Heb. i. 14. Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation ?
THE superiority of Christ to angels occupies the mind of the Apostle throughout this chapter. He has illustrated it already in a very convincing way. He has adduced many passages of Holy Writ which con- fessedly belong to the Messiah ; and has shewn, that they never have been, nor can be, applied to them, because the things predicated in them, exclusively belong to him. The representations given of the angels necessarily imply a great inferiority to him : for they are commanded to worship him% as their Creator'', and their God". Nor is it him only whom they serve : they are the servants of his people also, appointed by him to that very office, and executing it for his honour and glory. This the Apostle men- tions as an indisputable fact ; and appeals to the
a ver. G. b ver. 10 — 12. <= yer. 8.
Hebrews themselves respecting it : " Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation ?"
The ministry of angels is not only a cm-ioiis sub- ject as it relates to them, but a very interesting subject as it relates to us ; since we, if we be heirs of salvation, are the very persons for whom they minister. We propose therefore to consider the ministry of angels,
I. As evinced in their services for God's people of old—
They are called by the Apostle " ministering spi- rits," which designates at once both their nature and office. In their nature they are not corporeal, but spiritual beings : and they possess both wisdom and strength far beyond any of the sons of men"^. Their number was once far greater than it at present is ; for vast multitudes of them "kept not their first estate, but left their first habitation, and are reserved in chains of darkness to the judgment of the great day^" Those who have held fast their integrity are called ** the elect angels ;" and of them there are myriads, yea millions without number^. Amongst them are different ranks and orders, (as there are also amongst the fallen angels,) under Michael their head, who is therefore called "■ the archangel," whilst they are called ''his angels^."
On God they wait, as his servants, with the utmost alacrity and zeaP' : and by him they are employed in executing his holy will.
They were employed by him at the promulgation of his law' : and they have been rendered useful also in the diffusion of his Gospel ^
By him they have been sent forth both as execu- tioners of his vengeance and as dispensers of his mercies. By an angel, he slew in one hour the whole
d 2 Sam. xiv. 20. 2 Pet. ii. 11. e juje, ver. 6.
f Ps. Ixviii. 17. Rev. v. 11. Heb. xii. 22. e Jude, ver. 9. Rev. xii. 7. ■' Ps. ciii. 20, 21.
" Acts vii. 53. Deut. xxxiii. 2. "^ Rev. xiv. 0.