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introduction of three of the Evangelifts, and first epistle of John. In this word, Christ is alfo revealed to us as the head of the holy angels,* and the prince of the kings of the earth.†

Hence, writes the apostle, Col. i. 15-18. Who is the image of the invifible God, the firft born of every creature: For, by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, vifible and invifible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers,: All things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things confift. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first born from the dead, that in all things he might have the pre-eminence.

From the truth, or doctrine contained in this name, which is above every name, let us then take our departure, in launching out into the boundless myfteries of God, that we may shape a true courfe for the haven of light and blessedness, and not concerning faith make shipwreck.

ARCHANGEL.

The word Angel, compounded of the words meffenger and God, and which fignifies a messenger-fervant-or one fent of God, is another moft remarkable name given to

Jude 6. Ty excitav apxny.

+ Rev. i. g. Ο αρχών των βασιλέων της γης.

Chrift. This name, and the name beginning, have a peculiar relation to each other;the one fignifying the fame thing in relation to the work of redemption, or the world of grace, that the other does in relation to the work of creation, or the natural world.

That the name beginning, given to Chrift, has a special relation to the natural world, and fignifies that the whole creation is conftituted and confifts in him;-and the name angel, given to Chrift, has a fpecial relation to the work of redemption, and fignifies that the world of grace, particularly, is conftituted and confifts in him, will appear by examining how they fland connected in the fcriptures, which will be found generally the fame as in the following paffages:

In the beginning God created the heaveri and the earth. Gen. i, 1.—The Lord poffefsed me, the beginning, his way, before his works of old. Prob. viii, 22.-In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God; the fame was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him. John i. 1-3-And thou, Lord, in the beginning, haft laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of thine hands. Heb. i. 10.

And the angel of the Lord called to him out of heaven, and faid Abraham, Abraham. Gen. xxii, 11.-The angel which redeemed me from all evil, blefs the lads. Gen. xlviii. 16.—Behold I fend an angel before thee. Exod. xxiii. 20.And the angel of his prefence faved them. Ifai. Ixii. 9-It may be obferved, that the

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world of grace, or church-ftate, began in Abraham's family; and that, till then, no mention is made of the Angel of God.

These names of Chrift, each one fo fignificant, are joined together in the name ARCH

ANGEL.

And, thus combined, they have the most peculiar force. In this word, we behold the world of nature, and the church state of the gofpel, or world of grace combined together, and upheld and governed by one handwe behold Chrift clothed with a cloud, and a rainbow upon his head, ftanding upon two worlds, fea and earth, which, for a time, under his authority, fubfifts together; and then, by the fame authority, together pass away.

In this view of Chrift, given in this his glorious name, we have an explanation of the great mystery of God in the frame or conftitution of all temporary things; and can easily discover why the government of them, even in the New-Teftament, is afcribed to the Archangel, and that, with his voice, the whole fcene must be closed.

THE SON.

BUT there is another world, the world to come, to which belongs the refurrection and the holy city, New-Jerufalem; in relation to which, Chrift bears the name of Son-this world is put in fubjeƐtion unto him, in this

• Αρχών των Αγλλων. So is the word written out

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name, the fame as the worlds of nature and grace are put under him, as the Archangel, and, because this world is the most glorious, the world of glory, this new name is his moft glorious name.

That the name Son, given to Christ, relates principally to his kingdom, power and glory, appears from the following paffages, and many others:-Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. Afk of me, and I fhall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermoft parts of the earth for thy poffeffion. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dafh them in pieces like a potter's veffel. Pfal. ii. 7-9. He fhall be great, and fhall be called the Son of the Higheft and the Lord God fhall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he fhall reign over the houfe of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there fhall be no end. Luke i. 32, 33.—And declared to be the Sorc of God with power, according to the fpirit of holiness, by the refurrection from the dead. Rom. i. 4-Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath tranflated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. Col, i, 13.The firft-born from the dead, that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. Col. i. 18.But, unto the Son he faith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a fceptre of righteous ness is the fceptre of thy kingdom. Heb. i. 8.

Thus, in relation to the world of glory whereof the fcriptures here speak, we behold Chrift as a Son over his own house, crowned with glory and honour.

All this theory opens, moft apparently, from the divine will, Thefe feveral ftates of Chrift, the worlds themselves, and the names which are expreffive of his relation to them, are all borne upon the face of the divine principle: As being the foundation, and at the head of the firft creation, how expreffive is the name Beginning? Taking the form of a fervant, and appearing at the head of a militant church, how clear is the import of the name Archangel? But, having performed a work of filial duty, in which he was humbled to the loweft ftate; and being raifed up, according to the spirit of holiness, or according to the promife, and feated upon his Father's throne, with what power is he declared to be the Son of God?

These three names, Beginning, Servant, and Son, are the grand pillars of revelation, whereon may be found infcribed the whole counfel of God-in them we have complered the knowledge of our Lord Jefus Chrift, who is, and who was, and who is to come; the fame yesterday, and to-day, and for ever.

It may be proper here to notice, respecting the names given to Christ, generally, that fome of them rank distinctly in the fame relations as thofe given above: as with the Beginning, the Creator, God Almighty, and God of Glory; with the Archangel, Jehovah, Lord of Hofts, and Michael; and, with the Son, the Lamb, the Refurrection, and Prince of the Kings of the Earth. Some of them refpect two of thefe relations, as Jefus, Redeemer, and Shepherd; and fome are

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