 16 he went up and the Father received him yea received so as none ever was received before him or shall be received after him number 3 further Christ ascended munificently shedding forth abundantly inestimable gifts upon his church at his ascension wherefore he saith when he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men the place to which the apostle refers is Psalm 68 verses 17 and 18 where you have both the triumph and magnificence with which Christ ascended the chariots of God are twenty thousand even thousands of angels the Lord is among them as in Sinai in the holy place thou hast ascended on high thou hast led captivity captive thou hast received gifts for men yea for the rebellious also that God might dwell among them these words were a celebration of the triumph of David over the enemies of God 2 Samuel chapter 8 who brought him presents which he dedicated to the Lord just so our Lord Jesus Christ when he had overcome by his death on the cross and now triumphed in his ascension receives his enemies as his conquest and gives them by their conversion to the church for its use and service thus he received gifts even for the rebellious that is sanctifies the natural gifts and faculties of such as hated his people before dedicating them to the Lord in his people's service thus it is said Tertullian Oregon Augustine and Jerome came into Canaan laden with Egyptian gold came into the church richly laden with natural earnings and abilities Augustine was a man of chief Cyprian a magician so learned a proud free thinker who once said when he read Paul's epistles I scorned such childish things but he afterwards became a very useful man in the church of God and even Paul himself was as fierce an enemy to the church as breeze on earth till Christ gave him into its bosom by conversion and then no mere man ever did the Lord and his people greater service men of all sorts greater and smaller lights have been given to the church officers of all sorts were given it by Christ extraordinary and temporary as prophets apostles evangelists ordinary and standing as pastors and teachers which remain to this day Ephesians 4 verse 11 and those stars are fixed in the church heaven by a most firm establishment 1 Corinthians 12 28 thousands now in heaven and thousands on earth also are blessing Christ at this day for these his ascension gifts number 4 our Lord Jesus Christ ascended with a blessing on his lips while he was blessing his people he was parted from them Luke 24 verses 50 and 51 there in making good to them what is said by him having loved his own he loved them unto the end John 13 verse 1 there was a great deal of love manifested by Christ in this last act on earth the last sight they had of him in this world was a most sweet and encouraging one they heard nothing from his lips but love they saw nothing in his face but love till he mounted his triumphant chariot and was taken out of their sight surely these blessings at parting were sweet and rich they were the mercies which his blood had so lately purchased for them and they were not only intended for them who had the happiness to be with him while he ascended but they reach us as well as them and will reach the last saint that shall be upon the earth till he come again they who surrounded Christ were but representatives of the future churches Matthew 28 20 in blessing them he blesses us also number 5 he ascended as well as rose again by his own power he was not merely passive in his ascension but it was his own act he went to heaven therefore it is said Acts 1 verse 10 he went up namely by his own divine power and this plainly evinces him to be God for no mere creature ever rose from earth far above all heavens as Christ did Roman numeral 6 why did Christ ascend? I answer number 1 if Christ had not ascended he could not have interceded in heaven for us and take away Christ's intercession you blight the hope of the saints for what have we to support us under the daily surprisals of sin but this that if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father mark that with the Father a friend upon the one place one that abides there on purpose to transact all our affairs and as a surety for peace between God and us number 2 if Christ had not ascended you could not have entered into heaven for he went to prepare a place for you John 14 verse 2 he was the first that entered heaven directly and in his own name and had he not done so we could not have entered in his name the forerunner made way for all that should come after him in their several generations nor could your bodies have ascended after their resurrection but in virtue of Christ's ascension for he ascended in the capacity of our head and representative to his Father and our Father for us and himself too number 3 if Christ had not ascended he could not have entered on the glory he now enjoys in heaven this world is not the place where perfect felicity and glory dwell and then how had the promise of the Father been made good to him or our glory which consists in being with and conformed to him where had it been ought not Christ to suffer and to enter into his glory Luke 24 verse 26 number 4 if Christ had not ascended how could we have been assured that his payment on the cross made full satisfaction to God how is it that the Spirit convinces the world of righteousness John 16 verses 8 and 10 but from Christ going to the Father and returning hither no more which gives evidence of God's full satisfaction both with his person and work number 5 further how should we have enjoyed the blessings of the Spirit and ordinances if Christ had not ascended if Christ had not gone away the comforter had not come John 16 verse 7 he begins where Christ had finished for he takes of his and shows it to us John 16 verse 14 and therefore it is said the Holy Ghost was not given because Jesus was not yet glorified John 17 verse 39 he was then given as a sanctifying spirit but not given in the measure that afterwards he was to furnish and qualify men with gifts for service and indeed by Christ's ascension both his sanctifying and his ministering gifts were shed forth more commonly and more abundantly upon men for that whatsoever good of conversion edification, support or comfort you receive from spiritual ordinances he hath shed forth that which you now see and feel it is the fruit of Christ's ascension number 6 if Christ had not ascended how had all the types and prophecies that prefigured and foretold it been fulfilled and the scriptures cannot be broken John 10 verse 35 so that upon all these accounts it was expedient that he should go away it was for his glory and for our advantage though we lost the comfort of his bodily presence yet if we loved him we should rejoice because he went to the Father John 14 verse 28 we ought to have rejoiced in his advancement though it had been to our loss but when it is so much for our benefit as well as his glory it is in all respects a ground of joy that he is ascended to his Father and our Father to his God and our God it was in view of all the blessings flowing to us from his ascension that he charged his people not to be troubled at his leaving them John 14 inference number 1 did Christ ascend into heaven is our Jesus our treasure indeed there where then should the hearts of believers be but in heaven where their Lord their life is surely it is