branches. What a labyrinth is it, both of honor and conso. lation, that the blood royal of heaven runs in their veins, and will never run out! but true as it is, how few do believe it? and of those few, who is it that lives up to the faith of it? Two ends, therefore, I mention it for:

[1.] To bear up your spirits against the world's frowns and calumnies, which the serious thoughts of your relation to such a Head, may well counterbalance and relieve you against. Princes in exile, (or, if in their own country, unknown and meanly attended,) are but coarsely used: and we marvel not at the matter, which yet the thoughts of their high birth, and confidence of restoration, do mightily support them under. Much more should the sons of God, (whose descent is not reckoned from the kings of the earth,) have still in their eye their divine extract, with that circumferent reward that is coming, and bear up their heads in a prince-like manner! and for "the joy that is set before them, both endure the cross, and despise the shame;" until they come to be exalted, not only above those nick-names the world imposes on them, but above the most honorable names, and most serene titles that are found under heaven! Then shall it be known "whose ye are;" your lustre shall be no longer hid: those that despise you now, shall "lick the dust of your feet," Isa. 49: 23. Psal. 72: 9. and then shall be accomplished that great word of your Saviour (and that as surely as if it were done already,) "The glory which thou gavest me, I have given them," John 17:22. yea, you shall sit with your Lord in his throne, Rev. 3:21. Besides, (which also shall add to that day's solemnity,) this thing shall not be done in a corner; but as ye have been openly reviled, so shall ye have a public vindication. "The great trumpet shall be blown in the land," Isa. 27: 13. the archangel, with the trumpet of God, 1 Thess. 4:16. shall come, and that with so shrill a note, that heaven and earth shall ring again; and this shall be the tenor of his song, "Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee," Isa. 60: 1. 20. and shall set no "thus shall it be done to Zion, whom no man (now) more, seeketh after." Jer. 30: 17.

[2.] To mind you that your honorable state obliges to an honorable deportment, both towards your Head, yourselves, and your fellow-members.

(1.) As touching your Head. 1. Own his supremacy,

giving him pre-eminence in all things; call no man on earth Master; that is, in point of faith: give unto Cæsar the things that belong to him; only respect Christ as supreme lawgiver. 2. Submit to his government; steer your course by his counsels, and follow his conduct; go after him wherever he shall lead you; let all your senses have their seat in your Head; let every thing be understood by you according to his sense and interpretation of it; and if there needs an argument to back the exhortation, that ordinance, "thy desire shall be unto thy husband, and he shall rule over thee," Gen. 3: 16. is as true and cogent concerning Christ and the church, Eph. 5: 24. 3. Expose yourself for him; stand between him and wrongs; preserve his honor and interest with the utmost hazard of yourself; let life and death be as things indifferent to you, so "Christ may be magnified in you," Phil. 1: 20. 4. Look to your Head for supply of all grace; from his fulness it is to be had, and no where else: hold to your Head, lest notions beguile you of your reward, Col. 2: 18, 19. Be also sure that you keep to your place and duty, lest you miss of the nourishment that belongs to you, John 14: 4,5. a member out of its place, is, for the time, as a member cut off. 5. Lastly. Adorn your Head, by your daily aspiring to a nearer resemblance of him: show forth his virtues: be holy as he was: let all your fruits be such as are meet for such a root. God the Father is the Head of Christ, and he bore the express image of his person, Heb. 1: 3. in all that he did: He could do nothing but what he saw the Father do," John 5: 19. So do you by your Head Christ: make him your example; and, in order thereto, live upon him as your immediate root, and give him the honor of his own productions; remembering withal, that every slip of yours casts soil upon him."

(2.) There is a respect due to yourselves: (a superfluous item, one would think, though needful.) There is aptitude enough to honor ourselves, but, as belonging to such an Head, is too much unthought of. Things that well enough beseem the common rank, would be a disgrace to persons of honor: the king's daughter should be known by her outward garb; glorious within, and clothing of wrought gold, decypher the same person, and may not be separated. Ye have an "high calling," walk worthy of it, Phil. 3: 24. Col. 1: 10. and show your thankfulness, by

an humble retribution: honor that which honors you, by comporting with its end: make not yourself cheap; stoop not beneath your degree: make Christ alone the object of your love, delight, dependance; to do otherwise is to debase yourself, Isa. 57: 9. The church is the glory of Christ; its members, therefore, should think themselves too good and too great, to be spent on the world; and the world too mean and empty, to afford them either satisfaction or adornment. A circumspect walking, soberness of mind, humility, self-denial, with a meek and quiet spirit, are jewels of price, and ornaments indeed: by these the invited guests should distinguish themselves from intruders; and real christians from merely nominal. In christianity, it is no badge of pride or ill husbandry, to wear your best every day; we should not be seen without it; much wearing will better it, and it cannot be damaged but by lying by. Your bodies too are worthy of consideration, and not a little: they are the figures of Christ's humanity, and temples of the Holy Ghost; therefore keep them unspotted, and profane them not, either by fashioning them to the world, or subjecting them to servile uses. But I would not cause any to err: these, though ornaments, are not your righteousness: when ye stand before God, ye must put over all the righteousness of our Lord and Mediator: (the priest's holy garments were to be sprinkled with blood, Exod. 20: 21.) This was that the speechless guest wanted, and was therefore cast out; though not discriminable by them that stood by: Abraham was justified by works before men; but before God, it was the righteousness of Christ wherein by faith he shrouded himself: faith justifies the person, and works justify his faith, both to himself and other men.

