Ascension.—Cap. XI.

We nothing doubt but that the self-same body, which was born of the Virgin, was crucified, dead, and buried, and rose again, did ascend into the heavens for the accomplishment of all things; where, in our names and for our comfort, He has received all power in heaven and in earth; where He sits at the right hand of the Father, inaugurate in His kingdom, Advocate and only Mediator for us; which glory, honour, and prerogative He alone amongst the brethren shall possess, until all His enemies be made His footstool, as we undoubtedly believe they shall be in the final judgment; to the execution whereof we certainly believe that our Lord Jesus shall visibly return as we believe that He was seen to ascend. And then we firmly believe, that the time of refreshing and restitution of all things shall come, insomuch that they that from the beginning have suffered violence, injury, and wrong for righteousness' sake, shall inherit that blessed immortality promised from the beginning: but contrariwise, the stubborn, inobedient, cruel, oppressors, filthy persons, adulterers, and all sorts of unfaithful men shall be cast into the dungeon of outer darkness, where their worm shall not die, neither yet their fire be extinguished.348 The remembrance of which day, and of the judgment to be executed in the same, is not only to us a bridle whereby our carnal lusts are refrained; but also such inestimable comfort, that neither may the threatening of worldly princes, nor yet the fear of temporal death and present danger, move us to renounce and forsake that blessed society which we the members have with our Head and only Mediator, Christ Jesus, whom we confess and avow to be the Messias promised, the only Head of His Kirk, our just Lawgiver, our only High Priest, Advocate, and Mediator. In which honours and offices, if man or angel presume to intrude themselves, we utterly detest and abhor them, as blasphemous to our Sovereign and Supreme Governor, Christ Jesus.