The rule of faith, or, An exposition of the Apostles Creed so handled as…

Hitherto of the Resurrection from the dead. The second degree of his exaltation was his Ascension into heaven. Concerning which, before I divide the matter to be handled, I must speak somewhat of the sense of the words. To Ascend in this Article doth not signify a change from one condition to another, or a disparition, or vanishing out of fight; nor is it uttered figuratively by an Anthropopathy, as it is sometimes ascribed to God, as Gen. 17. 22. Psal. 47. 6. but it signifies properly, a Motion from one place to another, and from a lower place to a higher, and so from earth to heaven, which the divers terms used in Scripture manifestly show. He was received up, saith S. Mark, Ch. 16. 19. He was parted from them and carried up, saith S. Luke, Ch. 24. 51. He was taken up from them, Act. 1. 9. And the Apostles looked steadfastly as he went up, Act. 1. 10. and the place is mentioned expressly, (viz.) into heaven. So that the sense of the Article is as it soundeth literally, He went up from earth to heaven. Now concerning this degree of his Exaltation I would consider of these things:

HItherto of the Resurrection from the dead. The second degree of his exaltation was his Ascension into heauen. Concerning which, before I diuide the matter to bee handled, I must speake somewhat of the sense of the words. To Ascend in this Article doth not signifie a change from one condition to another, or a disparition, or vanishing out of fight; nor is it vttered figuratiuely by an Anthropopathie, as it is sometimes ascribed to God, as Gen. 17. 22. Psal. 47. 6. but it signifies properly, a Motion from one place to another, and from a lower place to a higher, and so from earth to heauen, which the diuers tearms vsed in Scripture manifestly shew. He was receiued vp, saith S. Marke, Ch. 16. 19. He was parted from them and caried vp, saith S. Luke, Ch. 24. 51. He was taken vp from them, Act. 1. 9. And the Apostles looked stedfastly as he went vp,