(3.) Then carry it towards brethren as members of the same body. 1. Usurp not upon them, as if more than fellow-member with them: judge not the strong; despise not the weak: who made thee a judge? There is none but hath need of forbearance from others; though, for the most part, they that need it most, are most backward to yield it: but this take for a rule, that the less you see your need, the more need you have of it. 2. Intrude not in another's place and office: each member hath its own, to which it is fitted: this it best becomes, and here it is most useful; elsewhere it would be both useless, and a deformity: as a finger transposed, and out of its own joint. 3.

Show your co-membership, by your love and tender regard towards others: have compassion upon the ignorant, and those out of the way, Heb. 5: 2. as your head towards you. If one be weak or wounded, let him that is strong and whole support and bind it up: if one foot stumble, let the other step in for its help: "Consider thyself, lest thou also be tempted," Gal. 6: 1. Members of the same natural body need no arguments to persuade to this duty; they do it by instinct. Our want of compassionateness towards others, though it shall not dry up, yet, may much restrain, at least in our apprehensions, the springs of Christ's pity towards ourselves. 4. Lastly. Let the good of the whole have preference before a particular part; and let that of a lower use deny itself for the safety and assistance of that which is more noble: this, in a degree is to lay down our life for "the brethren." He that in these things serveth CHRIST, is acceptable to GOD, and approved of men and a good evidence it is of your membership to CHRIST.

Secondly. The church is safe. The Son of GOD being their Head and Saviour, bespeaks aloud their security. They are indeed compassed about with difficulties, dangers, and deaths, and yet they live; yea, they overcome, and shall in the end prove more than conquerors: the reason of all is, their Head is in heaven, whence all relief comes; and that avenue cannot be stopped. If ye speak of principalities and powers, which rule in the air; CHRIST has a power above them; "they are under his feet,” Heb. 1: 13. and 2: 8. Their power of hurting lies much in their subtilty; but even in this they are still circumvented; he catches them in their own net: and hence it is, that the devil has from the beginning been a liar to himself. His first bait in tempting was, ye shall be as gods," Gen. 3: 5. when his meaning was, to make us like himself; but the wisdom of God turns the temptation into a prophecy, and CHRIST will make it good, John 17: 21. as he also did that pernicious counsel of Caiaphas, chap. 11: 50. The serpent in bruising Christ's heel, got a bruise in his own head; that all his devices have still proved abortive, or turned on himself: he stirred up Judas to betray CHRIST, the Gentiles and Jews to condemn and crucify him; and what got he by it, but the loss of his empire? If ye speak of his seed, the same infatuation hath descended to them: this nothing makes plainer than their still making it their

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interest to exterminate the church: with as much reason they might think to unhinge the world, or unbottom the rock of ages. But their projects have ever been defeated, and shall; as men mistaking their measures, and made to subserve the interest they design to crush. The Egyptians' dealings with Israel, and nominal Christians' with those that are really such, are instances above contradiction. It is a consideration of no small importance to our faith, that all things were made for CHRIST, and are at his disposal: therefore, whatever the church's enemies have, they have it from the Church's Head; who knowing his own interest and intent, will give out no more than to serve that turn; nor can they act what they have, but under his government. He is Prince of the kings of the earth, he ruleth among the gods, sits at the helm invisibly, steers the most secret and violent counsels, and carries the casting voice. Among other observable things it is matter of wonder, 1. That the divine prescience hath so interwoven the secular interest with that of his church, as induceth a kind of necessity to protect the church for the world's support. 2. That our Lord frequently compasseth his work by letting his enemies do their own, Exod. 1: 11, 12. And, 3. That in all their devices, he still countermines them; and either takes out their powder, or blows them up with their own train: "Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down," 2 Kings 6: 8, 9. "The heathen

are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands," Psal. 9: 15, 16. 2 Chron. 20: 22, 23.

But suppose that hell be broke loose, and legions of locusts, belched out of the bottomless pit, come up against them, armed with strength, winged with fury, ambuscaded with policy, edged with enmity, and headed by the red dragon; and by these is besieged the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and the church as unable to resist as a woman that is ready to travail: and now say their enemies, what will become of their dreams? Take this for