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.…

Thus of their names and natures.

2. Now for the singular account God makes of them, it may appear divers ways: 1. By the excellent titles given them, a• are stars of the morning, sons of God principalities and powers, &c. 2. By the place he sets them in, he placeth them next his own person, in the chamber of his own presence to be always about him, even in heaven, the fairest room in the whole building of the world. 3. By the trust he hath put in them, he hath committed the charge of his Elect unto their protection and care, Psal. 34. & 91 Heb. 1. 14 4. By the singular grace of confirmation, that now in Christ they […] of all the creatures should never have experience in their own nature of any evil, Col. 2.10. The consideration hereof should kindle in us a holy impatience of desire so to dispatch Gods work on earth, that we might haste to that time and place, when we shall be like the Angels of God,¹ yea their very society should kindle desire to be with such glorious creatures, and in the mean time, how can we sufficiently praise God, that hath appointed such excellent creatures to attend upon us both in life and death? how should we esteem faith and repentance, that in Jesus Christ works unto us such a safety of estate under their willing and careful protection?

2. Now for the singular account God makes of them, it may appeare divers waies: 1. By the excellent titles given them, a• are stars of the morning, sons of God principalitie• and powers, &c. 2. By the place he sets them in, hee placeth them next his owne person, in the chamber of his owne presence to be alwaies about him, even in heaven, the fairest roome in the whole building of the world. 3. By the trust he hath put in them, hee hath committed the charge of his Elect unto their protection and care, Psal. 34. & 91 Heb. 1. 14 4. By the singular grace of confirmation, that now in Christ they 〈…〉 of all the creatures should never have experience in their own nature of any evill, Col. 2.10. The consideration hereof should kindle in us a holy impatience of desire so to dispatch Gods worke on earth, that wee might haste to that time and place, when we shall be like the Angels of God,¹ yea their very society should kindle desire to be with such glorious creatures, and in the meane time, how can we sufficiently praise God, that hath appointed such excellent c•eatures to attend upon us both in life and death? how should we esteeme faith and repentance, that in Jesus Christ works unto us such a safety of estate under their willing and carefull protection?

1. 1Luke 10.36.

3. Now for their affection which they bear to man: we must in general know, that as understanding is yielded them, so is will and desire inseparably joined with their knowledge, though in a far more noble manner then they are in man. There are two principal differences between the affections in Angels and those in men. For first, Angels have not those base and inferior ⟨p. 98⟩our affections that are in men, I mean the sensitive appetites. Secondly, Angels have not their affections seated in any one place, or subject, as the fountain of affections, as in man, the heart is the seat of affections, (of some of them, I mean, which are more noble:) besides that their affections are carried without all sinful, or unhappy perturbations.

3. Now for their affection which they beare to man: we must in generall know, that as understanding is yeelded them, so is will and desire inseparably joyned with their knowledge, though in a far more noble manner then they are in man. There are two principall differences between the affections in Angels and those in men. For first, Angels have not those base and inferiour ⟨p. 98⟩our affections that are in men, I meane the sensitive appetites. Secondly, Angels have not their affections seated in any one place, or subject, as the fountaine of affections, as in man, the heart is the seat of affections, (of some of them, I meane, which are more noble:) besides that their affections are carried without all sinfull, or unhappy perturbations.

Now this desire in them ariseth 1. out of the flames of desire after the glory of God. 2. Out of a sympathy or fellow feeling that they have as the members of the same body with the Saints, Col. 2.10.

¹Now for the Use of this third point. Do the Angels thus affectionately long after, joy in, and desire to be hold the spiritual riches of the Church? 1. How should this confound us with shame, that have no more care to look into our own happiness? 2. The desire and joy of the Angels should be unto us a quick spur unto all well-doing. 3. We should learn of them how to rejoice in, and desire after the good of others; we should be so far from envy at their happiness, that we should desire to know the riches of Gods love to them, that we might joy in it. This were to be as the Angels of God, and the contrary is to be like the devils of hell.

¹Now for the Use of this third point. Doe the Angels thus affectionately long after, joy in, and desire to be hold the spirituall riches of the Church? 1. How should this confound us with shame, that have no more care to look into our owne happinesse? 2. The desire and joy of the Angels should be unto us a quick spur unto all well-doing. 3. We should learn of them how to rejoyce in, and desire after the good of others; we should be so far from envy at their happinesse, that wee should desire to know the riches of Gods love to them, that we might joy in it. This were to be as the Angels of God, and the contrary is to be like the devils of hell.

