heaven to us; to signify to us in our language, suitably to our customs, the supreme dignity of Jesus Christ, God and Man, the Mediator of the new covenant, his matchless nearness unto his Father, and the sovereignty given him over heaven and earth. And that of the subjection of angels, is but a more particular specifying of that his dignity and power, as enthroned at the Father's right hand, they being the most elevated and glorious creatures: so that his authority over all the world is implied in that subjection of the highest and noblest part of it. His victory and triumph over the angels of darkness, is an evidence of his invincible power and greatness, and matter of comfort to his saints; but this here intends his supremacy over the glorious elect angels.

That there is among them priority, we find; that there is a comely order in their differences, can not be doubted; but to marshal their degrees and stations above, is a point, not only of vain fruitless curiosity, but of presumptuous intrusion. Whether these are names of their different particular dignities, or only different names of their general excellency and power, as I think it can not be certainly well determined, so it imports us not to determine only this we know, and are particularly taught from this place, that whatsoever is their common dignity, both in names and differences, they are all subject to our glorious Head, Christ.

What confirmation they have in their estate by him, though piously asserted by divines, is not so infallibly clear from the alleged Scriptures, which may bear another sense. But this is certain, that he is their king, and they acknowledge him to be so, and do incessantly admire and adore him. They rejoice in his glory, and in the glory and happiness of mankind through him. They yield him most cheerful obedience, and serve him readily in the good of his church, and of each particular believer, as he deputes and employs them.

This is the thing here intended, having in it these two: his dignity above them, and his authority over them.

1. Such is his dignity, that even that nature which he stooped below them to take on, he hath carried up and raised above them; the very earth, the flesh of man, being exalted in his person above all those heavenly spirits, who are so excellent and pure a being in their nature, and from the beginning of the world,

have been clothed with so transcendent glory. A parcel of clay is made so bright, and set so high, as to outshine those bright flaming spirits, those Stars of the morning, that flesh being united to the Fountain of Light, the blessed Deity in the person of the Son.

In coming to fetch and put on this garment, he made himself lower than the angels; but carrying it with him, at his return to his eternal throne, and sitting down with it there, it is raised high above them; as the apostle teaches excellently and amply: To which of them said he, Sit on my right hand! Heb. i. 2.

This they look upon with perpetual wonder, but not with envy or repining. No, among all their eyes, no such eye is to be found. Yea, they rejoice in the infinite wisdom of God in this design, and his infinite love to poor lost mankind. It is wonderful, indeed, to see him filling the room of their fallen brethren with new guests from earth, yea, with such as are born heirs of hell but that not only sinful men should thus be raised to a participation of glory with them who are spotless, sinless spirits, but their flesh in their Redeemer, should be dignified with a glory so far beyond them-this is that mystery the angels are intent on looking and prying into, and can not, nor ever shall, see the bottom of it, for it hath none.

2. Jesus Christ is not only exalted above the angels in absolute dignity, but in relative authority over them. He is made captain over those heavenly bands: they are all under his command, for all services wherein it pleases him to employ them! and the great employment he hath, is the attending on his church. Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them that shall be heirs of salvation? They are the servants of Christ, and in him, and at his appointment, the servants of every believer; and are many ways serviceable and useful for their good, which truly we do not duly consider. There is no danger of overvaluing them, and inclining to worship them upon this consideration; yea, if we take it right, it will rather take us off from that. The angel judged his argument strong enough to St. John against that, that he was but his fellow-servant. But this is more, that they are servants to us, although not therefore inferior, it being an honorary service. Yet certainly they are inferior to our Head, and so, to his mystical body, taken in that notion, as a part of him.

MAY 6.

J. TAYLOR. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.-Acts xvi. 31.

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FAITH is the root of all blessings. Believe, and you shall be saved believe, and you must needs be sanctified: believe, and you can not choose but be comforted: believe that God is true in all his promises, and you are the seed of faithful Abraham, and shall inherit the promises made to Abraham: believe that you are Christ's and Christ is yours; and then you are sure that none can perish, whom the Father hath given to him. “There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." And as Martha said, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died:" so let all that groan and pine away in sorrow, say, Lord, if thou hadst been here, if thou hadst appeared to my soul in thy goodness, I had not fainted in my trouble. Isaiah foretells, that it should be Christ's office," to give the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." For St. John saw in the spirit, that they that follow Christ, are clothed in "white garments," in garments of joy, in the livery of gladness. Solomon describing the provident mistress of a family, says, "She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet." So the household of Christ are not afraid of frost and snow, nor of any bitter blast; they have put on the garment of dependence on Christ, which protects them, and do resolve never to put off their privy coat of confidence in their Saviour. With this did Christ encourage the poor woman, being under confusion, who had secretly touched the hem of his garment: "Be of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole." The first time that the word comfort is found in Scripture, is upon the birth of Noah; his father says, "This son shall comfort us: SO when God did give Christ to be made man, he did, as it were, say unto us," This son shall comfort you, for his name is Jesus, and he shall save his people from their sins." He that gave us him, hath given us all things with him. As it is true to say, that Matthew left all to follow Christ, so it is as true, that he got all that can be wished by following him.

