surprise no one. It was, as I have said, the fit and natural thing for Him to do. Of all the many mysteries that are involved in the scheme of man's redemption by the life and death of Christ, the least mystery is surely this, that the Redeemer should be exalted with great triumph into God's kingdom-Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom, and glory, and blessing!

Perhaps it is for this very thing, because the Ascension follows so naturally, because it is what all would • expect, that so little stress, comparatively speaking, is laid upon it in the Gospel.-Only two of the four evangelists mention it at all, and all that they tell us about it is contained in two or three verses. St. Mark's account I have already read to you in the words that form my text. And here is St. Luke's, gathered out of his Gospel, and from that other book which he wrote, the Acts of the Apostles. He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up his hands and blessed them. And it came to pass while He blessed them He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. . . And when He had spoken these things, while they yet beheld, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

So far then of the historical record of our Lord's Ascension. Less is said of it than of the Resurrectionless than of that which so soon followed it, the gift of the Comforter. And for this reason, because, as we have observed, it was the natural and necessary finish to the Saviour's course on earth-because knowing as we do, whence He came, and who He was, we can imagine no

thing more likely in itself than this which happened,— He came out from God, and He went back to God-He left the world to go to His Father!

And now let us consider, briefly, what results have followed from the Ascension, and how these results affect our soul's good at present, and our everlasting happiness hereafter.

First, there is the proof of our Lord's victory, the sure witness that He did not die in vain,-Thou art gone up on high, Thou hast led captivity captive.

And not only is the Ascension the proof of His victory but it is the sign of the commencement of His reign-of that reign in heaven which must last till He has put all enemies under His feet.

What Pilate scoffingly asked of Him when He was a prisoner and apparently forsaken, Art thou a King, then?

-that question is best answered by the Ascension of our Lord. He is gone into heaven, writes St. Peter, and is on the right hand of God, angels, and authorities, and power, being made subject unto Him.

Bear this in mind, brethren-the Ascension is the sure token to us, that Christ has succeeded in all that He undertook the token too that He is our King that God hath made that same Jesus which was crucified both Lord and Christ.

Yes-He sits at God's right hand, let us never forget it, in the character of conqueror,-from henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. He sits there, all His sufferings over, all His sorrows ended, all His humiliation past, with His Father on His throne, the object of our highest reverence, and worship. He sits

there, that at His name, the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father!

Again, the Ascension of our Lord prepared the way for His Intercession. He is gone into the presence of God, and sits at God's right hand on our behalf. He is there to plead, day by day, the efficacy of His great sacrifice. As the High Priest of old, among the Jews, took the blood of the victim, and having sprinkled it on his person, and on the vessels of the sanctuary, went into the Holy of Holies, to offer it to God for the people

-so our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, having made an offering, once for all, upon the cross, has gone with that offering-even with His own blood, into the heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us!

He is there, our prevailing Advocate with the Father. He is there that the sinner awakened to his danger, may yet have hope, may not despair of being accepted, and forgiven!

Do think of this, dear brethren-do avail yourselves of the help that it offers you-Bring your wants, bring your fears-bring your troubles of all kinds-bring your sins to Christ.-Never have recourse to any other means, any other mediator, for reconciling yourselves to God. Christ alone is sufficient-He can save to the uttermost them that come unto God by Him. Seek His intercession -make your prayers in His name. All prayers, we are expressly told it, are accepted that go up to God seconded by His Son-Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my

name He will give it you. Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full!

Again, our Lord's Ascension greatly confirms that hope to which we instinctively cling, that most blessed hope of a life beyond the grave. He is in heaven as the first fruits of the resurrection of the dead. He is there with body, flesh, and bones, and all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature."

Yes! where, and whatever, heaven may be-however difficult it is for us to form a picture of it to our minds— one thing we know about it, which is of incalculable worth-we know that it is the abode of Jesus Christthat He, the prophet of Nazareth in Galilee-Who did those works of mercy and of goodness recorded in the Gospel-Who once led that truly human life on our earth -Who was the friend of sinners-Who preached His glad tidings to the poor-Who was Himself poor-poor as the very poorest-Who could have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way, for that He Himself was compassed with infirmity—we know that He now dwells, and dwells unchanged, with God in heaven. And further we know, that where He is, there shall all His people be also.-Ye cannot follow Me now, but ye shall follow Me afterwards. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am ye may be also!

I will not dwell upon this now; it was the subject that occupied us last Sunday. But O, how thankful should we be for the glimpses thus opened to us of the

other world! thankful for the assured hope that it brings us of our immortality!

For now have we an anchor for our soul sure and stedfast-now there is a light in our darkness-comfort for our heart in its greatest need, when the shadows of death or bereavement fall upon it! Now is the far-off land brought, as it were, very near to us. Now, when we think of heaven, there arises up a vision of home, of a Father's house, and of a loving fellowship, and of One already there, the chiefest among ten thousand, who is not ashamed to call us His brethren!

May we, in due time, be added to that blessed company! May we so walk through life in Christ's footsteps, so be clothed by His spirit, so overcome in His strength, that, this weary life ended, we may have rest with Him :-may, with many a dear companion already gone before us, sleep in the Lord-and awake also in the Lord-pass from the narrow house of our mortality unto the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens ; and there be for ever with the Lord!