They were
joyful, because the whole world was going to improve under His rule
and government; and the whole world is improving, and will go on
improving for ever. They were joyful, because Jesus, whom they had
known as a poor, despised, crucified man on earth, had ascended up to
heaven in glory; and if you believe the same, you will be joyful too.
In proportion as you believe the mystery of Ascension-day; if you
believe the words which the Lord spoke before He ascended, you will
have cheerful, joyful, hopeful thoughts about yourselves, and about
the whole world; if you do not, you will be in continual danger of
becoming suspicious and despairing, fancying the world still worse
than it is, fancying that God has neglected and forgotten it,
fancying that the devil is stronger than God, and man's sins wider
than Christ's redemption till you will think it neither worth while
to do right yourselves, nor to make others do right towards you.
XII--THE FOUNT OF SCIENCE
(A Sermon Preached at St. Margaret's Church, Westminster, May 4th,
1851, in behalf of the Westminster Hospital.)
When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and received
gifts for men, yea, even for his enemies, that the Lord God might
dwell among them.
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