And in

SERM. Rage and Malice against him. For that maVII. lignant Spirit, whom we call the Devil, has, (by the permiffion of GoD) a frequent Accefs to the lower Powers of the Mind; and is fometimes (I believe) more busy there than we imagine; exciting either vain and wicked Thoughts by working on our Corruptions, or raifing groundless and frightful Apprehenfions there by his access to the Imagination: the former called the Temptations, the latter the Buffetings of Satan. this last mentioned way did that envious Spirit ('tis likely) moft furiously affail our fuffering Redeemer at this time: tak ing advantage from the weakness of his Powers, the dejection of his Soul, and the difmal Prospect before him, to ftir up all the uneafy Paffions of his mind to the most violent Conflict. The other method of Affault he knew was in vain. For when our LORD was about to stand the Butt of all the fiery Darts of Hell, he declared, that the Prince of the World when he came fhould find nothing in him (g); no guilt, to give those Darts

(g) John xiv. 30.

Darts an Edge, and no Corruption, to make SERM. them stick. But that was the Hour of the VII. Power of Darkness (h).

So that putting all these things together, we may justly conclude, what the Text plainly implies, that the Sufferings of our Saviour were unexampled; and that he might justly apply to his own cafe the Words of the Prophet, complaining, in the name of the Church, of her afflicted and defolate state, and fee, if there be any Sorrow like unto my Sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the Day of his fierce anger (i): for his Vifage was fo marred more than any man, and his Form more than the Sons of Men. But,

all ye that pass by, behold

11. Let us now turn our Thoughts to a brighter Scene, and confider our Saviour's Exaltation as prophetically defcribed in thofe Words Behold my Servant fhall deal prudently, he shall be exalted, and extolled, and be very

bigb.

This

(b) Luke xxii. 53.

(i) Lam. i. 12.

SERM.

This Description of the Meffiah's exalted VII. Glory ftands first in the Text, by way of Contrast to that of his deep Humiliation and Sorrow, which the Prophet was going more fully to exhibit: in order to raise our Idea of that extraordinary Person, who proved the utmost Extreme of these two Conditions fo infinitely oppofite. For none was ever exalted fo high, or abafed fo low as the Son of GOD. How amazing! to confider him at one time, as defpifed and rejected of Men, a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with Grief; and at another, as exalted far above all Principalities and Powers, defcending from Heaven in his Father's Glory, with bis holy Angels, to judge the World, and pour righteous Vengeance on the Head of all his Enemies! Who would not be astonished at bim, to fee him at one time exalted, extolled and very high; and at another time, fmitten of GOD, and afflicted, with his Vifage more marred than any Man, and his form more than the Sons of Men?

The Exaltation of Chrift may be confidered under four Particulars, viz. His Refurrection from the Dead;

His Afcenfion into Heaven;

And his coming again to Judgment.

And these four Particulars of his Exaltation may be aptly enough accommodated to the four Expreffions in the Text, which ftand to denote it; where he is faid to deal profperously, to be exalted, to be extolled, and to be very high.

1. The first Scene of his Exaltation was exhibited in his Resurrection from the Dead. And herein he may be faid to have dealt profperously; as he conquered Death, triumphed over the Powers of Hell, and fully accomplished the great Work which his Father had given him to do. By rescuing him from the Power of the Grave, after he had lain there about fix and thirty hours, GOD teftified to the whole World his intire Approbation of all that Chrift had done and taught, and that he had fully executed the important Commiffion he received.

This is the miraculous Seal, which GoD set to the Doctrines which Chrift taught in his name; and the Foundation of our Religion ftandeth fure, having this Seal. And to this point fhould all our Controverfies

with

VII.

SERM.

VII.

But

with Infidels be immediately brought.
I forbear to enlarge upon this Argument
here, intending to confider it more distinctly
in a subsequent Discourse.

This then is the first Step of Christ's Exaltation; whereby his Miffion and Doctrine were confirmed, and the Work of Redemption compleated: a publick and miraculous Token, that in all which he undertook as our Redeemer be profpered.

But,

2. After this he was diftinguished with fignal Honours in his Afcenfion into Heaven. Hercin he was exalted. The Circumftances of which glorious Event, as related by those who were Eye-witneffes of it, are thefe which follow.

He was, miraculously and without any visible Aid, raised up from the Earth into the Air; bleffing his Difciples as he thus departed from them.

This was done publickly, in the midft of a Multitude of his Followers at Bethany.

Being thus raised up into the Air, he was received into a Cloud; a bright, thining Cloud, very probably refembling that, wherein he formerly dwelled over the Ifraclitifh Tabernacle.