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184
DOÇf.f.
ephefians,Chap.i,
VER.
ai.
above thefe
,
though Philofophie know
it nor.
To
thethird Ianfwer, the
perlons over whom
Chrift
is
advanced,
are firft defcribed more particularly
,
but yet
obfcurely. Secondly,
more generally
and plainely.
The
particular enumeration
in thefe
words ;
Principalities,powers ,
mights,
dominations
:
The
more
full
and
plaine
opening
of
them
in
the words following
;
Every
name,
that
is,
e-
very creature
howfoever named, whether
in
this world, or whether
be-
longing
to the world to
come.
Butit
is a
queftion, who
are
meant by
the
former words.
Anf.
They
are commonly underftood
of
Angels ;
but
I
take
the
firft
two
to
bee
names
of
excellency,
found in
this
prefent
world.
First,
Principalities
and
powers,
whenthey
are put
for
Angelical) natures,
they
are
nor
ter-
med
fo
fimply, but with
an addition
of
the
place;
as,
Ephef.3.to.
Ephef.6.rz.
but
thefe
words
put for humane excellencies,
wee
reade
them fimply, without any thing added.
Tit.3.
r.
Be
fubjeil
to
principa-
lities
and
powers.
Againe, I thinke this diftribution
of
power,
named
in
this world
and in
that
to
come,
refpec
leth
fomething
in
this
enumera-
tion .forenamed
:
the
former,
thefe
two
firft
named;
the
latter,
the
couple
following
:
Thus
I thinke
alfo,
Col.1.16.
that
enumeration
of
Thrones, Dominions,
Principalities,
Powers;
the
firft
two
refpeft
things
invifrble,
or things
in
heaven; the latter two, things
on
earth;
for
he
feemeth
to
illuftrate
each
part
of
the diftribution, by the
particulars
there inferred
:
Wherefore
we
may
thus
conceive
of
them.
Principalities,
fignifie
thofe
in
principal!
authority.
Powers,
all
fecondary powers
fent from
them,
as
Peter
fpeaketh.
By mights,
I
underftand
Angels, putting
forth might
in
fome
mira-
culous
effe6ts
of
mercy, or judgment ;
fuch
as
the
Angell, who
did
finite fomany hundred rhoufands
in
a
night;
the Angell which
did the
miraculous cure at
the Poole,
lohn S.
ByDominations,I underfland fuch Angels,whofe miniflery
God
ufeth
in
thegovernmentof
kingdomes and provinces
;
for that God doth
ufe
their minifterie,this
may be gathered
both
out
ofDaniel
& Ecclefiap
es.
The
putting
allthings under
his
feete,noteth nothing but
that fubjeltion
iuwhich
every
thing
is
to
Chrift,
God onely excepted; reade,
Pleb.
z.8.
Thefe
things for opening the
difficulties
incident.
The
fumme
is.
I
with your
eyes
opened,
that
you may
know the power
of
God
toward
you who
beleeve,
through the working
of
the power which
was
wrought
in
Chrift,
when
God
did
raife him
from
the loweft
degree
of
his humiliation, even
the
ftate
of
the dead,
and
did
crowne
him
with dignitie,
and kingly
glory
in
the heavens, not onely
giving
him
prerogative before
both
Principalities and
powers,
fuch
as
wee
fee
in
earth; yea,
before
01,
and Dominations, fuch
as
belong to
the
world to
come;
but givinghim power over thefe
and all creatures,
fo
as
he hath them
under his foote.
Obferve
then firft from
the
zo.verfe.Which
he
wrought
in
Chrijl.T
hat
the
felfe fame
power put forth,
in
railing
Chrift
our head,
is
that
frngu-
lar power which
raifeth
us
:
For looke
as
the almighty power
put
forth