1. 1Uses.Vses.

Now the last thing is their knowledge, in those words, to look into.

Now the last thing is their knowledge, in those words, to looke into.

To look into.]

To looke into.]

Three things may be here noted.

1. That the Angels do look into the things of the Church; they do take notice how things are carried, which may both comfort and instruct us: Comfort us, that so excellent creatures, who have the charge over us, are so watchful over all our ways: so as there cannot be the least advantage of our good, but they behold the face of God, and are ready prest to receive commandments for our succour and good. 2. It should make us wonderful respective of our ways; if not for other reasons, yet because of the Angels, they look upon us,¹ and take notice of all we do.

1. That the Angels doe looke into the things of the Church; they doe take notice how things are carryed, which may both comfort and instruct us: Comfort us, that so excellent creatures, who have the charge over us, are so watchfull over all our wayes: so as there cannot be the least advantage of our good, but they behold the face of God, and are ready prest to receive commandments for our succour and good. 2. It should make us wonderfull respective of our waies; if not for other reasons, yet because of the Angels, they looke upon us,¹ and take notice of all we doe.

1. 12 Cor. 11.

¹2. The word here used in the original seems to allude to the Cherubins about the Ark in the Law, and so imports, that the Angels look upon and into the things of the Church, as the Cherubins did look upon the Ark; and so it assures us three things in the manner of the looking of the Angels.

¹2. The word here used in the originall seems to allude to the Cherubins about the Arke in the Law, and so imports, that the Angels looke upon and into the things of the Church, as the Cherubins did looke upon the Arke; and so it assures us three things in the manner of the looking of the Angels.

1. 1A […]A 〈…〉

1. That they look into the Church and the things of the Church with wonderful sincerity, and singleness, and purity of nature: This was shadowed out, Exod. 26.8, in that the Cherubins that should look upon the Ark, were of gold, yea of beaten gold, not only excellent by creation, but by confirmation also, as the workmanship of Christ: so as their natures were every way far from contempt or envy, or any corrupt desires or ends. Besides, they did take this view as in the presence of God, whom they made the witness and Judge of the uprightness of their desires.

1. That they looke into the Church and the things of the Church with wonderfull sincerity, and singlenesse, and purity of nature: This was shadowed out, Exod. 26.8, in that the Cherubins that should looke upon the Arke, were of gold, yea of beaten gold, not onely excellent by creation, but by confirmation also, as the workmanship of Christ: so as their natures were every way far from contempt or envy, or any corrupt desires or ends. Besides, they did take this view as in the presence of God, whom they made the witnesse and Judge of the uprightnesse of their desires.

2. That it is with singular perfection and exactness: This was shadowed in that the Cherubins were not only placed within the most holy place, but close to the Ark, yea at both ends of the Ark, ver. 19. so as they throughly look into the affairs of the Church.

2. That it is with singular perfection and exactnesse: This was shadowed in that the Cherubins were not onely placed within the most holy place, but close to the Arke, yea at both ends of the Arke, ver. 19. so as they throughly looke into the affaires of the Church.

3. That it is with singular constancy of desire and admiration. For their faces are always upon it, as if they could never look enough into it.

3. That it is with singular constancy of desire and admiration. For their faces are alwaies upon it, as if they could never looke enough into it.

4. That they desire to look into these things, as being wonderfully ready to do any service for the good of the Church: This was shadowed in the ⟨p. 99⟩stretching out of their wings, as if they were ready to fly to the succours of the Church.

4. That they desire to look into these things, as being wonderfully ready to doe any service for the good of the Church: This was shadowed in the ⟨p. 99⟩stretching out of their wings, as if they were ready to fly to the succours of the Church.

Now lest man should grow proud of his estate, it is added in the Law, that all this view of the Angels was upon the Ark, but especially as it was covered with the Mercy-seat, to note, that that which they most wonder at, is the marvellous favour of God in the mediation of Christ, stilling the displeasure of God justly conceived by the view of his law broken by man.

Now lest man should grow proud of his estate, it is added in the Law, that all this view of the Angels was upon the Arke, but especially as it was covered with the Mercy-seat, to note, that that which they most wonder at, is the marvellous favour of God in the mediation of Christ, stilling the displeasure of God justly conceived by the view of his law broken by man.