A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the…

1. The Principal Revealer of the mind and will of God. Under the Law God made use of the Ministry of Men unto this purpose, as of Moses, and the Prophets. And he employed also, both in the Erection of the Church-state, and in sundry particulars afterwards the Ministry of Angels, as our Apostle declares, Chap. 2. 2. And in some sense that state was thereby put in Subjection unto Angels, ver. 5. But this Ministry, the Dispensation of light and knowledge thereby, could not render it complete; yea, it was an Argument of the Darkness and Bondage under which it was. For there was yet one greater than they all, and above them all, one more intimately acquainted with God and all the Counsels of his will, by whom he would speak forth his mind, Deut. 18. 18, 19. This was the Son of God himself, without whose immediate Ministry the consummation of the Church-state could not be attained. This consideration our Apostle insists upon at large in the first Chapter and the beginning of the second, concluding from thence the Preeminence of the Evangelical state above the Legal. The especial Nature whereof We have declared in the Exposition of those places. A most eminent Privilege this was, yea, the highest outward Privilege that the Church is capable of, and eminently concurs unto its Perfection. For whether we consider the Dignity of his Person, or the perfect Knowledge and Comprehension that he had of the whole Counsel of God, and the Mysteries of his Grace, it incomparably exalts the Church-state above that of Old, whence our Apostle draws many Arguments unto the necessity of our Obedience, above what they were urged withal. See Chap. 2. 2, 3. Chap. 12. 25. And this full Revelation of his Counsels by the Ministry of his Son, God did reserve partly that he might have a Preeminence in all things, and partly because none other either did or could comprehend the Mysteries of it as it was now to be Revealed. See John 1. 18.

1. The Principal Revealer of the mind and will of God. Under the Law God made use of the Ministry of Men unto this purpose, as of Moses, and the Prophets. And he employed also, both in the Erection of the Church-state, and in sundry particulars afterwards the Ministry of Angels, as our Apostle declares, Chap. 2. 2. And in some sence that state was thereby put in Subjection unto Angels, ver. 5. But this Ministry, the Dispensation of light and knowledge thereby, could not render it compleat; yea, it was an Argument of the Darkness and Bondage under which it was. For there was yet one greater than they all, and above them all, one more intimately acquainted with God and all the Counsels of his will, by whom he would speak forth his mind,