It is the chemistry of faith to turn all things into good and precious ore. It is Abraham's country in a strange land: Jacob's wages when Laban defrauded him: Moses' honor, when he refused

to be the son-in-law of Pharaoh's daughter: Rahab's security, when all Jericho besides did perish: David's rescue, when there was but a step between him and death: the power of the apostles, to be able to cast out devils: Mary Magdalen's sweet ointment, to take away the ill-savor of her sins. Plead, therefore, with the oratory of faith, and say, “Lord I have no life but in thee, I have no joy but in thee, no salvation but in thee: but I have all these in thee; and how can my soul refuse to be comforted?"

But some will say, perhaps, " Faith is a powerful comforter: but I, poor wretch, had need to be comforted concerning my faith. I find the pulse of it weak, and sometimes it intermits, as if it beat not at all. Methinks I am not drawn near to Christ, or that I am so far off, that I can not embrace him." Some such infirmity may seem to have been in the Thessalonians; and therefore St. Paul says, "I have sent Timotheus to establish you, and to comfort you, concerning your faith."

Now, to turn this water into wine, and the trembling of this objection into peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, conceive as if these questions were put to you: "Do you often accuse yourself of a weak faith in secret unto God?" I like it for a good symptom; for an hypocrite doth not use to accuse himself." And do you bewail your want to the Lord, because you would have it better supplied? that is a good sign too, for it is the same as to thirst for the living God. They that have not the gift of faith, do not miss it: but they that have it, though but in a little, do insatiably desire the increase of it. To prove the truth of it, believe all the word of God, and it can be no wider: and for the soundness of it, believe in Christ, and look for salvation in him alone; and it is as legitimate and true-born as is the faith of any saint that is far more noble.

The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?-Matt. xix. 20.

Moral honesty is a lovely thing, and greatly tends to the peace and order of the world; but it is not saving grace, nor gives any man a good title to Christ and salvation. Indeed there can be no grace in that soul in which civility and moral honesty

are not found; but these may be found in thousands that have

no grace.

That which ruins souls, is not the exercise of moral virtues, but their reliance upon them: they use their morality as a shield to secure their consciences from the convictions of the word, which would show them their sinful and miserable state by nature. Let debauched and profane persons look to it, I am well enough, saith the proud moralist; though, alas! poor man, his being less evil, at best, could but procure him a cooler hell, or a milder flame. This was the case of the young man, and like a young man, indeed, he reasons. He sums up all the stock of his civil life, and thinks it strange if that be not enough to make a purchase of eternal life. What lack I yet? Alas! poor soul, every thing necessary to salvation: the very first stone was not laid, when he thought the building was finished. And this is the case of multitudes, both old and young: and that which greatly confirms and settles them in this their dangerous security, is the general, indistinct doctrine of some, who pretend to be guides to the souls of others, the scope of whose teaching aims at no higher mark than to civilize the people, and press moral duties upon them, as if this were all that were necessary to salvation. This indeed is the way to fix them where they are; if Christ had not taken another method with Nicodemus, and his ministers had not pressed the necessity of regeneration, and the insufficiency of moral honesty to salvation, how then had the number of true converts been? at most they are but a handful in comparison of the unregenerate.

O that God would bless what follows, to undeceive and save some poor soul out of this dangerous snare of the devil!

1. Blind not yourselves with the lustre of your own moral virtues, a life smoothly drawn with civility through the world: for though it must be acknowledged there is a loveliness, and attracting sweetness in morality and civility, yet these things rather respect earth than heaven, and are designed for the conservation of the order and peace of this world, not for your salvation and title to the world to come. Without justice and truth, kingdoms and commonwealths would become mountains of prey, and dens of robbery. Where there is no trust, there can be no traffic; and where there is no truth, there can be no trust; but it never gave any man an interest in Christ, or a title to salva