ANGELS ACCLAAIATIONS.
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and devilish-minded men present to hurt us, God hath a multitude, an host of angels as present to defend us ; nay, as himself is everywhere, so in the midst of his church he is present more than angels can be. He is not only among us, but he is in us by his Spirit, to comfort and strengthen us. Therefore let us stir up the Spirit of God in us, in all diificulties and dan- gers whatsoever, considering we have such grounds of comfort every way.
What is the use and end of this glorious apparition ? In regard of the poor shepherds, to confirm their foith, and in them ours ; for if one or two witnesses confirm a thing, what shall a multitude do ? If one or two men confirm a truth, much more an host of heavenly angels. Therefore it is base infidelity to call this in question, that is confirmed by a multitude of angels. And to comfort them likewise in this apparition. We see by the way that for one Christian to confirm and comfort another, it is the work of an angel, an angelical work ; for one man to discourage another, it is the work of a devil. When Christ was in his agony, the angels appeared to comfort him, Luke xxii. 43. We may take notice how willing and ready these glorious spirits were to attend upon our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, in all the passages from his incarnation to his glory. We see they appeared here at his incarnation ; they ministered unto him after his temptation ; at his resurrection, then they were ready to attend him ; and at his ascension, thej' were ready then ; but oh the welcome when he entered into heaven ! There was the glorious embracings, when all the host of heaven enter- tained him at his ascension. In the garden, as I said, they comforted him. Let us imitate them in this blessed work, if there be any in distress that need comfort and confirmation. We love examples of great, noted persons. Here you have an example above youi'selves, the example of angels ; who, to confirm and comfort the poor shepherds, appear in an host, ' a multitude of heavenly angels.' The angels, as they attend upon Christ, so for his sake they attend upon us too ; for he is that Jacob's ladder. Jacob's ladder, you know, stood upon the earth, but it reached to heaven, and the angels went up and down upon the ladder ; that is, it is Christ that knits heaven and earth together, God and man ; and the angels by Christ, having communion and fellowship with us, as I noted out of the place, Heb. xii. 22, ' we are come to an innumerable company of angels ;' so that they attend upon us for Christ's sake, whose members we are. They attend upon Christ mystical as well as Christ natural : ' For they are ministering spirits for the sakes of them that shall be saved,' Heb. i. 7. And therefore in our childhood and tender years they have the custody of us committed to them ; as Christ saith, ' their angels behold the face of God ; ' and in our dangers they pitch their tents about us, and at our death they carry our souls to the place of happiness, as they carried Lazarus's soul into Abraham's bosom, and at the resurrection they shall gather our dead bodies together. So that as they never left our blessed Saviour from his birth to his ascension, so they always attend upon his members, his spouse. For his sake we have communion with the blessed angels. These things may be of some use. But it is not that I mainly intend. Thus much for the apparition.
2. Now the celebration is ' a multitude of the heavenly host praising God.' The word signifies 'singing,'* as well as praise. It implies praise expressed in that manner ; and indeed ' praising God,' it is the best expres- sion of the affection of joy. The angels were joyful at the birth of Christ their Lord. Joy is no way better expressed than in ' praising God ; ' and it * See any good Lexicon, under the word ahiu. — G.
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822 angels' acclamations.
is pity that such a sweet affection as joy should run in any other stream, if it were possible, than the * praising of God.' God hath planted tins afifection of joy in the creature, and it is fit he should reap the fruit of his own garden. It is pity a clear stream should run into a puddle, it should rather run into a garden ; and so sweet and excellent [an] afi'ection as joy, it is pity it should be employed otherwise than ' in praising God' and doing good to men.
They express their joy in a suitable expression ' in praising God.' The sweetest affection in man should have the sweetest employment. The sweetest employment that joy can have is to be enlarged in love, ' to praise God,' and for God's sake to do good to others.
See here the pure nature of angels. They praise God for us. We have more good by the incarnation of Christ than they have ; yet notwithstand- ing, such is their humility, that they come down with great delight from heaven, and praise and glorify God for the birth of Christ, who is not their, but our Picdeemer. Some strength they have. There is no creature but hath some good by the incarnation of Christ ; to the angels themselves, yet however they have some strength from Christ, in the increase of the num- ber of the Church ; yet he is not the Eedeemer of angels. In some sort he is the head of angels, but he is our Redeemer. ' To us a child is born ; to us a Son is given,' Isa. ix. 6. And yet see, their nature is so pure and so clear from envy and pride, that they even glorify God for the goodness shewed to us — meaner creatures than themselves ; and they envy not us, though we be advanced, by the incarnation of Christ, to a higher place than they. For, beloved ! the very angels have not such affinity to Christ in this as we. They are not the spouse of Christ. They make not up mys- tical Christ. The church doth. The church is the queen, as Christ is the king of all. It is married to Christ. Angels are not; and yet although they see us advanced in divers respects above them, yet they are so pure and free from envy, that they join in * praising God ' here in love to us.