he is every Way equal to the Trust comSERM, mitted to him, and very capable of dif

VI.

charging all the Parts of his Office in his exalted Station. What they are I am now briefly to confider; beginning firft with the Interceffion made by Him for us at the right Hand of his Father which tho' it be properly an Act of his Prieftly, and not of his Kingly Office, yet ought not to be here omitted, confidering that it both fpeaks the fuperlative Dignity of the Interceffor, and is of the greateft and neareft Importance

to us.

FOR the Priesthood which Chrift exercifeth in Heaven is a Royal Priesthood ; and the Interceffion which he there makes is a powerful and glorious one; an Interceffion always prevalent and effectual; founded upon the Redemption which he hath wrought for Mankind, and the full Satisfaction he hath made to the Divine Juftice for our Sins. It moreover confifts in representing to his Father his Sufferings on Earth, and pleading the infi nite Merit of them, and claiming for us

all

pur

all those ineftimable Benefits, which by his precious Blood-fhedding he hath chafed for all fuch as will accept of them upon the Terms on which he offers them.

BY Virtue of this Mediation alone all our Prayers are acceptable to Almighty God, and become effectual to the Purpofes aimed at by them. Wherefore our bleffed Saviour hath inftructed us, and purfuant to this Inftruction our Church hath in her Liturgy directed us, to put up our Petitions to God in his Name; there being no accefs to the Father but thro' Him. Nay it is clear, that not only Men, but Angels themselves are oblig❜d to make use of his Name in their Addreffes to God, if, in the Text, inftead of at the Name of Jefus, we read, as fome agreeably enough to the Original do read, In the Name of Jefus every Knee should bow, of Things in Heaven, and Things in Earth, and Things under the Earth; Understanding by Things under the Earth, Holy Men and Women departed this Life.

SERM.

VI.

SERM.

VI.

THE Kingly Office of Chrift confifts in enacting and publifhing Laws for the Government of his Church; in protecting and rewarding his faithful Subjects, and in fubduing and deftroying his Ene mies,

In order to fhew how much fuperior the Legislative Authority of Chrift is to that of any Earthly Lawgivers, how far his Name is in this refpect above every Name, I need only point out some remarkable Differences between his Laws and thofe of Civil Magiftrates; which Differences arife from the Difference there is between His and their Power.

HUMAN Laws oblige no farther than they are confiftent with the Laws of Chrift. But Chrift being the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, a Lawgiver to whom all Human Lawgivers are themselves fubject, his Laws bind the Confcience in Oppofition to Human Laws, of which they ought to be the Rule and Meafure.

Again, HUMAN Laws reach only the Words and Actions of Men; they

cannot

cannot take Cognisance of what paffes in the Mind, and proceeds no further. But it being the Prerogative of Chrift to fearch the Heart, his Laws prefcribe Rules to the moft fecret Motions and Tendencies of it, laying as ftrict Re ftraints upon our Thoughts as upon our outward Behaviour, and rendring us as accountable and as liable to Punishment for our Intentions as for our Deeds.

SERM,

Laftly, THE ftrongeft Sanctions of human Laws are Pains that extend to the Body only, and to that only in this Life ; nor is it always in the Power of Magiftrates to inflict them. But Chrift has threatned to the Breach of his Laws extreme and everlasting Mifery both of Body and Soul, and is arm'd with Almighty Power to make good his Word. He has fecur'd the Obedience of his Subjects by the Terror of a Sentence, the moft dreadful to human Nature; and in cafe of Difobedience, will not fail to vindicate the Honour of his Laws by the Execution of that Sentence.

SERM.
VI.

FOR the Publication of his Laws, our Lord did, in a very furprizing Manner fend down the Holy Ghoft upon his Apostles, to endow them with the Gift of Tongues, and other miraculous Pow ers and Graces; whereby they were qualified to proclaim. to all Nations his everlasting Gofpel, and at the fame time to demonftrate the Truth and Divinity of it. The fame Spirit which wrought mightily in the Preachers of the Gospel, operated as powerfully in the Hearers of it; enlightning their Understandings, that they might rightly apprehend it, and difpofing their Wills to embrace and obey it. And fo in a fhort time Multitudes of People were every where brought to the Knowledge and under the Power of the Gospel Law, and the Kingdoms of the World became the Kingdoms of Chrift.

4

THAT this munificent Diftribution of the Gifts of the Holy Ghoft was an A& of Royal Power appears from the Neceffity there was of his being actually poffefs'd of his Kingdom in order to it.

If