[1.] His relation to God, as the express image of his person. So the angels delight to look upon him. Those holy creatures do not consider their own benefit so much as their Creator's glory. Where they find most of God, there they are most ravished, therefore they greatly delight themselves when they consider the wisdom, power, and goodness of God as manifested in Christ. The contemplation of these things is their happiness. Now, shall the angels pay this rent of glory to God, and shall not we ? Surely God should be as dear to us as to them.
[2.] His relation to the universal church. It is more to be the church's head and Saviour than ours in particular. The angels adore him for the excellency of his office, and his transcendant glory and dignity. It doth us a double good to reflect upon this ; partly to make our affection more public, and that we may consider the common good ; for a narrow private spirit maketh christians self-seeking and unpeaceable. Christ mainly is the head and saviour of the body : Eph. V. 23, ' Christ is the head of the church, and he is the saviour of the body.' When you see that he is head of all saints, under what form and denomination whatsoever, your afi'ections are less liable to partiality, for then all christians- will be dear to you, as they are united to you in him, and you will be more tender of the prosperity of the church, of which Christ is the head. And partly to fortify you against the splendour of all created glory ; for, Eph. i. 21, Christ is exalted ' far above all principalities, and powers, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named ; not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.' The glory and splendour of earthly things doth often dazzle our eyes ; now it is good to divert our minds by considering the glory and excellency of Christ. Kings and em- perors are nothing to him, less than the light of a candle compared with
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the sun. The angels see him far above them, and we should see him far above all created power and glory, and so hearten ourselves against all discouragements.
2. The work of our redemption, which is double —
[1.] In reconciling us to God : 2 Cor. v. 19, ' God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself We should always ravish our hearts with this speculation : Heb. iii. 1, ' Consider the apostle and high priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.' He is our high priest as dealing with God, and our apostle as dealing with man. God thought it worthy of his eternal thoughts, and therefore we should more set our minds a- work about it. Redemption by Christ is so much slighted, because we do not consider the high and excellent ends thereof. Certainly every faculty must be exercised in praising God, mind as well as heart ; and this is the proper object to exercise our minds, as it doth the angelical contemplation, and by our minds our hearts.
[2.] In vanquishing our enemies, and removing the impediments of our salvation. By merit Christ did it on the cross : Col. ii. 15, * Having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it ; ' that is, on the cross. Satan triumphed visibly, Christ invisibly. It was the hour of the power of darkness, and yet of the conquest of the Son of God. Representative he did it in his ascension: Eph. iv. 8, ' When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive ; ' he foiled his enemies on the cross, and he triumphed over them at his ascension ; but it was before the tribunal of God, in the sight of angels and our faith. But then there is an actual conquest and triumph. The conquest is still carrying on till his kingdom be complete: Ps. ex. 1, ' The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand till I make thy enemies thy footstool.' The effects are discerned, as Christ casteth the devil out of his temples and territories, and out of the hearts of men. The triumph is gloriously visible and sensible, and open to the view of all at the last day. In both these things the angels are concerned. In his conquests, as Christ doth confound the wisdom of men and devils in maintaining and preserving his church. They are a part of Christ's army, and have a great respect to his church : Heb. i. 13, 14, ' But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool ? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? ' They are some of God's messengers, that help to restore and recover man from the power of the devil, and disdain not the service Christ appoints them for lost sinners, but have a great respect to his church and the assem- blies of his people : 1 Cor. xi. 10, ' For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head, because of the angels ; ' 1 Tim, v. 21, ' I charge thee before God, and the elect angels.' For his triumph ; with them Christ will appear at the end of the world, when lie hath won the field, and cometh in triumph to confound his conquered enemies : 2 Thes. i. 7, ' The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from hea- ven with his mighty angels.' These things the angels pry into, so should we.