From what hath been said, I suppose it is made evident both that the psalmist expressly treats of angels, and that the subject spoken of by the apostle is expressed in that word, and that following, of ministers.
Our next inquiry is after what is affirmed concerning these angels and ministers spoken of ; and that is, that God makes them “ spirits,” and “a flame of fire”’ And concerning the meaning of these words there are two opinions:—
1. That the creation of angels is intended in the words; and the nature whereof they were made is expressed in them. He made them spirits,—that is, of a spiritual substance; and his heavenly ministers, quick, powerful, agile, as a flaming fire. Some carry this
174 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. 1.
sense farther, and affirm that two sorts of angels are intimated, one of an aérial substance like the wind, and the other igneal or fiery, denying all pure intelligences, without mixture of matter, as the product of the school of Aristotle.
But this seems-not to be the intention of the words; nor is the creation of the angels or the substance whereof they consist here expressed: for,—(1.) The analysis of the psalm, formerly touched on, requires the referring of these words to the providence of God in em- ploying the angels, and not to his power in making them. (2.) The apostle in this place hath nothing to do with the essence and nature of the angels, but with their dignity, honour, and employment; on which accounts he preferreth the Lord Christ before them. Wherefore,—
2. The providence of God in disposing and employing of angels in his service is intended in these words; and so they may have a double sense:—(1.) That God employeth his angels and hea- venly ministers in the production of those winds, nin, and fire, ni? WN, thunder and lightning, whereby he executeth many judg- ments in the world. (2.) A note of similitude may be understood, to complete the sense, which is expressed in the Targum on the psalm: “ He maketh” (or “sendeth”) “his angels like the winds, or like a flaming fire,’-—maketh them speedy, spiritual, agile, powerful, quickly and effectually accomplishing the work that is appointed unto them.
Hither way this is the plain intendment of the psalm,—that God useth and employeth his angels in effecting the works of his provi- dence here below, and that they were made to serve the providence of God in that way and manner. ‘ This,’ saith the apostle, ‘is the testi- mony which the Holy Ghost gives concerning them, their nature, duty, and work, wherein they serve the providence of God. But now, saith he, ‘consider what the Scripture saith concerning the Son, how it calls him God, how it ascribes a throne and a kingdom unto him’ (testimonies whereof he produceth in the next verses), ‘and you will easily discern his pre-eminence above them,’
But before we proceed to the consideration of the ensuing testi. monies, we may make some observations on that which we have already passed through; as,—
I. Our conceptions of the angels, their nature, office, and work, is to be regulated by the Scripture.
The Jews of old had many curious speculations about angels, wherein they greatly pleased and greatly deceived themselves, Wherefore the apostle, in his dealing with them, calls them off from all their foolish imaginations, to attend unto those things which God hath revealed in his word concerning them, This the Holy Ghost saith of them, and therefore this we are to receive and be- lieve, and this alone: for,—
VER. 7.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 175
1. This will keep us unto that becoming sobriety in things above us which both the Scripture greatly commends and is exceed- ingly suited unto right reason. The Scripture minds us yj irepgpo- vel wap’ 0 de? Dpovelv GARG Qpovely cig rd owppoverv, Rom. xii. 3, “ to keep ourselves within the bounds of modesty, and to be wise to sobriety.”
Divine revelation is the rule and measure of our knowledge in these things, and that bounds and determines our sobriety. And hence the apostle, condemning the curiosity of men on this very subject about angels, makes the nature of their sin to consist in exceeding these bounds by an inquiry into things unrevealed; and the rise of that evil to lie in pride, vanity, and fleshliness; and the tendency of it to be unto false worship, superstition, and idolatry, Col. ii 18. Neither is there any thing more averse from right reason, nor more condemned by wise men of former times, than a curious humour of prying into those things wherein we are not concerned, and for whose investigation we have no certain, honest, lawful rule or me- dium. And this evil is increased where God himself hath given bounds to our inquiries, as in this case he hath.
2. This alone will bring us unto any certainty and truth. Whilst men indulge to their own imaginations and fancies, as too many in this matter have been apt to do, it is sad to consider how they have wandered up and down, and with what fond conceits they have deceived themselves and others. The world hath been filled with monstrous opinions and doctrines about angels, their nature, offices, and employments. Some have worshipped them, others pre- ‘tended I know not what communion and intercourse with them; in all which conceits there hath been little of truth, and nothing at all of certainty. Whereas if men, according to the example ‘of the apostle, would keep themselves to the word of God, as they would know enough in this matter for the discharging of their own duty, so they would have assurance and evidence of truth in their conceptions; without which pretended high and raised notions are but a shadow of a dream,—worse than professed ignorance.