5. For the time. In the general, very soon. Therefore it is said, John viii. 44, that ' Satan was a murderer from the beginning ; ' and 1 John iii. 8, ' The devil sinneth from th'e beginning ; ' that is, presently after his creation ; created these angels were. It was the error of Valeutius and Basilides, in the age next the apostles, that they were not created, but begotten of God. These primitive monsters broached it to the disgrace of Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God. But that they were created, see Col. i. 16, and Ps. cxlviii. 2, and created they were in time. Some of the Greek writers su])posed the angels to be made before the world ; but there is no ground for that, there being but one beginning of all created beings. And it is said, ' Before the beginning nothing was made,' John i. 3 ; therefore created they were the second day, with the heavens, as being of the same matter ; as man was made when his seat and dwelling-place was per- fected ; so the angels, when their seat and place of residence was prepared. Moses mentioneth them not, because he treateth of the visible world and corporeal beings. Now, it is certain that, being created, they sinned ere man fell, for the devil , in and by the serpent, ' seduced Eve,' 2 Cor. xi. 3 ; therefore probably they fell a little after their creation ; not in the very instant, that it might appear they were not naturally evil. It is probable that some time interceded between their creation and defection, but a very little time, to show the mutability of the creature.
Use. Let me now apply what hath been spoken, and press you to consider it in your thoughts, and to consider it with observation and application to yourselves.
1. Consider it with observation, and there is scarce a matter that can be more profitably amplified in your thoughts ; we have the most impartial view of things in another person. Oh ! think of this dreadful instance, the fall of the angels. (1.) Observe that such excellent creatures fell. Angels themselves were created ex- cellent but mutable. Certainly we that ' dwell in houses of clay, and whose foundation is in the dust,' Job iv. 19, had need to be
VOL. V. N
194 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 6.
more cautious ; if they be mutable, we are weaker and more mutable. To see such glorious stars leave their station, and fall from heaven like lightning, it should make us poor creatures tremble and look to our own standing, ' lest we also fall,' 1 Cor. x. 12. Self-confidence is the next way to ruin. God only cannot sin, because his act is his rule. There may be great height, strong abilities, rare accomplish- ments of nature and grace, and yet you see these cannot exempt us from shameful falls without the divine concurrence. The angels were the courtiers of heaven, the glory of the creation, in the first rank of the created beings, and yet they fell. Who can presume to stand when angels fall ? (2.) They fell soon, a little after their creation. There is no created excellency but, if left to itself, will quickly undo itself ; how soon do creature perfections fade ! Surely there is no stability but in Christ. As the angels, so Adam fell a little after his creation : Ps. xlix. 12, ' Adam, being in honour, abideth not ; ' in the original, ' abideth not for a night ; ' and if it be applied to the first Adam, it implieth that he left the honour of his innocency the first day ; in the morning innocent, and at night a sinner. Our new state in this regard is better than innocency, and the grace of regeneration ex- ceedeth that of creation. The Lord would still keep the creature depending ; our estate in Christ only is sure, because there our strength lieth in another.^ Let us then ' work out our salvation with fear and trembling.' If angels fell, and Adam fell, when they had no such mixed nature and divided principles as we have, what will become of us ? Neither man nor angel can be kept without a surety ; and unless Christ be continually present with his own gifts, there is no standing. (3.) They fell dreadfully, and from angels became devils, exercising theft, lying, envy, murder towards men. The best things corrupted become worst ; as no vinegar so tart as that which is made of the sweetest wine. When men sin against light and grace they become cruel : ' The revolters are profound to make slaughter,' saith the prophet, Hosea v. 2. After profession the fall is most desperate : ' Their latter end is worse than their beginning,' 2 Peter ii. 20. AVhat a malice have these evil angels now against God and man ! they go about seeking whom they may devour. None so bad as apos- tates. (4.) Their fall made way for ours. By this means there came to be a tempter in the world. The fall of angels occasioned the fall of man, and the fall of man the coming of Christ. Do but go home with reverence, and observe how, by the bare permission of God, the divine decrees were accomplished, and wonder at the purity of that unspotted providence that is conversant about sin and evil, but not conscious to it. The angels led the way, and man followed, and so occasion was given for the discovery of ' the manifold wisdom of God ' to men and angels, Ejjh. iii. 10. (5.) So many fell as were not elected by God. There was election and reprobation among the angels. Among the most glorious creatures God would show the liberty of his counsels ; not only amongst men, the lower sort of i-ational creatures, but among angels. Therefore the apostle speaketh of ' elect angels,' 1 Tim. v. 2L Why should clay murmur when gold is refused ? If some of the angels were appointed to be ' vessels of