Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

SERM.
XXXII.

Children placed on the fummit of a little hill, who fee nothing but clouds above them, fancy the spot they stand upon must be the highest in the whole world, though it may at the fame time, in spite of that casual eminence, be one of the lowest places in it. Juft in the fame manner, and with as little reafon, do men suppose this earth which they inhabit to be the center of the universe : that all things elfe were made but in fubferviency to, and for the use of them ; and that they are withal the only rational and immortal beings, the only beings capable of ferving God, or who can poffibly deferve his favour or protection.

Natural philofophy, (a noble and useful study, and of late much cultivated and improved amongst us) will inform us, that there is an universal order and gradation through the whole vifible world, . from

XXXII.

from man to the loweft of beings. If our SERM. pride therefore will permit us, why may we not fuppofe this chain extended upwards alfo from man to God. The infinite distance between divine and human knowledge will afford room fufficient for our ideas, and on this fuppofition, very, probable, will it appear, that the highest order of celestial fpirits are as, fuperior to us, as we are to the loweft clafs of ani

[merged small][ocr errors]

From the above-mentioned confideration, therefore, even though holy writ had been filent in this point, we have reason fufficient to fuppofe that there are fpirits whofe nature is much more perfect, whofe powers and faculties are far more extensive than our own: but to put the matter beyond all doubt, and more effectually to check the pride and prefumption of man, God hath thought fit

by

SERM. by his facred oracles to make frequent XXXII. mention of the holy angels, thofe mini

ftring fpirits who, as the apoftle fays, minifter for them which shall be heirs of falvation. I have the more willingly felected this subject at this time, because a set of modern enthusiasts have lately sprung up, who, amongst many other things equally abfurd, have endeavoured to contradict the received opinion concerning these miniftring fpirits, and by forced interpretations of fcripture peculiar to themselves, have denied the existence of angels, and explained away their very being.

I fhall endeavour therefore, in the subfequent difcourfe,

First, To explain, as far as the subject will permit and scripture confirm to us, the nature and employment of these glorious beings: And,

Secondly,

XXXII.

Secondly, Briefly confider of what fer- SERM. vice the knowledge of that nature and thofe offices may be to us, in regard to our life and manners.

And First, In regard to their nature, it must be confeffed we have but a very faint and glimmering light to guide us in our enquiries concerning it; nor indeed can this ignorance be matter of astonishment to us, when we reflect, that even the narrow limits of our own understanding, the knowledge of our own weak capacities, is a fecret even to the wisest, and often by those few who are most capable of attaining to it very flightly regarded, and very carelefly purfued. If then what is fo immediately before our eyes, and of the utmost importance to us, escape our obfervations; if we are fo ignorant of our own lefs perfect nature,

[merged small][ocr errors]

SERM. how much more fo muft we be of that which is fo far fuperior to it.

XXXII.

All that we can certainly know of these exalted spirits, or which may be gathered from scripture concerning them, is, that they are immaterial and intelligent, but created and dependent beings, created long before man. The cherubims, angels in all probability of the highest rank, being placed at the Garden' of Eden immediately after the Fall: they are conftantly reprefented as poffeffed of more knowledge and power than men, as difencumbered by grofs corporeal forms, able to tranfport themselves unperceived by us throughout this lower world: defcribed frequently in holy fcripture as acquainted with the thoughts, able to encourage or turn afide the purposes of men, strangers to all the paffions and appetites, difeafes or misfortunes incident

to

« AnteriorContinuar »