This is the first foundation of the equity of this grant of all power over the angels unto the Lord Christ: in his divine nature he made them; and in that respect they were before his own; as on the same account, when he came into the world, he is said to come «ig ra 76:0, Johni. 11, “to his own,” or the things that he had made.
2. It is founded in that establishment in the condition of their creation, which by his interposition to recover what was lost by sin, and to preserve the untainted part of the creation from ruin, they did receive. In their own right, the rule of their obedience, and the example of those of their number and society who apostatized from God, they found themselves in a state not absolutely impregnable. Their confirmation,—which also was attended with that exaltation which they received by their new relation unto God in and through him,—they received by his means, God gathering up all things to a consistency and permanency in him, Eph. i. 10. And hence also it became equal that the rule and power over them should be com-
VER. 1, 2.| EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 53
mitted unto him, by whom, although they were not, like us, recovered from ruin, yet they were preserved from all danger of it. So that in their subjection unto him consists their principal: honour and all their safety.
And as this act of God, in appointing Christ Lord of angels, hath these equitable foundations, so it hath also. sundry glorious ends:—
1. It was as an addition unto that glory that was set before him in his undertaking to-redeem sinners. A kingdom was of old pro- mised unto him; and to render it exceedingly glorious, the rule and sceptre of it is extended, not only to his redeemed ones, but to the holy angels also, and the sovereignty over them is granted him as a part of his reward, Phil. ii. 8-11; Eph. i. 20, 21.
2. God hereby gathers up his whole family,—at first distinguished by the law of their creation into two especial. kinds, and then differ- enced and set at variance by sin,—into one body under one head, re- ducing them that originally were twain into one entire family: Eph. i. 10; “ In the fulness of times he gathered together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him,” as was before declared. Before this the angels had no im- mediate created head; for themselves are called DN, “gods,” Ps. xevil. 7; 1 Cor. viii. 5. Whoever is the head must be DONT ‘TON, [ Deut. x. 17], the “ God of gods,” or “ Lord of lords,”—which Christ alone is; and in him, or under him as a head, is the whole family of God united,
3. The church of mankind militant on the earth, whose conduct unto eternal glory is committed unto Christ, stands in need of the ministry of angels. And therefore hath God granted rule and power over them unto him, that nothing might be wanting to enable him “to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him.” So God hath given him to be “head over all things to the church,” Eph. i. 22; that he should, with an absolute sovereignty, use and dispose of all things to the benefit and advantage of the church.
_ This.is the first branch of the lordship and dominion of Christ,
according to the distribution of the severals of it before laid down. He is Lord of angels, and they are all of them his servants, the fel- low-servants of them that have the testimony of Jesus. And as some men do wilfully cast themselves, by their religious adoration of angels, under the eurse of Canaan, to be servants unto servants, Gen. ix. 25; so it is the great honour and privilege of true believers, that in their worship of Christ they are admitted into the society of “an innumerable company of angels,” Heb. xii. 22, Rev. v. 11-18: for they are notashamed to esteem them their fellow-servants whom their _ Lord and King is not ashamed to call his brethren. And herein consists our communion with them, that we have one common Head and Lord; and any intercourse with them, but only on this account, or any worship performed towards them, breaks the bond of that
54 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. I.
communion, and causeth us not to “hold the Head,” Col. 11.19. The privilege, the safety, and advantage of the church, from this subjec- tion of angels to its Head and Saviour, are by many spoken unto.
Secondly, There is another sort of angels, who by sin left their primitive station, and fell off from God; of whom, their sin, fall, malice, wrath, business, craft in evil, and final judgment, the Scrip- ture treateth at large. These belong not, indeed, to the possession of Christ as he is the heir, but. they belong unto his dominion as he is Lord. Though he be not a king and head unto them, yet he is a judge and ruler over them. All things being given into his hand, they also are subjected unto his power. Now, as under the former head, I shall consider,—1. The right or equity, and, 2. The end of this authority of Christ over this second sort of the first race of in- tellectual creatures, the angels that have sinned.