1 Pet. i. 12. Which things the angels desire to look into.
THE Gospel comes recommended to us by a great variety of most important considerations. It occu- pied the mind of God from all eternity. From the beginning of the world it has been revealed with gradually increasing light and evidence. When the period arrived for its full promulgation, it was opened by the Lord of life himself, and was spread with incredible effect by a few poor fishermen, whom he chose and qualified to proclaim it. The Holy Ghost also bore testimony to it by miracles unnumbered, that were wrought expressly in confirmation of it. But there is one circumstance, which is rarely ad- verted to, which yet should exceedingly endear the Gospel to us; namely, that the holy angels are greatly interested in it, and that they are daily studying to comprehend it. This is affirmed by St. Peter in the words before us : for the elucidation of which we shall point out,
I. The subjects of their inquiry —
The two preceding verses inform us, that the " salvation " of man, and " the grace that is brought unto us" for the securing of that salvation, are ob- jects of their continual regard. More particularly they inquire into these things,
1. As foretold by prophets —
[Every minute circumstance relative to the Gospel has been foretold by one or other of the prophets ; insomuch, that, if we understood perfectly every part of the prophetic writings, we might extract from them as complete an account of the person, work, and offices of Christ, and of the establishment of his kingdom upon earth, as from the New Testament itself. But the prophets did not know the full extent of their own prophecies. They knew that they spake by a divine impulse ; but the precise import of what they spake, they knew not. As the ivicked Caiaphas, intending to stimulate the Jewish council to put Jesus to death, delivered unwittingly a pro- phecy that Jesus should die for the whole world3; so the pious prophets frequently delivered their sentiments in language, which was dictated by the Holy Ghost for the purpose of pro- claiming mysteries which they themselves understood not. Hence they "inquired and searched diligently" into the mean- ing of their own prophecies13. The angels, in like manner, are desirous of investigating these deep subjects. To intimate the concern which they take in these things, there was a very striking emblem of it in the Jewish temple. In the holy of holies was the ark : on that was placed the mercy-seat : and over that were two cherubims overshadowing it with their wings. The ark (in which the tables of the law were kept) was a type of Christ, in whose heart the law was ; and by whom it was fulfilled for us ; and through whose obedience to it God exercises mercy towards us. This exhibited the substance of the Gospel. Now the cherubims were formed somewhat in an inclined posture, looking down upon the arkc: and this was ordered of God on purpose to denote the interest which angels take in this deep mystery, and the desire which they have to comprehend it : and it is to this very thing that St. Peter alludes in the words of our textd.]
2. As executed by Christ —
" The sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should fol- low," were fully declared before he became incarnate. The angels therefore were prepared for that stupendous series of events which in the fulness of time began to be accomplished : and, no doubt, they waited for them with devout and earnest expectation. Accordingly, the very instant that they saw him brought into the world, they carried the glad tidings to the shepherds, and informed them of the place of his nativity. From that moment, and especially in the most important scenes of his life, they watched him, not only as anxious spec- tators, but as agents employed by their Creator to minister to