SER M. and Image of his Glory in the next: For VIII. though at prefent we dwell on Earth, yet St Paul tells us, We are no more Strangers and Foreigners, but Fellow-Citizens with the Saints, and of the Houshold of God; Ephef. ii. 19. For our Converfation (or rather as the Word fhould be tranflated) our Citizenship is in Heaven: i. e. though now we are in a distant Province, yet are we Freemen, or Denizens, of Heaven *; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jefus, who when he comes again to admit us thither, shall change our vile Body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body, according to the working whereby he is able even to fubdue all Things to himself. And then with Angels, and Archangels, and all the Company of Heaven, we fhall ftand before the Throne of God, and the Lamb, we shall laud and magnify his glorious Name, evermore praising him, and Saying, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hofts, Heaven and Earth are full of thy Glory, Glory be to thee, O Lord, moft High.

*See HAMMOND on Phil. iii. 20.

Amen.

TILLOTSON, P. 90.

SERMON

SERMON IX.

Angels God's Minifters for the Heirs of Salvation.

HEBREWS i. 14.

Are they not all miniftring Spirits, fent forth to minifter for them who shall be Heirs of Salvation?

T

HE Doctrine of Angels (when con-
ducted by Scripture, our only fafe

and warrantable Guide) we have already experienced to be a Doctrine which at once both edifies and delights. It enlarges our Minds, raifes our Idea or Notions of God, tends to quicken our Obedience and Duty. For the Proof of fuch numberless glorious Beings, opens new Worlds, that excite our Contemplation; our Contemplation of their Nature, Abilities, and Powers, awakens us to exalt and magnify "the

VOL. III.

P

SER M. the Glory of him that made them; and from IX. viewing at the fame Time, their Happiness

and Bliss, and measuring (as Jefus himself has authorized us) by what they are, what the Sons of the Refurrection fhall be, every Man, one would think, that has a Soul here, would make fure of becoming like Angels hereafter.

I now propose to set the same holy Beings before you in another Light; not to fhew them you as they are in themfelves; but as they ftand related to us; as Beings who, not only are to be our Comforts in the next World, but are our Friends in this; who far from envying us the Glory of being one Day equal to themselves, help and forward us, to the utmost of their Power to fecure and obtain it. I fhall now in fhort represent them to you, under the amiable Relations they bear to all the Children of Grace, viz. of being faithful Guardians on Earth, and fafe Convoys or Conductors to Heaven.

This is what my Text expreffes (a Text which I have already fufficiently opened) and to the Doctrine of which, I fhall now further proceed. It tells us, that Angels are all ministring Spirits, fent forth to minifter for them that fhall be Heirs of Salvation. Now here two Things are to be noted; They are miniftring

I

Spirits,

Spirits, and Spirits miniftring for the Heirs of s E R M. Salvation. The one fpeaks them Ministers IX. or Servants; the other fhews in whofe Behalf their Services are employed: And these, if you remember, are the two laft of four Heads into which, in my firft Difcourfe, I divided this Text. And having in pursuance of that Divifion fhewed, Firft, that there are really fuch Beings as Angels; and, Secondly, what their Nature is, that they are all Spirits: I

come now in the

III. Third Place to confider, their General Office or Employment, which the Text tells us is to ferve or minifter. For to none of the Angels faid be at any Time (what he says to the Son) fit thou on my Right Hand, until I make thine Enemies thy Footstool; verse 13. for they are all MINISTRING Spirits, fent forth to minifter. This, with respect to God, is their Condition and Quality. I am Gabriel (fays one of them, and very probably, one of the high Ones) I am Gabriel, that ftand in the Prefence of God; and am fent to speak unto thee: Luke i. 19. So that it is their utmost Glory to ftand with Reverence before his Throne, waiting the Sovereign Commands of P 2

God;

SER M. God; and when fent forth, then, to minifter IX. for the Heirs of Salvation.

They are not therefore the Ministers of Men; but the Minifters of God. It is He fends them forth; and therefore whatever they do for Men, is done in Obedience to his Commands. So that their Ministry makes them no otherwife Servants to those for whom they minister; than the Office or Employment of a Minifter of State, makes him a Servant to the Subjects below him. The Angels that had the Tuition of the People of the Jews, or of Perfia, and Greece, were not called the Servants, but the Princes of those Kingdoms; Dan. x. 13-20, 21. And by the Pfalmift, they are ftiled Gods, Pfal. xcvii. 7-9. (as Magiftrates also are) from the Power and Authority with which they are invefted. As Servants therefore, and Minifters, they acknowledge God only for their Lord and Mafter: It is his Will only they obferve and obey, as the Pfalmift confeffes, when he calls upon them to bless the Lord. O praise the Lord, ye Angels of his, ye that excel in Strength, ye that fulfil his Commandment, and hearken unto the Voice of his Words; O praise the Lord, all his Hofts, ye Servants of his,

ye