A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle general of St.…A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle generall of St.…

The Use should be to inflame our affections towards this holy place:¹ oh how should we lo•g to see where God dwells? what natures have we to long to see the courts of Princes, and yet cannot long after the courts of our God? and yet in Princes courts, 1. Not entertained,• ut many times repulsed. 2. Not known many times of any body. 3. Not dwell there. ⟨p. 96⟩4. Not favoured of the King, or his son. 5. The Lords will not attend us to carry us to the King, or show us all, &c. 6. Soon are we cloyed with the glory of it, if we had all we would. 7. In the Kings court we see the glory of others, not •ur own. But contrary to all these, it is in heaven, as it shall be with the righteous.

The Use should be to inflame our affections towards this holy place:¹ oh how should wee lo•g to see where God dwels? what natures have wee to long to see the courts of Princes, and yet cannot long after the courts of our God? and yet in Princes courts, 1. Not entertained,• ut many times repulsed. 2. Not knowne many times of any body. 3. Not dwell there. ⟨p. 96⟩4. Not favoured of the King, or his sonne. 5. The Lords will not attend us to carry us to the King, or shew us all, &c. 6. Soone are we cloyed with the glory of it, if we had all we would. 7. In the Kings court we see the glory of others, not •ur owne. But contrary to all these, it is in heaven, as it shall be with the righteous.

1. 1Use.Vse.

Which things the Angels desire to look into.

Which things the Angels desire to looke into.

In these words, the grace brought unto us in the Gospel is commended by the adjunct desire the Angels have to look into it: if such glorious creatures see such worth in these things, then they are certainly to be highly accounted of and rejoiced in: but the Angels do so as saith the holy Ghost, who is acquainted with the desires of Angels as well as with the thoughts of men. Therefore &c.

In these words, the grace brought unto us in the Gospell is commended by the adjunct desire the Angels have to looke into it: if such glorious creatures see such worth in these things, then they are certainly to be highly accounted of and rejoyced in: but the Angels doe so as saith the holy Ghost, who is acquainted with the desires of Angels as wel as with the thoughts of men. Therefore &c.

1. 1Doct.

Which may serve,

1. For singular reproof of the madness of our natures, that cannot be won to know or regard wherein the chief good lies, but are so infinitely distracted with endless hunting after the riches or pleasures of life. Oh how are our hearts sunk deep in rebellion, when neither the verity of these things, nor our own mortality, nor such abundant testimonies from heaven can move us? But woe unto us for two reasons from hence: First, we shall be made inexcusable, since God hath warned and instructed us with such undeniable testimonies. Secondly, here we see the cause why we seek not after the grace of Christ in the Gospel; it is because we are alienated both from holiness, and happiness. For if we had experience in either, we would judge as •he Angels of heaven do.

1. For singular reproofe of the madnesse of our natures, that cannot be won to know or regard wherein the chiefe good lies, but are so infinitely distracted with endlesse hunting after the riches or pleasures of life. Oh how are our hearts sunke deepe in rebellion, when neither the verity of these things, nor our owne mortality, nor such abundant testimonies from heaven can move us? But woe unto us for two reasons from hence: First, wee shall be made inexcusable, since God hath warned and instructed us with such undeniable testimonies. Secondly, here we see the cause why wee seek not after the grace of Christ in the Gospell; it is because we are alienated both from hol•nesse, and happinesse. For if we had experience in either, we would judge as •he Angels of heaven doe.

2. For singular strengthening and encouragement to every one that hath true grace: let him rejoice in his portion: the Gospel is the best riches, it were •ot bought dear if a man sold all he had to purchase it: we should rather take the judgement and opinion of one Angel, then of a thousand worldly persons: […] is no matter what they say, they know not their felicity: flesh and blood hath had no revelation in these things; it is the Spirit of God only tha• can show us the things given us of God; it is the scope of this place to confirm the consolations, ver. 3, 4, 5.

2. For singular strengthning and incouragement to every one that hath true grace: let him rejoyce in his portion: the Gospell is the best riches, it were •ot b•ught deare if a man sold all he had to purchase it: we should rather take the judgement and opinion of one Angell, then of a thousand worldly persons: 〈…〉 is no matter what they say, they know not their felicity: flesh and bloud hath had no revelation in these things; it is the Spirit of God onely tha• can shew us the things given us of God; it is the scope of this place to confirme the consolations, ver. 3, 4, 5.

