Of the Exaltation of Christ.

1. The EXALTATION of Christ is that by which he gloriously triumphed over his and our
enemies. Lucas 24:26, Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and so enter into
glory? Efesios 4:8, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive. Col 2:15, He has
spoiled principalities and powers, and has made a show of them openly, and has triumphed
over them in it.
2. He overcame death by enduring it, sin by satisfying for it, the Devil by spoiling him, or
taking the prey out of his hands.
3. The perfection and manifestation of this victory is in his Exaltation. Therefore, there was a
virtual1 triumph, and a triumph of merit in his death and in the Cross, in which Christ is said
to be exalted or extolled (Juan 3:14 2), not only in situation and place, but also in virtue and
merit. Yet the actual triumph, as touching its state, was not in his humiliation, but in his
Exaltation.
1 (That is, practical or actual in nearly every respect; the difference being the already vs. the not-yet)
2 (Juan 3:14 "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish
but have eternal life)

4. Christ triumphed in the Cross as in a Field of Victory; but in his Exaltation, he triumphed
as in the Kingly Seat and Chariot of Triumph.

5. The glory of this triumph was in changing from the humble form of a servant, and that
most abject condition which he underwent in it, into an altogether Heavenly blessedness.
Filipenses 2:9, Therefore also God highly exalted him, and gave him a name above every
name.

6. In respect to the Divine nature, it was only an active manifestation; and in respect to the
human nature, it was a real receiving of that nature, with suitable actions flowing from it.

7. The human nature received all those perfections which a created nature could take. For
there flourished in the soul all kinds of fulness of wisdom and grace, not only in respect to
the principle and habit of it, but also in respect to the act and exercise of it; his body also
was adorned with greatest purity, agility, 3 splendor, and strength. Heb 12 2, for the joy that
was set before him, he endured the Cross. Filipenses 3:21, who shall transform our vile
body that it may be like his glorious body.
3. That is, gracefulness.

8. But as the soul of Christ, now exalted, still retained the nature of a soul, so also his
glorified body in no way laid down the essence and essential properties of a body. Therefore
it can neither be everywhere, nor in many places together, nor in the same place with
another body Penetratively. All who have eyes to see may indeed clearly perceive this in
those phrases of Scripture, such as Being taken from them, he was carried up into Heaven,
Lucas 24:51; He is not here; he is risen, Mat 28.6; and many like these.
9. There were three degrees of Exaltation that were opposite to as many degrees of his
extreme humiliation: namely, his Resurrection from the dead, as opposed to his death; his
Ascension into Heaven, as opposed to his descent into the Grave, and to the lowest place of
the Earth; and his Sitting at the right Hand of God, as opposed to his remaining in the
Grave, and in the state of death or in Hell.

10. Christ’s Resurrection was of his whole human nature which before had fallen by death.
In respect to the soul, it was from Hell, or from the state and dominion of death, to which the
soul (as it was part of his human nature) was subject. In respect to the body, it was from the
dead, and from the Grave.

11. The soul is improperly said to have risen again; rather, properly, Christ’s body and
human nature rose again. For the body, and the man, recovered his perfection; but the soul
recovered the act and motion of its perfection in the body.

12. There are two parts of Christ’s Resurrection. The first is an internal act; namely, a
reviving was restored by the uniting of soul and body. 4 the second is an external act;
namely, his going out of the Grave to manifest the life restored.
4 (That is, vivification – life – was restored to his body by reuniting his soul to it.)

13. Testimony was given to this Resurrection by:

 Angels.
 Christ himself by various appearances (at least ten of which are reckoned in the
Scriptures), and also by various proofs taken out of the Scriptures.
 Men who certified it by seeing, hearing, and handling him. 5
5 (e.g. 1 Juan 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have
handled, concerning the Word of life – 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the
Father and was manifested to us – 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you;)

14. But Christ did not rise by the power or leave of another, although this operation is
attributed to God the Father in Hechos 2:24; but it was by his own power, Juan 2:19,
Destroy this Temple and within three days I will raise it up; and Juan 10:18, I have power to
take up my life again.

