Therefore will I distribute to him the many for his portion,
And the mighty people shall he share for his spoil,
Because he poured out his soul unto death. (q)

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Thus he that descended is the same who ascended:" and thus too did the spirit which was in them testify alike to prophet and apostle the covenant connexion between the sufferings of Christ and the GLORY that should follow.

III.

THE GRAND PURPOSE OF THE REDEEMER'S EXALTATION IS DECLARED. He ascended up far above all heavens that he might fill all things. Literally, he ascended up far above all the heavens, that he might ACCOMPLISH all things. The verb (r) rendered " to fill," though in some passages it certainly has that import, in many others signifies to fulfil, complete, or as above, to accomplish. The following may be specified as examples: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets, I am not come to destroy but (λngwoα) to fulfil. Matt. v. 17. There talked with hin two men, which were Moses and Elias, who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which (Tλngov) he was to accomplish at Jerusalem. Luke ix. 81. Now when he had ended, (λngwσ) had completed all his sayings in the audience of the people, &c. Luke vii. 1." The Greek Fathers illustrate the word by the idea

(q) See Lowth's and Smith's Isaiah (r) πλngow.

of filling a vessel to the brim, which was before but partially filled,-and the completion of a picture, previously sketched. And thus in the text, from a careful consideration of its use elsewere, and its bearing on the subject of the apostle's statements, we may regard it as expressive of the accomplishment or completion of those vast designs of mercy to our world, which Jehovah purposed in Christ. (s)

It is often the fate of human enterprises to fail, either from the want of ability or of perseverance of will in those who projected or began them with ardour. The redemption and salvation of mankind, however, were the project of an eternal and immutable mind, and their consummation will be effected by omnipotence. He, who of old laid the foundation of the earth, and the work of whose hands is the heavens, is unchangeably the same, and his years cannot fail. He fainteth not, neither is weary. His counsel shall stand, and he will do all his pleasure. Still Redemption, like that of the first creation, is a work of progressiveness. Although complete in the mind of God, and complete, too, in the sufficiency of its provi

(s) The ancient Syriac translator appears to have regarded the word as having here the same aspect of meaning. He renders it by danshalem cul-" ut perficeret omnia," that he might thoroughly finish the whole.

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sions, its developement to the vision of the universe is gradual. The beams of the day spring glanced long ago upon the nations, and the glory now travels upwards to the meridian. The promise was given at once upon the fall, but not immediately fulfilled: ages rolled on, before "the fulness of the time was come, and God sent forth his son." And when that epoch arrived, and the Redeemer was manifested in the flesh and dwelt among us, he sed to the crisis of expiation by degrees: nothing was premature, nothing hastened, he waited for his "baptism" and his "hour."

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The events of his appearance and stay upon earth, and his transit to the skies; "the mystery of his holy incarnation, his holy nativity and circumcision, his baptism, fasting and temptation;" the miracles of his arm and the wisdom of his lips; and at length, "his agony and bloody sweat, his cross and passion, his precious death and burial, his glorious resurrection and ascension, and the coming of the holy Spirit as the proof of his entrance into heaven itself,-were all links in the same chain, all parts of the same stupendous whole, whose first intimations were the dawnings of hope upon a benighted world, and whose completion. will array the church triumphant in the splendours of the vision of God.

The ascension of Christ must be re

garded as an integral part of his mediato rial undertaking. It was a sacerdotal act, and was typified in the Levitical ritual, by the entrance of the High Priest within the veiled and most holy sanctuary, the emblem of heaven, with the blood of atonement and the incense of rising intercession. (s) The Redeemer "ascended up, that he might accomplish this. "He passed through the heavens" (t) thus penetrating the veil-into the holy place-not that made with hands which was the figure of the true,-neither by the blood of goats and calves, but into heaven itself, and with his own blood, there to appear in THE PRESENCE OF GOD for us. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

But a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec, the sacerdotal grace of Jesus is combined with Kingly power. For this cause he both died and rose again, that he might be the Lord both of the dead and the living. Just before his ascent he declared himself the possessor of all of all power both in heaven and in earth,-and the day when he left this sphere of mortality, he was solemnly installed in that universal supremacy which has placed him for above all principality and power, and might and

(s) Lev. xxi. Note E. (1) διεληλυθοτα τους Ougavous. Heb. iv. 14.,-ix. 12. 24.

dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.

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I The exercise however of this power, is at present, administrative and mediatorial. He was invested with it that he might accomplish all things, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands. Swayed by his sceptre, the movements of providence co-operate with the agencies of grace, in the production of the same sublime result. The work which he has begun, he will not fail to complete. has made bare, to the sight of the nations, that arm whose strength can never wither, and whose efforts cannot be abortive and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. The saving plan is now in movement, and proceeds, in ever enlarging developements, under the superintendence of infinite wisdom, mercy and power, towards a consummation, which will combine at once, the glory of God, the ineffable joy of the Mediator, and the rapturous blessedness of millions, whom no man can number.

IV.

IN THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THIS MOST GLORIOUS PURPOSE, THE EARLIEST ACT OF THE SAVIOUR'S ADMINISTRATION IN HEAVEN, WAS TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANIFESTATION OF THE GOSPEL TO THE WHOLE WORLD. From the moment of the first promise, human

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