believe in God and come to God not directly to God without eyeing of this Medium no no God out of Christ is an angry God a consuming â—â—ire therefore we must come to God by Christ as our Mediator and coâ—mit our cause to him to plead at God's Bar. Thirdly Why we should behold this Ladder or look unto Jesus Christ 1. Because he is the way to Heaven which infinite Wisdom hath found out nay the result of that glorious Counsel held between the Father and the Son from eternity Not to behold this Way this Ladder this Mediator is to cast contempt on God in his contrivance of Salvation by Jesus Christ. 2. Because there is so much divine Love Grace and Goodness shewed to us in Jesus Christ. 3. Because this Sight is so Wonderful a Sightâ— Christ Brethren is the wonder of both Worlds O 't is an amazing thing to see such a Way such a Ladder prepared for us to go to God! 4. Christ should be beheld because of the Loveliness as well as the Wonderfulness of his Person There is no such Object to be seen in Heaven nor Earth 5. Because there is in him all Fulness We beheld his glory as the glory of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth The Word as one observes is Emphatical itheasametha we beheld as in a Theatre as Men behold things presented to them on a Stage with great earnestness and delight even as the express Image of the Father's Person it pleased the Father that in him all fulness should â—aweâ— He received the Spirit of Grace without measure and 't is in him to be Communicated to all his Elect or Members of his mystical Body as fulness of Sap is in the Root to supply all the Branches 6. Because this of beholding or looking to Jesus Christ is the way God hath appointed for our Reception or Participation of all the Benefits and Merits of his Blood nor is there any other way but thro' believing in him for any Adult Persons to be Saved 7. Because of the absolute necessity Sinners have of him they are sick and he is their Physician c. Fifthly For what or to receive what should we behold Jesus Christ. 1. For Recoâ—ciliatâ—on and Peace with God All thiâ—â—s are of God who reconciled us unto himself 〈…〉 To 〈◊〉 thâ—t God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself not imputing their Tresâ—asses unto them This is the meriterâ—ous cause of our Reconciliation God in Christ or by his Blood is Satisfied and Reconciled and all that would have peace with God must Believe or look to Christ to receive the Attonement Christ hath received an actual discharge for Sinners from his Father and you must come to him for it and receive the Benefit and Evidence of it to your own Consciences All that the Father hath given me shall come unto me and whosoever cometh unto me I wiâ—l in no wise cast out There is an infallible Connexion betwixt Faith and eternal Life and betwixt Election and the Collection of special Grace and as Election is first special Vocation will follow and as many as were ordained to eternal Life believed For the Father's gift of the Soul to Christ and of Grace to believe in him is no doubt here ment by his giving them to his Son 2. â—herefore you must first look to him for Grace for Faitâ— God pours ouâ— the Spirit of Grace and Supplicatâ—on first and then a Sinner looks to him wâ—om he pierced that is then and not till then he will believe or savingly behold Jesus Christ. 3. Sinners must behold Christ look to Christ for Vnion with him and to be espoused to him Look till they Love behold him till they fall in Love with him The holy Spirit is the bond of this Union by which Christ takes hold of us and Faith is that Grace by which we take hold of him 4. For Justification Whosoever hath Union with Christ receives their personal Discharge from the Law-Sentence that bound them over to Wrath and Condemnation and are actually pronounced Acquitted and Justified for ever 5. For Acceptation with the Father who hath made us accepted in the beloved Christ's acceptance by the Father is the Spring or Fountain of our Acceptance he being accepted for and in the behalf of all his Elect And no sooner is a Sinner in Christ but he stands personally Justified and accepted with the Father and he being accepted all his Duties and Services are accepted also that he performs in Faith and by the assistance of the Spirit of God 6. For Pardon of Sin and to have it evidenced unto their Consciences In whom we have Redemption thro' his Blood even the forgiveness of Sins 7. For Strength Surely shall one say in the Lord have I Righteousness and Strength Righteousness to Justifie me and