15. The time of Resurrection was the third day after his Death and Burial, Marcos 16:2;
Lucas 24:7; Hechos 10:40; 1 Corintios 15:4.

16. The end of this Resurrection was:

 That he might be declared to be the Son of God; Romanos 1:4, Declared mightily to
be the Son of God by the Resurrection from the dead.
 That he might seal a full victory over death; 1 Corintios 15:57, Thanks be to God who
has given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
  That he might fulfill those parts of his office which followed his death; Romanos 4:25,
He was raised again for our justification.
 That he might show himself both justified, and justifying others; 1 Corintios 15:17, If
Christ is not risen, your faith is in vain; you are still in your sins.
 That he might be the substance, example, and entrance of our spiritual and corporal
Resurrection; 1 Corintios 15: 20-23, He is made the first fruits of those that sleep. In
Christ, all shall be made alive.

17. For Christ as God is the absolutely principal cause of our Resurrection; as satisfying by
his humiliation and death, he is the meritorious cause of it; but as rising from the dead, he is
the exemplary cause; and with that, he is a demonstration and an initiation.

18. The ASCENSION of Christ into Heaven is a middle degree, or certain progress of
exaltation, whereby leaving the earth he ascends into the highest Heaven as into his throne
of glory. Hechos 1:11, He was taken up from you into Heaven. Efesios 4:10, He ascended
far above all Heavens.

19. This ascension was of the whole person; yet it does not agree to the Divine nature
except figuratively: namely, as it was the cause of his ascending, and as it was joined with
the human nature in excellence. Also his glory was manifested in it, of which he had, as it
were, emptied himself when he descended into the human nature by the incarnation. 6 But it
most properly agrees to the human nature, because it allowed change from a lower place to
a higher.
6 (Filipenses 2:7 “...but made Himself of no reputation [Gr. é kenosis, emptied], taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.” Emptying
did not remove his divine nature, but set aside his divine rights.)

20. The time of his ascension was 40 days after his Resurrection, Hechos 1:3, not sooner.
This was because the infirmity of the Disciples required the delay of this space of time, that
their faith might be confirmed by various appearings; and that they might also be more fully
instructed in those things which pertain to the Kingdom of God, Hechos 1.3. It was not later,
lest he would seem to think upon an earthly life.

21. The place from which he ascended was mount Olivet, Hechos 1:12, where he also
entered into deepest humiliation, Lucas 22: 39-44, so that he might teach that his suffering
and ascension pertained to the same thing. 7
7 (Zacarias 14:4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east.)

22. The place into which he ascended was the Heaven of the blessed. It is not an ubiquitary
Heaven, 8 as some imagine — so that his ascension would only be a change of condition
and not a change of place — but it is the highest above all the other Heavens, Efesios 4:10.
It is the seat, house, or mansion of God, Juan 14:2. So that in respect to his local presence,
Christ’s human nature is rightly and truly said not to be with us on Earth, Mateo 26:11; 9
although in respect to his person, and to that spiritual efficacy which depends on the human
nature, he is everywhere with his people to the end of the world, Mateo 28:20.
8 (A heaven that exists everywhere, rather than having a particular location distinct from other places.)
9 (Mateo 26:11 "For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.)

23. The witnesses of this ascension were both many men, and Angels, Hechos1: 3-10;
1Corintios 15:5. 10
10 (1Corintios 15:5 He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once;)

24. In respect to order, he was the first of all those who ascended into Heaven in priority of
nature because his ascension was a cause, by virtue of which others ascend, Hebreos 9:8 11
But others had ascended in their souls before in time, Colosenses 1:20. And some also
(most likely) in their bodies, Genesis 5:24; Hebreos 11:5; 2 Reyes 2:11. 13
11 (Heb 9:8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.)
12 (Col 1:20 “and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His
cross.” John Gill writes concerning this verse, “all the elect of God are here meant, the family of God in heaven and in earth; all the saints that were then in
heaven, when actual reconciliation was made by the blood of Christ, and who went there upon the foot of peace, reconciliation, and redemption, to be made by
his sacrifice and death;)
13 (Gen 5:24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was
not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 2 Reyes 2:11 Then it happened, as they continued
on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.)

