V ER.2o, Ephe n:,Chap.i. 187 Eules, Lords : So our Saviour, taken upas man tothis kinglydignity, muff needes be inpreeminence before them. iris no wonder, for this nature e(fentially appertaineth to that perfon which made all thefe things ; feeRevel.4.ult.The Lamb is worthy to receiveglory, firby hint a thingswere modeler him they were created. Secondly,every perfon, the neerer he is inconjunílionofblood toan earthly King,the more he hath prerogative before others, more difjoy- ned : fo this created nature, feeing itis made one perfonally withGod, byhow much it is more neerely united,byfomuch it is fit that it Mould have prerogative before others. Not to fpeak that being heire ofall things, it is meet that he fhould be before all, whoare but partsofhis in- heritance ; and having more excellent endowments, I meane created gifts then anyother, it is meete he fhould have the firft place before all other. Wherefore what reverence are we to thew him in all our fervices a- bout him, whole excellencie is fohigh above every creature e Earthly dignities doe fodazle our eyes, that weknow not withwhat fubmiffion fufficient to fall down before them. Againe, having fo eminent aperfon for our Saviour and mediatour, let us cleavecontented to him,caring to know nothing but him,accoun- ting all droffe and dung, that we may be found in Chrift. Let nonede- ceive you with traditionsofmen, and vaine Philofophy, you arecom- pleateinhim who is the head ofprincipalities and powers. The Papifts, did they confider theexcellencyofChriftour Saviour,could not,as they doe,flye fo many waies for helpe out of him. Obferve fecondly,that Chrift not onely as God,but as manalfo,hath power above every creature ;for to be let at Gods right hand,is to re- ceivea power imperialt, overevery creature; which is furtherapparent, while hefaith, Chriftis fo placed above all, that all are fubje&under his feete:Ta me it givesallpower in heaven andearth,that is,power where- untoevery creature is fubje& : He fpeaketh of it as done, becaufe it was immediately to be performed ; inwhich manner he fpakebefore ofhis bodyand blond ; This perfon as God, receivingby voluntarydifpenfa- tion this honourfrom the father, that he fhould in an immediate and appropriate manner, execute government over all the creatures in hea- andearth; the fame perfon as man , participating in this kingly divine authority, fo farte that he fhould inftrumentally concurre inexe- cuting all that judgement which Chrift according to his divine na- ture did principallyeffeét.This the Scripturedoth lay down,as in regard ofearthly powers they are fubje& ;For he itrnlerofehe kings eftheearth, Revel. t.5. He path this royallflyle written as his thigh,asit were, King a Kings ,LerdofLords,Revel.59.16.That he bath power over Angels, is plaine, both by the reverence theydoe him,& their obediencetowards him,Heb.r. When hebrought hisSonne intotheworld, he bad all the Angels fhould adore him, every knee boweth to him, theevili Angels yeelding figneof fobjeâion,eitherdeceitfully to wrong end,orby force compelled,thoughtheirDate is fuch, that theycannot doe it religioufly as Yfe a. y¡ 2. Daf1.6.
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