produced; but which I fhall now confirm SER M. at laft by one very full one from the New XIII. Teftament, even the Author of the Epiftle

to the Hebrews ch. ii. 5. and, if we include, from the Words that may be faid immediately to follow it. Unto the Angels (faith he) bas he not put in Subjection the World to come whereof we speak; But to him, of whom one in a certain Place teftified, Jaying, What is Man, that thou art mindful of him? or the Son of Man, that thou vifiteft him? Thou madeft him a little lower than the Angels: Thou crownedft him with Glory and Honour; and didft fet him over the Work of thy Hands: Thou haft put all Things in Subjection under his Feet, Heb. ii. 5-8. Now the World to come, of which the Apostle speaks, muft certainly fignify that Kingdom, or State which was future or subsequent to the four great Kingdoms or Monarchies, which had been in the World before; and in Oppofition to which, Daniel plainly puts the Kingdom of Chrift: When the holy Penman therefore fays, that God had not put that World in Subjection to the Angels, he plainly grants that the former States or Monarchies of the World had been put in Subjection to them: But

SERM. now (faith he) the World to come has be XIII. not put in Subjection to them: But on the contrary (faith he) when he brings again the First Begotten into the World, be fays let all the Angels of God worship him, ch. i. 6. i. e. Let thofe Angelical Princes, who before were Governors of Monarchies themfelves, be now fubject to the universal Dominion of him, who was made a little while inferior to the Angels, but is now cloathed with Glory and Honour, and set over all the Works of God's Hand, ch. ii. 7. For He, who before was King only of the Jews, is now become univerfal Lord and Emperor of the World. Angels, and Authorities, and Powers, as St Peter (to our Senfe) expreffes it, being made fubject to him, 1 Pet. iii. 22. In the fame Manner speaks St Paul, God has fet him at his own Right Hand in the heavenly Places, (or as to heavenly Things) far above all Principality, and Power, and Might, and Dominion, (and Thrones as he mentions in another Epiftle,) and every Name that is named, not only in this World, but in that which is to come. Ephef. i. 20, 21. Col. i. 16. Thefe Names were probably affigned to thofe Angels upon Account of the Kingdoms, and Dominions, and Principalities

palities, and States, which were formerly fub- SER M. ject to, and governed by them: But all XIII. which Oeconomies were now diffolved ; both Nations and Guardians, being entirely. fubjected to the Dominion of Jesus. For as the Apostle goes on, He has put all Things, all Governors as well as Governments, under his Feet, and has given him to be Head over all Things to the Church. Which is now altogether but one Body, one Kingdom under him, the Fulness of him that filleth all in all, Ephef. i. 22, 23. What the highest created Angel does now, he does not according to his own Difcretion, but all is determined by the fovereign Will of Chrift, under whom they act. At his Name, and at his Command, every Knee bows, and moves of Things in Heaven, and Things in Earth, and Things under the Earth, Phil. ii. 10. Not only Devils, not only Men, but the highest Angels are become to the Son, as well as to the Father, miniftring Spirits, and that only now as they are sent forth to minifter: For they are all miniftring Spirits fent forth (faith my Text) to minifter for them, who shall be Heirs of Salvation.

SERM.

All which, is, I think, fufficient to prove XIII. what I intended to fhow, from the Words rof my Text, viz. The Precedency of An. gels, over Kingdoms, and Nations.

Now to God the Father, God the Son, and
God the Holy Ghost, be ascribed all
Power, Might, Majefty, and Dominion,
now and for ever. Amen.

SERMON

f

SERMON XIV.

The Cloud of Witneffes.

For All-Saints Day.

HEB. xii. I, 2.

Wherefore, feeing we also are compassed about with fo great a Cloud of Witneffes, let us lay afide every Weight, and the Sin which doth fo easily befet us, and let us run with Patience the Race that is fet before us, Looking unto Jefus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith;

W

E are now, my dear Chriftians, drawing towards the End of our Ecclefiaftical Year: The Seafon of Advent (with which it has been always the Custom of the Church to begin her Computation) is near upon approaching; and at proportionable Distances in the Months that are paft, we have celebrated the Memories of the Apoftles and Evangelifts, and first Martyrs of Christianity. But fince there are abundantly

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