rip up by our wicked schisms. We should then wish ourselves in the safe arms of her communion once again, and resolve never more to depart from it. Let us do that now, whilst it is seasonable, which we shall then wish we had done, but cannot do.

But I return to my text, and shall, for a conclusion of my discourse on it, observe, that both it and the whole magnificat, or song of the blessed Virgin, is applicable to, and may be made use of by, all true Christians. For,

I. The nature which the Son of God assumed of his virgin mother is our common nature, which is by that assumption transcendently, to our own amazement and the admiration of angels, dignified and advanced. The eternal Word, by his incarnation, or being made flesh, intended not directly to honour the blessed Virgin in particular, but mankind in general. He intended thereby to declare us his brethren, by being made of the same flesh and blood that we are, as the divine author of the Epistle to the Hebrews assures us, chap. ii. 14. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same. And verse 17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren. In a word, the Son of God therefore honoured the blessed Virgin so far, as in and from her to become man, that he might advance human nature, by assuming it into the unity of his divine person; and that being born of her, he might procure, not only hers, but our common salvation. So that every one of us may sing the magnificat, and bear a part in this divine anthem, and, mutatis mutandis, say, "My "soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath

66

rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded "the low estate of us vile and mortal men, his poor "servants and vassals. For behold from henceforth, "and upon the account of the incarnation of the Son "of God, the whole creation, yea the very angels "themselves, shall and do proclaim us blessed. For "he that is mighty hath magnified us in the highest "degree, by uniting himself to our nature, and there"fore holy is, and for ever blessed be, his name." And therefore the holy Virgin, presently after my text, celebrates the mercy shewn to her, as common to all the sons of men in all ages, that do not by their disobedience and ingratitude render themselves utterly unworthy of it. Ver. 50. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation, or throughout all generations.

Wherefore most lamentable is the ignorance and folly of our dissenters, who despise the use of this excellent song in the daily service of our church, as unedifying, as impertinent, and not belonging to them, and proper only to the blessed Virgin, and therefore refuse to stand up and bear a part in the rehearsal of it. Certainly they are very ill taught and instructed, who understand not that all Christians may and ought most heartily to join in this divine hymn. For,

II. The blessedness of the holy Virgin is not so altogether proper to her, or incommunicable to others, but that the meanest sincere Christian may share with her in the better part of it. Wonderful and full of comfort are the words of our Saviour, Luke xi. where, when a certain woman, hearing his excellent discourse, cried out, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked, ver. 27.

our Saviour answers, ver. 28. Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. Which is not a negation of the blessedness of his mother, (for that would be a plain contradiction to my text,) but a correction of the woman's mistake, who so admired the blessedness of the mother of such a son, that she scarce thought of any other blessedness. Our Saviour therefore tells her, that blessed are they also, yea and chiefly, that hear the word of God, and keep it. And in another place our gracious Lord being told that his mother and brethren desired to speak with him, gave this short answer, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hands towards his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! for whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother, Matt. xii. 48, 49, 50. Where I think there is a mighty emphasis in those words of our Saviour, my Father which is in heaven; as if he had said, You Jews think of me as a mere man, and understand not any other relation that I have, besides that which is according to the flesh but know ye that I am of a higher original, even the eternal Son of the eternal God dwelling in heaven; and as such I own no relation but what is spiritual, and every obedient disciple of mine is to me as a brother, or sister, or mother. Indeed, the Virgin herself was more blessed by conceiving Christ in her heart by faith, than by conceiving him in her womb. And in this her chiefest blessedness the meanest Christian, that is a sincere one, may be a sharer with her. Christ may be thus formed, nay he must be so in every one that shall be saved, Ga

latians iv. 19. And if we be true Christians, though all generations do not call us blessed, as the holy Virgin, yet together with her we shall be indeed blessed beyond all generations, even for ever and ever.

To God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be given and ascribed all honour and glory, all religious worship and adoration, now and for evermore. Amen.

SERMON V.

ST. PAUL'S THORN IN THE flesh, the messenger of satan, SENT TO PREVENT HIS BEING EXALTED ABOVE MEASURE, CONSIDERED AND EXPLAINED; WITH SEVERAL PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS DRAWN FROM THAT SUBJECT.

2 COR. xii. 7, 8, 9.

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

ST. PAUL, of all the apostles of Christ, met with the greatest opposition and contempt from the false Judaizing apostles, that troubled the church in his time. The true reason whereof was, that he first of all openly and every where proclaimed and preached the utter abolition of the Mosaic law, both as to Jews and Gentiles. But the pretence seems to be this, that he was none of the twelve apostles, called by Christ himself when on earth; nor afterwards duly elected an apostle in the room of any of that number, as Matthias was: but an odd thirteenth apostle, thrusting himself into that sacred office, they knew not how, or by what authority. For the relation of Christ's glorious appearance to him from heaven, and