Strength to Support me and Assistance to bear all Burdens resist all Temptations to strengthen all my Graces and to perform all holy Duties 8. For all divine Comforts and Consolations If there be therefore any Consolations in Christ if any comfort of Love if any fellowship of the Spirit c. Tho' many may be in Christ and find no such Consolations which others meet with yet there are most precious Consolations in him and we should look to him for them Lastly We should behold him look to him for eternal Life Eternal Life is purchased by Christ and 't is to be had in Christ and all that believe hâ—ve an undoubted Title thereto APPLICATION First We Infer from hence that great blindness and ignorance hath siezed upon most of Men in that they care not to behold Jesus Christ they can see no Beâ—uty in him to desire him nor do they marvel to behold this sight Secondly Sinner will you not behold this Christ thy Saviour Let me Exhort you to behold the Lamb of God that takes away the Sin of the World and O cast a right look unto him Motives 1. It will cause or work godly Sorrow in you fâ—r all your Sins They shall look unto him whom they pâ—ercea and shall Mourn c. 2. It will cause in you Self-loathing and Self-abhorrance I have heard of thee by the hearing of the Ears but now mine Eyes see thee therefore I abhor my self and repent in Dust and Ashes When the Prophet saw the Lord sitting upon a Throne high and lifted up and his Train filled the Temple he cryed out I am undone mine Eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts 3. It will cause you to behold great Beauty and excellencies in him To you that believe he is precious Yea doubtless I count all things loss for the excellency of the Knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord. You will say then that he is the chiefest among ten Thousands and altogether Lovely 4. It will change you into his own Image
But by being Renewed we are capable and do enjoy sweet Fellowship with the Father and the Son Believers walk with God and God with them Jesus Christ and Believers set together dwell together walk together yea sup together and daily visit each other Christ and they mind the same things the interest of Christ and Believers are one and the same Christ Sympathizeth with his Saints in their Afflictions and Rejoyces with them in their Consolations such a high Priest became us But O what an high Advancement is this that such a low base and contemptible Creature as Man is as in himself should be allowed to have Communion and Fellowship with the great and most glorious God of Heaven and Earth and with Jesus Christ the only Potentate and Prince of the Kings of the Earth Seventhly The Saints in Christ are so exalted and lifted up in Grandure and Honour that they are God's choice and precious Jewels or his chiefest Treasure They shall be mine saith the Lord in that day I make up my Jewels They are the Favourites of Heaven the Lord saith They that touch them touch the Apple of his Eye No King hath such a value of his greatest Favourites as God hath for his Saints they are the Persons that the King delights to Honour What is it to be honoured by poor Mortals to this honour If any Man serve me him will my Father honour He honours them here he gives them honourable Titles What are the airy and empty Titles of Earl Marquiss Duke c. that pull up Ambitious Spirits to those high and honourable Titles God confers on believers as Sons of God Heirs of God most excellent or most magnificent He hath made us Kings c. and Princes These are high Titles indeed when conferred upon us by the eternal God My Brethren they are not only hâ—noured with the highest Titles but also beloved with the highest Love I gave Egypt for thy Ransom Ethiopia and Sâ—ba for thee since thou wert precious in my sight thou hast been honourable and I have loved thee He loves them with the love of Complacency he rejoyces over them as the Bridegroom rejoiceth over the Bride Nay he loveth them with the same Love wherewith he loves Jesus Christ And hast loved them as thou hast loved me And as he loveth and honoureth them so he will also cause all Men yea Kings and such that now hate them to bow before them The Sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee and all that despised thee shall bow themselves at the soles of thy Feet The Gentiles shall see their Righteousness and all Kings their Glory Thou shalt also be a Crown of Glory in the hand of the Lord and a royal Diadem in the hand of thy God Nay the Lord Jesus himself will honour them Verily I say