25. The cause of this ascension was the same which before was the cause of the
Resurrection: namely, the power of God, which is the same both of the Father and the Son.
Hence in respect to the Father it is called an ASSUMPTION , which in respect to the Son is
called an ASCENSION , Hechos 1.11. 14 But there was added, moreover, the condition of a
glorified body, which is carried upward as well as downward.
14 (Hechos 1:11 "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like
manner as you saw Him go into heaven." The Greek and Latin Gospels (and the Acts), use “assumption” for the ascension of Christ. The NKJ renders it “taken
up.” The Latin is “usque in diem qua præcipiens Apostolis per Spiritum Sanctum, quos elegit, assumptus est,” (he was assumed); Hehcos 1:2, in the Clementine
Latin Vulgate.

26. The ends of Christ’s ascension were:

 That he might place his human nature, now glorified, in the mansion of glory.
 That he might show himself to be the one who could pierce into the Heavenly and
deepest counsels of God. Juan 3.13, How will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
For there is none that ascends into Heaven, but he who descends from Heaven;
namely, the son of man who is in Heaven.
 That he might prepare mansions for all his people in the house of his Father, Juan
14:3
 That he might in the name of his own, take possession of the heavenly Kingdom.
Efesios 2:6, [God] has raised us up together, and has made us sit together in Heaven,
in Christ Jesus.
 That by his intercession and power he might take care for those things which were to
be performed for their salvation. Juan 16:7, If I go from you, I will send the Comforter
to you. 6. That we may have a most certain argument for our ascension into Heaven. 1
Corintios 15:20, He is made the first fruits of those who sleep. 7. That we also might in
thought, affection, and conduct, follow after Heavenly things. Colosenses 3:1;
Filipenses 3:20, Seek those things that are above where Christ is. We carry ourselves
as Citizens of Heaven, from where we also look for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
27. SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD is the highest degree of his Exaltation,
whereby he enjoys the highest glory of his mediation. Hence Resurrection and Ascension
are motions tending to this sitting. Thus also, Resurrection and Ascension in a certain way
are common both to us and to Christ; but sitting at the right hand of the Father agrees to
none, but to Christ only.

28. That highest glory with which Christ is endowed by this sitting, is properly and formally a
KINGLY glory. Hechos 2:36, Let therefore all the house of Israel know for certain that God
has made this man a Lord.

29. This kingly glory is a fulness of power and majesty whereby he governs all things for the
good of his people. Salmos 110:1; 1Corintios 15:25, For he must reign until he has put down
all his enemies under his feet.

30. This majesty and power properly agree to the person of Christ the Mediator. In respect
to this, it is also truly said that the human nature of Christ has now so much eminence of
dignity and ruledom, that with power he is set above and over all created things, Efesios
1:20. 15 But from this eminence of dignity, to conclude that the human nature of Christ —
which was created and remains finite, being considered absolutely and abstractedly — has
the same omnipotence and omnipresence with God himself, is nothing but certain stupid
madness, and not far from blasphemy.
15 (Efesios 1:20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality
and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.)

31. To this kingly dignity pertains to that power whereby Christ was made the Judge of all
men and Angels.

32. This kingly glory of Christ also redounds to his other offices; so that he exercises a
kingly PRIESTHOOD, and a kingly PROPHECY.

33. The kingly priesthood is that by which he pleads our cause, not by suffering and humbly
supplicating with bended knees, as it were, but by gloriously representing those things which
he did and suffered. Hebreos 9.24, Christ has entered 16 into Heaven itself, to appear before
the Face of God for us.
16 (The original pages were misnumbered. It appears to skip pages 97-98, but no text is actually missing.)

34. Christ exercises a kingly P ROPHECY while he powers out his Spirit upon all flesh; while
he sends his Ambassadors, and works together with them, and confirms their word by signs
that follow; and lastly, while he gathers his own out of the world, and protects, builds up, and
preserves them forever, Mat 28.18-20; Mar 16.20. 17

17 (Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to
Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to
observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the
end of the age." Amen. Mar 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord
working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.)