Son of Goel. : (1) Because he existed before all creatures. "He is the :l!'irstborn of e.ll creation " (Col. i. 15); "In the beginning was the Word." (2) Because it was given to him in prophecy. "I will make him my Firstborn," etc. (Ps. lxxxix. 27). (3) Because o'. his mira?ulous conception 1(see Matt. i. 18-26; Luke i. 30-35). (4) Because of his resurrect10n from the dead. "He is the Firstborn from the dead" (Col. i. 18; Rev. i._ 5).. A.nd it may well be that in this place all these applications of the title nre com- bmed m setting forth the unique and august relation of the Divine Son to the God and ;Father. 2. A ,·emarkab'le epoch. ".And again, when he bringeth in the Firsl;-begotten into the world." There is much diversity of opinion as to what event in the history of the Son of God is referred to here. Some take it as denoting the resurrection of our Lord._ Others, his second coming; as Alford, who translates," But when he again bath introduced the First-begotten into the world." A.nd others, his incarnation. "It cannot be 'a i;econd bringing in of the Firstborn into the world' that is here spoken of," i,ays Ebrard, " seeing that nothing has been said of a first." This seems to us the correct interpretation. It is very significant that the heavenly intelligences should be summoned to worship him "even wbel.l he was entering upon his profound self-humi- liation." The angel Gabriel foretold his birth (Luke i. 26), ·the angel of the Lord announced it, and a multitude of the heavenly host celebrated it in joyful worship- song (ii. 9-14). This introduction of the First-begotten into the inhabited world is the greatest epoch in history. Antecedent ages looked onward to it; subsequent ages date from it, and have been influenced l1y it to a degree far surpassing human concep- tion. 3. A significant command. "He saitb, .And let all the angels of God worship him." Wbether these words are quoted from Deut. xxxii. 43 (Septuagint) or Ps. xcvii. 7, or whether both passages were in the mind of the writer, we shall not attempt to determine. 'l'o us it seems most probable that he quotes from Deuteronomy. But we turn to the homiletic suggestions of the quotation. I. .ANGELS WORSHIP, THEREFORE WORSHIP IS BECOMING IN ALL INTELLIGENT BEINGS• . ~gels are the highest created beings. If worship is necessary for them, it is necessary for those also who are less in their faculties and lower in their positions, yet capable of reverent approach to the Supreme Being. Man needs worship for the right and har- monious development of his being. Without worship the highest powers of his nature will decline and die for want of exercise, and its holiest possibilities will not even be attempted. Moreover, since worship is appropriate and becoming in the angels of God, it is not less so in his huwan creatures. No attitude is more befitting in us than that of adoration. II. .AKGELB WORSHIP THE SoN OF GoD, THEREFORE BE IS WORTHY OF TIIE WORSHIP OF ALL INTELLIGENT BEINGS. We make this statement ou the following grounds : - 1. Angels, by virtue of their fotelligence, are capable of estimating his claims to their worship. 2. Angels, because of their holiness, would not pay their worship to one who was not worthy of it. Hence, in worshipping the First-begotten of the Father, they are an example to us. Their worship attests hie worthiness. 111 " ALL THE ANGELS OF GoD WORSHIP" THE SoN OF GoD, TIIEREFORE BE IS WORTHY OF TIIE WORSHIP OF EVEN THE HIGHEST CREATURES. Angels even of the highest rank worship him (Isa. vi. 1-3; 1 Pet. iii. 22; Rev. v. 11-14). Hence we infer that the most intelligent, the wisest, the mightiest, the most exalted of men should worship him. IV. ANGELS A.BE UNDER OBLIGATIONS TO WORSHIP THE SON OF GOD, BUT MAN 18 UNDER MORE AND MIGHl'IER OBLIGATIONS TO WORSHIP BlM. .Angels are commanded to worship him .. "He saith, Let all ~be ange~s," etc. __'l'hey worship him b~cau~e of what he is in him.self; because he 1e essentially Divine, and supremuly, 1Dfin1tely perfect--" the effulgence of the Father's glory," etc. They worship him also because of what he ie in relation to them. He ie their Creator and Sustainer. These reasons for worshipping the Son app_ly to us ae much_as ~o these hea~enly intelligence~; _and, in addition to these we a.re impelled to worship him by a motive more tender m its cha- racter and more ~igbty in its ?onstraining force than any of_thes~. He is 01:1r Saviour. He gave himself for us. He died for ue. He redeemed ue with his own precious blood. And now" he ever Jiveth to make intercession for us." How sacred and strong, then, are the obligations which bind us to worship him! "Worthy is the Lamb that bath l Sugg1:stcrl by Alford, in loco. CH, I. 1-14.] THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 27
been slain to receive the power," etc. (Rev. v. 12); "0 come let us sin"0 unto the Lord,' etc. (Ps. xcv. 1-7) 1-W. J.