(1.) Christ came as the eternal Son of God : ' He hath spoken unto us hy his Son.' When he cometh to the angels, he saith, they are servants and ministering spirits. For a short while he ministered in the form of a servant in the days of his flesh — they continue to be so from the beginning to the end of the world.
(2.) He was Jieir of all things — that is. Lord of the whole creation — they only principalities and powers, for certain ends, to sucli persons and places, over which Christ sets them.
(3.) He was the Creator of the world. 'By whom also he made the worlds,' saith the apostle. They are noble and divine creatures indeed, but the work of Christ's hands.
(4.) He is ' the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person ' — that is, the essential image of God ; they only have some strictures of the divine majesty.
(5.) The 'upholding all things by the word of his power' — that is, the conserving cause of all that life and being that is in the creature. The angels live in a continual dependence upon Christ as their creator, and without his supporting influence, would be soon annihilated.
(6.) By himself he ' purged our sins,' He was sent into the world for that great and glorious work of mediation, which none of them was worthy to undertake, none able to go through withal, but himself alone. They are sent about the ordinary concernments of the saints, or the particular affairs of the world : he is the author of the whole work of redemption and salvation, and they but subordinate assistants in the particular promotion of it.
(7.) He ' sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high ; they are spirits near the throne of God, ever in his presence, attending on him like princes. God never made any of them universal and eternal king, for he set Christ at his right hand, not the angels. To sit at God's right hand, is not only to be blessed and happy in enjoying those pleasures which are there for evermore, not only to be advanced to the highest place of dignity and honour next to God, but to be invested with a supreme and universal power above all men and angels. Take these, or any one of these, and he is above the angels, though they be the most noble and excellent creatures that ever God made.
3. Because Christ hath a ministry and service to do by them. He
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makes use of them partly to exercise their obedience, without which they forsake the law of their creation and swerve from the end for which they were made : Ps. ciii. 20, ' They do his commandments, hearkening to the voice of his word.' They do whatsoever he cora- mandeth them, with all readiness and speed imaginable, and therein they are an example to us : Mat. vi. 10, ' Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.' They are our fellow-servants now in the work, hereafter in the recompense, when we are admitted into one society, under one common head and Lord, Heb. xii. 27, who shall for ever I'ejoice in the contemplation of God's infinite excellencies. Well, then, if these excellent creatures, so great in power, be always so ready and watchful to do the will of God, and count it their honour to assist in so glorious a work as the saving of souls, or do any other business he sendeth them about, how should we, that hope to be like the angels in happiness, be like them in obedience also !
2. Because the church's safety dependeth upon it. We stand in need of this ministry of angels. The service of the angels is protec- tion to the people of God — vengeance on their enemies.
(1.) For protection. Christ hath the heavenly host at his command, and sendeth them forth for the good of his people : Ps. Ixviii. 17, ' The chariots of the Lord are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels : the Lord is among them in Sinai in the holy place.' Mark, that thousands of angels are his chariots, conveying him from heaven to earth, and from earth to heaven ; and mark, the Lord is among them — that is, God incarnate — for he presently speaketh of his ascend- ing up on high. ' Thou hast ascended up on high, and led captivity captive ; thou hast received gifts for men,' ver. 18. Among them in his holy place — that is, in heaven. It is added, as in Mount Sinai — that is, as at the giving of the law. They were then there, and still attend on the propagation of the gospel. For more particular cases, see Heb. i. 14, ' Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?' So Ps. xxxiv. 7, ' The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.' All that obediently serve and wait on God have the promise of this protection.
(2.) The other part of this ministry and service is to resti'ain and destroy the devil and his instruments. The scripture often speaks of God's executing judgments by the angels. Their influence doth not always personally appear, yet it is great and powerful. Though the powers and authorities on earth, and their messengers and forces, be often employed against the saints, yet the Captain of our salvation is in heaven, and all the mighty angels are subject to him, and at his dis- posal. By this means the prophet Elisha confirmed himself and his servant, when the king of Syria sent chariots and horses, a great host, to attack him in Dothan : 2 King vi. 14, 15, ' And when his servant saw it early in the morning, he said, Alas, my master ! what shall we do?' The prophet answered, ver. 16, 'They that be with us are more than they that be against us.' And then, ver. 17, he prayed, ' Lord, open his eyes that he may see ; and the Lord opened his eyes, and behold the mountain was full of charic^ts and horses of fire, round about Elisha.' These fiery horses and chariots were nothing else but