* And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude,' &c.
You see here, however, Christ lay in the cratch,* in the manger, yet not- withstanding there were some circumstances that shewed the greatness of his person, that he was no ordinary person. He lay in the cratch indeed, but the wise men came and adored him ; and ho appeared to the shep- herds, poor men ; yet notwithstanding, here is an host of angels that praise him. So likewise at his death he converted the good thief, and shadowed the sun itself, and then he gloriously rose again. So that there were some beams of his divine nature that broke forth in all his abasements. We see here an apparition of angels. In the words consider these things.
Here is, first of all, an apparition of heavenly angels.
And then their celebration of Christ's birth.
The apparition : ' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host.'
The celebration of it : ' praising God, and saying.'
The matter of the celebration and praising God,
' Glory to God in the highest,
* In earth peace,
' Good will towards men.'
I shall especially stand upon those words ; but somewhat is to be touched concerning the apparition of these angels.
1. The circumstances of their apparition. They appear to poor shep- herds.
God respects no callings.
He will confound the pride of men, that set so much by that that God so little respects ; and to comfort men in all conditions.
2. Again, The angels appeared to them in the midst of their business and callings; and indeed God's people, as Moses and others, have had the sweetest intercourse with God in their aflfairs ; and ofttimes it is the fittest way to hinder Satan's temptations, and to take him off, to be employed in business, rather than to struggle with temptations. We many times meet with comfort in our business, in our callings, that without f it, in specula- tion and otherwise, we should never have.
3. And then they appeared to them in the night. God discovers himself in the night of affliction.
Our sweetest and strongest comforts are in our greatest miseries. God's
* Tliat is, ' cradle.' Consult Ilaliwcll, sub voce. — G. t That is, ' outside of,' = apart from. — G.
angels' acclamations. 819
children find light in darkness ; nay, God brings light out of darkness itself. We see the circumstances then of this apparition.
He calls these angels * a heavenly host,' in divers respects ; especially in these :
(1.) An host /or number. Here are a number set down. A multitude is distinct from an host ; but in that they are an host, they are a multi- tude ; as in Dan. vii. 10, ' Ten thousand times ten thousand angels attend upon God.' And so, Rev. v. 11, there are a world of angels about the church. In Heb. xii. 22, we are come to have communion with an ' innu- merable company of angels.' He sets not down the number ; and here appears * a multitude of angels.' Worldly, sottish men that live here below, they think there is no other state of things than they see ; they are only taken up with sense, and pleasures, and goodly shows of things. Alas ! poor souls ! There is another manner of state and frame of things, if they had spiritual eyes to see the glory of God, and of Christ our Saviour, and their attendants there — an host, a multitude of heavenly angels,
(2.) An host likewise implies order ; or else it is a rout, not an host or army. * God is the God of order, not of confusion,' 1 Cor. xiv. 33. If you would see disorder, go to hell. Surely disordered places and com- panies are rather hells than am thing else ; nay, in some respects worse ; for there is a kind of order even among the devils themselves. They join together to destroy the church, and the members thereof. I note this by the way. Here was an host of angels ; that is, they are an orderly com- pany. What that order is, I confess with St Austin,- is undetermined in Scripture ; we must not rashly presume to look into these things (a).
(3.) Again, Here is consent ; an host all joining together in praising God : ' Glory to God on high.' And sure it is a heaven upon earth, when a com- pany of Christians, led with one Spirit, shall join in one work to praise God ; to help one another in some spiritual way. AVhen they meet together to hear the word, and to pray to God, all with one consent, their prayers meet in heaven. Christ commends union and consent. * Where two or three are met together in my name, I will be in the midst of them,' Mat. xviii. 20 ; and ' whatsoever two or three shall ask in my name, if they agree' (if there be no jarring, nor schism, nor breach among them), ' I will grant it,' Mat. xviii. 19. Agreement in good is a notable resem- blance of that glorious condition we shall enjoy in heaven. This multitude of angels they all agree with one consent.