unto you that he shall gird himself and make them sit down to meat and will come forth and serve them Eighthly and Lastly He honoureth them with his own glorious Train or Noble Retinue He commands his Servants those glorious Courtiers that attend and wait round about his Throne to wait on them to administer unto them and continually to be a Guard unto them that love and fear his Name they ride as I may so say in his own Chariots The Chariots of God are twenty thousand even thousands of Angels And these are on this Ladder they ascend and descend upon the Son of Man But more of this hereafter They encamp round about such that fear the Lord and are sent to minister unto them that are heirs of Salvation VSE 1. How may this raise the Hearts of Believers Alas they little think what glory God hath in Jesus Christ conferr'd upon them How would they lift up their Heads and rejoyce did they contemplate on that great Dignity they are raised unto 2. And what Reproof may this be to the ungodly World who slight despise and hate these honourable Ones as if they were the Off-scouring of all things and not worthy to live on the Earth when indeed the world is not worthy of them These precious Sons of Sion comparable to fine Goâ—d are accounted as Earthen Pitchers Moreover it may reprove those for their horrid Folly who esteem and value the vain Honour of Men above the Honour that comes from God That had rather be Great in the Sight of Men than Great and Glorious in the Sight of God 3. This also may cause us to admire Jesus Christ who hath raised us to sucâ— Dignity and Honour his Exaltation Beloved is our Exaltation we had never been raised to this Honour had not he been Abased and then highly Exâ—lted Christ's Exaltation was only a mediatory Exaltation he was not advanced in respect of the essential Glory of his God-head for as so he was always possessed with that so that their could be no Addition of Glory made to that but it was a Glory or Exaltation of his Person as God-man the Glory of Christ as God is the same from everlasting with the Father therefore it was the exaltation of his Person as Mediator as he is our head and blessed Representative he is Exalted that we in him may be Exalted also As he Beloved was raised up from the dead so were we in him and as he was Justifiâ—d so were we in him and as he Ascended up to Heaven so did we Ascend in him and so also assuredly shall all his Elect be raised spiritually from Sin to a state of Grace here and in â—oâ—â—y and Soul to an eternal State of Glory hereafter If Christ be raised we shall be raised because he was raised as our publick Head and is ascended into Heaven as our Fore-runner 4 This may be also for Tryal By this we may know my Brethren who they are that are upon Jacobs Ladder or in Jesus Christ see what Spirits what Hearts what Principles what Ends and Aims you have and what Liâ—eâ— you live Do you dwell on â—igh yet pray labour to ascend higher and higher every day but is your Conversation in Heaven do you mount up as with Eagles Wings 't is thus if you are true Believers Earth is behind your backs and all the things of the World are little in your sight if you are elivated on high But to proceed there is one or two things more concerning this Ladder that I must take notice of Mind well the word behold and behold a Ladder this as I hinted is a word that sometimes calls for Observation and Attention Behold I am at the Door and knock sometimes it calls for Commiseration Behold is there any Sorrow like my Sorrow Sometimes it calls for Imitation Behold the perfect Man Sometimes it calls for Admiration Behold what manner of love is this c. Sometimes it calls for Faith and Dependance Behold the Lamb of God c. I said behold
me behold me what is that but to believe in him lastly and sometimes for Consolation Now the Word here no doubt calls for Observation for Admiration for Faith and Dependance and also for Consolation Behold a Ladder set upon the Earth and the top of it reacheth to Heaven Of what a length is this Ladder Astronomers according to Reverend Greenhill observe 't is 160. Millions of Miles from Earth to Heaven A wonderful thing An amazing height so it is a wonderful thing to behold Christ Jesus the Way to Heaven Behold with Admiration be Astonished who could have thought of such a way to the Father to be Saved by a dying Jesus by a poor Man hanged on a Tree to be Justified by his Righteousness and by his Death to be delivered from Hell this is a marvelous thing Angels wonder beholding this Person Observe from hence DOCT. II. That the way which God hath found out to save lost Man namely Jesus Christ ought to be beheld with the greatest Care or utmost Diligence and with the greatest Admiration and Wonderment 1. I shall shew wherein in speaking to this Proposition the wonderfulness of this spiritual Ladder doth consist 2. How we should behold Jesus Christ. 