it might have been scarcely possible even for themselves to separate and to define: but in taking the New Testament for our guide, and looking at the several statements which had been previously made by our blessed Lord, and at the intelligence communicated by the angels on His departure, we conclude that, among the causes of their joy, may be enumerated the following: (1.) The manifestation which it afforded of the glory of God. They could not be ignorant that their Master, according to his own expression, had proceeded forth and come from God;* and they doubtless perceived in the whole course of His life, in His death and resurrection, the counsel and the power of God. There was indeed no circumstance in the history of our Redeemer, which did not in some measure declare the glory of the Most High. This was the testimony of the host of heaven, when Bethlehem could afford Him, as an helpless Infant, no better accommodation than that of a stable and a manger. This was the evidence of His mighty works I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.† *John viii. 42. John xvii. 4. And although Pharisees could discover in them no evidence of wisdom from above, some yet were to be found, even among the multitudes of Judea, who in beholding these miracles were amazed at the mighty power of God; and, on His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, was heard, out of the mouths of babes and sucklings, the ascription of praise. How the glory of God was manifested at the crucifixion of Christ the earth can testify, for its massy pillars were shaken the heavens can testify, for the sun was darkened. To that glory, as displayed at His resurrection, the very dead could bear witness, for the graves were opened, and many bodies of saints which slept arose; and the suffering Messiah was declared to be the Son of God with power. These proofs however, of the divine glory, the apostles did not in all cases sufficiently comprehend: and still they continued to indulge their old narrow and sordid views concerning the aggrandizement of their nation and a temporal kingdom. But in the ascension of their Lord, they saw that the counsels of Jehovah were infinitely beyond any expectations which they had previously formed, and they must have beheld this scene with + Rom. i. 4. * Luke ix. 43. astonishment and delight. Can we be surprised that they were continually in the temple, His own more immediate habitation, praising and blessing Him? It was impossible that men, trained and instructed as they had been by the Saviour himself, to the last moment of His abode upon earth, should not have rejoiced at this time in every new revelation of the glory of God, and especially in such a manifestation of it as it was now their privilege to witness. (2.) They would greatly rejoice on account of the exaltation of their divine Master himself. This would be a natural feeling, independently of any benefits which they might themselves expect to derive from it. If ye loved me, says Christ, ye would rejoice because I said, I go unto the Father and we doubt not that the declaration of St. Peter, in reply to the pointed question, lovest thou me? expressed the common sentiments of all the apostles. In an hour indeed of awful temptation they forsook Him and fled, for their faith failed them; but their subsequent conduct shewed the reality and the extent of their affection; and, with this feeling predominant in their minds, how sincerely would they be delighted with every new accession which He * John xiv. 28. received of dignity and honour! And now He had ascended into heaven: they doubtless believed therefore that God had highly exalted Him, and given Him a name that is above every name:* they remembered His allusion to that glory which He had with the Father before the world was, and they were convinced that He had now resumed it! that this poor despised man of Nazareth, so lately the object of persecution and outrage, had at length gloriously vindicated the majesty of His character, and that to Him, through all the realms of creation, every knee should bow, angels, and authorities, and powers being made subject unto Him.‡ (3.) Another circumstance which served so remarkably to elevate their minds on the occasion before us, was the persuasion that the exaltation of Christ would be beneficial to themselves. It appears from the discourses of our Lord, which were delivered a short time before His crucifixion, that He drew His arguments of consolation in a great degree from the interest which the disciples themselves had in His departure. To this effect is a large part of that striking address contained in the fourteenth and two following chapters of St. John's gospel, * Phil. ii. 9. John xvii. 5, Heb. iii. 22. perhaps the most moving and pathetic address to be found in the whole compass of the inspired writings. Now that this address should have been wholly forgotten by them under their present circumstances, is a supposition which on ordinary principles cannot be made. It was delivered by Christ for the express purpose of affording consolation on the prospect of His departure, and the fact of that departure would unquestionably recall it strongly to their minds. They would remember that He had told them, It is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you, In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. 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, there ye may be also:† Because I live, ye shall live also :‡ and they would rejoice. There was a time when, in a tone of despondency, some of them were perhaps ready to exclaim, we trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel:§ they were now assured that it was He who should redeem * John xvi. 7. + John xiv. 2, 3. L |