Goodwin - BX9315 G6 v1

1 38 An Expofttion of the Epiftle ~--t-h_e_m_f<~o-r-e-ve-r-;t_h_e_y_a-re-ca_fi_•_·n-to-th::.e_.:fi:_r_e_w_i_th--=-th_e_D_e_v:-:il_a_n_:_d--:h--:is-A-ng-e-:1-s,-y-o-u'i<-n-o-w-· Sert/i. X. it is faid ofwicked men. Anfwerably,as this great Oev1l, whom God fetteth up a– \,1/'"V"'t.J gainfi Cprifi,he is the great, I cannot call him Antichrifi, becaufe he is no wayfor Chri11,but he is the great one that oppofeth Chnfi, whom God fetteth up agamfi him to fi-.are the World with him,as he is the head ofall that are wicked on Earth, and ofall in Hell; fo is Chrifi oppofite, the head of all that are godly on Earth, . and of all in Heaven; and though the Devil is not of the fame nature with men yet he is the head of wicked men, he is the Prince ofthe World! and he rules et~ teCl:ually 10 the Children ofd1fobed1e~ce. Eph. 2. 2, So hl<ewlfe, though Jefus Chrifi is not ofthe fame nature or lubfiance with the Angels, yet he is the head ofAngels, ol'all Principalities and Powers, and rules as elfeCl:ually; nay ten thoufand times more effectually, for Satan is not fuch a head as Chriit is, And when Jefus Chril1 hath taken up his All, the Devil will take all the refi. Chrift is made the head of all things in Heaven a 0 d in Earth, he takes out his Saints,and the Devil takes all the refi, they fhare the World between them. So you have· the thing proved both by Scripture and by R.eafon. The Second thing then that I am to do, is this, to explain this Affociation be– tween men and Angels, under one Chril1; and Fir11,(as I faid, ) Ilhall explain the Affociation between men and Angels one among11 another, what the fellow/hip is between Angels and men, as making up one Family to God: And then Se– condly, What Communion, what relation, what Union and Communion the Angels have with Chri11, as with a head. This I mufi explain. Firl1, Men and Angels, amongfi themfelves, they have this fellowfi1ip under Chrifi their head, that they are all worfhippers of God and Chrifi together.They are fo in tliis World, -~!Ad they fi1all be fo more corppleatly and fully m the World to come, when that fulnefs ofthe difpenfation of all time lhall take place at the latter day. Firl1, I fay, there is an Affociation in worlhip in this world,between Angels and Saints. Little do we think it,but the Angels till our Churches as well as men, and are prefent at all our Congregations and Alfemblies; becaufe we are to be with them hereafter, and to worllup God together with them, therefore· they come down and are prelent at the worll1ip ofGod here with us. I could give you many proofs for it, I will but name one or two. What was the reafon that the Tabernacle and Temple at J ertifalemwas all full ofCherubims? R.ead E>:od. 2). 19. there was to be two Cherubims over the Mere) ·feat, in the Holy of Holiefr. Read E x od. 26. 1. All the Curtains that were to be for the Tabernacle,they were all to have Cherubimswrought in them. Cherubims are Angels. Go from thence to the Temple of Solomo11, 1 Ki11,g.6,2~. there you have Cherubims again,at the.Mercy.feat 100; and then verfe 29.all the walls ofthe Houfe round about were Carvedwith ·carved Figures of Cherubims with Angels f1 ill; nay the very Doors for the entring into the Holy of Holiefr' and the Doors of the Temple, had Cherubims Carved upon them. All this be: toktned that Angels 11ill filled the Temple as well as men; and therefore 1 C.r, 1 r. 10. ( furely it is the meaning of it,) he biddeth Women to be mode11, to be Va) led, to lhew fubjeCl:ion, not only becaufe.ofme~•. butbecaufe of the Angels, (fa the Text 1s there,) that are prefent at thmChnl11an Affemblies. He inllan– ceth in the leaft mifdemeanour, and argueth from the leffcr to the greater, to make tlus a motrve,. that men fhould behave themfelves religioully and holily in the Churches ofChnl1, becau(e the Angels are prcfent. If (faith he, ) you are not to fuffer the_ Angels to efpy 10 you the leafi immodc11y,then much more, any other m1sbehavwur, In the 5tb.Revel. vrrf 1 1. There you have the Church ofChrifl defcribed and there you have 24 Elders and 4 Beafis, (which are the People and Officers ofCon– gregations,)and they ling a new Song untoChrill,v .9.Thou m·t w orthy to taketh~ Book, mtd to open tbt jec.ls th~r~of, for thot< waft_(lfli11, a11d ha(/ redeemed tu u11to Godb)' thy Blood,out oftveryKi11drrd,rmdTo1tgue,and Ptopt,;,mtd N tllio11; a11d haflmtlde<Utl11toourGod, Kwgsmid P>"ieJls, andwejha!lrng11onthe Earth, ./lnd I bebeld (faith he,) and! heard the voice ofmmzy A11gels rormdabout the ThrotJe. Angds are round about the Throne, they are prefent at the Courts of God's Houfe, 11ill they are woril1ipp~rs, you lee, together with us on Earth, Secondly,

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