3. Shew you why we should behold him 4. For what Sinners should behold Christ or look to him 5. Apply it To the first of these 1. To behold this spiritual Ladder in respect of the Cause or Motive that moved God to make or prepare it 2. In respect of the Wisdom of God that did prepare it 3. In respect of the Matter of which it is made or doth consist 4. In respect of the great and glorious Design of God in making or preparing of it First we may well admire this spiritual Ladder Jesus Christ in respect of thâ— Motive which moved God to prepare it which was his infinite Love Mercy and Goodness to Sinners to shew so great Compassiâ—n towards sinful and râ—bellious Creatures who deservâ—d instead of being raised up to Heaven to be immediately cast down to the lowest Hell What is Man that thou art mindful of him that thou shouldst magnifâ—â— him and set thy heart upon him Sirs it was the love of God the Father I say that tâ—is way was prepared it sprang or proceeded from the greatness of his love God so loved the Wâ—rld if it had not been the product of the Father's Loâ—e it wâ—â—lâ— not be to the praise of 〈◊〉 Grace the love of the Fâ—ther in this case in Moving was as great as the 〈◊〉 in Consenting O how did his Bowels work and move in him O the miraculousness of divine goodness by the law we had broke we were guilty insolently taking up Arms against our Maker plunging ourselves into a Sea of divine Wrath and Vengeance guilty of Millions of Sins meritting Millions of Deaths yet has love would not let him rest until he had found out a way to raise us up from the lowest Hell to the highest Heaven And in making his Son his only begotten Son the way and that by Abasing of him making him so Poor that was so Rich so Low that was so High and Glorious so Cursed that was so Blessed yea Blessedness it self nay so miserable for a time to make our way to Heaven thro' the rending his Flesh and taring his Soul to pieces and pouring forth his most precious Blood and this for such who hated him and were cursed Traitors against him well might the holy Ghost say Behold a ladder behold a new and living way which he hath provided and consecrated thro' the Veil that is to say the Flesh of his own Son O my Brethren the way to enter into the Holiest is by the blood of Jesus Doth not God hereby shew greater Love and Grace than if he had saved lost Sinners on a way of simple Mercy without the Death of his own Son Therefore as one Observes God resolvâ—d to signalize his Love to us he would have it reâ—ch the highest Note and it could not be screw'd up to an higher Peg than to Sacrifice his Son for us with his own Hand it pleased the Lord to Praise him Be astonished both Men and Angels Now may our Meditations swim in this boundless bottomless bankless Ocean of the Fathers Love God spared not his own Son Brethren the Love of the Father was the Motive that moved him to contrive this way to Heaven yea and the fullest the freest and the most amazing Love that ever was shewed free to us but expensive to him it cost him the Blood of his Son more costly than the making of Millions of Worlds he lay in his Bosom and there was none besides him from Eternity to put up a request it was the Result of his own Bowels before the being of any Creature 't was the effect of his Power Tho' our Justification Sanctification and eternal Blessedness be the Fruits and Merits of Christ's Death yet whatsoever is Meritted for us by Christ it is all the Fruits of God's Love Christ did not merit the Fathers Love nor did he merit the Office of being a Mediator no this sprung only from the Love of God to us Christ did not I say dye to procure the Fathers Love tho' thereby he makes us more lovely unto him by washing us from our natural Filthiness and by the fruits of his Death thro' the Spirit by stamping his Image upon our Souls Brethren God could not shew greâ—ter Love to us as Abraham could not to God than by the Offering up his own Son Isaac whom he so dâ—arly loved Secondly Admire this Sacred Ladder in respect of the Wisdom of God in contriving of this way to Heaven As it exceeds the Art and Wisdom of Men to make a Ladder to reach up to Heaven so it far surpasseth the Wisdom of Men or