II.

Paul in that most lively defcription, SER M. Phil. ii. 9. God has given him a Name which is above every Name; that at the name of Jefus every knee should bow, (every Creature fhould fubmit to His Authority,) of things in Heaven, and things in Earth, and things under the Earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jefus Chrift is Lord, to the glory of God the

Father.

THE Third Character is, He fhall be called the everlasting Father. Which Phrafe, as it lies in our Translation, is very apt to be mistaken. For if thereby be understood, that the Son is the Father; this would be plainly confounding the Perfons of the Father and the Son, and (by a manifest Absurdity) making the Son to be the Father of Himself. Which manner of fpeaking is fo much the worse, because there were in the Primitive times certain False Teachers who did fo fpeak, and whofe Doctrine (being of worse confequence than at first fight appeared) was severely reproved by the Apoftles. He is an Antichrift, faith St John, that denieth the Father and the Son, 1 Joh. ii. 22. And

they

SERM. they shall bring in, faith St Peter, damII. nable herefies, even denying the Lord that

Beft Co

pies of LXX.

bought them, 2 Pet. ii. 1; fpeaking of those, who in reality denied our Saviour to have any Being at all, by making the Son to be nothing else but merely another Name for the Father. The true rendering therefore of these words of the Prophet, is, not the everlasting Father, but the Father or Lord of the future everculi futu lafting Age, the Age of the Gospel; concerning which the Apostle declares, Heb. ii. 5. that to Christ only, and not to Angels, hath God put in fubjection this Age to

Πατηρ μέλ.

Pater fe

ri.

Vulgg.

come.

Laftly, THE Fourth and Laft Character here given to our Saviour, is, that He shall be called The Prince of Peace. The meaning of which Title, was first in some degree explained by the Angels to the Shepherds, when they fung that Hymn, Luk. ii. 14. Peace on Earth, good will towards Men; which was well anfwered with That Hofannah, the Disciples fung to our Saviour, ch. xix. 38. Peace in Heaven, that is, reconciliation with God. More diftinctly afterwards by St Peter,

II.

n

Acts x. 36, 43. God fent unto the children S ER M. of Ifrael, preaching peace by Jefus Chrift, he is Lord of All; (that is, establishing Peace and Unity between Jews and Gentiles, under Jefus Chrift their Common Lord,) that through his Name whosoever believeth in him, should receive remiffion of Sins. Most fully and clearly of all, by St Paul; Rom. v. 1. Being justified by Faith, we have Peace with God, through our Lord Jefus Chrift: and Eph. ii. 14. He is our Peace, who hath made Both One, that is, both Jews and Gentiles; and hath

-reconciled Both unto God in one Body by the Cross, having-----preached Peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh: and Col. i. 19. It pleafed the Father-----by Him, (having made Peace through the Blood of his Cross) to reconcile all things unto himself;-----and you that were fometimes alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet Now bath he reconciled. The Uses of this last particular are; First, Since God has graciously been pleased to send us this word of reconciliation by the Prince of Peace, that therefore We on our part be alfo willing to be reconciled to Him, by

forfaking

16.

12.

SER M. forfaking thofe Sins which are the cause II. of his displeasure; Now then, faith St Paul, we are ambassadors for Chrift; as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Chrift's ftead, be ye reconciled to God, 2 Cor. v. 20. Secondly, Having fo great an Interceffor for us, as the Prince of Peace Himself, the Son of the living God; that therefore we come boldly unto Heb. iv. the Throne of Grace, having access with Eph. iii. confidence through the Faith of him; Heb. X. 19. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the Holieft by the blood of Jefus, by a new and living way which he hath confecrated for us ;-----and having an High-Prieft over the house of God; let us draw near with a true Heart, in full afJurance of Faith. Thirdly, That yet we be careful to confider, that this peace and reconciliation purchased for us by Christ, is only upon condition of our future obedience: For fo the Apoftle adds in the words next immediately following those now cited; let us draw near -----in full affurance of faith, having our Heart Sprinkled from an evil confcience, and our bodies washed with pure Water; that is, having our minds cleansed with that pu

rification

II.

rification from wickedness, the Sign and SER M. Emblem of which is the Baptism of Water: And Col. i. 23. God hath now reconciled you to himself, faith St Paul, if ye continue in the faith, grounded and setled, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel. Fourthly, That having fo great a Mediator as the Prince of Peace appointed us of God, we fuffer no others to be joined with him by human invention. For as worshipping any other God, befides the Father Almighty, is Idolatry against God, or setting up Idols in the place of God: So worshipping any other Mediator, befides his only Son our Lord, is Idolatry against Chrift, or fetting up Idol-Mediators. They who worship Saints and Angels, beguile themfelves of their reward, faith the Apoftle, not holding the Head, which is Chrift, Col. ii. 18. Lastly, Upon this particular great occafion of commemorating thankfully the Birth of the Prince of Peace, let us keep the Feaft worthily and as becometh Christians; not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickednefs, or a rioting and debauchery, but with the unleavened bread of Sincerity, Sobernefs and Truth.

SERMON