Page:Comer's conflict, or, The beginner's battle with the devil, when essaying to come to Christ by faith.pdf/18

 18 The Comer's Conflict; or, and angels; this is a very high expreſſion, but doth thi reach him ; Nay, if it did, God would not be exalted above all praiſe, ſince this would reach him. (2.) We are to conceive of God in Chriſt: Chriſt must be eyed in our addreſſes and acts of worſhip. All the for- mer contiderations ſet us but at a greater diſtance front God, and make us afraid of God, and fly from him, if we go no further; and indeed, human reaſon can go no further. The utmoſt it can do, is, but to think of mercy without a promiſe, which is a very arbitrary thing: and we ſee than God hath not ſhown mercy to the fallen angels; for never was, any devil converted; therefore we muſt neceſſarily have thought of Chriſt: We are to honour' the Son as-cue hunour be Father; and to honour him, 1. As a king, God hath exalted Chriſt far above all hea- vens; and hath commanded us to do all in his name; and whatsoever you do in word or deed; do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus, Col. ii. 17. He orders that all men ſhould honour the Father, John v. 23. I ſhall relate a hiſtory to this purpoſe; It is this, Theodoſius the Emperor having made an edict for the giving liberty for the Arians to preach, Amphilochius took this courſe for prevailing with the Em- peror to recal that edict. Theodoſius having made Arca- dius co-emperor and Ceſar with him, ſeveral biſhops came to ſalute the Emperor, to congratulate Arcadius and to ſig- nify their conſent to Theodoſius's act, and by their reſpect and honour done to Arcadius, to ſhew that they took him for the ſucceſſor of Theodoſius in the empire; among others came this Amphilochius, biſhop of Iconium, who, after he had done obeiſance very ſubmiſſively to Theodoſius, was going away without the wing any reſpect to Arcadius, tho' he ſat by Theodoſius in all his royal robes; Theodoſins therefore called to Amphilochius, ſaying, Know you not that I have made Arcadius my Son Emperor with me?' upon which Amphilochius went to Arcadius, and ſtriking him on the head, ſaid, ' He was a very hopeful boy.' The- odoſius being very angry at this indignity done his Son, commanded him to priſon. Amphilochius, after he had gone a little way, turned back, faying, 'O Theodoſius, ' you are angry that I gave not your ſon the ſame honour ' I give you, ſince you have made him equal in majeſty to ' yourſelf; and think you God will be pleaſed that you