Angels to contrive such a way to Heaven that God may be glorified in all his Attributes to the highest Perfections and yet we Saved Sin Punished and yet the Sinner Justified Besides God had lost the glory of his work in making of Man and this World for his sake and Satan would have insulted over him had he not contrived a way to restore him It would have been to the Disparagement of his Wisdom who pronounced all the Works he had made to be Good and when he had made Man very Good to see himself so soon disappointed and his work marr'd I mean the noblest part thereof all other Creatures being made for Man's use and so for lower and baser and more unworthy ends Brethren Christ the way not in vain called the Wisdom of God because in him God displays the highest acts of his divine Wisdom the holy Angels are amazâ—d at this Wisdom they pry into this depth this profound mystery of God manifested in the Flesh. There is a wonderful Mystery in our way to Heaven by Jesus Christ as well as in the Fellowship of this Mystery or in the
this look is of a Soul-transforming Nature but we all beholding as in a glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 5. This beholding of Christ will cause you to contemn all things here below and to account them as nothing nay worse than nothing in comparison of him for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but Dung that I may win Christ. Syriac and others Dog's Meat refuse cast to Dogs Thus do all that behold him in point of Justification in comparison of Christ esteem as nothing all good Works good Duties flowing from a sanctified Heart nay all inherit Holiness with Faith it self in respect of any Trust and Confidence therein So much is the object of Faith valued by all that thus behold him 6. It will draw the Souls of all that thus behold him to him and after him and to follow him whithersoever he goes When I am lifted up I will draw all Men to me When I am beheld on the Cross dying for them or in their stead Lo we have forsaken all and have followed thee They did thus and presently too as soon as he called them These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth Those who thus see him are even sick of Love Saw ye him whom my Soul loveth c. Tell him I am sick of love O Sinners labour thus to behold him i.e. pierced for you â—ying and bleeding on the Cross for you offering himself to you standing at your Doors woing and entreating you to open to him to love him imbrace him and espouse him Consider by way of Excitation 1. Can you behold him entering into a Covenant of Redeâ—ption from Eternity for you and not love him Can you see hiâ— strike Hands with the Father leaving out your Names anâ— only putting his own Name in that Covenant as your Surety to pay all your Debts to sâ—tisfie divine Justice for all your Sins and dye in yâ—ur room and not love him 2. Can you see him take your nature upon him and become Man born of a poor Virgin a Babe laid in a Manger expâ—sed to the rage and malice of Men and Devils and not love him 3. Can you behold him and think of that purpose of Grace eternal Love and good Will unto you from eâ—erlasting and not love him 4. Can you behold him Betrayed left by his own Diâ—ciples Deny'd by Peter Spit upon Scourged his Hair Torn from his Beard and all be sprinkled with Blood condemned as a Malefactor â— owned with Thoâ—ns and not love him 5 Can you behold him in his bloody Agâ—ny sweating great drops of Blood Can you see him Nailed to a Tree and his Side pierced with a Spear which run into his Heart and all this for you and not love him Thirdly Reproof What vile Wretch dost thou do wilt thou Wound him again sight him grieve him and prefer thy Sins and Lusts above him befâ—re thou didst never truly behold him Shall God tâ— us display the glory of his Free grace and magnifie all his Attributes in our Redemption by Christ and dost thou â—iâ—ht and coâ—tâ—mn this glorious Contrivance aâ—d with thâ— Face of Impudence seek another way to go â—o â—eaven by Morality by the Light within bâ—â—â—â—â—ing something of thine own with his 〈◊〉 anâ—â—o think to go to Heaven by a Laddeâ— of â—â—y oâ—u â—evâ—siâ—g Fourthly By â—hâ— you 〈◊〉 see you that are Professors whetâ—â—â— you did â—ver Savingly behold the Lord Jesus or not have true Faith oâ— not Fifthly For Incouragement to aâ—â—to behold him 1. He is able to save you tho' neveâ— so vile and abominable Sinners to save you all to save all to the uttermost that come to God by him i.e. by this Ladder by this new and living Way 2. He is also willing as weâ—l