I now come to the second Query, which is this: how can this scripture say that by Christs ascension Heaven is prepared for us, when other Scriptures say that heaven was prepared for us from the beginning of the world? Mat. 25. 34. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand; Come ye blessed of my father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Now if a Kingdom was prepared for them from the beginning of the world, how doth this Scripture appropriate a preparing of the Kingdom of Heaven only from the ascension of Christ? Divines do answer, that you must distinguish between the decrees of God, and the clear manifestation and full execution of those decrees. Now if you respect the decrees of God, then the Scripture ⟨p. 129⟩is true, that the Kingdom of heaven is prepared from the beginning of the world, for the decree and purpose of God was, before the world was, that the elect should have heaven as an Inheritance, but if you expect the clear manifestation of it, then it was not till Jesus Christ Ascended, and the distinction this Scripture allows of, especially in the point of Justification, in this point the Scripture doth clear this distinction, Heb. 9. 8. The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first Tabernacle was yet standing. The meaning is this, that the way to Heaven it was not manifest to the Jews whilst their Tabernacle stood, that is, whilst their Levitical Ceremonies were in use, the way to heaven was not manifest, the godly went to heaven before Christs time, but it was not manifested, for the common sort of the Jews did not understand that by Jesus Christs Passion and Ascension they must come to heaven; therefore the Apostle saith, the way to the holiest of all was not yet manifested whilst their first Tabernacle stood; So my Text is true that heaven was prepared for believers by the Lord Jesus Christ his ascension.
I now come to the second Quere, which is this: how can this scripture say that by Christs ascension Heaven is prepared for us, when other Scriptures say that heaven was prepared for us from the beginning of the world? Mat. 25. 34. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand; Come ye blessed of my father, inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Now if a Kingdome was prepared for them from the beginning of the world, how doth this Scripture appropriate a preparing of the Kingdome of Heaven onely from the ascension of Christ? Divines do answer, that you must distinguish between the decrees of God, and the clear manifestation and full execution of those decrees. Now if you respect the decrees of God, then the Scripture ⟨p. 129⟩is true, that the Kingdome of heaven is prepared from the beginning of the world, for the decree and purpose of God was, before the world was, that the elect should have heaven as an Inheritance, but if you expect the clear manifestation of it, then it was not till Jesus Christ Ascended, and the distinction this Scripture allows of, especially in the point of Justification, in this point the Scripture doth clear this distinction, Heb. 9. 8. The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first Tabernacle was yet standing. The meaning is this, that the way to Heaven it was not manifest to the Jewes whilest their Tabernacle stood, that is, whilest their Leviticall Ceremonies were in use, the way to heaven was not manifest, the godly went to heaven before Christs time, but it was not manifested, for the common sort of the Jews did not understand that by Jesus Christs Passion and Ascension they must come to heaven; therefore the Apostle saith, the way to the holiest of all was not yet manifested whilest their first Tabernacle stood; So my Text is true that heaven was prepared for believers by the Lord Jesus Christ his ascension.
