2. God is pleased to do this to ewercise the obedience of the angels themselves; and that upon a threefold account :—First, To keep, preserve, and rule them /itly to their state and condition. Being creatures, they have a natural and necessary dependence on God their creator; and being intellectual creatures, they have a moral dependence on him, according to a law and tule: with refer- ence unto the utmost end whereunto they were created. This requires their constant obedience unto the will of God, without which they leave and forsake the law of their creation and condi- tion, and also deviate from the end for which they were made. Wherefore, to exercise them unto and in this their obedience, God makes use of their ministry and service in his government of the ‘church. And this they shall continue to do unto the end of the world, when, the course of their obedience being accomplished, they shall be everlastingly satiated with the contemplation of God’s in- finite excellencies, and enjoyment of him as their reward. Secondly, That in them he might give an evample of ready obedience unto the church. These angels of God, being in their nature excellent, and great in power, always ready, watchful, and free from all diver- sions or avocations, eminent in light and holiness, as always behold- ing the face of God, and filled with his grace, are proposed unto us,
246 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. 1
in their obedience and readiness to do the will of God, as an ex- ample and pattern which we are to imitate unto our utmost, though we are never able perfectly to express. And thence are we directed by our Saviour to pray that we may do the will of God on earth as it is done by them in heaven, Thirdly, That they themselves may be made partakers of this singular honour and glory, to serve the most high God in his most glorious work, the preservation and salvation of his church; for that this is their honour was before declared.
8. God employeth them in an especial manner in this ministry, for the good of them that are heirs of salvation, to manifest unto them the greatness and glory of the work of the gathering, pre- serving, and redemption of his church, with the value that he puts upon all the fruits of the death and concernments of the media- tion of his Son Jesus Christ: for as of themselves they desire to look particularly into these things, which in general appear so glorious unto them, 1 Pet. i. 12, that their delight im the wisdom and love of God may be more and more increased; so by God’s deal- ings with his church, in whose behalf they are employed, they learn therein “the manifold wisdom of God,” and riches of his grace, Eph, ii. 10. And thus in all their employment about the saints, wherein they are sent out to minister for their good, they learn much of the wisdom and love of God; and are thereby excited to honour, ap- plaud, glorify, and praise him. Somewhat of this they shall see in the least and meanest work toward any believer that is committed unto them. And they eternally rejoice in the overflowings of the love and grace of God, taking care of all the concernments of the poorest and meanest of his servants.
4, This is done that God may in an especial manner give glory and honour unto Jesus Christ thereby. This is his will, “that all men should honour the Son, as they honour the Father,” John v. 28, He hath therefore raised him up, and given him honour and glory, and in particular exalted him far above the angels, putting them in subjection unto him, as their head, prince, ruler, and governor, Eph. i. 20-22. Neither is it a show of glory, or a titular kingdom and dominion, that he hath given to Jesus Christ, but a real and absolute sovereignty, wherein all things subject unto him are at his absolute disposal; and therefore must the angels themselves be at his service in the affairs of his kingdom; and so they acknowledge themselves to be, and the fellow-servants of them that keep his tes- timony, Rev. xix. 10. Now, the heart and love of Jesus Christ is greatly set upon that part of his church or people which are labouring with sin, affliction, and persecution here below, Heb. ii. 17, iv. 15. It is, then, greatly for his honour and glory (which in all things the Father aimeth at, Col. i 18, 19) that the glorious angels should be
VER. 14.j EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 247
employed for the good and in the behalf of all his poor labouring saints. This honour is done to Jesus Christ in heaven, when all the attendants of the throne of God do see the care that is taken about the meanest that believe in him.
5. The love, and care, and condescension of God unto his saints are hereby manifested unto the saints themselves. God employeth the angels for their good, that they may know how he careth for them, and be comforted thereby, Ps. xci. 11. The saints of God have mean and low thoughts of themselves,—as it becomes them to have. They know and confess that they are less than all the mercies of God, and unworthy that he should have any regard of them. Such thoughts as these their mean terrene condition, and their manifold sins and failings, do fill them withal. Of the glorious angels their thoughts and apprehensions are high and honourable. Their nature, their state and condition, their power and greatness, their holiness, and enjoyment of the presence of God, do all present them unto their minds under a notion of much excellency and glory. Hence some weak, superstitious, and curious minds, have been drawn to adore them with religious worship and adoration. The saints know sufficiently the folly hereof. But yet, when they consider that God is pleased to use, employ, and send out these glorious spirits, to take care of them, to do them good, to watch over them and round about them, to keep them from evil, this fills them as with a holy admi- ration of the infinite love and condescension of God towards them, so also of the excellency of the mediation of the Lord Christ, who hath brought them into this condition of favour; from both which much spiritual comfort and rejoicing in the Lord do arise. And for this end also doth God choose to do that mediately, by the ministry of angels, which otherwise, by an inconceivable facility, he could do by his own immediate power.