this Beginning, which is his Resurrection, is plainly laid down as the Foundation of the Principality and Headship which he holds over the Church: He was the Beginning, the apyn, with refpect to the Creation of all Things, being the First-born of every Creature: He is the Beginning, and Head of the Church, being the First-born from the Dead.

I shall mention but one Place more to you, and that so plain an one, that I shall not need to spend much of your Time in it: It is in the Epistle to the Ephefians, and the first Chapter, where St. Paul tells them, that his Prayer for them was, that the God of our Lord Jefus Chrift, the Father of Glory, may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of him: The Eyes of your Understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the Hope of his Calling, and what the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints, and what is the exceeding Greatness of his Power to us-ward who believe, according to the Working of his mighty Power; which he wrought in Chrift, when he raised him from the Dead, and fet him at his own right Hand in the heavenly Places, far above all Principality and Power

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and Might and Dominion, and every Name that is named, not only in this World, but also in that which is to come; and hath put all Things under his Feet, and gave him to be the Head over all Things to the Church, which is his Body, the Fulness of him, who filleth all in all. What can be added to this Defcription of Power and Authority? And yet the Apostle, you fee, founds all this upon his Refurrection, and his Exaltation confequent to it: Then were all Things put under his Feet; then was he given to be Head over the Church, and fet above all Principality and Power and Might and Dominion, and every Name that is named. The Scripture abounds in Evidence of this Kind: And I think there is nothing plainer in the Gofpel, than that Chrift Jefus is our Lord, because he hath redeemed us; that he is our King, being raised by the Father to all Power and Authority; that he is our Mediator and Interceffor, being fet down on the right Hand of God in the heavenly Places. But,

Secondly, All Honour and Worship paid to Chrift, in and by the Church of God, are founded in this Exaltation.

This is a natural Confequence of what has been already faid. The Title which Chrift Jefus

Jefus has to receive Honour and Worship and Adoration in the Church, is the Reason and Foundation upon which Honour and Worship and Adoration are paid him in the Church. What his Title is, you have already heard; and, confequently, the Foundation of the Church's Worship has been already manifefted: But, that your Faith may not ftand in the Words of Man's Wifdom, I will lay before you the Evidence of Scripture in this Point also.

In the Revelation of St. John we have feveral Hymns recorded, which the Church of the First-born fing to God and to his Chrift; and we cannot form our Devotions from a better Copy than that which they have fet us. In the fourth Chapter, the four and twenty Elders fall down before him that fat on the Throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and caft their Crowns before the Throne, faying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive Glory and Honour and Power; for thou hast created all Things, and for thy Pleasure they are and were created. Here you fee plainly, that the Adoration paid to God the Father is founded upon his being the Creator of all Things: Look a little further into the next Chapter,

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and you will find the fame Perfons praising and adoring Chrift Jefus, faying, Thou art worthy to take the Book, and to open the Seals thereof; for thou waft flain, and haft redeemed us to God by thy Blood, out of every Kindred, and Tongue, and People, and Nation; and haft made us unto our God Kings and Priefts; and we shall reign on the Earth. Here you as plainly fee the Worship paid to Chrift to be founded in this, That he was flain, and did by his Blood redeem us: Nay, the very Choir of Angels fing Praises to him in the fame Strain, faying, Worthy is the Lamb that was flain to receive Power, and Riches, and Wifdom, and Strength, and Honour, and Glory, and Bleffing. From all which it is evident, that the Worship paid to Chrift is founded upon the Redemption, and relates to that Power and Authority which he received from God at his Refurrection,

In the Text St. Paul tells us, that God has given Chrift a Name above every Name that every Tongue should confefs that Chrift is the Lord Where Confeffion implies much more than a bare Acknowledgment that Chrift is the Lord: It comprehends thofe Honcurs and that Worship which

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those who heartily confefs him to be the Lord will naturally and readily pay him. How this Confeffion must be made, and from what Ground it must proceed, the fame Apostle, in his Epistle to the Romans, has very fully acquainted us: This, fays he, is the Word of Faith which we preach, That if thou shalt confefs Jefus to be Lord, (for fo the Words ought to be rendered) and fhalt believe in thine Heart that God hath raifed him from the Dead, thou shalt be faved. c. x. v. 8, 9. Here you fee St. Paul requires all Men to honour the Lord Jefus, upon this Account, because God hath raised him from the Dead. Every Man must honour the Son, even as he honoureth the Father: This Honour paid to the Son must proceed from this Principle of Faith, That in your Heart you believe that God raised him from the Dead, and made him Lord of all. This Confeffion, grounded upon this Belief, St. Paul calls the Faith which we preach, that is, the Gospel Doctrine, that Faith by which a Man fhall be faved: And this is, indeed, the true Gospel Point to convince Men, that the bleffed Jefus, who died for their Sins, did indeed rise again, and now fits in Power and Glory at the right Hand of the Majesty VOL. IV.

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