240 SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS L [SER- V.
but it is another manner of grace then, when our pardon and approba- tion shall be ratified by our judge's own mouth, Acts iii. 19, when he shall not only take us into his family, but into his presence and palace, John xii. 16, not only give us right, but possession ; when we shall not only know Christ by faith, but by sight ; when we shall see our nature united to the godhead, and not only have some remote service and ministration, but be everlastingly employed in loving, delighting in, and praising God, with all those heavenly creatures who are our eternal companions in this work. This is grace seen in all its graciousness ; surely then our only cry will be, Grace, grace.
[2.] Glory. What a glory is it that we must immediately possess in body and soul ! It is said, ' We look for glory, honour, and immortality,' Eom. ii. 4 ; 2 Cor. iv, 17, ' Our bodies raised glorious bodies ; ' Phil. iii. 21, 'Our souls.' Then is the glory begun perfected : 2 Cor. iii. 18, ' We all with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory.' The weakness ceaseth ; we then shall know God perfectly, and love him perfectly ; we shall not be disquieted any more with jarrings and divisions ; no more resemble the devil, but wholly be transformed into the image of God ; bodies glorious, souls glorious, place glorious, com- pany glorious, work glorious, pleasing a glorious God.
Second point. That when Christ cometh, he shall bring his mighty angels with him.
This is often asserted in scripture : Mat. xxvi. 27, ' The Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels ; ' Mat. xxv. 31, ■ When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him.'
There are two truths contained in this one proposition — (1.) That his angels are mighty angels, or angels of might ; (2.) That he shall bring them along with him.
1. That they are mighty angels. They are said to excel in strength, Ps. ciii. 20. One angel in one night slaughtered many thousands of the Assyrians in Senacherib's camp. This is offered to our thoughts to show that the most potent creatures are infinitely inferior to our Redeemer, which is comfortable to the godly, and maketh his vengeance terrible to the wicked ; this strength they have from God their creator, who giveth strength to all his creatures as it pleaseth him.
2. Why he bringeth them with him.
[1.] To show his glory and majesty, that they are at his. beck and command. The most excellent of all creatures are his ministers and subjects, and all the heavenly hosts at his command : 1 Peter iii. 22, ' He is sat down at the right hand of God, angels, authorities, and powers being made subject to him.' And it is said, Eph. i. 22, ' That God hath set him far above all principalities and powers, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but in that which is to come.' And the apostle, when he would set forth the majesty of our Eedeemer, telleth us that he was made far more excellent than the angels, whose ministers they are, and whom they are commanded to worship, Heb. i. 4, 6, 7, and who employeth his authority for the defence and comfort of the meanest of his people, ver. 14. They are subject not only to God, but to Christ as our mediator.
VER. 7.] SERMONS UPON 2 THESSALONIANS I. 241
Look, as it is the glory of earthly kings to command mighty and powerful subjects : ' Are not my princes altogether kings ? ' Isa. x. 8, that so many princes owned him as their sovereign, and served under hini as their commander ; and when God speaketh of the Assyrian, he calleth him a king of princes, Neh. viii. 10, namely, as he had many kings subject and tributary to him ; so this is the majesty of our Redeemer, that he hath those powerful creatures, the mighty angels, in his train and retinue.
[2.] Because he hath a ministry and service for them.
(1.) To gather the elect : Mat. xxiv. 31, ' He shall send his angels to gather together the elect from the four winds ; ' that is, from all parts and quarters of the world. There is no envy in holy and blessed creatures, we find the angels kindly affectioned to the salvation of lost man. When their Lord was incarnate, and so, in respect of his human nature, made a little lower than themselves, they disdain him not, but praised God at the birth of Christ : Luke ii. 13, 14, ' A multitude of the heavenly host praised God, saying, Glory to God in the highest/ &c. They attend upon the dispensation of the gospel, and are present in our assemblies : 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, that thou neglect not these things.' They are conscious to administrations in the church. When any sinner is recovered out of the apostasy, we read of joy in heaven, Luke xv. 7, 10. The people of God are now their charge, and hereafter their companions ; and therefore they are contented to be employed by Christ about them. Now for their defence : Heb. i. 14, ' Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation ? ' Ps. xxxiv. 7, ' The angel of the Lord encampeth about them that fear him/ Hereafter they convey the souls of the departing righteous unto Christ : Luke xvi. 22, ' The beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom.' To their rest in heaven. So at the last day they shall accompany them in their joyful retinue to their old beloved habitations. By their ministry he will gather the bodies of his redeemed ones from all parts of the world, after they have been resolved into dust, and that dust mingled with other dust, that every saint may have his own body again.