The doc

trine of angels, and

the uses of

it.

those innovations of the Church of Rome which relate to this primitive doctrine. The popish sacrifice of the mass supposeth the oblation of the same body of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ which suffered upon the cross, and consequently, that it propitiateth by its own virtue and merit; whereas according to the primitive doctrine, though the Eucharist be a proper sacrifice, yet it is only representative and commemorative of that sacrifice upon the cross; and it renders God Almighty propitious to us, only as it represents and communicateth the benefits of the great sacrifice; and consequently, as long as it is believed to be but representative, it is impossible it should be the thing itself.

If this doctrine had been more universally received among those who have reformed from the Church of Rome, there had not been such a stumblingblock laid in the way of those, who have been inclined to embrace the protestant communion. And I can assure my reader, from good authority, which hath been already quoted by considerable authors, that a person of great quality in France hath been kept back for no other cause from coming to the Church of England, but that he is told, SHE HATH NO SACRIFICE; to which his learned correspondent here, who is one of the French ministers, in answer assured him, that the bishops and clergy of the Church of England freely teach the doctrine of the eucharistical sacrifice, as it was taught and practised in the purest ages of the catholic church.

Another subject, which our author hath treated with great accuracy and judgment, is the doctrine of angels m, a most noble part of the creation; mil

[m Sermon II.]

lions of which glorious creatures are not only subject to the Majesty of the divine empire, but are also instruments of his providence in governing the world, as well as bright examples set before us, to raise us to such a zealous service of God, as is performed in heaven. Their existence is proved from reason and Scripture, an account is given of their creation, and of the apostasy of many of them from the institutes of their great Creator. The nature of the holy angels, and their state and condition in regard to God, is fully described, as well as their office in reference to good men, being appointed by God as the ministers of his special providence towards the faithful; and farther it is shewn, wherein the angelical ministry for the good of the faithful doth consist; and how it is abused by those who apply to them as intercessors and advocates with God. The useful thoughts which arise from the consideration of this subject are awful apprehensions of the majesty of God at all times, but more especially in our solemn approaches to him; circumspection and caution in all our behaviour, even in our most secret retirement; great humility and reverence when we appear in his presence; a profound sense of God's great goodness to the sons of men, and of the happy estate of all the faithful; and lastly, diligence and zeal in serving the great God of heaven and earth.

of Mother

serted and vindicated.

In his sermon concerning the blessed Virgin, "he The title asserts and vindicates her peculiar title of THE of God asMOTHER OF GOD; which was not invented by the Fathers of the third general council at Ephesus convened against Nestorius, but approved by them

"[Sermon IV.]

The second use of the

sermons is

as what belonged to her, since it was the language of Scripture, and the style of the apostolical age. But he sheweth the true significancy of the appellation, by proving that this title doth not at all infer any right the blessed Virgin hath to our religious adoration; for the ancient doctors of the church, when they contested with heretics concerning it, designed not by that so much to advance the honour of the blessed Virgin, as to secure the real and inseparable union of the two natures in Christ; and to shew that the human nature which Christ took of the holy Virgin never subsisted separately from the divine person of the Son of God.

These instances are sufficient to convince us, that these sermons may serve us as a touchstone to distinguish primitive doctrine from modern errors which have been built upon them; and that we ought not to sacrifice truth to those abuses to which it hath been exposed.

The second use which I humbly conceive may be made of the sermons, is in reference to the candia model for dates of holy orders, since if I mistake not, they are preachers. framed as a very proper model, both as to style and

young

method, for their treating any subject of divinity : and it is of no small advantage to those who aim at any considerable attainment, to propose to themselves some excellent pattern for their imitation. His style is strong and manly, but yet plain and intelligible; he abhorred all affectations of pompous rhetoric, and yet expresseth himself with great spirit and life; his words seem chiefly chosen to clothe his masterly sense with clearness and propriety. The great aim of his sermons is to infuse into the hearts of Christians right apprehensions of the doctrines of

Christianity, and therefore he deduceth them from Scripture, and the purest ages of the church; and at the same time endeavours to make such an impression upon their minds, that they might pursue their duty with some warmth; which he doth with so much more authority by how much it appeareth that he was affected himself with what he delivered to others. But I shall not enlarge upon this subject farther than to recommend to the reader the following letter of Dr. Lupton, who hath handled this matter with great exactness. He preacheth at present

one of the most celebrated lectures in London with such an universal approbation, that those who opposed his coming into that post declare themselves in the first rank of his admirers. This learned, judicious, and pious divine, was early formed under bishop Bull: the first-fruits of his ministry in the church were in the station of his curate, whereby he enjoyed all those advantages which he recommends with so good a grace to all other candidates of divinity; and the world now perceiveth the admirable use he made of such an excellent pattern, since he is thereby himself become a fit model for the preachers that are rising in this generation". Besides, his intimate knowledge and acquaintance with bishop Bull's method qualified him to make the truest judgment of the excellency of his sermons, which was the reason of my application to the worthy doctor; upon which account I persuade myself I shall have the thanks of the judicious reader, when he shall have perused the answer which the doctor was pleased to write me upon that occasion.

[Birch, in his Life of Tillotson, seems to hint that this high encomium was not merited.]

Dr. Lupton's let

Nelson,

SIR,

YOU are pleased to demand my thoughts of

ter to Mr. bishop Bull. I do not remember any remarkable concerning passage in his life, but what is already laid before you by other hands.

bp. Bull's

sermons.

It is a great satisfaction to me, upon many accounts, that his sermons will be published, and particularly for this reason, that they will be, in several respects, an excellent model to be observed by young clergymen in writing sermons. He abhorred affectation of wit, trains of fulsome metaphors, and nice words wrought up into tuneful, pointed sentences, without any substantial meaning at the bottom of them. He looked upon sermons consisting of these ingredients, which should be our aversion, and not our aim, as empty, and frothy, and trifling, as inconsistent with the dignity of serious and sacred things, and as an indication of a weak judgment; for he was not so censorious as to imagine, either that the authors of them do seek the praise of men more than the praise of God, or that they do, out of vanity, attempt to make up the real want of good sense, by a shew of good words.

Indeed true wit, justly applied, doth deserve the utmost praise, in sermons as well as in other discourses and yet there are many instances of wit, properly so called, to be found in sermons, which ought not by any means to appear there. In saying this, I do not reflect particularly upon the sermons of any one author, but upon this general rule, well known to every judicious clergyman, that whatsoever instance of wit, though pure, doth affect the imagination alone, or doth in any respect divert the mind from a religious disposition, ought not to be