not good that your love and your Lord should be in two different countries said one that is now with him often hasten after him that he and you may be together Christians you ascended with him virtually when he ascended you shall ascend to him personally hereafter oh that you would ascend to him spiritually in acts of faith love and desires daily how good were it if we could say with the apostle our conversation is in heaven from whence we look for the Savior Philippians 3.20 a heart tending upwards is the best evidence of your interest in Christ's ascension number 2 did Christ go to heaven as a forerunner how should we haste to follow him come Christians lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets you and run with patience the race set before you looking unto Jesus Hebrews 12 verses 1 and 2 the captain of our salvation is entered within the gates of the new Jerusalem and calls to us out of heaven to hasten him proposing the greatest encouragement to them that follow he that overcome us shall sit with me in my throne as I also overcame and then sat down with my father in his throne Revelation 3.21 how tedious should it seem to us to live so long at a distance from our Lord number 3 did Christ ascend so triumphantly leading captivity captive how little reason then have believers to fear their conquered enemies sin, satan and every enemy were in that day led away in triumph dragged at Christ's chariot wheels brought after him as it were in chains it is a triumphant sight to see the necks of those tyrants under the foot of our Joshua he made it that day an open show of them Colossians 2.15 their strength is broken forever in this he showed himself more than a conqueror for he conquered in triumph too satan was then trodden under his feet and he hath promised to tread him under our feet also and that shortly Romans 16.20 some power our enemies yet retain the serpent may bruise our heel but Christ hath bruised his head number 4 did Christ ascend so munificently shedding forth so many mercies upon his people mercies of inestimable value reserved on purpose to adorn that day oh then see that you abuse not the precious ascension gifts of Christ but value and improve them as the choicest mercies now the ascension gifts as I told you are either the ordinances and officers of the church for he then gave them pastors and teachers or the spirit that furnished the church with all its gifts beware you abuse not either abuse not the ordinances and officers of Christ this is a prevailing sin surely God hath written to us the great things of his law and we have accounted them small things and see that you abuse not the spirit whom God sent from heaven at his ascension to supply his bodily absence among us and who is the great pledge of his care and tender love of his people take heed that you do not vex him by your disobedience nor grieve him by your unkindnesses nor quench him by your sinful neglect of duty or abuse of light oh cherish the spirit and obey his voice comply with his designs and yield up yourselves to his guidance and conduct rethink to be entreated by the love of the spirit Romans 15 30 should be as great an argument as to be entreated for Christ's sake now to persuade all the saints to be tender of grieving the spirit by sin let me urge a few considerations he was the first in principle mercy that Christ received for you at his entrance into heaven it was the first thing he asked of God when he came into heaven so he speaks I will pray the father and he shall give you another comforter that he may abide with you John 14 verse 16 so that the spirit is the firstborn of mercies and deserves the first place in our hearts and esteem the spirit comes not in his own name to us though if so he deserves a dear welcome for his own sake and for the benefits we receive by him which are inestimable but he comes to us in the name and in the love both of the father and the son as one authorized and delegated by them when the comforter is come whom I will send unto you from my father John 15 verse 26 and in John 14 verse 26 the father is said to send him in Christ's name but you should beware of grieving the spirit on account of his own nature and office in his nature he is God co-equal with the father and son in nature and dignity the spirit of the Lord spake by me and his word was in my tongue the God of Israel said the rock of Israel spake to me 2 Samuel 23 verses 2 and 3 he is God the rock of Israel God omnipotent for he created all things Genesis 1 31 God omnipresent filling all things Psalm 139 verse 7 God omniscient who knows our heart Romans 8 27 beware therefore of grieving him for in so doing you grieve God think also of his office and the benefits we receive by him gratitude must compel us to obey him for he is sent in the character of an advocate to help us to pray to indict our requests for us to teach us what and how to ask of God Romans 8 26 he comes to us as a comforter John 14 16 and unlike him his work is to take of the things of Christ and show them unto us that is to take of his death and resurrection ascension yea of his present intercession in heaven and show it to us it was he that formed the body of Christ in the womb and so prepared him to be a sacrifice for us he filled that humanity with his unexampled fullness Luke 135 Isaiah 61 verse 1 Colossians 119 thus fitting and anointing him for the discharge of his office it is he that gives efficacy to the ordinances without him they would be a dead letter it was he that blessed them to your conviction and conversion 2nd Corinthians 9 verse 6 John 16 verse 9 1st Peter 1 verse 12 1st John 3 verse 24 Romans 8 verses 9 through 26 John 14 verse 26 and Ezekiel 36 verses 25 through 27 without him you could never have had an interest in Christ or communion with Christ it was he that so often have helped your infirmities when you knew not what to say comforted your heart when it was overwhelmed within you and you knew not what to do preserved you many thousand times from sin and ruin when you had been upon their slippery brink it is he in his sanctifying work that is the best evidence your soul has for heaven it were endless to enumerate the mercies you have by him and now reader dost thou not blush to think how unworthily thou hast treated such a friend oh grieve not the Holy Spirit whom Christ sent as soon as he went into heaven in his father's name and in his own name to perform all these offices for you number 5 is Christ ascended to the Father as our forerunner then the door of salvation stands open to all believers and by virtue of Christ's ascension they also shall ascend after him far above all heavens oh my friends what a place has Christ prepared for you what a splendid habitation hath he provided for you God is not ashamed to be called your God for he hath prepared for you a city Hebrews 11 16 in that city Christ hath provided mansions and resting places for your everlasting abode John 14 verse 2 and keep them for you till your coming oh how august and glorious a dwelling is that where sun and moon and stars shall roll as much before your feet as they are now above your head this Reformation audio track is a production of Stillwater's Revival Books SWRB makes thousands of classic Reformation resources available free and for sale in audio, video and 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