A49255:526
The penitent pardoned a treatise wherein is handled the duty of confession of sin…
The penitent pardoned a treatise wherein is handled the duty of confession of sin and the privilege of the pardon of sin : together with a discourse of Christs ascension into heaven and of his coming again from heaven : wherein the opinion of the Chiliasts is considered and solidly confuted / being the sum and substance of several sermons preached by that faithful servant of Christ, Mr. Christopher Love ...The penitent pardoned a treatise wherein is handled the duty of confession of sin and the priviledge of the pardon of sin : together with a discourse of Christs ascension into heaven and of his coming again from heaven : wherein the opinion of the Chiliasts is considered and solidly confuted / being the sum and substance of several sermons preached by that faithful servant of Christ, Mr. Christopher Love ...
London: printed for John Rothwell, 1657
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
A Fourth ground of comfort you have by Christs going into Heaven is this, That Jesus Christ is gone into heaven to convey to you a fuller communication of the gifts and graces of his spirit, which was bestowed on his people whilst he was upon the Earth, Ephes. 4 ver. 8. Wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. It is an allusion to the Roman custom, that when the conqueror rode in Triumph towards the Capitol; he did not only lead the Prisoners, by the Chariot wheels, but likewise scattered money to the Spectators that saw him ride along in triumph: so the Lord Jesus Christ having by his Ascension spoiled death and the Devil; thus Jesus Christ doth cast his gifts unto men, dispenseth his graces in a greater measure into the hearts of his people; not that we are to run into the Soci•ian error, because of this text they gather that before Christs Ascension into heaven there was no saving gift of the spirit, and they ground it on that text, Joh. 7. ver. 38, 39. He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the spirit, which they that believe on him should receive, For the Holy Ghost was not ⟨p. 124⟩yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified. The Holy Ghost was not yet given, because that Jesus Christ was not yet glorified, but this Text is not to be taken simply, then it will follow that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had not the spirit, and then they could not be in Heaven, but the meaning is, that the gifts of the Holy Ghost in that abundant measure was not given, because Christ was not yet ascended; Christ did reserve the full giving of the Holy Ghost to the time of his Ascension, and until he was glorified; therefore the Apostles soon after his ascension received the Holy Ghost in a greater measure then was given to the people of old: and beloved, not only gifts, to bring you to Heaven, but also Ministerial gifts, to qualify men fit for the Ministry, you are to look on this also as the fruit of Ascension, Ephesians 4. 10, 11, 12. vers. He that descended, is the same also that 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;