servant, only for a short season, in the days of his flesh; they continue to be so from the beginning to the end of the world. He was sent to the great and mighty work of mediation, which none was worthy to undertake, none able to go through, but himself alone, the only begotten Son of God; they are sent about the ordinary concernments of the saints. He, as the Son; they, as servants. He, as the author of the whole work of the redemption and salvation of the church; they, as subordinate assistants in the particular promotion of it. Hence,

$6. Obs. 1. The highest honor of the most glorious spirits in heaven is to minister to the Lord in the service whereunto he appoints them. This is the work of angels, and this is their honor and glory. For what greater honor can a creature be made partaker of, than to be employed in the service of his Creator? What greater glory, than to stand in the presence, and to execute the pleasure, of the King of heaven? If it be an honor on earth to stand before princes, dying, perishing men, who, as to nature and kind, stand on a level with themselves, what must it be for them, who by nature are at an infinite distance from the glorious God, to stand before him? And how inconceivably woful will it be to poor souls at the last day, to find how they despised in this world a share and interest in that service, which is, and ever was, the glory and highest honor of angels!

§7. Obs. 2. Such is the love and care of God towards his saints laboring here below, that he sends the most glorious attendants on his throne to minister unto them, and to take care of them. He who gave his only Son for them, will not spare to send his holy angels. Heaven and earth shall be witnesses of his care, and of the value that he puts upon them. Now, this

being a matter of so great importance, as it evidently is, and the doctrine directly taught in the text, we may a little farther inquire,

1. Wherefore God is pleased to use the ministry of angels, in the dispensation of his care and good will to the heirs of salvation, seeing he could, by an almighty facility, produce the same effect by his own immediate power. And,

II. To what special ends and purposes doth God make use of their ministry in behalf of believers.

§8. (I.) As to the first, it is to be resolved principally into his own sovereign wisdom and pleasure. God hath appointed it. Nevertheless, the scripture suggests to us other subordinate reasons; as,

1. God doth it for preserving and manifesting the glorious order of his kingdom. God is pleased to rule his creatures in the character of Supreme Lord and King; and thereby he displays his sovereignty, and makes way for the manifestation of his glory. Now to a kingdom there are three things essential; rule, obedience, and order. In this kingdom, the sovereign rule is in the hand of God alone, the monarchy is his, while obedience is the work and duty of the subjects of his dominion. Now the glory of both these lies in order, to which the ministry of angels eminently contributes.

$9. 2. God is pleased to do this, to exercise the obedience of the angels themselves, and particularly to preserve and rule them in a manner suitable to their state and condition, and that in them he might give an example of ready obedience to the church. These angels of God, being in their nature excellent, and great in power; always ready, watchful, and free from all avocations; eminent in light and holiness, as always beholding the face of God, and filled with his grace,

are proposed to us, in their obedience and readiness to do the will of God, as an example and pattern which we are studiously to imitate: and thence are we directed to pray, that we may "do the will of God on earth as it is done in heaven."

$10. 3. God employeth them in an especial manner in this ministry, to manifest to the heirs of salvation the greatness and glory of the work of redemption. For as of themselves they desire particularly to look into these things, which in general appear to them so glorious; so, by God's dealing with his church, in whose behalf they are employed, they learn the manifold wisdom of God, and the riches of his grace, Ephes. iii, 10. And thus, in all their employments about the saints, for whose sake they are sent out to minister, they learn much of the wisdom and love of God, and are thereby excited to honor, glorify, and praise him. Somewhat of this they see in the least and meanest work that is committed to them; and they must needs eternally rejoice in the overflowings of the love and grace of God, taking care of all the concernments of the poorest and meanest of his servants.

§11. 4. This is done, that God may thereby, in an especial manner, give glory and honor to Jesus Christ. This is his will, "that all men should honor the Son as they honor the Father," John v, 23. He hath therefore raised him, and given him honor and glory; and, in particular, exalted him far above the angels, putting them in subjection to him, as their head, prince, and governor, Ephes. i, 21, 22. Neither is it a shew of glory, or a titular kingdom and dominion, that is given him, but a real sovereignty, wherein all things, subject to him, are at his absolute disposal: and therefore must the angels themselves be at his

service in the affairs of his kingdom, which they acknowledge themselves to be, and the fellow-servants of them that keep his testimony, Rev. xx, 9. Now the heart and love of Jesus Christ is greatly fixed upon that part of his church and people which is laboring with sin, affliction, and persecution here below, Heb. ii, 57; iv, 15. It is then greatly for his honor, that the glorious angels should be employed for the good of all his poor laboring saints. How distinguishing and deserved the honor done to Jesus Christ in heaven, when all the attendants of the throne of God see what care is taken about the meanest that believe in him!

$12. 5. The love, and care, and condescension of God to his saints is hereby manifested to the saints themselves. God employeth the angels for their good, that they may know how he careth for them, and be comforted thereby, Psalm xci, 10-12. The saints of God confess, that they are less than all his mercies, and unworthy that he should have any regard for them, on account of their manifold sins and failings. Of the glorious angels, their thoughts and apprehensions are high and honorable. Their nature, their state and condition, their power and greatness, their holiness and enjoyment of the presence of God, do all present them to their minds as possessed of much excellency and glory, a glory which some have been so weak and superstitious as to adore. Now, when they consider that God is pleased to employ these glorious spirits to watch over them, and to do them good; to encamp round about them, and to keep them from all evil; this fills them with an holy admiration of his infinite love, and unparalleled condescension. They also deservedly admire the excellency and mediation

of the Lord Messiah, who hath brought them into this. condition of favor.

§13. 6. Hereby a blessed intercourse and fellowship are maintained between the several parts of the family of God, consisting of angels and men. Now it.

is the will of God, that for the honor of our Lord Jesus Christ, the immediate head of this family, there should be an intercourse and an helpful communion between the several parts of it; for to this are we brought into the society of the innumerable company of angels, Heb. xii, 22. And because our goodness, our helpfulness, is confined to the saints that are in the earth, Psalm xvi, 3, not extending itself to God, or any of his holy ones above, nor do they stand in need of our aid; hence God employs them about the affairs and concernments of believers, that so a becoming fellowship may be kept up in the family of Christ, which otherwise could have no place.

§14. 7. Perhaps we may add, that God makes use. of the ministry of angels, in the service of the church, to reproach, awe, and restrain the devil. It is a continual reproach cast upon Satan, when he sees those to whom he is like in nature, and with whom he had been a companion in glory, willingly, cheerfully, and triumphantly obey the will of God in the service of Christ; while he, on the contrary, by his wickedness, has cast out himself from the same honorable employment, and enslaved himself to the vilest services that any part of the creation of God is debased to. The whole work of the angels, therefore, is a continual reproach to Satan for his sin and folly. It cries to him, "This might have been thy work, this might have been thy condition." And hereby God also, in many things, frustrates his endeavors, restrains his power, and disappoints his malice. It is inconceivable