II. THE SPECIAL SERVICE OF THE ANGELS. These liturgical spirits o.re sent forth on errands of helpfulness to God's people on earth in their times of emergency. They are sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation-heirs of salvation, but not yet rejoicing in a deliverance from every sort of evil. We are saved by hope; we are in process of salvation, but the process involves trials and sufferings. We are not without notable instances of what is meant by angelic service to the heirs of salvation. Jesus himself was, in a certain sense, an heir of salvation. He had to be saved from this body of death, if not from this body of sin. And concerning him we read how, at the close of the temptation, angels came and ministered to him. Then, more important still, because the service is more definitely indicated, is the opening of the prison doors to liberate the apostles (Acts iv. 19), and the after-opening to deliver Peter from the bands of Herod (Acts xii. 7). And though comparatively few such instances of liac11co11!11 be recorded, that is not to say that only a few happened. Nor is it to be said that angelic service has ceased. Angels may render very important and comforting services to men, although they themselves may not be seen. III. THE EXAMPLE ANGELS THUS GIVE TO CHRISTIANS. Angels find their habitual employ in adoring God, in serving him in heavenly worship. But from worship they may at any moment be turned to work, and work most agreeable to the will and pleasure of their Master, doing something which will be felt as a help by some one who is dear to Christ. The AflToup-y!a fits for the liuuco11la, and the i5111rco11!11, faithfully ren- dered, sends back with fresh zest to the A£1Toup-yC11. There is a place for both; and we, who have also to go forth to minister to the heirs of salvation, shall find our ministry all the more effectual if only it can be truly said of us, in the best sense of the word, that we are liturgical, Christians. That man whose reading of the Scriptures has in it not only quantity but quality, not only recollection of worda but increasing perception of meaning, who reads that he may understand and obey-such a one is e. liturgical Christian. He is constantly enriching his heart, getting nearer to God, and, as a matter of course, better able to serve men. We must always be serving God, whether in those things which have the formal look of Divine service, or in those which may look nothing more than a temporal ministry to men. We may at the same time be AEIToup;,o! towards God and li111rco110! towards men; we can pray without ceasing, ancl also follow in the footsteps of him who came, not to be ministered to, but to miuister.-Y.
EXPOSITION.
CHAl''l'JIB IL how shall we (Christians) esoape, if we negleot so great salvation 1 The danger of Vere. 1-5.-INTEDPOSED EXHOilTATION, neglect must be in proportion to the dignity as explained above. of the revelation. 1'he readers are now Ver. 1.---0n this aocollllt (i.e. on account further reminde,l of the manner in which of what he.a been seen of the SoN's supe• the gospel had been me.de known to them, riority to the angels) we ought (or, we are and been ratified in their own oxperience. 1,oond) more abundantly to give heed to the by wo.y of enhancing the danger of dis- things that we have heard (i.e. the gospel regarding it. Whioh (not the simple relll- that has been preached to us in the SoN), tive pronoun ~. but ljns, which denotes lest at any time (or, le8t haply) we let them always, when so used, some general idea in slip (rather,jloat past them). The word 1r11pap- the antecedent, equivalent to "being such puwµ.•v (aorist subjunctive from 1r11paNl"') as"), having at the first begun to be spoken denotes flowing or floating po.et anything. through the Lord ( opposed to " tho word The allusion is to the danger, incidental to spoken through angels" in the proceding those to whom the Epistle was adrlressed, verse. Its beginning was through tho Lord of foiling to recognize the transcendent himself, i.e. Christ the SoN, not through in- che.rncter of the gospel revelation, missing termediate agency. 'O Kup,os is o. special it through ine.d vertence, drifting away designlltion of Christ in the New Testament ; from it. and, though not in itself proving belief in hill Ver~. 2, 3.-P'or if the word that was divinity, is significant as being constantly spoken through angels (i.e. the Le.w) was used e.lso as a dosigne.tion of God, and sub- me.de (or, prooed) 1teadfast (i.e. as explained stituted in the LXX. for ;,i;,,. It hllB 11 in the next clause, ratified by just visitation special emphasis here o.s expressing the of every transgression and disobedience), majesty of Christ), wo.a oonfiruuid (l/3t/311.J<»671, CB', 11, 1-18.] THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 45