'J.'his same truth seoms intimated to us also in Col. i. 16; and, perhaps, of evil angels in Mark ix. 29. A legitimate Ruhject this for meditation and praise, though not fo; intrusion (Col. i. 18). 4. llow diversely employed. Like " the four winds of heaven " e.g., some go in this direction, some in that. Also some are to follow, some to preced~. Some, again, to move in one direction only; some in every direction, "to and fro." Angels, in short, like the stars of the mighty firmament, and apparently bearing, therefore, the same name, "the host of heaven" (Gen. 1i. 1; Ps. xxxiii. 6; Luke ii. 13; Job xxxviii. 6), are, as it were, some fixed, and some revolving; some of one light, some of another; some larger, some smaller; some single, some double or treble; some nearer, some more remote (1 Cor. xv. 41). II. 'l'HEIR WORK. However mighty or diverse these angels, all that they here do is seen to be: 1. In strict subordination to God's purposes. These mystical " chariots" only run, as it were, "between," and not over the mountains-the unsurrnountab\e and undecaying "brass" mountains of God's settled arrangements (see Micah iv. 13). Even of the mightiest angels Acts iv. 28 holds good. 2. In strict obedience to God's directions. Observe what is said in ver. 7 of those who "sought to go," but till expressly allowed, did not go, '' to and fro" (comp. Dan. ix. 23; Heh. i. 14, "sent forth; " and see, even of evil angels, Luke viii. 32). 3. To the complete sati.ifaction of God's Son. See the emphatic declaration of the Angel-Jehovah in ver. 8. This is true, even if we understand that verse (with some), "These have made my anger to rest on the north country." Why else does this Divine Angel employ this word" my"? Why proclaim this fact thus "aloud" (Pusey; comp. Ps. ciii. 20, 21 ; Matt. vi. 10) ? 4. For the sal,e of God;s friends; What is this "north country" on which God's anger is thus caused to abide? What but that great enemy of his Zion-that mystic Babylon, or "Shinar," by banishment in which (see last chapter) be had punished his Israel for their sin? Compare this predicted fate of the future "Babylon" with that of the literal as described in Isa. xlvii, 6-9, and elsewhere; and compare eh. i. 15, and perhaps Hev. xviii. 5, 6. From the whole, we may see, to conclude : l. The exceeding complexity of God's government. How many instruments-what varied agents, both in heaven and earth- be employs (comp. Dan. iv. 35) ! Much as there is to admire in that visible "cosmos" of which men have discovered (under one asr,ect) so much; how much more there is when we iuclude also that invisible "cosmos '(Gen. xxviii. 12; John i. 51), of wbich revelation informs us! It is, in fact, only less marvellous than its Maker himself. 2. The exceeding simplicity, of its general principle. So far as explained to us, it all turns on one point, viz. "Israel's" calling and work. This shown here of the literal Israel. This still more true of the spiritual. See two last references again; also such passa-:es as 2 Cor. iv. 15; 1 Cor. iii. 21; Eph. iii. 10, 11. Note, also, how this principle was le.id down once for all in Gen. xii. 3; and how it corresponds with and is partly explained by the remarkable declaration of Eph. i. 23.
Vera. 9-15.-The ministry of Messiah. "And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying," etc. The series of striking visions which we have now been considering had a kind of "prologue" in cb. i. 1-6. We seem to have the corresponding "epilogue" here. It turns on the fact of the arrival (probably about the same season, no special note of time being given as in eh. vii. 1) of certain visitors at Jerusalem, with offer- ingg for the temple, from a "far" country, viz. "Babylon" (see vers. 10 and 15; anti comp. Isa. xxxix. 3). And what we seem invited to notice, respecting these visitor.., is (1) the welcome; (2) the instruction; and (3) the promotion which they received. I. THE WEL0OME ACCORDED THEM. This is shown in several ways. 1. As to their persons. They are mentioned by name (ver. 10; comp. Exod. xxxi. 2; xxxiii. 12 ; 1 Kings xiii. 2; Isa.. xiv. 3; John x. 3), including the name of the man who appears to have given them hospitality in his "house" (Matt. x. 41). Also, if it be true, as some suppose from comparin" vers. 10 and 14, that two among them had more names than one, the second name in" each case being one assumed because containing in it, like all the rest (see Pusey), the name of Jehovah or Je.h (comp. Dan. i. 7; iv. 8; v. 12; Micah iv. 6), it is, perhaps, worthy of notice !hat their names ~eem mentioned in full; thus showing, further, it may be, how God 1s pleased to notice e.ud honour the very least thing that is done by us in remembrance of his Name (Mark ix. 41). 2. As THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. [ OIi, VI, 1-15,