SERMON XXIII.

The Precious Gifts of Christ's Ascension.

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EPHESIANS iv. 8-13.

Wherefore he saith, when he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it, but that he descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same that also ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.). And he gave some apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stat ure of the fulness of Christ.

THE Apostle, having mentioned, in the 7th verse, the grace bestowed on believers "according to the measure of the gift of Christ," immediately proceeds, in the words now read, to explain what the gifts are which Christ has bestowed; and to shew, that they were dispensed at his ascension, according to the divine purpose, for the general edification of the church.

To prove that the ascension of Christ was to be followed with the bestowment of spiritual gifts, he quotes. a passage from the 68th Psalm. "Thou hast ascended on high; thou hast led captivity captive; thou

hast received gifts for men." That this was spoken, not of the divine nature, but of Christ, as God manifest in the flesh, he concludes from the expression, "Thou hast ascended on high." For his ascension presupposes a descent into the lower parts of the earth. And he who thus descended is the same that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. These terms cannot properly be applied to God, who is a universal Spirit; nor yet can they, in their fullsense, belong to David, or any mere man; and therefore must be understood of Jesus Christ.

Our Lord's descent into the lower parts of the earth," may signify his incarnation; according to these words of David, "My substance was not hid from thee, when I was curiously wrought in the lower parts of the earth." Or it may refer to his death and burial, in which sense the phrase is also used. "They that seek to destroy me shall go down into the lower parts of the earth;" or into the grave.

Christ's exaltation is expressed by his " ascending up far above all heavens"above these visible starry heavens-into the glorious presence of God, who has set his glory above the heavens.

Elsewhere he is said to be "made higher than the heavens ;" and to be "raised to heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion.

Christ has thus ascended, "that he might fill all things" i. e. might, according to his promise, fill his apostles and other disciples with heavenly gifts and graces, and thus furnish them to every work which they should be called.

"He led captivity captive."-This phrase is used, in the Old Testament, to signify a complete conquest over enemies, especially over such as had formerly been victorious. This is the meaning of it in the song of Deborah. In our text it refers to Christ's triumph over Satan and Death. "He, by his death, delivered

hose, who through fear of death were subject to bond. age."" He spoiled principalities and powers, triumphing over them on the cross." But he triumphed more gloriously, when, after his ascension, he poured down his Holy Spirit on his apostles and disciles, and thus enabled them to cast out devils, and to urn sinners from the power of Satan unto God. He also triumphed over death in a most conspicuous maner, when, rising from the grave, ascending into heaven, and shedding forth miraculous gifts, he demontrated his power to quicken whom he would, to call orth the dead from their graves, and to exalt believers o an eternal state of glory with himself.

"He gave gifts to men." The expression in the 58th Psalm is, " He received gifts for men." He reeived gifts from the Father to bestow them on men. "It hath pleased the Father, that in him all fulness should dwell; and that of his fulness we all should receive grace for grace." All power, in heaven and arth, is committed to him. Hence, when he commanded his apostles to go forth and preach the gospel, e promised to endue them with power from on high, by which they should cast out devils, speak with new ongues, recover the sick and defeat all the power of he enemy, and thus demonstrate their divine com

mission.

Besides these extraordinary gifts vouchsafed for the confirmation of the gospel, he promised and bestowed uch an internal influence of the Spirit, to accompany he preaching of the gospel, as should open men's earts to attend to it and believe it.-Accordingly, wherever the apostles went preaching the word, multiudes were turned from darkness to light, from the ower of Satan to God, and from the works of the flesh O works meet for repentance.

The extraordinary gifts continued only for a season, ntil the gospel was established. The ordinary influnce of the Spirit is alike necessary in all ages, and

will, in a greater or less degree, attend the gospel to the end of the world.

Among the gifts bestowed on the church, St. Paul particularly mentions the officers appointed for its edification. "Christ gave some apostles; some prophets; some evangelists; some pastors and teachers."

By apostles, prophets and evangelists are intended those extraordinary ministers, who were employed to propagate the gospel in the world, and who, for that purpose, were endowed with miraculous powers, By pastors and teachers are generally understood those ordinary ministers, who had the care of particular churches, and who were to be continued in succession to the end of the world. A similar distinction is made in the 12th chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians. "God hath set some in the church; first apostles; secondarily prophets; thirdly teachers; after that miracles, &c."

The name of apostles is especially applied to those, who were immediately commissioned by Jesus Christ, to be witnesses of his doctrines and works, his death and resurrection, and to go forth and publish his gospel among the nations of the earth. To these, as occasion required, the Spirit revealed the mysteries of the divine will, that they might communicate them to the world.

Prophets were men endowed with supernatural knowledge in divine things; the knowledge of the ancient scriptures-of the doctrines and mysteries of the gospel-and, in some cases, of future events. These were chiefly employed in opening and explaining to believers the great truths of religion.

Evangelists are generally supposed to have been men employed in propagating the gospel among the Heathen, in founding churches where Christ had not been named, and in confirming the churches which were, already founded. They are distinguished from

the apostles only as their gifts and employments were more limited and confined.

Pastors and teachers were those who labored in word and doctrine, especially in particular churches, of which they had the immediate charge. As the apos tles received the word more immediately from Christ, either by his personal instruction, or spiritual inspiration, so they from time to time communicated it to the pastors and teachers, who, receiving it from them, preached it to others, for their conversion to, and edifi. cation in the faith of the gospel. This appears from Paul's charge to the elders of Ephesus, from his instructions to Timothy and Titus, and from John's let ters to the angels of the churches in Asia.

Christ gave these various officers "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.". Or, as the words, more agreeably to the original, may be rendered, He gave pastors and teachers, in order to the preparing of holy men for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.* The officers whom Christ gave, were to instruct and furnish others for the ministry; and thus a succession of ministers was to be continued in the church, for her edification in knowl edge, faith and holiness.

In the passage now explained several things are suggested which deserve our particular attention.

I. It is evident, that public teachers in the church are to be a distinct order of men.

Christ has given some pastors and teachers. He has set some in the church; first apostles, next prophets, then teachers. Are all apostles? Or all prophets? Or all teachers?By no means. If all the body were one member, Where were the body? If all the

* Πρὸς τὸν καταρτισμὸν τῶν ἁγίων εἰς ἔργον διακονίου εἰς οἰκοδομην τα σωμα τις τι χρίσεις