VER. 1, 2.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 49
concernments of his enemies? Czsar thought he had spoken with terror, when, threatening hint with death who stood in his way, he told him, “Young man, he speaks it to whom it is as easy to do it.” He speaks to his adversaries, who stand in the way of his interest, to “deal no more so proudly,” who can in a moment speak them into ruin, and that eternal. See Rev. vi. 14-17.
Thus is the Son made heir of all in general. We shall further consider his dominion in a distribution of the chief parts of it; and manifest his power severally in and over them all. He is lord or heir réyray,—that is, of all persons and of all things.
PERSONS, or rational subsistences, here intended, are either angels or men; for it is evident that “ He is excepted who hath subjected all things unto him,” 1 Cor. xv. 27.
Angels are of two sorts: —1. Such as abide doing the will of God, retaining that name by way of eminency; 2. Such as by sin have lost their first habitation, state, and condition,—usually called evil angels, or devils. The Lord Jesus hath dominion over all, and both sorts of them.
Men may be cast under one common distribution, which is com- prehensive of all distinctions whereby they are differenced; for they all are either elect or reprobates. And the Lord Jesus hath rule and dominion over them all.
THinGs that are subject unto the Lord Jesus may be referred unto four heads; for they are either,—1. Spiritual; or, 2. Heclest- astical; or, 3. Political; or, 4. Natural.
Again, Spiritual are either, (1.) Temporal, as, [1.] Grace; [2.] Gifts; or (2.) Eternal, as glory.
Ecclesiastical or church things are either, (1.) Judaical, or old testament things; or, (2.) Christian, or things of the new testament.
Political and civil things may be considered as they are managed, (1.) By his friends; (2.) His enemies.
Of Natural things we shall speak in a production of some par- ticular instances, to prove the general assertion.
Those, in the FIRST place, assigned as part of the inheritance of Christ are,—I. The angels, and the good angels in especial. These belong to the kingdom, rule, and dominion of Christ. I shall be brief in this branch of his heirship, because it must be professedly handled in opening sundry other verses of this chapter, in which the apostle insisteth on it.
Of the nature of angels, their glory, excellency, dignity, work, and employment, we have here no occasion to treat. Something must afterwards be spoken unto these things. Christ’s pre-eminence above them, rule over them, their subjection unto him, with the original right and equity of the grant of this power and authority unto him, are the things which now fall under our consideration.
VOL. XX. 4,
50 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [cHAP. I.
1. His pre-eminence above them is asserted by the apostle in the fourth verse of this chapter. He is “made better” (“more excellent’’) “than the angels.” See the words opened afterwards. This was to the Jews, who acknowledged that the Messiah should be above Moses, Abraham, and the ministering angels. So Neve Shalom, lib. ix. cap. v. We have testimony unto it: Eph. i. 20, 21, “ He set him at his own right hand,” év éqoupavios, “ among heavenly things, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named,” whatever title of honour or office they enjoy, “ not only in this world, but also in that which is to come,” who enjoy their power and dignity in that state of glory; which is promised unto them also who here believe on him. Phil. ii. 9, “God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name” (power, authority, and pre-eminence) “ which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus” (unto him vested with that authority and dignity) “ every knee should bow” (all creatures should yield obedience and be in subjection), “of things in heaven,” the #d:ov ofunrqpiov, “ proper habi- tation” and place of residence of the blessed angels, Jude 6. For,—
2. As he is exalted above them, so by the authority of God the Father they are made subject unto him: 1 Pet. i 22, “ He is gone into heaven,” birorayeray aire dyyérov, “angels being brought into order by subjection unto him.” Eph. 1. 22, Udvra bréragev, “ He hath put all things” (angels, of which he treats) “in subjection to him;” “ under his feet,” as Ps. viii. 7, yarrnon 1 Cor. xv. 27. And this by the special authority of God the Father, in a way of grant of privilege and honour unto him, and to evidence the universality of this subjection.
3. They adore and worship him,—the highest act of obedience and most absolute subjection. This they have in command, Heb. i. 6, “ Let all the angels of God worship him;” Ps. xevii. 7, W0AWH, “worship him,”—with prostration, self-abasement, and all possible subjection to him: of which place afterwards. Their practice answers the command given them, Rev. v. 11-14. All the angels round about his throne fall down, and ascribe “ blessing, and honour, and glory, and power” unto him; as we are taught to do in our deepest acknowledgment of the majesty and authority of God, Matt. vi. 18. And as to outward obedience, they are ready in all things to receive his commands, being “ ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall inherit salvation,’ Heb. i 14; and that by Him who is “head over all to the church,” Eph. i. 22. As, for instance, he sent out one of them to his servant John, Rev. i. 1; who, from their employment under him towards them that believe, are said to be their “fellow-servants,”—that is unto Christ,—namely, of all them who have “the testimony of Jesus,” Rev. xix. 10, xxii. 9. And to this purpose,-—