as able This appears 1. By his Expressions and Invitations Come unto me all ye that Labour and are heavy Laden and I will give you Rest How often would I have gathered thy Children together c. 2. By his Affections Behold me behold me What love hath he shewed and what Complaints of Sorrow and Grief at Sinners Unbelief 3. By his Actions even every wâ—y what Love greater Love infinite Love and williâ—gness can be shewed how hath he manifested his Readiness to save Sinners Sixthly Terror You must behold him by an eye of Faith or perish He that believes not shall be Damned He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see Life but the Wrath of God abideth on him Obj. Perhaps some Sinner will say I dare not believe yet I am not humbled enough I am not fitted and prepared to come to Christ. Ans. Dost thou see thy self Sick here 's thy Physician what is required of the Sick before they come for Healing Dost thou see thy self a Sinner O then come here is thy Saviour Dost thou find Guilt to lye upon thy Conscience who can take it off but Christ Jesus Dost thou see thy Filthiness what can cleanse thee but Christ's Blood Come as thou art to the Fountain Dost thou Thirst after Happiness 't is no where to be found but in Christ tho' thou hast therefore no Money yet come thou canst not believe in Christ too soon Lastly By way of Consolation to Believers you are saved already have eternal Life in you Grace is the Seed of Glory you have drank of the water of Life and that will be a Well of Water in you springing up to everlasting Life You are going to Heaven on Jacob's Ladder and all the Devils and Powers of Darkness can't throw you down You shall never perish O bless the Lord and admire Free-grace and live to him all your Days with Joy and Thankfulness But no more now at this time SERMON IV. GENESIS xxviij xij xiij And behold the Angels of God ascending and descending on it I Clos'd the last Day with the former part of our Text I shall give you one short Sermon God assisting concerning the holy Angels whom Jacob in his Vision saw ascending and descending upon it that is Antitypically upon Jesus Christ. Our blessed Saviour alludes as I told you to this Vision in the Gospel And he said unto him Verily verily I say unto you hereafter you shall see the Heavens open and the Angels of God ascending descending upon the Son of Maâ— Our Annotators assert as their Opinions That our Lord refers to Jacob's Vision Gen. 28.12 which doubtless puts a great glory on it it being no trifle or small thing that was represented unto him in that Dream and Vision but what a sight Nathaniel had afterwards of the Angels ascending and descending upon Christ the Son of Man I know not Some think it might be some further appearance
to hinder us Observe my Text Anâ—els are upon the Ladder or in our way to Heaven Now Prayer and Hearing the Word c. are our way to Heaven i. e. means of Grace to fit us for it Quest. Hath every Saint a particular Angel to attend him Ans. I Answer This is asserted by some worthy Writers and by others denied My Lord Lawrence a very pious and learned Man saith That the Doctrine of the Angel-Guardians hath been exceeding antient and not among Christians only That a multitude of Angels do guard the Saints is deny'd by none but whether every Elect person hath a particular Angel deputed for him or whether all indifferently do attend upon all the Saints In his Judgment probably every Elect person hath his particular Angel For in Heaven their Angels do always behold the face of my Father Some also think the Angel-Guardian begins his Charge when the Child is born others not until his Baptism my Author rather thinks as soon as the Soul is infused But I find Reverend Greenâ—â—ll does question this and thinks it is a mistake that every Elect person hath a particular Angel c. and answers that Text about Peter's Angel I see no advantage this could be to us to have but one Angel particularly to take the Charge of us more than a multitude 1. Because of their faithfulness generally 2. Because it is far greater honour to a Prince to have mighty Hosts of honourable Persons to be his Retinue than one noble Person only I shall therefore say no more to this but proceed to the next general Head Thirdly Why doth Christ imploy the holy Angels to minister to his Saints 1. Because of that great love Jesus Christ hath to his Saints seeing they have such a multitude of evil Angels to annoy them therefore he sends them Hosts of good Angels to defend them 2. To greaten his own Glory the greater and more