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afterwards indebted to him for their lives, fubfiftence, honour and comfort. God in a wonderful manner overruling their evil conduct, for future good to themfelves. Thus Jefus was defpifed, rejected and fold; and he was actually flain. But he arofe, and afcended. The man of forrows took poffeffion of the throne of glory, and not for himfelf only. His honour is the fource of happiness to those who were once his enemies, and rebellious against him. For the sake of fuch he lived and died. For their fakes he lives and reigns. He fought, conquered, and triumphed over their enemies. As their representative, he received gifts to bestow upon them. Such gifts as their neceffities required, derived from the relation he was pleased to ftand in to them, and from the value and dignity of his engagements on their behalf. Such gifts as he alone could communicate, and which alone could reftore them to the favour of God, and revive his image in their hearts; fo as to make it suitable to his holiness and truth, for the Lord God to return to his polluted temples, and to dwell in them and among them.

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I formerly obferved *, that this Pfalm and the twenty-fourth, were probably compofed and first published on the memorable occafion, when David, having obtained the victory over his numerous enemies, and fettled his kingdom in peace, removed the ark, which till then had no fixed residence, into Zion. The apostle's application of this paffaget, authorifes us to confider that tranfaction, as typical of our Lord's afcenfion. Jefus is the true ark. The holy law of God was in his heart; his obedience unto death was fully commenfurate to the demands of the law; as the mercy-feat, or propitiation, which covered the ark, was exactly equal to its dimenfions. He who had thus. obeyed on earth, afcended on high, the everlafting gates unfolded, and he entered into the holy place not made with hands, there to appear in the prefence of God for us . In this state he is highly exalted upon the throne of glory, and adminifters all power in heaven and in earth. From hence is the honour, fafety and happiness of those who believe in him. They have nothing to plead for themselves. But, unworthy as they are, † Eph. iv. 8. + Rom. iii. 25.

* Page 2.. Heb. ix. 24.

he is not ashamed to own them; and he asfures them, that all he did, and that all he has received, fo far as they are capable of haring in it, is for them. The claufes as they lie in the text, suggest a convenient method for our meditations, and will lead me briefly to confider four points;

His afcenfion-his victories-the gifts he received for men—and the great end for which be beftows them.

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I. Thou haft afcended on high. God formed man originally for himself, and gave answerable capacity, so that no inferior good can fatisfy and fill his mind. Man was likewife, by the conftitution and will of his Maker, immortal, provided he persevered in obedience. But fin degraded and ruined him, fhut the gates of paradife and the gates of heaven against him. Man destroyed himself; but wisdom and mercy interpofed for his recovery. A promife was given of the feed of the woman, who should break the ferpent's head, defeat his policy, deftroy his power, and repair the mischiefs he had introduced by fin. MESSIAH fulfilled this promife. And when he had finished all that was appointed for him on earth, as the fecond Adam,

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