"_He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty._"--Let us here meditate how our divine Redeemer, after accomplishing the great work of our redemption, ascended triumphantly from the top of Mount Olivet into the kingdom of heaven, on the fortieth day after his glorious resurrection, in the presence of his apostles and disciples, till a cloud at length interposed and took him out of their sight. { 218} He then withdrew his visible presence from the world; raised human nature above the choirs of saints and angels, to the highest seat in the kingdom of heaven, where, in full possession of the glory of his eternal Father, he pleads for us with the powerful eloquence of his sacred wounds, which he incessantly represent to him, in quality of our High Priest, Mediator, and Advocate. O what a comfortable reflection, to think that we have such an affectionate friend in the court of heaven! O what encouragement to raise our hopes! what inducement to follow him with our hearts, and ascend after him in spirit and affection! For this end let us beseech him to break the chains of our sins, and the fetters of our passions, which so unhappily tie down our affections to the earth; devoutly saying, "Our Father," &c. "Hail Mary," &c.
"_From whence he shall come to judge both the quick and the dead_." Here let us meditate on our blessed Redeemer's return at the end of the world, with great pomp and majesty, in quality of Sovereign Judge of the living and the dead. { 219} As soon as the last trumpet shall sound, and the angel repeat these words in the four corners of the earth: "Arise ye dead, and come to judgment!" the whole race of mankind, both the good and the wicked, are to appear before his awful tribunal, in sight of Mount Calvary, in order to give a strict account of all their thoughts, words, and actions; for, besides the particular judgment which is passed on every soul immediately after death, the justice of God requires that a general judgment should also take place, in order that the children of Adam should be assembled together, and receive their sentence; either of eternal salvation or eternal reprobation. O let us make a timely provision for this woful day, in order that we may then meet with a favourable judgment, and be entitled to receive the happy sentence of the elect; saying for this end, "Our Father," &c. "Hail Mary," &c.