glorious the Retinue of a Prince is which he sends as a guard to his Favourites the more it sets forth his own Greatness and Grandure and since one Angel hath such mighty power and is so glorious that the Earth is said to be enlightned with it I know that is not a proper Angel yet it shews the glory of an Angel is very great What is the glory then of an innumerable Host of them and yet they are all but Christ's Servants and poor Nothings in comparison of him 3. My Author saith God doth it to preserve that Eutaxy that good Order which he hath put into things As thicker Bodies and more inferiour are managed by more subtle and powerful so the bodies of Beasts by a spirit of life and irrational Spirits by rational As Men govern Beasts so by the same reason of proportion the Angels which are invisible Spirits and are all Spirits have an influence upon Men which are partly Spirits and partly Bodies 4. It may be to shew what Honour he is pleased to confer upon his Saints he will spare them his own Courtiers out of Heaven they shall ride in his own Chariots This he may do to honour his People to raise their Glory Sirs could the ungodly but see what an Host of Angels does attend upon the poorest Saint as he passes along they would say Who is this what noble and honourable Person is this that has such a Guard such a Retinue The greatest Monarch in the World hath no such Attendance as the poorest and meanest Saint hath 5. Another reason why God useth the Angels for the good of his People or to attend on them and minister unto them may be because they are the Spouse of Christ the Lamb's Bride Certainly great Honour of right belongs to the Queen considering her near relation to the King And hence she has the like noble Retinue her Life-guard as well as he and so upon the same foot of account Angels may be the Attendants of the Saints their Guard and Retinue Believers are the Bride they are the friends of the Bridegroom and of his noble Consort the Church Certainly in this the honour of the Saints doth exceed the honour of the holy Angels as Chrisâ— took our Nature upon him and not theirs and in that his Church is his Spouse his Wife and not they the glory conferr'd on us seems to excel tho in respect to their Nature Wisdom and â—nowledg they may excel the Saints 6. God may do it fâ—r the safety of his Saints Some obsâ—rve tâ—at were it not for the good Angels the Devils would even tear the very Bodies of the Saints into pieces such is their maâ—ice and rage against them 7. That there may be much love and acquaintance grow between us and the holy Angels with whom we must live for ever and whom we shall be made like unto Now Love grows by mutual Offices as it is seen in the love of Mothers to their Children which increases by fostering and tending them O how happy is every Saint of God in having the tutelage of holy Angels This honour have all Believers and none else for the wicked have no Angels to look to them to care for them the Angels of Christ are enemies to God's enemies and friends to Christ's friends May be as God is good to all so the wicked may be under the general Charge of the holy Angels but the Saints are under their special and peculiar Charge they are properly Guardians and ministring Spirits to the Saints who are the heirs of Salvation Application THis reproves or reprehends those that think it is below them to stoop to obey some of the Commands of Christ. Sirs see what glorious Creatures the Angels are and yet they stoop so low as to minister to the poorest Saints on Earth Michael despised David in her heart for dancing before the Ark of God But did he value that No no if that he seemed vile he would be more vile I will saith he speak also of thy Statutes before Kings and will not be ashamed 2. It reproves also such who are ashamed to own a poor Child of God they can call a Rich man Brother but O! 't is hard to own and to call a Poor man so a man in a Leather-coat or in a poor garb before others Alas the Angels are not ashamed to take care of and own poor Lazarus full of Sores at the Rich Man's gate tho he begg'd for the Crums that fell from his Table and the Dogs came and licked his sores But let such look to it lest Christ one day be ashamed of them Secondly It may be for instruction to us how to do the Will of God even as the Angels do it 1. That we do it in Love to God Love is the great Principle from whence the Holy Angels do all their Service to God so ought we to serve and worship God in Love to him not for Self-profit or Honour or Applause If ye love me keep