Thus in general: now in particular there are four things to be considered of.

Thus in generall: now in particular there are foure things to be considered of.

1. What these Angels are. 2. What account God makes of them. 3. What affection they bear to men, in that they are said to desire, &c. 4. What their knowledge is, in that they are said to look into, &c.

1. What these Angels are. 2. What account God makes of them. 3. What affection they beare to men, in that they are said to desire, &c. 4. What their knowledge is, in that they are said to looke into, &c.

1. Now for the first you must understand, that all creatures are of one of t•e•e three sorts. 1. Invisible. 2. Visible. 3. Both visible and invisible. Man is both visible in respect of his body, and invisible in respect of his soul. The heaven▪ and earth▪ and seas, and beasts, and fowls, &c. are visible: the invisible creatures are these Angels.

1. Now for the first you must understand, that all creatures are of one of t•e•e three sorts. 1. Invisible. 2. Visible. 3. Both visible and invisible. Man is both visible in respect of his body, and invisible in respect of his soule. The heaven▪ and earth▪ and seas, and beasts, and foules, &c. are visible: the invisible creatures are these Angels.

¹The estate of this invisible world of glorious creatures is in the greatest part […] unrevealed to us: yet some things the Scriptures for our good hath let fall and therefore to this question I answer two ways. 1. By considering what they are in name. 2. What they be in nature.

¹The estate of this invisible world of glorious creatures is in the greatest part 〈…〉 unrevealed to us: yet some things the Scriptures for our good hath let fall and the•efore to this question I answer two waies. 1. By considering what they are in name. 2. What they be in nature.

1. 1Of A•g•••, their […] and natures.Of A•g•••, th•ir 〈…〉 and natures.

1. The names given them are of three sorts.¹ 1. Some express their nature, and so they are spirits. 2. Some express their excellency and dignity, and so they are called principalities and powers, &c. 3. Some express their office and employment, and so they are called Angels in this place, which signifies Messengers; because they are sent to minister to them which are heirs of salvation. Heb. 1.14.

1. The names given them are of three sorts.¹ 1. Some expresse their nature, and so they are spirits. 2. Some expresse their excellency and dignity, and so they are called principalities and powers, &c. 3. Some expresse their office and employment, and so they are called Angels in this place, which signifies Messengers; because they are sent to minister to them which are heires of salvation. Heb. 1.14.

1. 1In r•s••ct of what th•y a•e they are spirits: in respect of wh•t th•y do they are Angels.In r•s••ct of what th•y a•e they are spirits: in •espect of wh•t th•y do they are Ang•ls.

2. Now for their natures: Angels are spiritual substances invisible and immortal, subsisting of themselves, endued with singular understanding and freedom of will, created of God for his glory in his service in the world, especially in the Church.

2. Now for their natures: Angels are spirituall substances invisible and immortall, subsisting of themselves, indued with singular understanding and freedome of will, created of God for his glory in his service in the world, especially in the Church.

But why are they called by the name of office more usually then by the names that express their natures?¹

But why are they called by the name of office more usually then by the names that expresse their natures?¹

1. 1Quest.

It is because God delights in them for their service,¹ and they themselves are more glad of well-doing, then of their happiness in nature: from whence we may learn, that it is not enough to get singular gifts and excellent estates, unless we be industrious in the use of them: our glory lieth not in excellent parts, but in the fruitful use of them. We should learn then of Gods Angels to obey as they obey, that Gods will may be done on earth as it is in heaven: that is, 1 willingly, 2 speedily, 3 constantly. For so the Angels obey,² else we may be as the Angels of God for gifts, and y•t go to hell.

It is because God delights in them for their se•vice,¹ and they themselves are more glad of well-doing, then of their happinesse in nature: from whence we may learn, that it is not enough to get singular gifts and excellent estates, unlesse we be industrious in the use of them: our glory lieth not in excellent parts, but in the fruitfull use of them. We should learn then of Gods Angels to obey as they obey, that Gods will may be done on earth as it is in heaven: that is, 1 willingly, 2 speedily, 3 constantly. For so the Angels obey,² else we may be as the Angels of God for gifts, and y•t goe to hell.

1. 1Answ.
2. 22 Sam. 16 •3.

But are all these incorporeal spirits here meant?¹

But are all these incorporeall spirits here meant?¹

1. 1Quest. Answ.